Bonus Chapter. Enjoy!
=========================
That teacher was choked up by Wang Dong's sudden questioning, and his expression immediately turned somewhat unsightly.
He had taught at this academy for many years; which of the students he had seen wasn't polite and respectful to him?
Even those exceptionally talented favorites of heaven had to properly call him "Teacher" when they saw him.
Yet this fair-skinned kid in front of him actually dared to question him like this to his face; he simply didn't know the height of the heavens or the depth of the earth!
He looked at the stubborn-faced youth before him, a flash of displeasure flickering in the depths of his eyes.
He was just about to open his mouth to reprimand him when he was lightly stopped by another teacher beside him.
This Teacher Li patted his companion's arm, signaling him to stay calm, while he himself took a step forward with a beaming smile on his face.
"This student, don't be anxious first." His voice was gentle as he said, "This matter involves secrets of the Inner Court and cannot be known by outsiders, so please understand."
"However, this matter is indeed the academy's mistake, so..."
With a flick of his wrist, four green Medicinal Pills flew out from his sleeve, shooting toward the four surrounding students respectively.
"The academy will also give you some compensation."
Huo Yuhao subconsciously reached out to catch it and looked down at it.
The Medicinal Pill was emerald green all over, emitting a faint medicinal fragrance, and several fine lines were faintly visible on its surface.
A Soul Ascension Pill—he recognized this thing; it was beneficial for Spirit Power Cultivation and was considered a precious Medicinal Pill.
Wang Dong glanced at the Medicinal Pill in his hand, curled his lip, and let out a cold snort. "You want to buy us off with a single Soul Ascension Pill?"
Originally, he had been full of curiosity and longing for Shrek Academy.
But now?
After truly entering the academy, his experiences these past few days could only be described as a great disappointment.
First there was that old hag of a homeroom teacher Zhou Yi, and now there were these two teachers.
In their eyes, what did students count for?
The more Wang Dong thought, the angrier he got. His small face was pulled tight, and his eyes looked as if they were about to spit fire.
Seeing Wang Dong being so tactless, the smile on Teacher Li's face also faded.
His tone sank. "Giving you a Soul Ascension Pill is already decent compensation."
"At such a young age, don't push your luck."
"You..."
Hearing this, Wang Dong's delicate fists clenched tightly, and her exquisite small face flushed bright red.
She opened her mouth to argue back but was stopped by Huo Yuhao beside her.
Huo Yuhao took a step forward, shielding Wang Dong behind him.
He raised his head, looking calmly at the two teachers in front of him, and said flatly, "Teachers, why don't you check on this Inner Court senior sister first?"
Hearing Huo Yuhao's peaceful tone, the two teachers also suppressed the anger in their hearts and turned their attention to the frozen Ma Xiaotao on the side.
Seeing that the Evil Fire had been controlled just now, they hadn't paid too much attention to Ma Xiaotao, instead focusing all their attention on Huo Yuhao and the others.
After all, if they didn't "handle" these four witnesses well, the matter of their dereliction of duty wouldn't end well.
As for Ma Xiaotao, since the Evil Fire had been suppressed anyway, what else could happen?But being reminded by Huo Yuhao like this, the two of them suddenly realized something was wrong.
Ma Xiaotao's Phoenix Evil Fire was close to Ultimate Fire; how could it be so easily frozen in ice?
Their expressions changed slightly as they hurriedly crouched down and began to seriously investigate Ma Xiaotao's condition.
This investigation was no small matter.
The faces of the two instantly turned deathly pale.
How was this the Evil Fire being controlled?
This was clearly about to be a loss of life!
They discovered that this ice freezing Ma Xiaotao was incredibly cold.
Even more terrifying was that this chill wasn't sealing Ma Xiaotao from the outside, but... it was surging out from within her body.
So now, it wasn't just Ma Xiaotao's body being frozen in ice.
Her internal organs, her flesh and blood, her Meridians—everything inside her body was permeated and frozen by that chill.
The only thing supporting her and keeping her from completely stopping her breath was that Phoenix Evil Fire inside her body.
Although that flame was violent and difficult to control, at this moment, it had become her last life-saving straw.
It burned with all its might, contending against the chill surging from everywhere in her body, protecting the last line of life in her heart's Meridians.
But that chill was simply too strong. Although the Evil Fire was still persisting, it was already retreating step by step, seemingly about to be completely extinguished.
The moment the Evil Fire went out would be the moment Ma Xiaotao met her end in the Yellow Springs.
The hands of the two teachers were shaking.
Who was Ma Xiaotao?
She was the Personal Disciple of the Dean of the Spirit Hall Department, Yan Shaozhe! She was the pearl in the palm that Shaozhe cherished like a treasure! She was one of the most dazzling Geniuses among the younger generation of Shrek Academy!
If she died... they didn't dare think further.
They knew Shao Zhe too well.
Usually he looked serious and impartial, but his heart was narrower than the eye of a needle.
If anyone offended him, he could remember it for a lifetime.
If Ma Xiaotao died under their watch now, would Shao Zhe let them go?
Teacher Li's Spirit was the Tree of Life, and he could be considered a top-tier Healing Spirit Master in the entire Inner Court.
At this moment, he couldn't care about much else. Ma Xiaotao's aura was getting weaker and weaker; if they delayed any longer, it was feared a life would truly be lost.
He took a deep breath, and the Spirit Power around him surged frantically.
Seventh Spirit Ability—Spirit Avatar.
An incredibly massive emerald-green ancient tree appeared out of thin air, standing tall on the banks of Sea God Lake.
The ancient tree had lush branches and leaves, its trunk so thick it would take several people to encircle it, and every leaf emitted a shimmering green light.
A dense aura of life instantly permeated the air, like a spring breeze blowing across the earth, enveloping everything around it.
The sisters Lan Luoluo and Lan Susu, who were originally still trembling with fear on the side, actually felt their minds instantly relax when soaked by this power of life.
Their trembling bodies gradually calmed down, and the terror in their eyes faded a bit.
Ma Xiaotao's situation wasn't a simple injury, but everything being frozen by the extreme cold of Ultimate Ice.
Although the Tree of Life was a top-tier healing Spirit, it simply could not resolve this "symptom."
All he could do was merely prolong Ma Xiaotao's life.
The other teacher nearby was also as anxious as an ant on a hot griddle, pacing back and forth on the spot but unable to help at all.
He could only watch helplessly as Ma Xiaotao's aura fluctuated, watching time slip away minute by minute.
Suddenly, he stopped his pace.
His gaze fell upon Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong.
Just now there were only a few of them here. Those two blue-haired little girls were clearly victims, only capable of trembling from start to finish.
So the ice-attribute Spirit Master who had acted to freeze Ma Xiaotao just now could only be one of the other two boys.
At this moment, the high-and-mighty attitude of being a teacher was no longer on his face.
He walked up to Huo Yuhao and bent down, bringing his line of sight level with the youth's.
Then, a sliver of a smile was squeezed onto his face.
That smile was a bit stiff, a bit forced, and even carried a few hints of a fawning tone.
He tried his best to make his tone sound gentle, sincere, and... as if he were begging someone.
"This student, was the Spirit Ability just now released by you?"
Huo Yuhao nodded, his expression as calm as water. "It was my Spirit Ability."
He didn't deny it, nor did he explain.
His move earlier was originally intended to save someone, not to take anyone's life.
The teacher's eyes, however, lit up, as if he had grasped the last life-saving straw.
He leaned in closer, his tone becoming increasingly urgent. "Then... student, can you dissolve the ice seal on her?"
As he spoke, he pointed toward the frozen figure not far away, his eyes full of expectation and a few hints of indiscernible pleading.
---------------------------------------------
A/N: How the turn tables turn. Amiright?
5 Power Stones = 1 Extra Chapter
I hope all of you are enjoying this story so far. I would appreciate some Power Stones if you can spare any. Leave a review if you like the story. Thank you.