Quickly, the students in the hall all made their way to the sports field, waiting for the upcoming teachers-students assembly.
Many students who heard the rumors also hurried over from their classes.
Soon, the field was packed with people.
"Xu Zhou, why do I feel like I'm meeting you for the first time?"
Wen Yuehui looked at Xu Zhou and exclaimed, "You weren't like this before."
Hearing this, Xu Zhou smiled slightly.
Indeed, he used to be weak, incompetent, and had to endure silently even when bullied.
But that was all in the past.
Ever since he crossed over and obtained the Avatar of a Silkie Chicken, everything was destined to be different.
At the same time.
Not far from Class 8 of the first-year group, Li Ruoxi was also pondering this question.
Like Wen Yuehui, she too noticed that her younger brother seemed different from before.
In fact, upon close examination, she had noticed something unusual half a month ago.
But at that time, Xu Zhou's presence was too weak in her eyes, so even if there was something unusual, she subconsciously ignored it.
But now, with Xu Zhou defeating Huang Hao and making Huang Wenxuan apologize publicly with unprecedented toughness,
and even forcing the principal to hold a school-wide assembly to punish a top ten student on the Dragon-Tiger Ranking,
all of this gave Li Ruoxi a sense of unreality. Was this still her brother?
Just then, a fair-skinned boy walked over.
"Ruoxi, who would have thought your brother would be so tough, seems he has inherited your style." The boy said with a smile, his tone carrying a hint of closeness.
Li Ruoxi frowned slightly, and Lin Shishi, standing beside her, coldly scolded: "Liu He, can you go away? Stop pestering Ruoxi!"
Liu He smiled and said: "I just came to remind you that Xu Zhou's actions might have completely offended Huang Yunxuan."
"From what I know of Huang Yunxuan, he won't let this go easily."
Li Ruoxi looked at him indifferently and said: "What does it have to do with you?"
Liu He said: "Huang Yunxuan approached me, wanting to team up with me to enter the Thousand Demon Cave and use my hand against you."
Upon hearing this, Li Ruoxi's expression remained cold: "You can try to see if you can still hold your position as number one on the Dragon-Tiger Ranking!"
Liu He smiled slightly.
He said in a friendly tone: "I didn't agree to Huang Yunxuan. The Thousand Demon Cave is extremely dangerous, and I only feel assured teaming up with you."
Facing Liu He's words, Li Ruoxi replied coldly: "Do you think I will agree?"
Liu He smiled and said softly: "Besides me, you won't find other teammates. Ruoxi, you'll soon agree to me."
After speaking, he turned and left.
Lin Shishi stared at his back with a look of disdain on her face: "Liu He, so what if he's first on the Dragon-Tiger Ranking? He's like clingy glue, pestering you all day."
Li Ruoxi slightly shook her head: "The guys from the Inner City are indeed troublesome."
Liu He, first on the Dragon-Tiger Ranking, is not from Linjiang City but from the Inner City.
In the Yan Country's Twelve States, thousands of cities are divided into two regions: the Inner City and the Outer City District.
Compared to a small city like Linjiang City in the Outer City District, the status of the Inner City is much higher.
Thus, Liu He from the Inner City naturally held significant status at Linjiang First High School.
Among the top ten on the Dragon-Tiger Ranking, apart from Li Ruoxi, everyone else had great relations with Liu He, some even flattered him.
His earlier words were clearly a threat. If she didn't team up with Liu He, the others on the Dragon-Tiger Ranking wouldn't cooperate with her either.
"The school rules prohibit going to the Thousand Demon Cave alone." Li Ruoxi frowned, "I must find cooperative teammates."
Liu He's threat was indeed a tricky issue for her.
This person had been entangling her for many days. Though he seemed gentle, he was truly violent in nature.
Li Ruoxi even heard that he liked to play cruel and perverted tricks, causing many innocent girls to suffer.
Teaming up with him was obviously impossible.
But if she didn't agree to Liu He, she feared she wouldn't find other teammates.
Lin Shishi, knowing what she was worried about, comforted her: "Don't worry, you're so strong, how could you not find teammates?"
"Oh, it's a pity your brother is only a first-year now; he's too weak. Otherwise, it would be great if you could take him along."
Talking about this, Lin Shishi sighed helplessly.
Li Ruoxi looked at her somewhat speechlessly, bring Xu Zhou?
Even if that guy was in the third year now, following her would probably be of no help.
Although Xu Zhou's current performance surprised her a little, that's all there is to it.
After all, when Li Ruoxi was in her first year, she was more prominent than Xu Zhou now.
...
Soon, the principal and the teachers finished their discussion and officially held the school-wide assembly.
Over ten thousand teachers and students stood on the sports field.
On the podium, the principal held a microphone and said solemnly: "Recently, rumors have appeared in the school, causing a significant turmoil that affected the tens of thousands of teachers and students in the whole school!"
"If this matter spreads externally, it will cause a considerable loss to the school's reputation!"
"The impact is extremely bad, and the consequences are extremely severe!"
"Therefore, after my discussion with the teachers, we have decided to punish the initiators of the rumors as follows!"
As the words fell, everyone quieted down.
Many insiders were curious about how the principal would punish them?
First-year Class 8, led by Xu Zhou, focused intently on the principal.
Under such eager anticipation,
the principal said loudly: "First-year Class 1, Huang Hao. Expelled immediately, dismissed from Linjiang First High School, never to be employed again!"
"Third-year Class 2, Huang Yunxuan. Punished with thirty thrashings and stripped of all Hundred Strong Ranking rewards until graduation!"
"The above are punishments for the rumor spreaders, held publicly to serve as a warning!"
Buzz!
The whole field fell silent.
Then the field erupted with a huge wave.
Not to mention those unaware, even those who witnessed the events were deeply shocked at this moment.
Huang Hao expelled and dismissed from the school!
Huang Yunxuan thrashed thirty times and stripped of all Hundred Strong Ranking rewards!
These two were students on the Hundred Strong Ranking!
And Huang Yunxuan was even in the top ten of the Dragon-Tiger Ranking, but now, the principal actually made such a decision?
It's too severe!
But the principal paid no attention to the views of the crowd.
He said solemnly: "Huang Yunxuan, come to the stage!"
In the crowd, Huang Yunxuan's face was ashen.
Earlier, he had a glimmer of hope that the principal, considering his status on the Hundred Strong Ranking, wouldn't be too harsh.
But when he heard the punishment, he knew it was over; the glorious image of being in the Dragon-Tiger's Top Ten was all gone.
And now, the principal even wanted him to come stage?
To be publicly thrashed in front of the entire school?
How is that possible!!
Huang Yunxuan stood still.
"Huang Yunxuan, come to the stage!" The principal shouted loudly.
After a while, unable to withstand the pressure of the surrounding gazes, Huang Yunxuan finally stepped towards the podium.
This was not an honor, nor a crowning moment, but a humiliation.
The shame of being publicly punished in front of over ten thousand teachers and students!
Finally, Huang Yunxuan stood on the podium, back facing the crowd.
The principal stepped down, and then Liu Kaiqi walked up with an iron rod in his hand.
"Bang! Bang! Bang!"
Without saying a word, he began the public punishment.
One blow, two blows, three blows!
During this process, the vast field with over ten thousand teachers and students was extremely quiet, even deathly silent.
A top ten genius on the Dragon-Tiger Ranking was being publicly thrashed before them!
Looking through the history of Linjiang First High School, this had never happened before!
Many insiders quietly looked towards Xu Zhou with eyes full of deep admiration and...fear.
On the podium.
Huang Yunxuan was hit rod after rod.
He faced away from the crowd, his face twisted heavily.
Ten...twenty...thirty!
The thrashing was complete.
Huang Yunxuan's back swelled high, even his school uniform was bulging.
"Get down." Liu Kaiqi said coldly.
"...Yes." Huang Yunxuan rasped.
He walked down the steps, eyes fixed firmly on the direction of first-year Class 8, filled with uncontrollable hatred.
His brother's arm was severed, making the path of cultivation extremely difficult, and now expelled from school, the future bleak!
And he himself was stripped of all rewards from the Hundred Strong Ranking, publicly punished in front of the whole school!
Today's humiliation in every way.
"Xu Zhou..."
Huang Yunxuan gritted his teeth, standing back in his team, his eyes filled with murderous intent.
In Class 8 of the first-year group, Xu Zhou seemed to sense something and glanced at Huang Yunxuan.
"Are you hating me?" Xu Zhou withdrew his gaze.
Everything Huang Yunxuan experienced was because of Xu Zhou; hating him was only natural.
But Xu Zhou was actually surprised by the principal's method of punishment.
He only wanted a public punishment, like a school-wide report or recording it in files, letting everyone know the consequences of spreading rumors.
But in the end, the principal flogged him thirty times publicly!
Such punishment was more intimidating than expulsion.
But soon, Xu Zhou's face returned to calm.
All of this, though it started because of him, these punishments were self-inflicted by those involved, nothing to be sympathetic about.
...
Meanwhile, the principal stepped back onto the podium.
"The fate of the rumor spreaders is as such!"
"This matter does not just involve Huang Yunxuan and Huang Hao. Third-year Class 2's homeroom teacher Liu Kaiqi also has some responsibility and will also face punishment!"
The principal said solemnly: "Today is merely a deterrent, anyone who dares to spread rumors in the future will bear the consequences themselves!"
With those words, the entire scene fell into absolute silence.
The principal, however, quietly glanced at Xu Zhou's direction.
The reason for such a punishment was because the principal and the school leadership had reached a consensus.
That is, to validate Xu Zhou's talent!
The Heavenly Dragon Indestructible Body was a talent fabricated by Cao Yong.
But now, the school decided to promote it as a truly top-tier talent!
This way, not only would Cao Yong's previous words be fulfilled but also bring great prestige to the school.
Previously, Cao Yong's words, though shocking, were only backed by him alone, which always attracted much skepticism.
But what if they, the whole school, stood together to guarantee Xu Zhou's talent?
Who would doubt then? Who would dare to doubt?
The public thrashing was the best deterrent method!
And the reason for this decision,
was because they saw Xu Zhou's potential.
"From today on." The principal glanced at a nearby teacher and said: "The school's supply of cultivation resources for Xu Zhou will be tripled, with increased nurturing efforts."
The teacher slightly widened his eyes but wasn't surprised and immediately nodded: "Yes."
Xu Zhou's current performance was enough for the school to fully nurture him.
"A small guy capable of increasing ten cards of Qi-Blood in two weeks."
The principal whispered in his heart: "I hope you won't disappoint me."
The Heavenly Dragon Indestructible Body is a non-existent talent.
But if Xu Zhou can truly continue to grow, this non-existent talent might someday be recorded in history.
By then, an S-tier top-level talent "created" by them will shine in the world.