Shrek Academy is corrupt

"Here, I would like to say sorry to everyone!"

After saying this, Elder Lin bowed to everyone. After a three-second pause, she stood up.

Seeing this, Yan Shaozhe lowered his head and dared not look at Elder Lin.

This old woman had contributed enough to Shrek Academy, yet no one had expected that today, she would have to personally apologize to a group of students.

Elder Lin knew that doing this would not change anything, but it was a matter of attitude.

She wanted the students to see Shrek Academy's sincerity and to let them know that Shrek Academy was not hegemonic.

Only by showing sincerity could the other party understand Shrek Academy's determination to admit its mistakes!

"Ma Xiaotao is Yan Shaozhe's direct disciple. Her martial soul is the Evil Fire Phoenix. When she practices, she continuously produces evil fire. Once the evil fire accumulates to a certain level, it erupts."

"That is why she has cultivated into this state."

"Students, Ma Xiaotao is not an evil soul master. Before today, she has never harmed anyone, nor has she used evil means to improve her strength."

"The main reason for the evil fire's outbreak this time is that Teacher Yan Shaozhe was incompetent and negligent, failing to detect Ma Xiaotao's abnormal condition in time."

"Yan Shaozhe should bear the primary responsibility!"

Yan Shaozhe remained silent for a while before finally speaking with difficulty, "Elder Lin, I admit it!"

"Good. Since you admit it, I hereby strip you of your title as Dean of the Martial Soul Department and place you under probation within the academy."

"At the same time, you will be responsible for supervising Ma Xiaotao. Such an incident must not happen a second time. If it does, she will be treated as an evil soul master!"

Though Elder Lin's words sounded severe, they had actually revived a hopeless situation.

With this approach, neither Yan Shaozhe nor Ma Xiaotao suffered any real losses.

The students of Class Nine were bewildered, merely thinking they had witnessed the fall of the Academy's Martial Soul Department Dean!

As for Ma Xiaotao, if something like this happened again, she would be treated as an evil soul master...

It sounded somewhat far-fetched, because as things stood, Ma Xiaotao could already be classified as an evil soul master!

Ma Xiaotao had been given a chance to avoid harm.

Yan Shaozhe understood Elder Lin's meaning and nodded thoughtfully.

He was not stripped of his membership in the Sea God Pavilion, which meant the issue was not severe.

He only lost his position as the dean of the Academy.

This also gave him more time to monitor Ma Xiaotao and prevent her from acting recklessly.

"Hiss"

The group of uninformed young students gasped. Had their persistence actually brought down Yan Shaozhe?

Who was this old woman?

With just a few words, she had forced Yan Shaozhe to step down!

At this point, the students' anger finally began to fade.

But that wasn't enough.

They were the ones whose lives had been at risk. Punishing Yan Shaozhe and Ma Xiaotao was the academy's responsibility, but if they received no compensation, wouldn't this life and death ordeal have been for nothing?

Seeing their reaction, Elder Lin felt relieved.

As long as they stopped fixating on Ma Xiaotao's situation, any problem solvable with money was no real problem.

"Due to today's incident, your celebration was ruined. The academy will allocate five million gold soul coins for you to hold another one."

Elder Lin spoke without a change in expression, as if five million gold soul coins were mere pocket change.

The students were stunned, staring at her in numb disbelief.

This wasn't fifty thousand, nor five hundred thousand. It was five million gold soul coins!

Their entire party had only cost a few hundred thousand. With this amount, they could even purchase a ten thousand year soul bone!

Was the academy bleeding money?

The crowd's anger diminished further. The old woman's words now carried the weight of genuine apology.

"Additionally, each student attacked today will receive three Soul Ascension Pills as compensation from the academy."

Hearing this, Yan Shaozhe couldn't help but inhale sharply.

Three Soul Ascension Pills per person?

While these pills didn't enhance innate talent like the Mysterious Water Pill, they allowed soul masters below rank 30 to gain one full level of soul power, unconditionally.

The second pill offered half that effect, and the third, half again.

Even so, they were priceless.

If even a hundred students were present, that meant three hundred Soul Ascension Pills, another three to five million gold soul coins gone!

Between this and the earlier compensation, the academy had nearly spent ten million gold soul coins to settle today's incident!

"The academy will neither let wrongdoers escape nor neglect those who have contributed greatly."

Elder Lin paused at this point, turning her gaze to Huo Yuhao and Hua Huo as she said softly, "Huo Yuhao, Hua Huo, your performance during this incident was exceptional. You accomplished what seemed nearly impossible."

"Therefore, the academy will grant you special rewards!"

"As for Teacher Mu Jin, your outstanding efforts in protecting the students have earned you a promotion to senior teacher and deputy director of the teaching department. You'll also receive permanent access to the second floor of the Sea God Pavilion Library."

"Are you all satisfied with how the academy has handled this matter?"

Elder Lin wore a gentle smile, her expression radiating kindness.

Mu Jin and the students stood stunned before nodding reflexively.

The compensation was incredible!

Not only had they dealt with the problematic Yan Shaozhe, but also Ma Xiaotao.

With such generous rewards offered, claiming dissatisfaction would seem ungrateful.

Faced with these compensations, even knowing the life-threatening risks involved, some might still be tempted to take the chance.

Hua Huo and Huo Yuhao exchanged glances. Seeing Huo Yuhao shake his head slightly, Hua Huo remained silent.

Though Elder Lin's solution appeared perfect, its flaws were evident.

The deception had succeeded.

For now, it was best to let matters rest.

"It seems the students are quite satisfied. That pleases me greatly. The compensation will be officially distributed tomorrow. Please be patient."

Elder Lin knew the crisis had been averted. As for potential future consequences, those could wait.

As long as those present were appeased, Shrek Academy could manage any subsequent public opinion.

The academy's millennia-old reputation and heritage weren't built on nothing.

Even if the academy leadership truly protected an evil soul master, which wasn't the case with Ma Xiaotao, few would believe such rumors. Especially since today's incident hadn't resulted in any fatalities.

"For your celebration, the gold soul coins will be entrusted to your class monitor to reorganize the event."

"Huo Yuhao, Hua Huo, please come with me."

Without hesitation, Huo Yuhao and Hua Huo followed Elder Lin.

Watching them leave, Class Nine students exchanged glances before dispersing to their dormitories.

Today's events would remain memorable even a century later.

A mere student had challenged Shrek Academy's fundamental rules and made the prestigious institution pay dearly!

Ning Tian and Wang Dong frowned. Given their statuses, they should have been among Shrek Academy's closest allies.

Yet the academy's actions left them questioning.

Had Yan Shaozhe succeeded rather than been exposed by Hua Huo, would the academy have offered such compensation?

Would the leadership have simply turned a blind eye?

"Shrek Academy is corrupt!"