Chapter 95: Temporary Teacher Furina
Furina accepted Zhou Yi's invitation to teach the class on her behalf with almost no hesitation whatsoever. This was far more than a simple teaching task—it was an ideal platform to showcase the philosophy of the Church of the Water God to the younger generation of Shrek Academy.
"I am honored by Teacher's regard. As a student, I am naturally more than willing to be of service." A graceful, confident curve lifted the corner of Furina's lips, her voice ringing out clear and melodious. "Since Teacher Zhou has extended this invitation in such earnest, how could I, as her student, possibly refuse? Might I suggest that Teacher temporarily step aside, or perhaps find an empty seat among the audience, and observe how I, Furina, perform in the role of temporary instructor?"
Zhou Yi cast her a deep, searching look but said nothing. She silently retreated to the side of the classroom and folded her arms, assuming the unmistakable stance of an observer. She was eager to see just what kind of unique and unconventional lesson this "problem student" who had dared talk back to her could possibly deliver.
Furina stepped onto the lectern with unhurried poise. Her azure eyes swept across the many curious, appraising, and expectant faces below, and she unfurled an intensely infectious smile.
"Good! Very good! Dear fellow students, the morning light is just right, and I'm delighted to meet you all on such a beautiful morning. I am Furina, the current Pope of the Church of the Water God. Today, I am fortunate to have been entrusted by Teacher Zhou Yi to temporarily assume the role of instructor. I hope you will all generously offer me your guidance."
She declared her identity openly, without the slightest attempt to conceal it, her voice clear and unwavering. This was precisely the effect she wanted—to use the classroom of Shrek Academy to deeply inscribe the name "Furina, Pope of the Church of the Water God," along with the ideals that name represented, into the hearts of these future pillars of the continent. As for the risks that revealing her identity might bring? Furina had long since weighed them carefully.
Ever since she had disclosed her identity to Bei Bei, Tang Ya, and Jiang Nannan, and had come into contact with Mu En, the upper echelons of Shrek must have already turned their attention toward her. Concealment was now meaningless. Better to present herself openly and with confidence.
What was more—she had learned from the Water God that the God King Tang San's gaze had already been cast down upon her. Though that gaze felt like a blade poised at her back, fortune had also smiled upon her: the God of Destruction, who wielded the authority of annihilation, had likewise turned his scrutinizing eye in her direction. She had already entrusted the Water God to act as an intermediary, expressing her wish to communicate with the God of Destruction. As a fellow human treading the path to godhood through faith, Furina surmised that this God King might hold some genuine interest in her existence—not to mention that he himself was planning to pass on the Goddess of Life's divine seat to her.
If she could secure even a measure of the God of Destruction's support, then at the very least, when facing Tang San's all-pervasive "influence," she would have an extra measure of confidence.
Of course, she would never place all her hopes in others. The minds of deities were unfathomable, and the experience of countless predecessors had proven time and again that relying on external forces was no long-term solution. To forge iron, one's own strength must be hard. Only by ceaselessly raising her own power and expanding her own influence could she seize the initiative in this intricate, multi-layered game of chess.
Tamping down the tangled swirl of thoughts in her heart, Furina focused her full attention on the class before her. She cleared her throat and began her formal instruction.
"Now then—let us begin today's lesson. First, I'd like everyone to consider a question that is foundational, yet perhaps not as simple as it seems."
Her gaze drifted across the classroom, finally coming to rest on the youth with strikingly handsome features, a proud bearing, and hair of pinkish-blue. "Wang Dong, please answer: Into which types are soul masters typically categorized? Among them, which lean more toward offense, and which are better suited to defense?"
Wang Dong rose to his feet and answered fluently. "Soul masters are divided into Assault-type, Agility-type, Control-type, Food-type, Support-type, and Defense-type. Generally speaking, the Assault, Agility, and Control types are more suited to offensive roles, while Food, Support, and Defense types lean more toward defensive and support roles."
His answer was as textbook-perfect as could be, and his face wore an expression of natural, unshakable confidence.
Furina did not immediately evaluate his response. Instead, she pressed, "Have you finished?"
Wang Dong blinked, clearly not understanding the intent behind the question. He hesitated for a moment, then nodded. "I have."
"Very good." Furina inclined her head lightly. Then, her tone shifted abruptly, carrying a note of playfully provocative amusement. "In that case, I regret to inform you—that is the standard answer given only by a 'fool' whose thinking is tightly shackled by tradition. Please take your seat, Wang Dong."
"What?!" Wang Dong's beautiful eyes flew wide, his cheeks puffing up with indignation. "I am not a fool!" he muttered under his breath.
A faint ripple of disquiet stirred through the classroom. Many students were clearly puzzled, even displeased by Furina's assessment of Wang Dong.
Furina did not rush to quell the murmurs. She waited a few seconds, then raised a hand to signal for silence. "I know many of you are confused. If we were to turn back the clock four thousand years—to an era before the Sun Moon Continent collided with the Douluo Continent—Wang Dong's answer would have been impeccable. But today, after thousands of years of vigorous development in soul tool technology, that answer has become rigid and divorced from reality."
Her gaze shifted toward the back row, settling on the steadfast, calm-eyed, blue-haired youth. "Huo Yuhao, share your thoughts."
Huo Yuhao rose to his feet. After a moment of consideration, he answered cautiously, "It's because the emergence and advancement of soul tools have altered the traditional roles of soul masters."
"A fine line of thought," Furina offered her approval first. Then, she delivered an assessment that left everyone even more bewildered. "Congratulations—you are the second 'fool' to be called upon in this class. However, you are slightly better than the first. You could be considered a... fool who at least did a bit of thinking."
Huo Yuhao was similarly taken aback, his face a blank canvas of confusion.
Furina looked at him and patiently explained. "Your answer, in itself, would pose no problem by the teaching standards of the vast majority of soul master academies on the continent. One could even say it is quite a correct understanding. But here, in my classroom, merely recognizing that 'soul tools have changed the situation' is far from sufficient. That is a superficial conclusion—the outer limit that those 'clever fools' can reach: people who can see the change, but have never deeply considered the essence behind it."
She swept her gaze across the room, taking in the mingled confusion and contemplation on the students' faces, and knew that her words had successfully captured their interest.
"Today, the primary reason I stand here is to shatter the rigid, deep-rooted thinking about soul master classification and development that has been drilled into your minds!" Furina's voice rose, carrying an undeniable, penetrating force.
"Let us re-examine these categories: Assault, Control, Agility, Defense, Support—and Food-type, which is typically lumped in with Support. Why must we be restricted by these labels, walking only the fixed paths drawn by those who came before us?"
"Aside from those cases constrained by the inherent defects of the martial soul itself—where a particular martial soul is simply born without offensive or defensive capabilities—why do we confine ourselves within these self-imposed prisons? Must support-type soul masters truly be forever fated to have no connection to formidable offensive power?"