Core Disciple

Back at the academy, Huo Yuxi heard the loudspeakers at the main gate repeatedly announcing, "Congratulations to Huo Yuhao's team for winning the freshman assessment competition."

"Yay! First place still belongs to our Class One!" Huo Yuxi was overjoyed. When you think about it, first place still belonged to them.

On the way back to the dorms, her steps felt light and airy. Although she hadn't achieved the ultimate victory herself, the battles over the past few days had given her a great experience.

She considered it accumulating practical combat experience.

"Xixi, where are you two coming back from?" Xiao Xiao's voice came from ahead. Seeing her, Huo Yuxi immediately rushed forward like a swallow diving into a forest, throwing herself into Xiao Xiao's arms and nuzzling her affectionately.

"You guys were amazing, you got first place! Hurry up and tell me, is Da Quan going crazy with anger?" Huo Yuxi imagined Dai Huabin's face contorting with rage and burst out laughing.

"Yeah," Xiao Xiao pinched her chubby cheeks. "It's all your fault. The way you said it back in the dorm made me unable to stop glancing at him once I got on the field. They probably all thought I had a crush on him."

Dai Huabin's image flashed in her mind, and Xiao Xiao couldn't help but laugh again, "But you're right, it was too accurate."

The others were completely bewildered by their cryptic conversation. Huo Yuhao looked at Huo Yuxi and asked, "Who is Da Quan?"

"Da Quan is Dai Huabin!" Huo Yuxi didn't think there was anything wrong with that. She herself had wanted to kill him, and she was already doing well by just giving him a nickname, and such a polite one at that.

"Why call him that?" Wang Dong didn't understand. What was the connection?

"Because he has a middle part, and when he uses his soul skills, there's a 'Wang' on his forehead!" Huo Yuxi even dramatically pushed aside her bangs and pointed to her forehead.

Wang Dong put an arm around her shoulder and couldn't help but laugh, "Are you a genius!"

Once the idea took hold, it couldn't be changed. The more she thought about it, the funnier it became.

Huo Yuhao pulled Wang Dong's hand down. "Talk, but don't get handsy."

Wang Dong glared at him unhappily but didn't say much else. Huo Yuxi quickly changed the subject, "Brother, the competition is over. Are you selling grilled fish today? We haven't had it in a long time."

"We're not selling tonight. We're going to the wilderness with Teacher Tang Ya and the others to cook it for you privately."

Tang Ya led everyone to a spot perfect for grilling fish, even bringing the necessary tools.

As soon as the grilled fish was cooked, Huo Yuxi was the first to share it with her two friends who hadn't tried it before, staring at them expectantly, "How is it?"

Anyone who didn't know would think she had grilled the fish herself, she was so eager for their praise.

"Mmm, it's super delicious!" Lu Wanwan was also very obliging, praising it as she ate.

Huo Yuxi was satisfied and quickly started eating as well. After everyone had eaten their fill, Tang Ya remembered the main business and turned to Wang Dong, "Wang Dong, do you still want to join the Tang Sect?"

"Of course," Wang Dong put down his grilled fish, his expression serious.

"Good!" After welcoming him to the Tang Sect, Tang Ya turned her attention to Xiao Xiao, "Xiao Xiao, are you interested? Want to join us too?"

"The Tang Sect?" Xiao Xiao blinked, looking at Tang Ya with sincere eyes.

"Yes, the Tang Sect. Did you see the special movement technique Huo Yuxi and Huo Yuhao used in the competition? That's a supreme skill of our Tang Sect. If you join, I'll teach it to you later, how about that?"

"Okay," Xiao Xiao thought of the cool movement technique Huo Yuhao used in the battle and agreed immediately.

"Then I want to learn too!" Huo Yuxi quickly chimed in. She hadn't been very interested before, but now with Xiao Xiao as a companion, she felt motivated again.

"No problem, I'll teach you all later."

Tang Ya actually wanted to invite Luo Ling and Lu Wanwan, but they weren't very familiar with each other, and with their reserved personalities, there was no common ground, so she gave up.

"By the way, does anyone want to learn Soul Tool crafting?" Tang Ya asked, her gaze sweeping over them. "For the Tang Sect to rise again, we definitely need to revive our hidden weapons. But we can't be self-contained like before; we need innovation. We need to combine hidden weapons with Soul Tools."

Xiao Xiao and Wang Dong were more focused on their Martial Soul cultivation and didn't really want to learn Soul Tool crafting. However, Huo Yuhao had a different idea.

"Soul Tools can replace the Tang Sect's hidden weapons as the most valued weapons in the continent's various countries. There must be something magical about them. Teacher Tang Ya, if I have the talent, I'd like to give it a try."

"Huo Yuhao, are you really willing?" Tang Ya's eyes lit up. "That's great! Your Martial Soul happens to be spirit-based and lacks offensive power. With Soul Tools, this weakness can be covered up."

"And your Spirit Eyes Martial Soul is so precise with controlling heat, you'll definitely have talent!"

Bei Bei took her hand and sat down, reminding Huo Yuhao, "But Yuhao, you also need to manage your time well and don't focus too much on Soul Tool cultivation. After all, soul power cultivation is the foundation for us Soul Masters."

"The more powerful the Soul Tool, the more soul power it requires to activate. You still need to have sufficient soul power yourself."

"I know." After Zhou Yi had taken him to learn about Soul Tools last time, Huo Yuhao's determination for his future path had only grown stronger.

Even if he didn't have talent, he would still learn about Soul Tools. He knew how powerful his enemies would be in the future, and he wouldn't let go of any resource he could utilize.

Tang Ya added at this point, "However, even if you want to learn, you might not have the opportunity. One of the essential rewards for the freshman assessment is the identity of an Outer Court core disciple. This identity signifies that the academy will invest more resources in you to become a stronger Soul Master, and it's unlikely they'll agree to you being distracted by choosing to study in the Soul Tool department."

"Core disciple?" Huo Yuhao murmured softly.

Hearing his voice, a flicker of worry flashed in Bei Bei's eyes. He hoped he was overthinking things!

The next day.

The weather was clear, with not a cloud in the sky. Xiao Xiao opened the window and breathed in the fresh air outside. Huo Yuxi was lying on the bed, the Soul Devouring Spider plushie covering the back of her head. Both of them were sleeping soundly.

"All freshmen, please gather at Shrek Plaza. All freshmen, please gather at Shrek Plaza." The loudspeakers in the plaza broadcast the notification with their distinctive voices. To ensure students still in their dorms were aware, the owl alarm clocks also began to chime.

"Xixi, wake up, we need to go."

Huo Yuxi pushed the Soul Devouring Spider off her, rubbing her head. She felt like she had a breakthrough last night and had been cultivating until past three in the morning. Her soul power had already reached level 33.

Shortly after everyone had lined up, Du Weilun, accompanied by over a dozen teachers, arrived on stage. He held a folder in his hand and smiled as he scanned the spirited students.

"The elimination rounds of the freshman assessment have also concluded. Next, I will announce the top three teams and their rewards."

"Third place, Huo Yuxi's team, with members Huo Yuxi, Luo Ling, and Lu Wanwan. Second place is Dai Huabin's team, with members Dai Huabin, Zhu Lu, and Cui Yajie." He paused as if to build suspense, "And now, the champions of our elimination rounds, Wang Dong's team. Please step onto the stage in order."