Tang San of Suotuo City's Great Soul Arena (First Update)

Outside Skywater Academy's main gates.

The dean, Shui Qingyue, personally saw them off, with Shui Bing'er and Xue Wu following behind her.

Watching Huo Yuhao depart with Zi Ling, Shui Qingyue could not help but sigh.

She truly felt unwilling to let such a peerless genius leave, but since he wanted to go, they could hardly force him to stay.

"This boy will surely rise to greatness someday. What a pity..." Shui Qingyue sighed silently.

In the end, their foundation was simply too weak to keep him.

"Auntie, if he does not want to stay, then forget it. I, Shui Bing'er, am no weaker than anyone else," Shui Bing'er said, shaking her head.

"Silly child, you do not understand what a Thousand-Year Level Second Soul Ring means." Shui Qingyue shook her head.

"Isn't it just an extra thousand-year soul ring?" Xue Wu asked curiously from the side.

The age limit for a Second Soul Ring was roughly eight hundred years.

In her view, this "Thousand-Year Second Soul Ring" only exceeded the limit by two hundred years. What could that possibly prove?

"This is the limit for human soul masters. Anyone who dared to surpass it and attempt it died, and even Spirit Hall's prodigies were no exception."

"Throughout history, the Titled Douluo, the Popes of Spirit Hall, even the legendary Clear Sky Douluo—their soul ring configurations never broke this rule. Yet he did..." Shui Qingyue sighed softly.

"Dean, do you mean... he might surpass the sages of past generations?" Xue Wu was stunned.

Shui Qingyue shook her head. "Hard to say, but one thing is certain: his future is destined to be extraordinary."

"Provided that he can grow smoothly until then."

Shui Bing'er listened, deep in thought.

"While interacting with him, I noticed that the Soul Power within him was far more profound than my own. His Soul Power Level should be higher than level thirty-three."

"What? He... he is only twelve years old?!" Xue Wu's expression froze in astonishment.

Shui Qingyue was also stunned by her words.

Outside Skywater City.

After rejecting the Tianshui Academy Dean's invitation, Huo Yuhao set out south again with Zi Ling.

"They clearly wanted you to marry into their family. Why did you not agree?" Zi Ling asked curiously.

"Why should I?" Huo Yuhao countered.

"Though Shui Bing'er cannot compare to the Ice and Snow Two Emperors, she is quite pretty among humans. She is talented, quiet, and it is obvious she has some feelings for you. Staying to cultivate your relationship would have been a pretty good choice," Zi Ling chattered.

Huo Yuhao shot her a cold glance, and Zi Ling immediately reined herself in, not daring to make another sound.

Before his ears could have any peace, however, he heard her ask again.

"By the way, where exactly are we going?"

Huo Yuhao raised an eyebrow slightly, and Zi Ling instinctively took half a step back.

"Shrek Academy," Huo Yuhao said calmly.

"Huh? What kind of place is that? Are you going there to enroll?" Zi Ling was somewhat surprised.

After all, he had just turned down Skywater Academy's offer, only to head for another Shrek... whatever Academy?

"To settle a score." A frigid, hateful killing intent flickered in Huo Yuhao's eyes.

Tang San!

The one who had started the tragedy of his previous life.

Tang San had forcibly interfered with his fate, imprisoned his thoughts, controlled his actions, and used Dong'er as bait to turn him step by step into a puppet in his palm.

To seize the fortune of soul beasts, he had caused Qiu'er's death;

At the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, under the guise of a trial, he had nearly gotten him killed;

His great vengeance against the White Tiger Duke's Mansion had ultimately gone unfulfilled, and he had even been forced to change his surname.

Huo Yuhao remembered Tang San's deception in his past life deeply, and he had sworn that in this life, he would repay it a hundredfold!

Now that he had begun to rise, though his cultivation was still not high, it was enough for him to personally collect a portion of the interest from Tang San!

Seeing Huo Yuhao overflowing with resentment, Zi Ling instinctively moved farther away.

At the same time, a question could not help arising in her heart.

This guy was already monstrously strong on his own. With outside assistance, he could even fight Ice Empress to a draw. Among humans, he was also a top-tier expert.

Just which fool with a death wish had dared to become enemies with someone this ruthless?!

More than a month later.

Balak Kingdom, Suotuo City.

Huo Yuhao walked through the streets with Zi Ling.

"We have been traveling for over a month and crossed more than eight hundred kilometers from north to south. When are we finally getting there?" Zi Ling complained endlessly.

"That is the distance by carriage, not something you were meant to measure on foot," Huo Yuhao said.

"But I am so tired, Yuhao Gege. How about we rest here for a few days first, pretty please?" Zi Ling coquettishly tugged at Huo Yuhao's arm and shook it, looking up at him with her lively Purple Eyes fluttering.

Huo Yuhao felt somewhat helpless.

All along the way, whenever they passed through a city, she would clamor for a rest.

Especially in Heaven Dou City, where they had stayed for five or six days under the pretense that she was observing and recording human living habits.

It was precisely because of her that a journey which should have taken just over half a month had been dragged out to more than a month.

"This is the last city," Huo Yuhao said.

"Huh? We are here? Then where is Shrek Academy?" Zi Ling instantly perked up as if injected with stimulants, her Purple Eyes scanning the surroundings. She looked ready to grab a passerby and ask directly.

Huo Yuhao did not really want to respond to her.

The original Shrek Academy was merely within the territory governed by Suotuo City; it was not located inside the city.

As far as he knew, the first Shrek Academy had been established in a rural farmhouse, and its conditions were nowhere near as lavish as they would be ten thousand years later.

"Yuhao Gege, lots of people are heading that way. There seems to be something interesting over there." Zi Ling pointed toward the flow of people. A massive building stood in the distance.

Huo Yuhao followed her gaze. The structure resembled a Roman colosseum in its circular design.

A Soul Arena?

"Little San, you should keep your win rate in check. Otherwise, the Soul Arena will probably target you and arrange troublesome opponents for you," said a blond young man.

Huo Yuhao suddenly turned around.

"Do not worry, Dai Boss. I know what I am doing," said an ordinary-looking youth with short dark-blue hair falling to his shoulders.

"What is wrong with winning consecutively? That is how we make them take us seriously." The Pink-Clad Girl with a scorpion braid bounced about playfully.

"Never underestimate your opponents, but there is no need to deliberately hold back either. The stronger the opponent, the greater the effect on cultivation and tempering," said a weathered man with gray-white hair. He held a thick tome in his hands, his voice slightly hoarse.

It was them?

A cold glint flashed through Huo Yuhao's eyes.

It seemed there was no need for him to personally go to Shrek Academy. Tang San had delivered himself to him.

"What are you looking at?" Zi Ling followed Huo Yuhao's gaze.

In an instant, her eyes fixed on the Pink-Clad Girl with the long scorpion braid.

The aura of a soul beast, this was—

"Come on. Let us go take a look over there." Huo Yuhao headed coldly toward the Great Soul Arena ahead.

"Ah? Oh." Zi Ling hurried after him.

She had wanted to say something, but she was worried...

After hesitating, she chose to remain silent.