The Outsider in the Trio

When Huo Yuhao left the dormitory, there was still more than an hour before class began.

So he stopped by the innermost section of the cafeteria for a top-tier breakfast.

That one meal cost him nearly a hundred Gold Soul Coins. The food was expensive, but well worth the price.

These top-grade delicacies specially prepared by Shrek were mostly made from high-level soul beast meat and ingredients. Not only were they greatly beneficial to a Soul Master's body, but they also aided cultivation.

By the time Huo Yuhao arrived alone at Freshman Class Nine, class was about to begin, and most of the seats in the classroom were already occupied.

The moment Huo Yuhao entered the classroom, he immediately drew the attention of the entire class, making the already somewhat noisy room erupt into even greater commotion.

Quite a few students immediately began whispering among themselves.

"Wow, such a handsome guy! Especially his eyes—they're so mesmerizing!!"

"I'm done for, girls!"

"Even if our class has too many girls and too few boys, having him alone is more than enough."

In contrast to the friendly and enthusiastic gazes of most of the female students, the few male students in the class looked at him with wariness and hostility.

After all, what boy at that age did not want to be the center of attention, show off, and enjoy the enthusiastic adoration of beautiful girls?

They could hardly wait to fight the culprit who had stolen the attention of every girl in the class.

"Tch, a bunch of lovestruck idiots. What use is being handsome? Just wait until I win you over with my strength."

"Hmph, at Shrek Academy, strength reigns supreme. I hope this guy isn't just a pretty face."

Huo Yuhao calmly swept his gaze around the classroom, then casually found an empty seat and sat down.

Naturally, he did not care about their discussions.

There were a hundred students in a class, yet fewer than half would remain at the academy to continue their studies. The number of people worth Huo Yuhao's attention was even smaller.

As he had swept his gaze through the classroom just now, he had also activated his system vision.

Huo Yuhao discovered that only two people had panel information above their heads.

They were naturally Ning Tian and Wu Feng.

Both of their favorability levels had reached the Acquainted stage, while their Achievement Tasks were still waiting to refresh.

Relying on his looks was basically foolproof, and it was especially effective against these innocent, inexperienced girls.

As for Nanmen Yun'er, the final member of the Original Work trio, Huo Yuhao did not know whether she had not arrived in the classroom yet or simply lacked the qualifications.

It was probably the latter. Huo Yuhao was not particularly surprised.

After all, in the Original Work, Nanmen Yun'er simply vanished without a trace later on, making her the trio's orange outsider.

And in the Valley of Asking Love arc, the part where a certain girl became a boy and two loving sisters finally became a couple was simply far too prominent.

Fortunately, they were not part of the protagonist's group. Otherwise, pulling something like that would have been rather outrageous even in today's webnovel scene.

At the same time, this was also the benefit of keeping his expectations low.

Rather, the fact that two people alone had the qualifications to be assessed already made Huo Yuhao, who had not held much hope to begin with, somewhat pleased.

It was like eating a popsicle during the hottest days of summer, only to unexpectedly discover that its wooden stick said buy one, get one free.

That was an unexpected delight.

Never mind whether he could obtain the rewards from those two people's Achievement Tasks.

At the very least, with them around, the three months before the New Student Assessment would not be so boring.

As for Huo Yuhao's arrival, among the female students, a delicate-looking girl with light green hair cascading down her back and gentle dark green eyes smiled softly. She spoke to the blonde girl beside her.

"Ning Tian, a really handsome boy just arrived. I think I'm in love."

"Stop being so lovestruck. But he really is quite handsome. What is it, Yun'er? Are you going to make a move?"

The girl was Ning Tian. Her short golden hair made her look neat and capable, while her large watery-blue eyes were framed by long lashes. Her features were exquisite, and she had a tall, slender figure.

Even Ning Tian had to admit that Huo Yuhao's appearance was truly astonishing.

His breathtakingly refined features were flawless, while several strands of black hair curved past his high nose bridge and hung loosely down, adding a hint of unruliness and casualness to his face.

His deep blue eyes, as profound as the sea, were intoxicating. Together with the gentle smile at the corners of his lips, he was like a spring breeze brushing across one's face—warm without losing his grace.

Within that refined elegance, however, was an indescribable air of nobility: a confidence and composure that seemed to emanate from his very bones. The two stood in stark contrast, yet coexisted in perfect harmony.

But as the Young Master of the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect, Ning Tian would not casually become lovestruck. One reason she had come to Shrek was to find a suitable cultivation companion, and strength was her foremost criterion in choosing a partner.

Of course, if someone possessed strength while also having looks as heavenly as Huo Yuhao's, that would be even better.

Ning Tian could tell at a glance that this incomparably handsome youth was definitely of extraordinary background. His bearing was simply far too exceptional.

"I wonder which faction he comes from, and just how strong he is. Wu Feng, what do you think?"

Ning Tian asked the girl on her right, who was also the one outside the trio's current conversation.

She was a girl with fiery red short hair and rare red eyes. Combined with her icy expression, she gave off a somewhat terrifying aura.

But upon closer inspection, the girl's looks were no less striking than Ning Tian's. Her skin was fair as jade, and her figure was even more alluring.

At that moment, she paid no attention to the commotion in the classroom, focusing solely on being Ning Tian's Flower Protector.

Hearing Ning Tian's question, Wu Feng immediately replied:

"What's so good about men? No matter how handsome they are, they're all the same. In my heart, only Young Master is the prettiest!"

Ning Tian had long grown used to her best friend's exaggerated words and emphasized once more:

"Didn't I tell you? Don't call me Young Master at the academy. We're sisters."

"Mm."

Wu Feng obediently agreed, then casually glanced at Huo Yuhao.

The moment she saw his exceptional looks, she immediately became wary. This man is trouble. If Young Master gets lured away by him, wouldn't all my years of effort have been for nothing?

At that thought, Wu Feng's formidable strength dispelled some of the unease lingering in her heart.

Hmph, whatever. She would use her strength to protect her own happiness!

A cold glint flashed through Wu Feng's dark red eyes.

Just then, someone entered through the classroom door. It was Mu Jin, Class Nine's Class Teacher.

As soon as the teacher arrived, the lively discussions in the classroom quickly died down. After all, students naturally held their teachers in awe.

What was more, any soul master capable of teaching at Shrek Academy would not be weak. Teaching Soul Grandmasters like them was naturally effortless.

Compared to Zhou Yi, who would expel students at the slightest disagreement, Mu Jin's teaching methods were far gentler.

But no matter how gentle she was, she still had to establish the authority of a Class Teacher before her students.

Standing at the podium, she looked at the crowd as they gradually fell silent.

Her calm gaze swept from left to right. Everyone felt as though she were looking directly at them, and an invisible pressure immediately rose in their hearts.

"My name is Mu Jin..."