The Strongest Newcomer?

A few hours earlier.

Sea God Lake, Lake Heart Island, lakeside.

Teacher Wang Yan, who had been speaking with Huo Yuhao not long ago, stood there. However, his expression was exceptionally respectful.

Not far in front of him sat an elderly man with disheveled hair, though the man's appearance was truly rather dreadful.

What had originally been a white robe had turned grayish-brown, with many tears in it. His hair was a tangled mess as well. His bare feet were soaking in the cool waters of Sea God Lake, while his right hand held a huge gourd.

The gourd was purplish-red, and its material was unknown. He occasionally lifted it for a drink, releasing a rich aroma of wine. His other hand held a roast chicken. Unbothered by the grease, he happily alternated between gulps of wine and bites of chicken.

"Elder Xuan, that's the situation. Although this student is still young and a new student, he is indeed worth paying attention to."

"Mm..." After swallowing a mouthful of chicken, Elder Xuan turned to glance at Wang Yan. His crimson eyes were especially bright, enough to stir one's very soul.

"This roast chicken tastes wonderful. Truly one of the best roast chickens around! Little Wang, have the cafeteria prepare more in the future."

His gaze was somewhat unfocused at the moment, even carrying a trace of confusion. It seemed he had not seriously listened to Wang Yan at all.

Wang Yan did not know whether to laugh or cry, but faced with his grandteacher, he could only patiently emphasize it again.

"Student Huo Yuhao reached Rank 28 on his own through hard work at only eleven years old. His talent is truly exceptional. Coupled with the fact that his Martial Soul is a Spiritual Attribute Body Martial Soul, his future potential is immense. His background is also clean. I suggest that the academy focus on nurturing him!"

"A Body Martial Soul? That's somewhat interesting." Elder Xuan muttered, his voice hoarse and aged.

"Don't worry. The academy places great importance on every Shrek student. As long as he is worth cultivating, the academy will certainly focus on nurturing him. As for his Third Soul Ring, I will take action when the time comes."

Wang Yan asked, "Then what about the Body Sect? I see that he comes from the Heaven Dou Empire. If someone from the Body Sect uses this matter as an excuse to come knocking..."

Before he could finish, Elder Xuan interrupted him.

Though his tone was calm, it carried an incomparable domineering presence.

"Don't worry. With this old man here, how would the Body Sect dare come to our Shrek Academy and snatch someone away? If that old fool Du Busi dares come, I'll make sure he never leaves!"

Elder Xuan chuckled and rose to his feet. His soaking-wet bare feet stepped onto the lawn, and he looked utterly casual.

"Now I'll teach you again how to judge the strength of a Body Martial Soul. You must look at how important that part of the body is to the human body itself. The more important the body part that serves as the Martial Soul is, the better the Body Martial Soul.

"The new student you mentioned has eyes as his Martial Soul, and it even has the Spiritual Attribute. That means his Martial Soul is actually his eyes and brain. Little Wang, you're very fortunate. To think that you would witness the most top-tier Body Martial Soul in your lifetime.

"Remember to tell Xiao Du later that I'll be going to take a look at the New Student Assessment Ranking Tournament in three months. Tell him to save me a seat."

"Yes."

Night gradually fell as Wang Yan walked toward the cafeteria.

After his earlier conversation with Elder Xuan, he had gone to the Library Pavilion to arrange authorization credentials for Huo Yuhao. While there, he had also verified some of his own thoughts.

Wang Yan had not told Elder Xuan about the Ice Attribute aura Huo Yuhao had displayed that morning.

After all, he had only heard Mu Jin's side of the story and had not witnessed it himself. He would not rashly make a judgment or draw conclusions.

"It's extremely difficult for spiritual-type soul skills to produce Ice Attribute effects. Could it be an Imprint Soul Skill from a Silver Brilliant Beast? But weren't those soul beasts extinct long ago? How strange..."

Wang Yan planned to observe Huo Yuhao carefully during the new student assessment in three months.

Wang Yan believed that through the matches in the new student assessment, he would certainly be able to discern Huo Yuhao's abilities and background.

At that moment, an announcement came from the broadcast near Shrek Academy's cafeteria.

"In one hour, at Soul Fighting Arena Number One in the Soul Fighting Zone, Xu Sanshi, one of the Shrek Outer Court Twin Stars and the owner of the Strongest Defense of the Outer Court Martial Soul, will engage in a Soul Fighting match against Huo Yuhao, the strongest new student of the first year. Any interested Soul Masters, please come to the Soul Fighting Arena to watch."

Wang Yan froze.

He remembered that Xu Sanshi was already a fifth-year student this year, wasn't he? Why would Huo Yuhao be Soul Fighting him?

Could it be that Huo Yuhao had been treated unfairly!?

Huo Yuhao was an orphan with no one to rely on. Even his awakened Martial Soul was an exceptionally unusual spiritual-type Body Martial Soul, making it difficult for him to obtain suitable soul rings.

Yet he had not given up. He had focused wholeheartedly on working hard and cultivating tirelessly. After finally entering Shrek Academy, he was actually being bullied by an upperclassman on the very first day of school...

In an instant, Wang Yan imagined all sorts of possibilities. His anger flared, and he was furious!

During his brief exchange with Huo Yuhao that afternoon, he had sensed that Yuhao was a good child who respected his teachers and elders and was courteous and polite.

He had never expected something like this to happen. It must have been Xu Sanshi's fault!

He had long heard that this man was morally corrupt. In pursuit of a female student, he shamelessly pestered her without end instead of cultivating properly. What a waste of his top-tier Martial Soul.

No, he had to go take a look. At the very least, he had to support Yuhao.

With that thought, Wang Yan no longer cared about his growling stomach and immediately turned toward the Soul Fighting Zone.

The girls' Dormitory Building.

"Huh? Why is the class monitor Soul Fighting someone? His opponent sounds really strong."

"No matter how strong he is, he can't compare to the class monitor. Class Monitor Yuhao is invincible!"

"Come on, come on, sisters! Let's go show our support!"

Aside from Class Nine, the female students of the first year were all extremely curious about Huo Yuhao.

It wasn't because of the title "Strongest New Student."

It was because when it came to looks, the throne of strongest had to belong to Huo Yuhao.

Even that Wang Dong from Class One couldn't compare.

This had been personally verified by plenty of female students!

Over the past few days, they had often "run into" the two of them at Shrek's cafeteria. After conducting on-site observations, they expressed their complete agreement.

However, among the male students outside Class Nine, the title "Strongest New Student" sounded exceptionally grating.

After hearing the announcement, Dai Huabin of the Duke White Tiger's household flew into a rage.

"Strongest New Student? Did anyone ask me, Dai Huabin? This is absolutely ridiculous."

Dormitory 108.

Wang Dong had just finished bathing.

Because of Zhou Yi's favor, she had been openly singled out during the afternoon's weighted run.

That old hag had even sounded completely justified as she said, "Wang Dong, the greater the ability, the greater the responsibility. As the class monitor, you should set an example."

Pah!

In Wang Dong's eyes, Zhou Yi only cared about herself. All she wanted was to produce results in the New Student Assessment three months later, without any concern for whether the students in her class lived or died.

The Support System Soul Masters in particular had suffered terribly.

If not for the Plant-type Tool Soul Saint that old hag had brought in afterward to restore and treat them as a group, they might even have been left with unavoidable hidden injuries.

"Are high-level Soul Masters really this powerful? I've never seen Big Father and Second Uncle act like this..."

Another group of people had been expelled during the afternoon's weighted run.

There was nothing Wang Dong could do about that either.

She muttered to herself, "Just endure it for a few more months. If that old hag dares to provoke me, I'll go home and call in reinforcements. A mere Soul Emperor, hmph!"

Just then, the Dormitory Building broadcast sounded.

Wang Dong's expression immediately changed when she heard it. "Xu Sanshi? Isn't he the senior that Senior Brother introduced last time? How did Yuhao provoke someone so powerful?"

"Teacher Xiao Ya said she was going to buy grilled fish with Yuhao tonight. Senior Brother Beibei must be there too. There has to be some misunderstanding, right?"

Wang Dong immediately got herself ready and ran toward the Soul Fighting Zone.

Huo Yuhao knew nothing about all those people who had rushed over after hearing the news.

He was currently discussing a private wager with Xu Sanshi in the Resting Room.

"Junior Huo, want to make a bet?"

"Ten thousand Gold Soul Coins."

Huo Yuhao immediately named an exorbitant sum, even though he couldn't possibly produce that much money right now.

But would he lose?

He was guaranteed to win!