Shrek City

Four days later, outside the South City Gate of Shrek City.

"Brother Chen, little brother Yuhao, and Junior Sisters Ning Tian and Wu Feng, since you aren't planning to register first, we'll part ways here. However, we'll be waiting for you at Shrek Academy. Once you join us, come to us if anything happens and we'll help you."

Beibei said farewell to the four of them with Tang Ya.

Tang Ya, meanwhile, gazed at Huo Yuhao reluctantly.

More precisely, she was eyeing his grilled fish.

Afterward, the four of them entered Shrek City.

Their destination was none other than the Nine Treasures Pavilion inside the city.

The four of them threaded through the crowded streets, discussing the Tang Sect as they walked. After all, Beibei and Tang Ya had just been there, so it had been inconvenient to speak openly in front of them.

"I didn't expect that there would still be two people left in the Tang Sect."

"Sister Xiaotian, isn't the Tang Sect the number one sect in the world?"

Hearing Ning Tian's sigh, Huo Yuhao asked about his confusion. After all, he had learned from his mother that the Tang Sect was the number one sect on the continent. Yet after seeing Brother Bei and Senior Sister Xiaoya over the past few days, the so-called "number one in the world" seemed terribly down-and-out.

However, before Ning Tian could answer, Wu Feng, who was standing nearby, could no longer hold back and burst out laughing.

"Hahahaha! Huo Yuhao, how old is that news? The number one in the world? They're way out of date."

Wu Feng slapped her palm against her chest. Her fiery personality and already well-developed figure drew frequent glances from passersby.

Even Huo Yuhao's face flushed.

It was hard to tell whether it was from embarrassment... or shyness...

"Sister Feng, watch yourself."

Ning Tian's words worked wonders. A simple sentence made Wu Feng restrain herself. She then turned to Huo Yuhao.

"Yuhao, the Tang Sect actually declined completely four thousand years ago. Even today, if we hadn't met Senior Brother Beibei and Senior Sister Tang Ya, we might have thought the Tang Sect had already been completely wiped out. After all, the Tang Sect's foundation was taken away by an obscure little sect."

"Ah!?"

Huo Yuhao finally understood what a fool he had made of himself.

So the former number one on the continent had long since become the absolute bottom of the continent. No wonder Wu Feng had laughed so loudly just now.

At the same time, he unconsciously compared the Tang Sect with the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect he had joined and blurted out, almost instinctively, "It seems our Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect is much stronger."

"Of course."

Whether it was Ning Tian, Wu Feng, or Chen Junting, all three of them wore proud smiles.

As their discussion of the Tang Sect deepened, the flaws behind its decline gradually became clear. In the end, Chen Junting summed it up: "The Tang Sect's mistake was that it failed to follow the trend of the times. It clung to old ways and refused to change. The tide of the world surges forward; those who follow it prosper, while those who resist it perish."

Hearing this, Huo Yuhao could not help saying, "Our Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect is different. We keep pace with the times and follow the world's progress. The number one sect in the world will belong to us in the future."

"That's right."

Looking at Huo Yuhao's expression, Ning Tian and Chen Junting exchanged a smile. They could tell that Huo Yuhao had developed a sense of belonging toward the Sect. He had already acknowledged the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect from the bottom of his heart, rather than merely acting out of gratitude toward them as he had before...

"By the way, Huo Yuhao."

As they neared the Nine Treasures Pavilion, Wu Feng suddenly spoke.

"What are you planning to do next?"

"What am I planning to do?"

Huo Yuhao's face filled with confusion.

Could it be that he was not going to Shrek Academy either?

Seeing Huo Yuhao's bewildered expression, helplessness appeared on Ning Tian's face. Of course, this helplessness was directed at Wu Feng. "Sister Feng, have you really never noticed what Brother Junting and I planned? We're going to Shrek Academy with Yuhao."

"Ah!?"

Before Huo Yuhao could react, Wu Feng looked puzzled. "Ning Tian, if I remember correctly, Shrek Academy's admission requirement is Level 15 at age eleven, isn't it? With Huo Yuhao's current cultivation, he shouldn't be able to get in, right?"

Wu Feng's words instantly extinguished the fervor in Huo Yuhao's heart. Back in the Star Dou Forest, after learning that Brother Junting and the others were going to study at Shrek Academy, he had fantasized about joining the continent's number one Soul Master Academy, Shrek Academy, with them. But when reality confronted him...

Wu Feng's words directly shattered his fantasy.

"Forget it, Sister Xiaotian. I'll just..."

Huo Yuhao waved his hand dejectedly. He did not want to cause Ning Tian any trouble. Even after joining the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect, he had already troubled them far too much.

"Yuhao, you don't need to worry about this."

Ning Tian saw Huo Yuhao's hesitation and waved her hand.

"There are some things Sister Feng doesn't know. As the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect, which has deep ties with Shrek Academy, we still receive certain privileges in the Outer Academy. Namely, an exemption from the entrance examination. Of course..." Ning Tian's tone suddenly became solemn.

However, before she could finish speaking...

"Xiaotian, I don't recommend using the exemption."

"Ah?"

Up ahead, Chen Junting, who was beside Ning Tian, suddenly spoke. His words interrupted what Ning Tian was about to say and likewise drew the gazes of the other three toward him.

"Brother Junting, what do you mean?" Ning Tian did not suspect that Chen Junting was trying to keep Huo Yuhao out of Shrek Academy. She knew he had another intention.

"An exempted student will inevitably suffer strange looks from the others. That isn't easy to endure." Chen Junting turned his head and looked sharply at Huo Yuhao, making Huo Yuhao feel as though the inferiority hidden in his heart had been seen through completely. "Can you withstand the criticism behind your back?"

"Brother Junting, I can withstand it."

At the thought of that scene, Huo Yuhao's eyes dimmed. Yet when he thought that studying at Shrek Academy might prevent Brother Junting and the others from leaving him even farther behind, he still gritted his teeth.

"There's no need."

Chen Junting shook his head and explained.

"After taking the Profound Water Pill, your cultivation should have reached the peak of Level 12. With your diligent cultivation these past few days, you've probably already broken through to Level 13. As for the remaining two levels..."

He pointed at the Storage Soul Tool belt around Huo Yuhao's waist.

"Didn't I give you two Profound Water Pills?"

"Five days have passed since you took the first Profound Water Pill, so you've more or less finished absorbing its medicinal effects. You can begin taking the second Profound Water Pill now to break through to Level 14. Then, have a Soul Master from the Sect help you refine some of its medicinal power. You should be able to take the third Profound Water Pill before freshman registration ends and smoothly break through to Level 15. That way, your foundation won't become unstable."

"Thank you, Brother Junting!"

Huo Yuhao's eyes lit up at the suggestion. If he had a choice, who would want to endure other people's strange looks?

"Just make your own decision."

As soon as he finished speaking, the four of them arrived in front of the Nine Treasures Pavilion.

But the moment Huo Yuhao stepped into the Nine Treasures Pavilion and saw the scene inside, he was shocked by the wealth of the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect.

Ten Thousand Year Soul Bones, top-grade Soul Tools, Heaven and Earth Treasures...

Precious cultivation resources were seemingly available here in endless supply!

Even the Sky Dream Ice Silkworm sleeping in Huo Yuhao's Sea of Spirit was awakened by the Soul Power fluctuations radiating from these treasures. His loud cries echoed incessantly through Huo Yuhao's mind...

"Yuhao! Joining this Sect was absolutely worth it! With these resources nurturing you, plus the second Martial Soul I'll find for you in the future, you'll definitely become a god! Believe in me!"

"Brother Sky Dream, these are for sale."

"Of course I know that. What I mean is, since this Sect is so wealthy, they won't be stingy with the resources they give you, right?"

"Brother Sky Dream..."

Before Huo Yuhao could finish speaking, the other three stopped. Chen Junting even came to his side and patted him on the shoulder. "Yuhao, are you all right?"

"I'm fine."

Huo Yuhao hurriedly came back to his senses and indicated that nothing was wrong.

Seeing this, Chen Junting did not intend to pry further. Instead, he instructed, "Wu Feng will take you to eat later. Since Ning Tian personally recruited you as a disciple of the Sect, you and Wu Feng will temporarily receive the same treatment within the Sect, with premium ingredients for every meal. After you finish eating, have Wu Feng find someone to melt the Millennium Whale Rubber she gave you, so you can improve your physical fitness."

"But be careful!"

Chen Junting's tone suddenly turned serious.

"Whale Rubber has an aphrodisiac effect, so when you take it, make sure there are no women nearby. Otherwise..."

"A... an aphrodisiac!?"

Hearing that word, Huo Yuhao's mind instantly shut down.

However, he knew what would happen if a girl were present when that effect took hold. He hurriedly nodded and promised to be careful.

Seeing this, Chen Junting had Wu Feng take Huo Yuhao away so he could raise his cultivation and physical fitness before freshman registration at Shrek ended.

As for him and Ning Tian, they headed in another direction.