Xuan Zi: I'll Lead the Tournament Team—No Need to Worry

Inside Shrek Academy, Wang Yan bowed deeply to a scruffy old man gnawing on a chicken leg.

"Elder Xuan, about Huo Yuhao..."

"Enough, enough. Stop talking." The old man lying down and eating his chicken leg waved a hand, his face full of impatience. "How many months have you been recommending that Huo Yuhao to me, over and over? I remember you were already talking to me about him during the Freshman Tournament."

"Elder Xuan, Huo Yuhao has an eye martial soul. Although his Innate Soul Power is only rank one, it is still one of the most exceptional Body Spirits."

Wang Yan spoke sincerely, but Xuan Zi remained impatient. "Hmph. If his eyes had awakened, then they would indeed be one of the most exceptional Body Spirits. But haven't they failed to awaken? An Innate rank-one martial soul that hasn't awakened—letting that kind of trash enter Shrek Academy was already a blessing bestowed upon him."

"Elder Xuan, Huo Yuhao is not trash. Reaching rank ten at the age of eleven with only Innate rank-one Soul Power was already very difficult. Moreover, I have carefully observed Huo Yuhao during this time. His diligence is the most outstanding in the entire class—no, the entire first year. As long as we provide him with some resources, he may still have a chance to achieve a second awakening of his Body Spirit."

"And if he fails to awaken? Who will be responsible for those wasted resources? You?"

"Elder Xuan..."

"Wang Yan, I already told you before. What Shrek needs is a genius who has already awakened, not a piece of trash who needs Shrek to figure out a way to awaken him. If he can awaken, I will naturally order resources allocated to him. But since he has not awakened, that can only mean his talent is nothing special."

"But, Elder Xuan..."

"Enough. Let me ask you: what is Huo Yuhao's Soul Power Level now?"

Wang Yan lowered his head. "Rank fifteen."

"Hmph. Half a year into the school term, and his Soul Power has only reached the minimum admission standard for a freshman. What value is there in nurturing such trash? It is a pity about that Light Goddess Butterfly from the Freshman Tournament. Her second soul ring was already a thousand-year ring. If that brat Huo Yuhao had not dragged her down, she might not have lost to those two little girls with hair martial souls."

"Wang Dong is indeed a genius, but if Huo Yuhao achieves a second awakening of his Body Spirit, then he should be a genius too!" Wang Yan truly felt sorry for Huo Yuhao.

"How many times must I say it? What Shrek wants is awakening! A genius who has already awakened! Not a piece of trash who is nearly twelve years old and only has rank fifteen Soul Power! His circumstances are somewhat special, so I can let him stay at Shrek Academy for two more years, but that is all. There is no need for you to say anything further. I have heard enough over these past few months."

"But, Elder Xuan..."

"Hmm!"

Wang Yan still wanted to say something, but with Xuan Zi's cold snort, a powerful pressure forced him directly to his knees.

"This matter has been decided by me. Do not speak of it again. If I hear you mention allocating resources to Huo Yuhao in front of me again, you can get out of Shrek Academy."

Xuan Zi flicked his sleeve and left, leaving Wang Yan kneeling there. Only after a long while did Xuan Zi withdraw the pressure.

"Elder Xuan..."

Watching Xuan Zi's departing figure, Wang Yan let out a helpless sigh. He truly wanted to help Huo Yuhao obtain some resources so that he could attempt a second awakening of his Body Spirit. This would fill in Shrek's lack of information regarding Body Spirits.

If Shrek could also achieve second awakenings of Body Spirits, then with Shrek's reputation, Body Spirits would inevitably be drawn into Shrek's grasp. Only then could Shrek stand firm upon the continent. Yet not a single person in the entire Shrek Academy was willing to support him.

"Sigh, forget it. At least Elder Xuan's words mean Huo Yuhao can remain at Shrek for a while longer. No matter what, I must figure out a method for a second awakening of Body Spirits during this time!"

After a moment of dejection, Wang Yan quickly recovered. In his view, this visit to Xuan Zi had not been entirely fruitless. At the very least, Xuan Zi had loosened up somewhat, giving him the chance to study Huo Yuhao for a longer period. This showed that the academy was still fairly supportive of researching second awakenings of Body Spirits.

"Rest assured, Elder Xuan. I will succeed."

Wang Yan encouraged himself, leaving Mu En silent for a while.

Wang Yan did not understand what Xuan Zi meant, but as the Sea God Pavilion Master, how could Mu En not understand? Cultivating a second awakening of a Body Spirit was no easy matter. It was almost impossible for Shrek Academy to achieve it, yet Huo Yuhao's eye martial soul was far too exceptional among Body Spirits.

If Huo Yuhao left the academy and was discovered by the Body Sect, then in the future, Huo Yuhao would at the very least become a high-ranking Elder within the Body Sect. That would not be good for Shrek Academy. Therefore, dragging things out until Huo Yuhao was past twenty and preventing him from awakening was more in line with Shrek's interests.

Even if Huo Yuhao awakened his Body Spirit after the age of twenty, the lack of a solid foundation would make it difficult for him to ever reach the level of a Super Douluo. Shrek only needed to use its reputation to keep Huo Yuhao hanging on. Even ordinary meals had to be purchased by Huo Yuhao himself. Shrek would not suffer any losses, yet it could cripple a future powerhouse of the Body Sect. That was Shrek's true interest.

Mu En did not intend to say anything about this. As the Sea God Pavilion Master, his actions also had to be based on Shrek's interests. From Shrek's standpoint, Xuan Zi was not wrong in handling the matter this way, so Mu En did not intend to interfere. Although Huo Yuhao was very polite, Mu En would at most spare a few extra glances for someone who had manners but no talent.

When one had talent, politeness could become a point in one's favor in the mouths of others. Without talent, politeness was nothing.

In Shrek's inner courtyard, Xuan Zi flew over as Yan Shaozhe was reviewing the members of this year's All-Continent Advanced Soul Master Tournament team.

"Elder Xuan, you have arrived."

Yan Shaozhe bowed slightly. To him, Xuan Zi was also a senior.

"There are only a little over six months until the All-Continent Advanced Soul Master Tournament begins. How is Xiaotao doing?"

"Ling Luochen has been helping suppress it for now, but the effects have not been very good. If we cannot find something to suppress the evil fire within Xiaotao during these six months, then Dai Yueheng will likely have to lead the team in this tournament."

"That boy from the Dai family—he should have reached Soul Emperor already, right?"

"Yes."

"Then that will do. Two Soul Emperors have their own way of fighting, and one Soul Emperor has another." As Xuan Zi spoke, he walked over to the team members.

"You brats should all know me, so I will not introduce myself. I only have one thing to tell you."

"If you encounter anyone from the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy during the tournament, kill them on sight. Even if you slaughter every last one of them, I will cover for you. But if they dare kill any of you, I will make them witness the madness of a rank ninety-eight! With me here, you need not fear death."