Dealing with the Troublemaker

First Soul Tool Proving Ground, the atmosphere was fervent.

On the Battle Arena, Huo Yuhao and Xu Hu stood opposite each other.

On one side was a freshman in plain clothes, with only Level 2 Cultivation.

On the other side was a young master of the royal family, clad in fine clothes, possessing Level 4 Cultivation.

This immense gap in cultivation caused the students in the audience to erupt.

"Is there even a need to fight? A twenty-level difference in soul power, even if this Huo Yuhao is the Director's Apprentice, he can't possibly challenge across two tiers, right?"

"Exactly. Although Xu Hu's character isn't great, his Mutated Purple Blazing Sky Dragon Martial Soul is a top-tier Power Attack System. Once he activates his Level 4 Soul Tool, even a Soul King would have to evade."

"I think this is doubtful. Huo Yuhao is probably going to get thrashed."

As everyone was discussing animatedly, several figures quietly appeared on the high-level viewing platform on one side of the audience.

Jing Hongchen, accompanying Xu Tianran and Xu Tianzhen, also looked towards the arena with great interest.

"Your Highness, do you think this Huo Yuhao can win?" Jing Hongchen asked with a smile.

Xu Tianran twirled the thumb ring on his finger, a glint flashing in his eyes: "Since that Gu Yuejin dared to let him go up, he must be confident. I, on the other hand, am very curious what is so special about this young man who managed to survive in the Extreme North."

On the stage.

As Gu Yuejin gave the command: "Begin."

Boom--!

Xu Hu struck first.

The shame he felt from being scared unconscious by Gu Yuejin earlier had now all transformed into rage, pouring onto Huo Yuhao before him.

"Kid! If you're going to blame anyone, blame your teacher for being wrong!"

"Purple Blazing Dragon Claw!"

Two yellow and two purple soul rings rose. Xu Hu's right hand was instantly covered in a layer of purple dragon scales, transforming into a giant dragon claw. It charged towards Huo Yuhao with the force of thunder.

At the same time, the Level 3 Propulsion Soul Tool on his back emitted blue light. His speed was as fast as lightning, and he reached Huo Yuhao in the blink of an eye.

A Power Attack System martial soul combined with a soul tool propulsion device – this was the most classic brutal fighting style of the Sun Moon Empire's Soul Engineers.

"Die!"

However, facing this powerful attack, Huo Yuhao's expression remained completely calm.

In his pair of purple-gold Double Pupils, the world seemed to slow down.

Xu Hu's seemingly swift movements were like slow-motion playback in his eyes. Every node of soul power flow, every flaw in his exertion, was clearly visible.

This was the qualitative change brought about by the immortal herb "Full Moon Wearing Autumn Dew"—Insight!

Swish!

Huo Yuhao's footwork shifted slightly, and his body slid sideways at an extremely strange angle.

He didn't confront the attack head-on, only evaded like a phantom.

Xu Hu's dragon claws grazed past Huo Yuhao's nose, slamming into the empty ground and kicking up a cloud of gravel.

"Dodging? How many times do you think you can dodge!"

Missing his strike, Xu Hu roared and unleashed several more claw attacks in succession. Soul power light blades sealed off all of Huo Yuhao's escape routes.

But Huo Yuhao was like a slippery loach.

Spiritual Detection was fully activated, a bird's-eye view encompassing the entire arena.

He could always find the single opening a moment before the attack landed, calmly slipping through.

Even during his evasions, he had the spare energy to switch his martial soul.

"Extreme Ice, Freeze!"

Huo Yuhao tapped his fingertip, and a streak of emerald cold air silently seeped into Xu Hu's joints.

Although the damage was not high, the extreme chill caused Xu Hu's movements to stiffen for a moment.

One moment of stiffness was a break in rhythm.

In the eyes of the audience, this was an extremely bizarre "teasing" match.

Clearly, Xu Hu had higher cultivation and fiercer attacks, yet he couldn't even touch Huo Yuhao's clothes. Instead, he was exhausted and panting, like a monkey being led around by the nose.

"Damn it! Damn it! Is all you can do is run?!"

Unable to land a hit after a prolonged assault, Xu Hu's mentality collapsed.

He, a dignified member of the royal family and a four-ring Soul Ancestor, couldn't even deal with a two-ring Soul Grand Master?

"Third Soul Skill, Purple Blazing Annihilation Wave!"

Xu Hu roared, and the third soul ring on his body suddenly lit up.

He no longer intended to play cat and mouse. He directly used a large-area soul skill for an area-of-effect bombardment, forcing Huo Yuhao into a direct confrontation!

However, this moment of impatience was precisely the opportunity Huo Yuhao had been waiting for.

"Now."

Purple-gold light flashed in Huo Yuhao's eyes.

Soul Impact!

An invisible mental spike fiercely pierced Xu Hu's brain, which was unguarded due to his rage.

"Ah--!"

Xu Hu, who was charging up to release his soul skill, let out a scream. A sharp pain shot through his mind, his soul power instantly dispersed, and his body became fatally stiff.

In the blink of an eye.

Huo Yuhao moved.

He no longer retreated but lunged forward like a leopard.

A cold light flashed in his hand, and a dagger condensed from Extreme Ice was steadily placed at Xu Hu's throat.

The chilling cold instantly silenced Xu Hu's screams.

The entire arena froze.

From Xu Hu's outburst to being countered by Huo Yuhao, only a few seconds had passed.

"I concede."

Huo Yuhao uttered two words indifferently, his ice blade not retracting.

Xu Hu's eyes widened, his pupils filled with disbelief.

Lost?

I lost?

I didn't even see how he charged over?!

"I'm not convinced! You ambushed me--"

Xu Hu was about to shout, but his peripheral vision suddenly caught sight of the stands.

There, Crown Prince Xu Tianran was looking at him with a cold expression, a hint of disappointment in his eyes.

That splash of cold water instantly extinguished his rage.

Xu Hu trembled all over. He knew that if he caused any more trouble today, he would truly be considered useless in the Crown Prince's eyes.

"I... lost."

Xu Hu gritted his teeth and lowered his head like a defeated rooster.

In the audience stands, after a brief silence, thunderous applause erupted.

Although they couldn't understand the specific strategies, the feat of a two-ring soul master defeating a four-ring soul master was undeniably laid out before them!

Huo Yuhao put away his ice blade and didn't immediately leave the stage.

He turned around, facing the entire audience, took a deep breath, and spoke in a loud voice:

"Fellow students, I may not be strong."

"But the reason I could win is entirely because of my Master--Gu Yuejin!"

"He taught me that rank is not the only standard for measuring strength!"

"Under his guidance, challenging those above my rank is just a common occurrence! As long as you follow Master's footsteps, even so-called royal geniuses are nothing more than weaklings!"

"Master is truth! Master is invincible!"

Below the stage, Gu Yuejin's mouth twitched uncontrollably, and he couldn't help but cover his forehead.

This foolish disciple...

Is he developing more and more potential to be a cult leader?

I asked you to give a speech, not to start a pyramid scheme!

"Interesting."

In the stands, Xu Tianran watched this scene and instead revealed a playful smile.

The farce ended.

Gu Yuejin walked onto the Battle Arena, kicked the still stunned Xu Hu aside, and then surveyed the entire venue.

"Ahem, although what my disciple said is a bit exaggerated, the principle is correct."

"In my Martial Soul Department, we only look at strength, not background."

After saying this, Gu Yuejin paused and dropped a bombshell.

"I know many people look down on the Martial Soul Department."

"But I think you'll be interested in this next piece of information."

He raised a finger, his eyes sharpening.

"The All-Continent Advanced Soul Master Academy Soul Dueling Tournament is about to begin."

"As the Martial Soul Department Director, I have seven 'Reserve Team' spots at my disposal."

"This Reserve Team will be personally led by me for devilish special training."

"No matter if you are a Soul Engineer or a Soul Master, no matter what year you are in, as long as you can pass my assessment..."

Gu Yuejin grinned, revealing a row of white teeth:

"I will take you to the competition and trample those so-called 'monsters' from Shrek Academy under our feet!"

"Want to make a name for yourself?"

"Then come and challenge me!"

BOOM--!

These words completely ignited the passion of the entire audience.

Trample Shrek?

This was the lifelong dream of all Sun Moon Empire Soul Masters!