What's the Use of Praying to Gods, Better to Pray to Me

To everyone's surprise, Dean Yan personally held the box for the students to draw lots. This gesture made every freshman feel excited and their blood boil with enthusiasm.

This legendary Super Douluo was actually willing to personally hold the drawing box for a group of freshmen like them!

Let alone them, even the Eight-Ring Soul Fighting Douluo standing to the side felt deeply honored.

For a moment, the emotions of the freshmen rose uncontrollably, and Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong were no exception.

Only Jiang Yuheng's expression was somewhat unpleasant.

Because from the moment Dean Yan entered, he had felt a strange gaze locked onto him.

This feeling of being monitored and peeped at made him feel very unnatural.

This also led to him having little interest in the subsequent drawing; he didn't even want to go up.

"Class 1 of New Students, Jiang Yuheng's team, come forward to draw." This time, it was Jiang Yuheng's group that went first.

Jiang Yuheng turned his head to look at Wang Dong and said with a smile, "You go."

Wang Dong shook his head, "No way. You are our Captain; if anyone is going, it should be..."

Before Wang Dong could finish, Jiang Yuheng was quick-witted and pushed him out directly, making him the first student to draw in front of the Dean.

Wang Dong walked up feeling somewhat nervous—not because he was meeting the Dean, but purely out of fear of having bad luck.

This was a four-into-two match, and it was a crucial draw that would determine whether they could successfully enter the finals. If his luck was bad and they drew a Soul Elder, they could practically say goodbye.

Don't be nervous, I believe in you, Dong'er.

You are my God of Luck!

A calm and reassuring voice echoed in his mind. Wang Dong subconsciously looked behind him; those eyes like obsidian gems smoothed out his panicked and uneasy heart.

"Dummy." Wang Dong blushed and cursed him in a low voice.

At such a close distance, Yan Shaozhe naturally heard it. Although he had doubts in his heart, he still comforted him, "Don't be afraid. I believe you will surely draw a lot that is suitable for you."

Wang Dong looked puzzled, but he still bowed respectfully at a ninety-degree angle before handing the lot back to Director Du and returning to Jiang Yuheng's side.

"Class 1 of New Students, Jiang Yuheng's team, lot number, two."

Upon hearing this lot number, Jiang Yuheng couldn't help but feel a little disappointed.

Sigh, I thought I would be able to run into Dai Huabin's team early. My plan to slap them in the face was all for nothing.

"Jiang Yuheng, what do you mean by that? I kindly went to draw for you, and you're still dissatisfied?" Seeing Jiang Yuheng's disappointed look, Wang Dong pinched him hard on the waist.

"Ouch, ouch, ouch! My good partner, you've wronged me. How would I dare!"

"Audacious and reckless, suppressing your cultivation, hiding things from your teacher—is there anything you wouldn't dare to do?" Wang Dong shot him a sidelong glance.

Just as the two were bickering, the representative for Dai Huabin's team stepped onto the stage to draw lots.

Upon hearing those three words, Huo Yuhao's body gave a violent jolt. He lifted his head in disbelief, his hands trembling uncontrollably.

It wasn't fear, but a monstrous, surging rage and a hatred hidden deep beneath his gaze that was impossible to suppress.

Anyone who has read the original story knows what Dai Huabin did to Huo Yuhao. He had merely bumped into the other boy by accident, only to be met with a ruthless beating.

At that time, Huo Yuhao was just an eight-year-old child with absolutely no strength to fight back.

Those eight guards were all burly, strong men. If they had continued their brutal assault, even if he had been lucky enough to survive, he would have ended up disabled for life.

Huo Yuhao would never forget how his mother had risked her life to shield him, only for them to be met with even more vicious blows. It was only when the mother and son were on the verge of death that they finally stopped.

At that point in time, Jiang Yuheng had just graduated from the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy.

Seeing the tear-streaked Huo Yuhao and the dying Huo Yun'er, he realized he had arrived one step too late.

Although he possessed Damage Transfer, which could restore Huo Yun'er's body, once the seeds of hatred were sown, it was nearly impossible to uproot them.

Three years later, Dai Huabin remained as cold and composed as ever. Even when meeting the dean of the Number One Academy in the World, he did not lower his arrogant head. Compared to the other students, he was simply much calmer on the surface.

"Dai Huabin's team, draw number one."

After Director Du finished the announcement, Dai Huabin walked back to his team. Only when his face was no longer clearly visible did the emotions in Huo Yuhao's eyes stabilize slightly, though the hatred had not diminished in the slightest.

Wang Dong was filled with shock. This was the first time she had seen Huo Yuhao reveal such emotions. She had no idea what had happened, but she was certain it had something to do with that boy named Dai Huabin.

Jiang Yuheng didn't speak; he simply placed a hand on Huo Yuhao's shoulder. A surge of extreme Ice Qi entered his body, causing his emotions to stabilize instantly.

Huo Yuhao took a deep breath and whispered, "Thank you, Brother Yuheng."

"It's nothing. Given what you went through, not exploding on the spot... even I have to admit that your emotional control is superior to mine," Jiang Yuheng chuckled, responding in the same low tone.

"Sooner or later, I will defeat him fair and square on the competition stage and vindicate my mother!" Huo Yuhao's voice was very soft, but his expression was more determined than ever before.

Jiang Yuheng nodded. "Of course, but the opportunity to vindicate her is right in front of us. Don't forget, Dai Huabin's team is the only Soul Elder team in the entire tournament; they are guaranteed to advance to the finals."

Huo Yuhao nodded solemnly.

Wang Dong, meanwhile, looked puzzled. "Jiang Yuheng, I remember the academy has a rule against revealing the soul power and levels of the contestants. How did you know that?"

Jiang Yuheng looked proud. He leaned in toward Wang Dong and whispered, "That's because I have a friend who specializes in intelligence!"

In truth, there was no such friend; it was a complete lie. The only reason Jiang Yuheng said that was because he didn't want to reveal that he knew the plot, so he just made up an excuse.

Unexpectedly, Wang Dong actually believed him.

He glanced at Jiang Yuheng and let out a meaningful "Oh," then continued to ask, "Is it a boyfriend, or a girlfriend?"

When she said "girlfriend," Wang Dong deliberately emphasized the word, enunciating it heavily.

Jiang Yuheng pondered for a moment. One lie would only require another to cover it up; rather than spouting nonsense, it would be better to say it was a female friend he was close with. That way, it would be easier to introduce Sister Luo to Dong'er in the future.

This led to Jiang Yuheng failing to notice the strange emotion in Wang Dong's eyes.

"A female friend I'm very close with. When there's a chance in the future, I'll introduce her to you!"

Wang Dong walked up with a beaming smile, though her powder-blue eyes held a trace of anger that was difficult to detect. "Sure! I'd really like to see just how 'close' you are with this so-called girlfriend of yours!"

Only then did Jiang Yuheng suddenly realize what was happening. He hurriedly waved his hands to explain, "No, Wang Dong, you've misunderstood. It's not some girlfriend I'm close with; I've never even had a girlfriend! Listen to me!"

It was too late. Before Jiang Yuheng could explain the situation clearly, Wang Dong kicked him straight out of the team.

The force was so great that Jiang Yuheng went flying to the center of the Competition Stage, landing face-down right in front of Yan Shaozhe, who was preparing to give a speech.