Returning to the Outer Court, the Approaching New Student Competition

Outer Court, training ground.

The students of Freshman Class 1 were still doing their daily Iron Clothes weighted runs, sweat pouring down like rain.

Any student who collapsed was treated immediately.

This kind of training significantly improved physical stamina, but without medicinal support, the overall results were less than ideal.

Zhou Yi stood on the platform, staring at the few students running with weights as she berated them. "Running this slowly—didn't you eat? You, Zhou! You, Luo! You, Lin! What are you doing? Can't you learn from Huo Yuhao? Huo Yuhao is only a one-ring soul master, yet he's better than all of you. You're all useless!"

"Other than Wang Dong and Huo Yuhao, every one of you is useless. How did This Old Woman end up with such pathetic students?"

The scolded students immediately ran even harder. Though their strength was failing, they were afraid of Old Woman Zhou's tyranny and did not dare slack off.

In truth, quite a few students were already cursing Zhou Yi in their hearts.

The students from the other freshman classes had just gotten out of class, and witnessing this scene left them with lingering fear as well.

Wu Feng and the others could not help sighing.

Old Woman Zhou really was ruthless. She did not treat students like people at all.

Not far away, after completing his training for the day, Huo Yuhao quickly took off his Iron Clothes, collapsed onto the ground, and gasped heavily. "Wang Dong, I'm about done for! I'm exhausted! Being class monitor is so tiring!"

Wang Dong wiped the sweat from her forehead and complained, "I'm furious. Old Woman Zhou has gone too far. She doesn't treat us like human beings at all."

Huo Yuhao gave a bitter smile. "The New Student Competition is coming up soon. Teacher Zhou is anxious too."

Thinking of the New Student Competition, Wang Dong looked at Huo Yuhao and said, "Yuhao, do you think we can win the championship this time? I heard the prize for the New Student Competition is a Soul Bone—a Soul Bone! This is the first time I've heard of an academy willing to use a Soul Bone as a prize."

Huo Yuhao hesitated before answering, "We should... be able to, maybe. What matters is participation. Dai Huabin already has Three Rings. We might not be able to beat him."

"Hmph, that hateful imp!"

Wang Dong folded her arms across her chest and continued, "No matter how strong Dai Huabin is, he isn't worth a single hair of Senior Chaoyun's. In Senior Chaoyun's hands, he's just a chick with no ability to struggle at all. If Senior Chaoyun entered the New Student Competition, they could just hand him the championship directly."

Huo Yuhao nodded, thoroughly agreeing with Wang Dong.

However, ever since the last incident, Senior Chaoyun had not shown himself in the Outer Court. Even the students of Freshman Class 5 had not seen him in person.

He was probably cultivating in seclusion in the Inner Court.

Beside him, Wang Dong suggested, "Have you thought about what I told you last time?"

"You mean, finding a backer?" Huo Yuhao asked.

Wang Dong nodded like a pecking chick. "It's not called finding a backer—it's called finding someone to rely on. You're a one-ring soul master. If you fail the final exam, you'll be expelled from the academy. Though judging from your performance, that probably won't happen, you should still find someone to protect you. What if you get bullied by someone like Xu Sanshi again?"

"Don't forget, your grudge with Dai Huabin isn't over yet."

Huo Yuhao fell silent for a moment. "I'll give it a try..."

Just then, Huo Yuhao spotted a man in white walking toward them from a distance. It was Qian Chaoyun, who had just come out of the Dean's office.

Huo Yuhao immediately rushed over, shouting, "Senior Chaoyun!"

He called out with more affection than he would for his Biological Father, as though that was not his senior, but Huo Yuhao's Biological Father.

"Long time no see."

Qian Chaoyun smiled in greeting as he sized Huo Yuhao up.

In just half a month, this kid had grown quite a bit stronger. He was already close to reaching two rings.

Wang Dong stepped forward, blinking her large innocent eyes as she asked, "Senior, we haven't seen you in so long. What have you been doing?"

"Cultivating in seclusion. I accepted an Inner Court Disciple Assessment mission."

Qian Chaoyun told them the truth, taking the chance to show off a little.

"An Inner Court Disciple Assessment!"

"That's amazing!"

"I never expected Senior to enter the Inner Court so soon. I'm so jealous."

Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong each put on envious expressions and cooperatively clapped in applause.

Qian Chaoyun felt immensely pleased.

All the grievance he had suffered at the hands of Senior Disciple Sister Zhang Lexuan in the Inner Court vanished in an instant.

Sure enough, the Outer Court was the place best suited for him to show off.

At that moment, Qian Chaoyun glanced at the dismissed freshmen and said, "Huo Yuhao, school will be over soon, right? Get the Grilled Rabbit ready first. I've been craving it."

"Alright."

Huo Yuhao nodded, then turned and invited Qian Chaoyun and Wang Dong to the academy gates for Grilled Fish and rabbit.

That afternoon.

At the gates of Shrek Academy, the Grilled Fish stall was still doing excellent business.

Huo Yuhao grilled fish in one hand and rabbit in the other, while many senior students and freshmen lined up to buy them.

Cheap and delicious, its distinctive grilled flavor left people wanting more.

Especially after the Xu Sanshi incident, most people in the Outer Court knew of Huo Yuhao's exploits.

That grilled fish kid had a Five Rings senior backing him. Even Xu Sanshi, known in the Outer Court as Eternal Defense, had been knocked flat. Who would dare come looking for trouble?

Qian Chaoyun sat at the Academy gates, eating grilled fish, utterly content.

As for the Inner Court assessment in his hands, he was in no hurry at all. There was still plenty of time. As Senior Disciple Sister had instructed, he would cultivate for a while first, then head to the Beast Fighting Area to carry out his first mission.

Just then, he spotted a few familiar faces.

Xu Sanshi and Beibei were passing by.

Xu Sanshi's expression looked as awful as if he had eaten shit. He turned away, already cursing in his heart.

Why is this guy here again?!

He had thought that after half a month without seeing each other, they would not meet again. Yet they had run into each other at the Academy gates.

Qian Chaoyun glanced at Xu Sanshi and said, "A familiar face!"

Xu Sanshi forced out a smile. "I have something to do. I'll be leaving first."

With that, he left without looking back, with no intention of stopping. He only wanted to get away from this menace as quickly as possible.

Seeing this, Beibei sighed helplessly. After greeting Qian Chaoyun, he followed after Xu Sanshi.

Afterward, Qian Chaoyun ran into several more familiar faces.

It was Dai Huabin, the Dai Family's second young master, who had a grudge against him.

Qian Chaoyun could not help mocking him. "Second Young Master Dai dyed his hair purple today. Are you trying to become the Purple Enchantress? Just don't turn into an Evil Spirit Master. When that happens, the sword in my hand won't show mercy."

Dai Huabin's face immediately darkened when he reached the Academy gates.

He had happened to dye his hair today, intending to change his hairstyle and his mood. Yet he had run into that unlucky Qian Chaoyun again.

Damn it!

Why was this guy, who was in the same snake pit as Huo Yuhao, so disgusting?

He immediately said, "Are you looking down on me?"

Qian Chaoyun ate his grilled rabbit and replied indifferently, "Your brother is decent. You aren't. You're too weak."

Dai Huabin's anger flared instantly. He shouted, "I challenge you! If you have the guts, come to the Soul Dueling Zone."

Zhu Lu, standing beside him, was frightened by those words and hurriedly stopped him. "Huabin, stop talking."

The gap between them and Qian Chaoyun was far from small. Even Xu Sanshi had suffered at his hands. Wouldn't Dai Huabin just be asking for a beating by going up against him?

Zhu Lu did not want to be humiliated again.

However, Dai Huabin would not listen. He sneered, "You only know how to bully people with your higher rank. If you ever ran into my brother, you'd flee like a rat."

Qian Chaoyun frowned at those words, deeply displeased. He responded, "Call your brother over, then see whether I run."

"You..."

Dai Huabin gritted his teeth. For a moment, he could not think of any rebuttal. His face turned red with anger, and he could not say a word for a long while.

"What do you mean, 'you'?!"

Qian Chaoyun stood up and sent Dai Huabin flying with a slap. He said flatly, "Get lost. You have no strength, yet you copy others and act tough every day. Wouldn't it be better to cultivate properly? Trash!"

Then Qian Chaoyun walked over to Huo Yuhao and asked calmly, "The fish are sold out today, right?"

Huo Yuhao nodded. "Senior Chaoyun, they're all sold out."

Wang Dong blinked and asked, "Senior, are you taking us into Shrek City for a walk?"

"No."

Qian Chaoyun shook his head and continued, "I heard you're taking part in this year's New Student Competition, and Dai Huabin is one of your strongest competitors. How about this? I'll guide the two of you in your cultivation. I have nothing else to do anyway."

"Really?"

Huo Yuhao's eyes filled with anticipation.

Wang Dong was also extremely surprised. She had not expected a senior to be willing to guide them in cultivation.

Qian Chaoyun nodded. "I have no other demands. Just give Dai Huabin a proper beating during the New Student Competition, and I'll even give you two a gift."

"It's a deal!!"

Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong both stretched out their hands, smiling brilliantly.

Soon afterward, the three of them left the Academy gates and disappeared from the sight of the surrounding Shrek students.

Dai Huabin sat where he was, grinding his teeth in anger. "Defeat me? One trash with one ring and one Soul Grandmaster with two rings want to defeat me? Ridiculous!!"

Zhu Lu hurriedly helped him up and said, "Huabin, we should avoid provoking Qian Chaoyun from now on. Even the Inner Court Senior Sister said his personality is very strange."

"What's there to fear?"

Dai Huabin turned to look at Zhu Lu, a vicious glint appearing in his eyes. "I already had my men investigate him thoroughly. He's nothing more than a remnant of Spirit Hall. If he dares offend the White Tiger Duke's Mansion, I have plenty of ways to deal with him."

"During the New Student Competition, I'll definitely teach Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong a brutal lesson. I'll let them know what kind of gap exists between top-tier martial souls. My martial soul was passed down through a God-level inheritance. It isn't something those stray cats and dogs can compare themselves to."

Zhu Lu looked at the vicious expression on his face and asked softly, "Huabin, what are you going to do?"

"I'm going to use the Duke Mansion's power!!"

Dai Huabin's Killing Intent was almost tangible as he stared fixedly at the other person's retreating back, revealing a chilling smile.

That smile was incomparably terrifying, sending a wave of lingering fear through Zhu Lu.