The Arrival of the New Student Assessment

Xu Sanshi's fighting spirit surged. As one half of the Outer Courtyard Twin Stars alongside Bei Bei, the two were both rivals and best brothers. His strength easily ranked within the top five of the outer courtyard.

Yet today, a new student dared to provoke him. Xu Sanshi initially didn't take it to heart, planning to brush off the match perfunctorily. But because of his carelessness, his right arm was still numb even now.

The gray light in Huo Yuhao's eyes blazed brightly. A gray streak shot forth from his gaze, freezing the massive Tortoise Shell Shield Phantom in place—and along with it, Xu Sanshi himself, suspended in midair.

Xu Sanshi was greatly shocked. He frantically channeled his soul power, but still couldn't move an inch.

Seizing the moment, Huo Yuhao stamped the ground, lightly tapped the frozen Tortoise Shell Shield Phantom to launch himself into the air, and within the brief four seconds, a white soul ring flickered beneath his feet.

A massive dial materialized in midair, pressing down toward Xu Sanshi like Mount Tai crushing the earth.

"First Soul Skill, Years Erasure."

At the critical moment, Xu Sanshi erupted with immense power from within, forcibly breaking free from the shackles of time.

"First Soul Skill, Mysterious Nether Tremor."

The first soul ring beneath Xu Sanshi's feet flashed. A terrifying black aura spread out from the Mysterious Nether Tortoise Shell Shield, sending Huo Yuhao flying back over ten meters. This was a wide-area knockback skill; if Huo Yuhao's soul power hadn't been substantial enough, it might have also inflicted a dizzying effect.

"Now this is a bit more interesting." Huo Yuhao smiled slightly. Seeing Xu Sanshi launch another assault, Huo Yuhao's Sea of Spirit rippled faintly. One of the four soul skills from his first soul ring—Future Prediction—activated.

An image flashed through Huo Yuhao's mind: Xu Sanshi fiercely unleashed his Third Soul Skill, dense water elements wrapping around him, followed closely by his Second Soul Skill as one Turtle Shell Shield after another descended from the sky, sealing him in a tight defense.

The scene streaked through Huo Yuhao's thoughts like lightning. In the span of a mere moment, he had already formulated a countermeasure.

The gray light in Huo Yuhao's eyes gradually faded, his pupils fully transforming into two. It was at this moment that Xu Sanshi, just about to execute his Third Soul Skill, Black Tortoise Power, felt as though the Huo Yuhao before him had split into two, then two into three, and then countless Huo Yuhaos were all smiling at him.

All the Huo Yuhaos charged at him, raising their palms. With the lesson from the first exchange, Xu Sanshi dared not be careless. He hastily activated his Second Soul Skill, Mysterious Nether Shield Formation, layering shield after shield of tortoise shells around him in a tight defense.

But the anticipated attack never landed. Instead, the Huo Yuhao before him vanished. Xu Sanshi felt a chill at his back. He turned around, staring in shock at Huo Yuhao, who had inexplicably appeared inside the defense of the Mysterious Nether Shield Formation.

Huo Yuhao grinned at him, his right hand placed on Xu Sanshi's chest. With just a slight push, Xu Sanshi would have lost.

"I lose." Xu Sanshi was straightforward, admitting defeat without hesitation.

"Senior, you yielded." Huo Yuhao withdrew his hand. Using Future Prediction had drained his Mental Power heavily, leaving his face slightly pale.

"What soul skill did you just use? And when did you get behind me?" Xu Sanshi fired off questions one after another, staring at Huo Yuhao in confusion.

"Because I have a Body Origin Martial Soul. My eyes are my martial soul. Senior, you lost because of carelessness and underestimation. I hope I'll have another chance to spar with you." Huo Yuhao cupped his hands and left the Soul Dueling Arena.

Without revealing his Second or Third Soul Skills, he had defeated Xu Sanshi using only the four skills of his First Soul Skill—and that was with Xu Sanshi being careless and underestimating him.

Huo Yuhao walked alone down the exit corridor, gazing at the deep night outside. Before he knew it, his stomach was growling again.

"After a fight, you've gotta eat a big meal!" Huo Yuhao sprinted off toward the East Gate of Shrek City.

On the other side, Xu Sanshi stepped off the platform in confusion, still immersed in the battle just now. He remained puzzled about how he had lost.

"Someone's flipped their carriage today!" A familiar voice came from beside him.

Xu Sanshi looked over and, upon seeing Bei Bei, let out a self-deprecating laugh: "That was me being careless. If I meet him again, I'll make sure Huo Yuhao gets more than he bargained for."

"Is that right? Then why did I just see you using Mysterious Nether Shield Formation against thin air?" Tang Ya chuckled, showing no regard for Xu Sanshi's dignity.

Xu Sanshi shot Tang Ya a fierce glare, then turned his gaze to the refined and gentle Bei Bei. He snorted coldly: "I've personally verified Huo Yuhao's strength. Knowing your little girl's nature, you've probably already recruited him, haven't you?"

Tang Ya was about to flare up, but Bei Bei gently patted her shoulder, stepped forward, and slung an arm around Xu Sanshi's, pulling him toward the Soul Dueling Arena: "Ge hasn't had a good spar with you in a long time. Come on, let's get close."

Xu Sanshi immediately resisted: "Bei Bei! Are you even human? Didn't you see how hard that fight was? Huo Yuhao's Body Origin Martial Soul has time-control abilities. I've got less than half my soul power left now."

Bei Bei acted as if he hadn't heard, dragging Xu Sanshi inside by force.

Huo Yuhao's potential was undoubtedly immense. Tang Ya had been tearing her hair out over the revival of the Tang Sect these past few days. Xu Sanshi had touched on Tang Ya's sore spot, and as her boyfriend, Bei Bei naturally had to get close to Xu Sanshi—in his own way.

On the path to the Inner Courtyard, Golden Crow Leftover Woman Wu Ming looked at Qian Renxue and couldn't help saying: "Xiao Xue, when you get a chance, introduce your younger brother to me, how about it?"

Wu Ming's words shocked Qian Renxue deeply. She shot Wu Ming a displeased glance: "You're almost thirty. My younger brother is only eleven. Don't go corrupting him. I'm afraid his little body couldn't handle even one round with you."

"Then why were you frantically pitching your brother to Xiao Tao just now? You can't play favorites!"

Ma Xiaotao's face flushed crimson at Wu Ming's words, and she quickened her pace.

"Xiao Tao is twenty, my brother is eleven. A woman three years older carries three bricks of fortune—no problem at all. Besides, he's helping Xiao Tao treat and suppress her inner evil fire. They'll need to keep in close contact from now on. Am I right, Xiao Tao?"

When Qian Renxue looked at Ma Xiaotao, the latter blushed even deeper, unfurled a pair of fiery Phoenix Wings behind her, and flew back to Sea God Island.

"The little girl's just thin-skinned!" Han Ruoruo chuckled with a kuchi kuchi sound.

"Senior Sister, don't call a stop to my spar with Dai Yueheng tomorrow," Qian Renxue reminded.

"Alright, alright! We all know you're a brother-pampering maniac. But Dai Yueheng is Level 61, and the ferocity of his White Tiger Martial Soul is something we've all seen. Be careful in tomorrow's match," Zhang Lexuan warned.

"Don't worry! Tomorrow, I'll show the Dai Family Brothers that we siblings aren't so easy to bully!" Qian Renxue wasn't just avenging Huo Yuhao's childhood experiences. After their journey to the Ice Fire Yin Yang Eye and the Extreme North, she had long come to see Huo Yuhao as her own little brother.