Ye Xinglan's Obsession

"Wait a moment!"

Ye Xinglan had already walked more than ten meters, suddenly stopped.

The voice wasn't loud, but it clearly reached her ears, like an invisible thread pulling her back.

She recognized Huo Yuhao's voice—the one who defeated her three years ago, the one who shattered her pride, the one she had chased for three years.

Ye Xinglan turned around and her gaze fell on Huo Yuhao.

In those eyes, there was tension, anticipation, and a complex mix of emotions that were hard to define.

Huo Yuhao asked calmly, "Why are you so insistent on competing with me?"

Ye Xinglan loosened her grip and then clenched it again; she probably hadn't expected Huo Yuhao to ask such a question.

She lowered her head, biting her lower lip, momentarily at a loss for words.

However, Huo Yuhao did not urge her, and just quietly watched her.

After a moment, Ye Xinglan seemed to have organized her thoughts.

She took a deep breath, gritted her teeth, and said in a slightly trembling voice, "I don't know why, but this is my honest feeling."

After Ye Xinglan finished speaking, she suddenly looked up at Huo Yuhao. The evasiveness and tension in her eyes were gone, replaced by a burning fighting spirit.

"I know I can't be your match, but perhaps that's just my obsession."

Her voice wasn't loud, but every word was clear, as if it came from the bottom of her heart.

The word "obsession" perfectly encapsulates her emotional journey over the past three years.

Huo Yuhao smiled upon hearing this, then stepped forward.

"Boss Yuhao, are you really going to fight her?"

Xie Xie called out from behind, his voice full of surprise.

Huo Yuhao did not answer, but continued walking forward.

He could clearly feel the changes in Ye Xinglan. The arrogant and haughty girl from three years ago had now learned to bow her head, to wait, and to speak in a pleading tone instead of a commanding one.

Moreover, under the influence of his Divine Power, he could better perceive her tension and inner turmoil.

Her heart was beating much faster than usual, her breathing was somewhat erratic, and her tightly clenched hands had turned white at the knuckles.

So Huo Yuhao smiled, his voice calm as still water. "Perhaps your true intention isn't to fight me, but simply to see my strength three years from now."

Upon hearing this, Ye Xinglan's eyes flickered, a hint of confusion flashing within them. She wasn't sure if she truly felt the same way.

At this moment, Huo Yuhao took another step forward.

A black Soul Ring had appeared beneath his feet.

The black was as thick as ink, radiating a deep, mysterious light.

He then continued walking forward, and with each step he took, a new Soul Ring rose from beneath his feet.

Ye Xinglan stared at Huo Yuhao's feet, silently counting in her mind. "One, two, three, four, five..."

Her heart was beating faster and faster, and her breathing was becoming more and more rapid.

Until she saw the sixth Soul Ring slowly rising from beneath Huo Yuhao's feet.

"Six?!"

Ye Xinglan's eyes widened, filled with disbelief.

She stared at the six pitch-black Soul Ring beneath Huo Yuhao's feet, and for a moment, even her breath caught in her throat!

Sixth Ring Road!

Soul Emperor!

Ye Xinglan is a year older than Huo Yuhao, and she is currently a Four-Ring Soul Ancestor.

Shrek Academy is full of geniuses, and only a handful of people can break through to the Soul Ancestor at her age.

She has always been the pride of her teachers and one of the best among her classmates.

But Huo Yuhao is now a Soul Emperor, something Ye Xinglan hadn't expected.

She thought Huo Yuhao was at most a Soul King, since the higher the Soul Power, the slower the cultivation speed, which is common knowledge in the Soul Master World.

After a brief moment of shock, Ye Xinglan looked at Huo Yuhao with a complicated expression.

She felt no sense of defeat; it was as if she believed this was how things should be.

Moreover, after realizing that the gap between them had widened even further, she actually lost the will to compete with Huo Yuhao.

That obsession that had been building up for three years, that goal that she had been thinking about day and night, quietly vanished at this moment.

This seems to further confirm Huo Yuhao's previous statement: perhaps what she really wanted wasn't a competition, but simply to see just how strong he would be three years from now.

Now that the gap between the two has been confirmed, it can be considered an explanation for my three years of hard training.

Seeing the change in Ye Xinglan's expression, Huo Yuhao put away the Soul Ring at his feet.

He smiled and said, "Looks like I won't have to go to the Soul Fighting Arena with you."

A trace of relief flashed in Ye Xinglan's eyes, a sense of ease after letting go of a heavy burden.

She looked at Huo Yuhao and said two words earnestly, "Thank you!"

These two words were a thank you for his willingness to listen to her, for his willingness to demonstrate his abilities, and for helping her let go of her three-year-long obsession in this way.

After saying that, she turned around again and walked away into the distance.

This time, her steps were noticeably lighter, as if she had unloaded some burden.

Her golden ponytail swayed gently behind her, tracing cheerful arcs in the sunlight.

Watching Ye Xinglan's departing figure, Xu Xiaoyan tilted her head, a thoughtful look flashing in her eyes.

The golden figure walked further and further away. She glanced at the others and said softly, "Why do I feel like she's a little different than before?"

Tang Wulin shared the same sentiment. As he gazed at the departing figure, he recalled the arrogant and haughty girl from three years ago.

Ye Xinglan's change today was also beyond his expectations.

He smiled and said, "People always change!"

"Okay!"

Na'er then called out, her voice clear and loud, drawing everyone's attention back to her.

She raised her right hand, her silver ponytail swaying gently in the sunlight. "Everything's alright now, everyone follow my instructions!"

All eyes were on Na'er, who was raising her right hand, waiting for her to say something next.

Na'er glanced at everyone, a smug smile playing on her lips, and continued, "It's almost noon, everyone follow me straight to the cafeteria!"

Now that they heard that, everyone was indeed a little hungry.

Shrek Academy is too big. After a whole morning of running around, registering, checking into accommodation, and watching this "Ye Xinglan's Revenge Story," my stomach has been protesting for a while.

Tang Wulin, in particular, although his appetite has greatly decreased since his bloodline was extracted, his previous habits remain unchanged.

At the mention of food, their eyes lit up, as if they couldn't wait to devour the food.

Na'er walked at the front, her steps light and quick. As she walked, she said, "Shrek Academy's Outer Court has four canteens. The one I'm taking you to is definitely the best."

She paused, glanced back at the crowd, a sly glint in her eyes. "Besides, I know the cafeteria chef very well, so I'll get you extra food."