Huo Wu's Favorability Reached Eighty

After a brief moment of shock and distraction, the four women almost simultaneously came back to their senses.

"Brother Ye Xiao!" Huo Wu was the first to react. Her eyes instantly lit up like two tiny flames, and she rushed to Ye Xiao in just a few steps. Without ceremony, she cupped his face in her hands and examined him from side to side.

"Y-you... what happened to you? It's only been a few days since I last saw you, and you've... become so much better-looking? Did you secretly take some kind of immortal pill behind my back?"

Her actions were bold and direct.

Dugu Yan followed right after her. Strange light flickered in her emerald eyes as she circled Ye Xiao once, clicking her tongue in amazement. "Tsk, tsk, tsk, Little Brother, these changes of yours... you're practically a different person! Hurry up and tell me, did you come across some incredible opportunity?"

Ye Lingling said softly, "Ye Xiao... you seem... a little different."

Ning Rongrong also squeezed her way over, her little face flushed red. Tilting her head up, she stared at Ye Xiao without blinking, her large eyes full of astonishment and curiosity, mixed with a tiny bit of... shyness.

"Ye Xiao... y-you've become... so... so..."

The words "good-looking" lingered on her lips several times, but she was too embarrassed to say them. In the end, they only turned her cheeks even redder.

The four girls surrounded Ye Xiao, their eyes shining as if they had discovered a treasure.

Ye Xiao touched his nose and smiled. "My Martial Soul just evolved again, that's all."

As soon as he finished speaking, an eerie silence fell beneath the corridor.

The expressions on the four girls' faces instantly changed from amazement, curiosity, and shyness to unified shock.

"W-what kind of thing is that to say?" Dugu Yan was the first to break the silence. Her eyes widened round, and her voice rose several pitches. "Your Martial Soul evolved again? That's all?

Ye Xiao! Do you know what Martial Soul Evolution means?

That is an opportunity countless Soul Masters dream of, something that can only be encountered by chance!

Y-you actually described it as 'that's all'?

And you even said again!"

She felt as though her understanding of the world had taken a direct blow.

Martial Soul Evolution was immensely difficult. Sometimes, not a single Soul Master succeeded in decades.

Even as the granddaughter of a Titled Douluo, with no lack of talent or resources, she had never dared hope that her Jade Phosphorous Serpent Martial Soul could evolve once more.

Yet this guy in front of her casually said that his had evolved again?

It gave her an overwhelming sense of helplessness. Comparing people really could drive one mad.

"Ye Xiao, y-you... how exactly did you do it?" Ning Rongrong stepped forward and hugged Ye Xiao's arm, raising her little face. Her beautiful eyes were full of longing and urgency.

"Quick, tell me the method! If my Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda... could evolve into a Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda..." Her voice trembled slightly with excitement.

The Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda was the ultimate dream of every Soul Master in the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect!

If Ye Xiao had a way, it would bring earth-shattering changes to both her and the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect!

Ye Xiao spread his hands and shrugged. "I really don't know."

"Maybe it's just... that my Martial Soul is rather special?"

He paused before continuing, "You all know that my Martial Soul wasn't like this at first. Then, by a fortunate coincidence, it evolved once.

After that evolution, I discovered that my Martial Soul seemed to... keep slowly growing stronger on its own, constantly becoming more complete.

I can't explain exactly how it changes. It's just a feeling. Maybe... it might evolve again in the future?"

These words, which sounded unbearably smug, left the four girls collectively speechless.

Was that even something a person should say?

His Martial Soul could slowly grow stronger on its own?

It could evolve on its own too?

And it might continue evolving in the future?

Listen to that! What kind of heaven-defying luck was this?

It was as if the heavens were personally chasing after him to feed him, afraid he might choke, and had even replaced his bowl with one inlaid with gold and jade!

"You!" Huo Wu was the first to lose patience. She was both annoyed and amused, finding Ye Xiao's expression of I don't want this either, but that's just how it is particularly punchable.

She stretched out her slender hand and lightly pinched the soft flesh at Ye Xiao's waist, scolding him playfully, "Can't you stop using such an innocent tone to say such infuriating things? We're all going to die of envy!"

She did not pinch him hard. It was more like an intimate way of venting.

Ye Xiao cooperatively hissed and bared his teeth, smiling all the while.

Dugu Yan held her forehead and shook her head repeatedly, no longer knowing what to say.

Ning Rongrong's small mouth hung slightly open. After staring blankly for a long while, she felt somewhat helpless, but even more envious.

If Ye Xiao's method of Martial Soul Evolution could not be replicated, then her dream of obtaining a Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda would likely remain far beyond reach.

Still... seeing him become even better somehow made her happy as well.

The women came to Ye Xiao's room to play.

Ye Xiao suddenly noticed that Huo Wu's favorability toward him had already reached eighty.

The others were all around seventy.

He had not expected Huo Wu's to rise so quickly.

The sunlight was perfect. Ye Lingling, Dugu Yan, and Ning Rongrong were gathered off to one side, enjoying exquisite tea and snacks while chatting quietly.

Huo Wu leaned against the doorframe, seemingly lost in thought.

"Huo Wu." Ye Xiao's voice was not loud, yet it clearly reached everyone's ears. "Come out with me."

The casual chatter in the courtyard abruptly stopped.

Three pairs of beautiful eyes turned toward the doorway at once, filled with curiosity.

Huo Wu was slightly startled. She turned her head and met Ye Xiao's calm gaze.

She blinked her large amber eyes, somewhat puzzled. "What is it? Is there something you can't say here?"

"There's something I need to discuss with you alone."

A trace of doubt rose in Huo Wu's heart, but even more than that, Ye Xiao's special treatment stirred her curiosity and a hint of... delight.

She immediately nodded and agreed without hesitation. "All right!"

Under the mixed gazes of doubt and curiosity from Ye Lingling, Dugu Yan, and Ning Rongrong, Huo Wu stepped forward and followed Ye Xiao out through the gates of the separate courtyard.

The three remained behind in the courtyard, looking at one another.

"Why would Ye Xiao want to see Huo Wu alone...?" Ning Rongrong asked indistinctly around a mouthful of snacks, her large eyes full of gossip.

"So mysterious." Dugu Yan narrowed her emerald eyes, lightly tapping her fingers against the stone table. "Could it be... a confession?"

She lowered her voice, glancing toward Ye Lingling beside her.

Ye Lingling's hand holding the teacup paused almost imperceptibly. Her cool blue eyes looked toward the empty doorway. She said nothing, but her fingertips tightened slightly around the cup.

She merely sat there quietly, as though she did not care. Yet her overly calm profile and slightly pursed lips showed that she was far from calm.

The three women were all filled with questions, but none had any answers. They could only make their own guesses, and the atmosphere in the courtyard became somewhat subtle for a time.

Ye Xiao led Huo Wu through several relatively secluded tree-lined paths and small gardens within the academy before finally arriving at a quiet pavilion beside the artificial lake.

Willows shaded the area, and ripples shimmered across the lake's surface. Few people came here, making it a fine place to talk.