The Bed Collapsed

In the classroom of Grade 1, Class 1, Zhou Yi's signature raspy voice brought their first-year life to a close.

"You have a month of vacation. But this month is not for you to go out and play!" Zhou Yi scanned the room coldly. "The advancement assessment is immediately after school starts. Those who don't pass will pack their bags and leave. Shrek does not raise trash. Dismissed!"

As Zhou Yi walked out of the classroom, the oppressive atmosphere instantly dissipated, replaced by the excitement of the upcoming holiday.

By the side of Sea God Lake, the charcoal fire glowed a faint red, and the aroma of grilled fish permeated the air.

This was the final gathering for Huo Yuhao, Wang Dong, and Xiao Xiao before the break.

Although the grilled fish remained crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, smelling absolutely delicious, the atmosphere between the three was somewhat somber.

"Yuhao, are you really not coming home with me?" Wang Dong held a piece of grilled fish but had no appetite, her large, powder-blue eyes filled with hope. "Aren't you even a little curious about what the Clear Sky Sect is actually like?"

Huo Yuhao's heart skipped a beat.

Go to the Clear Sky Sect? Are you kidding me!

That place was home to the Titan Giant Ape and the Sky Azure Bull Python, two Limit Douluos who were nothing more than Tang San's lapdogs.

Over the past year, in order to farm anger points, he had bullied Wang Dong quite a bit, even treating this tsundere little princess like a servant.

If he went to the Clear Sky Sect, wouldn't those two old beasts skin him alive?

Not to mention that the Clear Sky Sect was essentially Tang San's territory. Tang San might not dare to go too far elsewhere, but if he pulled some strings within the Clear Sky Sect, even the God of Destruction or the God Realm Committee would find it difficult to intervene.

"Not going." Huo Yuhao refused flatly, and while he was at it, he flicked Wang Dong hard on her smooth forehead with a crisp "thwack."

"Ouch!" Wang Dong covered her forehead, glaring at Huo Yuhao with teary eyes. "Why did you hit me!"

"For being stupid." Huo Yuhao rolled his eyes. "I'm a loner; it's much better to stay at the academy and cultivate. Why would I go to your house? I suspect you have ulterior motives toward me."

Wang Dong's face flushed red. Just as she was about to retort, she saw Huo Yuhao turn to look at Xiao Xiao, his expression instantly becoming as warm as a spring breeze.

"Xiao Xiao, be careful on your way home. Don't just focus on playing this month. If your soul power falls behind, I'll be checking when school starts." Huo Yuhao reached out and gently ruffled Xiao Xiao's hair, delivering a standard "head-pat kill."

Xiao Xiao narrowed her eyes comfortably, like a cat being petted. "I know, monitor! I'll miss you!"

Watching this scene, the jealousy in Wang Dong's heart completely boiled over.

Why!

Why is he so gentle with Xiao Xiao but so fierce with me? And he even flicked my forehead!

"Huo Yuhao, you're double-standard!" Wang Dong shouted, pouting.

"So what if I am?" Huo Yuhao glanced at her with clear disdain. "Xiao Xiao is so well-behaved. Look at you, acting as delicate as a girl every single day."

"I..." Wang Dong was choked with anger, almost blurting out, "I am a girl."

The words reached her lips, but she swallowed them back down.

Looking at Huo Yuhao's punchable expression, Wang Dong felt incredibly aggrieved. Stupid Huo Yuhao, big idiot! We've been together for almost a year and you still can't tell I'm a girl. You deserve to be single for the rest of your life!

In truth, Huo Yuhao knew exactly what was going on.

He knew perfectly well that Wang Dong was a girl, and he knew even better that she carried a portion of Tang Wutong's divine consciousness. But he didn't want to expose it.

The current Wang Dong was tsundere, cute, and flesh-and-blood.

As for that noble little princess of the God Realm, Tang Wutong, she wasn't worth a damn in Huo Yuhao's heart.

In the original story, the moment Tang Wutong appeared, the personalities of Wang Dong and Wang Qiu'er were erased—something Huo Yuhao could never accept.

To prevent your consciousness from being erased, and to prevent the birth of that pretentious, stitched-together monster Tang Wutong, you'll just have to suffer a little, Wang Dong, Huo Yuhao thought to himself. Besides, as long as you don't reveal your gender, I don't have any psychological burden when I bully you. That's the only way to farm these anger points properly.

However, when Huo Yuhao looked at Wang Dong again, he found her eyes were red, her beautiful powder-blue pupils brimming with tears. She looked like she was about to cry at any moment, much like a puppy abandoned by its owner.

Huo Yuhao's heart softened.

They were roommates who had spent a year together, after all. Even if it was to defy fate, he had been a bit too harsh at times.

"Alright, alright, stop with the long face. It's not like we're parting forever."

Huo Yuhao sighed, stepped forward, opened his arms, and pulled Wang Dong into an embrace.

Wang Dong's body stiffened abruptly, then immediately went limp.

The boy's embrace was warm and broad, carrying a faint, refreshing scent of mint.

Wang Dong's emotions, which were on the verge of collapse, were instantly soothed. Tears swirled in her eyes, but she couldn't bear to let them fall.

Huo Yuhao held Wang Dong, feeling the softness of her body—clearly different from a boy's—and that faint, elusive fragrance. He couldn't help but sigh inwardly: She really is a girl. Her body is so soft...

Meanwhile, in the God Realm.

Tang San, who was observing the lower realm through a water mirror, saw this scene and nearly snapped the Seagod Trident in his hands.

"You brat! How dare you take advantage of my daughter! Where are your hands going!!" Tang San was furious, the entire Sea God Hall trembling with his rage.

Over the past year, although Huo Yuhao had ordered Wang Dong around, his physical contact had been very measured. This was the first time they had shared such a genuine, solid hug.

The old father's composure had completely shattered.

In the lower realm, by the side of Sea God Lake.

"Are you done hugging yet? Two big guys hugging for so long, aren't you afraid of being misunderstood?" Xiao Xiao stood to the side, her eyes red, but she couldn't help but tease them, trying to break the somewhat ambiguous and melancholic atmosphere.

Wang Dong finally snapped out of it, pushing Huo Yuhao away in a panic. Her face was as red as a ripe apple, and she kept her head down, not daring to look at anyone.

Although she had been furious at Huo Yuhao's earlier remark about her being "sentimental," this embrace made all the grievances she had suffered over the past year seem to vanish into thin air.

Hmph, at least you have a conscience, Wang Dong thought, feeling sweet inside.

"Class monitor, I want one too!" Xiao Xiao gathered her courage and pounced on him as well.

Huo Yuhao caught Xiao Xiao with a smile and gave her a light hug: "Alright, off you go. See you at the start of the term."

After sending off the two reluctant young girls, Huo Yuhao stood by the lake, watching their figures disappear until the smile on his face gradually faded.

"What? Can't bear to part with your two little girlfriends?"

A teasing voice came from behind him.

Huo Yuhao turned around to see Ma Xiaotao leaning against a willow tree, dressed in a fiery red gown, looking at him with a playful expression.

Her mature and sultry figure formed a sharp contrast with the two green, youthful girls from just moments ago.

Huo Yuhao curled his lips, walked forward, and naturally wrapped his arm around Ma Xiaotao's slender waist.

"They are friends; you are the girlfriend."

Ma Xiaotao's pretty face flushed red. Despite her usually fiery personality, she still couldn't quite handle such a direct romantic advance.

She rolled her eyes at Huo Yuhao, though she felt delighted inside.

"You certainly know how to talk," Ma Xiaotao said, reaching out to poke Huo Yuhao's chest. "Since they've left, you belong to me for this month."

"I wouldn't have it any other way," Huo Yuhao raised an eyebrow.

"Don't get any wrong ideas," Ma Xiaotao said seriously. "I'm talking about cultivation. Next year is the All-Continent Advanced Soul Master Academy Soul Fighting Tournament. My goal is to break through to Soul Saint before the tournament, and you must break through to Soul Ancestor as well!"

"As you command, Senior Sister."

For the next month, Huo Yuhao lived a life that was both painful and happy.

The intensity of what Ma Xiaotao called "special training" was simply outrageous.

The days were filled with high-intensity combat sparring, while the nights were for... even higher-intensity "dual cultivation" assistance.

To replenish their consumption, Yan Shaozhe waved his hand and had all sorts of rare medicinal herbs sent over as if they were free.

Every day was served with a potent, all-encompassing tonic that left Huo Yuhao with constant nosebleeds.

As a result, the bed in Ma Xiaotao's dormitory had to endure pressure it was never meant to handle at its age, collapsing three times within the month until Huo Yuhao finally had to reinforce it with metal.

Finally, as the vacation was about to end, a surge of majestic soul power erupted from Sea God Island.

Ma Xiaotao had broken through the level 70 bottleneck—a quasi-Soul Saint!

Immediately following, another burst of extreme cold, though slightly weaker, erupted with intense concentration.

Huo Yuhao had broken through the level 40 bottleneck—a quasi-Soul Ancestor!

Watching these two monster-like students, Yan Shaozhe smiled so broadly that the wrinkles on his face bloomed like flowers.

"Good! Good! Good!" Yan Shaozhe said the word "good" three times. "Since you have both broken through, there is no time to lose. I have already made arrangements; tomorrow morning, we head to the Star Dou Great Forest to hunt for the most suitable soul rings for you both!"