The Weakened "God of War" and the Guilty-Conscience Young Master Dai

Early morning, Shrek Academy inner courtyard.

Huo Yuhao supported his aching lower back, sporting two massive dark circles under his eyes, and stumbled out of Ma Xiaotao's room.

The morning sun was somewhat blinding, but he felt the crazy night he had just endured was even more blinding.

"This crazy woman..." Huo Yuhao gasped, rubbing his sore lower back. He had originally thought helping Ma Xiaotao suppress her Evil Fire would be a technical job, but he hadn't expected it to be such a physically demanding one!

The jealous Ma Xiaotao was practically a perpetual motion machine that never knew fatigue; the kind of demands she made, as if she wanted to wring him dry, were too much even for his body, which possessed two Hundred Thousand Year Soul Bones.

It seems my physical fitness still needs to be strengthened! Huo Yuhao secretly vowed to himself, If I can barely handle a Ma Xiaotao, how am I supposed to conquer the senior sister Zhang Lexuan in the future? The road is long and the burden is heavy, the road is long and the burden is heavy indeed...

Just as he shuffled to the entrance of the dormitory building, two familiar figures came into view.

Wang Dong and Xiao Xiao were pacing anxiously, their eyes red and swollen; it was clear they hadn't slept all night.

Seeing Huo Yuhao's pale complexion and unsteady gait, their psychological defenses collapsed instantly.

"Squad leader!"

"Yuhao!"

Xiao Xiao could no longer hold back; with a sob, she threw herself directly into Huo Yuhao's arms, tears falling like beads from a broken string: "Wuwuwu... you're finally back, you scared me to death..."

Although Wang Dong didn't pounce on him, her beautiful powder-blue eyes were also brimming with tears. She bit her lip, her face full of guilt and self-reproach: "Yuhao, I'm sorry... we were too weak. In that situation last night, we could only watch helplessly as you lured away the powerful enemies, while we couldn't do anything at all..."

In their eyes, Huo Yuhao's "half-dead" appearance must have been the result of a life-or-death battle from the night before, leaving him with severe internal injuries.

Only in the face of life and death can one see true feelings.

After the torment of this night, Xiao Xiao had completely recognized her own heart; her entire being was now shaped by Huo Yuhao, and there was no room left for anyone else.

As for Wang Dong, looking at Huo Yuhao's weak state, her heart felt as if it were being twisted by a knife. She secretly vowed: From now on, no matter how this guy bullies me or orders me around, I'll accept it! As long as he's okay!

Huo Yuhao looked at the tearful Xiao Xiao in his arms and then at the remorseful Wang Dong, feeling a bit guilty.

Cough, cough, this misunderstanding seems a bit large.

But he couldn't exactly say, "Actually, I was dragged away by a senior sister to have a good time last night," could he? That would likely get him bitten to death by these two on the spot.

Therefore, Huo Yuhao could only offer a strained but gentle smile, patting Xiao Xiao on the back, and said softly: "Silly girl, what are you crying for? Didn't I come back just fine? As long as you two are safe, that's all that matters."

This line, "As long as you two are safe, that's all that matters," combined with his pale and weak complexion, had an explosive lethality. Wang Dong and Xiao Xiao were moved to tears, wishing they could pour their hearts out to him right then and there.

After soothing the emotions of the two girls, the three of them headed to the teaching building together.

As fate would have it, just as they reached the bottom of the building, they ran head-on into Dai Huabin and Zhu Lu.

The moment they saw Huo Yuhao, Dai Huabin and Zhu Lu looked as if they had seen a ghost; their faces turned deathly pale instantly.

They never imagined that after sending out so many assassins, including even a Spirit Saint-level powerhouse, Huo Yuhao would still be able to return alive!

And looking at him, aside from his poor complexion, he wasn't missing any arms or legs!

Feeling guilty, the two subconsciously wanted to avoid them, lowering their heads to slip away.

"Stop!"

A sharp shout rang out. Wang Dong, filled with rage, blocked their path, her powder-blue eyes spitting fire: "Dai Huabin! Were those assassins from last night sent by you?!"

Dai Huabin's body stiffened, and he forced himself to look up with feigned composure: "Wang Dong, don't make false accusations! What assassins? I have no idea what you're talking about!"

Although he denied it with his mouth, he was cursing wildly in his heart: Those pieces of trash! They couldn't even kill a Soul Elder!

"Whether it was you or not, you know it in your own heart."

Huo Yuhao walked forward slowly, wearing his signature faint smile. He reached out and patted Dai Huabin on the shoulder.

This seemingly friendly gesture made Dai Huabin's entire body stiffen, as if he were being stared at by an ancient beast, and cold sweat instantly soaked his back.

Huo Yuhao leaned into Dai Huabin's ear and said in a light, breezy tone that only the two of them could hear: "This matter isn't over. Dai Huabin, you'd better pray that I don't run into you outside the academy. Otherwise... it will be a fight to the death."

After saying this, Huo Yuhao chuckled and walked away with Wang Dong and Xiao Xiao.

It wasn't until Huo Yuhao was far away that Dai Huabin realized his legs were actually trembling.

"Huabin..." Zhu Lu pulled on his sleeve with a pale face.

"Shut up!" Dai Huabin growled, his eyes filled with fear and resentment.

He knew Huo Yuhao wasn't joking. That madman could even slaughter a ten-thousand-year soul beast; crushing the two of them would truly be as simple as crushing ants.

What was even more terrifying was that if this matter were exposed and brought the wrath of Shrek Academy upon them, let alone him, even his father, Duke White Tiger, who was far away at the border, wouldn't be able to protect him!

After arriving at the classroom, the three of them hadn't even sat down before they were called to Zhou Yi's office.

Pushing the door open, they found quite a few people already standing inside, all familiar faces—the core members of Class One.

"Squad leader, you don't look so good; you should take care of your health," Lan Susu and Lan Luoluo said with a smile as soon as they saw Huo Yuhao, their eyes full of concern.

Huo Yuhao nodded with a smile, acknowledging them.

Once everyone had arrived, Zhou Yi said: "I've called you here because there is an important mission. The academy has decided to hold a Core Disciple Selection Tournament. The participants will be all core disciples of the outer courtyard under the age of fifteen, including those from the Soul Guidance Department, totaling twenty-six people."

"In the end, seven people will be selected to carry out a special mission. As for the content of the mission, only the winners will be qualified to know."

Huo Yuhao understood immediately; this was the selection for the reserve team of the All-Continent Advanced Soul Master Academy Soul Fighting Tournament, also known as the legendary Shrek Seven Devils reserve.

After finishing the serious business, Zhou Yi's gaze landed on Huo Yuhao, her brows slightly furrowed: "Huo Yuhao, what is going on with your complexion? You look like a ghost. This selection tournament is no small matter; Dean Yan and Dean Qian have both issued strict orders that you must place in the top seven. In this state... are you even capable of it?"

Everyone's eyes converged on Huo Yuhao, their faces filled with concern.

Upon hearing this, Huo Yuhao deliberately patted his chest in an exaggerated manner, but he used too much force and ended up coughing twice. That "Lin Daiyu-like" appearance instantly amused everyone.

"Don't worry, Teacher Zhou." Huo Yuhao straightened his back. Although his face remained pale, the light in his eyes was as sharp as a blade: "A man can never say he isn't capable."

Watching Huo Yuhao's stubborn confidence, a hint of a smile flashed in Zhou Yi's eyes.

"Fine, just don't die in the Soul Fighting Zone. Everyone go back and prepare; gather at the Soul Fighting Zone tomorrow morning!"