Signing the Life and Death Contract, No Grudges in Life or Death!

Elder Xuan gnawed on a chicken leg while mumbling a vague critique of the battle that had just concluded.

Regarding Jin Nier, his assessment was "pure power, peerless dominance"; as for Huo Yuhao, Elder Xuan struggled for a long time before only managing to spit out two words: "a freak."

The subsequent special training, just as Elder Xuan had anticipated, completely devolved into a farce.

No matter how Elder Xuan arranged the teams, even when he had Huo Yuhao take on six people at once, the results were never in doubt.

Possessing Ultimate Ice, Psychic Power, and a terrifying physical body, Huo Yuhao was essentially performing a dimensional strike against his peers.

Often, as soon as a battle began, Huo Yuhao would unleash a group Soul Shock, causing half the opposing team to collapse, and the remaining half would be sent flying by him, one by one, like children.

Only Jin Nier could trade a few blows with Huo Yuhao.

Two days later, Elder Xuan tossed his chicken bone aside and waved his hands in frustration: "No more, no more. This kid is too far off the charts; the cost of training isn't yielding the intended results. Lexuan, you take over!"

Zhang Lexuan, the inner court's head senior sister, dressed in white as pristine as snow and as gentle as jade, drifted over.

Huo Yuhao took the initiative to greet her with a bright smile: "Senior Sister, you look beautiful today. Thanks to you arriving in time last time, you saved my life."

Looking at the cheeky youth before her, Zhang Lexuan recalled the awkward experience of him clinging to her tightly and the scene he caused in front of Ma Xiaotao, causing her pretty face to flush with a mix of annoyance and amusement.

She shook her head helplessly, though there was no blame in her beautiful eyes: "Stop with the glib talk, get back in line."

However, even Zhang Lexuan felt a headache when facing Huo Yuhao, this "bug" of a student. In the end, she could only adopt an isolation tactic: she placed Huo Yuhao and the equally formidable Jin Nier in a group for separate training, while the remaining five were constantly shuffled and reorganized for standard sparring practice.

For the next two weeks, a corner of the Soul Fighting Arena became a private world for Huo Yuhao and Jin Nier.

Although Jin Nier had taken human form, she had not yet truly integrated into human society, and she still retained the straightforwardness and cold pride of a soul beast in her bones, usually speaking as little as possible.

But who was Huo Yuhao? He was a social powerhouse with a face as thick as a city wall.

"Nier, what do you think of this move?"

"Nier, are you tired? Should we take a break and eat some grilled fish?"

"Nier, your application of power still has some flaws. Come, let me teach you hand-in-hand..."

Faced with Huo Yuhao's seemingly inexhaustible enthusiasm and familiarity, the cold, defensive shell around Jin Nier gradually melted.

She had originally been curious about Huo Yuhao due to the Lucky Beast's perception of fate, but now, living and training together, she found herself growing accustomed to having him by her side.

Even during intense sparring, the collision of their bodies and the blending of their auras gave her a strange, unprecedented feeling.

She didn't know if this was what humans called "liking," she only knew that being with Huo Yuhao felt very comfortable.

On the morning two weeks later, when the seven members of the reserve team arrived at the Soul Fighting Arena again, the atmosphere suddenly turned heavy.

In addition to Elder Xuan, who was busy stuffing his face, seven men and women dressed in blood-red academy uniforms stood on the sidelines.

That vibrant, blood-like color represented the highest honor and strength of Shrek Academy—the inner court students!

Huo Yuhao's gaze immediately landed on the red-clad woman leading them.

Ma Xiaotao.

Today, she had tied up her long hair, looking heroic and spirited, with the red uniform outlining her breathtaking curves.

Sensing Huo Yuhao's gaze, the corners of Ma Xiaotao's mouth curled up slightly, and she winked at him with those soul-captivating phoenix eyes, a hint of intimacy that only the two of them understood flickering in her gaze.

After all, the two of them had just woken up in the same bed today. Huo Yuhao, who had spent the whole night suppressing her Evil Fire, was exhausted.

"Ahem." Elder Xuan wiped the grease from the corners of his mouth and stood up. "Little ones, the Soul Master Tournament is in ten days. I called you here today to meet the main team. Don't think you're just here to be cheerleaders; if the need arises, you must be ready to step up at any time."

"Now, introduce yourselves. Starting with the reserve team."

Huo Yuhao stepped forward: "Huo Yuhao, second year of the outer court, level 43 Control System Battle Soul Ancestor."

Immediately after, Jin Nier spoke: "Jin Nier, outer court, level 48 Assault System Battle Soul Ancestor."

The others stepped forward in turn.

"Wang Dong, second year, level 33 Assault System Battle Soul Elder."

"Ning Tian, second year, level 37 Support System Battle Soul Elder."

"Xiao Xiao, second year, level 29 Control System Battle Soul Master."

"Lan Ruoruo, Lan Susu, second year, level 28 Control System Battle Soul Masters."

Hearing the introductions, the main team members looked at each other, their eyes filled with disbelief.

All second years?

In the past, the reserve team, even if not Soul Ancestors, at least consisted of upperclassmen at the peak of the third ring.

How could the outer court's "Twin Stars" like Bei Bei and Xu Sanshi not be here? Could it be that this year's second-year class was so strong that they had eliminated all the upperclassmen?

Elder Xuan watched the shocked expressions of the main team members and felt helpless himself.

"Alright, your turn." Elder Xuan looked toward the red-clad group.

Ma Xiaotao stepped out on her long legs, and a scorching, domineering aura instantly swept across the arena: "Ma Xiaotao, inner court, level 71 Assault System Battle Spirit Saint."

Boom—!

It was as if a heavy bomb had detonated in the minds of the reserve team members.

Level 71! A Spirit Saint!

A Spirit Saint under the age of twenty!

Except for Huo Yuhao, everyone else was dumbstruck.

This was no longer just talent; this was a monster!

While shocked, Wang Dong couldn't help but secretly glare at Huo Yuhao, feeling sour inside: Hmph, if you weren't going to "put out her fire" every night, would she be able to cultivate this fast? Half of this Spirit Saint cultivation is thanks to your "hard work"!

Immediately following her, a tall, handsome man with golden hair draped over his shoulders stepped out, his gaze sweeping over Huo Yuhao intentionally or otherwise.

He bore a slight resemblance to Dai Huabin, but he was far more composed and reserved.

"Dai Yueheng, Inner Court, Level 64 Power Attack System Battle Spirit Emperor."

Huo Yuhao narrowed his eyes. He could clearly perceive that Dai Yueheng's gaze had lingered on him for a split second, carrying a ferocious and intense killing intent.

"You want to kill me? You can make your move right now." Huo Yuhao was never one to swallow his pride; he stepped forward, staring directly at Dai Yueheng.

As soon as these words were spoken, the atmosphere on the field instantly turned tense.

Wang Dong and Jin Nier were startled for a moment, then quickly stepped forward to stand beside Huo Yuhao, with Xiao Xiao following closely behind.

Ma Xiaotao erupted instantly, moving to block Dai Yueheng's path, her phoenix eyes spitting fire: "Dai Yueheng, give me an explanation, or don't blame me for being impolite!"

Dai Yueheng was startled inwardly, not expecting that his momentary killing intent would actually be detected by Huo Yuhao.

However, with Elder Xuan and Zhang Lexuan present, he naturally couldn't admit it, so he hurriedly denied it: "Junior Brother Huo, where is this coming from? We have never met before, so how could I possibly have killing intent toward you?"

Huo Yuhao sneered repeatedly, stepping past Ma Xiaotao to stare down Dai Yueheng: "My martial soul is my eyes, a spiritual attribute. Even though you hid it extremely well, you couldn't escape my perception. I'm giving you a chance: sign a life-and-death contract right now, and let there be no grievances regardless of the outcome!"