Old Xuan munched on a chicken leg as he gave a muffled commentary on the battle.
His assessment of Jin Nier was "pure, domineering strength beyond compare." As for Huo Yuhao, after a long pause, Old Xuan could only manage two words: "A freak."
The special training that followed turned into a farce, just as Old Xuan had predicted.
No matter how Old Xuan arranged the teams—even when he had Huo Yuhao take on all six at once—the outcome was never in doubt.
With his Ultimate Ice, Psychic Power, and terrifying physique, Huo Yuhao was practically operating on a different level from his peers.
The moment a fight began, Huo Yuhao would unleash a group Soul Shock, and half the opposing team would collapse. He'd then send the rest flying with a single punch each.
Only Jin Nier could trade a few blows with Huo Yuhao.
Two days later, Old Xuan tossed aside a chicken bone and waved a hand in frustration. "I'm done, I'm done! This kid's too overpowered. Training him alongside everyone else isn't accomplishing anything. Lexuan, you take over!"
The beautiful Zhang Lexuan, dressed in white as pure as snow and with a gentle, jade-like elegance, glided over.
Huo Yuhao went up to greet her, beaming. "First Senior Sister, you look especially beautiful today. I owe you one for rushing over and saving my life last time."
Looking at the cheeky young man before her, Zhang Lexuan remembered how he'd clung to her and refused to let go that day, causing an awkward scene in front of Ma Xiaotao. Her pretty face flushed, and she felt both exasperated and amused.
She shook her head helplessly, though there was no reproach in her beautiful eyes. "Less chatter. Get back in line."
But even Zhang Lexuan found Huo Yuhao, this walking "bug," a headache. In the end, she could only resort to an isolation strategy: she put Huo Yuhao and the equally exceptional Jin Nier together for private training, while the other five were repeatedly reshuffled for regular sparring practice.
For the next two weeks, one corner of the Soul Fighting Arena became a world of its own for Huo Yuhao and Jin Nier.
Though Jin Nier had taken human form, she had yet to truly integrate into human society. Deep down, she still had the straightforwardness and aloofness of a Soul Beast, and she rarely spoke.
But who was Huo Yuhao? A social menace with a hide as thick as a city wall.
"Nier, what do you think of this move?"
"Nier, are you tired? Want to take a break and eat some grilled fish?"
"Nier, your use of strength still has a few flaws. Come on, I'll show you hands-on..."
Faced with Huo Yuhao's seemingly boundless enthusiasm and easy familiarity, Jin Nier's icy shell gradually melted away.
She had first become curious about Huo Yuhao because of the Auspicious Beast's ability to sense fate. Now, after spending every day together, she realized she had grown used to having him by her side.
Even in the heat of their sparring, the physical contact and mingling of their auras gave her a strange, unprecedented feeling.
She didn't know if it was what humans called "love." She only knew that being with Huo Yuhao felt comfortable.
Two weeks later, when the seven members of the Reserve Team returned to the Soul Fighting Arena that morning, the atmosphere suddenly grew heavy.
Apart from Old Xuan, who was wolfing down food, seven men and women in blood-red uniforms stood at the edge of the arena.
That vivid, blood-red color represented the highest honor and strength Shrek Academy had to offer: its Inner Court students!
Huo Yuhao's gaze immediately fell on the red-clad woman at their head.
Ma Xiaotao.
Today, she had tied up her long hair, giving her a dashing air, while her red uniform outlined her breathtaking curves.
Feeling Huo Yuhao's gaze, Ma Xiaotao's lips curled into a slight smile. She winked at him with her captivating phoenix eyes, her gaze holding a hint of intimacy only the two of them understood.
After all, they had woken up in the same bed that very morning. Huo Yuhao, who had spent the whole night suppressing her Evil Fire, was exhausted.
"Ahem." Old Xuan wiped the grease from the corner of his mouth and stood up. "You young ones, the Soul Master Tournament is only ten days away. I called you here today to meet the official team members. Don't think you're just here to cheer them on. If needed, you'll have to step in at any time."
"Now, introduce yourselves. The Reserve Team goes first."
Huo Yuhao stepped forward. "Huo Yuhao, second year in the Outer Court, forty-third-level Control-Type Battle Soul Ancestor."
Jin Nier spoke next. "Jin Nier, Outer Court, forty-eighth-level Power Attack System Battle Soul Ancestor."
The others introduced themselves one after another.
"Wang Dong, second year, thirty-third-level Power Attack System Battle Soul Elder."
"Ning Tian, second year, thirty-seventh-level support-type Battle Soul Elder."
"Xiao Xiao, second year, twenty-ninth-level Control-Type Battle Spirit Master."
"Lan Ruoruo, Lan Susu, second year, twenty-eighth-level Control-Type Battle Spirit Masters."
After hearing the introductions, the official team members exchanged stunned looks.
They were all second-years?
In previous years, even if the Reserve Team members weren't Soul Ancestors, they had at least been upper-year students at the peak of the three-ring rank.
Where were Outer Court Twin Stars like Bei Bei and Xu Sanshi? Had the second-years of the Outer Court grown so strong that they'd knocked out all the upper-years?
Looking at the official team members' shocked expressions, Old Xuan could only sigh inwardly.
"Good. Your turn." Old Xuan looked toward the red-clad group.
Ma Xiaotao strode forward, her long legs carrying her out as a scorching, domineering aura swept across the arena. "Ma Xiaotao, Inner Court, seventy-first-level Power Attack System Spirit Saint."
Boom—!
The words exploded in the Reserve Team members' minds like a bomb.
Level seventy-one! A Spirit Saint!
A Spirit Saint before the age of twenty!
Everyone except Huo Yuhao was left gaping.
She wasn't just a genius. She was a monster!
Still reeling from the shock, Wang Dong couldn't help sneaking a resentful glare at Huo Yuhao. Hmph, if you hadn't been going over every night to "put out her fire," would she have cultivated so quickly? You deserve half the credit for her Spirit Saint cultivation!
Next, a tall, handsome man with shoulder-length blond hair stepped forward, his gaze sweeping over Huo Yuhao as if by chance.
He bore some resemblance to Dai Huabin, but was far more composed and reserved.
"Dai Yueheng, Inner Court, sixty-fourth-level Power Attack System Battle Soul Emperor."
Huo Yuhao narrowed his eyes. He could clearly tell that Dai Yueheng's gaze had rested on him for a moment, carrying viciousness and intense killing intent.
"You want to kill me? You can try right now." Huo Yuhao had never been one to put up with being wronged. He stepped forward and stared Dai Yueheng in the eye.
As soon as he said that, the atmosphere in the arena turned tense.
Wang Dong and Jin Nier were startled, but immediately stepped forward to stand beside Huo Yuhao. Xiao Xiao followed close behind.
Ma Xiaotao, meanwhile, erupted. She moved directly in front of Dai Yueheng, her phoenix eyes blazing with fury. "Dai Yueheng, give me an explanation, or don't blame me for what happens next!"
Dai Yueheng's heart lurched. He hadn't expected Huo Yuhao to detect his killing intent from that brief instant.
But with Old Xuan and Zhang Lexuan present, there was no way he could admit it. He hurriedly denied it. "Junior Huo, what makes you say that? We've never even met. Why would I have any murderous intent toward you?"
Huo Yuhao sneered and looked past Ma Xiaotao, fixing Dai Yueheng with a piercing stare. "My Martial Soul is my eyes, and it has a Mental Attribute. You hid it extremely well, but you couldn't escape my perception. I'll give you a chance. Sign a life-and-death pact now, and there'll be no complaints, in life or death!"
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