Flying Shuttle and Divine Chef

Zhang Lexuan's beautiful eyes swept over the group, her gaze finally resting on Ma Xiaotao. Although she had no personal experience in such matters, she had seen enough to understand the signs.

The lingering amorousness that had yet to fade from Ma Xiaotao's brow, combined with the subtle, unnatural way she walked, could not escape her eyes.

This girl, she really doesn't know how to exercise restraint... Zhang Lexuan chided inwardly, then shifted her gaze to the calm-looking Huo Yuhao nearby, her heart surging with turbulent waves.

That fiery madwoman Ma Xiaotao, who could make even their teachers suffer a headache when she went berserk, had actually been tamed by this little junior?

And looking at her, it seemed to be a total surrender of both body and mind.

It was truly enough to make one blush just thinking about it.

Zhang Lexuan hurriedly pushed those chaotic images out of her mind.

On the other side of the team, the perpetually cold "Ice Goddess" Ling Luochen also cast her gaze toward Huo Yuhao from time to time.

After learning last night that Huo Yuhao was Ma Xiaotao's little boyfriend, her competitive spirit had been ignited instead.

"If Ma Xiaotao with her fire attribute can do it, then I, with my ice attribute, am an even better match for him." Ling Luochen puffed out her chest and thought to herself, "In terms of figure and appearance, I don't lose to anyone. Since Ma Xiaotao can have him, I can snatch him away."

Ma Xiaotao was incredibly sharp and instantly caught the naked possessiveness in Ling Luochen's eyes.

If this were in the past, she would have already bristled with rage.

But at this moment, she merely brushed her red hair back lazily, a meaningful smile curling the corners of her lips.

The intensity of last night's battle was so fierce that her waist still ached faintly. That guy Huo Yuhao hadn't treated her like a human being at all.

Want to snatch him? Fine by me. Ma Xiaotao sneered internally. It just so happens that I can't handle him alone; if someone is willing to come and share the firepower, I couldn't ask for more. I just fear that you, this iceberg, will melt into a puddle of water by then, and you won't even have time to cry.

Ma Xiaotao was very curious to see if Ling Luochen, the Ice Goddess of the inner court, would have a contrasting side.

"Move out!"

On the road, Elder Xuan explained the other identity held by the Shrek inner court students: the Shrek Inspection Team.

"Every inner court student is a member of the Inspection Team. Our mission is to monitor the continent and eradicate evil." Elder Xuan's voice was low. "Our target this time is the 'Death Messenger' bandit group located at the border between the Star Luo Empire and the Sun Moon Empire. Their leader is a powerful Evil Spirit Master."

Hearing the word "death," the girls of the reserve team turned pale, becoming nervous.

"Time is tight, and the tournament is imminent; we only have three or four days," Elder Xuan said. "Move at full speed!"

However, a problem arose. The main team members were all Spirit Kings or higher and could be equipped with flying Soul Tools to increase their speed. But the reserve team, aside from Huo Yuhao and Jin Nier, couldn't keep up at all, let alone fly for long periods.

Ma Xiaotao was just about to suggest that each main team member carry one person, but Huo Yuhao grabbed her.

"Sister Xiaotao, I have a way."

Huo Yuhao smiled gently, flipped his wrist, and a silver light shot into the sky.

"Boom!"

A streamlined metal shuttle the size of a small cabin hovered in mid-air, emitting a cold metallic luster and rich fluctuations of spirit power.

"A Level 6 Soul Tool—the Liuguang Flying Shuttle," Huo Yuhao introduced calmly. "It can easily seat the reserve team members, and its speed is comparable to a flying Spirit Saint."

The entire group fell silent.

A Level 6 Soul Tool? This kid carried such strategic-grade equipment on him?

"Follow me onto the shuttle."

Huo Yuhao called out, then took Ma Xiaotao's hand and leaped into the shuttle first.

The girls of the reserve team cheered and quickly followed.

The main team members looked at each other, eventually able only to smile bitterly and fly on their own.

The interior of the shuttle was spacious and comfortable. Huo Yuhao sat in the pilot's seat, his Psychic Power surging out like a tide to control the flight, turning the craft into a silver bolt of lightning that shot forward instantly.

The speed was so fast that he actually had to slow down to let the main team members outside keep up.

Ma Xiaotao sat in a soft chair beside Huo Yuhao, watching the young man's focused profile, and a warm current surged in her heart.

She knew that Huo Yuhao had brought this out because he knew she hadn't fully recovered and was having trouble moving.

When the sun was high in the sky, Elder Xuan ordered a rest.

When the main team members landed, they were all panting, their spirit power significantly depleted.

In contrast, the reserve team members who stepped out of the shuttle were all full of energy, as if they had been out for a stroll.

"I'm starving, I'm starving," Wang Dong clamored.

Huo Yuhao rolled up his sleeves: "Alright, I'll show you what I can do today."

Setting up a pot, starting a fire, and preparing the ingredients, Huo Yuhao's movements were fluid and practiced. Before long, an indescribably rich aroma permeated the forest.

This was no longer simple grilled fish, but a nourishing thick soup stewed with several rare medicinal herbs and spirit beast meat, specifically prepared to help Ma Xiaotao recover her vitality.

Of course, the girls of the reserve team each had a share as well.

"Senior Sister, want some?" Huo Yuhao invited with a smile.

Zhang Lexuan didn't stand on ceremony and took a bowl.

Elder Xuan had long since tossed his chicken leg aside and shamelessly crowded over.

A mouthful of hot soup went down, the savory flavor exploding on the tongue as a warm current instantly flowed through every limb and bone.

"Mmm! This is way too delicious!" Xiao Xiao widened her eyes.

Even Ma Xiaotao and Wang Dong were stunned; they had assumed Huo Yuhao only knew how to grill fish, never expecting his culinary skills to be so all-encompassing!

"This kid..." Zhang Lexuan sipped her soup, watching Huo Yuhao as he was surrounded like the moon among stars, her gaze growing increasingly soft. "Strong, handsome, and he can cook... No wonder Xiaotao fell for him so quickly."

On the other side, the core members held their hard, dry rations, and upon smelling the aroma from over there, they instantly felt like they were chewing on wax.

Ling Luochen came over uninvited, and Huo Yuhao was just as accommodating.

When they finished resting and set off again, the attitudes of the core members had done a complete one-hundred-and-eighty-degree turn.

"Junior brother Yuhao, this flying shuttle consumes a lot of energy. Let this senior brother help you pilot it for a while!"

"Yeah, yeah, Yuhao, you take a break and let us handle it!"

Except for Dai Yueheng, they all scrambled to squeeze into the flying shuttle, ostensibly to help, but in reality, to build rapport and secure their spot for dinner.

Huo Yuhao naturally saw through their intentions, but he didn't call them out; happy to have some leisure time, he directly gave up the pilot's seat.

However, not even half an hour later, Chen Zifeng, who had taken over, retreated with a face full of sweat: "No way, this thing consumes soul power at a terrifying rate! I can't hold on!"

"Are you even capable, you weakling? Let me try."

Next came Gongyang Mo, Xixi...

The core members took turns, but none of them could last long, and each one ended up pale and exhausted.

Only then did they realize with horror that Huo Yuhao had actually piloted it alone for two full hours that morning without even flushing or catching his breath.

"Is this kid's soul power a bottomless pit?"

The way everyone looked at Huo Yuhao was as if they were staring at a monster.

Little did they know, Huo Yuhao was relying on his vast, ocean-like Psychic Power, not just simple soul power consumption.

Night fell, and the team arrived near the Mingdou Mountain Range.

The core members were as exhausted as dead dogs, but for the sake of dinner, they still forced themselves to hunt for game and gather firewood, acting incredibly attentive.

Huo Yuhao was not stingy and simply made a large pot of stew.

Ling Luochen finally received a bowl of steaming meat soup. She took small sips, her gaze fixed intently on Huo Yuhao through the rising steam.

The more she interacted with this youth, the more fascinating he became. Strong, mysterious, considerate...

I must snatch him up, Ling Luochen vowed to herself.

After dinner, the playful atmosphere instantly dissipated as Dai Yueheng returned to the team, ostensibly for guard duty, but in reality, to avoid the awkwardness.

Elder Xuan stood up, his cloudy eyes turning sharp.

"Had your fill? Then get ready to work."

"Ahead lies the camp of the Death Messenger. Remember, this is not a competition; it is a slaughter."