Ma Xiaotao: Yuhao, I need your help to cultivate!

"I'll go find him right now!"

Ma Xiaotao wiped away the tears of joy that had welled up, turning to dash off without a moment's hesitation.

"Wait!"

Yan Shaozhe hurriedly called out to her, shaking his head helplessly.

"It's too late now; don't disturb his rest. Furthermore, Huo Yuhao is a core student personally designated by Mu En, so his status is extraordinary. You cannot go bothering him so abruptly."

Watching Ma Xiaotao's eager expression, he added with a smile:

"Rest assured, given the child's character, he will certainly be willing to help you."

Ma Xiaotao stopped in her tracks, taking a deep breath to suppress the surging excitement in her heart.

She nodded, her fiery red eyes shimmering with a brilliance never seen before: "Fine, I will listen to you and go tomorrow."

Moonlight spilled across her face, dispelling the fatigue and restlessness that had long clouded her brow, leaving behind only boundless anticipation.

A night passed.

Huo Yuhao had already finished reading three basic theory books and was currently studying the core array structure of a Level 1 Soul Tool ray on the blueprints.

"Master, look at this core array—if we modify this part, would it increase the condensation speed of soul power?"

Huo Yuhao pointed to a corner of the blueprint and looked up at Zhao Ze.

Zhao Ze leaned in to take a look and nodded:

"Not bad, your observation is quite sharp. Yuhao, you truly have a gift."

Electrolux also set down the book in his hand and said with a smile:

"This child's comprehension is indeed astonishing; he is stronger than many soul masters who have studied for half a year."

Huo Yuhao felt a bit embarrassed by the praise and scratched his head.

Although his comprehension was remarkable, Zhao Ze and Electrolux were clearly even stronger, as they had already mastered all that knowledge in no time.

Huo Yuhao pondered over the blueprints for a long while longer until his neck grew sore, at which point he stretched his body with a loud groan.

He subconsciously looked up at the soul tool clock on the wall, his pupils shrinking instantly—there were only ten minutes left before the morning class for Class One!

"Oh no! I lost track of time!"

Huo Yuhao sprang up from his chair, frantically stuffing the blueprints and textbooks on the table into his Soul Tool, grabbing his uniform from the back of the chair, and sprinting out.

He had been so engrossed in researching soul tools last night that he hadn't noticed dawn had broken. He didn't even have time to return to the dormitory to wash up, so he could only run wildly toward the teaching building.

By the time he reached the door of the Class One classroom, panting for breath, the bell for class rang.

Just as he was about to push the door open, he saw a slender, fiery red figure standing at the entrance, talking to Zhou Yi.

The woman was dressed in a fiery red training outfit, her waist-length red hair like dancing flames. She was stunningly beautiful, with a heroic spirit in her brows—it was none other than Ma Xiaotao.

Hearing his footsteps, she immediately turned her head, her gaze landing on Huo Yuhao, and her eyes lit up instantly.

Zhou Yi also saw Huo Yuhao, and a rare smile appeared on her usually cold and stern face as she beckoned to him:

"Yuhao, you've come just in time. This is Senior Sister Ma Xiaotao from the Inner Court; she came specifically to find you."

"Senior Sister Ma Xiaotao?"

Huo Yuhao was stunned for a moment, hurriedly stopping his pace to address her:

"Greetings, Senior Sister."

Ma Xiaotao looked him up and down, a brilliant smile appearing on her face, her tone perhaps a bit too enthusiastic:

"You must be Huo Yuhao, right? You really are just like the rumors say—such a cute little brother."

Huo Yuhao felt a bit awkward under her gaze and scratched his head, asking in confusion:

"Senior Sister, is there something you need from me? I'm just a freshman who just enrolled; I'm afraid I can't be of much help to you."

"You can! And only you can help me!"

Ma Xiaotao stepped forward, grabbing his arm tightly, her tone urgent and sincere.

"I need you to assist me in my cultivation! Your Life Crystal is exactly what I need to solve my greatest trouble!"

"Life Crystal?"

Huo Yuhao blinked, feeling puzzled.

His Life Crystal could heal wounds and improve one's constitution, but how could it help someone cultivate?

However, upon second thought, selling a Life Crystal didn't really matter to him, and helping anyone was the same, so he nodded and readily agreed:

"No problem, Senior Sister. How many do you need? I can sell them all to you."

"That's wonderful!"

Hearing this, Ma Xiaotao was so excited she jumped up on the spot.

She had waited for this day for a long time, and now, she finally saw the hope of eradicating her evil fire.

Ma Xiaotao lost control of her emotions for a moment, directly opening her arms and pulling Huo Yuhao into a hug.

Huo Yuhao froze completely, his cheeks turning as red as a ripe apple in a flash, and he stammered:

"Se, Senior..."

"Hey! What are you two doing?!"

Just then, a voice laced with a hint of anger suddenly came from the side.

The two separated in a hurry and turned to look, only to see Wang Dong'er standing not far away, holding a textbook. Her powder-blue eyes were filled with shock and displeasure as she stared daggers at them.

She had originally arrived just in time for class, but she never expected that as soon as she reached the classroom door, she would see this scene of Ma Xiaotao hugging Huo Yuhao.

The sight caused an inexplicable fire to flare up in Wang Dong'er's heart, leaving her feeling stifled.

Ma Xiaotao raised an eyebrow, looking at Wang Dong'er's puffed-up appearance. A playful smile curled at the corner of her mouth, and without offering an explanation, she simply said to Huo Yuhao:

"It's nothing, I just came to ask Junior Brother Yuhao to help me with my cultivation.

Let's go, Junior Brother Yuhao, let's find somewhere else to talk; it's too crowded here."

With that, she grabbed Huo Yuhao's wrist without waiting for an answer and turned to walk toward the outside of the teaching building.

"Eh? Senior, but we still have class..."

Huo Yuhao was pulled along, looking back at Wang Dong'er at the classroom door with some hesitation.

"It's fine, I've already spoken to Teacher Zhou and got you a half-day leave!"

Ma Xiaotao said without looking back, her steps light and her mood clearly excellent.

Watching their retreating figures side-by-side, especially the hand Ma Xiaotao had on Huo Yuhao's wrist, Wang Dong'er stomped her foot in anger, her frustration intensifying.

Biting her lip, she walked quickly to Zhou Yi and said with a frown:

"Teacher Zhou! How can you just grant leave to someone like that?

And what is up with that senior? Pulling and tugging in broad daylight—what kind of behavior is that!"

Zhou Yi looked at her puffed-up expression, glanced at her indifferently, and said in a calm tone:

"Ma Xiaotao's situation is special; it is a good thing that Huo Yuhao can help her. You don't need to worry about it, go back to the classroom and attend your lesson."

"But..."

Wang Dong'er wanted to say more, but was stopped by a stern look from Zhou Yi.

"No 'buts'."

Zhou Yi said in a deep voice.

"If you don't go to class now, I'll add twenty laps to today's physical training."

Watching the two figures disappear at the end of the corridor, Wang Dong'er felt both angry and anxious, yet she was helpless to do anything about it.

She could only stomp her foot and walk into the classroom, feeling sullen.

She had no spirit for the entire class; Wang Dong'er's mind kept replaying the image of Ma Xiaotao hugging Huo Yuhao, and the more she thought about it, the more annoyed she became.

Where on earth was that senior taking Huo Yuhao?

She slumped over her desk, wondering to herself.