Getting a Room to Practice? What Are You Thinking?!

"I-it's... nothing."

Huo Yuhao snapped back to his senses and forced out a smile uglier than crying.

"It's just... Dai Huabin seemed so impressive. I'm only at level eleven. I'm nowhere near his level."

"Aw, don't be discouraged!"

Tang Ya slapped Huo Yuhao on the shoulder with carefree enthusiasm.

"You're one of us now, so once you start practicing the Mysterious Heaven Skill, you'll definitely catch up! Hard work makes up for a lack of talent, you know?"

Bei Bei offered some gentle encouragement from the side, too.

"That's right. Talent is certainly important, but the effort you put in afterward matters even more. Yuhao, now that you've joined the Tang Sect, we're family. Xiaoya and I will help you from now on."

Family...

Those three words warmed Huo Yuhao's heart, and his eyes stung.

But the fire burning within him showed no sign of dying down. If anything, it burned all the brighter.

"Little Yuhao, don't listen to those two humans' nonsense."

Just then, a lazy voice sounded in his mind.

Inside the Spiritual Sea, the Sky Dream Ice Silkworm, now transformed into a giant fleshy worm, rolled over and spoke with disdain.

"What's that Dai Huabin worth? So what if he's a Soul Elder? Your big brother here is a million-year Soul Beast! The first Wisdom Soul Ring in history!

"With me helping you, forget a mere Dai Huabin. Someday, even that lousy White Tiger Duke won't be worthy of carrying your shoes!"

The Sky Dream Ice Silkworm's voice brimmed with confidence—one might even call it arrogance.

"As long as you listen to me and we get our hands on that Second Martial Soul, we'll crush him in an instant!"

Huo Yuhao silently replied in his heart, "Thank you, Brother Sky Dream."

But he didn't take the giant worm's words entirely to heart.

After all, this Soul Beast might claim to be a million years old, but its attack power was limited now.

Could he really count on it to defeat Dai Huabin, who was already a Soul Elder?

Huo Yuhao silently picked up a grilled fish and took a fierce bite.

"I'll grow stronger."

He swore to himself:

"One day, I'll return to the Duke Mansion and make him kneel before my mother's grave and repent!"

Suppressing the hatred surging in his heart, Huo Yuhao sat cross-legged and began circulating the Mysterious Heaven Skill Tang Ya had just taught him.

The next morning.

Shrek City, eastern district.

Dai Huabin stood beside a tree beneath the dormitory building, two cups of hot soy milk in hand.

Quite a few passing freshmen couldn't help sneaking a second glance at him.

His well-tailored white casual outfit, casually swept-back blond hair, and mismatched eyes that held a hint of nonchalance made him look every bit the refined young nobleman who'd stepped out of a romance drama.

Before long, a graceful figure in black emerged from the stairwell.

Zhu Lu wore a black, skintight athletic outfit that showed off her already well-developed figure to the fullest. A short white jacket over it gave her a look that was both stylish and striking.

But her usually frosty little face now wore the dazed look of someone who'd just woken up.

"Here. Soy milk. It's hot."

Dai Huabin casually handed her one of the paper cups, then tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear.

A little flustered, Zhu Lu accepted the soy milk. Its warmth seeped into her small hands.

"Where... are we going?" She took a small sip, her gaze darting away.

Ever since their meal together yesterday, she'd felt their relationship progressing by leaps and bounds—so fast it made her feel a little carsick.

Dai Huabin downed his own cup of soy milk, then tossed the paper cup into a trash can ten meters away. A mischievous smile curled his lips.

"I'm taking you to get a room."

"Pff!"

Zhu Lu spat out a mouthful of soy milk. Fortunately, she reacted quickly and turned to spray it into the grass beside her.

"Cough, cough, cough! W-what did you say?!"

Zhu Lu's catlike eyes widened. Her whole face turned red, like a shrimp fresh out of the pot.

Had she heard that right?

G-get a room?

Seeing her overreact, Dai Huabin couldn't help reaching out to pinch her burning cheek.

"What are you thinking? I mean, we'll find somewhere quiet to practice. The dorm's full of people, and you want them all watching us?"

"P-practice..."

Zhu Lu breathed a sigh of relief, though for some inexplicable reason, a flicker of disappointment slipped through her heart—so faint she didn't even notice it herself.

"Of course. If I were going to devour Lulu, I'd make sure I was properly prepared."

Dai Huabin leaned close to her ear and teased her in a low voice.

"Dai Huabin! Shut up!" Zhu Lu was so mortified she could die. She raised her foot to stomp on him.

Dai Huabin dodged to the side and took her hand in his.

"Come on, stop fooling around. We're short on time and have a lot to do. School starts in a few days, so we need to improve our compatibility a little more."

Half an hour later.

Inside a luxurious suite at the Shrek Hotel.

It had the best soundproofing in the entire city and even came equipped with a Soul Power barrier, specially designed for Soul Master couples who didn't want to be disturbed or for cultivation fanatics.

The heavily made-up young woman at the front desk had given them an extremely knowing look while checking them in.

"Kids these days... So mature for their age..."

That was the last thing Zhu Lu heard before stepping into the elevator.

Now she stood in the middle of the room, staring at the huge round bed—at least three meters wide—and frozen stiff as a log.

Wasn't the bed a little too big?

And what was with the suggestive pink lighting?

"Don't just stand there. Come over."

Dai Huabin took off his jacket, tossed it onto the sofa, and sat cross-legged in the middle of the bed.

He patted the spot in front of him.

Zhu Lu hesitantly shuffled over, her heart beating so fast it felt like it might leap straight out of her throat.

"Should we hold hands like before?" She held out both hands, her voice as faint as a mosquito's buzz.

When they practiced their Martial Soul Fusion Skill before, they'd pressed their palms together and let their Soul Power flow between them.

"That method's too inefficient."

Dai Huabin shook his head, his mismatched eyes shining with earnestness.

"Lulu, the key to a Martial Soul Fusion Skill is 'fusion.'

"It's not just a fusion of Soul Power. It's about synchronizing our minds and bodies, too.

"I was too reserved before, so even though our Hell White Tiger was powerful, it always felt like it was missing a soul."

As he spoke, he reached out without giving her a chance to object and grabbed her wrist.

The world spun.

Zhu Lu cried out in surprise. The next moment, she realized she hadn't fallen at all. Instead, she'd crashed solidly into a broad, warm embrace.

Dai Huabin had wrapped his arms around her from behind!

Their bodies pressed tightly together, without a sliver of space between them.

Zhu Lu could clearly feel the steady beat of the young man's heart behind her, along with the heat radiating from his body.

Boom!

Zhu Lu's mind short-circuited, going completely blank.

"Don't move. Clear your mind and steady your breath."

Dai Huabin's voice sounded in her ear, carrying a strangely soothing magic.

"Feel my Soul Power."

As soon as he finished speaking, a domineering, pure white Soul Power surged from Dai Huabin's body, instantly enveloping them both.