Renting a Room to Cultivate? What Are You Thinking!

"N-nothing."

Huo Yuhao snapped back to reality, forcing a smile that looked worse than a grimace.

"It's just... I think that Dai Huabin is so impressive. I'm only at level eleven; I'm so far behind him."

"Oh, don't be so discouraged!"

Tang Ya slapped Huo Yuhao on the shoulder with a carefree air.

"You're part of our Tang Sect now. As long as you cultivate the Mysterious Heaven Skill, you'll definitely catch up! Don't you know that diligence can compensate for a lack of talent?"

Bei Bei also offered gentle encouragement from the side:

"That's right. Talent is certainly important, but acquired effort is even more critical. Yuhao, since you've joined the Tang Sect, we are family. In the future, Teacher Xiaoya and I will help you."

Family...

These three words warmed Huo Yuhao's heart, making his eyes sting.

Yet, the fire deep within his soul showed no signs of extinguishing; instead, it burned ever brighter.

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

Just then, a lazy voice echoed in his mind.

Inside his spiritual sea, the Sky Dream Ice Silkworm, currently in the form of a giant fleshy worm, rolled over, its tone dripping with disdain:

"That so-called Dai Huabin is nothing! So what if he's a three-ring Soul Elder? I am a million-year soul beast! An unprecedented, intelligent soul ring!

With me helping you, never mind a measly Dai Huabin—even that piece-of-trash White Tiger Duke won't be fit to carry your shoes in the future!"

The Sky Dream Ice Silkworm's voice was filled with confidence, perhaps even bordering on arrogance.

"As long as you listen to me and we get our hands on that second martial soul, you'll be crushing him in minutes!"

Huo Yuhao replied silently in his heart: "Many thanks, Brother Sky Dream."

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

After all, this creature claimed to be a million-year soul beast, yet its current offensive power was limited.

Relying 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 will become stronger."

He swore in his heart, "One day, I will return to the Duke Mansion and make him kneel before my mother's grave to repent!"

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

The next morning.

Shrek City, East District.

Dai Huabin stood under a large tree beneath the dormitory building, holding two cups of hot soy milk.

Many passing freshmen couldn't help but steal a few glances at him.

Dressed in a well-tailored white casual outfit with his blond hair draped carelessly behind his head, his heterochromatic eyes held a hint of indifference. He looked exactly like a young noble who had stepped out of an idol drama.

Not long after, a black-clad silhouette emerged from the stairwell.

Zhu Lu was wearing a black athletic bodysuit today, which perfectly outlined her well-developed figure, topped with a short white jacket. She looked both sharp and beautiful.

Only that usually icy little face now held a hint of post-sleep confusion.

"Here, soy milk. It's hot."

Dai Huabin naturally handed over the paper cup in his hand, taking the opportunity to tuck a stray lock of hair behind her ear.

Zhu Lu took the soy milk, feeling pleasantly surprised, her small hands warmed by the steam.

"Where... are we going?" She sipped the soy milk, her eyes darting away.

After that meal yesterday, she felt the relationship between them had progressed at a breakneck speed, fast enough to make her feel dizzy.

Dai Huabin finished his own cup of soy milk in one gulp, tossed the paper cup into a trash can ten meters away, and curled his lips into a mischievous smirk:

"Taking you to get a room."

"Pfft!"

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

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

Zhu Lu widened her cat-like eyes, her entire face turning bright red, like a freshly boiled shrimp.

Had she heard him correctly?

Get... a room?

Dai Huabin watched her overreaction and couldn't help but reach out to pinch her burning cheek:

"What are you thinking about? I meant finding a quiet place to cultivate properly. The dorms are crowded and full of prying eyes; do you want to be put on display?"

"Cul... cultivation, huh..."

Zhu Lu let out a sigh of relief, yet a trace of inexplicable disappointment, one she hadn't even noticed herself, flashed through her heart.

"What else? If I were going to eat you up, Lulu, I would certainly prepare for it properly."

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

"Dai Huabin! Shut up!" Zhu Lu was mortified, raising her foot to stomp on him.

Dai Huabin dodged to the side and took the opportunity to take her hand.

"Alright, stop messing around. Time is tight and the task is heavy. School starts in a few days, and we need to improve our synchronization."

Half an hour later.

Inside a luxury suite at the Shrek Hotel.

The soundproofing here was the best in the city, and it was even equipped with a specialized soul power barrier, designed specifically for soul master couples or cultivation fanatics who didn't want to be disturbed.

When the heavily made-up young lady at the front desk processed their check-in, the look in her eyes was truly meaningful.

"Kids these days, they really are precocious..."

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

She stood in the center of the room now, staring at the massive, three-meter-wide circular bed, her entire body stiff as a board.

Isn't this bed a bit too big?

And what is up with this suggestive pink lighting?

"Don't just stand there like a statue, come over."

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

He patted the spot in front of him.

Zhu Lu shuffled over, her heart beating so fast it felt like it was going to jump out of her throat.

"Are we holding hands like before?" She extended her hands, her voice as thin as a mosquito's hum.

In the past, when they cultivated their Martial Soul Fusion Skill, they would press their palms together to circulate their soul power.

"That efficiency is too low."

Dai Huabin shook his head, a serious light flickering in his heterochromatic pupils.

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

"It's not just the fusion of soul power, but the synchronization of mind and body."

"I was too reserved before, which is why our Hell White Tiger, while powerful, always felt like it was missing a soul."

As he spoke, he reached out without room for argument and grabbed Zhu Lu by the wrists.

The world spun.

Zhu Lu let out a startled cry, but the next second, she realized she hadn't fallen; instead, she had crashed firmly into a broad, warm embrace.

Dai Huabin had actually hugged her from behind!

Their bodies were pressed tightly together, leaving no gap between them.

Zhu Lu could clearly feel the powerful heartbeat of the boy behind her, along with his scorching body temperature.

Boom!

Zhu Lu's brain instantly crashed, going completely blank.

"Don't move, focus your mind and calm your breath."

Dai Huabin's voice rang out by her ear, carrying a strange, soothing magic.

"Feel my soul power."

As soon as the words fell, a domineering and pure white soul power surged from Dai Huabin's body, instantly enveloping them both.