The next morning.
Sunlight flooded Shrek Square.
Sea God Lake brought waves of moist air, filling the entire square with a refreshing feeling.
All the freshmen who had passed the assessment gathered at Shrek Square, awaiting their upcoming class assignments.
They were all somewhat nervous.
After all, their freshman period had come to an end. The upcoming class assignments, as well as the even more important status of core disciples, concerned their future studies at Shrek Academy.
It would determine whether they could rise to the next level in their coming years of study at Shrek Academy.
Yet whether they were nervous or excited, the freshmen's gazes kept drifting toward the very front of the formation.
Long Yaochen.
After making a name for himself in yesterday's battle, no one in the entire freshman class... no! No one in the entire Outer Court was unaware of this terrifyingly powerful guy.
At that moment, Long Yaochen was boredly watching Wang Dong beside him, who looked as though she had not woken up yet.
Just then, Du Weilun stepped onto the platform at the front.
He held a list in his hand as his gaze swept over the many freshmen below.
"The Freshman Assessment has concluded.
First, congratulations to all of you for passing the assessment and officially becoming members of Shrek Academy."
A burst of barely contained cheers erupted across the field.
Only after the noise subsided somewhat did Du Weilun continue. "Based on the overall performance in the Freshman Assessment and evaluations of individual potential, the academy will select certain students to become core disciples."
Before he had even finished speaking, waves of commotion broke out among the crowd.
Core disciples.
Whoever earned that title would get a faster start than everyone else.
Huo Yuhao slowly raised his head as well.
After thinking all night yesterday, he had decided to continue cultivating at Shrek Academy.
At least until he obtained his second martial soul, he could not leave Shrek Academy.
With such an outstanding performance this time, he would surely receive the core disciple slot his senior brother had mentioned.
Most importantly, he was not far from level twenty. Once he reached it, he could go claim the opportunity Brother Sky Dream had told him about.
As long as he obtained his second martial soul, he refused to believe he still would not be able to beat that bastard Long Yaochen.
Only after repeatedly confirming it with Sky Dream Ice Silkworm did he receive an affirmative answer.
This opportunity concerning his second martial soul was something that, across the entire continent, only Sky Dream Ice Silkworm himself should be capable of providing.
Heh... Long Yaochen, if you have the ability, try stealing this from me too.
Huo Yuhao's cold gaze remained fixed on Long Yaochen's back for a long time, unwilling to shift away until Du Weilun spoke again.
"After deliberation by the academy, the following students have been designated core disciples of the Martial Soul Department:
Long Yaochen."
No one was surprised when the first name was announced.
Quite a few even felt that giving him only the treatment of an ordinary core disciple was a little too low.
After all, following yesterday's battle, everyone knew that Long Yaochen existed on an entirely different level from them.
"Wang Dong."
Wang Dong paused slightly, then instinctively glanced at Long Yaochen.
She did not say anything.
"Xiao Xiao."
Not far away, Xiao Xiao, who had only just recovered somewhat, revealed a hint of delight.
Although she had been knocked unconscious by the Spear of No Darkness yesterday, the potential of her Twin Martial Souls was there for all to see. It was not strange for her to become a core disciple.
"Dai Huabin, Zhu Lu, Ning Tian..."
As name after name was called out, Huo Yuhao's fists clenched tighter and tighter, and his expression grew increasingly ugly.
Where was his name?
Why had his name not been called yet?
Even the names of many people he had defeated were announced.
Until Du Weilun closed the list, he did not hear those three characters.
Huo Yuhao abruptly raised his head, disbelief filling his eyes.
Du Weilun glanced at him, his expression calm.
"Huo Yuhao."
Upon hearing his own name, Huo Yuhao's suspended heart finally settled.
But in the next instant, Du Weilun's words were like a basin of cold water viciously poured over his head.
"Your spiritual attribute is indeed highly unusual, and your combat performance was indeed outstanding.
However, after the Martial Soul Department's comprehensive evaluation, your current Soul Power Level is too low, your first Soul Ring's age is too low, and you repeatedly displayed malicious conduct that injured others during the assessment.
It is uncertain whether this is a side effect of your martial soul. Therefore, you will not be included on the Martial Soul Department's core disciple list for now.
If you perform well in the future, you will still have a chance to join the core disciple list."
The field instantly exploded into uproar, and waves of discussion crashed over Huo Yuhao like a tide.
But all he heard was a ringing buzz. He could not hear anything else.
What did they mean... I have martial soul side effects?
Can't the greatest academy in the world tell whether I have martial soul side effects or not?
Wait until I perform well in the future...
He had clearly already proven himself!
He had even defeated Dai Huabin!
Why could Dai Huabin qualify, but not him?
Just then, a genial voice rang out.
"Huo Yuhao's spiritual attribute is indeed rare."
Qian Duoduo had somehow arrived beside Du Weilun. He still wore a smile, though it did not look sincere in the slightest.
"The Soul Tool Department is willing to give him an observation slot for core disciples."
An observation slot?
And from the Soul Tool Department?
Upon hearing those words, Huo Yuhao's face darkened further.
He suddenly felt that all his desperate fighting had been worth very little.
What he had fought desperately to obtain could actually be dismissed by these higher-ups with just a few words.
Soul Tools, was it?
I will make you regret this!
Huo Yuhao recalled what Tang Ya had previously said about Soul Tools, and at that moment, he suddenly realized something.
Though these people had humiliated him in every possible way, there was one thing they had said correctly.
His spiritual talent, especially his Spirit Eye, was absolutely well suited for Soul Tools.
Perhaps this was the opportunity heaven had given him... an opportunity to rely solely on himself and no longer need to beg anyone else!
"Yuhao, endure it for now! They have eyes but fail to recognize Mount Tai. Once you obtain your second martial soul, you'll definitely make them kneel and beg you!" Old Tang's gentle voice sounded right on cue.
A trace of disgust flashed through Huo Yuhao's eyes, but he did not say anything.
He merely suddenly smiled, a smile without the slightest warmth, as a mad thought began to grow in his mind.
He had heard that the Sun Moon Empire possessed the most advanced Soul Tool technology?
Long Yaochen gave Huo Yuhao a somewhat surprised look.
This time, the other guy actually had not gone crazy?
Still, could this count as fate giving him a push?
Without Zhou Yi, Huo Yuhao had still joined the Soul Tool Department.
But... what did that have to do with him?
If he had the ability, then he could build a level-ten Soul Tool in this era and broaden Long Yaochen's horizons.
With that thought, Long Yaochen withdrew his gaze.
If he remembered correctly, Huo Yuhao would go to the Far North at the end of his first school year.
Originally, he could not be bothered with this Child of Destiny.
But now, perhaps due to Tang San's influence, this Child of Destiny bore great hostility toward him.
Since that was the case, he would not let his enemy develop peacefully.
Ice Empress...
There was absolutely no way he would hand her over to Huo Yuhao again.
It had been a long time since he had seen his teacher.
He needed to call him over and plan things out properly.
Before you continue