Putting on a Show

No one had expected Huo Yuhao's choice. He didn't stop at the two-thousand- or three-thousand-year sections. With a swipe of his finger, he went straight to the very top option—the five-thousand-year Ice-Armored Horned Demon Dragon!

The viewing stands erupted at once.

"Has he gone crazy?! He actually chose the five-thousand-year Ice-Armored Horned Demon Dragon?!"

"He doesn't value his life! That's a top-tier ice-type Soul Beast, with thick skin and powerful control over ice. Even a Soul King would have to think twice before facing it. It's no opponent a second-year student should even think of challenging!"

"Quick! Get the guards ready! This could turn into a disaster!"

The teachers on the judges' platform changed expressions too. Yan Shaozhe shot to his feet, frowning deeply as he prepared to order the examination stopped.

But just then, the Soul Beast gate had already begun to open, and the Ice-Armored Horned Demon Dragon slowly emerged.

Everyone's heart leaped into their throats.

The Ice-Armored Horned Demon Dragon was over fifteen meters long. Its enormous, bell-like pupils locked onto Huo Yuhao, and it let out a deafening roar. Chilling energy surged around it as the pressure of a five-thousand-year Ferocious Beast swept toward Huo Yuhao like a mountain flood.

This ice-type Ferocious Beast had lived in Shrek's Trial Grounds for decades and was vicious by nature. Countless students had come to challenge it, only to be defeated, and quite a few had been left gravely wounded and on the verge of death.

In its eyes, the twelve-year-old boy before it was nothing but a snack delivered right to its mouth.

But contrary to its expectations, the boy before it showed no trace of panic in the face of its overwhelming pressure. Instead, he stood quietly where he was, his face utterly expressionless.

Just as the Ice-Armored Horned Demon Dragon prepared to attack and swallow the human who had dared provoke it, Huo Yuhao slowly raised both hands.

Vmmm—

A breath of ultimate cold burst from within him. It was purer, more terrifying, and more domineering than the Ice-Armored Horned Demon Dragon's icy power!

A peerlessly beautiful figure slowly unfurled behind him. Divine blue patterns appeared on her pure white dress. The pure white ribbons behind her drifted gently in the air, though there was no wind, and the pressure of a divine-level Martial Soul poured forth without restraint, instantly enveloping the entire Trial Grounds.

The students in the stands felt that aura and released their Martial Souls involuntarily. Their Soul Rings appeared of their own accord, filling the stands with yellow and purple light.

The judges on the platform were just as shaken. What kind of Martial Soul was this? They had never seen anything like it on the continent. This aura had already surpassed the scope of a Super Martial Soul.

The Ice God was the sovereign of all ice-type Soul Beasts, standing at the very peak of the ice-type hierarchy.

To a low-ranked ice-type Soul Beast like the Ice-Armored Horned Demon Dragon, the difference was like that between a mayfly and the boundless sky. It was absolute suppression from deep within its bloodline, leaving no room for resistance.

The Ice-Armored Horned Demon Dragon had been roaring ferociously, but the instant the Ice God's phantom appeared, its roar cut off. Its enormous body stiffened, and the ferocity in its eyes was instantly replaced by utter terror.

Its massive body began to tremble uncontrollably. Its four legs gave way, and with a thud, it fell to its knees on the ice. It pressed its huge head firmly to the ground, not daring to raise it.

It whimpered in supplication, its scales all standing on end. It was nothing like the vicious beast it had been moments earlier.

With nothing more than the release of his Martial Soul and the pressure of his bloodline, the five-thousand-year Ice-Armored Horned Demon Dragon was frightened unconscious. Its massive body slumped onto the ice, and it lost consciousness completely.

Huo Yuhao looked at the Ice-Armored Horned Demon Dragon sprawled on the ground, his face showing no surprise.

He hadn't even used a Soul Skill or made a single move. The source pressure of his Ice God Martial Soul alone had brought the examination to an end.

He slowly withdrew his Martial Soul, turned around, and walked toward the gate of the Trial Grounds.

When Huo Yuhao emerged at a leisurely pace, the entire Trial Grounds fell into deathly silence.

You could hear a pin drop.

Everyone stared wide-eyed, mouths agape, at Huo Yuhao, who was completely unharmed—not even a fleck of snow on his clothes. Then they looked at the Ice-Armored Horned Demon Dragon, trembling and unconscious as the staff dragged it out of the trial space. Their minds went blank.

The whole thing had taken less than a minute.

A five-thousand-year Ice-Armored Horned Demon Dragon had actually been frightened unconscious by a twelve-year-old boy? It hadn't even fought back. It had simply submitted to him!

While everyone was still reeling from the shock, Huo Yuhao stood in the center of the arena and slowly raised both hands before the entire academy.

Vmmm—

The Ice God Martial Soul's phantom slowly appeared behind him once more, and his Spirit Eye quietly opened as well.

The clear phantom of his Spirit Eye shimmered with pale blue light as his spiritual power rapidly spread. Four Soul Rings—white-gold, purple, purple, and black—slowly rose from beneath his feet. The black Soul Ring glinted in the sunlight, dazzling everyone in an instant.

Twin Martial Souls!

An Ultimate Mental Attribute! An Ultimate Ice Attribute!

Two Twin Martial Souls with Ultimate Attributes! And a Ten Thousand Year fourth Soul Ring!

Boom!!!

It was as if a thunderbolt had been hurled into the entire viewing stand. The crowd erupted!

Gasps, cries of astonishment, and disbelieving chatter swept through the Trial Grounds like a tsunami.

"Twin Martial Souls! He actually has Twin Martial Souls!"

"A Ten Thousand Year Soul Ring! His fourth Soul Ring is already ten thousand years old!"

"A monster! He's definitely a monster! A twelve-year-old Soul Ancestor with Twin Ultimate Martial Souls! Nothing like this has ever happened in the academy's ten thousand years!"

All the teachers on the judges' platform sprang to their feet, shock written across their faces.

Zhou Yi trembled all over as she stared at Huo Yuhao in the center of the arena, murmuring to herself, "Twin Ultimate Martial Souls... I actually taught a genius like this..."

Fan Yu was even more excited, trembling from head to toe. He had known about Huo Yuhao's talent for soul devices, but he had never imagined that the soul-device prodigy who had caught his eye at first glance also possessed such terrifying Martial Soul talent!

Yan Shaozhe, seated in the central position, had gone completely rigid. His eyes were wide as he stared at Huo Yuhao's Twin Martial Souls and Soul Rings, disbelief written all over his face.

Twin Ultimate Martial Souls, a twelve-year-old Soul Ancestor, and a Ten Thousand Year fourth Soul Ring.

A talent like this was rare not only in Shrek Academy's ten-thousand-year history, but throughout the entire history of Douluo Continent.

He was a peerless genius, the kind who appeared only once in ten thousand years! A future powerhouse certain to reach the ranks of Super Titled Douluo, or even Limit Douluo.

Yan Shaozhe had already tried twice to recruit Huo Yuhao, only to be politely turned down both times. But this time, he had to bind this genius firmly to Shrek's chariot, no matter what it took!

The teachers on the judging panel took a full half-minute to recover.

Looking at the still-unconscious Ice-Armored Horned Demon Dragon and then at Huo Yuhao's Twin Martial Souls, the head judge drew a deep breath and announced the final score in a trembling voice: "Huo Yuhao, examination score—150 points, full marks!"

An unprecedented perfect score, far higher than Dai Huabin's 145. Huo Yuhao had claimed first place in the examination without the slightest doubt!

The winner had been decided.

Dai Huabin stood at the edge of the arena, staring at Huo Yuhao, the center of everyone's attention. He looked at the Twin Martial Souls and Ten Thousand Year Soul Ring, his face ashen, his whole body trembling uncontrollably.

He had lost. He had been utterly and completely crushed.

His vaunted hunt of a 3,500-year Nether Tiger and his high score of 145 points were little more than a joke beside Huo Yuhao's unprecedented perfect score for defeating a five-thousand-year Ice-Armored Horned Demon Dragon.

His rank-35 Soul Elder status was even more pathetic beside Huo Yuhao, a Soul Ancestor with Twin Ultimate Martial Souls.

The gazes around him pricked like needles, leaving him with nowhere to hide.

He thought of the bet he had made, and of the words, "If you lose, kneel and apologize, and admit that you're trash." His face burned with humiliation, and he wished he could find a crack in the ground to crawl into.

Huo Yuhao, at the center of the arena, withdrew his Martial Soul and didn't spare the dejected Dai Huabin a thought.

Yan Shaozhe had already hurried down from the judges' platform and strode straight toward him.

"Huo Yuhao, excellent! Excellent!" Yan Shaozhe was so excited that he grabbed Huo Yuhao firmly by the arms. Even the aura of a Titled Douluo around him was unsteady, and his voice trembled slightly.

"This is wonderful! Twin Ultimate Martial Souls! You're the most talented genius I've ever seen!"

Before Huo Yuhao could speak, Yan Shaozhe immediately pressed his advantage and offered unprecedentedly generous terms. "I'll take you to Sea God Pavilion right now to meet the Pavilion Master! In the future, Shrek will spare no effort in cultivating you into one of the continent's strongest experts. You'll enter Sea God Pavilion and become the future helmsman of Shrek!"

The more Yan Shaozhe spoke, the more excited he became. Gripping Huo Yuhao by the arm, he started to lead him toward Sea God Pavilion, giving him no chance to refuse.

In his view, no young man could turn down an offer like this. It was a little boastful, perhaps, but Yan Shaozhe believed Huo Yuhao was absolutely capable of living up to it. No one could resist the honor of becoming Sea God Pavilion's future helmsman.

Huo Yuyao's brows knitted together as Yan Shaozhe dragged him along. He tried to pull free, but Yan Shaozhe was a rank-95 Titled Douluo. Against him, Huo Yuhao's strength was like an ant trying to shake a tree. He couldn't break loose.

Just then, a calm, indifferent voice rang out nearby, dousing Yan Shaozhe's excitement like water on a flame.

"Dean Yan, forcing someone into this seems rather at odds with the rules Shrek Academy has always followed, doesn't it?"

Yan Shaozhe abruptly stopped and turned around.

Gu Yuan was approaching with Gu Yuena and Jin Ruiqiu. Gu Yuan wore his usual gentle, composed expression, but his deep eyes held not a trace of a smile. His gaze fell on Yan Shaozhe's hand gripping Huo Yuhao's arm, carrying a hint of coldness.

"Gu Yuan?" Yan Shaozhe's expression darkened at once. He released Huo Yuhao's arm, and the pressure of a Titled Douluo quietly emanated from him as he said coldly, "This is between Huo Yuhao and me. It's an internal matter of Shrek Academy. It has nothing to do with you, and even less to do with Douluo Hall."

"Oh? An internal matter of Shrek?" Gu Yuan smiled faintly and walked over to Huo Yuhao, placing himself in front of him. He met Yan Shaozhe's gaze directly.

"Huo Yuhao has his own thoughts and his own choices. Whether he wants to go to Sea God Pavilion is for him to decide—not for you to drag him there by force, Dean Yan. Or are you saying that being the dean gives you the right to act however you please?"

Gu Yuan's voice wasn't loud, but every word rang clear across the arena. The teachers and students nearby began whispering among themselves, and their gazes toward Yan Shaozhe grew more uncertain.

Yan Shaozhe's face turned livid. Gu Yuan's few words had left him speechless. He wanted to argue, but swallowed his words before they could leave his throat.

Still unwilling to give in, he glared at Gu Yuan and said coldly, "Gu Yuan, I know you're from Douluo Hall, but this is Shrek Academy. It's not a place where you can throw your weight around! Huo Yuhao is a student of Shrek. Naturally, Shrek should cultivate his future! You've interfered in Shrek's affairs again and again. Do you really think I wouldn't dare to attack you?"

As soon as he finished speaking, the full pressure of Yan Shaozhe's rank-95 Titled Douluo cultivation burst out, crashing toward Gu Yuan like Mount Tai descending.

The phantom of his Phoenix Martial Soul flickered behind him as scorching energy enveloped the arena. The teachers and students around them hurriedly retreated, their faces pale, struggling even to breathe.

Everyone expected Gu Yuan to be crushed by that pressure. After all, he was only a twelve-year-old boy. No matter how talented he was, there was no way he could stand against a Titled Douluo.

But contrary to everyone's expectations, Gu Yuan remained where he was, completely unmoving. There wasn't even the slightest ripple in his expression as he faced Yan Shaozhe's pressure.

"If Dean Yan wishes to fight, I'll gladly oblige." Gu Yuan spoke calmly. The instant the words left his lips, an even more immense and boundless pressure quietly emanated from within him.

That pressure was gentle yet domineering, like an unfathomable sea. It was the Ancient Dragon God. The merest trace of it overwhelmed Yan Shaozhe's Phoenix pressure. Before that power, the strength of a rank-95 Titled Douluo was like a stream before the sea—utterly insignificant.

Yan Shaozhe's face changed drastically. A force of terrifying magnitude pressed in from every direction. His Soul Power instantly seized up, and even his Martial Soul let out a fearful whimper. He stumbled back several steps before barely steadying himself, nearly spitting out a mouthful of blood.

He felt it: the aura of a rank-99 Limit Douluo, far beyond his own! It was even more terrifying and unfathomable than that of Teacher Mu En!

He could never have believed that the twelve-year-old boy before him was a Limit Douluo!

Yan Shaozhe stared at Gu Yuan in shock and disbelief. There was none of his earlier arrogance left.

This boy was no one he could oppose. And with Douluo Hall standing behind him, an organization that rivaled Shrek, Gu Yuan was someone Yan Shaozhe couldn't afford to offend.

In the end, Yan Shaozhe could only grit his teeth and snort. He shot Huo Yuhao an unwilling look, then glared venomously at Gu Yuan before turning around in disgruntlement and striding away, his expression deeply humiliated.

Watching Yan Shaozhe leave, Huo Yuhao breathed a sigh of relief. He bowed deeply to Gu Yuan, his voice full of gratitude. "Thank you, Brother Yuan. You've helped me again."

He truly hadn't known how to refuse a Titled Douluo's forceful attempt to recruit him. Without Gu Yuan stepping in, he might really have been dragged off to Sea God Pavilion, with no way out.

Gu Yuan smiled and ruffled his hair, his tone warm but earnest. "Remember, you're the only one who gets to choose your path. Neither Shrek nor Douluo Hall can make that decision for you."

Huo Yuhao nodded firmly, etching Gu Yuan's words into his heart.