After leaving the teachers' offices, Bei Bei and Tang Ya also helped Huo Yuhao complete his freshman registration.
The process was easy and pleasant.
After all, it was Shrek.
With money, anything could be negotiated.
But that ridiculous rule—once submitted, fees were nonrefundable—was still in place, and Huo Yuhao couldn't help ranting about it.
What was this supposed to be?
Staying true to their roots?
Honestly... it left him speechless.
Back when the academy had been small and poor, fine, but now it was the number one academy on the continent. Were they really so hard up that they needed to squeeze a little money out of their students?
Still, it was a good thing the academy's reputation had spread. At the very least, they weren't like before, when their main business seemed to be fleecing the poor.
Back then, taking advantage of how little ordinary farmers knew about the differences in Soul Master talent, they'd pulled a fast one and forced people to pay. Who knew how many families they'd driven to ruin?
Now that their reputation had grown, those who could come here to register were all rich or noble. At the very least, they knew a little about their children's talents, so ten Gold Soul Coins wouldn't drive them to ruin.
Though the registration had gone smoothly, Huo Yuhao had kept his wits about him this time and deliberately avoided Class One, where Zhou Yi was.
He was now a student in Freshman Class 9.
To be honest, he wasn't a masochist.
In his view, Zhou Yi's devilish training regimen wasn't all that reasonable, and it wasn't suitable for him, either.
What he had to do now was simple: once he got back, he'd cultivate the Ghost Killing Art for a while to prepare for the upcoming assessment.
As for whether he'd miss meeting Wang Dong, Huo Yuhao wasn't worried.
With the God King up there tying the strings, it'd be hard for the two of them not to cross paths.
After paying Huo Yuhao's tuition, Bei Bei and Tang Ya pointed him toward the places to collect his uniform and find his dormitory, then left first. They seemed to have other things to take care of.
Huo Yuhao didn't stop them, because he had his own little scheme.
Instead of going straight to collect his uniform, he wandered around and bought three sticks of incense before returning to the Sea God Statue.
That was right. Huo Yuhao still wasn't ready to give up. He wanted to try again.
He lit the three sticks of incense, pressed his palms together, and closed his eyes.
Though he looked calm on the outside, Huo Yuhao was actually screaming inside.
You old bastard!
Do you dare look at me?!
Would looking once make you explode?!!
Unfortunately, the God King's program didn't respond. As before, nothing happened.
When the three sticks of incense had burned down, Huo Yuhao could only get up helplessly and set the idea aside for the time being.
Giving up was out of the question. For now, the God King was still the best way to suppress the Ghost Demon Venerable.
The Ghost Demon Venerable definitely wouldn't let him survive until he could stand as an equal.
He'd still have to rely on outside help.
Huo Yuhao made up his mind: if it came to it, he'd come here every day to check in. He refused to believe that the bastard wouldn't look his way even once.
After glancing at the sky, Huo Yuhao decided it was about time to head to the dormitory. He could also raise the favorability of the hidden big shot, Mu En, while he was at it.
Then he got up and headed into the academy.
At the same time, two girls who had just finished registering walked out of the dormitory. One had short golden hair, the other short red hair. Their figures had yet to fully develop, but it was already clear that they were both beauties in the making.
The red-haired girl was clearly hot-tempered.
As soon as she left the dormitory, she didn't bother hiding the fact that they were in Shrek Academy. She immediately complained to the golden-haired girl beside her.
"Ning Tian, these Shrek dormitories are way too shabby. Even the servants back at the sect live better than this. How can they have the nerve to call themselves the number one academy on the continent?"
The golden-haired girl called Ning Tian shook her head, seeming a little helpless about her best friend's personality.
"Wu Feng, of course this place can't compare to home. The conditions are a little poor, but the atmosphere really is much better than back there."
"Only in an environment with this much competition can true powerhouses emerge!"
As she spoke, the golden-haired girl's eyes shone with excitement. She seemed full of anticipation.
Now it was the red-haired girl's turn to feel helpless. She could only humor her.
"Fine, fine, you're right about everything."
Then she teased her.
"But I don't think anyone could be stronger than you, Ning Tian."
"Your talent ranks among the best in the entire history of the sect!"
The speaker had meant nothing by it, but the listener took it to heart.
As soon as Wu Feng said it, she realized she'd put her foot in her mouth and hurried to make amends.
"Ning Tian, that's not what I meant..."
Sure enough, under her gaze, Ning Tian's previously bright expression instantly dimmed. She looked a little hurt.
"I know what you mean, Wu Feng. You don't have to comfort me."
"No matter how talented I am, I'll still end up as someone else's appendage."
"That's just the way it is. There's nothing more to say."
"But only if he's strong enough—strong enough to conquer me."
"Otherwise, I'd rather grow old alone."
A gentle breeze brushed past. The gloom on the girl's face soon faded, and as she looked at the scenery around them, her spirits lifted again.
"Come on, Wu Feng. Let's take a look around and see what's so special about Shrek Academy."
Wu Feng could only nod in agreement.
But just as she started forward, she noticed that her best friend had suddenly frozen in place for some reason.
"Ning Tian?"
Wu Feng called out in confusion, but Ning Tian still didn't react.
Curious, she followed Ning Tian's gaze and saw only a somewhat thin figure.
It was Huo Yuhao, who had just returned.
Huo Yuhao naturally felt Ning Tian's unabashed stare. Frowning slightly in displeasure, he followed her gaze and spotted the two girls.
Wu Feng was standing in front of Ning Tian, watching Huo Yuhao warily.
That outfit, that appearance...
Huo Yuhao's thoughts stirred.
He recognized Wu Feng, who stood in front of Ning Tian.
After all, there weren't many people in the entire academy with red hair.
And judging by the flatness of her chest...
Mm, not Ma Xiaotao.
Then she had to be Wu Feng.
The one beside her was probably Ning Tian of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.
Not an important character.
With one glance, Huo Yuhao lost interest in her.
Sensing that Huo Yuhao's gaze had lingered on her chest, Wu Feng instantly bristled.
"Where are you looking?!!"
Faced with this bristling little "Haji Feng," Huo Yuhao couldn't be bothered to reply.
If it had been Ma Xiaotao, he might have gone over to raise her favorability. But a roadside character like this? No thanks.
If this had been Gala Geimu, he might have been interested in unlocking a special CG.
But now, forget it.
He didn't have that kind of time.
He had to hurry and raise Mu En's favorability.
The three passed one another. Huo Yuhao looked completely unconcerned, Wu Feng was still huffing, and Ning Tian remained frozen in a daze.
Only after Huo Yuhao had gone far away did Wu Feng return to normal. She gave a disdainful snort, thoroughly disgusted by this lecher who had appeared out of nowhere.
If they hadn't been in Shrek Academy, she probably would've already smashed him with a punch.
But when she turned to look at her best friend, she found Ning Tian staring fixedly in the direction the lecher had gone, as if her soul had been stolen.
"Ning Tian? Ning Tian!"
Only when Wu Feng waved a hand in front of her did Ning Tian come back to herself. She spoke in a daze.
"What is it?"
"You have the nerve to ask what's wrong? I should be asking you that! Just now, it looked like your eyes were about to get stolen right out of your head!"
Seeing Ning Tian like this, Wu Feng spoke with exasperation.
"Is that so?"
Ning Tian thought back to that person's gaze, his demeanor, and the aura he gave off. She unconsciously touched her face, which seemed a little hot.
Love at first sight?
No, that wasn't it.
Ning Tian understood what was happening.
The "strong-person radar" inside her had gone off.
Because of the limitations of the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda, every heir of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect had to be able to recognize strong people and recruit them, so the sect could continue to grow.
As the sect leader's heir, Ning Tian had shouldered this responsibility from a young age. Her burden was even heavier because she was a girl.
As a result, without even realizing it, Ning Tian had developed an exceptionally strong admiration for power.
Ning Tian was certain.
That person had been incredibly strong—or, even if he hadn't shown it yet, he would absolutely become a peerless powerhouse who would shake the continent one day.
He would also be the best possible choice for her partner.
At that thought, Ning Tian took a deep breath to calm herself, then spoke seriously to Wu Feng.
"Wu Feng, find out some information about the person who just walked by."
"I'm going to pursue him."
Wu Feng: ???
Before you continue