Tang An had known this moment would come.
With a slight movement of his thoughts, he swept his spiritual power over his body. The Power of Life and Death was still accumulating, and there was plenty of room for further evolution. Losing his virginity now would disrupt the rhythm of the cycle, and the loss would outweigh the gain.
"My cultivation is at a critical stage. Now isn't the right time. Wait until you reach the Soul King realm," Tang An said calmly, looking at Tang Ya.
"Then I'll make you mine."
Tang Ya's eyes lit up, but then her gaze fell on Tang An again. She bit her lip, her face flushing as if it were on fire.
"Then... Sect Master, do you want me to help you... ease your 'Soul Power Tide'?"
Watching Tang Ya look so embarrassed she could nearly start smoking, Tang An smiled faintly. "All right, Xiao Ya. Sorry for the trouble."
Tang Ya stepped forward and held out her delicate hand.
About half an hour later, Tang Ya came out of the room, rubbing her right wrist with her left hand. A lingering blush colored her face, along with a trace of disbelief.
She muttered, "Guiding the 'Soul Power Tide' is way too strenuous... Sect Master is way too strong!"
As soon as she finished speaking, the door to the room next door creaked open.
Huo Yuhao came out rubbing his sleepy eyes, just in time to hear Tang Ya muttering. He tilted his head and asked, "Sister Tang Ya, what did you say Sect Master was too strong at?"
Tang Ya froze. She hastily hid the hand rubbing her wrist behind her back and gave an awkward laugh.
"Nothing! I said Sect Master's strength is too great. Right, his strength! You saw how he took care of the Spirit-Devouring Demon Vine with one move yesterday. He's incredible!"
Huo Yuhao blinked. Though he thought Sister Tang Ya was acting a little strangely, he didn't dwell on it. He nodded earnestly. "Mm! Brother Tang An really is incredible!"
Tang Ya secretly let out a sigh of relief and hurried to change the subject. "Come on, come on, get ready. We have to hurry to enroll at Shrek!"
With that, she pulled Huo Yuhao downstairs, walking so fast she looked like she was running away.
Huo Yuhao let himself be dragged along, feeling that something was off. It was only enrollment at Shrek, so why was Sister Tang Ya in such a hurry?
Besides, he thought he'd vaguely heard some strange noises from the room next door. They sounded like... the hum of Soul Power circulating at full tilt?
The entrance to Shrek Academy was bustling with people. Young Soul Masters from all across the continent stood in several long lines, waiting for their admission tests.
The moment Tang An and the others appeared, they drew nearly everyone's attention.
At the front walked Tang An, dressed in white, his posture straight as a pine. His sword-like brows swept toward his temples, and his eyes were as deep as the stars.
Though he was only a boy, he had an indescribable air about him. More than a few girls in the line stared at him, eyes wide.
Niu Tian and Tai Tan followed on either side of him, their tower-like builds even more eye-catching.
"Who's that? He's so handsome, and he's got two bodyguards like those?"
"The aura of those two burly men... Why do I feel like they're even more terrifying than the elders in my family?"
"Look at that boy's bearing. He's definitely no ordinary person."
Tang An was already used to such attention. He walked toward the registration desk without looking aside.
Huo Yuhao followed behind him, listening to the whispers rising and falling around them. He felt both proud and a little nervous.
"Xiao An, Tai Tan and I will find somewhere to stay outside the academy." Niu Tian bent slightly and lowered his voice.
"Quite a few Titled Douluo are stationed in Shrek City, so it wouldn't be convenient for us to go in. If anything comes up, just send us a message with your spiritual power. We'll be there in an instant."
Tang An nodded. "Go ahead. Keep a low profile."
The two turned and left, soon disappearing around the street corner.
Beibei led everyone to the Outer Court registration desk with practiced ease. Before long, it was Huo Yuhao's turn.
Without even looking up, the middle-aged teacher in charge of testing pointed at the crystal ball on the table. "Put your hand on it and have your Soul Power Level tested."
Huo Yuhao did as instructed and raised his hand. A faint blue light shone on the crystal ball as the markings inside slowly lit up, stopping just at level fourteen.
The middle-aged teacher furrowed his brow and said in a matter-of-fact tone, "Fourteen levels of Soul Power. You don't meet Shrek Academy's admission requirements. The minimum is level fifteen. You can go back."
Huo Yuhao's expression changed. A few low snickers rose from the students waiting in line, leaving him biting his lip, at a loss.
A hand gently rested on Huo Yuhao's shoulder.
Tang An stepped forward and slapped a token down on the table. "Tang An, a disciple of the Clear Sky Sect. I'm applying to use the Clear Sky Sect's recommendation quota to vouch for this student's admission."
The token was dark gold all over. A Clear Sky Hammer was engraved on the front, and the powerful characters "Clear Sky" were carved on the back.
The middle-aged teacher picked up the token and examined it carefully. His expression shifted, while the students in line craned their necks to get a look, their murmurs rising and falling.
"The Clear Sky Sect? That's the greatest hidden sect!"
"That boy only has fourteen levels of Soul Power. What's his connection to the Clear Sky Sect?"
After verifying that the token was genuine, the middle-aged teacher spoke with much more respect. "The Clear Sky Sect does have a recommendation quota. This student can enroll. Young Master Tang, according to the rules, you must also take the entrance test yourself."
Tang An nodded, walked over to the crystal ball, and raised his right hand. A flash of dark red light appeared and vanished. The markings inside the crystal ball climbed rapidly as Tang An controlled his Soul Power, bringing it to a steady stop at level twenty-nine.
"Twenty-nine levels!"
A burst of astonished cries erupted from the crowd. At his age, that level put him among the very best of the new students.
A lazy voice sounded from within the crowd, just loud enough for everyone nearby to hear. "Hah, a disciple of the Clear Sky Sect. I thought you'd be more impressive. You're only level twenty-nine."
The speaker was tall and stood with his arms folded, a roguish air about him. It was Xu Sanshi.
Beibei's eyelid twitched. He tried to stop Xu Sanshi, but it was already too late.
Tang Ya whipped around and glared at the speaker. "Xu Sanshi! Watch your mouth!"
Xu Sanshi was a famous figure in Shrek Outer Court, the wielder of the Mysterious Turtle Shield Martial Soul. He was used to throwing his weight around in the Outer Court.
He was about to retort disdainfully when the testing teacher's voice rang out again, laced with barely concealed shock. "Bone age... nine years old? This student's bone age is only nine!"
At that, Tang An thought to himself, Just as expected, his bone age is testing at nine. It seems the Power of Life still has plenty of room to develop.
The entire crowd erupted.
A nine-year-old at level twenty-nine would be a monster among monsters anywhere on the continent.
The faces of the students who had been snickering moments earlier stiffened. Xu Sanshi's expression was especially colorful. His mouth was still half open, but the words had been forced back down his throat, his face turning pale and then red.
"How did you get so tall at only nine?" the testing teacher asked instinctively.
"Talent," Tang An replied flatly.
He stepped down from the testing platform and walked calmly past Xu Sanshi. As he did, he casually raised his right hand and flicked his wrist. He moved so fast that no one present saw his hand's path.
"Smack!"
A sharp slap rang through the entire area.
Xu Sanshi staggered backward from the blow. A red mark flared across his face, and one side of it swelled visibly.
"You think you can run your mouth about the Clear Sky Sect?"
Xu Sanshi covered his burning cheek, his eyes practically spitting fire. He released his Martial Soul in an instant, the Mysterious Turtle Shield spreading out in front of him as black Soul Power surged forth like a tide.
He had just stepped forward to retaliate when someone grabbed his arm and held on tight. It was Beibei.
"Don't be rash."
Beibei clamped down on Xu Sanshi's shoulder and dragged him to the edge of the crowd, speaking in a low, rapid voice. "You didn't see those two bodyguards beside him? They're both Titled Douluo. He's from the Clear Sky Sect—you can't afford to provoke him."
Xu Sanshi's whole body jolted. His pupils contracted, and even his voice changed. "Titled Douluo? Why didn't you tell me sooner?"
"I didn't get the chance..."
"You didn't get the chance?"
Xu Sanshi flung Beibei's hand away. The red mark still showed on his face, and anger and grievance surged up together.
"Beibei, have you got any conscience? I only spoke up because I saw Tang Ya hanging on that kid's every word, while you stood there looking all miserable. And you just watched me charge straight into a brick wall without saying a damn thing!"
Beibei's expression darkened too. "Did I ask you to speak up for me? I never told you to butt in. And what does Tang Ya have to do with this?"
"Nothing to do with Tang Ya?" Xu Sanshi sneered and pointed vaguely at Beibei twice.
"Fine, it has nothing to do with Tang Ya. From now on, don't come to me when you need help."
Xu Sanshi turned and strode away, his back bristling with anger. He kept muttering curses under his breath. "Titled Douluo bodyguards... What kind of background does the Clear Sky Sect have? Looks like I'll have to pay my way out of trouble again."
Beibei stood where he was, his face turning pale and then red. In the end, he flung his sleeve and walked off in the opposite direction.
Tang An couldn't be bothered to look at the two of them. He turned to the staff member. "When you assign the dorms, put Huo Yuhao and me in the same room."
Huo Yuhao stood to the side. At those words, his mind went boom, and he froze on the spot.
He frantically called out in his heart, Sister Silver Fox! Brother Tang An wants to share a room with me. What should I do? What should I do?
Before you continue