The old man took a long, hard look at Huo Yuhao, then waved a hand to signal the three of them through. He beckoned Dai Mubai over as well, who had been deliberately slowing his steps.
Seeing there was no way to avoid it, Dai Mubai lowered his head and came over to them.
"Wait here a little longer. Once I finish this last test, let this senior student take you inside together."
The three had no objections. They greeted Dai Mubai first, and he gave them an awkward wave, looking rather nervous.
Only after Huo Yuhao nodded at him in acknowledgment did Dai Mubai finally relax.
The four turned their attention to Zhu Zhuqing, who was last. Dai Mubai watched the fiery girl before him with a solemn expression, not daring to make a single move.
Huo Yuhao was right there! He didn't want to get beaten up again.
A moment later, two yellow Soul Rings rose beneath Zhu Zhuqing's feet. The old man nodded to indicate she had passed.
"Have the senior student take you inside together."
Led by Dai Mubai, the group headed farther in. On the way, they came across a man pushing a cart and selling sausages, surrounded by quite a few students who had passed the preliminary test.
"Yuhao, I want a sausage."
Xiao Wu's eyes lit up at the sight of the tasty food.
Huo Yuhao nodded and was about to go over and buy some to try when he noticed Dai Mubai, who was leading the way beside him, looking as though he had a stomachache.
"What's wrong? Is something the matter?"
Dai Mubai hesitated, but in the end he revealed the secret behind the sausages. Everyone except Huo Yuhao looked disgusted.
"That's so gross..."
Xiao Wu complained, and Zhu Zhuqing beside her nodded in agreement.
Huo Yuhao looked at their expressions and chuckled, shaking his head. He couldn't help recalling his past life.
With four cigars made by his senior brother between his lips, he had once puffed away happily. Now, he eyed the cart with a hint of envy. He never would have guessed that the Food God of his past life had sold sausages as a boy.
Then, under everyone's stunned gazes, he walked up to the cart. "Senior, could I have five grilled sausages?"
"Sure thing! You've got a good eye, junior. I could tell at a glance you'd pass the test... I'll give you a discount. Two silver coins."
Huo Yuhao smiled and nodded. "Then I'll take you at your word, senior."
In his past life, he had often traded cooking tips with the Food God. The man had no airs about him, had a good deal of talent, and worked hard at cultivating. Huo Yuhao had always had a very good impression of him.
After paying, he picked up the little bag containing the four sausages, put one in his mouth, and walked back to the others.
"My treat. Give them a try! They really taste good."
The others looked reluctant, but Dai Mubai stared at Huo Yuhao in surprise. Huo Yuhao was the first person he'd seen who could hear the story and still not care.
He began to admire the talented boy, who was quite a bit younger than him, and grinned as he took a sausage and started eating.
Huo Yuhao looked at the other three. "What about you?"
Seeing how happily Huo Yuhao was eating, Xiao Wu pouted. After a fierce inner struggle, she took one anyway. Her eyes lit up after the first bite.
"It really is good! You guys have to try it. It's delicious."
Tang San nodded and took one. That left just one sausage in the bag, saved for Zhu Zhuqing.
"Um... I'd rather not..."
Zhu Zhuqing waved her hand, but Huo Yuhao cut her off before she could finish.
Smiling, he held the bag out toward her.
"Think of it as the first step toward growing. What do you say? You have to try things sometime."
Zhu Zhuqing looked up and met those clear, sky-blue eyes. She froze for a moment, then pressed her lips together and nodded slightly, reaching out to take the grilled sausage.
"Thank you."
"Hehe, isn't it delicious?" Xiao Wu looked at Zhu Zhuqing eagerly.
"Mm..."
Zhu Zhuqing wasn't used to Xiao Wu's enthusiasm. She turned her head slightly, her cheeks faintly flushed.
While they ate, Dai Mubai learned that everyone's Soul Power Level was above twenty-five.
So he greeted the teacher at the second round and prepared to take the four of them straight to the fourth-round test.
"Wait, teacher. I can skip straight ahead too."
A clear voice rang out. It was the white-dressed girl Dai Mubai had just taken inside. She had delicate features and an ethereal air about her, unmistakably a noble girl.
The girl took a quick test of her Soul Power, which came to around level twenty-six. The testing teacher nodded in satisfaction and waved her through.
With one more added, their group now numbered six. On the way, Dai Mubai explained the fourth test: actual combat.
By the time he had finished, they had reached the fourth test's grounds.
The open space was around two hundred square meters. Only a middle-aged man sat dozing in a chair.
"Teacher Zhao, someone's here for the fourth test."
Huo Yuhao's eyes flickered. Zhao? Zhao Wuji? He had been famous in his past life, too. They said he had a fiery temper but was a teacher who cared deeply for his students.
The middle-aged man opened his eyes and swept his gaze across the group.
"Hmm? There are five people taking the fourth test this year?"
"They skipped ahead to get here," Dai Mubai added.
Zhao Wuji's eyes lit up.
"Not bad, not bad. Let me think what I should test you on..."
"I've got it. The five of you will work together and withstand my attacks for the time it takes one incense stick to burn. That'll count as passing. I'll give you one incense stick's time to discuss your strategy first."
Seeing Dai Mubai standing to the side with words caught in his throat, Zhao Wuji glared at him. "What? Do you have a problem with that?"
"Ahem. I was going to say, Teacher Zhao, why don't you extend the time a little? There are a few particularly strong students in this batch..."
Dai Mubai leaned close to Zhao Wuji's ear and whispered.
Zhao Wuji snorted, not taking him seriously at all. "Hmph! Ridiculous. I'd like to see just how strong they are."
After speaking, he took out an incense stick, lit it with a rub of his hand, and closed his eyes to rest.
Dai Mubai could only scratch his head helplessly. Then he went over to the others and explained the traits of Zhao Wuji's Vajra Bear Martial Soul.
In short, Zhao Wuji had high attack and defense. His speed was a little lacking, but he was still far beyond what Soul Grandmasters like them could match.
Hearing that they had to face a level-seventy-six Soul Saint, everyone felt overwhelmed.
"They expect us to fight a Soul Saint? Can we even pass?"
It was the girl in white who spoke. To her, the task seemed downright impossible.
Dai Mubai glanced at Huo Yuhao, who remained perfectly calm, and hesitated before speaking softly.
"Though it's hard to say, you'll definitely pass."
"Why?" the girl in white asked, puzzled.
Dai Mubai tipped his chin toward Huo Yuhao. "Because of him. With him here, you won't lose."
"??"
Without explaining further, Dai Mubai turned to remind everyone.
"All right, introduce yourselves to each other. It'll make it easier to coordinate later."
So they introduced themselves one by one, starting with Tang San.
"Ning Rongrong, Seven Treasures Glazed Pagoda Martial Soul, level twenty-six Auxiliary-Type Tool Soul Master."
"Zhu Zhuqing, Hell Spirit Cat Martial Soul, level twenty-seven Agility Attack System Battle Spirit Master."
At last, it was Huo Yuhao's turn. Seeing the other two—aside from Tang San and Xiao Wu—watching him curiously because of Dai Mubai's remark, he spoke with some resignation. "Huo Yuhao, Dark Spirit Eye Martial Soul, level thirty-nine Control-Type Battle Spirit Master."
Zhu Zhuqing's pupils shrank. She had already known Huo Yuhao had three Soul Rings, but she hadn't expected him to be level thirty-nine. A level-thirty-nine Soul Master at twelve had completely overturned her understanding of the world.
Ning Rongrong covered her gaping mouth. The sense of superiority she'd felt after announcing her Martial Soul had vanished completely.
"Now that we have a general idea, I'll assign everyone's roles. My skills are geared toward support, so I'll stay in the back with Ning Rongrong."
"Xiao San will focus on controlling Teacher Zhao, Xiao Wu will attack, and Zhu Zhuqing will keep him occupied. Any objections?"
As the core of the team in his past life, Huo Yuhao immediately assigned everyone their roles. He only planned to provide support and serve as a fallback.
Tang San and Xiao Wu knew that Huo Yuhao was giving them a chance to gain experience, so they said nothing.
Only Dai Mubai looked as though he had a stomachache again, his face turning green. He grumbled inwardly, You're support? You beat me into the ground with nothing but your physical strength and you call that support?
Of course, he didn't dare say it aloud. The bruises on his face, which had almost healed, seemed to throb again.
"Time's up. Are you ready?" Zhao Wuji's booming voice rang out.
Dai Mubai hurried to the edge to watch, calling to Zhao Wuji at the same time. "We're ready."
Zhao Wuji nodded, took out another incense stick, lit it, and planted it in the ground.