Passing the Test

Looking at Zhao Wuji across from him, his palms were completely frozen, and his entire body was shivering uncontrollably.

He stared at Huo Yuhao with a look of horror; what kind of power could allow a Soul Elder to freeze a Soul Saint like himself?

He knew that if he hadn't exerted his soul power to the limit to resist, he would likely have been frozen solid into an ice sculpture.

Although he looked miserable, his eyes were shining.

"A monster! Truly a monster! It seems the academy has really struck gold this time!"

"Time is up!"

Dai Mubai subconsciously glanced at the incense; it had burned out exactly.

He then looked at Zhao Wuji, whose lips were frozen white. He wanted to laugh but didn't dare, and he no longer felt that his own beating earlier was such a big deal.

If even Teacher Zhao was in such a sorry state, wasn't it perfectly normal that he couldn't win? People, after all, always need to compare things to get perspective.

The onlookers hurried over as soon as they heard the test was over, and Xiao Wu asked with a face full of concern.

"Yuhao, how are you? Are you alright?"

Huo Yuhao lay on the ground, looking at everyone around him, and smiled. "I'm fine, I succeeded."

Upon hearing this, tears welled up in Xiao Wu's eyes. She lunged forward, wrapped her arms around Huo Yuhao's neck, and cried out.

"Wuu wuu, Yuhao, you scared me to death just now!"

Huo Yuhao rested his head on Xiao Wu's shoulder and chuckled in response.

"See? I'm perfectly fine. Don't worry, it's just some internal bruising from the shock; it's nothing serious."

Seeing a pair of legs appear before him, Huo Yuhao couldn't help but look up.

Zhu Zhuqing was thanking him with a shy expression, her tone somewhat hesitant. "Um, thank you!"

Huo Yuhao smiled slightly and nodded in acknowledgment.

"You're welcome. We're all on the same team. Since I'd already boasted, it would have been embarrassing if we hadn't passed."

Once his strength had recovered slightly, Huo Yuhao was helped up by Xiao Wu and Zhu Zhuqing and walked shakily toward the dark-faced Zhao Wuji.

No one cares about me, yet this kid is surrounded by beauties!

Looking at his own frozen, stiff hands, he couldn't help but roar, "Hurry up and undo it!"

Huo Yuhao scratched his head in embarrassment.

"Sorry, Teacher Zhao."

He then placed his hand on Zhao Wuji's, gave it a light wipe, and Zhao Wuji felt the chill in his body being rapidly sucked away by Huo Yuhao.

Shuddering violently, Zhao Wuji looked at the young man before him, liking him more the more he looked.

Especially his performance during their brawl and the courage he showed in that final desperate strike—he was satisfied to the very core.

Ning Rongrong, standing to the side, asked with a smile, "Teacher Zhao, does that mean we passed?"

Zhao Wuji's face immediately fell. Although very reluctant, he still let out a huff.

"You have passed the test. You are now members of Shrek."

Afterward, Dai Mubai called over Oscar and had him distribute sausages to everyone. Having had the experience once before, everyone was no longer resistant and began eating them with smiles.

Feeling their bodies recover at an accelerated rate, everyone's gaze toward Oscar changed.

They realized just how practical Oscar's soul skill was; he was simply a genius among Food-type soul masters!

Ning Rongrong, who hadn't tried one yet, was full of resistance toward the sausage, but in the end, she gave it a try under the persuasion of the others.

Since they had passed, there was nothing left to do. Zhao Wuji gave a few final instructions and left, leaving behind a bewildered Oscar.

"Boss Dai, who was so fierce that they could beat Teacher Zhao into such a state?"

Once Zhao Wuji was far away, Oscar finally asked in a hushed voice.

"...You'd better not know. I'm afraid your worldview will collapse."

Dai Mubai let out a long sigh, a new rule firmly etched in his mind: never provoke Huo Yuhao in the future; he is too terrifying when he fights.

"???" Oscar looked confused.

However, he quickly pushed the question to the back of his mind; it was better to focus on the pretty new junior students in front of him.

With five new students arriving at once, the academy could finally be a bit more lively.

Before leaving, Teacher Zhao had briefly assigned the dormitories. Although they were called dorms, they were actually individual wooden cabins, each housing two people.

Xiao Wu and Ning Rongrong were in one, Zhu Zhuqing had one to herself, Tang San was assigned to share with Oscar, and Huo Yuhao, like Zhu Zhuqing, also had one to himself.

This suited Huo Yuhao's preferences perfectly; otherwise, it wouldn't be convenient for Brother Sky Dream or the others to come out for some fresh air.

He also didn't have to worry about Xiao Wu demanding to sleep while touching his tail. Having escaped her clutches, Huo Yuhao felt so happy he could ascend to heaven.

Heaven knows how obsessive Xiao Wu had become ever since he grew a beautiful tail; she had changed her habit of hugging him to sleep into touching his tail to sleep!

The tail was already a very sensitive area, and since the External Soul Bone was connected to a vast network of nerves, he hadn't had a single good night's sleep in the first few months.

After today's battle, Huo Yuhao was extremely exhausted as he entered his cabin.

To be able to clash with Zhao Wuji, he had used almost every means at his disposal, save for his second martial soul.

Lying on his bed, Huo Yuhao felt waves of drowsiness wash over him; he soon closed his eyes and drifted into a deep sleep.

As for Zhao Wuji, he slept with a grin plastered on his face all night long, for in his eyes, Huo Yuhao was nothing short of a flawless piece of jade.

How could he not be excited that such a genius had joined Shrek Academy?

Powerful, low-key, confident, and handling every situation with ease—it was hard to imagine this was only a twelve-year-old boy.

And so, fueled by excitement, Zhao Wuji even spent his dreams putting Huo Yuhao through his paces.

A figure in black robes arrived in the tree outside the dormitory, peering through the window at the sleeping Huo Yuhao.

"To think I actually misjudged him... The bond between this brat and that little girl is growing stronger by the day. It seems I must find a way..."

Inside the room, the sleeping Huo Yuhao quietly opened his eyes, his gaze already icy cold.

Can't you hold back any longer?

"Yuhao, wake up!!"

Early in the morning, Huo Yuhao's door was pounded with a rhythmic thudding.

"Coming, coming... Huh? So many people? What's going on with everyone?"

Opening the door, he was greeted by his comrades from yesterday, with Xiao Wu standing boldly at the very front.

Behind her, the moment Zhu Zhuqing's eyes met Huo Yuhao's, she turned her head away as if electrocuted, her face flushed with a rosy hue, the icy coldness from yesterday nowhere to be seen.

Tang San, standing at the back, scratched his head in resignation; he had been dragged along the moment he stepped out of his room.

Ning Rongrong smiled and said, "We're just here to thank our great hero! Without you, none of us would have made it into Shrek Academy."

Zhu Zhuqing seemed to summon her courage, meeting Huo Yuhao's eyes directly as she whispered her thanks.

"Yesterday... thank you."

It was unclear whether she was thanking him for helping her enroll smoothly or for catching her the day before.

"It's nothing. Even without me, Teacher Zhao would have let you pass. That stick of incense was just a joke; the moment he activated his martial soul, he had already accepted you all."

Huo Yuhao waved his hand, speaking with a cheerful smile.

Looking at his kind expression, the group found it impossible to reconcile him with the powerful youth who had demanded a one-on-one duel the day before.

Xiao Wu rubbed her hands together. "Since everyone is here, let's go eat! I wonder what kind of delicious food the academy has for breakfast?"

The group began to wander around the school, but after half a day of aimless walking, they still hadn't found the cafeteria.

"...Don't tell me this school doesn't even provide food?"

Xiao Wu's tone was laced with disbelief and a hint of misery.

"..."

Watching the group stare at each other in confusion, Tang San suggested, "Why don't we go into the village and buy some food from the villagers?"

"That's the only way..."

After leaving the academy grounds and entering the village, the group suddenly noticed a man and a woman arguing not far away.

Both were young, the boy looking to be around twelve or thirteen—a little fatty, though his build looked quite sturdy.

The argument wasn't loud, but as they were all spirit masters, they heard every word clearly.

"This little fatty is trying to force himself on a girl in broad daylight??"

The group couldn't help but frown. Xiao Wu, with her fiery temper, was just about to step forward to intervene when the little fatty noticed them.

Seeing the exquisite beauty of the three girls, the fatty's eyes lit up, and he was just about to spout some lewd remarks.

However, noticing their angry glares, the fatty, who had experienced this many times before, knew exactly what they were thinking.

His expression instantly turned cold, and he snorted, "What? Want to meddle in other people's business? Get lost!"

"??? You're acting like a hooligan and you're still this arrogant? Watch me teach you a lesson today."

Xiao Wu was stunned, immediately activating her martial soul and charging forward, with Zhu Zhuqing and Ning Rongrong close behind.

Because all three attacked at once, the little fatty was soon wailing on the ground.

Huo Yuhao, meanwhile, narrowed his eyes as he studied the little fatty.

During the fight just now, the fatty's martial soul felt very similar to that of Sister Xiao Tao from his past life.

Especially that shout of "Phoenix Possession"—it was likely there was some real connection.

"Huh? What are you all doing here? Fatty, why are you lying on the ground??"

Dai Mubai's voice rang out from nearby as he hurried toward them.

With Dai Mubai's arrival, everyone quickly learned the truth of the matter and couldn't help but feel a bit embarrassed.

To think there was such a bizarre martial soul? They had finally met the last student of Shrek.

Only Huo Yuhao wore a look of sudden realization.

"They both share the surname Ma, no wonder... It seems Xiao Tao is a descendant of Ma Hongjun."

He couldn't help but sigh; many of his companions in the future shared intricate ties with the people before him. Fate was truly wondrous.

"Yuhao, what are you muttering about?" Xiao Wu glanced at Huo Yuhao with curiosity.

Huo Yuhao snapped back to reality and shook his head, "It's nothing."

"Alright, now that everything is cleared up, let me take everyone to eat." Dai Mubai said, taking the lead to guide the group toward the cafeteria.

The group finally found the academy's cafeteria, which nearly brought tears of excitement to Xiao Wu's eyes.

Although the school was poor, there was still food! The breakfast was very simple, but the portions were large and filling, so no one complained.

Throughout the meal, Dai Mubai kept stealing glances at Zhu Zhuqing with hesitation in his eyes, while Zhu Zhuqing kept her head down, eating her meal without acknowledging him at all.

Having been beaten up, Ma Hongjun didn't dare to tease the three young ladies again and chose to eat in silence.

Just as everyone was finishing their meal, a series of urgent clanging sounds rang out from outside.

"Hurry, that's the signal from the Dean for us to gather at the playground. The consequences for being late will be severe."

Dai Mubai explained briefly and hurried the group toward the playground.

By the time they arrived, a bleary-eyed Oscar was already standing there, a sausage dangling from his mouth.

Looking at the transformed Oscar now that he had shaved his beard, the group rubbed their eyes.

Was this really the middle-aged senior from yesterday? He looked like a completely different person.

"Pity he's not as handsome as my Yuhao." Xiao Wu hummed.

Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing stole a glance at Huo Yuhao and nodded in silent agreement; indeed, he was not.

While the group was chatting, a middle-aged man walked over.

Xiao Wu poked Huo Yuhao, "Yuhao, isn't that the profiteer we ran into? Why is he here?"

Huo Yuhao was also dazed upon seeing the man; no wonder the shopkeeper had looked familiar back then.

He whispered to Xiao Wu, "That is the Dean."

"Ah!?"

Xiao Wu suddenly felt a sense of despair regarding her academy life, her face falling as she said dejectedly, "With a person like that as Dean, life won't be easy from now on."

Then, thinking of something, she asked Oscar, who was standing nearby, "Right, what level is the Dean?"

"A level 78 Spirit Saint, impressive, right! Even though the Dean is very stingy, his strength is truly formidable!" Oscar explained to Xiao Wu with pride.

"That's a relief..."

Xiao Wu patted her chest and let out a sigh of relief. Seeing this, Huo Yuhao smiled and took Xiao Wu's hand.

"Don't worry, I'm here."