Guidance

After Flender's explanation, everyone understood what the curriculum entailed. However, they didn't need to participate today; instead, they were to watch Huo Yuhao compete and learn from his experience.

"Alright, go register, then meet back here," Flender said lazily.

The group quickly finished their registration and gathered together, waiting for Huo Yuhao's match assignment.

"14th Soul Fighting Arena. I'm heading to the preparation area; you guys go to the spectator stands."

After seeing the results, Huo Yuhao informed the others, waved his hand, and left.

Having understood the rules, the others, eager to earn more points daily, took advantage of the remaining time to register for two-on-two matches. Zhu Zhuqing and Xiao Wu paired up.

Tang San and Ma Hongjun paired up.

As for Huo Yuhao, who was already a Soul Elder, he couldn't team up with them. Dai Mubai had considered trying to ride his coattails, but Huo Yuhao's words from that day were still fresh in his mind. Even if he took a shortcut, what would happen after graduation?

He would still have to fight his brothers to the death for the throne; such indulgence now would only leave him with even less chance of winning.

Just then, Oscar's voice came from the spectator stands, "Hurry over, Yuhao's soul fight is about to start."

The group hurried back to the viewing area. "I wonder what kind of opponent Yuhao is facing."

Xiao Wu's eyes lit up with anticipation. She was naturally combative, but she was frustrated that she couldn't beat Huo Yuhao and was always being toyed with, which wasn't fun at all.

However, she was quite happy to watch others get toyed with by Huo Yuhao. If Dai Mubai knew this, he would surely consider Xiao Wu a kindred spirit.

It wasn't just her; everyone from Shrek Academy stared fixedly at the Soul Fighting Platform.

A host in a tuxedo stood in the center.

"The next match features two Soul Elders. On one side, our newcomer, the battle-type Soul Elder possessing the Dark Spirit Eye martial soul, Huo Yuhao! Facing him, with a four-match winning streak, is the battle-type Soul Elder possessing the Blood Mantis martial soul, Yue Meng! A passionate collision between a newcomer and a veteran—who will claim the glory of victory? Let us wait and see. I invite both parties to the stage!"

There weren't many people in the stands, but most were chanting Yue Meng's name. Compared to the completely unknown Huo Yuhao, Yue Meng had a bit of a fan base.

Seeing this, Xiao Wu curled her lips. "Hmph, Yuhao is definitely the strongest!"

She rolled up her sleeves, ready to confront the opposing fans, only to be held back by the terrified group beside her. What was she doing? Was she planning to beat up the fans!?

"Is Yuhao really that strong?"

Oscar and Ma Hongjun, who had never seen Huo Yuhao fight, were somewhat skeptical. After all, even Dai Mubai often lost in Soul Elder-level soul fights.

Although this newcomer cultivated quickly and had reached the rank of Soul Elder so early, in their eyes, he didn't seem as strong as Dai Mubai.

"Ahem, just watch," Dai Mubai said awkwardly. You two really don't get the situation, he thought, but he believed they would understand once they saw the match.

Soon, the two walked onto the Soul Fighting Platform. Seeing Huo Yuhao's youthful appearance, many people exclaimed in surprise.

"Such a young Soul Elder?? He looks like he's not even thirteen, right?"

"Is that for real?"

At this moment, Xiao Wu shouted loudly, immediately drawing the attention of the surrounding audience, "Yuhao is so handsome!! Go, Yuhao!!"

Huo Yuhao's opponent was an average-looking man, about thirty years old. He looked very thin, but his muscle definition was sharp, confirming he was an agility-attack system battle soul master.

"Kid, to reach the Soul Elder level in your teens, which academy is this genius from?" Yue Meng's voice was somewhat raspy.

Huo Yuhao smiled and replied, "Shrek Academy."

Yue Meng was slightly stunned. Usually, Soul Master Academy names included the words "Soul Master"; it was rare to find one that didn't.

But he didn't dwell on it; there were so many academies, he couldn't possibly know them all.

"Kid, be careful."

"Martial Soul, Avatar!"

Following that, the audience saw Yue Meng's skin turn a dull red, and his hands transformed into mantis-like blades, reflecting a metallic luster.

One white, one yellow, and one purple soul ring rose from beneath his feet. Although it wasn't the optimal configuration, the thousand-year soul ring still brought a sense of shock to the audience.

Huo Yuhao also released his martial soul. Looking into Huo Yuhao's peculiar eyes, Yue Meng couldn't help but feel a sense of panic.

This was a characteristic of the evolved Spirit Eye; a mere gaze could disrupt an opponent's focus.

The pressure in his heart made Yue Meng impatient, and he decided to strike first. His second soul ring lit up, and his figure flashed. The audience could only see a blood-colored shadow rushing toward Huo Yuhao.

But in Huo Yuhao's eyes, Yue Meng's movements—from his initial leap to the spreading of his twin blades—were as clear as slow motion.

He didn't intend to dodge. He stomped his foot heavily, turning into a black shadow himself, and rushed toward Yue Meng at high speed.

Seeing this, Yue Meng was shocked. Isn't he an eye-type martial soul? How could his speed be this fast? A misjudgment! He isn't a control-system soul master!

It was too late to dodge, so he had to commit. Yue Meng's first soul ring flashed, causing the mantis blades on his arms to grow by about half, and he slashed fiercely at Huo Yuhao.

Huo Yuhao ducked as if he had predicted the move, his forward momentum unbroken. He turned slightly and delivered what looked like a light shoulder check into Yue Meng.

Yue Meng's eyes bulged instantly. He felt as if he had been rammed by an ox; his internal organs were rattled, and he was sent flying backward.

He crashed through the protective ropes at the edge and fell off. Before losing consciousness, only one thought remained in his mind: "Agility-attack system my foot, he's a power-attack system!"

The spectator stands were silent, but a moment later, a thunderous cheer erupted.

"This newcomer is truly amazing! He defeated Yue Meng so easily!"

"I knew this kid was no ordinary person!"

The host also snapped out of it, checked Yue Meng's injuries, and confirmed there was nothing serious.

Only then did he announce loudly, "The winner! Huo Yuhao! Record: one win, zero losses. Please go to register in a moment."

Huo Yuhao nodded and left the Soul Fighting Platform, waving to the crowd in the spectator stands before he walked away.

"That was amazing..." Oscar's gaze followed Huo Yuhao's retreating figure, the scene he had just witnessed replaying in his mind.

Everything had happened in an instant; he had finished off his opponent without even releasing a soul skill! And his posture had been so cool!

When Huo Yuhao returned to the spectator stands, everyone offered their congratulations, except for Ning Rongrong, who pouted to the side and turned her head away, refusing to even look at him.

"Yuhao, you were way too impressive!"

Ma Hongjun was full of amazement. He hadn't seen Huo Yuhao spar with Zhao Wuji, so he found the combat power Huo Yuhao displayed to be nothing short of heaven-defying.

A Control-type soul master with the speed of an Agility-type and the strength of a Power-type—he was practically without any weaknesses.

"Hmph, what's so great about that?" Ning Rongrong muttered, unable to stand hearing others praise Huo Yuhao.

At this moment, Flender also walked over and nodded at Huo Yuhao. "Well fought. I am heading back now. If you all want to stay and watch other soul fights, you may, but remember to return to the academy on your own later."

The group nodded, and Flender walked straight out of the Soul Fighting Arena.

Huo Yuhao, who had only just sat down, also stood up and said, "I still need to finish the remaining twenty laps, so I'll be heading off first. You all continue watching and learn from others' combat experience."

He then waved goodbye to the group.

Once he returned to the vicinity of the village, Huo Yuhao, no longer needing to keep pace with the team, finally displayed his terrifying physical fitness.

The twenty laps that took the team the entire day to run were completed by him in just over two hours.

Walking slowly on the road back to the academy, he couldn't help but shake his head. "This level of intensity doesn't provide any training effect at all. It seems I need to add some weight to myself..."

The body that had been continuously transformed by the energy of Sky Dream Ice Silkworm over the past six years had reached a level of abnormality that even shocked Huo Yuhao himself; it wouldn't be an exaggeration to call him a human-shaped soul beast.

"Hm?"

As he approached his dormitory, Huo Yuhao was slightly stunned to see an unexpected person standing at his door.

With a fiery figure and a cold, aloof face, wasn't that Zhu Zhuqing? It looked as if she had been waiting for his return at his door the whole time.

Zhu Zhuqing also noticed Huo Yuhao walking toward her. She looked as if she wanted to greet him but didn't know how to start, eventually lowering her head slightly and fiddling with her fingers.

Huo Yuhao scratched his head, and once he got close, he asked softly, "Zhu Zhuqing, good evening. Is there something you need by waiting for me here?"

"Call... call me Zhuqing is fine. I came here this time because I have something I'd like to ask of you."

Huo Yuhao nodded in realization. No wonder she was waiting for him late at night; it turned out she needed help. "Go ahead, if I can help, I will certainly do my best."

Zhu Zhuqing took a deep breath and looked up into Huo Yuhao's eyes. "I hope you can guide me to become stronger."