Rejecting Xuan Zi's Invitation

Huo Yuhao coughed lightly from the stench. He had already figured out the old man's identity, and he immediately bowed to him. "Outer Court freshman Huo Yuhao greets you, Senior."

Xuan Zi had no intention of speaking directly. Instead, he continued testing Huo Yuhao's temperament, slowly chewing on a chicken leg and occasionally taking a swig from the wine gourd that could stink up the place for miles.

Huo Yuhao was in no hurry to speak either. He simply stood there quietly, watching Xuan Zi leisurely eat his chicken leg and drink.

Shrek Academy's theory classes were basically just teachers reading from the textbooks. As for the fundamental theories of the soul master world, Huo Yuhao had already read them once in the original work during his previous life. He could also have Wang Dong recount them to him later.

At his current stage, Huo Yuhao had plenty of time to waste and squander. Staying here to face off with Xuan Zi for a while was not out of the question.

Though Xuan Zi was heartily devouring his chicken leg, his gaze never stopped wandering over Huo Yuhao. Seeing Huo Yuhao stand before him so calmly and unhurriedly filled his eyes with a few complicated emotions.

Huo Yuhao, meanwhile, could not care less about what Xuan Zi thought. Instead, he began carefully observing this bamboo grove, the place closest to the Inner Court while still belonging to the Outer Court.

The bamboo here seemed to have been specially planted, faintly resembling a military formation. If someone stayed deep within the grove, they could probably do almost anything without being quickly noticed.

Of course, that was only if a high-ranking Title Douluo like Xuan Zi did not directly sweep the area with spiritual power. If he did, there was nowhere one could hide.

While Huo Yuhao was calculating, Xuan Zi found himself in a somewhat awkward position. He had not brought many chicken legs to begin with. In his view, Huo Yuhao was just a brat who had taken first place in the Freshman Assessment, and done so as the absolute leader of his team. After being ignored like this, how could he possibly remain so composed?

In Xuan Zi's script, Huo Yuhao, having been slighted and mysteriously led into this bamboo grove, should have quickly lost his composure and reacted upon seeing him.

Yet his expectations had fallen through. Huo Yuhao was like an ancient pine in meditation, quietly standing there and waiting for him to speak first.

After quite a while, Xuan Zi finished an entire chicken leg, then took another gulp of wine and deliberately looked at Huo Yuhao with bleary, drunken eyes.

Isn't this act a little overdone? A level ninety-eight Super Douluo is really trying to play drunk in front of me? This could practically win an award for the funniest joke in the Douluo world.

What kind of Godly Taotie Bull martial soul owner gets knocked unconscious after a couple of drinks?

After a brief moment of bewilderment, Huo Yuhao suddenly remembered that, according to the script, he was not supposed to know this old man's identity or strength yet. He therefore continued standing where he was, feigning calm.

Xuan Zi did not notice the fleeting change in Huo Yuhao's emotions. Instead, he spoke first. "Nothing you want to say?"

Huo Yuhao calmly replied with two words. "Nothing to say."

Xuan Zi's mouth twitched slightly. He then waved his hand as if he did not care. "If you have nothing to say, go back and think about it. Come find me when you have something to say."

Huo Yuhao nodded, then turned and walked toward the edge of the bamboo grove.

Seeing Huo Yuhao's steps quicken as he was about to leave the grove, Xuan Zi's voice finally sounded behind him. "Forget it. Come back!"

In the end, different positions and perspectives meant different views of the scenery.

Huo Yuhao did not particularly care whether he became a Core Disciple. His only core objective was to coast through Shrek Academy until he had earned the right to make a name for himself on the continent and choose his own fate.

With that goal as his foundation, it made no difference to him whether he was included on the list of Core Disciples. Once he endured six years, his strength would be at least that of a Soul Emperor.

After that, he would have plenty of freedom in choosing his path. So he had truly intended to leave just now.

If Shrek could not humble itself to seek worthy talent, then Huo Yuhao had no reason to keep playing this boring game with it.

But Xuan Zi did not see it that way. Mu En had given him a task: sound out Huo Yuhao's intentions.

If, when they reviewed things afterward, Xuan Zi simply told him that he had eaten a chicken leg, taken a few drinks, Huo Yuhao had not said a word, and then turned around and left on his own—

Then Xuan Zi would have botched yet another matter. That would be far too humiliating for him.

Previously, he had failed to keep an eye on the students and run into a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast. There had still been an explanation for that.

But if he could not even handle a freshman now, how could Xuan Zi continue carrying out his current duties?

Just as Huo Yuhao was about to leave the bamboo grove, Xuan Zi finally decided that even if it put him at a disadvantage in negotiations, he had to start talking first. He called Huo Yuhao back.

"Do you know why there was no place for you among the Outer Court's Core Disciples?" Xuan Zi immediately asked after Huo Yuhao turned back.

Huo Yuhao remained as calm as ever, without the slightest change in expression. "As a disciple of Shrek Academy, whether the academy grants me Core Disciple status does not seem to be something I can decide. So I will not waste my effort thinking about something so meaningless."

Xuan Zi choked on his words. Then he said to Huo Yuhao, "It does not matter if you are unwilling to think about it. I will tell you. There is a saying: dragons do not lie in shallow waters, and tigers do not enter the plains. Your talent is already enough for you to be guaranteed entry into the Inner Court. The academy is even considering directly reserving you a place among the next generation of the Shrek Seven Devils."

After saying that, Xuan Zi stroked his beard and waited for Huo Yuhao's expression to change. In his expectation, upon hearing this, Huo Yuhao should first be stunned and shocked, then turn from surprise to joy.

Yet things ultimately went against his wishes. Huo Yuhao only shifted slightly, his left pupil moving up and down once. Then he put both hands into his pockets and said, "I fear I must disappoint you, Senior. I am merely an ordinary man. I have no desire to enter Shrek Academy's Inner Court. I only wish to seek wealth and status after graduating from the Outer Court."

Xuan Zi was choked even harder this time, nearly coughing up the wine he had just swallowed. After wiping the corner of his mouth in astonishment, he glared fiercely at Huo Yuhao.

"What did you say?!"

Huo Yuhao had already prepared the Eye of Time and Space to Rewind. Fearless, he met Xuan Zi's gaze and said, "My purpose in entering Shrek was merely to graduate from the Outer Court and obtain a ticket that would allow me to seek wealth and status across the Douluo Continent. As for becoming the strongest in the soul master world, or some lofty aspiration to uphold justice, those truly lie outside the scope of my considerations..."