Zhang Lexuan's Thoughts (Part One)

"..."

Lan Xuanyu was utterly disappointed. His expression, his eyes, even his spiritual power—all of them were far too normal.

Could this Huo Yuhao not be a reincarnator after all?

No... that couldn't be! He couldn't forget that Huo Yuhao was the Emotion God King. If he wanted to hide his feelings, he could produce any expression he pleased!

Besides, there was no way to explain his cultivation if he wasn't a reincarnator. Even to the naked eye, it was clear that Huo Yuhao's cultivation was far more profound than his own. That was definitely not the talent Huo Yuhao had possessed originally!

What on earth was going on?!

"Then I'll leave classmate Huo Yuhao with one last piece of advice!" Lan Xuanyu glanced at Wang Dong, whose face showed her disappointment, and spoke coldly. "Don't do anything to betray her... and don't even think about changing history. It won't do you any good!"

Huo Yuhao was dumbfounded. What was this guy talking about? What did he have to do with Wang Dong?

And what was all that nonsense about changing history? Was this guy talking in his sleep?

"Completely inexplicable." Leaving those words behind, Huo Yuhao stopped paying attention to Lan Xuanyu and Wang Dong, turned, and walked into Class Ten's classroom.

Lan Xuanyu gritted his teeth, unwilling to let it go. Knowing that class was about to start, he had no choice but to ask Wang Dong to head back to Class One with him.

For some reason, Wang Dong kept looking back with every step, reluctant to leave.

A voice kept whispering in her mind: Get closer to him, get closer to him...

Fortunately, Zhang Lexuan didn't deliberately bring up the recent rumors around the academy during class. Still, whenever her meaningful gaze swept over this way, Huo Yuhao felt as if he were sitting on pins and needles.

Today's lesson covered Soul Master classifications and teamwork. Zhang Lexuan had twice represented Shrek as the lead team captain in the All-Continent Advanced Soul Master Academy Soul Fighting Tournament, and both times she had led her team to victory. She was thoroughly familiar with the subject.

On top of that, Zhang Lexuan was a stunning beauty, and everyone in class listened in rapt attention. Huo Yuhao was no exception. Though he considered his combat experience pretty good, he didn't know much about how to fight as part of a team.

"That's all for today's lesson. You're dismissed. Oh, right..."

When Zhang Lexuan's gaze swept over his side of the room, Huo Yuhao's heart gave a thump. Sure enough, Zhang Lexuan said with a smile, "Class monitor Yuhao, come by my office first."

Under the gleeful, sympathetic looks of the boys, Huo Yuhao trudged out with a long face. The two soon entered Zhang Lexuan's office.

Zhang Lexuan wasn't wearing her business suit, but a simpler outfit: a black turtleneck sweater, black tapered trousers, and plain white high heels.

The simple clothes gave Zhang Lexuan a few extra touches of the youthful charm unique to a young woman her age.

"Have a seat."

Huo Yuhao obediently sat in the chair across from her desk. He didn't know where to look, so he kept his head down.

Seeing how nervous he looked, Zhang Lexuan couldn't help but laugh. "...If you don't mind, could you tell me about what's going on between you and Xiaotao?"

"Uh... well..."

Zhang Lexuan waved her hand with a smile. "I know about the problem with Xiaotao's Martial Soul. I'm naturally glad you can help her resolve it."

As she spoke, she studied Huo Yuhao's face and pressed her lips together.

She had never seen a face this handsome... If he weren't so young, he might even have been a match for Xiaotao.

As the eldest senior sister, she naturally knew what Ma Xiaotao was dealing with. She wasn't bad-looking, but her Evil Fire and temper really took away from her appeal... and, like Zhang Lexuan herself, she had ended up an older unmarried woman.

If Xiaotao truly liked him, then as the eldest senior sister, she ought to give them her blessing.

Zhang Lexuan's voice carried a hint of warning. "I don't know what Xiaotao thinks about all this, but if you really intend to be with her, you'll have to wait until you've grown up a little more. I should remind you that dating is forbidden in the outer court."

"And... if you dare hurt Xiaotao's feelings, I'll never forgive you!"

Knowing it was best not to explain, Huo Yuhao played along. "Ahem... I-I understand."

"By the way, let's talk about the freshman tournament in three months. Your records say your Martial Soul is the Spirit Eye—in other words, your eyes."

"Mm... I know very little about Body Martial Souls. Could you tell me how you classify this Martial Soul?"

There was no need to hide this. "Teacher, I classify my Spirit Eye Martial Soul as a control-type."

Then he released his Martial Soul. Three purple Soul Rings appeared around him, and golden light seemed to flow through his eyes, accompanied by ripples in nine colors.

Of course, the three Soul Rings were being masked by Simulation. If their true colors showed, Zhang Lexuan would probably be scared to death...

Zhang Lexuan's eyes widened. Three Soul Rings beyond the normal age limit!

And his spiritual power was so strong that, by feel, it was no weaker than her own!

"You... you little monster!" Zhang Lexuan hurriedly reached out and placed her hand on Huo Yuhao's wrist.

Huo Yuhao didn't move. He knew Zhang Lexuan was checking whether absorbing Soul Rings beyond the normal age limit had damaged his body.

"Hmm? Your vitality is incredibly strong. This definitely isn't the physical strength a three-ring spirit-type Soul Master should have..."

There had been powerful spirit-type Soul Masters in the history of the Douluo Continent, but every one of them had been a glass cannon. There had even been a spirit-type Soul Master who had cultivated all the way to Titled Douluo, yet had a body weaker than that of a Soul Sage with a Beast Martial Soul.

Putting that together with his almost absurdly strong spiritual power, Zhang Lexuan looked at Huo Yuhao with an amused smile. "Little Yuhao, your records say you're a commoner. That cultivation of yours doesn't look much like a commoner's."

Huo Yuhao smiled and shook his head. "Well... an uncle helped lay my foundation when I was little. That's how I managed to achieve this insignificant level of cultivation."

Whenever he thought of Baili Du, Huo Yuhao couldn't help feeling wistful. Without Uncle Baili, he probably wouldn't have made it past Soul Grandmaster at best.

Zhang Lexuan nodded, her eyes bright with curiosity. "...If you can, could you tell me what your Soul Skills are? Don't worry, I'll keep them confidential. It'll also help me secure more resources for you from the academy's senior staff."

That didn't matter. His three Soul Rings gave him eight Soul Skills in all... He could just show her the three he considered least important.

Besides, Huo Yuhao had realized that if he wanted to get access to cultivation resources at Shrek Academy, he would have to show some of his talent.

If nothing else, he was quite satisfied with the food served to inner-court disciples. He didn't know what the outer court was like, but maybe he could get a little more to eat.