Wang Dong

Huo Yuhao knew full well that a war spanning the entire continent would break out in a few years. He had to seize every second to cultivate.

The experiences of his previous life had taught Huo Yuhao how terrifying war was. No one could remain untouched by it; war would only bring one tragedy after another.

Huo Yuhao had never believed in any protagonist's halo, nor did he want to become one of its tragedies.

The clear awareness that war would arrive before long did not feel good. Huo Yuhao was, in truth, somewhat anxious.

As someone who could determine the course of the war in its later stages, he had to seize every moment to cultivate.

Perhaps then, he would be able to save a few more people who would otherwise die because of the war. To Huo Yuhao, this was no great righteousness—merely the compassion in a modern person's heart.

Just as Huo Yuhao continued cultivating while pondering the road ahead, the door to the room opened.

A handsome youth with pink-blue hair entered through the door.

Huo Yuhao was about to pause his cultivation and exchange a few words with him when the youth spoke first. "Looks like the two of us are in the same dormitory. Since you cleaned the room so well, I can reluctantly agree to let you live with me. But there are a few rules you must follow. First, you're not allowed to bring anyone back to the dorm. Second, don't walk around naked and disgust people. Third, you're not allowed to snore at night. Fourth, don't disturb me. Fifth, you'll be responsible for cleaning the dorm from now on, but don't touch my bed. Do you understand?"

Huo Yuhao knew that the youth before him was Wang Dong, disguised as a boy, and he also knew that she was a girl.

Knowing the inside story, Huo Yuhao had originally intended to get along peacefully with her. But when he saw Wang Dong's lofty posture and her irritating gaze, he abandoned that thought.

Even the condescension of a capitalist was not enough to describe Wang Dong's current expression. It was the sort of contempt that seemed capable of casually deciding another person's life or death.

"Please give me a reason why I need to follow your rules. Who are you to me? Or do your rules stand above those of Shrek Academy?"

Huo Yuhao answered coldly, feeling somewhat disappointed in this so-called female lead.

Wang Dong snorted. "Because I'm stronger than you right now, so you have to listen to me. If you don't, I'll beat you out of here."

"What a twisted view of strength. Does someone who tramples on the rights of the weak at will count as strong? How laughable. I don't know how you developed such an idea, but remember this: anyone who casually bullies the weak will never become truly strong." Huo Yuhao rose to his feet and replied with a serious expression.

"That's just an excuse because you can't beat me. Since you say I can't become strong, why can't you beat me?"

"I'm afraid you won't listen to anything I say until I defeat you. I'll fight you and prove that I'm the stronger one in your eyes right now. I'll prove that the strong you speak of should also show respect to their fellow students. That's all."

Huo Yuhao placed his storage soul tool on the bed so it would not be damaged in the coming fight, then turned and headed downstairs.

"Fine. Then let me see how you plan to prove it." Wang Dong followed close behind.

On an open patch of ground near the freshmen dormitory building, Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong stood facing each other.

Two soul rings, one yellow and one purple, rose beneath Wang Dong's feet. Only a single yellow soul ring rose beneath Huo Yuhao's.

"You talked such a big game, but you're only a one-ring soul master." Seeing that Huo Yuhao had only one ring, Wang Dong retorted disdainfully.

Huo Yuhao did not waste words on Wang Dong. Under his Spiritual Detection, every one of Wang Dong's movements was exceptionally clear.

Without giving Wang Dong any chance to react, the instant she tried to unleash a soul skill, Huo Yuhao used Purple Demon Eye in tandem with the other ability of his first soul ring—Spiritual Shock.

With the support of his Spirit Sea realm spiritual power, Wang Dong passed out in an instant. There was no complicated exchange, much less any close-quarters combat with Wang Dong.

Before Sky Dream Iceworm helped him awaken his second martial soul, the Ice Jade Empress Scorpion, Huo Yuhao had a very clear understanding of his role.

As a spiritual-type soul master, he was meant to engage from range with spiritual interference and spiritual damage.

Even though his improved physical constitution and the Tang Sect's secret arts gave him some close-combat ability, close combat was absolutely a last-resort trump card.

Knowing that Wang Dong was a girl, Huo Yuhao found a teacher to carry Wang Dong back to the dormitory.

Since word of the fight would reach others sooner or later anyway, there was no need for him to hide anything. Having a teacher carry her back would also save him from Wang Dong trying to blame him after she woke up.

"Her body is fine. She'll probably wake up on her own this afternoon. Young people really are full of energy—causing trouble as soon as they arrive at the academy."

The Shrek teacher, who had always believed that "those who dared not cause trouble were mediocre," merely remarked that they were energetic before leaving.

Knowing that he had held back, and with the teacher confirming that Wang Dong was unharmed, Huo Yuhao

stopped paying attention to Wang Dong and continued cultivating with full focus. Huo Yuhao hoped to raise his soul power to Rank 20 before the freshmen assessment, obtain his second soul ring, and then return for the assessment.

That would also save him from being mocked by a crowd for having only one ring. The era of playing the pig to eat the tiger had passed; displaying some talent was better for obtaining resources.

Time passed in a flash. After Huo Yuhao finished lunch and returned to the dormitory, he saw that Wang Dong had already awakened.

Wang Dong lay on her bed with her eyes open. She said nothing when she saw Huo Yuhao enter.

Huo Yuhao did not know whether Wang Dong felt embarrassed or simply resented him for beating her up, but he did not intend to care.

He was still very busy. He did not even have enough time to cultivate, much less time to concern himself with a girl's thoughts.

He had also arranged to go to Shrek City with Bei Bei and Tang Ya that evening to sell grilled fish, so he had even less time to waste talking nonsense with Wang Dong.

Huo Yuhao had originally not wanted to waste time selling grilled fish, but unfortunately, only Xu Sanshi currently had Mystic Water Pills.

Therefore, for Xu Sanshi's Mystic Water Pills, Huo Yuhao planned to sell grilled fish for two days.

If Huo Yuhao remembered correctly, Xu Sanshi would come looking for trouble on the first night of school while he was selling grilled fish. It would not delay him for too long.

That evening, Huo Yuhao arrived at the gates of Shrek Academy. He took out the grill Tang Ya had given him, along with green fish that had already been cleaned, then hung up a sign reading one silver coin per fish and began grilling.

Before long, the fragrance of grilled fish spread through the area. With the aid of Huo Yuhao's Spirit Eyes, the green fish were grilled crisp on the outside and tender within. The flesh was perfectly cooked—tender without becoming dry—while the skin was fragrant, crisp, and golden. They looked quite appetizing as well.

Gradually, a long queue formed in front of Huo Yuhao's stall.

Seeing that the line had grown rather long, Huo Yuhao suggested that customers after the twentieth come back tomorrow. Excluding the four fish he had set aside for Tang Ya and Bei Bei, he only sold around twenty fish a day. Those farther back in line would not be able to buy any today.