Warm-Up

"Oh, oh!"

"Xu Sanshi is going to duel a freshman in the Soul Arena!"

"Well, well, well, isn't that Xu Sanshi? Haven't seen him in days, and he's already fallen so low as to bully a freshman?"

"You didn't see it just now. The freshman sent Xu Sanshi flying with a single Soul Skill."

"That was because Xu Sanshi hadn't summoned his Martial Soul. How could a freshman possibly send him flying otherwise?"

"..."

News that Xu Sanshi was going to duel a freshman quickly spread throughout the entire Outer Academy.

One of the Outer Academy's twin stars, Xu Sanshi, possessed the strongest defense in the Outer Academy.

He was undeniably a celebrity-level figure.

Yet he was going to duel a freshman, naturally arousing intense interest among countless people.

Shrek Academy

Soul Arena

The stands were packed with people, and the noise was deafening.

Tang Ya asked worriedly, "Bei Bei, do you think Yuhao will be in danger?"

A chill flashed through Bei Bei's eyes before vanishing in an instant. "Don't worry, Teacher Xiaoya. As long as I'm here, I definitely won't let Huo Yuhao come to harm."

As long as I'm here, Huo Yuhao, just wait to get hurt!

On the other side of the stands,

Wang Dong crossed her arms and smiled. "Huo Yuhao really is high-profile enough. He actually dared to challenge Xu Sanshi, the Outer Academy's strongest defender."

"But can he really win?"

In Wang Dong's eyes, Huo Yuhao had only defeated Teacher Zhou

because Teacher Zhou had not used her Martial Soul or Soul Skills.

After all, one of Teacher Zhou's Soul Skills could punch straight through an entire building.

So how could Huo Yuhao possibly be a match for someone that powerful?

Yes, Wang Dong did not know that Huo Yuhao was the one who had punched through the building.

Because Wang Dong had not seen Huo Yuhao make his move at the time.

And Zhou Yi had admitted before the Enforcement Squad that she was the one who did it.

Wang Dong had never even considered that possibility.

So, in Wang Dong's eyes, Huo Yuhao was stronger than her.

But not by much. At most, he was merely a Soul Elder.

Inside the office,

"Zhou Yi, that Huo Yuhao from your class really is impressive. He actually dared to challenge Xu Sanshi?"

Stone, the beautiful homeroom teacher of Freshman Class Nine with short purple hair, said sarcastically.

Upon hearing the news, Zhou Yi looked surprised. That brat Xu Sanshi actually dared to offend Huo Yuhao!

No, no. I need to go take a look, in case Xu Sanshi gets beaten to death.

Thinking back to Huo Yuhao's punch that morning, Zhou Yi still felt lingering fear.

Xu Sanshi was only a Soul Elder. How could he withstand a punch from Huo Yuhao?

Xu Sanshi's identity was far from ordinary. If he died at Shrek Academy, there would be serious trouble.

Stone stopped Zhou Yi and smiled. "This is the first time I've seen you worry so much about a student."

"Get lost!"

Zhou Yi said coldly.

Stone smiled. "I heard that you..."

Zhou Yi shoved Stone aside and hurried away.

Stone rubbed the spot where she had been pushed and said unhappily, "Just who is this Huo Yuhao?"

"That woman actually cares about him so much..."

After teaching so many classes of students, this was the first time Zhou Yi had cared so much about a freshman.

This made Stone somewhat curious about Huo Yuhao's identity.

"Huo Yuhao... interesting."

Soul Arena

"Now! Please welcome both duelists to the arena!"

the host announced.

"First to enter is fifth-year student Xu Sanshi!"

Xu Sanshi stepped into the Soul Arena, immediately drawing a wave of cheers.

"Sanshi! Lord Sanshi is the best!"

"Unbreakable Xuanming Turtle!"

"Certain victory!"

"..."

The host introduced the next duelist.

"Entering second is first-year junior Huo Yuhao!"

Huo Yuhao strolled out lazily with a lollipop dangling from his mouth.

He looked utterly relaxed.

He did not look like he had come to duel, but rather like he had come to watch a show.

Though Huo Yuhao was not very famous, his extraordinary temperament and half-hidden peerless looks drew cheers from most of the female students present.

"Oh my god, that flawless pale skin, those red lips and white teeth, those long legs... slurp!"

"Half his face is enough to make me fall in love. If he showed his whole face, wouldn't he be handsome enough to kill me?"

"Junior, stop fighting! I'll support you!!"

"..."

Hearing the cheers of those female students,

Wang Dong and Tang Ya both felt an inexplicable twinge of jealousy.

"These girls have no shame at all. They dare say anything!"

"How annoying. Next time, I absolutely can't let Yuhao come to the Soul Arena, or those girls will definitely lead him astray."

"..."

In the Soul Arena,

Xu Sanshi was furious.

Huo Yuhao's behavior while facing him was undoubtedly a provocation, a sign of contempt.

"Arrogant brat! You're fighting me, Xu Sanshi, yet you still look down on me like this. You clearly don't take me seriously!"

"Oh, so you're a little blind boy. No wonder you don't take me, Xu Sanshi, seriously!"

Noticing the eyepatch on Huo Yuhao's face, Xu Sanshi loudly mocked him.

Huo Yuhao was completely unaffected and smiled calmly. "It took you this long to notice? If you don't need your eyes, donate them."

"Damn it!"

Huo Yuhao broke through Xu Sanshi's defenses with ease. Xu Sanshi cursed and immediately summoned his Martial Soul.

Dark crimson Soul Power coiled around a black shield shaped like a turtle shell.

Three Soul Rings—two yellow and one purple—circled around him.

"Brat, I refuse to believe you'll still be able to act so arrogant in a moment!"

With that, Xu Sanshi launched the first attack.

Huo Yuhao, standing across from the dining hall, merely said indifferently, "Take it slow. I'll warm up first."

As he spoke, he began stretching lazily.

He rolled his shoulders, stretched his limbs, and went through a series of warm-up exercises.

There was not the slightest tension of battle about him. He looked like an old man practicing tai chi in a park at dawn.

Unhurried and unruffled.

Seeing this, Xu Sanshi roared furiously, "Brat! You've successfully angered me!"

As he spoke, he increased the strength in his right hand. The Mysterious Underworld Shield tore through the air, carrying fierce gusts as it smashed toward Huo Yuhao.

Xu Sanshi's strike was immensely powerful.

Though he had not used a Soul Skill, it was enough to instantly defeat a level-twenty Soul Grandmaster.

The female students in the stands all grew nervous.

They feared something might happen to Huo Yuhao.

Wang Dong frowned. "What the hell is this guy doing? Will it kill him not to show off at a time like this?"

Tang Ya clenched her delicate hands tightly, her face filled with worry. "Yuhao! Dodge!"

Bei Bei sneered inwardly. Huo Yuhao, you really are too arrogant. Xu Sanshi may be a Defense System Soul Master, but his attacks are not weak at all.

Below the Soul Arena,

Huo Yuhao was still warming up.

He showed no sign of trying to dodge.

Just as Xu Sanshi's attack came within an arm's reach of Huo Yuhao,

the female students in the stands, Tang Ya, and Wang Dong all covered their eyes.

They feared seeing a bloody scene.

Bei Bei wore an expectant expression, and the corners of his lips could not help curving upward.

But just as Xu Sanshi's attack came within forty centimeters of Huo Yuhao,

it suddenly stopped.

Xu Sanshi frowned. "Do you think your Soul Skill can stop me?"

"Break for me!"

With that, Xu Sanshi increased his strength.

Yet his Mysterious Underworld Shield only moved forward 0.001 centimeters.

But in Xu Sanshi's eyes, it had not moved at all.

"How is this possible?!"

Xu Sanshi's face was full of shock.

How could he fail to break through it? Wasn't Huo Yuhao a freshman?

His Soul Power could not possibly be above level twenty.

How could level twenty possibly block his attack?

And this defense was completely unaffected by his attack.