Shrek's Self-Righteous Higher-Ups

At this age and with this level of cultivation, he could unleash an attack like that? Yan Shaozhe frowned deeply as he looked at Huo Yuhao, who had already exhausted his strength and was being helped up by the arriving Wang Dong and Xiao Xiao.

"Alas! In the end, that white soul ring ruined you!" Yan Shaozhe looked regretful. If Huo Yuhao's first soul ring had been a hundred-year soul ring, he might have had a chance of breaking through to become a seventieth-rank Soul Saint.

It was fate, after all! After some thought, Yan Shaozhe did not hesitate. He looked directly at the spectators below and slowly announced, "I declare Wang Dong's team the champions of this Freshman Assessment!"

Following Yan Shaozhe's announcement, thunderous cheers erupted from the crowd. However, Zhu Lu and Ning Tian, who were their friends, frowned tightly and glared at Yan Shaozhe with displeasure.

"Strange. What's wrong with you two? Yuhao and the others won!" Wu Feng looked at the unhappy pair in confusion.

"Sister Feng, didn't you hear clearly? What team did Dean Yan just say?" Ning Tian looked helplessly at her close friend. Good thing Wu Feng had such a powerful Martial Soul and had Ning Tian as a friend, or she would have been tricked out of every last coin she owned!

"Team? It sounded like... Ah! Wang Dong's team! Wait, wasn't their team called Huo Yuhao's team? Why did the name change?"

Seeing that Wu Feng was still utterly confused, Ning Tian and Zhu Lu exchanged helpless looks. Both patted her head to indicate that it was nothing. If they kept explaining, they were afraid her head would explode!

At that moment, the expressions of those on the field varied in response to the announcement. Wang Dong and Xiao Xiao were delighted. Though Cui Yahao and Zhu Yu found it regrettable, they acknowledged their opponents' strength. Only Dai Huabin glared darkly at the supported Huo Yuhao.

With the Freshman Assessment over, the six of them gathered together and held a barbecue feast in the outskirts.

"To our friends for winning the championship, cheers!" Wu Feng was beaming. Seeing how cheerful she was, the others were also happy and raised their drinks, drinking heartily!

"Yuhao, would you be willing to join my Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect?" Ning Tian suddenly spoke up. Her eyes stared fixedly at Huo Yuhao. Everyone admired the strong, and Ning Tian, as the young sect mistress, was no exception!

Facing Ning Tian's hopeful gaze, Huo Yuhao could not bear to hurt her, but he still decisively shook his head. "No, I won't join the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. I'm planning to visit the Sun Moon Empire later. Their Soul Tools are very advanced, and I want to study them!"

Hearing his unmistakable rejection, Ning Tian lowered her head in disappointment. Yet she soon raised it again with a proud expression, sweeping away her earlier dejection. She lifted her drink, and the others chuckled before raising theirs as well.

"Cheers!"

After a night of celebration, everyone collapsed onto the ground and fell into a deep sleep. Huo Yuhao gazed calmly at the sky, seemingly lost in thought.

"Yuhao?"

Hearing someone call him, he turned around and saw Zhu Lu quietly approaching. She wrapped her arms around his right arm and looked at him gently, as though she had seen through something.

"You noticed?" Huo Yuhao looked at the beauty beside him and spoke softly, seemingly unsurprised that Zhu Lu had figured it out.

"Mhm! Where are you planning to go next? The Sun Moon Empire?" Zhu Lu asked quietly. Once he made up his mind, she would return to the dormitory to pack her luggage.

"I haven't decided yet! After all, I can't rely too heavily on Soul Tools. My own strength is important too." Huo Yuhao was somewhat lost, unsure where he should go.

"I remember there seems to be a sect in the Heavenly Soul Empire called the Body Sect!" Zhu Lu spoke softly. Hearing this, Huo Yuhao's eyes brightened slightly, as if he had found a goal!

"The Body Sect? It seems to be a sect made up solely of people with body Martial Souls? I heard Shrek Academy's teachers mention it before. I didn't expect them to be in the Heavenly Soul Empire?" Huo Yuhao looked curiously at Zhu Lu beside him, but she shook her head.

"No, I'm not sure either. Grandpa Butler mentioned it, but I don't know where he got the information." Zhu Lu leaned against Huo Yuhao's shoulder and explained where the news had come from.

"Grandpa Butler... Is he doing well?" Hearing the name of someone he knew, Huo Yuhao's eyes lit up. Zhu Lu shook her head, indicating that Grandpa Butler was old, and due to injuries from his youth, even his cultivation had begun to decline!

"Has Xu Xingling made any moves?" Huo Yuhao's gaze turned cold. The old butler was his last remaining family in this world!

"No! The elders of House Dai stepped in. Even if Xu Xingling wants to do something, she can't!" Zhu Lu gently covered Huo Yuhao's hand with hers, soothing his agitated emotions.

"Mhm! Next, you..."

"I'm still following you! Whether in life or death, I'm yours!" Zhu Lu playfully interrupted Huo Yuhao before he could finish, her eyes firmer than ever!

"Xiao Lu... Thank you!" Huo Yuhao smiled softly, and Zhu Lu returned his smile. The two leaned against each other beneath the stars. Behind them, unnoticed by either of them, Wang Dong bit his lower lip tightly and stared at them with an unwilling expression!

The next day arrived, and all the Freshman Assessment participants gathered in the plaza!

"Hey! What do you think your ranking will be?"

"Who knows? Maybe we'll be leaving soon?"

The examinees discussed animatedly, but the commotion ceased when Huo Yuhao's group of six appeared. Feeling the aura around them, everyone found it suffocating, especially Huo Yuhao. Many looked at him with fear.

"Everyone! Today, we will announce the results and rewards of the Freshman Assessment!" Yan Shaozhe's voice rang out, instantly drawing everyone's attention.

Seeing that everyone was focused, Yan Shaozhe nodded to Du Weilun beside him. Du Weilun understood and stepped forward to announce the decision made by the higher-ups yesterday.

"Based on your performances during the Freshman Assessment, the inner courtyard has decided that the following students will become core disciples of Shrek Academy's outer courtyard."

"Wang Dong, Xiao Xiao, Zhu Lu, Ning Tian, Dai Huabin, Zhu Yu, Cui Yahao, Xie Huanyue..." As the final name fell, everyone's previously excited hearts gave a jolt.

They all looked incredulously at the calm figure. Yes, Huo Yuhao's name had never been mentioned from beginning to end—the powerful freshman who had resisted the Netherworld White Tiger head-on!

Yan Shaozhe had long expected such a reaction, and Du Weilun immediately continued the announcement.

"Next are the reserve students with the potential to become core disciples: Huo Yuhao, Wu Feng, Lan Luoluo, Lan Susu..." Aside from Huo Yuhao, they were all students who had performed quite well.

"All right! Next, we will announce the rewards for the top three of the Freshman Assessment!" Du Weilun gave no one time to react and directly began reading the next part.

When they heard that first place would receive a soul bone, as well as a free reward allowing a Shrek Academy teacher to help them hunt a soul ring, everyone drew a sharp breath.

Once Du Weilun finished announcing the results, Huo Yuhao and the others turned and left, unwilling to remain any longer. As for those rewards, Huo Yuhao looked utterly disdainful.

However, just as Huo Yuhao and the others passed by Dai Huabin and Zhu Yu.

"Hmph! So what if you won? You still couldn't even secure the status of a core disciple!" Dai Huabin sneered disdainfully.

In an instant, the six stopped in their tracks. Their auras changed, as though they were about to devour Dai Huabin whole!