No Way? No Way?

"You're quite diligent, training by yourself this early in the morning."

Lin Huo had just finished a set of training and was drenched in sweat when Huo Wu, who had arrived late, called out to him.

Wiping the sweat from his face, Lin Huo smiled. "I'm sure you've heard of the theory about the golden age for Soul Master cultivation, Sister Huo Wu?"

Huo Wu's face fell. Of course she had heard it—she had heard it so often at home that her ears were practically callused. She immediately answered impatiently:

"Yeah, yeah, yeah. Isn't it just that a Soul Master's cultivation results before the age of twenty determine their future upper limit? I've heard that from the old man tens of thousands of times."

"Exactly." Lin Huo set down his towel and continued, "Since you understand that, Sister Huo Wu, you should know that cultivation demands every second be seized."

"And for someone like me, with nothing more than innate Level Five Soul Power, every cultivation session before turning twenty is all the more important. Even now, I feel like there simply isn't enough time."

"So you just skipped yesterday's Imperial History class?"

Huo Wu abruptly threw out that question, leaving Lin Huo somewhat embarrassed.

Just the day before yesterday, when choosing classes, he had solemnly promised Huo Wu that he would attend properly. Yet he had skipped the very first class.

"I was just..."

Lin Huo had just wanted to come up with an excuse when Huo Wu cut him off first.

"Alright, I get it, I get it. Imperial History really is boring as hell. My idiot brother and I are just like you—we can't be bothered to attend it either. Rather than wasting time in that class, it really is better to meditate a little longer and cultivate Soul Power."

Hearing that Huo Wu and Huo Wushuang did not waste time on that class either, Lin Huo immediately brightened. He leaned closer and asked quietly, "Sister Huo Wu, is it really alright for me to skip a required course?"

Huo Wu rolled her eyes. "What could happen? If anyone else skipped class and got reported by the teacher, they might be expelled from the academy."

"But don't forget who you are. If you were ruthless enough, you could even have the teacher expelled instead."

"Nice." Unable to think of anything else to say, Lin Huo could only offer that single word.

He once again experienced just how privileged special-grade students were. They could even have teachers expelled.

No wonder the teacher from yesterday's Soul Power Introduction class had been left with psychological trauma after dealing with Huo Wushuang.

Today's exercise had already been more than sufficient. After chatting with Huo Wu for a bit at the training ground, Lin Huo began thinking about other things.

"What are you planning to do now, Sister Huo Wu? Train your body first, or spar with me? If there's nothing else, I'm going to spend some time at the academy library."

"The library? What's so great about that dump? Don't tell me you spent the entire afternoon there yesterday?"

Huo Wu looked Lin Huo up and down in surprise, as if she had spotted some rare Soul Beast.

Lin Huo spread his hands helplessly. "It can't be helped, Sister Huo Wu. You know the things taught at school are far too basic. I glanced through several teachers' lesson plans and immediately lost interest."

"Rather than waste time in pointless classes, I might as well conduct some in-depth study at the library myself."

"The things they teach are basic? Pointless classes..." Huo Wu's eye twitched as she listened. This was the first time she had realized Lin Huo was such a show-off.

Feeling that Lin Huo was simply fooling her to avoid class, Huo Wu's eyes darted as she decided to test him.

"Hmph! You look down on the teachers that much? Then let me ask you: what is the essence of Soul Power circulation?"

"Ah!" Lin Huo smugly raised a finger. "Sister Huo Wu, you've really hit the nail on the head. I happened to learn about this yesterday in the library."

"Hah, what a load of nonsense! If you're capable, then go ahead and explain it."

Huo Wu looked as though she did not believe a word he said and quietly waited for Lin Huo to expose himself.

Yet Lin Huo merely smiled confidently. His entire afternoon in the library yesterday had not been wasted.

With a broad sweep of his hand, Lin Huo began speaking at length.

"According to Basic Principles of Soul Power Circulation, coauthored by Qian Richeng, the thirtieth Pope of Spirit Hall, along with masters from across the continent."

"The essence of Soul Power circulation is that the Martial Soul and the Soul Master's spiritual power establish a stable connection, allowing the spiritual power to control the Soul Power that the Martial Soul acquires from the outside world."

"Then, through the Martial Soul, Soul Power, and spiritual power, an even more stable cycle is formed between the three. This..."

"Stop, stop, stop! Wait, you actually know this?"

Looking troubled, Huo Wu hurriedly raised her hand and interrupted Lin Huo's lengthy explanation.

She truly had not expected Lin Huo to have actually learned something by studying in the library.

Seeing Huo Wu's discomfort, Lin Huo deliberately feigned ignorance and teased, "What's wrong? Haven't you learned such basic theoretical knowledge, Sister Huo Wu?"

Huo Wu's body stiffened. Looking at the innocence on Lin Huo's face, her competitive nature was instinctively triggered, and she began stubbornly bluffing.

"N-Nonsense! Of course I've learned theoretical knowledge this basic!"

"You really have?" Lin Huo narrowed his eyes with a wicked smile.

"Mm!" It was as though she had suddenly been shot in the chest, and Huo Wu let out a guilty muffled groan.

But when she saw Lin Huo's suspicious gaze, Huo Wu immediately hardened her attitude again. "Hey, hey, hey! What kind of look is that? Are you questioning Sister Huo Wu? I think you're getting a little too bold!"

"I wouldn't dare." Lin Huo waved his hands, conceding defeat.

"Hmph! Good!" Huo Wu put her hands on her hips. Thinking that she could not dwell on this any longer lest she give herself away, she simply changed the subject.

"Alright, let's not talk about that anymore. How well have you rested? I need you to start working as my sparring partner."

Lin Huo had reason to suspect that Huo Wu wanted to settle a personal score under the guise of official business, intending to teach him a lesson during their sparring match—and he had evidence.

But since he had accepted the job as her sparring partner, he could not exactly become someone who went back on his word now, could he?

Besides, even Huo Wushuang could not beat him despite giving it everything he had. Huo Wu had even less of a chance.

He would just beat up a rookie to warm up and earn some experience while he was at it.

"I've recovered already. I still need to go to the library after we finish, so shall we get started?"

"Let's go, let's go! Sister Huo Wu is definitely going to teach you a good lesson today!"

Huo Wu talked tough, but she was nervous inside. Did she not know exactly what she was capable of?

Having personally watched her brother's entire defeat yesterday, she truly had no confidence at all in sparring with Lin Huo.

Of course, lacking confidence was one thing. She certainly was not afraid.

Just how strong was Lin Huo, really? Today, she absolutely had to find out for herself.

The two walked side by side and soon entered the training ground, where they faced each other.