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Hearing this, Huo Yuhao seemed to remember something.

Ye Fan, Jing Hongchen, and the others' words still echoed in his ears:

"Big brother, I see that your martial soul is your eyes. I've heard that there's a Body Sect on the continent. Their creed is that all body-type martial souls under heaven are one family. I suggest you try seeking them out. There, your eye martial soul might develop quite well, you know?"

At that moment, Huo Yuhao's expression was somewhat unnatural, but when he thought of that person's promise to him, he quickly calmed down again.

Before Huo Yuhao could explain anything,

Bei Bei, standing nearby, also seemed to recall something. "It's you? I didn't expect you to be participating in the Continental Soul Master Tournament too."

"The world really is small."

"Mm, Bei Bei, you know the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineering Academy too?"

At this moment, Xu Sanshi and the others from Shrek Academy turned their gazes toward Bei Bei. Xu Sanshi, in particular, curiously draped an arm over Bei Bei's shoulder as he asked.

As soon as he said this, even Huo Yuhao looked toward Bei Bei.

He was curious too. Bei Bei actually knows my benefactors?

Feeling everyone's gazes upon him, Bei Bei lowered his voice and explained the whole story to Xu Sanshi and the others.

Upon hearing it, Xu Sanshi immediately squeezed Bei Bei's shoulder. "Good brother, don't worry. Your sister-in-law's enemy is our enemy."

"When the Continental Soul Master Tournament begins, your brother here will definitely help you get even."

The moment those words fell, a fierce smell of gunpowder erupted between the Shrek group and Ye Fan's group.

It left Huo Yuhao incredibly awkward.

Just then, a scruffy old man emerged from Shrek's residence. He held a chicken leg in his hand, his body was covered in grease stains, and a wine gourd hung at his waist.

A woman in red stood beside him.

The Shrek students all respectfully called out, "Elder Xuan."

Following everyone's gazes, Ye Fan discovered that the newcomers were none other than Xuan Zi and Zhang Lexuan, whom he had encountered in the Star Dou Great Forest a year ago.

Ye Fan could not help but think to himself, The world really is small.

Before Ye Fan could finish sighing over it, Zhang Lexuan stepped forward first to greet Ye Fan and the others.

"Oh? So you're the ones representing the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineering Academy."

"You truly are heroes in your youth."

Zhang Lexuan said this to Ye Fan, Xiao Hongchen, Meng Hongchen, and the others.

Ye Fan had no idea whether she meant it sincerely.

Still, instinctively, Ye Fan returned her smile.

Just then, Jing Hongchen delivered a precise jab at Xuan Zi. "Likewise, likewise. I see that the students from your academy participating in this Continental Soul Master Tournament are also young and promising, with quite impressive strength."

"Anyone unaware of the situation might think Shrek Academy's younger generation had suffered a gap in succession."

As he spoke, Jing Hongchen's gaze swept across Huo Yuhao, Bei Bei, Xu Sanshi, and the others, causing Bei Bei and the rest to darken their expressions.

Among them, Xuan Zi's expression was the ugliest.

Xuan Zi only felt that Jing Hongchen was stabbing him right in his sore spot. Ignoring Zhang Lexuan beside him, he viciously glared at Jing Hongchen before leaving in disgrace.

Zhang Lexuan exchanged glances with Huo Yuhao and the others, then said to Jing Hongchen's group, "Sorry. We'll be leaving first."

Afterward, Zhang Lexuan went after Xuan Zi. Bei Bei, Xu Sanshi, and the others exchanged looks and followed behind her. In the end, only Huo Yuhao reluctantly bid farewell to Ye Fan and the others. "Benefactors, we'll catch up another time."

Before long, everyone from Shrek Academy had disappeared.

Ye Fan's group did not linger between the two areas either and was led by the officer who had received them earlier to their respective resting quarters.

Before Jing Hongchen could assign the rooms, a servant-like attendant brought over another invitation.

The invitation stated that the Xingluo Empire was inviting everyone from the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineering Academy to a banquet prepared for the various academies.

Jing Hongchen casually accepted the invitation and said to everyone, "Take half an hour to get yourselves ready. Gather in the main hall afterward."

Half an hour passed in the blink of an eye.

Everyone from the Sun Moon Academy had changed into luxurious formal attire. Xiao Hongchen wore a fitted white suit, standing tall and straight with an aloof, aristocratic air;

Meng Hongchen wore a dreamy pure-white dress, its skirt light and elegant, making her look delicate and lovely.

Jing Hongchen wore a purple evening suit, dignified and steady with an extraordinary bearing. Ma Rulong, Xiao Xiafeng, and the others were also impeccably dressed.

Only Ye Fan remained in his plain, worn everyday clothes, utterly out of place amid his surroundings, drawing quiet mockery from Xiao Xiafeng and several others.

Xiao Hongchen immediately stopped them in a cold voice. He stepped forward with Meng Hongchen and handed Ye Fan an unused white formal outfit of his own.

After changing into the new clothes, Ye Fan's bearing transformed completely. The pure-white fabric accentuated his lean, graceful figure, making him seem holy and translucent. His golden eyes were clear and dazzling, and he naturally carried an aura of radiant sanctity. He was so beautiful it made one's heart tremble, and Meng Hongchen stared at him in a slight daze.

"Xiaofan, you look so good in formal wear."

Meng Hongchen could not help staring dreamily at Ye Fan as she spoke like a lovestruck fool.

"Uh, so are you saying I don't look good without formal wear?"

Ye Fan took the chance to tease Meng Hongchen.

"No, that's not it. Without formal wear, it hides the holy aura around you."

"You're not as irresistible."

Meng Hongchen blushed as she tried to explain herself.

"Oh? Then how do I compare to that blue-haired guy from Shrek?"

"He's not bad either, but compared to you, he's far too feminine."

"This big sister still prefers your type, Xiaofan."

As she spoke, Meng Hongchen did not forget to pinch Ye Fan's cheek with her soft, slender hand.

Hearing that, Ye Fan smiled as well. I've finally pulled Meng Hongchen ashore.

If Meng Hongchen ended up liking that neither-man-nor-woman Wang Dong,

then it really would have been my fault.

Just then, Jing Hongchen shouted.

"Alright, now that everyone is ready, let's head to the Xingluo banquet."

Xiao Hongchen and Meng Hongchen flanked Ye Fan on either side, enclosing him between them. Jing Hongchen walked at the front of the group, while everyone else followed behind.

Along the way, students from various academies kept pointing and whispering about Ye Fan and Xiao Hongchen.

"Wow, how can one person be handsome, masculine, and cute all at once?"

"Yeah, especially that handsome guy with golden hair. He's so handsome."

"I want to have his babies."

As soon as those words were spoken, Meng Hongchen viciously pinched Ye Fan's lower back.

Ye Fan looked at Meng Hongchen while enduring the pain. "Senior sister, you...?"

Before Ye Fan could finish, another group of boys began praising Meng Hongchen. "Wow, look! Those are students from the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineering Academy. That girl in the white dress is so cute and beautiful."

Only then did Ye Fan finally understand Meng Hongchen's jealous feelings.

He supposed that made the devastation of his lower back at Meng Hongchen's hands worthwhile.

Under the attendants' guidance, Ye Fan and the others soon arrived at the banquet hall of the Xingluo Imperial Palace.

At that moment, the banquet hall was already filled with the teachers and students leading the various academies.

Naturally, this included Bei Bei, Huo Yuhao, and the others from Shrek Academy.

They were chatting in small groups, though Xuan Zi and Zhang Lexuan were nowhere to be seen.

The instant Ye Fan's group entered, an attendant quickly came forward and greeted them. "Your Excellency Toad, His Majesty requests your presence!"

Hearing this, Jing Hongchen glanced toward the banquet's second floor and roughly understood the Xingluo royal family's intentions.

He then gave Ye Fan, Xiao Hongchen, and the others a few instructions. "Take a look around. I'll go meet the Xingluo Emperor."

"Yes!" *n!

Afterward, Ye Fan, Xiao Hongchen, Meng Hongchen, and the others split up in small groups.

The luxurious private room on the second floor was bright and spacious, and from its railing, one could overlook the entire banquet hall.

Three extraordinary figures stood by the window. In the center was a middle-aged man dressed in an imperial robe embroidered with golden dragons. His face was imposing and composed, and he exuded authority without anger. A frightening pressure unique to an emperor surrounded him.

At his side stood a lovely young woman in white. Her features were delicate, her figure slender, and her eyes gentle yet lively.

On the other side stood a burly man in silver armor. He stood straight and sharp, his brows resolute and keen, carrying the iron-blooded aura of a battlefield. All three silently watched the representatives of the various academies entering below.

Among them, Shrek Academy and the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineering Academy naturally drew the most attention.

When they saw that Shrek Academy's participants this time were all teenage boys and girls, they were already surprised.

But when they saw Ye Fan of the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineering Academy, they could hardly believe their eyes.

"Dai Hao, Jiujiu, what do you think of that white-clad boy from the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineering Academy? He looks six or seven years old."

"Hmph, he's just a pretty face."