Morning sunlight streamed through the lattice window into the room, spreading a golden glow across the floor.
Huo Yuhao slowly opened his eyes. A night of meditation had restored him to peak condition. He rose, walked to the window, and looked toward the vaguely visible Sea God Pavilion in the distance.
A new day had begun.
And he would continue moving every piece carefully through Shrek's Inner Academy under the identity of Xuelian.
"Xuelian!"
Ma Xiaotao's crisp voice came from outside, followed by a series of loud knocks.
"Are you up yet? Time for breakfast!"
Huo Yuhao shook his head helplessly and turned to open the door.
The moment the door opened, Ma Xiaotao poked half her body inside, her bright eyes examining him.
"How did you sleep last night? Are you getting used to the place?"
Huo Yuhao replied flatly, "It was fine."
Ma Xiaotao nodded in satisfaction and grabbed his wrist. "Come on, I'll take you to the dining hall. The Inner Academy's food is much better than the Outer Academy's. I guarantee you've never had anything like it!"
Huo Yuhao let her pull him along, but inwardly, he was calculating.
Ma Xiaotao's enthusiasm was both a nuisance and an opportunity. With her around, his movements would be more convenient, and gathering all kinds of information about the Inner Academy would be easier as well.
The dining hall stood on the eastern side of the Inner Academy, a small three-story building. Since it was breakfast time, quite a few Inner Academy students were already seated inside.
The instant Ma Xiaotao led Huo Yuhao through the door, they drew everyone's attention.
"Look, look! That's the newly arrived Xuelian!"
"Sixteen years old, a level sixty-two Soul Emperor, Extreme Ice, and a Hundred-Thousand-Year Spirit Ring..."
"I heard he defeated both Dai