He Was Different!

Xian Lin'er, the current head of the Soul Guidance Department, was delighted by the two youngsters' reactions. She seized the chance to ask, "Astonishing, isn't it? This is Soul Guidance Technology—the very thing destined to change the future of Soul Masters!"

Xiao Xiao nodded, though she only half understood. Huo Yuxi looked utterly lost.

"Well? Would you consider joining our Soul Guidance Department? If you both agree, I'll use my authority as department head to name you Core Disciples on the spot."

Core Disciples!

Xiao Xiao suppressed her excitement and said awkwardly, "Dean Xian, thank you for the offer, but I'd better pass. If my parents found out I was studying Soul Tools at Shrek, they'd definitely make me relive my childhood!"

Xian Lin'er nodded calmly, not surprised by Xiao Xiao's refusal. She had only been testing the waters. Huo Yuxi had been her real target all along.

"Yuhao, are you from the Body Sect?" Xian Lin'er sounded a little nervous. She knew it was unlikely, but what if?

The Body Sect?

A trace of puzzlement appeared in Huo Yuxi's eyes. Then, under Xian Lin'er's delighted gaze, she slowly shook her little head.

Not from the Body Sect? Wonderful!

Joy spread across Xian Lin'er's face. A Soul Master with a Body Martial Soul who wasn't from the Body Sect, and one with the exceedingly rare Mental Attribute at that—Shrek Academy had found a treasure!

In the original story, the main reason Huo Yuhao had received so little attention before obtaining his Second Soul Ring was the Ten-Year Soul Ring the Sky Dream Ice Silkworm had become.

After all, in the era of The Unrivaled Tang Sect, Innate Soul Power, physical constitution, and Martial Soul strength could all be improved through external means. Even cultivation speed could be raised. Spirit Rings, however, were nearly impossible to replace.

Huo Yuxi's talent was poor, but Xian Lin'er firmly believed that, with the Soul Guidance Department's resources, she had a good chance of becoming a Soul Emperor or even a Soul Sage.

"Yuhao, would you consider joining our Soul Guidance Department? I swear on my reputation as its head: if you agree, I'll name you a Core Disciple immediately and put every resource you need in your hands!"

Xian Lin'er could barely contain her excitement. Yan Shaozhe, that old bastard, would never let peerless talents like Xiang Jun and Tang Wutong go.

Huo Yuxi was different. As long as Xian Lin'er struck first, even Yan Shaozhe would have little to say.

A Core Disciple?

Huo Yuxi was tempted, but Xiang Jun's face surfaced in her mind. Gritting her teeth, she replied, "Dean Xian, could you let me go back and think about it...?"

"Yuhao, if I remember correctly, you're a support-type Soul Master. Don't you want the fighting strength of a Battle Soul Master?" Xian Lin'er grew anxious and pressed her urgently.

Huo Yuxi clenched her little fists. She kept her head down and said nothing.

Seeing this, Xian Lin'er could only sigh. "All right. Can you give me a definite answer before the Freshman Assessment ends?"

Huo Yuxi nodded repeatedly. She had decided to ask Big Brother Xiang Jun what he thought.

What if Big Brother Xiang Jun doesn't like Soul Tools?

If that's the case, I'd better not join...

After they left the Soul Guidance Department, Xiao Xiao glanced at Huo Yuxi, who walked beside her with her head down. "Yuhao, why didn't you accept Dean Xian Lin'er's offer? That's a Core Disciple position! Ordinary students can't compare with that kind of treatment!"

"I want to go back and ask Big Brother Xiang Jun what he thinks..." Huo Yuxi's cheeks reddened slightly. She was afraid that making the decision on her own might upset him.

At that, Xiao Xiao's expression turned searching.

It wasn't the first time she had heard rumors about Xiang Jun and Huo Yuxi. For instance, strange sounds often came from Dormitory 108 at night.

They went straight back to the dormitory. The moment Huo Yuxi opened the door, she saw a scene that made her blush.

Xiang Jun's clothes were somewhat disheveled. Tang Wutong, barefoot, was sprawled across his back, holding a white stocking patterned with butterflies.

From the looks of it, Tang Wutong was trying to stuff the thing into Xiang Jun's mouth...

"Big Brother Xiang Jun, Sister Wutong, I'm back." Huo Yuxi had long since grown used to this. A strange thought even arose in her heart.

The three of us living happily together would be better than anything else...

"Oh, Yuhao's back. So, what did the Soul Guidance Department want with you?" Xiang Jun patted Tang Wutong, signaling for her to get off his back.

Huo Yuxi nodded. "Dean Xian Lin'er wants me to join the Soul Guidance Department. She said that if I agree, she'll name me a Core Disciple."

After saying that, Huo Yuxi felt uneasy. She kept watching Xiang Jun's expression out of the corner of her eye.

A Core Disciple?

In The Unrivaled Tang Sect, you could question Huo Gua's character, morals, or even her gender, but you absolutely could not question her talent with Soul Tools.

The Mental Attribute, paired with the Spirit Eyes Martial Soul.

Calling it an innate gift for soul engineering would hardly be an exaggeration.

"That's great news. Did you accept?"

Seeing that Xiang Jun wasn't opposed, Huo Yuxi finally breathed a sigh of relief. "Not yet. I wanted to ask what you thought first, Big Brother Xiang Jun."

Why ask me?

Xiang Jun froze. Then he noticed Huo Yuxi's faintly flushed cheeks and understood.

That's the gentle, considerate Huo Yuxi for you. She's always thinking of other people's feelings.

Rubbing Huo Yuxi's little head, Xiang Jun smiled. "Go give Dean Xian Lin'er your answer tomorrow. The Soul Guidance Department suits you better."

Besides, Xian Lin'er wasn't a Soul Engineer in the traditional sense. She wouldn't let Huo Yuxi's talent with her Martial Soul go to waste.

Watching their affectionate exchange, Tang Wutong felt a sour twinge of jealousy. "Tch. What good are Soul Tools? They're just toys for the strong."

"You don't know a damn thing. This is progress. At the very least, it's better than that heap of scrap metal they call Hidden Weapons."

Xiang Jun rolled his eyes. Never mind the gap between the two—Soul Tools could at least improve people's quality of life in the future.

Tang Wutong fell silent.

If anyone else had dared insult the Hidden Weapons her father had once taken such pride in, Tang Wutong would already have brought out her Clear Sky Hammer.

But Xiang Jun...

He was different!

Three days passed in the blink of an eye, and the round-robin stage of the Freshman Assessment came to an end.

Xiang Jun and Tang Wutong's team, Gu Yuena's team, Xie Huanyue's team, and Ning Tian's team had each won all ten matches. Every one of those teams also had a freshman at the Soul Elder level.

As for Dai Huabin, he was still recovering from his injuries and could only miss this Freshman Assessment. Gu Yuena had even stolen away his fiancée, Zhu Lu...

"Hehehe, I can't believe I made it to the elimination rounds! I've got the vice class monitor to thank for that!"

At a Restaurant in Shrek City, Xiao Xiao held a glass of juice and grinned foolishly. Xiang Jun, Tang Wutong, and Huo Yuxi sat beside her.