Surrounded

Nighttime, at the entrance of Nine Treasures Restaurant.

Huo Yuhao turned around and waved to Ning Tian at the door, saying:

"Ning Tian, there's no need to see us off any further. We'll take our leave now!"

"Yuhao, it's getting late and the dorm gates are closed. Would you like me to find you a room at a restaurant?"

"No need, I have accommodations in the Inner Court, so don't worry."

Hearing this, Ning Tian felt a chill run down his spine. Shrek Academy seemed to be placing too much importance on Huo Yuhao.

"Take care on your way, Yuhao."

Two people walked out of the restaurant lobby after watching Huo Yuhao's departing figure.

Leading the group was a beautiful middle-aged woman with an elegant demeanor, followed by Ning Tian's lackey, Wu Feng.

"Tian'er, is it worth it? To win over this little guy, you've directly used the sect's millennia-old ally as a bargaining chip. You should know that your father and an elder within the sect are both unhappy with your actions."

The newcomer Ning Yun, Ning Tian's aunt. She was the younger sister of the current sect leader of the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect and also the sect leader of the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect within Shrek Academy.

Upon hearing his aunt's words, Ning Tian calmly recounted his deal with Huo Yuhao to Ning Yun.

When Ning Yun first heard that Ning Tian only wanted two members of the Shrek Seven Monsters' reserve team, Ning Yun frowned. However, when she heard that Huo Yuhao was already a Level 4 Soul Engineer at such a young age, her red lips couldn't help but part slightly. Especially when she heard that Huo Yuhao promised to make an offensive Level 9 Soul Tool for their sect in the future.

A satisfied smile involuntarily appeared on her face.

"Great job! Tian'er, this deal was worthwhile!"

To put it bluntly, take their so-called eternal friendship with a grain of salt. If they truly had any friendship, they should have intervened four thousand years ago when the Xu clan usurped the Han throne.

Moreover, they only used some intelligence to exchange for a Level 9 Soul Tool from Huo Yuhao. This deal made the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect a huge profit.

It's important to know that a Level 9 Soul Tool, barring any unforeseen circumstances, can easily be passed down for a thousand or eight hundred years. A Soul Tool that adds to the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect's foundation is far more valuable than a mere ten-thousand-year friendship.

But then Ning Yun frowned again.

"Did you ask the child about his family situation that Tian'er? Was he married?"

When Wu Feng, who was standing behind Ning Yun, heard Ning Yun's words, her beautiful face turned pale instantly.

Ning Tian saw her expression and gave Wu Feng a reassuring look. Then, he said to Ning Yun:

"I used my family connections, and all I found out was that he comes from the Star Luo Empire and is likely related to the Star Crown Xu Family. As for his marriage, I 'Taiqing!"

Upon hearing this, Ning Yun frowned even more deeply.

"The Star Crown Xu Family is in trouble now. Such a promising young talent has become someone else's."

After some thought, Ning Yun instructed Ning Tian:

"Xiao Tian! Since winning him over isn't an option, you'd better cultivate a good relationship with him at the academy. Even if you can't win him over, gaining the friendship of a future Limit Douluo and Level 9 Soul Engineer is still a good thing."

"Okay, Auntie!"

After saying that, Ning Yun turned to look at Wu Feng on the other side and said:

"Xiao Feng, do you need to know too?"

"Understood, Ning Yun."

Satisfied with the replies from the two, Ning Yun walked into the lobby.

The two best friends were left standing there, staring at each other in bewilderment.

On the other side, Huo Yuhao, who had left Nine Treasures Restaurant and walked a short distance away, suddenly stopped.

"Sister Xiaotao, Sister Qiu'er, you can come out now. Aren't you cold after being out in the cold wind all night?"

Upon hearing Huo Yuhao Huo Yuhao's words, the two people following him realized they had been discovered.

The two could only emerge from a small alley behind Huo Yuhao.

Upon seeing Huo Yuhao, Ma Xiaotao waved somewhat awkwardly.

"Ah! Yuhao, what a coincidence!"

And standing to the side is Di Qiu'er, which is what I mean by standing next to Ma Xiaotao.

As the Beast God version of Di Qiu'er, she was completely unaware that there was anything wrong with her following Huo Yuhao.

What brings you two sisters here today?

"Haha, the moon is so round tonight!"

At that moment, the moon above the three of them was being obscured by thick clouds.

Di Qiu'er, however, stated that the Dead Soul Beast was not Auspicious Beast.

"It was Sister Xiaotao who brought me here!"

"Qiu'er, you!"

Seeing Ma Xiaotao's evasive remarks and Di Qiu'er's words, Huo Yuhao guessed that the two were probably worried about him, and he could only sigh helplessly.

"Alright, sisters, let's go back now!"

Seeing that Huo Yuhao didn't say anything, the two women walked forward and took Huo Yuhao hands, one on each side.

"Yuhao, what brings you here today?"

On the way back, Di Qiu'er ate the ten-thousand-year-old savory chicken leg that Huo Yuhao had packed, and asked with some curiosity.

"Nothing much, just exchanged some information about the White Tiger Family with Ning Tian."

Upon hearing Huo Yuhao mention the deal, Ma Xiaotao's eyes instantly became wary. Countless plots from the classic Chinese novel "The Legend of the Sun Moon" flashed through her mind.

Ultimately, these plot points coalesced in Ma Xiaotao's mind into a scene most frequently seen in the classic Sun Moon novel.

Ning Tian, sporting blond hair, grinned wickedly and pulled his evil little follower Wu Feng to corner Huo Yuhao against the wall. Ning Tian cackled wickedly:

"Huo Yuhao, you don't want to be unable to take revenge because you don't have information on the White Tiger Family, do you?"

Thinking of this, Ma Xiaotao trembled all over, and she grabbed Huo Yuhao's hand and said:

"Yuhao, what did you use to exchange for that? Let me tell you, you absolutely mustn't be so shameless as to do something bad for intelligence!"

At this moment, even the slow-witted Huo Yuhao realized what Ma Xiaotao was saying.

His face flushed red, and he hooked his left middle finger and smacked Ma Xiaotao hard on the head.

Thump!

"It hurts!"

Huo Yuhao covered his flushed cheeks and pointed at Ma Xiaotao, saying:

"Xiaotao, what on earth are you thinking? How could you say that to me?"

"It's all your fault..."

Looking at Huo Yuhao's submissive and aggrieved appearance, Ma Xiaotao couldn't help but mutter. Even though Huo Yuhao was nearly 1.8 meters tall, his physique wasn't very muscular, and his baby face easily led some people to have strange thoughts.

As for whether she is included among the strange people, that's a matter of opinion.

After calming himself down for a while, Huo Yuhao recounted the deals made at tonight's banquet to the two women.

"Why don't they just steal the Level 9 Soul Tool?!"

When she heard that the other party wanted Level 9 Soul Tool, Ma Xiaotao's beautiful eyes widened involuntarily. After Huo Yuhao explained to her, she knew how powerful Level 9 Soul Tool was.

As for the spots in the Shrek Seven Monsters, she wasn't too concerned. In her opinion, Huo Yuhao was enough for the next generation of Shrek Seven Monsters.

After all, not every Soul Master can simultaneously fulfill the roles of controller, attacker, support, and agile attacker.

"It's alright, Xiaotao. I think this deal is fine. It's actually quite a good deal."

"But!"

"Alright, Xiaotao Tao!"

Ma Xiaotao was about to say something when she saw Huo Yuhao pause in his steps. Then, as if nothing had happened, he walked towards the academy.

Looking at the silent street and the faint smell of blood in the air.

Huo Yuhao quietly released his Divine Power in all directions.

In an instant, seven tall and imposing figures appeared in Huo Yuhao's retina.

The seven people subtly formed a circle, surrounding the three.