Treasure Appraisal Fair

Earlier, when Huo Yuhao had activated the Mist Arena, he had been following a vague feeling in his heart.

During those few minutes in the arena, Huo Yuhao had seen his Xiong Qi martial soul tear a wisp of dark flame from Ma Xiaotao's body.

After that, Ma Xiaotao's frenzy had grown even more intense, yet to Huo Yuhao, it had felt like one final dance before she burned herself out.

Huo Yuhao toyed with the dark red seed in his hand while asking the Sky Dream Ice Silkworm and the Snow Empress for their opinions in his mind.

The Snow Empress said to Huo Yuhao,

"This seems to be some kind of primordial fire power, but it's incomplete. More precisely, its concentration is sufficient, but there isn't enough of it."

Huo Yuhao gently stroked the dark red fire crystal with a finger and said thoughtfully,

"If there isn't enough of it, then it looks like I'll have to keep slowly harvesting it from Ma Xiaotao."

The Snow Empress nodded. The Sky Dream Ice Silkworm, who was separated from her in another Sea of Consciousness, said,

"Yuhao, you need to be careful. Don't forget that you already have Ultimate Ice within your body. If you rashly strengthen your fire abilities without regulating them properly, I'm afraid you'll..."

The Sky Dream Ice Silkworm did not say "explode and die," but anyone who was not an idiot could understand what he meant. Huo Yuhao shrugged and told him,

"As a Soul Master, if I let the fear of exploding and dying make me afraid of everything, I wouldn't have the soul ring configuration I have today."

Huo Yuhao's words silenced the Sky Dream Ice Silkworm, and Huo Yuhao did not continue talking to him. Although the fellow's million years of cultivation sounded intimidating, all he had really done was sleep.

The extent of his worldly knowledge was the Three Heavenly Kings of the Far North—something every Soul Beast in the Far North knew about. Beyond that, he only knew the internal affairs of his Ice Silkworm Clan.

His advice was not worth much. Since the Snow Empress had said this was some kind of fire seed, Huo Yuhao would simply keep it for now.

The remaining assessments were completed one after another the next day. Most students passed without trouble. After all, none of them wanted to squander their holidays and throw away their chance to remain at Shrek Academy.

The end of the advancement assessment also marked Huo Yuhao and the others' official entry into their second year.

At the same time, some of the privileges reserved for Core Disciples gradually became available to the Core Disciples in Huo Yuhao's year.

One classic example was the Treasure Appraisal Fair. Although Huo Yuhao had not joined the Soul Tool Department this time, he still failed to dodge Wang Dong's flying invitation talisman when he returned from eating at the cafeteria.

"Hah! Old Demon Huo! Today is the auspicious day your grandpa Wang Dong takes you down!"

Wang Dong sent the Treasure Appraisal Fair invitation flying into Huo Yuhao's face as she addressed him smugly.

"Honestly, Wang Dong, you must really be starving today."

As Huo Yuhao spoke, he took the invitation off his face.

Wang Dong looked at him in confusion, apparently not getting what he meant.

Huo Yuhao smiled, then told her,

"If I don't fold you into a Goubangzi smoked chicken today, I'll be doing that smug attitude of yours a disservice."

With that, Huo Yuhao flashed in front of Wang Dong and wrenched both her arms behind her back. Instantly, screams like those of a pig being slaughtered rang throughout the dormitory building.

Half an hour later, Wang Dong raised her head to look at Huo Yuhao, who was sitting on her back, and said feebly,

"Brother Hao, isn't that enough...? Show mercy where you can!"

Huo Yuhao lightly smacked the back of Wang Dong's head and asked her,

"Still feeling smug?"

Wang Dong hurriedly shook her head, then told Huo Yuhao with a sheepish grin,

"I wouldn't dare, I wouldn't dare. But Brother Hao, you know about this Treasure Appraisal Fair, right? This is a rare opportunity. Let's go take a look together! Maybe we'll find something good!"

Huo Yuhao got off Wang Dong and folded his arms.

"All right, but I need to go out first. Xiao Xiao asked to meet me. I don't know what she wants this time."

After Huo Yuhao finished speaking, Wang Dong said sourly,

"Hmph, you've been awfully close to Xiao Xiao ever since you came back from vacation. These past two days, aside from classes, you've practically been joined at the hip, haven't you? What exactly are you two doing behind my back?"

Huo Yuhao shrugged and told Wang Dong,

"Nothing much. Xiao Xiao just insists that she and I have the compatibility for a Martial Soul Fusion Skill, so she wants us to spend more time getting in sync. I don't really mind. It just means having someone beside me while I cultivate."

At the mention of a Martial Soul Fusion Skill, Wang Dong reacted like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, practically hissing at Huo Yuhao.

"A Martial Soul Fusion Skill?! Is that something you can just recklessly experiment with?"

Huo Yuhao shrugged, confusion showing in his eyes as he asked,

"Why couldn't we try it?"

Wang Dong told Huo Yuhao in all seriousness,

"And you call yourself someone from a family of Soul Masters! Don't you know that, since ancient times, people with Martial Soul Fusion Skills have either been siblings or spouses? Either a bond of blood or a bond of love—you have to have one kind of bond."

Huo Yuhao immediately rolled his eyes and told Wang Dong,

"What kind of nonsense is that? How old are Xiao Xiao and I? And here you are bringing up all this stuff about siblings and spouses. Your mind really isn't healthy."

Wang Dong immediately planted her hands on her hips and stood on the bed, looking down at Huo Yuhao as she said,