Yan Shaozhe fought for a recruit, Wang Dong'er lent a hand

The three of them returned to the classroom together.

Once they were back, their classmates all asked Huo Yuhao whether his Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring was real.

Huo Yuhao did not tell them the truth. He merely smiled and said it was an illusion he had created.

Only then did everyone breathe a sigh of relief. After all, they were still using ten-year and hundred-year Soul Rings. Having a classmate suddenly reveal a hundred-thousand-year one was quite a blow to them.

Meanwhile, Du Weilun immediately went to report the matter to Yan Shaozhe.

Yan Shaozhe was also astonished when he heard. Fortunately, he had had a hunch earlier and told Du Weilun to keep an eye out. There was still a chance to salvage everything.

He immediately gathered several Inner Court teachers to discuss the matter. No matter what, they had to win Huo Yuhao back.

Since the Soul Beasts had been frightened into collapsing, the assessment could not resume anytime soon. Everyone attended their classes as originally scheduled.

After classes ended the next day, Wang Yan asked Huo Yuhao to stay behind.

"I'm coming too." Wang Dong'er stood beside Huo Yuhao.

"I need to speak to Huo Yuhao about something important. Wang Dong, you should head back on your own first."

"No." Wang Dong'er slipped her arm around Huo Yuhao's without hesitation.

"Wherever he goes, I go."

Wang Dong'er guessed that the academy must have something in mind for Huo Yuhao. She wanted to stay beside him and back him up.

Seeing that Wang Dong'er refused to leave, Yan Shaozhe sighed.

"All right, then. You can come along too."

The two followed Wang Yan to an office, where Yan Shaozhe was already waiting.

He glanced at Wang Dong'er but paid her no further attention.

Yan Shaozhe addressed Huo Yuhao. "Student Huo Yuhao, on behalf of the Martial Soul Department, I offer you an apology."

As he spoke, Yan Shaozhe actually bowed directly to Huo Yuhao.

Standing off to the side, Wang Dong'er was rather surprised by the sight.

Dean Yan really knew when to bend and when to stand tall.

After all, whether in authority or strength, Yan Shaozhe stood at the very pinnacle of the entire Douluo Continent.

Yet he could bow and apologize to a two-ring Soul Master. That was truly admirable.

Huo Yuhao was stunned as well. He knew the academy had probably sought him out to persuade him to stay, but he had never expected Yan Shaozhe to resort to this.

Yan Shaozhe raised his head, still smiling. "Student Huo Yuhao, our mistake caused the Martial Soul Department to miss out on a talent like you. I am truly sorry."

"Your Martial Soul possesses the ultimate ice attribute, doesn't it? Do you know that ultimate Martial Souls are exceedingly rare throughout the Douluo Continent? With your talent, staying in the Soul Tool Department would truly be a waste."

"As long as you are willing to transfer back to the Martial Soul Department, you can immediately become an Inner Court disciple of our department, with me personally serving as your instructor. Rest assured, I will make you a Titled Douluo before you turn forty."

"Pfft!" Wang Dong'er suddenly laughed beside him.

Yan Shaozhe looked at Wang Dong'er with a slight frown. She had spoiled the perfectly good atmosphere.

"What are you laughing at?"

"Sorry, I just think becoming a Titled Douluo at forty is a little unlikely."

Wang Dong'er knew perfectly well that Huo Yuhao would become a Titled Douluo at twenty, and a Limit Douluo before thirty, reaching the continent's highest peak.

Yan Shaozhe's promise to make him a Titled Douluo at forty would simply hold him back. That was what Wang Dong'er found funny.

Yan Shaozhe ignored Wang Dong'er and continued speaking to Huo Yuhao. "Rest assured, I keep my word. As long as you are willing to join the Martial Soul Department, we will channel substantial resources toward you and offer you some compensation as well."

"First, Wang Dong, who can perform a Martial Soul Fusion Skill with you, will also be able to enter the Inner Court in the future."

"Second, I guarantee that we will equip you with a full set of Soul Bones, at least one of which will be a hundred-thousand-year one."

"Third, I guarantee that you will obtain a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring."

Wang Dong'er turned her head away, almost laughing again.

Huo Yuhao hardly cared about Hundred Thousand Year Soul Bones or Hundred Thousand Year Soul Rings.

If anyone learned what Soul Rings and Soul Bones Huo Yuhao would have after becoming a Titled Douluo, they might well be frightened to death on the spot.

Of course, she had to admit that Yan Shaozhe was remarkably bold. He was practically nurturing Huo Yuhao as Shrek's successor.

His truly shrewd move was promising Wang Dong'er a place as an Inner Court disciple. He knew that Huo Yuhao valued his relationships deeply. This offer swayed him even more than the Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring and Soul Bone.

Hearing Yan Shaozhe's words from the side, Wang Yan thought he had truly gone mad.

A hundred-thousand-year Soul Beast was no easy prey. The academy would have to dispatch at least several Titled Douluo to capture one.

Wang Dong'er watched Huo Yuhao, eager to know what he would choose.

Huo Yuhao stood frozen in place, his mind a tangled mess. He had no idea which choice to make.

He turned to Wang Dong'er and gave her a pleading look.

Just as Wang Dong'er was about to speak, the door was kicked open.

Yes, kicked open.

"Yan Shaozhe, you shameless bastard!" Qian Duoduo charged straight in.

Upon learning that Yan Shaozhe intended to poach their recruit, Qian Duoduo had rushed over without a moment's delay.

Huo Yuhao was equally important to the Soul Tool Department. He could not possibly let the Martial Soul Department snatch him away.

Yan Shaozhe smiled at Qian Duoduo. "Dean Qian, what brings you to our Martial Soul Department?"

"Yan Shaozhe, wipe that grin off your face! You clearly agreed to let him become a core disciple of the Soul Tool Department, and now you're trying to steal him back. Have you no shame?"

"That's right, I did agree. But haven't I come to admit my mistake? A dean who recognizes his mistakes and corrects them is still a good dean."

"Besides, I agreed to let Huo Yuhao become a core disciple of the Soul Tool Department. I never said he couldn't become an Inner Court disciple of the Martial Soul Department. A core disciple is hardly comparable to an Inner Court disciple."

"Yuhao, the choice is yours. As long as you are willing to transfer back to the Martial Soul Department, every promise I just made stands."

"Yuhao, don't listen to him. Everyone recognizes your talent with Soul Tools. Our Soul Tool Department has equally high hopes for you."

"I'm sure you know how our Soul Tool Department has treated you during this time. Rest assured, we will channel our resources toward you as well."

Qian Duoduo fought as hard as he could to persuade him. No matter what, he would not let Huo Yuhao be snatched away.

Huo Yuhao was deeply torn. He could not afford to offend either of these two.

The Martial Soul Department's offer was excellent. But when they had rejected him before, it was the Soul Tool Department that had taken him in and even made him a core disciple. He could not forget that kindness.

He could not help taking a step back, then suddenly felt a pair of hands supporting him from behind.

Huo Yuhao turned his head and saw Wang Dong'er.

“Wang Dong, you...”

Wang Dong'er patted his shoulder and said, “It's all right. I'll help you.”

She looked at Yan Shaozhe and Qian Duoduo. “You two old men, fighting back and forth over him—do you really think our Yuhao is merchandise?”

"How about this? Whichever side offers better terms is the side our Yuhao will choose. Of course, the care the Soul Tool Department has already given Yuhao counts as a bargaining chip."

"Let's begin. State your terms again, and we'll compare them."

Qian Duoduo and Yan Shaozhe looked at Wang Dong'er, somewhat speechless.

She had just told them not to treat Huo Yuhao as merchandise, only to put him up for "auction" herself.