Xuan Zi Apologizes

Still, Dai Huabin was a rank thirty-four Soul Elder, after all, and his Evil-Eyed White Tiger martial soul was quite powerful.

A moment later, the ice crystals shattered, and he broke free, panting heavily. He was soaked through and pale, clearly having expended a great deal of energy.

But he still had the strength to fight. Gritting his teeth, he wanted to keep going. He could not admit defeat just like this. He was Dai Huabin! How could he lose to a Soul Master whose rank was only in the teens?

Yet Huo Yuhao suddenly seemed to spot something, and her eyes lit up. She spun around and dashed in a certain direction.

Her speed was astonishing. Before Dai Huabin could react, he saw that Huo Yuhao had already rushed up to a boy.

Ice Empress's Pincers!

She swept her hand, and a streak of icy-blue light formed a huge scorpion pincer, sending Dai Huabin flying. He hurtled backward, slammed heavily into the wall, and slid down in a sorry state.

Meanwhile, Huo Yuhao had already thrown herself into the boy's arms. Like an octopus, she clung tightly to Wang Dong, burying her face in his chest, her voice catching slightly. "Wang Dong... I missed you so much..."

Looking at Huo Yuhao in his arms, Wang Dong did not know whether to laugh or cry. He reached out to stroke her head and said softly:

"There, there. I'm back now, aren't I? Look at you, still being so clingy."

Huo Yuhao raised her head, her eyes red-rimmed but smiling. "I don't care. I just missed you."

Dai Huabin climbed to his feet and watched the scene, his gaze dark as deep water. He was a bedraggled mess, his clothes soaked, his hair disheveled, and a trace of blood still clinging to the corner of his mouth.

He stared fixedly at Wang Dong and Huo Yuhao, clenching his fists until his knuckles cracked. Yet the moment Wang Dong turned to look at him, his courage deserted him.

Wang Dong merely gave him an indifferent glance, and he felt a chill rise along his spine, instinctively retreating a step.

Wang Dong said nothing more. He simply withdrew his gaze and left with Huo Yuhao.

Dai Huabin stood where he was, watching their retreating figures, his expression so dark it could have dripped water. He gritted his teeth, and fierce hatred welled up within him.

With Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong in this academy, there was no place for him, Dai Huabin. He had to become stronger. He had to surpass them, or he would never be anything but a joke.

He turned and slunk away. But a thought had already taken firm root in his heart: he would find a way to make those two pay.

News of Huo Yuhao's Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring soon spread throughout the academy.

Although she had later withdrawn her martial soul, that blood-red glow had already branded itself deeply into the minds of everyone who had witnessed it.

Word spread rapidly, even alerting Mu En on Sea God Island. Mu En sent someone with a message asking Wang Dong and Huo Yuhao to come to Sea God Island.

Wang Dong and Huo Yuhao exchanged a glance, then set off toward Sea God Island without saying anything more.

Along the way, Huo Yuhao was a little nervous. She stole a glance at Wang Dong and asked quietly, "Wang Dong, will Elder Mu discover anything?"

Wang Dong smiled and patted her shoulder. "Don't worry. I'm here. Just do as I told you."

Huo Yuhao nodded, feeling a little more at ease. The two soon arrived on Sea God Island.

On the island, Mu En was sitting in a wicker chair, with Xuan Zi, Yan Shaozhe, and several other senior academy officials standing beside him.

Seeing Wang Dong and Huo Yuhao arrive, Mu En opened his eyes slightly, his gaze settling on Huo Yuhao with a hint of scrutiny.

"I hear you possess a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring?" Mu En asked slowly, his voice calm yet carrying an invisible pressure.

Huo Yuhao took a deep breath and, following the account Wang Dong had taught her beforehand, released her martial soul. Her Ice Jade Emperor Scorpion martial soul manifested, and the phantom of a giant scorpion, icy blue from head to tail, appeared behind her.

This time, however, the soul ring she displayed was a Thousand-Year Soul Ring, emitting a faint purple glow.

"Elder Mu, that Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring was fake." Huo Yuhao lowered her head, a hint of apprehension in her voice. "I used the Simulation Soul Skill to create an illusion."

Everyone froze for a moment at her words. Fake? It was actually fake? A trace of disappointment rose within them, but it was soon replaced by a different kind of shock.

The Ice Jade Emperor Scorpion martial soul! This was the martial soul of one of the Three Great Heavenly Kings of the Far North! And Huo Yuhao actually had twin martial souls!

She had previously displayed her Spiritual Eyes martial soul, and now she was displaying an Ice Jade Emperor Scorpion martial soul. That meant she possessed two martial souls!

Yan Shaozhe trembled all over with excitement. He stepped forward and carefully examined the Ice Jade Emperor Scorpion phantom behind Huo Yuhao, even his voice shaking:

"Ultimate Ice... This is Ultimate Ice! You actually possess the Ice Jade Emperor Scorpion martial soul! It has the Ultimate Ice attribute! Once you reach the Titled Douluo level, you'll be invincible under heaven!"

Xuan Zi's face was also filled with shock. He looked at Huo Yuhao as though she were a rare treasure. After a moment of silence, he suddenly spoke:

"Huo Yuhao, I had eyes but failed to see before, and I treated you poorly. I apologize."

Huo Yuhao's expression remained indifferent. She knew perfectly well that he was apologizing because he valued the talent she now possessed.

If she were still that girl of mediocre talent, Xuan Zi probably would not even spare her a proper glance.

She looked at Wang Dong with shining eyes, warmth welling up within her. Only Wang Dong was different. Even when her talent had been poor, he had treated her so well.