The Academy

Although Brother Sky Dream turning into a Cocoon had happened very suddenly, life went on as usual. Huo Yuhao had originally wanted to wait at the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well for Brother Sky Dream to come out, but Elder Yi told him that Brother Sky Dream wouldn't be coming out anytime soon. Besides, everyone else was there to help keep watch, so Huo Yuhao didn't need to do it around the clock.

So the next day, after giving Octagonal the Ten-Thousand-Year Profound Ice Marrow, Huo Yuhao returned to Heaven Dou City and headed for Heaven Dou Royal Academy. Before leaving, he handed Snow Empress the Black Card Dugu Bo had given him, telling everyone to buy whatever they needed.

Ice Empress and Li Ya were the happiest about it. One wanted to go shopping for clothes again, while the other wanted to listen to an opera. Even Raven and A Ling joined in the excitement. Seeing this, Snow Empress could only lament that the money on the card would soon be gone.

After hearing Snow Empress, Huo Yuhao smiled and said, "It's fine. Once it's spent, I'll find a way to earn more. I'm heading out now. I'll be back tonight." With that, Huo Yuhao left the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.

When Huo Yuhao arrived in Heaven Dou City, he headed for Heaven Dou Royal Academy. At the academy gates, he saw Dugu Yan waiting for her.

"Little Yuhao, you're finally here. I've been waiting here for ages," Dugu Yan complained with a smile.

"Sorry to keep you waiting, Sister Yanzi."

"It's fine. Come on in."

Huo Yuhao showed the gate guards his proof of identity, then followed Dugu Yan into the academy.

"Sister Yanzi, how do I get to the library?"

"Forget about the library for now. There's no rush. I'll show you around first, then introduce you to a few friends." With that, Dugu Yan pulled Huo Yuhao farther inside.

Although it couldn't compare in size to Shrek Academy a thousand years in the future, it was already quite impressive for this era. Heaven Dou Royal Academy covered a large area. Not only was its environment beautiful and its teaching equipment complete, but it also had Simulated Environments where students could train.

Of course, Huo Yuhao also visited Dugu Yan's dormitory at the academy. It was the place that left him feeling the most defeated. The dorm room was shared by two people, yet the whole space was spacious and comfortable, and filled with the warmth of daily life. Perhaps his attitude had changed after being reborn, but looking at the dormitory before him made Huo Yuhao think of the place he'd stayed when he first entered Shrek. By comparison, Shrek's dormitories a thousand years later really weren't much.

While Huo Yuhao was still listening to Dugu Yan talk about the place in her dormitory, the door opened and a girl of the same age as Dugu Yan, with a black veil over her face, came in.

"Yan, who's this?" The girl looked at what was happening in the dorm room, pointed at Huo Yuhao, and asked Dugu Yan.

"You're here, Lingling. Perfect timing. Let me introduce you. This is Ye Lingling, the support Soul Master on our team and my roommate. This is my friend, Huo Yuhao. He came to the academy to borrow books from the library." Dugu Yan introduced them.

"Hello, Sister Ye. You can just call me Yuhao." This time, Huo Yuhao had learned his lesson and avoided getting his cheeks pinched by Dugu Yan again like before.

"Hello, I'm Ye Lingling. Just call me Lingling."

Huo Yuhao was taken aback. Dugu Yan, standing beside him, said, "Come on, Lingling, Yuhao's younger than you. Why are you telling him to call you Lingling? He should call you Sister Lingling."

"Ah, I'm sorry. I was too nervous," Ye Lingling quickly apologized.

Huo Yuhao hurriedly said, "You don't have to be like that, Sister Lingling." Seeing the two of them like this, Dugu Yan could only sigh helplessly.

Afterward, once the three of them had gotten familiar with each other, they walked around the academy.

"Yuhao, your eyes are so beautiful," Ye Lingling said.

"I thought the same thing the first time I saw him. Let me tell you, Yuhao's Martial Soul is his eyes. How could they not be beautiful?" Dugu Yan explained from the side.

"Really? There's a Martial Soul that's eyes?" Ye Lingling asked curiously.

"That's right, Sister Lingling. My Martial Soul is my eyes, also called Spirit Eyes." As he spoke, Huo Yuhao's Spirit Eyes glowed.

"How amazing. My Martial Soul is the Nine Heart Begonia." As she spoke, Ye Lingling displayed her Martial Soul as well.

The three of them were chatting and laughing as they walked around the academy when they heard a voice behind them say, "Yan, there you are. I've been looking for you forever."

The three turned at the sound and saw a black-haired young man running toward them.

"Yu Tianheng, what do you need me for?" Dugu Yan asked.

Yu Tianheng smiled and said, "I had some free time today, so I thought I'd come find you for a chat."

"Sorry, my friend's here today, and I need to keep her company. Another time."

"Your friend?" Only then did Yu Tianheng notice the white-haired girl beside Dugu Yan. "Your friend?"

Dugu Yan nodded, and Huo Yuhao introduced himself too. "My name is Huo Yuhao. Just call me Yuhao."

"I'm Yu Tianheng, the captain of the Heaven Dou Royal Academy Team," Yu Tianheng said with some pride.

As soon as Yu Tianheng finished speaking, Dugu Yan gave him a huge eye roll. Seeing this, Yu Tianheng hurriedly explained, "I was careless that time. I didn't dodge."

"Sure, sure. You didn't dodge," Dugu Yan said helplessly.

Yu Tianheng was about to say something else when Ye Lingling reminded Dugu Yan, "Yan, it's getting late. You should take Yuhao there."

"That's true. We should go. We'll talk another day." Dugu Yan said to Yu Tianheng, then left with the other two. Yu Tianheng still wanted to say something, but it was too late. The three of them had already gone far away.

As they walked, Dugu Yan complained to Huo Yuhao, "Little Yuhao, you have no idea. That guy used to act so smug on the team, always wearing a straight face and thinking he was cool, when really he was such a blockhead."

As soon as Dugu Yan finished speaking, Ye Lingling contradicted her. "Who says? Before, weren't you totally taken in by Yu Tianheng's act?"

"That was because I'd never beaten him before. During that training match a couple days ago, I never expected Yu Tianheng to be so weak. He was out in a single round. Now that I think back to the way he used to keep a straight face, I can't believe I used to think Yu Tianheng was cool. I get goosebumps just thinking about how embarrassing it was." As she spoke, Dugu Yan involuntarily hunched her shoulders.

Ye Lingling teased her, "And now Yu Tianheng comes looking for you all the time. Seems your strength has grown, and your standards have risen too, Yan."

"Give it a rest, Ye. Don't say any more. It's all because I was too young back then. Now it's become an embarrassing memory I can never erase." After speaking, Dugu Yan turned to Huo Yuhao and said, "Little Yuhao, don't act so impulsively like your big sister here. Otherwise, when you grow up, you'll realize just how embarrassing you were back then."

After hearing that, Huo Yuhao could only nod. Ye Lingling beside them said, "Stop teaching the kid bad habits."

Dugu Yan gave a mischievous smile. "How come you know Yuhao's a kid now? Who was it that got so nervous when they first met in the dormitory that they even got the way they addressed him wrong?"

Hearing that, Ye Lingling put an arm around Huo Yuhao's shoulders and whispered, "Yuhao, let your big sister tell you about the lovesick things Dugu Yan used to do around Yu Tianheng..."

Before Ye Lingling could finish, Dugu Yan covered her mouth. "Let's hurry to the library. The weather's hot and dry, so talk less."

The three of them chatted and laughed all the way to the library.

Looking at the library before him, Huo Yuhao could only say that it was quiet and simple, but not impressive. To put it plainly, nobody came here. Someone had swept the path outside, but even the library door handle was covered in dust.

"Does nobody come here?" Huo Yuhao asked, looking at the scene before him.

"Everyone at the academy is either busy training their combat skills or meditating in the Simulated Environment to raise their level. Even teachers like Qin Ming don't have time to read books."

After Dugu Yan explained, Ye Lingling added, "Some of the noble kids come here just to pass the time. They either date or go out to have fun." As she spoke, she glanced at Dugu Yan.

"Hey! I do train properly. I just went out to relax, and it's not as if I kept pestering Yu Tianheng." Dugu Yan immediately objected.

Huo Yuhao said to the two of them, "Thank you, Sisters. I'll go in now."

"Go ahead. We still have to go back and train," Ye Lingling said, then led Dugu Yan away.

"Little Yuhao, come hang out with us again next time," Dugu Yan called as Ye Lingling led her away.

After the two had gone some distance, Huo Yuhao walked into the library.