Huo Yuhao slowly opened his eyes. Silvery-white light swirled deep within his pupils, as though they held countless stars.
"It worked..."
He murmured to himself, carefully sensing every change in his body under the effects of his second awakening.
With a thought from Huo Yuhao, silvery-white light silently flowed over his entire body like water.
The first and most obvious change was the increase in his combat strength.
Huo Yuhao clenched his fists, clearly sensing the mighty power roaring and surging within him.
Next, the world before his eyes seemed to have been reconstructed.
Even when he switched to his Azure Sky Profound Ice Dragon martial soul, he could still see faintly flickering energy fluctuations in the air, as though his Spiritual Detection soul skill were active.
"This isn't quite the same as Senior Brother Gu's second awakening."
Gu Tong had named his own eyes Heavenly Eye, and all three of his soul rings granted Power Attack System skills.
Thus, when he underwent his second awakening, his eyes seemed to become two incomparably brilliant suns, capable of unleashing unparalleled offensive power.
Huo Yuhao's second awakening, on the other hand, had unique properties that leaned more toward mental perception and control, aside from the basic increase in combat strength.
He raised a hand, brushed his fingertips lightly through the air, then lifted two fingers together.
The objects in the Dean's Lounge-books, teacups, and even heavy wooden chairs-actually rose unsteadily into the air with his movements.
Huo Yuhao concentrated, and the silver light in his eyes blazed.
Immediately afterward, the floating objects whirled wildly like a tornado, scattering and shifting at Huo Yuhao's will.
"Thought control?"
He exclaimed in bewilderment, "Isn't this an ability from the Talisman Master system? I can already master it?"
The next instant, Huo Yuhao abruptly closed his fingers.
Bang!
The objects all shattered!
Watching the fragments litter the floor, Huo Yuhao felt a mixture of astonishment and delight well up inside him.
"And there's this!"
He drew a deep breath and took the stance of the Eight Desolations Palm, his soul power boiling within him.
Forming a palm seal, Huo Yuhao stepped back, then advanced again, gathering soul power in his palm and sending it surging out!
Rumble-
Huo Yuhao thrust out his palm. Though the movement was slow and steady, its momentum was vast as a rushing tide, compressing the air until it gave a deep, explosive boom.
He gently pressed his palm against the thick wall.
The entire lounge instantly began shaking violently. Force surged like raging waves, sending layers of ripples across the wall.
Delight first appeared on Huo Yuhao's face, then his expression abruptly changed. "Wait!"
"I'm in the Dean's Lounge!"
But it was already too late.
Spiderweb cracks split across the wall, and then the entire Dean's Lounge collapsed with a crash!
Dust filled the air, and Du Busi, his face wreathed in smiles, and Xue Xin, wearing a stunned expression, appeared before Huo Yuhao.
Huo Yuhao sheepishly withdrew his palm, his tone slightly awkward. "Sorry, Dean. I forgot I wasn't at the Body Sect."
Du Busi waved a hand, utterly unconcerned.
"What does it matter if a mere lounge collapses?"
His tone was bold and expansive. "When I grasped my second awakening back then, I turned an entire great hall upside down!"
Having said that, Du Busi gestured with his chin toward the infirmary.
"Since we have Ma Xiaotao, that top student from the Architecture Department, we can just have Shrek rebuild another one along with the Dean's Tower!"
A brilliant smile instantly blossomed on Huo Yuhao's face.
Standing to one side, Xue Xin heard Du Busi make the decision for him, and the corners of his mouth twitched uncontrollably.
He looked at the rubble-strewn Dean's Lounge behind Huo Yuhao, then turned to look at the ruins of the Dean's Tower nearby.
In the end, Xue Xin gave a long sigh of resignation. "Put it on Shrek's tab."
Just then, Su Tong hurried over after hearing the tremendous commotion.
"Yuhao? Dean?"
When she saw that the place had become a stretch of ruins, a trace of confusion flashed through her ice-blue eyes. "What happened here?"
Du Busi turned around at the sound of her voice.
Once he got a clear look at Su Tong, he immediately raised his eyebrows and let out an "Oh!"
He carefully looked Su Tong up and down.
Recalling what Xue Xin had told him, Du Busi began marveling inwardly.
Heavenly Snow Woman, a Martial Soul Fusion Skill, and most importantly, she's a little older and knows how to care for someone.
Not bad, not bad. This boy Yuhao really does have a good eye.
As expected of Spirit Eyes with the Spiritual Detection soul skill.
After learning what had happened, Su Tong's expression cleared in understanding.
Meanwhile, through Huo Yuhao's introduction, she also learned that the balding old man standing beside them was Du Busi, the sect master of the Body Sect.
She bowed to Du Busi. "Su Tong pays her respects to Your Body Majesty."
Du Busi waved a hand casually. "I don't go in for that empty ceremony."
Then, rubbing his chin with his fingers, he addressed Su Tong with interest.
"I just heard from Xue Xin that you've not only joined Di'ao Academy, but also the Azure Dragon Guard under Yuhao?"
Su Tong nodded in confirmation.
Du Busi continued, "Then what position did Yuhao give you?"
Su Tong replied, "I haven't earned any merit, so I wouldn't presume to ask for a position."
Hearing this, Du Busi immediately shot Huo Yuhao a deeply dissatisfied glare.
You little brat, how can you be so clueless!
I shouldn't have let Ao Tian leave so early to be an exchange student!
I should have had your senior brother teach you a trick or two before he left!
"You can't go without a position. That would do your talent an injustice."
Du Busi made a show of thinking. "I can't make decisions concerning the Heavenly Body Ring, but I do have some say in the Azure Dragon Guard."
"How about this? You possess ultimate ice, and you have more than enough talent and strength."
"On top of that, you and Yuhao can perform a Martial Soul Fusion Skill together. Why not become a deputy captain of the Azure Dragon Guard?"
But the result was beyond Du Busi's expectations.
Su Tong actually rejected his suggestion outright.
Su Tong shook her head gently, her cool voice carrying an unquestionable firmness. "Poison Sect Master, I refuse to become deputy captain of the Azure Dragon Guard."
She looked directly into Du Busi's eyes. "The deputy captain of the Azure Dragon Guard bears great responsibility. I've only just arrived and haven't earned the slightest merit. If I were to take a high position on these grounds alone, I'm afraid I couldn't win everyone's acceptance."
"Couldn't win everyone's acceptance?"
Du Busi pulled Huo Yuhao over. "Captain, tell us. How many people are in your Azure Dragon Guard right now?"
Huo Yuhao calmly held up two fingers. "Two."
His voice was utterly unruffled, as casual as if he were discussing the weather.
After all, Du Busi had been the one to say that he couldn't recruit anyone into the Azure Dragon Guard before becoming a Soul Elder.
In Du Busi's own words, a captain without a ten-thousand-year second soul ring would only embarrass him by going out.
When the Body Sect disciples who had long wanted to leave the mountain heard that they couldn't join the Azure Dragon Guard, they first cried out in grievance, then turned around and joined Long Aotian's Celestial Guard and the guards led by Wang Yanfeng and the other four.
They showed not the slightest lingering attachment to Huo Yuhao.
What a joke. Once Huo Yuhao became Young Sect Master, wouldn't they all be soldiers under his command anyway?
For now, what mattered was seizing the time to get out for some fresh air and fun.
Su Tong froze, a trace of astonishment flashing through her eyes.
She clearly hadn't expected Huo Yuhao's imposing-sounding Azure Dragon Guard to be such a makeshift outfit.
No, it didn't even qualify as a makeshift outfit.
It was nothing but an empty framework.
"Did you hear that? Two people!"
Du Busi clapped Huo Yuhao heavily on the shoulder. "Just the two of you!"
"So, Su Tong, why can't you be deputy captain of this Azure Dragon Guard?"
Huo Yuhao looked up and glanced at Du Busi, the meaning in his eyes plain.
Now you're turning around and mocking me for having so few people?
Not to be outdone, Du Busi immediately glared back at Huo Yuhao.
What, I can't criticize you?!
Huo Yuhao gave a dry cough and stopped meeting Du Busi's gaze.
He explained to Su Tong, "The Heavenly Body Ring has only just had its designation reinstated, and the Azure Dragon Guard is newly established too. Since receiving my appointment, I've been cultivating in the Body Sect the whole time, so I haven't had time to recruit anyone."
At this point, Xue Xin also tried to persuade her. "Let me share some news with you. Recently, the imperial family has been planning to transfer some of the City Defense Army's duties to the Heavenly Body Ring, mainly those involving patrols and public security."
"Su Tong, you've only just joined Di'ao Academy and aren't familiar with everything in Heaven Dou City yet. Why not serve as acting deputy captain for now and handle Yuhao's work for him while he's cultivating?"
"That would help you get to know Heaven Dou City faster, while also keeping the Azure Dragon Guard from becoming a completely empty shell."
Su Tong fell silent for a moment, then finally nodded. "All right. Then I'll serve as acting deputy captain of the Azure Dragon Guard."
Only then did Du Busi reveal a satisfied smile.
Then Huo Yuhao asked, "Teacher, since you're back now, does that mean you've already caught Sea Dragon?"
"You brat, is there anything I can't accomplish when I take action myself?"
"I came to Di'ao Academy today precisely to take you back to absorb your soul ring!"
"You're coming back with me right this instant!"