Huo Wu's admiration!

Huo Wu sat to one side, occasionally looking over at Chen Jin as he meditated with his eyes closed.

In Huo Wu's perception, although Chen Jin was merely sitting quietly, the air around him was gathering toward him.

It was a kind of absolute control over fire elements, one that even stirred a measure of reverence in the Fire Shadow Martial Soul within Huo Wu.

"Chen Jin, earlier, you said you weren't willing to suppress the evil fire by indulging your desires. Is that true?"

Huo Wu could not help asking.

Chen Jin opened his eyes, his golden-red gaze as calm as water.

"Of course it's true."

"If growing stronger means selling out my dignity and principles, then I'd rather do without that power."

Chen Jin's voice was calm, yet carried an unshakable resolve.

Huo Wu looked at Chen Jin, an unusual gleam flashing through her beautiful eyes.

She had seen far too many people in the Soul Master World who would stop at nothing for power. Someone like Chen Jin, who held fast to his principles, was truly rare.

This also raised Chen Jin further in Huo Wu's estimation.

At dusk on the fifth day, a magnificent crimson city appeared at the far end of their view.

That was Blazing Fire City, and Blazing Fire Academy stood in the heart of the city.

The moment they stepped through the academy gates, a rolling wave of heat greeted them.

Most of the buildings here were constructed from crimson, fire-resistant granite, gleaming like flames in the last rays of the setting sun.

The air brimmed with rich fire elements, and every breath made one's lungs feel hot.

Chen Jin walked along the academy's broad stone-paved road, looking at the Fire Maple Trees planted on either side, their leaves as brilliant as burning flames.

Although the surroundings were hot and dry, they were an excellent place to nourish his current body.

Compared with Shrek Academy's crude, dilapidated village, this place was undoubtedly better suited to cultivation.

"This is Blazing Fire Academy."

Walking ahead, Huo Wu pointed to a towering building not far away.

"That's our academy's library. It holds records of cultivation methods for countless fire-attribute soul skills."

"And the academy's Mimicry Training Ground-Lie Yan Valley-is a cultivation haven built on the edge of an active volcano."

"One day of cultivation there is worth three days outside."

Chen Jin nodded. The Nine Heavens Divine Phoenix Martial Soul resonated within him, absorbing the free-floating fire elements in the air.

Although Blazing Fire Academy wasn't among the very best in the original story, ultimate fire is like a fish in water here. It's definitely my best choice right now.

Huo Wu led Chen Jin deeper into the academy.

Along the way, quite a few students in red uniforms stopped in their tracks.

"Hello, Senior Huo Wu!"

"Huo Wu, you're back from hunting for your soul ring?"

Huo Wu smiled and nodded in acknowledgment, but her steps did not slow.

Just then, several female students walking together noticed Chen Jin following behind Huo Wu.

Chen Jin stood tall and straight, dressed entirely in white. Ever since his martial soul had transformed into the Nine-Heaven Divine Phoenix, his bearing had undergone an earth-shaking change.

His handsome face held a detached calm untouched by the mundane world, making him seem particularly otherworldly among students whose skin was flushed from years of cultivating fire-attribute soul power.

"Huo Wu, who's this?"

A female student with twin ponytails came over, looking at Chen Jin with sparkling eyes.

"He's so handsome. Is he a new student our academy recruited?"

Hearing the question, Huo Wu stopped, pride appearing on her face.

"This is an exceptional genius I brought back for the academy."

"Chen Jin. He just broke through to level thirty."

The surrounding students did not show much surprise at this.

After all, at Blazing Fire Academy, a level-thirty Soul Elder could be considered outstanding, but hardly exceptional.

Yet Huo Wu's next words instantly silenced the entire area.

"Not long ago, in Star Dou Great Forest, Chen Jin personally slew a six-thousand-year-old Blazing Fire Azure Sparrow."

"What?"

"A six-thousand-year-old soul beast?"

"How is that possible!"

"How could a Soul Elder who only just reached level thirty possibly kill a six-thousand-year-old soul beast?"

The students around them crowded over, pointing and commenting, their eyes filled with doubt.

After all, this already defied the accepted rules of the Soul Master World.

The limit for an ordinary Soul Elder's third soul ring was only around seventeen hundred years.

A six-thousand-year-old soul beast was an existence that even many Soul Ancestors above level forty could not face alone.

"Huo Wu, you're joking, aren't you?"

"Even bragging should have its limits."

Faced with their doubts, Huo Wu's slender brows rose slightly, and she was about to retort.

Just then, a tall, powerfully built figure approached along the academy's main road.

The newcomer had extremely broad shoulders, healthy bronze skin, and short, fiery-red hair that stood upright like steel needles.

"Huo Wu, you're back."

When Huo Wu saw who it was, some of the anger faded from her face.

"Brother."

This was Huo Wu's older brother, Huo Wushuang, captain of Blazing Fire Academy's team.

Huo Wushuang walked up to Huo Wu. His gaze lingered on Chen Jin for a moment, then shifted away.

"Did you successfully absorb your fourth soul ring?"

Huo Wushuang asked.

At the mention of this, pride once again spread across Huo Wu's face.

"Of course I did."

Huo Wu took a step back and instantly activated the soul power within her.

Two yellow and two purple soul rings slowly rose from beneath her feet, pulsing around her body.

The last, deep-purple soul ring in particular radiated powerful fluctuations of energy.

"It's over three thousand years old."

"Brother, the power of my fourth soul skill has more than doubled."

Huo Wu displayed her results.

At the sight, the surrounding students immediately burst into praise.

"That's Senior Huo Wu for you!"

"Her fourth soul ring is actually over three thousand years old. That's definitely among the very best for her age."

"So strong! Our Blazing Fire Academy will definitely do well in the tournament this time."

Hearing the praise around them, Huo Wushuang also smiled in satisfaction and patted Huo Wu's shoulder approvingly.

"Well done. You're truly worthy of being my sister."

Then Huo Wushuang's gaze returned to Chen Jin.

His brows furrowed, and scrutiny and rejection flashed through his eyes.

"And who is this?"

Huo Wushuang asked.

"Our Blazing Fire Academy is an important site of the Heaven Dou Empire. Unauthorized outsiders are not permitted to enter."

Huo Wushuang's words held a measure of courtesy, but far more of a coldness that kept others a thousand miles away.

Hearing this, Huo Wu pursed her lips unhappily.

"Brother, what's with that attitude?"

"I already said Chen Jin is a genius I specially invited to join the academy."

"He's already level thirty-four now. And when he obtained his third soul ring just now, he killed a six-thousand-year-old Blazing Fire Azure Sparrow."

After hearing Huo Wu's words, Huo Wushuang laughed aloud instead.

"A six-thousand-year-old Blazing Fire Azure Sparrow?"

"Huo Wu, it's one thing for you to be willful usually, but how can you now believe such an absurd lie?"

"Killing a six-thousand-year-old soul beast at level thirty-something? Do you think he's a reincarnated Titled Douluo?"

Huo Wushuang turned to Chen Jin.

"Kid, I don't care what methods you used to fool my sister."

"But in front of me, Huo Wushuang, put away those deceitful tricks of yours."

"Blazing Fire Academy doesn't welcome frauds."