Xiao La felt utterly cursed with bad luck. He had done this so many times around the little village without ever slipping up, yet this time, on a mere whim, he had run into such a formidable Shrek student.
I'm probably going to meet my end here today.
No, I've endured people's contempt for so long, and now I've finally gained such tremendous power. With just a little more time, I might well defeat this person before me. He absolutely could not fall today!
"Chain Corpse Explosion!"
Xiao La flung every corpse he currently possessed out of his storage pouch in one go and detonated them directly.
In an instant, poisonous gas mixed with the explosions and spread outward.
Using the explosions and poisonous mist as cover, Xiao La dared not linger for even a moment. He swallowed every pill he had, drove the Soul Power within him to its limit, and fled frantically into the depths of the forest, wanting only to shake off Zhang Lexuan as quickly as possible.
But the disparity in strength was far too great. Zhang Lexuan's Seventh Soul Ring flashed faintly, and the phantom of her Silver Moon True Body immediately appeared behind her.
All the silvery moonlight gathered around her, forming a protective barrier that kept the poisonous mist from coming anywhere near her.
Within moments, Zhang Lexuan appeared behind Xiao La, gathering Soul Power in her hand as she prepared to capture him alive.
And Huo Yuhao was watching all of this.
To be honest, he had already run away, only for the sounds of their movements to draw closer and closer to his position, forcing him to pick up speed as well.
Suddenly, Huo Yuhao's Spirit Eyes noticed the other man's Soul Power and spiritual power surging continuously. Coupled with his bizarre ability to detonate corpses, could it be...
"Big sister, watch out! He might be about to blow himself up!"
His shout pierced the wind blowing through the forest and reached Zhang Lexuan's ears clearly.
Zhang Lexuan's heart tightened. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw the corners of Xiao La's mouth curl into a savage grin, both resolute and vicious.
She swiftly pulled back her arm and retreated.
"Trying to run? Too late! Even if I die today, I'm taking someone with me! Art is an explosion!"
In an instant, all of Xiao La's Soul Power, together with the effects of every pill he had taken earlier, detonated, and a powerful shock wave rapidly spread in all directions.
After a while, the dust dispersed, leaving only a large crater where he had stood. Zhang Lexuan was now standing beside Huo Yuhao, still shaken.
"Thank goodness you warned me. If I'd rashly grabbed him just now, I probably would have been seriously injured."
Even that wouldn't have killed her? Just how strong was this big sister?
"Speaking of which, what is your Martial Soul? You could actually tell directly that he was about to blow himself up."
Zhang Lexuan carefully studied Huo Yuhao before her. In her eyes, his perceptive ability was far from ordinary.
"I actually guessed. He used corpses to attack earlier, and my Martial Soul is 'Spirit Eyes,' so I could notice the fluctuations in his Soul Power. It just felt like that was what he was doing."
Spirit Eyes... a wild Body Martial Soul?
"The way you meditate to cultivate... are you a Shrek student..."
Zhang Lexuan had noticed it while observing him, but the situation had been critical, leaving her no time to ask.
"I secretly learned it from someone. I want to apply to Shrek Academy someday, so..."
Huo Yuhao spoke with an aggrieved expression while looking pitifully at Zhang Lexuan.
"...It's fine. I was only curious. Shrek will always welcome your application, little brother."
Seeing this, Huo Yuhao took the opportunity to change the subject. "Um, big sister, who was that man..."
Huo Yuhao had sensed that the man's Soul Power fluctuations were completely different from Jiang Nannan's and those of the woman before him. They were filled with an evil aura, and he could not help being curious.
"There's no harm in telling you now. He was an Evil Soul Master. As for Evil Soul Masters, they're heretics who cultivate through inhuman means. Before reaching Titled Douluo, they generally grow stronger very quickly, and their Soul Power is also greater than that of ordinary people at the same level."
"That man refining corpses just now was a concrete example. My name is Zhang Lexuan, and I'm a member of the Shrek Inspection Group. Our organization specifically deals with Evil Soul Masters. If you encounter any in the future, avoid them as best you can."
"Yes! Hello, Sister Lexuan. My name is Huo Yuhao!"
Zhang Lexuan nodded slightly. "Huo Yuhao... I'll remember that. You're welcome to study at Shrek in the future. As for helping me deal with that Evil Soul Master, here are the Gold Soul Coins I have on me, along with a Mystic Water Pill. Take them all."
"But..."
Zhang Lexuan simply shoved everything into Huo Yuhao's hands and said, "Consider it an advance reward from your senior sister. Take it. It's getting late, too. Let me take you back."
"All right."
"Oh, right, little Yuhao, do you know that joining Shrek requires a letter of recommendation from someone of at least a city lord's standing?"
"Huh?"
So I need a letter of recommendation? Then who recommended Sister Nan Nan?
Watching Huo Yuhao freeze up, Zhang Lexuan's lips curved slightly as she took out an envelope. "This is my letter of recommendation. If you don't have one, use this."
Sister Lexuan, I'm so touched...
As the city gates came into view, Zhang Lexuan stopped as well.
"Then let's part here, little Yuhao."
"Okay. Goodbye, Sister Lexuan!"
Huo Yuhao stopped and watched Zhang Lexuan gradually disappear into the distance, a few more dreams about Shrek taking shape in his heart.
How exciting would Shrek, the best on the entire continent, be?
"Take this with you for now. This looks like it might come in handy, too..."
At the Medical Clinic, Jiang Nannan was packing Huo Yuhao's things.
Looking at the several storage pouches that had been stuffed to bursting, Huo Yuhao could not help wondering whether he was actually going sightseeing rather than heading out to gain experience.
"Sister Nan Nan, isn't this too much? I don't normally have any use for these things."
With her eyes lowered, Jiang Nannan straightened Huo Yuhao's slightly wrinkled lapels.
"It's all right. Better to mend the roof before the rain comes."
Jiang Nannan actually knew that Huo Yuhao did not need so many things, but she simply could not stop worrying, afraid that he would not live well.
Besides, she always had a vague feeling. Little Yuhao was so innocent and adorable-would someone lure him away once he went out this time?
If she had to watch little Yuhao being so intimate with someone else while she could only stand to one side... just thinking about it brought a trace of bitter sourness to her heart.
She could not accept that!
With that thought, Jiang Nannan packed even faster.
"Where will you go first this time, Yuhao?"
"The Star Dou Great Forest. I want to take a look around the outskirts and see if I can find a suitable Soul Ring."
Huo Yuhao kept feeling, in some unfathomable way, that something was guiding him toward the Star Dou Great Forest, and the sooner he went, the better.
In any case, enrollment was still a long way off, so he did not need to worry about missing it.
"I see. Then you must come find me when you enroll. I can still help you in the outer court!"
"All right. Until we meet again, Sister Nan Nan."
"Have a safe journey, Yuhao!"
Huo Yuhao said no more. He turned, shouldered his pack, and set off on his journey with heavy storage pouches hanging from his waist.
Jiang Nannan stood quietly at the entrance to the Medical Clinic, never moving a single step.
The morning breeze gently stirred her golden hair, her eyes fixed on the boy's receding figure.
She simply stood there quietly, watching that familiar figure grow smaller little by little and slowly merge into the distant morning light.
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