Aftermath

The Soul Fighting Zone was utterly silent. Hundreds of people simply watched Huo Yuhao beat Xu Sanshi on the arena floor.

Only after about two minutes did the referee rush onto the stage and stop Huo Yuhao.

"Xu Sanshi concedes. Huo Yuhao wins this match!"

"The first-year won? Seriously? Holy crap, he really won."

"Fuck, my entire fortune, all gone! No!"

"Ahahahaha, brother, you were right! From now on, we'll be as far apart as clouds and mud! Hahaha-"

Whatever their reasons, the crowd erupted at once. This news would stay hot in the Shrek Weekly for at least a month!

In the lounge, Wang Dong looked excited as she slapped Huo Yuhao on the back. "Huo Yuhao, beautifully done! My judgment of you was right after all!"

Huo Yuhao glanced at Wang Dong, momentarily speechless.

Weren't you the one who didn't think I'd win?

"As expected of the Tang Sect's prospective head chef, personally chosen by this sect master. Even Xu Sanshi couldn't beat you."

Tang Ya's voice came from a distance. Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong looked toward it and found that the visitors were Tang Ya and Jiang Nannan.

As though she had suddenly remembered something, Wang Dong looked straight at the approaching Tang Ya. "The Tang Sect's prospective head chef? Tang Sect? Are you from the Tang Sect?"

Taken aback by Wang Dong's enthusiasm, Tang Ya nevertheless explained, "Yes, I'm the Tang Sect's current sect master, Tang Ya. Huo Yuhao is the Tang Sect's head chef, personally chosen by me, though he hasn't chosen to join yet."

"He hasn't joined..."

Hearing that Huo Yuhao had not chosen to join, Wang Dong immediately abandoned the idea of joining the Tang Sect herself.

Tang Ya did not understand Wang Dong's change either. "What's wrong, junior?"

"Nothing. I've just heard the elders in my family mention the Tang Sect, so I was a little curious."

"Little Yuhao, I-"

Jiang Nannan's eyes reddened as she stepped forward and hugged Huo Yuhao tightly.

"Sister Nan Nan..."

With Jiang Nannan holding him in her arms right in front of the other two, Huo Yuhao's face grew a little hot.

"Huh?"

Watching Jiang Nannan's actions, Wang Dong felt an awkwardness in her heart for some reason.

She blinked, and much of her excitement over Huo Yuhao's victory dissipated.

Only after holding him for a while did Jiang Nannan suddenly realize that other people were around. She hurriedly let go, a faint blush rising on her cheeks. "Um, I was just... too worried."

Most of the spectators had left. With news this explosive, it would be such a shame not to spread it for others to hear.

Wang Yan was still sitting in the stands, looking thoughtful.

The golden light flashing in that student's eyes just now, and Xu Sanshi's actions at the time... there was a very good chance that was a spiritual attack!

So Huo Yuhao's martial soul should be a Body Martial Soul related to his eyes. Besides, people from the Body Sect were hardly likely to come to Shrek.

Wonderful! Shrek really had picked up a tremendous bargain!

No, he had to go and question that Huo Yuhao.

Just as Wang Yan was about to head for the lounge, a familiar voice stopped him.

"Teacher Wang, where are you going?"

Wang Yan immediately sensed something wrong. Whipping around, he found Xian Lin'er looking at him with a "kindly" expression.

"D-Dean Xian, you're here to-"

"That Huo Yuhao has already joined our Soul Tool Department, so you understand."

Wang Yan froze slightly. "Joined? Aren't first-years forbidden from entering the Soul Tool Department early?"

Xian Lin'er frowned slightly, her tone unyielding. "What? Only the Martial Soul Department is allowed special admissions, while our Soul Tool Department isn't allowed to recruit anyone?"

Faced with Xian Lin'er's forcefulness, Wang Yan did not know whether to laugh or cry. He had finally found a Body Martial Soul, only for someone else to snatch him up first.

"Then may I report Huo Yuhao's martial soul to the academy? After all, his defeating a senior student is bound to draw a lot of attention."

Xian Lin'er did not mind. After all, she had already pressed a core disciple badge into Huo Yuhao's hands. "Suit yourself."

She wanted to see just what Yan Shaozhe could offer.

At Xian Lin'er's words, Wang Yan finally breathed a sigh of relief. As long as she did not forbid him from reporting it, that was fine. He had to find Xuan Zi immediately!

Wang Yan nodded to Xian Lin'er, then hurried away.

"Huo Yuhao."

Bei Bei, who had just seen Xu Sanshi off, returned and called out to Huo Yuhao as he was leaving with Wang Dong, pulling out a porcelain bottle.

"Brother Bei, what's this?"

"A Mystic Water Pill. I won it in a wager with Xu Sanshi, and I was planning to give it to you."

"A Mystic Water Pill?!"

Wang Dong looked at Bei Bei in disbelief. She had never expected those two to play for such high stakes!

"No, Brother Bei. You should keep it for yourself."

Bei Bei ignored Huo Yuhao's refusal and simply forced it into his hands. "Take it. I've used a Mystic Water Pill before. This one's for you. Just consider it a sign that I have high hopes for you. Don't disappoint me."

"Uh... thank you."

With that, Bei Bei turned and left.

To be honest, he had previously had a dream in which he had suddenly dropped a little below Huo Yuhao in generational seniority. It was quite bizarre.

At that thought, Bei Bei shook his head again in disbelief.

Wang Dong looked at Huo Yuhao with a sigh. "You're way too lucky. You even got a Mystic Water Pill."

"Are Mystic Water Pills very rare?"

Huo Yuhao recalled that Sister Lexuan had given him one when they first met.

He had never read any books about pills.

Up to this point, apart from novels, Huo Yuhao had only read about Soul Master cultivation theory, especially the works written by that Grandmaster from ten thousand years ago.

"Of course. One Mystic Water Pill is worth ten thousand gold. Just what you'd expect from rich people."

"Then you can have it."

Wang Dong froze at his words. "For me? Why aren't you using it?"

"I've used one before. You should use it instead."

Wang Dong looked deeply at Huo Yuhao, a trace of complexity flashing in her eyes. "Huo Yuhao, you..."

"All right, why are you getting so mushy? Aren't we roommates?"

"..."

By the shore of Lakeheart Island, Sea God Lake.

After saying goodbye to Xian Lin'er, Wang Yan had rushed here without a moment's pause.

He now stood respectfully before a somewhat slovenly old man.

The old man's hair was disheveled, and his white robe had long since turned grayish brown. His bare feet soaked in the cool waters of Sea God Lake, and he held an enormous purplish-red gourd in his right hand.

The gourd contained wine. Every so often, he raised it for a sip, pairing it with the chicken drumstick in his other hand as he ate with immense enjoyment.

This man was none other than Xuan Zi, who had previously led the charge into the Star Dou Great Forest. After returning, Xuan Zi had voluntarily asked to step down, then remained around Lakeheart Island ever since.

Yan Shaozhe had visited several times before, but Xuan Zi still had not agreed to resume his duties.

"Xuan Zi, that's what happened."

Xuan Zi's eyes were unfocused and held a hint of bewilderment. He seemed not to have been listening to Wang Yan, but he still muttered, "This sort of Body Martial Soul is rather interesting, but you're still wrong."