After Huo Yuhao finished his ten rounds of combat, his terrifying score of 1,435 spread throughout the academy in a single afternoon. The students buzzed with discussion:
"A transfer student joined Class One of the second year. He used a Soul Guidance Ray Gun like his own arm and didn't miss a single shot in ten rounds."
"He only lost fifteen points in a level examination with such strict scoring. What kind of monster is he?"
"If I had half his score, I would've passed."
"He earned more points from one Level 2 Soul Engineer examination than I have in three years."
"He was even chatting and laughing with Miss Meng before the matches started. Sigh, could he have my face instead?"
"He broke the record, everyone! Aren't you missing the point?"
"Xiao Hongchen finally has a rival. He wanted to poke me in the ass before I graduated? Let's see him save his own hide first!"
After the examination, Huo Yuhao took the opportunity to have dinner with his senior brothers, senior sister, and Feng Tingting.
Afterward, he returned to the library alone, sat down, and glanced at the points on his score sheet:
14,350 points from his score, 10,000 for first place in the rankings, and 20,000 for breaking the record, totaling 44,350 points.
There was also a reward for holding the top spot: 10,000 Gold Soul Coins per month.
Taking first place and breaking the record should count as a satisfactory answer sheet for Teacher, right?
As for all those points and Gold Soul Coins, they were purely an unexpected bonus.
Huo Yuhao recalled the emotions he had read from Xiao Hongchen after the examination. His thoughts had been exceedingly complicated, with joy, anticipation, and a touch of wariness all mixed together.
He could not understand how this senior brother's mind worked.
After dinner, his senior brothers and senior sister had all hurried off to attend to their own business. Feng Tingting also had to go back to edit and meet her deadline, leaving her little time to talk with him in detail.
Tomorrow was Saturday. He was bound to run into his senior brothers and senior sister in their teacher's office, so he could ask them if they recommended any pills then.
Aside from pills, the most important thing was identifying his shortcomings through reviewing his performance.
In his peak state, combining Spiritual Detection, Spiritual Sharing, and mind reading, he could find the optimal shot almost every time.
With the absolute initiative granted by using Simulation to turn invisible, he could unleash the power of ranged Soul Tools to a degree others could not hope to match.
But his weakness was far too obvious: his cultivation was too low. Even if he forced himself to use Level 3 ranged Soul Tools, his combat strength would still be limited.
His Spirit Eyes offered too few direct offensive options, and his ability to protect himself was poor as well. He was like a glass cannon.
It all came down to his cultivation and level. Huo Yuhao shook his head, intending to settle down and continue studying.
Before long, however, he discovered a problem:
As his reputation truly took off throughout the academy, the students in this study room who had previously only stolen glances at him, deliberately or otherwise, were no longer satisfied with quiet discussion.
The older and younger female students were simply too enthusiastic!
After all, a top Soul Engineer prodigy in the wild was far too rare.
They kept coming over in groups of two or three to ask questions. For a while, Huo Yuhao could barely keep up, and his study efficiency suffered badly.
The situation improved after he put up a sign reading, "Studying. Do not disturb."
The male students did not come over to ask questions and cozy up to him, but they were interesting too.
Wherever Huo Yuhao's gaze swept, the male students in that area erupted with a great deal of envy and a trace of jealousy.
The Chaos Qi condensed from these emotions made Huo Yuhao feel that his Sea of Consciousness had expanded a little.
The next day, Saturday, at Quiet Heart Studio.
This time, besides Huo Yuhao and Jing Hongchen and his two grandchildren, Feng Yu was also present.
Seeing Huo Yuhao arrive, Jing Hongchen asked Feng Yu, who was reporting on the progress of the sealed project, to wait a moment.
"Yuhao, I watched the recording of yesterday's examination. You performed very well."
Jing Hongchen said approvingly, "You broke the record that person left behind back then. You've really made your teacher proud."
Meng Hongchen asked in puzzlement:
"Grandpa, you haven't even announced that you took him as your disciple. Other people don't know he's your disciple, so how does that make you look good?"
"And why can't you announce that you've taken a disciple? You don't seem like someone who cares about empty fame."
Jing Hongchen smiled without answering. He simply handed Huo Yuhao a Sun Moon Bank savings card containing one million Gold Soul Coins. This was his little reward.
A gift from an elder could not be refused. Huo Yuhao accepted it respectfully.
"Senior Sister Meng, Senior Brother Xiao, are there any good pills you'd recommend?"
Holding the points exchange handbook, Huo Yuhao asked for their advice. Professional matters were best left to professionals.
His senior brother and senior sister were both at level forty-nine at just fifteen years old, with plenty of experience taking pills. They were also current students, so they were bound to be familiar with the pills in the handbook.
"Yuhao, you've asked the right person." Xiao Hongchen put down his book and walked over with a chuckle.
"You absolutely have to get a Spirit-Nurturing Pill. It's exactly forty thousand points per pill, and only the top five on the Level 1 through Level 3 Level-Up Rankings can exchange for one."
Huo Yuhao asked in puzzlement:
"Senior Brother Xiao, what's special about it? Why is it so expensive?"
"The Mystic Water Pills in the handbook only cost ten thousand points each."
The two Mystic Water Pills Feng Bujue had bought Huo Yuhao back then had cost one hundred thousand Gold Soul Coins.
By a rough proportional conversion, a Spirit-Nurturing Pill would have a market price of at least two hundred thousand per pill.
"If this pill appeared at an auction outside the academy, you wouldn't get it without several hundred thousand Gold Soul Coins." Xiao Hongchen explained eagerly:
"The Spirit-Nurturing Pill is a pill that strengthens your foundation and nourishes your vitality. Its effects need time to work."
"For Soul Masters below Soul Ancestor, it nurtures their spirit and tempers their body. Specifically, a Soul Master below level thirty can gain one or two levels of Soul Power after taking it."
"The remaining medicinal power is slowly released before they reach level forty Soul Power, speeding up cultivation and nourishing their physique."
"A lot of capable new students start frantically preparing for the level examinations as soon as they enroll, all to save enough points to exchange for one."
"But the Level 1 Soul Engineer examination gives so few points that people generally can't exchange for one until after they've taken the Level 3 Soul Engineer examination."
"So, little junior brother, you really are a heaven-sent genius!"
Huo Yuhao glanced at the eager-faced Xiao Hongchen. Senior Brother Xiao, you weren't like this before.
"Senior Brother Xiao, is there something you need my help with?"
"I really can't hide anything from you, junior brother." Xiao Hongchen said excitedly, "Little junior brother, Ma Rulong has rubbed me the wrong way for ages."
"He said before that as long as he was at the academy, I, Xiao Hongchen, would never have my day in the sun."
"Little junior brother, Ma Rulong has bullied and oppressed me this much. Can you stand it?"
Meng Hongchen covered her face, unable to bear the sight. Brother, that look on your face is really too much!
If Ma Rulong really dared to say that, wouldn't his grandfather skin him alive?
"No." Huo Yuhao shook his head. "So?"
Xiao Hongchen said:
"I challenged Ma Rulong to a few one-on-one fights before and lost narrowly. I'm inviting you to join me in a few days so we can take him on together!"
Lost narrowly? I doubt that. Huo Yuhao studied Xiao Hongchen's expression carefully and said with slight hesitation:
"Senior Brother Xiao, isn't two against one a little lacking in martial virtue?"
"He's a Level 6 Soul Engineer!" Xiao Hongchen huffed. "Help me this time, and I'll owe you a favor. How about it?"
This time, Huo Yuhao did not hesitate:
"Your business is my business, senior brother. Talking about favors between us fellow disciples only makes us sound like strangers!"
If his plan to increase his current offensive power went smoothly, he really would need someone to help.
Seeing that Xiao Hongchen had finished his business, Meng Hongchen quickly raised her hand and said:
"Little junior brother, I have a small favor to ask of you too!"
Before you continue