After the Freshman Assessment, Huo Yuhao and his two teammates, as the champions, would receive a mysterious reward.
After Zhang Lexuan brought Huo Yuhao and his two teammates into the office, they found that the person inside was actually Mu En! Behind him stood a tall, full-figured woman with red hair and red clothes. Her head was lowered, obscuring her features.
"Hehe, surprised, are you, children?" Mu En said with a kindly expression.
"I didn't expect you to present the reward in person, sir."
Huo Yuhao had originally thought that, at most, the Outer Court's dean of students would be there, and the rewards would only be some rare treasures of nature, a Soul Bone at most. Soul Bones were useless to them, though selling one for some money would be nice.
He hadn't expected Mu En himself to present the reward. It seemed this reward was quite extraordinary!
"In previous years, the freshman champions were merely given some treasures. Even when a particular year's champions were especially strong, they received a Soul Bone at most.
"But I think a low-quality Soul Bone would only hold you back."
Mu En paused, then looked at Huo Yuhao. He had read Huo Yuhao's records and considered things more deeply. Mu En didn't understand why someone could change so much overnight, but judging by Huo Yuhao's attitude toward Dai Huabin, he hadn't been invaded by an evil entity. However...
"Although I don't know why you, a Soul Master with the mental attribute, seem rather unskilled at using spiritual power, I have a Self-Created Soul Skill that suits you very well."
Hearing this, the woman in red behind Mu En raised her head in astonishment. Even Zhang Lexuan looked surprised.
Ignoring them, Mu En raised his hand. It shone with dazzling golden light, and he took on an air of authority without anger.
"This is a Soul Skill I created by combining Soul Power and spiritual power. I call it Ruling the World.
"Ruling the World has a special effect: an enemy you defeat will never be able to overcome you.
"I've also combined Ruling the World with two of my own Soul Skills."
Mu En hesitated briefly, then continued, "Why don't you experience my intent for yourself?"
With that, Mu En's expression turned serious, and he brought his palm toward Huo Yuhao. A ray of golden light shone upon Huo Yuhao, lending his appearance an even greater nobility and leaving all five of them momentarily stunned.
Soon, the golden light faded, and the five came back to their senses. Mu En began to smile.
"Haha, it seems this Soul Skill really does suit you."
Although Huo Yuhao had behaved very well over the past few months, to the point that anyone would praise his selflessness and kindness, his records still left Mu En full of doubts. He had decided to use this opportunity to test Huo Yuhao.
Indeed, what had just happened was Mu En's test of Huo Yuhao. That strike could allow an ordinary Soul Master to experience his intent, but it would cause an Evil Soul Master unbearable pain.
The result was good. If Huo Yuhao were a monster invaded by an evil entity, he would have had nowhere to hide beneath Mu En's Ruling the World. Yet not only was Huo Yuhao unharmed, he had instead appeared incomparably radiant and noble!
Huo Yuhao closed his eyes, experiencing the move and gradually gaining some insights.
Everyone waited a while before Huo Yuhao slowly opened his eyes. A glimmer of gold flashed through his black eyes.
"This move needs to be combined with one's own emotions."
"Correct." Mu En nodded in satisfaction, gratified that Huo Yuhao had understood the move so quickly. "Different people produce different results when using this move. It has to do with the user's personality."
At this point, Mu En thought of his disciple who was still in confinement. That good-for-nothing Yan Shaozhe had not a shred of drive to improve. No wonder what he had comprehended was a defensive Soul Skill.
Yan Shaozhe's personality had serious flaws. In peaceful times, those faults would have been tolerable, but in the current era, they were fatal!
Mu En sighed inwardly. I raised him myself, so why is his personality nothing like mine? I can't count on him at all! Forget it. I'll just have him serve as muscle from now on.
"This Soul Skill works like this..."
Putting Yan Shaozhe's affairs out of his mind, Mu En explained the details of Ruling the World to Huo Yuhao. The other four women also pricked up their ears, committing those details to memory. Mu En did not keep anything from them.
Before long, Huo Yuhao began to perform the move. He raised his hand, and the same golden light appeared in his palm.
"What's this?" The five watched Huo Yuhao's Ruling the World, sensing the intent within it.
"This is a great love, a responsibility toward all under heaven."
Mu En was the first to understand this intent and explained it to the other four women.
He was also very excited. He hadn't misjudged him this time. Huo Yuhao truly was a good child worthy of being entrusted with responsibility!
Gu Yuena and Gu Qiu'er, who understood Huo Yuhao, weren't particularly surprised. They had long known his aspirations.
Zhang Lexuan's feelings, however, were far more complicated. Having read about Huo Yuhao's experiences, she felt she understood him well, and these past few days, her gaze toward him had always held some concealed heartache. Yet a child like him still held such great love for the world, continually stirring her heartstrings.
"It seems you've learned it."
"It's very useful to me. Thank you, Elder Mu." Huo Yuhao bowed to Mu En.
"No need for thanks. You've earned it." Mu En supported Huo Yuhao, then turned to the woman in red. "Xiaotao, come here."
Then he introduced her to Huo Yuhao. "Her name is Ma Xiaotao. She's my disciple's disciple. She's also the person who nearly hurt you last month. I called her here to apologize to you."
The woman seemed a little nervous. She bowed and said, "I-I'm sorry."
Huo Yuhao saw the unwillingness in her eyes, but said nothing and calmly accepted her apology.
Mu En also caught this detail, but for the moment, he made no comment and merely glared at Ma Xiaotao.
"I have another purpose as well," Mu En continued. "Xiaotao is a good child, but her Martial Soul has a flaw. Her Fire Phoenix contains a trace of evil fire, and as her cultivation rises, its evil impulses grow stronger.
"Over the years, we've tried all sorts of methods, but have never been able to resolve it.
"According to historical records, Ancestor Ma Hongjun from ten thousand years ago had the same problem. Ancestor Tang San resolved this flaw with an immortal herb called the Cockscomb Phoenix Sunflower.
"However, his descendants inherited this flaw as well. Yet we have no more immortal herbs.
"I thought of you. Perhaps you might have a good solution."
Huo Yuhao glanced at Ma Xiaotao. After hearing Mu En say that he might be able to cure her, her gaze toward Huo Yuhao had also become fervent.
"Are there no other methods? How did that Ma Hongjun deal with it before?" Huo Yuhao asked.
Hearing Huo Yuhao's question, Ma Xiaotao immediately glared at him angrily.
Mu En answered his question:
"There are. A high-quality light- or ice-attribute Martial Soul can suppress the evil fire, but that treats the symptoms, not the root. As Xiaotao has grown stronger over the years, it has become less and less effective. I've already strictly forbidden her from cultivating any further.
"If someone with ultimate ice practiced dual cultivation with Xiaotao, that could cure the root of the problem. It could even elevate Xiaotao's fire to ultimate fire."
"But ultimate Martial Souls are exceedingly rare. The last recorded ultimate Martial Soul was a thousand years ago.
"As for Ancestor Ma Hongjun's method? Xiaotao isn't a promiscuous child."
"Elder Mu!" Ma Xiaotao's face flushed red, and she stamped her foot.
Mu En ignored her. There's no place for embarrassment when seeking treatment.
"I'll give it a try."
Huo Yuhao agreed. Mu En was vouching for her, and besides, he had just learned the man's Ruling the World. It was only helping to solve a problem.
"Next week. I need to test a few things." Huo Yuhao looked at Ma Xiaotao as something occurred to him.
Seeing Huo Yuhao agree, Mu En smiled. He knew that if even Huo Yuhao had no solution, then probably no one did.
Then he said, "Xiaotao, starting tomorrow, you'll be Lexuan's assistant. You don't need to cultivate during this period anyway, so find something to do."
"Yes, Elder Mu." Ma Xiaotao lowered her head in assent, then said to Zhang Lexuan, "Senior Sister, sorry for the trouble I'll be causing you during this time."
She knew that Elder Mu was truly angry this time. She had still dared to cultivate in secret at a time like this. Elder Mu's words weren't just idle talk.
Before you continue