These Words Were All Made Up

Huo Yutong paid no attention to Tianmeng. Her attention was entirely on that cloud of gray mist.

"You said that if I absorbed the Evergreen Life Vine, you could recover faster." Huo Yutong spoke, her voice exceptionally clear in this space of consciousness.

The voice in the gray mist was calm and even as it slowly said, "Correct. That Evergreen Life Vine contains an exceptionally pure Life Origin, a rare source of nourishment even for me. If you refine it, I can use your mental sea to nurture my soul and regain my former strength sooner."

She paused, a barely perceptible trace of pride entering her tone. "Although I am only a wisp of a remnant soul now, my hazy memories tell me that I used to be... terrifyingly strong."

"All right," Huo Yutong answered firmly.

At those words, the gray mist slowly swirled, and the voice rang out again. "The Evergreen Life Vine can improve your innate talent, while I absorb part of its Life Origin to restore myself. You gain strength, and I recover. It benefits us both."

"Once I regain some of my memories, I can even teach you knowledge that does not exist on the Douluo Continent."

"Miracles known as-magic."

Huo Yutong fell silent.

Magic?

There had never been such a concept on the Douluo Continent.

But considering that this remnant soul had even called herself a "god," it did not seem strange for her to know a few peculiar things.

"Little one, off you go. Don't keep the person outside waiting too long," the gray mist urged, a hint of languor in her tone.

In the outside world, Huo Yutong opened her eyes.

Gu Xingyue was still standing before her, holding the emerald-green vine. Seeing her wake, he raised an eyebrow. "What were you spacing out for?"

"Nothing." Huo Yutong shook her head and reached out to take the Evergreen Life Vine.

The vine felt warm and smooth in her hand, like fine mutton-fat jade. Its rich aura of life seeped into her body through her skin, making every pore relax.

"Find somewhere quiet." Gu Xingyue stood up. "I'll stand guard for you."

Huo Yutong hugged the jade box in her arms tightly and nodded hard.

The two arrived at a private Soul Guidance Device Workshop reserved for core disciples of the Soul Guidance Department.

The room was not large, but it was exceptionally well soundproofed. Defensive Soul Guidance Formations covered the surrounding walls, making it an excellent place for secluded cultivation.

Gu Xingyue set up a few simple Alert Soul Guidance Devices in the room, then retreated to the doorway and leaned against the frame.

"Go ahead," he said.

Huo Yutong sat cross-legged on the bed, placing both the Black Tortoise Divine Pill and the Evergreen Life Vine before her. She took a deep breath, picked up the pill first, and swallowed it in one gulp.

The pill dissolved the moment it entered her mouth. A gentle yet immense medicinal power instantly spread through her body, like a warm spring flowing slowly through her meridians into every limb and bone.

At the same time, she grabbed the Evergreen Life Vine, circulated her soul power, and began refining it.

The two forces converged within her body.

Although both forces were powerful, neither was violent.

The Black Tortoise Divine Pill had mild medicinal properties. Even someone who was not a soul master could take it safely without being burst apart by the medicinal power it contained.

The same was true of the Evergreen Life Vine. Although it contained vast Life Force, absorbing it was like taking in a gently trickling stream. She could not fully adjust to it right away, but the sensation was much like being slightly tipsy, warm all over. She only needed to refine it slowly.

With every circuit of the medicinal power, she could feel her meridians widening a little and her body growing a little stronger.

Time passed, second by second.

The sky outside gradually darkened. The sunset's lingering rays spilled through the window, gilding everything in red and gold.

Gu Xingyue leaned against the doorframe, his gaze fixed on Huo Yutong throughout. He watched her complexion go from rosy to calm, then from calm to lustrous, like a piece of uncut jade slowly being polished to a shine.

Finally, deep into the night, Huo Yutong slowly opened her eyes.

A flash of emerald green flickered through her pupils before they returned to normal.

She could feel that she had become stronger, as though power were welling up endlessly within her body. That sense of fullness was unlike anything she had ever experienced.

"Did it work?" Gu Xingyue asked.

Huo Yutong stood up, stretched her body a little, then bowed deeply to Gu Xingyue.

"Thank you, Xingyue."

"What's there to thank me for?" Gu Xingyue waved a hand. "Didn't we agree? Once you become a supreme grandmaster of soul guidance, you'll build me a Gundam."

Huo Yutong straightened up, unable to stop the corners of her lips from rising. "Then you'll have a very long wait."

"I can wait." Gu Xingyue smiled, turned, and pushed open the door. "Perfect timing. The Freshmen Assessment is about to begin. Just breeze through it and secure an Inner Court core disciple spot."

"I'll win." Huo Yutong followed behind him, her voice soft but filled with unprecedented resolve.

"Right now, I feel like I could kill an elephant with one punch, and I've never felt this comfortable before." Huo Yutong clenched her fists, feeling the surging power within her.

"Still, it's a shame I can't team up with you, Xingyue." She changed the subject, looking a little disappointed.

"Wait, why not?" Gu Xingyue did not quite understand what Huo Yutong meant.

Huo Yutong glanced at him and explained, "Don't you know, Xingyue? The Soul Guidance Department and the Martial Soul Department are two separate departments. They're both important pillars of the academy, both very important, although they do clash somewhat."

"After all, the academy only has so many resources. If the Martial Soul Department gets more, the Soul Guidance Department gets less. Besides, the Freshmen Assessment has different rules every year. Apparently, this year's assessment is divided by department. The Soul Guidance Department and the Martial Soul Department will form their own teams and compete, and soul guidance devices are even allowed during the assessment."

Gu Xingyue froze.

This isn't what I know! He even suspected that all these words were made up, but when he considered that Huo Yutong had no reason to deceive him, he believed her anyway.

But... holy crap, this Freshmen Assessment had better get its act together! Is my advantage from knowing the plot just gone like that?

What do you mean, the Freshmen Assessment is different every year?

What do you mean, the Soul Guidance Department and the Martial Soul Department compete together?

What do you mean, soul guidance devices are allowed in the Freshmen Assessment?

At that moment, Gu Xingyue was utterly at sea.

He had originally thought that, since he knew the plot inside out, he could know the answers in advance. Yet Shrek Academy was not playing by the script at all.

The assessment rules changed every year, instantly wiping out his advantage as a transmigrator.

At the same time, however, he began to find it interesting.

After all, if they really formed teams and fought arena matches according to the original plot, he would have no opponents whatsoever. He would be as lonely as snow.

The strong were always alone, and at that moment, Gu Xingyue finally felt the curse of the strong, lonely, and loveless. How lonely invincibility was.

Still, this is good too. Unknown challenges are more interesting.

"Whatever." Gu Xingyue stretched lazily, a smile curling his lips. "No matter how the rules change, I'm still the world's number one soul master."

"Mm." Huo Yutong nodded.

Then something occurred to her instinctively, and she looked down at her body. It was covered in the impurities produced as the pill improved her physique.

At that thought, she suddenly flushed red, then ran off at top speed, not forgetting to wave at Gu Xingyue and say she would see him tomorrow.