Reuniting with Huo Wu

Time flew by, and three months passed in the blink of an eye.

During this time, Xiao Yu, Yi Hui, Eden, Zilong, and the other team members, including Dugu Yan and Ye Lingling, took advantage of every favorable condition to train intensely. Everyone's strength improved by leaps and bounds. At present:

Xiao Yu, Level 45 Assault-Type Battle Soul Grandmaster.

Eden, Level 43 Control-Type Battle Soul Grandmaster.

Yi Hui, Level 43 Assault-Type Battle Soul Grandmaster.

Zilong, Level 42 Assault-Type Battle Soul Grandmaster.

Cang Mo, Level 39 Assault-Type Battle Soul Elder.

You Na, Level 38 Agility-Type Battle Soul Elder.

Miyi Mei, Level 38 Support-Type Battle Soul Elder.

Xie Wu, Level 36 Agility-Type Battle Soul Elder.

Iao, Level 33 Assault-Type Battle Soul Elder.

After her Martial Soul evolved into the Jade Scaled Serpent Dragon, Dugu Yan abandoned her former control-type path of using poison to dominate the battlefield. Instead, she made use of dragon-type spirit beasts' strengths and switched to the assault-type path. Her Soul Power had now reached Level 38, the level she was originally supposed to have when she encountered the Shrek Seven Devils at the Suotuo City Great Soul Arena four years later.

Ye Lingling had likewise reached the level she would have attained four years later: a Level 35 support-type Soul Elder. It had to be said that Immortal Herbs were practically cheat codes on a spirit master's path of cultivation.

Furthermore, thanks to the Nine Hearted Begonia Family's deliberate promotion and the nobles of Heaven Dou City witnessing the role Soul Tools played in spirit master battles, they flocked to buy them. Sales of Soul Tools skyrocketed, and Nine Stars Hall was now raking in money every day.

What puzzled Xiao Yu, however, was that according to Ye Renxin, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect had also sent someone to contact him. Yet he had never seen anyone from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect come to place an order. He had no idea what they were considering.

Still, Xiao Yu remained as steady as Mount Tai. The bait had already been cast. He refused to believe Ning Fengzhi would not be tempted by a Soul Tool that could give support-type spirit masters the ability to protect themselves.

As for the branch's construction, the area around the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well had originally been Dugu Bo's territory. Given Dugu Bo's standing in the Heaven Dou Empire, who would be blind enough to come over and make trouble?

Seeing that everything had gotten on track, Xiao Yu could no longer withstand Ye Lingling's repeated requests and finally agreed to accompany her to Heaven Dou Royal Academy.

Heaven Dou Royal Academy was located outside Heaven Dou City, not too far from Sunset Forest. Nestled against mountains and beside water, it had a beautiful environment and comprehensive facilities. If not for the academy's terrible atmosphere and the Heaven Dou Empire's upper ranks being corrupt to the core, Xiao Yu might actually have considered this little girl Ye Lingling's suggestion.

"Brother Xiao Yu, what perfect timing!"

Ye Lingling excitedly acted as Xiao Yu's guide, introducing the academy's various facilities along the way. Just as they reached the Soul Duel Stage, she said, "Blazing Academy and Godwind Academy have both come to our academy for an exchange today. Brother Xiao Yu, let's go take a look!"

Blazing Academy and Godwind Academy?

Xiao Yu nodded lightly. Both academies were among the Five Element Academies of the Heaven Dou Empire. In the Spirit Master Competition several years later, they would cause Shrek Academy no small amount of trouble. They were formidable opponents second only to Spirit Hall Academy. This was a good chance for him to learn about their strength in advance.

"Fine. Xiao Yu, so you're here!"

Before Xiao Yu could approach the Soul Duel Stage, a cool voice rang out from the side. A fiery-red figure suddenly stepped in front of him.

Xiao Yu was slightly startled. The person blocking his path was an exceptionally tall woman. Her golden-red gown and dark-red hair set off an extraordinarily beautiful face.

Before Xiao Yu could react, two men stepped forward from behind the woman. The man on the left wore a mask and a set of elegant robes in blue and silver. When Xiao Yu saw the man on the right, however, his heart skipped a beat, and something he had nearly forgotten suddenly resurfaced in his mind.

The man on the right was of average build and had an ordinary appearance. His eyes gleamed with burning light, and his shoulders were broad. His golden-red team uniform made his less-than-handsome face seem imposing. Wasn't he Huo Wushuang, whom Xiao Yu had met once in the Star Dou Great Forest?

Then there was no need to say more. The woman blocking his path was Huo Wu, while the young man in splendid clothes on the left was most likely Feng Xiaotian, the rather successful simp from Douluo II—successful, at least, since he got the girl.

When Xiao Yu had encountered Huo Wu in the Star Dou Great Forest, she had only been eight. They had not met again after that, and five years had passed. Girls changed tremendously as they grew up, so Xiao Yu truly had not recognized Huo Wu. But Huo Wushuang had already been nearly twelve back then. Spirit masters matured early to begin with, and Huo Wushuang had barely changed over the past five years, so Xiao Yu recognized him at once.

After recognizing them, Xiao Yu instantly recalled that old incident. Back then, because he had not wanted to leave a bad impression on Blazing Academy, one of the Heaven Dou Empire's top advanced Soul Master Academies, he seemed to have rather perfunctorily agreed to Huo Wu's request. After graduating from Junior Spirit Master Academy, he would go take a look at the intermediate Soul Master Academy affiliated with Blazing Academy. To be honest, if he had not run into Huo Wu and Huo Wushuang, he really would have forgotten something that had happened four or five years ago.

"So it's Miss Huo Wu. Long time no see!"

After all, he was the one who had broken his word. Xiao Yu felt somewhat awkward and forced a smile as he spoke to Huo Wu.

"Good. It really is you!"

Huo Wu had not been entirely certain either. Xiao Yu had only been eight at the time, and he too had changed greatly over the past five years. However, Huo Wu's senses were rather keen. Xiao Yu's Martial Soul possessed an intense darkness attribute, a Martial Soul trait far too rare on the continent. On top of that, Ye Lingling had not deliberately lowered her voice while speaking with Xiao Yu, allowing Huo Wu to hear his name. That was why she had stopped him to test him. She had not expected it truly to be him.

Hearing Huo Wu say that, Xiao Yu secretly regretted it. Huo Wu had changed so much over five years, but hadn't he changed as well? I should have pretended not to know her.

"Brother Xiao Yu, who is she?"

At that moment, Ye Lingling suddenly reached out and linked her arm through Xiao Yu's. She glared unfriendly at Huo Wu, who was blocking their way. The normally gentle young girl seemed to have sparks shooting from her eyes.

"Cough, cough!"

Xiao Yu coughed twice and said to Ye Lingling, "This is Miss Huo Wu from Blazing Academy. We met once when hunting spirit rings in the Star Dou Great Forest. You could barely call us friends!"

"Friends? Who's friends with you?"

How good could a fire-attribute spirit master's temper be? Huo Wu's face was frosty as she said coldly, "Is there anyone in this world who deceives a friend and breaks their word to one? Tell me, why did you suddenly go back on your promise after clearly agreeing to it back then? I even sent people to ask around at your Junior Spirit Master Academy!"

"Brother Xiao Yu, what did you promise her?"

Looking at Huo Wu, who seemed like a woman abandoned by a heartless man, Ye Lingling tightened her hold on Xiao Yu's arm and gave his muscle a sharp one-hundred-and-eighty-degree twist. She asked unhappily.