The late spring sunlight bathed the classroom in a honey-colored glow. Despite Huo Yuhao's repeated refusals, Jiang Nannan and Ma Xiaotao finally left with lingering concern. The corridor gradually returned to calm, with only the flowers outside the window swaying gently in the breeze, scattering dappled sunlight across the floor.
Huo Yuhao breathed a sigh of relief and was about to organize the challenge letters piled up on the table when he heard a faint rustling sound of fabric coming from the corner.
He looked up and saw a figure timidly walking out from the back row— Xiao Xiao clutching the hem of her clothes, her earlobes red, and a few strands of hair still clinging to her head, looking like a frightened little rabbit.
She watched the crowd gradually disperse, and only after the last footsteps disappeared around the corner did she take small, blushing steps and move to Huo Yuhao's table.
The girl lowered her head, her hair obscuring her flushed cheeks. Sensing his gaze, she trembled like a startled fawn, finally mustering the courage to step forward, her voice softer than spring willow catkins.
" Xiao Xiao, what's wrong?" Huo Yuhao put down the challenge letter in his hand, and his gentle voice startled the girl, causing her to look up abruptly.
A corner of the food box she was hiding in her arms peeked out, crumpled from her clenched fingers. "Huo... Student Huo... I also brought a lunchbox." Her voice was as soft as spring willow catkins, the end tinged with barely concealed disappointment, "But Student Huo, you've already eaten, haven't you..."
As she spoke, she lowered her eyes, her long eyelashes casting small shadows beneath them.
Huo Yuhao's heart stirred slightly as he caught a glimpse of the girl's tightly pursed lips and reddened eyes.
Huo Yuhao looked at the bow swaying on the top of her head, and remembering her timid appearance all the time, a warm smile appeared on his lips. He suddenly reached out and took the lunchbox.
The wood grain still carries the warmth of a young girl's palm. When you open it, a little rabbit carved from a carrot lies nestled among emerald-green vegetables, and star-shaped seaweed adorns the rice.
"It's alright. I've been expending a lot of energy lately from cultivation, and I need to replenish it. Thank you, Xiao Xiao." He scooped up a spoonful of steamed egg custard with shrimp, a smile spreading across his eyes. "Your cooking skills are even better than the Grandmaster at the academy cafeteria."
"Why..." She unconsciously gripped the hem of her school uniform skirt, "Why are you so gentle with me? You could have refused, but you still..." Xiao Xiao suddenly looked up, her voice rising involuntarily, filled with an urgency she herself didn't realize, her eyelashes still glistening with tears about to fall.
The afternoon sunlight shone through her clear pupils, reflecting the boy's gentle features, even more dazzling than the rice balls she had deliberately arranged in a heart shape. Her flushed cheeks revealed the surging emotions in her eyes.
Suddenly, birds flew past the window, returning to their nests, their flapping wings mingling with the distant chirping of cicadas. Huo Yuhao looked at the three completely different faces before him— Jiang Nannan's cold exterior concealing a burning passion, Ma Xiaotao's flamboyant demeanor hiding a stubbornness, and Xiao Xiao's eyes filled with pure admiration—and suddenly realized that life was no longer following the predetermined path of his previous life.
He chuckled and shook his head, finishing the last sip of soup. "Perhaps because... each and every one of you is more precious than I imagined."
However, Huo Yuhao thought to himself, "I'm sorry, I can't respond to you right now."
Huo Yuhao was taken aback. Looking into the girl's burning gaze, he felt as if the air had become thick. The classroom was so quiet that they could hear each other's breathing. The tension from Jiang Nannan and Ma Xiaotao's confrontation had not completely dissipated, and now a unique and romantic atmosphere had been added.
He sighed softly, his heart filled with mixed feelings—the sudden show of goodwill these days was like a sudden downpour in spring, catching him off guard.
"Life feels different now," he murmured to himself, gazing at the swaying flowers outside the window. The days when he could focus solely on cultivation Gone Forever. Now, faced with these sincere yet complex emotions, he felt utterly helpless. "A woman's mind is truly harder to understand than cultivation itself..."
Night fell as dark as ink, enveloping all the buildings of the Shrek Academy.
Inside Huo Yuhao's dormitory, a desk lamp cast a soft glow. He sat cross-legged on his bed, his consciousness already immersed in the Lotus Sea of Divine Soul. In the clear lotus sea, the Third Prince's golden-brown grilled fish sizzled with oil, its aroma filling the air. " Huo Yuhao, the test is about to begin. Are you ready?"
Huo Yuhao said, "Be prepared at all times, let's begin!"
Nezha, standing to the side, advised, "Remember, no matter what you see or experience, don't be alarmed. This test is not so simple." Before he finished speaking, he waved his hand, and the lotus sea surged and boiled, the space shattering into pieces like a broken mirror.
A blinding light suddenly engulfed Huo Yuhao's vision. When he opened his eyes again, he felt dizzy and surrounded by a cacophony of voices and hurried footsteps. The pungent smell of blood mixed with the scent of burning candlelight assaulted his senses. He struggled to focus and found himself in an antique-style delivery room.
Chaos reigned within the General's mansion. Maids rushed past carrying hot water, their flickering shadows cast by the candlelight. Inside the delivery room, midwives moved in and out, their faces a mixture of tension and excitement.
Finally, a clear cry pierced the sky, "She's given birth! The lady has given birth! Mother and child are safe!" This joyous news spread like wildfire throughout the entire mansion.
Huo Yuhao's consciousness was still floating in a state of chaos, his mind buzzing. "Is this... the test has begun? But how did I get here?"
Just then, a voice filled with astonishment and disgust rang out. "Three years and six months pregnant, and she gave birth to a ball of flesh?!"
With the clang of a sword being drawn, a chilling voice pierced through like a sharp blade, "This is undoubtedly a monster! Keeping him alive will only bring disaster. Watch me rid this freak of his wrath today!"
Huo Yuhao's heart tightened suddenly. The moment the sword slashed down, the fleshy ball flashed with a seven-colored halo, transforming into a lotus flower that opened petal by petal, and the figure inside slowly emerged from the lotus platform.
The lotus petals transformed into a bodice, which he wore, and he simply gazed in Li Jing's direction.
Li Jing was also taken aback. He sheathed his sword and asked, "What kind of monster is this?"
Huo Yuhao was born not long ago at this time.
Suddenly, a clear and melodious crane cry rang out from the sky, its sound piercing through the clouds and splitting the rocks, startling the garrison of Chentang Pass into looking up. They saw auspicious clouds surging in the western sky, nine-colored rays of light piercing through the twilight, and a white-haired immortal riding a red-crowned crane approaching on the light.
Upon seeing this, Li Jing quickly straightened his robes and rushed forward to greet him.
The immortal descended slowly, stepping on clouds.
Li Jing quickly cupped his hands in greeting and respectfully asked, "Immortal Master, I am Li Jing from Chentang Pass. I am deeply sorry for not welcoming you properly."
Master Taiyi smiled slightly, stroked his white beard, and said slowly, "General Li, I am Master Taiyi of Jinguang Cave on Qianyuan Mountain, here to offer my congratulations!"
Li Jing felt a pang of discomfort, frowned slightly, and looked utterly bewildered. "Alas, my immortal, you are unaware that this is hardly a joyous occasion."
"Oh?" Taiyi Zhenren lightly flicked his whisk from his sleeve, stirring up a wisp of breeze that lifted the cloud of worry from Li Jing's brow. "Tell me about it."
Li Jing replied, "My son was conceived for three years and six months, and was not born for a long time. After he was born, he was spherical. How is that any different from a monster?"
Master Taiyi stroked his beard and laughed loudly, "A demon! Hahaha, General Li, may I see that little fellow?"
At this moment, Nezha also noticed the conversation outside and staggered out. The two of them saw Nezha ( Huo Yuhao )'s figure. Li Jing did not make a move, but Taiyi Zhenren quickly stepped forward, his robes billowing and creating wisps of auspicious clouds. The old immortal squatted down and touched Nezha's brow with his fingertip.
Li Jing quickly said, "This is the boy, his name is Nezha."
When Taiyi Zhenren saw Nezha arrive, he said, "What a coincidence! What a coincidence! I see that General Li, your son, this Qilin, is very much destined to be with me."
Li Jing asked doubtfully, "What do you mean?"
Taiyi Zhenren's gaze sharpened as he looked at Li Jing. "Indeed, I'd like to take this child as my disciple. What do you say?"
"This..." Li Jing sighed helplessly after a moment's thought, "Alright, since you don't mind my son, then let him become your disciple."
It was truly unbelievable that this venerable and otherworldly Master Taiyi would take a liking to his son, whom he considered a "freak."
"Master!" Nezha ( Huo Yuhao ) looked up with a hint of excitement in his childish voice, his clear eyes reflecting the kind and benevolent face of Taiyi Zhenren.
The moment that address was uttered, the old immortal stroked his beard and laughed heartily. Nezha ( Huo Yuhao ) certainly knew who the person in front of him was—the master of another version of Nezha ( Investiture of the Gods List ), but he hadn't expected to become his disciple so soon.
When Taiyi Zhenren saw Nezha, his eyes were filled with joy, as if he were looking at a precious treasure. He said gently, " Nezha, I am Taiyi Zhenren. From today onwards, I am your master."
Having said that, he waved the whisk in his hand, and two treasures slowly floated out from his sleeve, hovering in the air as if they were sentient.
The two treasures emitted a faint light, and the two magical artifacts seemed to be drawn by invisible threads, swirling joyfully around Nezha before gently landing on his neck and wrist.
Taiyi Zhenren pointed to the two treasures and said, "These are the Red Armillary Sash and the Universe Ring, rare treasures, gifts I prepared for you. The Red Armillary Sash is seven feet long and can bind enemies without human assistance. Even if broken, it can repair itself and is incredibly tough. The Universe Ring can change size according to its owner's will, is infallible, and has boundless power."
Nezha ( Huo Yuhao ) looked at the two treasures before him, which he recognized all too well. He quickly bowed and said, "Thank you, Master."
Seeing this, Taiyi Zhenren beamed with joy and said repeatedly, "Good, good, get up, child." He turned to Nezha and said, "If you ever encounter any difficulties in the future, come to Qianyuan Mountain, to the Golden Light Cave, to find me."
Having said that, Taiyi Zhenren turned and mounted the crane. The crane let out a long cry, flapped its wings, and flew into the sky. Nezha ( Huo Yuhao ) also bid farewell to Taiyi Zhenren like everyone else, and soon disappeared, leaving only a faint wisp of cloud behind.
After some time, Nezha's life in the Li family gradually got back on track.
He often played in the courtyard of the General's Mansion, practicing some basic spells taught to him by the Immortal Taiyi.
By chance, Nezha made a new friend—a pure white divine deer. It seemed particularly affectionate towards Nezha, always staying by his side.
Nezha ( Huo Yuhao ) thought, "All things in heaven and earth have spirits." His fingertips gently brushed against the soft ears of the divine deer, and a smile appeared on the young man's lips—perhaps this was his destiny.