Huo Yuhao munched on the apple in his hand as he took in the sights of Shrek Academy.
Across the vast Sea God Island, moisture veiled the inner court's scenery, leaving it faintly visible. Only the Golden Ancient Tree stood towering into the sky, radiating an immense presence of life.
Shrek Academy was huge. Huo Yuhao did not wander far, heading toward the dormitory building instead.
As he slowly passed the small flower bed in front of the dormitory building, an old man lay in a reclining chair downstairs.
The corners of Huo Yuhao's lips lifted slightly. He took an apple from his storage ring and walked toward the elderly man in his twilight years.
Although the old man had reined in his Soul Power to the utmost, Huo Yuhao could still sense his terrifying strength.
From what he could sense, a fight between them would be a seventy-thirty split.
Seventy for me, thirty for him.
There was no need to guess. This was the current Sea God Pavilion Master, Mu En.
However, his signs of life were already very weak. He probably only had a few years left.
"Old sir, have an apple. This one's really sweet."
Huo Yuhao wiped the apple on his clothes and tossed it straight over.
"Oh, oh, oh..."
Mu En raised himself slightly and lifted a hand. The apple bumped against his fingers several times before tumbling into his lap.
"Cough, cough, cough. These old bones of mine..."
Mu En picked up the apple in his lap, glanced at Huo Yuhao, and lay back down.
Huo Yuhao stepped forward with an apologetic expression and offered his identity badge. "Old sir, I'm terribly sorry. I'm a new student this year. Do you know where Room 201 is?"
Mu En opened his narrowed eyes and sized Huo Yuhao up once more, then took his identity badge and glanced at it.
He slowly raised a finger and pointed. "Go upstairs here. It's the first room on the second floor. Off you go. And don't wander into the girls' dormitory."
Mu En waved a hand to indicate that he could leave, then quietly closed his eyes again. The reclining chair rocked gently as faint snores arose.
"Thank you, old sir."
Huo Yuhao nodded and turned to leave, but after a moment's thought, that did not seem quite right. He took out another apple and gently set it on the armrest of Mu En's reclining chair.
After Huo Yuhao left, Mu En opened his eyes and looked in the direction he had gone.
He picked up the apple on the reclining chair and slowly took a bite.
"What an interesting child."
Huo Yuhao walked slowly upstairs. The dormitory's surroundings were quite nice. Apart from lacking a private bathroom, it was already very good.
He turned right upstairs and soon reached Room 201.
Huo Yuhao knocked on the door. After confirming that no one was inside, his badge glowed faintly, flashing once in alternation with the soul tool on the lock.
The gears in the lock turned. Click!
The door was unlocked.
How convenient. In certain technologies, the Douluo World really has surpassed the present-day world.
The room was very simply furnished: two small beds, two desks, and a few civilian soul tools installed to relay messages to students. There was nothing else.
Huo Yuhao went to his bed. It was completely bare.
If his expectations were correct, his roommate would still be Wang Dong'er.
Huo Yuhao calculated the time in his head. He might have arrived a little too early. Wang Dong'er probably would not arrive until around dusk.
"In that case, I'll take care of some personal business first!"
Huo Yuhao stretched and walked out the door.
He did not want to be affected by pointless personal matters.
Leaving the dormitory, Huo Yuhao turned into the flower bed. His figure vanished in the blink of an eye, leaving no trace.
Inside Shrek City.
Two White Tiger Guards were waiting anxiously, their faces filled with urgency.
"Why hasn't the third young master arrived yet? The second young master and Miss Zhu have already enrolled," one White Tiger Guard said.
The other White Tiger Guard shook his head. "With the third young master's strength, we'd be lucky if he could even make it to Shrek City. You should get ready. We'll probably have to accompany him to the Star Dou Great Forest."
"It's the duke's order, after all. We still have to carry it out. The third young master is the duke's own flesh and blood, after all," the White Tiger Guard said with a bitter smile.
"Nether Dragon General Store?"
Huo Yuhao examined his surroundings, wandering aimlessly with the slip of paper Shabo had given him in his hand.
A White Tiger Guard looked at the young man's attire and rubbed his eyes. His gaze shifted downward, and the short sword hanging at Huo Yuhao's waist caught his attention.
"Third young master?" the guard ventured.
He was far too familiar with the soul tool sword at Huo Yuhao's waist. There was absolutely no mistaking the Duke's Mansion's emblem on it.
"Hmm? Oh, it's you two."
Huo Yuhao turned to look at them and put away the slip of paper.
"Third young master, why have you only just arrived? Hurry, go register first. Then we'll ask the commander for permission to set out with you to the Star Dou Great Forest to obtain a Soul Ring," the other guard added.
Huo Yuhao waved a hand and said casually, "It's fine. I've already registered. I happened to meet a senior from Shrek on the way, and I've already obtained a Soul Ring."
With that, Huo Yuhao waved a hand, and a lustrous white Soul Ring appeared.
The White Tiger Guard's eyes widened, his mouth falling open in shock. "Third young master, why did you choose a Ten-Year Soul Ring?! You... this..."
The guard wanted to explain the pros and cons. Having chosen a Soul Ring so rashly, how would the third young master survive in that man-eating Duke's Mansion in the future?!
The other guard stopped him and bowed solemnly to Huo Yuhao.
"Third young master, we'll be leaving, then. Please take care of yourself."
Huo Yuhao nodded and paid them no further attention, slowly walking ahead.
The White Tiger Guard led his companion straight off into the distance.
"The third young master was far too rash. With his swordsmanship, even if his Martial Soul wasn't compatible, as long as he had strong Soul Power, he could still secure some sort of official post in the army!" the guard said.
The other guard shook his head and pointed at Huo Yuhao as he slowly walked away. "Look at how the third young master seems to have no quarrel with the world... Forget it. Let's just go back and report."
The guard sighed helplessly, gave Huo Yuhao one final look, and left.
Huo Yuhao wandered aimlessly through the city. Sweeping his gaze sideways, he finally spotted the general store on a street corner.
This must be where that supposed old acquaintance of Shabo's is.
The general store was quite large, around a hundred square meters. Its owner seemed to be rather well-off.
Huo Yuhao pushed open the door and entered. A middle-aged man was slumped over the checkout counter, dozing. Grease stained his full beard, and he paid no attention whatsoever to the store's business.
Huo Yuhao glanced at him, then quickly looked away. After scanning the place a few times, he began browsing.
The store mostly sold everyday civilian goods, with nothing particularly special.
"Towels, bedding... Gold Soul Coins..."
Muttering to himself, Huo Yuhao began searching the store for what he needed.
Suddenly, he felt something bump into his chest.
"Ow!"
A sweet, clear girl's voice rang out, followed by a thud!
The dull sound of something heavy hitting the ground arose.
Huo Yuhao looked down, an odd expression flashing through his eyes.
A little girl was sitting sprawled in front of him. She wore a dark green dress, and her delicate, doll-like face was very pretty. Little leather shoes paired with white over-the-knee socks made her look very cute.
"You! Why don't you watch where you're going?!"
The little girl puffed out her cheeks and planted both little hands on her hips. Even her angry look was very cute.
Huo Yuhao froze for a few seconds, then suddenly reached out and picked the little girl straight up.
"Hey, hey! You... y-you, how could you...!"
The little girl's face instantly flushed red with embarrassment. She pushed at Huo Yuhao, but actually failed to break free and was held right in his arms.
Huo Yuhao looked around through the shelves. Seeing no one else, he could only shout helplessly.
"Whose little potato is this?!"