SL 2 Two Extra God Kings - 31 - 35 (Patreon)

Chapter 31: Ling Luochen: This Feels Amazing

On the way back, Ling Luochen suddenly realized something was wrong.

She had gotten way too excited earlier. She had just brought her junior back with her like that. How was she supposed to explain herself if someone saw them together?

Was she, Ling Luochen, actually into younger guys?

After secretly glancing at Huo Yuhao, she suddenly felt that maybe it was not such a bad thing after all.

Besides, Eldest Senior Sister had done it too... Wait, what exactly was the relationship between Eldest Senior Sister and Huo Yuhao? She still did not actually know. Would asking him now be too awkward?

But since Eldest Senior Sister trusted her enough to leave Huo Yuhao in her care, the two of them were probably just like ordinary siblings.

With that thought, Ling Luochen composed herself, turned down a side path with Huo Yuhao, and decided to take the quieter route home.

...

Huo Yuhao looked at the room piled high with miscellaneous belongings, then at Ling Luochen, whose cheeks were burning with embarrassment.

“Sister Luochen, maybe I should just go back first.”

“No!”

Ling Luochen refused immediately.

Realizing that she had reacted far too strongly, she hurriedly softened her tone.

“It’s fine, it’s fine. Just give me a little time to clean up.”

Not wanting to get in Ling Luochen’s way, Huo Yuhao found an empty spot, sat down cross-legged, and quietly began circulating his Soul Power to Cultivate.

...

“Phew...”

Ling Luochen had not finished cleaning yet. She had only stepped into the living room to see what Huo Yuhao was doing when she abruptly stopped.

Not far away, Huo Yuhao sat cross-legged in meditation, an ice-blue glow surrounding him. At the same time, pure and domineering Ice-type Soul Power radiated from his body, far stronger than her own ice element.

So this was Ultimate Ice?

Even her Martial Soul was trembling faintly beyond her control, instinctively yearning for it.

Ling Luochen’s eyes immediately lit up.

This was a chance to Cultivate alongside Ultimate Ice...

Suppressing her excitement, Ling Luochen walked over to Huo Yuhao and lowered her voice.

“Um, Xiao Yuhao, your Martial Soul is also extremely beneficial to my Cultivation. Would you like to Cultivate together? It should make things much more efficient for both of us.”

Huo Yuhao opened his eyes. Meeting Ling Luochen’s expectant gaze, he nodded.

“Okay. I’ll follow Sister Luochen’s lead.”

The two found a suitable spot, sat cross-legged facing each other, pressed their palms together, and began circulating their Ice-type Soul Power in unison.

At first, Ling Luochen felt an intense chill enter her body through Huo Yuhao’s soft little hand. Even with her own Ice-type Martial Soul, she could not help shivering.

But as their Martial Souls continued to resonate, a profound sense of comfort spread through her entire body. Her Soul Power began circulating more and more smoothly.

She had never experienced anything like this before.

Seeing that Ling Luochen had adapted, Huo Yuhao asked, “Sister Luochen, should I increase it a little?”

“Okay.”

Huo Yuhao focused on the ice element contained within the Ice Jade Scorpion in his heart and released a little more of its power.

In an instant, jade-green light poured out and enveloped them both. Even the nearby walls became coated in a layer of jade-green frost.

This feels amazing!

But it was not enough.

Still not enough.

Ling Luochen increased her own Soul Power output as well, greedily allowing Huo Yuhao’s Soul Power to circulate through her body.

As she felt that power flowing through her, her entire body went soft, as though she might ascend to the heavens at any moment.

But the difference between their Martial Souls was simply too great.

Even with Ling Luochen’s cultivation as a Spirit King, she could not endure such a domineering Ultimate Attribute for very long.

Her voice began to tremble.

“I think I’m reaching my limit, Yuhao.”

Hearing this, Huo Yuhao gradually stopped circulating his Soul Power.

He sensed the changes within his own body. This method really was more efficient than cultivating alone.

Ling Luochen, however, was in much worse shape.

All color had drained from her fair face, leaving it pale and almost translucent. Fine beads of cold sweat had formed along her forehead, and even her eyes were covered with a misty sheen.

Her body suddenly went limp.

Unable to maintain her seated posture any longer, she toppled forward and collapsed softly into Huo Yuhao’s arms.

Huo Yuhao quickly opened his arms and caught her securely. With the difference in size between the two of them, however, the sight looked somewhat comical.

“Sister Luochen?!”

Ling Luochen’s cool, soft body pressed against Huo Yuhao as she murmured self-deprecatingly, “Yuhao, I think I got a little too greedy.”

She could not help it.

The sensation of her Soul Power constantly intertwining with Huo Yuhao’s had simply felt too wonderful. Asking her to stop at the crucial moment had been almost unbearable.

Even after ending up like this, though, she did not regret it.

“It’s okay, Sister Luochen. I didn’t think things through either. I released too much Soul Power.”

Huo Yuhao softened his voice as he carefully steadied Ling Luochen. At the same time, he guided a thin stream of Soul Power into her body.

His gentle Soul Power traveled through Ling Luochen’s meridians, gradually calming the restless energy inside her.

Her tense body slowly began to relax as well.

As Huo Yuhao’s Soul Power continued circulating, Ling Luochen gradually recovered some strength.

Then she realized just how closely the two of them were pressed together.

A faint blush immediately returned to her cheeks.

She tried to push herself upright, but the moment she exerted any strength, her head ended up pressing even closer against Huo Yuhao.

Too embarrassed to do anything else, she simply shut her eyes and pretended not to notice.

Inside the Spirit Sea Realm, Skydream Ice Worm watched with great interest and whispered teasingly, “Look at that. There’s another one clinging to our Xiao Yuhao now.”

Seeing how intimate the two looked, then seeing how utterly unconcerned Skydream seemed, the Ice Empress became even more jealous.

Gritting her teeth, she snapped, “You seem pretty happy about this, don’t you?”

“No, Bing Bing. I was just teasing. Don’t poke me. Ah!”

...

Huo Yuhao lowered his head and looked at Ling Luochen, whose eyes remained gently closed, then lightly shook his arm.

“Sister Luochen, are you all right?”

“...”

There was no response.

Seeing that Ling Luochen showed no reaction, Huo Yuhao did not delay any longer.

He carefully adjusted his posture, then slipped both arms beneath her and picked her up.

Ling Luochen was tall and slender, her body carrying a faint chill reminiscent of snow and ice. She simply nestled quietly in his arms.

After Huo Yuhao settled her down and prepared to return to his own room, Ling Luochen’s slender hand gently caught his sleeve.

She slowly opened her eyes.

Her ice-blue pupils were still misty, while an unhealthy flush lingered on her cheeks, making her look unusually soft and clingy.

Her voice was slightly hoarse, but there was also a hint of innocent sweetness to it.

“Um... I still haven’t finished cleaning your room. Tonight... why don’t you just sleep in my room?”

“But, Sister Luochen...”

“It’s fine. I’ll just put something in the middle of the bed to separate us.”

The night was quiet, and Ling Luochen’s bedroom still carried the faint, distinctive fragrance of a young woman.

Huo Yuhao wanted to refuse, but when he met Ling Luochen’s dependent gaze, his resolve softened.

After hesitating for a moment, he finally agreed, his face turning red.

“O-Okay.”

...

Ling Luochen quietly shifted toward the edge of the bed.

At this point, the only thing separating the two of them was a stuffed pillow placed between them.

The room was completely silent.

Listening to Huo Yuhao’s soft breathing beside her, Ling Luochen gradually calmed down.

Come to think of it, this did not count as throwing herself at him, right?

They were only sleeping.

It was not like they were cuddling or anything.

Right.

With that thought, Ling Luochen pulled the blanket over her head.

...

Chapter 32: Guard Against Fire, Theft, and Ma Xiaotao

As the first light of dawn appeared on the horizon, Ling Luochen stretched and slowly woke up.

As her mind cleared, the memory of inviting Huo Yuhao to sleep beside her last night immediately came flooding back.

Ling Luochen instinctively reached out beside her, only to find the space completely empty, without the slightest trace of warmth.

No one?

Her heart skipped a beat. Ling Luochen was instantly wide awake and sat up, staring around in confusion.

Wait... wasn't she lying on Huo Yuhao's side of the bed?

A rush of burning embarrassment swept through her entire body. She had clearly put the stuffed animal between them last night.

Looking again, she discovered that the stuffed animal was now lying on the floor.

Didn't that mean she'd pushed Yuhao right out of bed?

Her embarrassment reached its peak. Ling Luochen let out a soft whimper and plunged her face into the soft pillow, clutching it tightly with both hands and burying herself as deeply as she could.

“I'm doomed... This is so embarrassing...”

Her aloof and dignified image had completely fallen apart.

...

“It smells so nice.”

To Ling Luochen's surprise, the scent on the pillow wasn't entirely her own. It still carried Huo Yuhao's faint, crisp fragrance of ice and snow.

“...”

As though reluctant to let go of that comforting scent, Ling Luochen turned her head and gently rubbed her cheek against the pillow again.

Once, twice...

“Sister Luochen...”

Huo Yuhao's calm voice suddenly came from the doorway.

Ling Luochen's entire body jolted before stiffening instantly. She remained frozen with her cheek pressed against the pillow, not daring to move a muscle.

She never would have imagined that she'd become so absorbed that she hadn't heard Huo Yuhao approaching at all, allowing him to catch her doing something like this.

For a moment, the bedroom was so quiet that a pin drop could have been heard.

Ling Luochen buried her face in the pillow, the crimson blush spreading from the tips of her ears all the way down her neck. She didn't want to move at all. She could only hope Huo Yuhao would think she was still asleep.

Huo Yuhao stood outside the door with a cup of brown sugar water in his hand. He had only come because he was worried Sister Luochen might feel weak after waking up, but he hadn't expected to walk in on this.

His mind raced. Hoping to ease the awkwardness, Huo Yuhao called out again, “Sister Luochen? Are you awake?”

When Ling Luochen still didn't answer, Huo Yuhao turned around and quickly walked away.

Only after his footsteps had faded into the distance did Ling Luochen abruptly raise her head. She took a deep breath, trying to calm her wildly pounding heart.

...

“Yuhao, your cooking is so good!”

By the time Ling Luochen came out, Huo Yuhao had already finished making breakfast. It tasted far better than anything served in the cafeteria.

I really want to keep Xiao Yuhao by my side forever... Wait, what's with this possessiveness?

Ling Luochen immediately stopped eating and turned to Huo Yuhao with a solemn expression.

Huo Yuhao was startled by her sudden change in demeanor and asked curiously, “S-Senior?”

“Yuhao, from now on, you absolutely have to be careful around a woman named Ma Xiaotao!”

As a Soul Master with an Ice-type Martial Soul, Ling Luochen had naturally been called upon by the academy before to help suppress Ma Xiaotao's “Evil Fire.” Although the difference between them in both rank and Martial Soul quality was only slight, Ling Luochen still found it difficult to withstand her.

If Huo Yuhao ever revealed his “Ultimate Ice” and that woman discovered it... the consequences would be unimaginable!

Huo Yuhao looked puzzled. “Ma Xiaotao? Is she also a student at Shrek Academy?”

“That's right. And listen carefully.”

Ling Luochen then began listing Ma Xiaotao's various misdeeds, embellishing them more and more as she went.

She had a terrible temper, bullied underclassmen every day, insulted the elderly, put itching powder in people's shoes, showed no respect to teachers, never knew how to hold back, and had someone powerful backing her. At her worst, she'd nearly burned down the Golden Tree...

“In short, if you ever run into that crazy woman Ma Xiaotao, stay as far away from her as you can!”

Seeing how serious Ling Luochen looked, Huo Yuhao could only nod.

...

Huo Yuhao arrived in front of a white building.

Hmm. From the outside, this dormitory looked pretty nice.

At the entrance, an elderly man dressed in grayish-white hemp robes with a hood over his head was reclining in a chair. His eyelids drooped, and he looked frail enough to be nearing the end of his life. At the moment, he was comfortably basking in the sunlight.

Huo Yuhao walked over and greeted him respectfully. “Hello, Grandpa. Do I need my freshman badge to move into the Freshman Dormitory?”

Without even raising his head, the old man extended his right hand.

“Let me see your badge and dorm key.”

Huo Yuhao immediately handed them over.

The old man accepted them, but he didn't seem to examine them at all before handing them straight back.

“Third room on the left, first floor. The third and fourth floors are the girls' dormitories. You're not allowed up there.”

“Thank you.”

Huo Yuhao nodded and thanked him again before heading into the dormitory building.

“Polite and exceptionally talented. This year's students really are impressive.”

Elder Mu usually enjoyed reclining outside the Freshman Dormitory and observing the students. He had already noticed several Spirit Elders among this year's freshmen, as well as a few who possessed Twin Martial Souls.

The boy who had just passed by was even more talented than the others.

Shrek really was flourishing.

Then he suddenly remembered the incident involving Xuan Zi, and irritation rose in his heart once again.

If he'd suffered some losses after running into a particularly powerful Savage Beast, no one could really blame him. But it had only been a 100,000-year-old Blood Moon Wolf King, and he'd still managed to make such a mess of things. How did he even have the nerve to face anyone afterward?

Ever since Xuan Zi returned, he had resigned from all of his positions. Still, he was a Level 98 Super Douluo. And with Elder Mu's own limited mobility, they couldn't simply leave Xuan Zi completely unchecked.

That was why Yan Shaozhe had spent the past few days trying to persuade him to return.

What a headache.

Come to think of it, that boy seemed to be sharing a dorm with the one from the Clear Sky Clan...

Forget it. Since the Clear Sky Clan had arranged things this way themselves, there was no reason not to respect their decision.

...

The moment Huo Yuhao pushed open the door, he was greeted by the sight of a snow-white back.

The person's shoulders were not broad, but they were smooth and rounded, tapering downward into a gentle curve at the waist. Droplets of water slid across fair skin, making it seem even more translucent.

“...”

Had he entered the wrong room?

Huo Yuhao closed the door, looked at the number 108 outside, checked it several times, then opened the door again.

Inside, Wang Dong had already gotten dressed in an instant, but her ears were bright red with embarrassment.

Why did he have to arrive now of all times? Not sooner, not later, but at this exact moment!

Her large, watery eyes glared at Huo Yuhao, and her clear youthful voice carried obvious irritation.

“Y-You! Why didn't you knock before coming in?”

Huo Yuhao was completely baffled by her reaction and asked, “Are you a girl?”

“I-I'm living in the boys' dormitory. How could I possibly be a girl?”

“Exactly. So what are you embarrassed about?”

Wang Dong froze.

R-Right. They were both boys...

But that wasn't the point at all!

Embarrassment and frustration welled up inside her as Wang Dong sized up the boy in front of her.

Tousled blue-and-white hair, large ice-blue eyes, fair skin...

Well, she'd give him this. He could almost compete with yours truly. He was pretty cute.

The longer Wang Dong looked at Huo Yuhao, the cuter she found him. She couldn't help wanting to tease him a little.

“Fine. I'll forgive your rudeness this time, but listen carefully to what I'm about to say.”

“First, don't bring people back to the dorm whenever you feel like it. Second, don't walk around naked in the dorm. Third, don't snore when you sleep. Fourth, don't bother me.”

“Fifth, I was the one who cleaned the dorm before you arrived, and I even made your bed for you. So from now on, you're responsible for cleaning the dorm.”

...

Chapter 33: Wang Dong

Hearing this, Huo Yuhao glanced at his neatly made bed, then looked up in surprise at his roommate, who was blushing and glaring at him with puffed-up cheeks.

“That was nice of you. Thanks.”

Wang Dong’s cheeks grew even hotter. She awkwardly turned her head away and stubbornly replied, “Who was trying to be nice to you? That mess was just too dirty. I couldn’t stand looking at it.”

Then, as if suddenly remembering something, she resumed her haughty demeanor. “Don’t change the subject. Can you follow those rules or not?”

Seeing how quickly her attitude changed, Huo Yuhao replied helplessly, “I can handle the cleaning for a few extra days, but why should I listen to you about everything else?”

Wang Dong snorted. “If you don’t listen to me, I’ll beat you out of this dorm. Try me if you don’t believe it.”

Huo Yuhao clearly wasn’t intimidated. He looked calmly at Wang Dong, the corners of his lips curling upward. “Sure. How do you want to try?”

Seeing that he showed no intention of backing down, Wang Dong sensed that something was off. But the words were already out of her mouth. How could she take them back now? If she did, wouldn’t she lose all authority in this dorm from now on?

“No Martial Souls. Just hand-to-hand combat. Are you in?”

Ever since she was little, her Da Ming and Er Ming stepfathers had tempered her body with rare treasures and elixirs, giving her physical strength far beyond that of ordinary people. As long as her opponent was below Level 30, beating him should be effortless.

Huo Yuhao hadn’t expected her to propose something like that. He immediately took a stance, extended one hand, and calmly beckoned her forward.

“Come on.”

At that moment, Huo Yuhao was genuinely moved. Ever since he started reading novels, he had yet to encounter a single evenly matched opponent, so he’d never gotten the chance to try out any of the techniques he’d learned from them.

Since Wang Dong had suggested this herself, he was more than happy to let her experience the “Sunflower Pressure-Point Palm” and the “Great Qiankun Transference.”

The moment he finished speaking, Wang Dong could no longer tolerate his provocative attitude. She lunged forward, her fist slicing through the air as it shot straight toward Huo Yuhao’s shoulder.

Huo Yuhao simply slid one step to the side and easily avoided the punch.

After several attacks missed in succession, Wang Dong began to feel uneasy, and her assault grew increasingly frantic. Yet whether she punched or kicked, Huo Yuhao always seemed to anticipate her movements and dodge in advance.

As he evaded her attacks, Huo Yuhao even began critiquing her. “Your forehand has no power, your backhand is sloppy, your footwork is loose, and your reactions are slow. Not one of your movements is decent, and you still want to spar with me?”

“Shut up!”

Humiliated and furious, Wang Dong planted her left foot firmly, raised her right leg high into a standing split, then brought it straight down toward Huo Yuhao in a vertical axe kick.

This time, Huo Yuhao didn’t dodge. He quickly stepped in close and smoothly raised a hand, catching and supporting her calf.

The moment her warm, slender calf settled into his palm, Wang Dong’s entire body stiffened.

Huo Yuhao applied a little force and used her imbalance against her, turning her slightly before pinning her against the wall.

The distance between them closed in an instant, their breaths mingling. One of Wang Dong’s legs was still held up by Huo Yuhao, leaving her trapped between him and the wall in a rather ridiculous position.

Huo Yuhao was a little surprised to discover that Wang Dong, despite being a boy, carried a faint, fresh fragrance that smelled quite pleasant.

Her body was also remarkably resilient and supple, with an unexpected softness and warmth to it. Thinking that, he gave Wang Dong’s calf another squeeze.

Wang Dong’s fair cheeks instantly turned bright red. She tried to struggle, but couldn’t exert any strength, so she hurriedly protested, “Put me down!”

“I’ll put you down if you admit defeat.”

“You...”

There was no way she wanted to admit defeat, but if she had to stay in this position any longer...

“No fighting in the dormitory!”

Several upperclassmen shouted from outside, and the previously closed door suddenly swung open.

They had heard the sounds of fighting from the hallway and sensed something was wrong, so they hurried inside. What they found were two handsome young men pressed face-to-face against the wall in an extremely suggestive position.

“...”

Everyone fell silent at once.

“Ha... hahaha... Um, next time you do this sort of thing, keep it down, okay? Sorry for interrupting!”

The senior in front gave them a well-meaning reminder, then immediately shut the door.

“Senior, why didn’t you stop them?”

“Shut up. You need to learn to respect everyone’s choices. And none of you are allowed to spread this around. I just didn’t expect them to get this far after only a few days. At this rate, we’ll probably have to turn the lights out early every night.”

Every word of their conversation outside slipped through the gap in the door and reached the two inside perfectly clearly.

“...”

“I admit defeat. Put me down.”

Wang Dong’s face was so red it looked ready to bleed. She couldn’t take it anymore, and her eyes carried a faint look of despair and resignation.

Seeing this, Huo Yuhao released her. Wang Dong stumbled half a step before regaining her balance, then immediately collapsed onto her bed.

“My reputation... It’s ruined. Completely ruined. When people see me with him from now on, who knows what kind of nonsense they’ll imagine...”

Huo Yuhao looked at Wang Dong, who was muttering under her breath, and asked in confusion, “What did they mean by turning the lights out early?”

Wang Dong stiffened and immediately fell silent.

“...”

When she refused to answer, Huo Yuhao continued, “It’s not that I can’t accept the rules you mentioned. But what I want is respect, not to be ordered around!”

Wang Dong didn’t reply. Instead, she pulled the blanket over her face. Then, as though remembering something, she lowered it again.

“Wang Dong.”

“What?”

“My name. Wang Dong.”

“I’m Huo Yuhao. Let’s get along from now on.”

The heat still hadn’t completely faded from Wang Dong’s cheeks. She awkwardly turned onto her side and muttered, “I know. You talk too much. Since we’re supposed to respect each other, we’ll take turns cleaning from now on... No, wait. You still owe me a few extra days to make up for earlier. And what happened just now... you’re not allowed to tell anyone!”

Huo Yuhao replied softly, “No problem.”

Once Huo Yuhao agreed, Wang Dong pulled the blanket over her entire body again.

He looks so cute, but I never expected him to be such a tough nut. Just to avoid a few extra days of cleaning, he put me in such an embarrassing position. I’ve completely lost face. From now on... no, at least for today, I’m not saying another word to you!

Huo Yuhao...

At the same time, Huo Yuhao stared at Wang Dong, who had already fallen asleep, in disbelief.

It was still only afternoon. How could he possibly fall asleep so easily?

They had already gotten into a conflict on their very first day, but it didn’t seem like a serious problem. The real question was what he should do tonight.

Maybe it would be better to stay away for a while and let things settle down before coming back in a few days.

With that thought, Huo Yuhao quietly got up, gently opened the door, and prepared to stay at Sister Luochen’s courtyard for a few days.

...

When Ling Luochen saw Huo Yuhao return, she exclaimed in delight, “Yuhao, what brings you back?”

“Um, Sister Luochen, about that guest room... could I stay there for a few days?”

“Of course. Xiao Yuhao can stay as long as you want.”

Ling Luochen secretly rejoiced. She had no idea why Xiao Yuhao had come back, but whatever the reason, it was definitely a good thing.

...

“Whoa, how did I just fall asleep like that? You didn’t even wake me up.”

Wang Dong abruptly sat up in bed and looked outside. The sky had already grown dark, leaving her somewhat annoyed. Now she would have no choice but to spend the night cultivating.

“Huh? Where’s Huo Yuhao?”

They had been fighting fiercely earlier that day, yet now the dormitory was completely empty. Strangely, the silence only made her feel uncomfortable.

“Where did he run off to?”

Wang Dong frowned, feeling both irritated and awkward. Was that guy deliberately avoiding her? Seriously, it wasn’t like he had been the one who suffered...

She puffed out her cheeks and paced back and forth near the door, tempted to go out and look for him. But the moment she remembered what had happened earlier that day, she sulkily turned around and went back to her bed.

...

Chapter 34: Xian Lin'er’s Surprise

The Soul Tool Department under Xian Lin'er had never produced particularly impressive results.

Shrek had completely neglected the development of Soul Tools in the past, and even now, nearly every student who came here was focused on cultivating their Martial Soul rather than studying Soul Tools.

If Elder Mu had not seen such promise in Soul Tools and continuously supported her efforts to develop the department, the Soul Tool Department might already have been on its way out of Shrek.

Even then, that damn Yan Shaozhe and Elder Xuan, who was always biased toward Martial Soul development, kept fighting her over funding and students.

It infuriated her!

That was why she had spent so long pleading with Elder Mu this time, specifically to make some changes to freshman admissions.

Previously, freshmen had to pass the Martial Soul Department's Freshman Assessment before they were even qualified to apply for the Soul Tool Department.

This year was different. She had specifically created an Experimental Class. The class would still include the Martial Soul Department's assessment, but it would also add tests from the Soul Tool Department. If someone displayed sufficient talent, the Soul Tool Department could grant special approval and allow them to advance directly into further study.

Seriously, demanding both exceptional Martial Soul talent and exceptional Soul Tool talent from the same student. What kind of ridiculous requirement was that?

Since this was the very first Experimental Class, Xian Lin'er wanted to show just how important it was. As the Dean of the Soul Tool Department, she decided to serve as its homeroom teacher herself.

Unfortunately, there did not seem to be many freshmen interested in it.

Xian Lin'er idly flipped through the class roster and found only a handful of names.

Huh?

Her gaze stopped on Huo Yuhao's photograph.

Wasn't this kid the genius whose first Soul Ring was already a 1,000-Year Soul Ring?

With talent like that, he was still willing to join the Experimental Class.

Looks like she really had struck gold after all.

...

The next day, inside the freshman teaching building, Huo Yuhao stared at the handful of students scattered throughout the classroom and silently fell into thought.

Was this really the right number of students?

On the way to Shrek, Bei Bei had told Huo Yuhao quite a bit about Soul Tools. On top of that, back when he had been short on Soul Power, things like the lighter had genuinely been useful. Naturally, he had become curious about how Soul Tools were actually made.

Besides, relying on the academy's teachers to help him cultivate his Martial Soul probably would not be much use anyway. Their lessons could hardly compare with the little classes held inside his Spirit Sea Realm.

In short, after hearing the senior from the admissions office explain the Experimental Class at the start of the semester, Huo Yuhao had signed up.

But with this few people, could they really even run the class?

Just as Huo Yuhao was wondering about that, a beautiful woman walked into the classroom.

She was tall, around 1.7 meters, with short mint-green hair and a fitted blue-black outfit. Her entire appearance gave off a sharp, capable air.

“Hello, everyone. First of all, congratulations on passing the first round of testing and entering Shrek Academy. I also want to congratulate you for choosing the academy's newly established Experimental Class.”

“I am your homeroom teacher, as well as the Dean of the entire Soul Tool Department, Xian Lin'er!”

At those words, all the students, Huo Yuhao included, were stunned.

The dean was going to be their homeroom teacher?

Every dean at Shrek was a Titled Douluo-level powerhouse, and the Dean of the Soul Tool Department was also a Class 8 Soul Engineer.

And she was going to teach their class personally?

Had Shrek run out of teachers?

“I imagine many of you are wondering why I'm personally serving as your homeroom teacher.”

Xian Lin'er rested one hand against the lectern, her expression turning serious. “The reason is simple. This Experimental Class represents the hope of the Soul Tool Department's future. That's why I'll be personally leading this year's class!”

“From now on, your Martial Soul Cultivation classes and theory courses will proceed as normal. As for Soul Tool theory, device forging, and circuit research, I will personally teach all of them.”

“I'll also take you to observe and participate in the creation of Soul Tools. As long as you show enough talent, I'll personally take care of any problems concerning the Entrance Examination!”

As soon as she finished speaking, the previously quiet classroom came alive with murmured discussion.

“Alright. Huo Yuhao, tell me what you understand about the current offensive and defensive systems.”

Huo Yuhao was sitting beside the window in the back row. He was somewhat surprised that Xian Lin'er had called on him by name, but he still stood up and thought for a moment before answering.

“Teacher, I believe the emergence of Soul Tools has already blurred the boundaries of the traditional offense-defense system.”

“For example, even a Food System Soul Master can use a sufficiently powerful Offensive Soul Tool to unleash destructive power comparable to a Battle Soul Master.”

“Likewise, a Battle Soul Master can use Defensive Soul Tools to temporarily fill the role of an Auxiliary System Soul Engineer. Because of Soul Tools, combat between Soul Masters has become far more flexible than it was ten thousand years ago.”

“However...”

Huo Yuhao shifted his point and continued, “Although Soul Tools can widen the gap between two people to a certain extent, they can't change the fundamentals. The more powerful a Soul Tool is, the stronger the Soul Master needed to control it. Once you reach the higher levels, Soul Tools actually stop making such a large difference.”

“Mm. Very good.”

Xian Lin'er nodded in satisfaction.

It seemed he was genuinely interested in Soul Tools rather than having signed up for the class on a whim.

More importantly, the issue he had pointed out was precisely the criticism commonly raised by Soul Masters from the Martial Soul Department. At present, even high-tier Soul Tools had great difficulty posing any real threat to Super Douluo.

“Huo Yuhao's assessment is essentially correct, so I won't elaborate further. As for what Soul Tools are truly capable of, I'll take you to the research institute now and let you see for yourselves.”

She paused before adding, “Huo Yuhao, come see me afterward.”

...

Inside the office, Xian Lin'er clasped her hands together and looked at the well-behaved Huo Yuhao standing before her. A gentle smile appeared on her face.

“Huo Yuhao, your file says that you already possess two 1,000-Year Soul Rings. With your talent, you're practically guaranteed to become a Core Disciple of the Martial Soul Department in the future. Can you tell me why you chose this class?”

Why else would there be? Wasn't it simply because he was interested?

Huo Yuhao's thoughts raced before he answered, “Teacher, I actually think my Martial Soul is quite suitable for this.”

“Your Martial Soul?”

“Yes. My Martial Soul is the Spiritual-type ‘Spirit Eyes.’ Um... would you like to experience it for yourself?”

“Body Soul? Spiritual-type?!”

The moment Xian Lin'er heard that, her interest surged.

Good grief.

This kid was practically born for the Soul Tool Department!

“Go ahead, go ahead.”

“Okay.”

Huo Yuhao agreed. His 1,000-Year Soul Ring lit up, and his eyes instantly turned golden as he activated Spiritual Detection Sharing on Xian Lin'er.

In an instant, everything within a hundred-meter radius of the office was transformed into a clear, three-dimensional image and presented directly inside Xian Lin'er's mind.

And it was not limited to ordinary vision.

Even the internal contours of metal structures could be clearly detected.

This feeling was incredible...

Xian Lin'er suddenly snapped back to her senses and stared at Huo Yuhao, who was still maintaining the Soul Skill.

She immediately rose to her feet, gently placed both hands on his shoulders, and leaned in close.

Her tall figure bent slightly forward. Her warm breath brushed softly across Huo Yuhao's forehead, while the blazing intensity in her eyes seemed ready to spill over as she fixed her gaze firmly on him.

Huo Yuhao from my class has the potential to reach Level 9!

“Become my disciple, Huo Yuhao! As long as you become my disciple, most of the Soul Tool Department's resources will be devoted to you!”

“With your talent, the Martial Soul Department might favor you and give you a few things that other Core Disciples wouldn't receive, but that's as far as they'll go. I won't stop there! As long as you're willing to learn from me, I'll do anything you ask!”

...

Chapter 35: Wang Dong Loves Running Laps

“So? Give me twenty years at most, and I guarantee you’ll become a Titled Douluo!”

“After that, whether you want to become Dean of the Soul Tool Department or an Elder of the Sea God Pavilion, you’ll definitely make it!”

Seeing the look on Xian Lin'er’s face, as if she wanted to swallow him whole, Huo Yuhao found it difficult to refuse. “Um, Teacher, could you let me try it first?”

...

Huo Yuhao sat at a metal table and, under Xian Lin'er’s guidance, carefully carved a walnut-sized hexagonal piece of metal.

As simple patterns gradually spread across the entire piece, the golden light in Huo Yuhao’s eyes faded. He put down the carving knife and infused Soul Power into the metal.

A moment later, faint blue light began pulsing across its surface.

“Excellent! You succeeded on your very first attempt. I knew I hadn’t misjudged you, Huo Yuhao.”

...

In Class 1, Wang Dong’s appearance was so beautiful that she outshone even most girls. The seats around her had already been claimed by female classmates, leaving her surrounded like the center of attention.

Wang Dong secretly sighed to herself. The dorms might be awful, but the girls at Shrek were actually pretty attractive.

Of course, none of them could compare to her.

Then Wang Dong suddenly thought of Huo Yuhao. She glanced around the classroom and realized he did not seem to be in this class.

Seriously. I didn’t see Huo Yuhao when I woke up this morning either. I already apologized to him. I even wanted to say something else to him.

On the other side of the classroom, one of the boys gritted his teeth in frustration. “Damn it. That guy’s only a little better-looking. He’s even shorter than all of us...”

The boy beside him snorted and whispered, “Don’t worry about it. I’ll tell you a secret, but don’t tell anyone else. Before school even started, that guy and his roommate...”

“What? Tsk, tsk. They’re really that wild? Where’d you hear that?”

“You don’t need to know.”

“...”

The bell rang.

An elderly woman with gray hair tied into a bun and a face covered in wrinkles walked up to the lectern in just a few steps. Despite her age, her posture was firm, and everything about her screamed that she was not someone to mess with.

Faced with such an intimidating teacher, the classroom instantly fell silent.

The old woman swept her gaze across the students before speaking in a hoarse voice. “My name is Zhou Yi, and I’m your homeroom teacher. I don’t know how many of you will still be able to stay in my class by the end.”

“But let me make one thing clear. No trash will ever pass the assessment in my class. I’m here to train monsters, not idiots.”

Quite a few students looked uncomfortable after hearing that.

She was already calling them trash on the very first day. What would they be reduced to later?

Zhou Yi paid no attention to their expressions. Instead, she gave a faint smile. “Anyone who has gotten into a fight inside the academy over the past few days, stand up!”

What kind of nonsense is that?

The students exchanged bewildered looks.

It was only the first day. What lunatic would already have gotten into a fight?

“Hey, do you think what those two did counts as ‘fighting’?”

“Yeah. Definitely.”

Wang Dong’s expression grew even darker.

Could they possibly whisper any louder?

She looked around and saw that not a single person had stood up.

Was she really going to be the first?

No way.

Wang Dong simply turned her gaze toward the window and ignored the whole thing.

Come to think of it, if Huo Yuhao were in this class, would he stand up?

“Not a single one?”

Zhou Yi raised an eyebrow, contempt creeping into her voice.

“What a bunch of useless trash! Haven’t you heard that anyone who doesn’t dare cause trouble is mediocre? All of you, get outside and run one hundred laps around Shrek Square. Anyone who can’t finish can get out of here!”

The moment Zhou Yi finished speaking, the classroom erupted.

“Teacher, I refuse to accept this! Why are we being punished for not fighting?”

“Exactly! What kind of rule is that? It’s only the first day...”

“Why? Because I’m your homeroom teacher, and I have the authority to expel any student I want. If you don’t like it, you can leave!”

As Zhou Yi spoke, six Soul Rings instantly appeared beside her. Two yellow, two purple, and two black.

The overwhelming pressure of her aura immediately silenced everyone.

“You have one minute. If I don’t see you running laps by then, you’re all expelled!”

Hearing that, the other students hurried out with their tails between their legs, leaving only Wang Dong behind.

Zhou Yi looked at her curiously. “What? You still have something to say?”

“Um, Teacher... I actually did get into a fight.”

Zhou Yi immediately became interested. “Oh? Good. At least you’ve got some backbone. Who did you fight?”

“...My roommate.”

“Fighting with your roommate can help both of you improve. Not bad. Who won?”

“...It was a draw.”

“That’s acceptable too. Remember, Shrek Academy has always kept its rules fairly loose because we want our students to develop their individuality. The academy generally turns a blind eye to fighting. Of course, there are limits...”

With a smile on her face, Zhou Yi carefully explained her philosophy on combat to Wang Dong.

“Alright. Go run now.”

What?

Wasn’t the punishment supposed to be for the people who hadn’t fought?

Wang Dong froze, her pinkish-blue eyes widening in disbelief. “Teacher, I admitted that I fought. Why do I still have to run laps?”

“You got into a fight on your very first day and didn’t even win. How promising. Go train harder and make sure you beat your opponent next time! I’ll give you extra time. Now go run one hundred and fifty laps.”

“One hundred and fifty?!”

Wang Dong felt as though the sky had collapsed.

If she had known this would happen, she never would have said anything.

Now she had earned herself another fifty laps!

Wang Dong wanted to protest, but when she met Zhou Yi’s murderous expression, the words died in her throat. She reluctantly turned and ran outside.

You damn old hag. Just you wait!

...

Huo Yuhao had already left the Soul Tool Department.

Not only that, there was now a Soul Tool Department Core Disciple badge in his pocket, one Xian Lin'er had personally shoved into his hands.

There was nothing he could do about it.

She had simply offered him too much.

Who could possibly withstand that kind of temptation?

Feeling Xian Lin'er’s enthusiasm, a trace of warmth rose in Huo Yuhao’s heart.

Just then, his gaze casually swept across Shrek Square, and his footsteps abruptly stopped.

Across the enormous square, a group of freshmen were running under the blazing sun.

At the very front was a slender, dazzling figure.

Wasn’t that his good roommate, Wang Dong?

Wang Dong’s snow-white forehead was covered in beads of sweat. A few loose strands of hair, damp with perspiration, clung to either side of her flushed cheeks.

Somehow, she looked even prettier than before.

Thinking back to what had happened earlier, Huo Yuhao decided he would wait until she finished running and invite her to eat together.

They were roommates, after all.

And so, even after everyone else had finished their laps, Huo Yuhao noticed that Wang Dong was still running.

What was going on?

Did Wang Dong actually like running laps?

Seeing how heavily she was breathing, Huo Yuhao glanced around and noticed that no one was paying attention to them.

His gaze lowered slightly. A faint green light quietly appeared in his eyes as the “Eye of the Azure Ruins” activated.

In an instant, gentle greenish-blue Soul Power silently enveloped Wang Dong.

Running in the distance, Wang Dong suddenly sensed an extremely familiar feeling.

Her legs, which had been on the verge of giving out, immediately felt much lighter. Even the burning sensation in her chest vanished completely.

She faltered for a moment, confusion filling her heart.

Still, she gritted her teeth and decided to finish her laps first.

...

“What is this? The aura of the Goddess of Life?”

Tang San, who was in the middle of a meeting, turned his gaze toward the benevolent-looking Goddess of Life.