The thought of finally defeating Huo Yuhao made Dai Huabin tremble with excitement.
"The disgrace of last semester will be washed away this term! I'll show everyone that the dignity of the White Tiger Duke's household is not to be trampled upon by just anyone—not even Shrek Academy!"
Although Dai Yaoheng's death didn't matter much to him, Dai Huabin did receive the full backing of the Duke's estate as a result. For that, he had to begrudgingly say, "Thanks, I guess~."
However, in his fervent focus on Huo Yuhao, Dai Huabin completely missed the subtle glances cast by Zhu Lu, who was beside him. Her eyes on Huo Yuhao grew increasingly complex.
Because Zhu Lu had felt a stronger spirit resonance from Huo Yuhao!
What did that mean?
It meant that there might be a Spirit Fusion Technique between her and Huo Yuhao as well!
But… how could that be possible?
No one had ever heard of the Netherworld Civet martial soul fusing with anything other than the White Tiger bloodline to create a fusion technique!
Zhu Lu found herself conflicted. She didn't know how to break this news to Dai Huabin.
More than that, she feared that this revelation might affect her relationship with Dai Huabin—or worse, damage the alliance between the White Tiger Duke's estate and the Zhu family.
Ever since the incident with the Duke's eldest son Dai Yaoheng, the White Tiger Duke's household had grown hypersensitive.
Zhu Lu's parents—the heads of the Zhu family—had already warned her: You may interact with Dai Huabin normally, but do not get involved in any affairs related to the White Tiger Duke's estate.
If the Duke's family got the impression that the Zhu family was trying to meddle, they might pin Dai Yaoheng's disgrace onto the Zhu clan.
Despite their centuries-long marriage alliance, the Duke's family had always remained wary of the Zhu family, fearing "external relatives interfering in governance."
Meanwhile, Huo Yuhao himself had sensed it too—his White Tiger bloodline resonated with Zhu Lu, making his Evil Eye martial soul stir.
This… was the real feeling of a spirit fusion technique.
For fusion techniques that arose through bloodline inheritance, the so-called compatibility boiled down to whether both parties had equally powerful and high-standard bloodlines.
Clearly, Huo Yuhao's bloodline had met the mark.
"Come to think of it… should I be calling Zhu Lu 'Sister-in-law' now?" Huo Yuhao suddenly perked up.
In this game of survival, the golden rule was clear:
Backstab your allies, seduce your brother's girl, and betray your friends!
In the classroom—
Wang Dong no longer paid as much attention to Huo Yuhao as in the previous semester. It seemed some kind of obsession was fading away—likely due to some backup plan of a certain God King kicking in.
Now Wang Dong chatted happily with her two companions, Xiao Xiao and Rhine, teasing them until their faces turned red with embarrassment.
Yep, a real "King of the Girls."
But what would happen when Wang Dong eventually crossed paths with Jin Qiu'er?
Would it be double the joy—or double the trouble?
As for Ning Tian, she still wanted to get closer to Huo Yuhao but hadn't yet found a good opportunity.
Still, she wasn't as desperate as last semester—she was biding her time.
This, in turn, made Wu Feng glare at Huo Yuhao with hatred, gnashing her teeth in frustration.
After a long break, the students of Class 1 happily exchanged stories of their holiday adventures, full of laughter and chatter.
Sadly, the arrival of Huang Tao and Wang Yan shattered that joyful atmosphere.
Because they brought news of the advancement assessment!
"Classmates, a new semester has begun. Welcome back to Shrek Academy, and to our second-year Class 1 family!"
"However, before we fully start the semester, you'll need to undergo a test—to verify your progress over the last term and holiday."
"For those who don't pass… I'm afraid I'll have to say sorry."
"But I believe in all of you! You can do it!"
Believe all you want—reality's still reality. A little motivational soup might help the students perform better though.
And indeed, the pep talk worked well.
Most of the class cheered excitedly.
Huang Tao then gave the stage to Wang Yan, who began explaining the advancement assessment.
It was a one-on-one battle against a soul beast.
No team-ups—no piggybacking on powerful classmates.
Soul masters from Class 4, who weren't skilled in combat, would be evaluated with a different method.
Huo Yuhao's former teammate Lulu was now in Class 4.
As for Huo Yuhao, he wasn't worried about the assessment.
He was more concerned about how to make his performance look as flashy as possible.
"If I go too over-the-top, will I scare these little newbies?"
But then again, Shrek Academy probably wanted him to be as over-the-top as possible.
At that moment, a loud commotion outside the classroom interrupted Wang Yan's speech, causing Huang Tao to frown.
"Who's making such a racket on the field? Don't they know class is in session?" Huang Tao complained.
Everyone turned to look out the window, and Huo Yuhao subtly activated his Spiritual Detection.
Soon, everyone's eyes were focused on the field.
There, unexpectedly, Zhou Yi, who was supposed to have resigned, stood fuming at a group of new students.
"Shrek Academy doesn't need students who pretend to respect teachers but are defiant inside! Pack your bags and get out—you've been expelled! You are no longer a student of Shrek Academy!" she shouted, still wearing her elderly woman's disguise, berating a blonde girl and a few other freshmen.
The blonde girl stared back at Zhou Yi with stubborn defiance, clearly not backing down.
"Yo, isn't that the Three-Eyed Golden Lion?" Huo Yuhao perked up with interest.
Class 1 students started whispering:
"Isn't that Zhou Yi the old hag? What's she doing teaching freshmen?"
"Heh, you don't know? I heard she was hated and ostracized by her previous class to the point that she resigned. Looks like she's been reassigned to teach new students. Poor freshmen."
"Hahaha, serves her right. Guess she's stuck as the 'Freshman Specialist.'"
"No matter how you slice it, she'll never climb the ranks at Shrek Academy again."
"Whoa, that new girl's so pretty… poor thing. That evil hag dares to expel such a beauty? She's begging for a beating!"
In truth, it was thanks to Fan Yu's efforts that Zhou Yi was reassigned to teach freshmen.
If she didn't get another chance to teach, her reputation would be ruined for good—an eternal stain on her career.
There was no way Zhou Yi would accept that.
So, she was put in charge of the last freshman class, which happened to include Jin Qiu'er, who'd registered at the very last moment.
This time, Zhou Yi was determined to reclaim everything she had lost!
She was going to train outstanding students and prove to those who mocked and disdained her that refusing her guidance was the biggest mistake of their lives.
She would make them regret it.
It was truly a "reborn immortal emperor" vibe.
Zhou Yi was now stricter than ever.
Unfortunately, unlike certain ancient sages who knew to pick disciples with talent, Zhou Yi hadn't realized—
This batch had a Tyrannosaurus Rex.
Following her usual methods, Zhou Yi tried to establish dominance by singling out a few students for harsh discipline and potential expulsion.
Her voice was harsh and grating, full of bitter sarcasm. Clearly, she was venting her own frustrations too.
But Jin Qiu'er, born noble and proud, had never suffered such humiliation.
She immediately activated her Golden Dragon martial soul, summoned her Golden Dragon Spear, and charged straight at Zhou Yi.
Jin Qiu'er: I'm gonna beat the shit outta you!The golden dragon spirit possessed her.
Jin Qiu'er's appearance became much more mature—like a girl of sixteen or seventeen. She was shrouded in a dark golden radiance, yet there were no signs of dragonification.
Then, brandishing her Golden Dragon Spear, Jin Qiu'er leapt straight toward Zhou Yi.
Huo Yuhao, who had been using Spiritual Detection to monitor them both, suddenly noticed something—Zhou Yi didn't panic at all. In fact, she looked utterly confident, as if everything was within her control.
"What is this old witch scheming?" Huo Yuhao was puzzled.
Though Zhou Yi had some screws loose, she was far from hopelessly foolish. On the contrary, she could be very cunning in certain situations.
Unusual behavior meant something unnatural was afoot.
Clearly, Zhou Yi had grander intentions.
Just as Jin Qiu'er struck, Zhou Yi also activated her martial spirit, as though she had anticipated this all along.
"Red Dragon, Possession!"
Yellow, yellow, purple, purple, black, black—six soul rings emerged in sequence.
The aura of a Soul Emperor radiated from Zhou Yi, her flair for dramatic display on full blast.
She clasped one hand behind her back and raised the other gently to grasp Jin Qiu'er's Golden Dragon Spear, the stance of a master evident in every motion.
She wasn't afraid of Jin Qiu'er attacking—in fact, she was afraid the girl wouldn't.
Having reviewed the new student records, Zhou Yi naturally knew Jin Qiu'er's profile.
Twelve years old. Golden Dragon Martial Soul. Rank 30 Soul Elder with a yellow, purple, purple soul ring configuration.
Though unfamiliar with the Golden Dragon Martial Soul, Zhou Yi was sure of one thing—it had to be a high-level dragon-type martial soul.
After all, that's the only way Jin Qiu'er could have absorbed a thousand-year purple soul ring for her second ring.
Don't think just eating Whale Glue guarantees you can absorb a thousand-year soul ring at your second ring—without a powerful martial soul, even a chance would be wasted.
No influential clan would let a gifted youngster risk their life on just a second ring—there's no point gambling on something so minor.
In the original story, it was Wang Dong who explained the Golden Dragon Martial Soul, revealing to Zhou Yi and Huo Yuhao the legends surrounding the Dragon God's twin offspring—the Golden Dragon and Silver Dragon.
But was that really a birth?
No—it was the Dragon God splitting apart!
Never mind the history—just ask yourself, isn't that wild enough?
Zhou Yi may not have known all that, but she was confident.
Because her Red Dragon Martial Soul was also a dragon-type!
Jin Qiu'er, with three rings and a thousand-year second soul ring, had the qualifications to be her disciple.
That's right—Zhou Yi wanted to take Jin Qiu'er as her disciple!
Over the break, Zhou Yi had reflected deeply and come to a realization.
Huang Tao became Class One's homeroom teacher all because he got lucky with a freak like Huo Yuhao.
Even Yan Shaozhe showed favoritism toward Huang Tao and Huo Yuhao.
And in the end, Huo Yuhao even became Yan Shaozhe's personal disciple!
To Zhou Yi, this was outrageously unfair.
Shrek's glory was being sullied by these people!
But it also made Zhou Yi realize something: she needed a standout disciple—a flagbearer—so others wouldn't question her anymore. Only then would they respect her. Admire her.
And Jin Qiu'er, with a dragon-type martial soul and even more talent than Wang Dong, was the perfect candidate.
Only a genius like her was worthy of Zhou Yi's guidance.
Today, Zhou Yi had deliberately suppressed Jin Qiu'er just to provoke her into fighting. Then she could show her strength and subdue Jin Qiu'er, smoothly recruiting her as a disciple.
A thousand years ago, someone at rank 29 took a certain "San" as his disciple and made a name for himself.
Now, a thousand years later, Zhou Yi, a rank-60 Soul Emperor, could also take Jin Qiu'er as her disciple—and justify herself!
Jin Qiu'er, meanwhile, played right into her plan. Just a few sharp words from Zhou Yi and she lost her cool—arguing back and even striking out.
As for Zhou Yi venting her emotions on the girl?
Well, that was just a stress-resistance test.
And clearly, Jin Qiu'er didn't score well. She still needed refining.
"She's just the kind of disciple I'm looking for. Now I just need to suppress—"
Zhou Yi was still thinking about how to subdue Jin Qiu'er...
But Jin Qiu'er's Golden Dragon Spear blew her hand away.
With a burst of extreme power, the spear pierced straight through Zhou Yi's body, catching her before she could even react.
Pfft—
The Golden Dragon Spear impaled Zhou Yi cleanly.
As effortlessly as piercing paper.
Zhou Yi looked down in disbelief at the hole through her torso, then up at Jin Qiu'er, her eyes filled with shock and fear she couldn't even articulate.
"How... is this... possible?"
A mere three-ring Soul Elder—how could she hurt her?
But it was real.
What Zhou Yi didn't know was that Jin Qiu'er had hidden her true strength. She was actually over level 50, and with the Golden Dragon Spear and the power of Ultimate force backing her, Zhou Yi stood no chance.
A standard six-ring Soul Emperor like Zhou Yi had no way to defend against that.
Jin Qiu'er, cold and proud, lifted Zhou Yi's body with her spear and flung her across the field, slamming her into the ground and raising a cloud of dust.
Blood poured from Zhou Yi's broken form, dyeing the ground red.
Zhou Yi was completely dazed, unable to stand. She could feel her life slipping away, and for the first time, she was truly terrified.
Jin Qiu'er didn't even understand why Zhou Yi hadn't dodged or defended—but she didn't care. A worthless piece of trash was just that.
To dare insult her—death was the only outcome!
"Hah! So this is what Shrek Academy's teachers amount to?" Jin Qiu'er mocked, eyes full of defiance, her entire presence brimming with rebellion.
The entire training field—first-year students and teachers from other grades alike—were stunned by the scene.
Only after Zhou Yi was sent flying did the surrounding teachers realize the severity of the situation.
Something like this had never happened. Who would have prepared for it?!
"Not good!"
"Quick—save her!"
Sure, a Soul Emperor being instantly defeated by a new student was humiliating. It disgraced the whole teaching staff. But if Zhou Yi actually died, that would be a massive problem.
This wasn't just stabbing Zhou Yi—it was slapping Shrek Academy in the face.
Even Mu Jin, who had been watching from the second-year building, turned pale. She cursed Zhou Yi for being useless even as she jumped out of the window to help.
Most of the teachers ran to where Zhou Yi was lying, while others headed to the training field to maintain order—and quietly surrounded Jin Qiu'er, eyes wary, afraid she might stab someone else.
They'd never seen such a vicious new student.
None of them dared take action—this needed to be handled by the academy's upper echelon.
Someone had already gone to find Du Weilun.
But no one dared attack Jin Qiu'er rashly.
If she dared stab someone in Shrek Academy without flinching, she had to have some kind of backing or special identity.
Everyone knew what kind of place Shrek was. No soul master would dare act wildly here.
And the ones who did dare? They weren't people the average teacher could handle.
Jin Qiu'er's classmates were all trembling. Their little heads were still spinning, trying to figure out what had just happened.
Zhou Yi had belittled Jin Qiu'er. Jin Qiu'er didn't take it. Zhou Yi insulted her even more viciously—and then... Zhou Yi was on the ground.
Was this how things worked at Shrek?
Was it too late to drop out now?
But Jin Qiu'er didn't think anything was wrong. She still stood proudly in place, even occasionally raising her Golden Dragon Spear, glaring at the teachers around her like a predator sizing up prey.
Several teachers felt a chill down their necks.
The commotion was so great, even Yan Shaozhe was alerted.
Soon, someone arrived and took Jin Qiu'er away.
And with that, the incident came to a close.
With no more drama to watch, Huo Yuhao withdrew his Spiritual Detection.
Jin Qiu'er and Zhou Yi had now become infamous in the Outer Court.
However, one was a genius soul master capable of slaying a Soul Emperor, while the other was a fraudulent Soul Emperor who got instantly defeated by a Soul Ancestor.
One was praised, the other nailed to the pillar of shame.
But their incident didn't impact the regular progression of the advancement assessments.
The school didn't publicly announce how it dealt with the two.
Zhou Yi probably wasn't dead—when Huo Yuhao had taken a stroll through the Soul Tool Department, he hadn't seen Fan Yu wearing mourning flowers.
Still, with his disciple missing and his wife in trouble, Fan Yu had obviously been under immense stress lately—his hair had visibly turned white.
In any case, for now, Huo Yuhao hadn't seen Zhou Yi or Jin Qiu'er again.
...
"Everyone listen up! We're heading to the Beast Battling Zone for advancement assessments soon. Make your preparations. But don't be nervous—just show your best side, and I believe most of you will pass."
Wang Yan entered the classroom, ready to take the students to the assessment site.
Generally speaking, students needed at least two soul rings to take part.
Those who hadn't managed to get their second ring before the term started didn't even show up again, avoiding public humiliation.
But even if one had two rings, without sufficient combat power, they'd still fail.
Shrek Academy's advancement assessments were not easy.
After Wang Yan's announcement, everyone straightened up and got serious.
Most students instinctively looked toward Huo Yuhao.
Huo Yuhao slowly stood up, followed closely by a group of girls.
Only then did the rest rise and follow behind.
This was Huo Yuhao's current status in Class One.
A true powerhouse doesn't need to speak or show off—followers gather naturally.
Don't ask why. It's not about strategy—it's all about skills.
Wang Dong glanced at Huo Yuhao, now surrounded by girls like a star, and snorted discontentedly, "Xiao Xiao, Lan Yin, let's go!"
"Oh, okay."
"Mm-hmm."
Xiao Xiao and Lan Yin rose with Wang Dong like wings. They remained loyal to Wang Dong.
Because Wang Dong was just as handsome as Huo Yuhao—if a bit effeminate, he was also more attentive and gentle.
Plus, his talent was impressive.
Most importantly, Huo Yuhao had to be shared among many girls, but Wang Dong belonged to just the two of them.
Though one had to wonder how they'd feel once they discovered Wang Dong's true gender.
Would it be anger at the deception, or a curiosity to try something new?
Someone else who disapproved of Huo Yuhao was his loyal anti-fan—Wu Feng.
"Tch, what's he pretending for?"
In the back of the group, Wu Feng muttered with annoyance.
"Feng-jie, tone it down," Ning Tian quickly tugged at Wu Feng.
"Fine, Young Miss."
"We're outside—stop calling me 'Young Miss.' Just use my name."
"Got it, Young Miss."
"..." Ning Tian was exasperated, then warned, "Feng-jie, I'll be going to take the support-type assessment. You'll be staying with Class One—don't cause any trouble."
Though Ning Tian attended Class One's lessons, her assessment was with the other support-type soul masters.
"Relax, Young Miss! I, Wu Feng, always deliver!" Wu Feng pounded her full chest, causing it to bounce.
Ning Tian hesitated to say more.
It was because she was leaving Wu Feng alone that she couldn't relax!
But if she said that out loud, it would hurt Feng-jie's feelings... what a headache.
Ning Tian and Wu Feng walked at the rear.
Suddenly, they heard a commotion up front.
Their curiosity was piqued, and they peered through the crowd toward the classroom door.
To their surprise, they saw Dai Huabin blocking Huo Yuhao's way.
Dai Huabin, flanked by Zhu Lu, stood in front of the door, facing Huo Yuhao.
Compared to the start of the semester, Dai Huabin had grown taller and more imposing. His once cold expression now had a layer of gloom and arrogance—he looked more mature.
Beside him, Zhu Lu's figure had also become more shapely and refined. She followed behind Dai Huabin silently and faithfully.
Their former teammate, Nine-Tailed Fox soul master Cui Yajie, was now standing beside Huo Yuhao.
After a semester, Cui Yajie exuded even more allure. Her skin had become snow-white, and her spirit shimmered with a faint golden glow.
Facing Dai Huabin and Zhu Lu, Cui Yajie offered a polite smile. She got along better with Zhu Lu, but showed clear disinterest in Dai Huabin.
Without Huo Yuhao, the son of the White Tiger Duke might have been a great catch. Unfortunately, Huo Yuhao was simply more outstanding.
Cui Yajie's subtext: "Don't contact me again. I don't want Hao-ge to misunderstand."
Dai Huabin looked at the crowd around Huo Yuhao with jealousy flashing in his eyes.
That should be his glory!
He must take his place!
Wang Yan, who was about to leave, now paused and watched the scene with interest.
Shrek Academy didn't oppose healthy competition among students.
Huo Yuhao looked at Dai Huabin and Zhu Lu and smiled gently, asking in a soft voice, "Dai Huabin, Zhu Lu, is there something you need?"
"Let's have a match!" Dai Huabin stared intently at Huo Yuhao and declared loudly, "The honor of the White Tiger Duke's House must not be tarnished! Huo Yuhao, I want to challenge you during the advancement assessment—and defeat you—to erase the shame of last year's loss!"
Huo Yuhao (internally): Are you serious?
You're talking about the White Tiger Duke's honor in Shrek Academy?
Bit inappropriate, no?
Though he thought this, Huo Yuhao didn't say it aloud.
Instead, he remained courteous and asked curiously, "And how do you propose we compete?"
"Let's compare our assessment results!"
"And the stakes?"
Placing a wager for a match or duel was standard practice at Shrek.
As he asked, a faint golden light flickered in Huo Yuhao's eyes.
Let me see... what's the most valuable thing you can offer...
Dai Huabin's eyes glazed over for a moment before he blurted out, "I'll bet a ten-thousand-year soul bone! Do you dare?!"
"A soul bone?!"
The crowd erupted.
Huo Yuhao's lips curled into a slight smile.
"Huh?" Zhu Lu stared at Dai Huabin in shock. She wanted to ask if he'd lost his mind.
Wasn't the original bet supposed to be 10,000 gold soul coins?! Why is it suddenly a soul bone?!
The students buzzed with excitement and gossip.
"Is the White Tiger Duke's house really that rich?"
"No wonder they're called nobility! So bold!"
"What a spectacle! What a bombshell!"
Ning Tian frowned slightly.
Even their Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect wasn't this wasteful.
Is this guy just the village landlord's foolish son?
"Still... is this the Duke's scheme, or Dai Huabin's ignorance?"
"He's actually betting a soul bone. Gutsy! Haha, Young Miss, this is going to be good!" Wu Feng was enjoying the drama immensely.
Even Wang Yan, who had been spectating quietly, straightened up, ready to intervene.
The wager was too valuable—it could easily cause trouble.
Huo Yuhao finally spoke, his expression calm as he nodded. "As it happens, I also acquired a ten-thousand-year soul bone over the break. I accept your bet."
The crowd exploded again upon hearing that Huo Yuhao also had a soul bone.
Dai Huabin's eyes flashed with greed.
He already regretted blurting out the soul bone wager earlier, but now that he knew Huo Yuhao had one too, his desire took over.
The White Tiger Duke's household didn't have many spare soul bones.
His own opportunities were even rarer.
If he could secure another soul bone for the Duke's house, his position would be more secure.
Though Dai Yaoheng was dead and he was the only direct heir, other branches of the family also had inheritors of the White Tiger Spirit and were eligible to compete for the Duke's title.
"Wa—" Wang Yan hurried to stop the two, but suddenly felt a wave of dizziness.
One of the girls beside Huo Yuhao spoke, "It's said that the White Tiger Duke is a man of his word, honest and unmatched in style! I'm sure his heir, Dai Huabin, must be the same."
"Of course!" Dai Huabin, spurred by pride and the legacy of the White Tiger Duke, felt his blood boil—he couldn't back down now.
Ignoring everything else, he demanded again, "Do you dare?!"
Huo Yuhao sighed in mock helplessness. "Since you insist so strongly, I'll accept the challenge."
Dai Huabin: "Great! A gentleman's word!"
Huo Yuhao: "Is worth four horses chasing!"
Behind Dai Huabin, Zhu Lu hesitated to speak, but ultimately remembered her father's advice and chose silence.
Still, the look she gave Huo Yuhao became more and more complicated.
She felt like Huo Yuhao was setting a trap for Dai Huabin—but had no proof.
Plus, Huo Yuhao had remained polite throughout.
It was Dai Huabin who seemed aggressive and belligerent.
Thus, Dai Huabin became one of the central figures of the advancement assessment.
He and Huo Yuhao were now surrounded by a crowd of excited students as they walked toward the Beast Battling Zone, drawing a great deal of attention.
Dai Huabin felt a sense of vanity he had never experienced before.
Once everyone had left, Wang Yan finally recovered from the dizziness.
But he didn't have time to worry about himself—he slapped his thigh in alarm.
"This is bad! It's gotten out of hand! I have to inform the Dean immediately!"
Betting soul bones?! How dare they?!
Beast Battle Zone, Arena.
The students of Class One and Class Two had all gathered at the examination site.
Leading Class One at the front, Huo Yuhao was undoubtedly the most flamboyant of them all.
There was no one else like Huo Yuhao, surrounded by a crowd of admiring girls.
As for Dai Huabin, even though he walked alongside Huo Yuhao with an air of arrogance, from an outsider's perspective, his aura was clearly overshadowed. In terms of charisma, he was a full level below Huo Yuhao.
Dai Huabin's handsomeness simply paled in comparison to Huo Yuhao's breathtaking looks.
Moreover, Dai Huabin only had Zhu Lu by his side—who kept stealing glances in Huo Yuhao's direction.
The tingling sensation from their martial soul resonance felt like a feather scratching an itch through a boot—faint and unfulfilling—leaving one craving more.
The arena was elliptical in shape, 187 meters along the long axis, 155 meters along the short axis, and about 57 meters tall at its highest point.
From the outside, the structure had four levels. The bottom three were built with connected archways, supported on either side by stone columns. The fourth level featured decorative pilasters. At four radial points were large arch gates—entrances to the interior viewing corridors of the arena. Inside, the stands were arranged in four tiers from low to high.
The sheer scale and grandeur of the construction could only be described as magnificent.
For nearly all the second-year students, this was their first time visiting. Normally, one could only attend classes in the arena starting in fourth year.
So the first-time visitors were awestruck, overwhelmed by the sheer splendor of what was easily the most majestic building they had ever seen—regardless of their backgrounds.
Even students like Wang Dong of the Hao Tian Sect and Dai Huabin from the Duke White Tiger family were no exception.
The massive and imposing structure commanded a sense of solemn reverence, which tightened the atmosphere.
Except, of course, for Huo Yuhao.
He was the exception.
Because in his usual training routines, Huo Yuhao often came to the arena.
When Xuan Zi got lazy, he'd send Huo Yuhao here to fight soul beasts.
And in order not to kill them, Huo Yuhao had to refrain from using soul power or soul skills—relying solely on his fists and kicks to battle ten-thousand-year soul beasts.
Huang Tao had already arrived.
Seeing Huo Yuhao leading the others in, he smiled and came forward.
"Yuhao, you're here. Get your team in formation."
"Yes, Teacher."
"Hmm? Yuhao, where's your teacher Wang Yan?"
"Teacher Wang Yan? He might have... lost his way in life."
"Huh???"
All second-year students had to collect their promotion assessment forms first. These forms recorded their order of appearance and would be used to register their scores.
After picking up the forms, the students, led by their class advisors, entered the grand arena.
Du Weilun had arrived early. As the chief examiner for the promotion assessments, he was joined by four other instructors responsible for grading. They stood together on a high platform overlooking the entire arena.
Du Weilun's expression was stern and impartial.
Both Class One and Class Two would conduct their assessments here—over a hundred students in total.
At the front of Class Two stood their class monitor: Xie Huanyue.
Upon seeing Huo Yuhao, Xie Huanyue smiled and warmly greeted him.
"Yuhao, long time no see."
"Huanyue, it has been a while. How was your break?"
"Hahaha! You'll see in a bit!"
"Oh? Did you make great progress over the break?"
"Just watch closely~" Xie Huanyue said mysteriously, as if plotting something big.
Huo Yuhao glanced at the aura of luck above Xie Huanyue's head—it was clearly denser than last semester, a sign that he'd received a major opportunity during the break.
Moreover, Xie Huanyue had three fate-mark tags: [Super Talent], [Defense Master], and [Elephant's Fate].
So Huo Yuhao sent his conceptual avatars of the White Tiger and Xuanwu forward in blessing.
"Take good care of my good brother. Trim his luck down a little."
After all, promotion assessments were also a great opportunity to harvest luck.
The Class Two students curiously watched Huo Yuhao, chatting easily with their class monitor. This outer courtyard celebrity had them all intrigued.
Undoubtedly, after Bei Bei and Xu Sanshi, Huo Yuhao was the new rising star of the outer courtyard.
Dai Huabin, on the other hand, noticed that barely anyone paid him any attention—including Xie Huanyue, who didn't even acknowledge him. Standing beside Huo Yuhao only made Dai look like a sidekick.
His expression darkened.
Zhu Lu remained silent.
The soul bone gamble had been Dai Huabin's decision. Zhu Lu hadn't been able to stop him. All she could do now was stay uninvolved and say as little as possible.
If Dai Huabin won, everything would be fine. If he lost and she interfered—she might get caught in the fallout.
It wasn't betrayal—it was survival. That was how the Zhu family lived alongside the Dai family.
No one understood the Dai family better than the Zhu family.
Just before the promotion assessments began, Wang Yan finally arrived—albeit late—and he hadn't brought Yan Shaozhe. Instead, he gave Huo Yuhao and Dai Huabin a very strange look.
Because after hearing about the whole situation, Yan Shaozhe hadn't gotten angry—he laughed. He told Wang Yan not to interfere, saying: "This is Huo Yuhao's opportunity."
Wang Yan was baffled—but deeply shocked.
Truth be told, even Yan Shaozhe didn't really understand either. Dai Huabin had taken multiple beatings from Xuan Zi, and now he thought he could challenge Huo Yuhao?
Wang Yan quietly briefed Huang Tao about the soul bone gamble and Yan Shaozhe's decision.
After hearing the details, Huang Tao's expression became very complicated.
Nearby, the Class Two advisor had the exact expression of an old man using a smartphone on the subway.
"Damn… this young man."
Unlike in the original novel, the two class advisors weren't bitter rivals like Zhou Yi and Mu Jin. On the contrary, Huang Tao and the Class Two advisor got along quite well. So they stood together—and the Class Two advisor overheard everything Wang Yan said.
Since the bet was made openly in front of all of Class One, it was bound to spread, and Wang Yan didn't bother to hide it.
This was beyond prevention. It could only be allowed to run its course.
No one noticed that up on the high platform, Du Weilun's expression suddenly shifted—as if he'd just received some urgent message.
Wang Yan used the final few moments before the assessments to explain some key rules and reminders to the students.
Soon, it was time.
"Silence!" Du Weilun's voice boomed out, reaching every corner of the arena. Instantly, the crowd fell silent.
Then he declared:
"The assessment begins! Class One students, step forward!"
The first student to compete wasn't just the first on the list—they were also the class representative, usually the class monitor.
Huo Yuhao: That's obviously me!
He stepped forward and came to stand before Du Weilun.
Seeing him, Du Weilun's stern face softened considerably as he personally addressed him and asked, as per the procedure:
"What's your primary specialization, and the soul beast year range you've selected?"
"Due to the high number of outstanding students this year, the rules have been updated. Students may now choose to fight soul beasts up to ten thousand years old. For soul beasts under a thousand years, levels go in hundreds. Over a thousand, in thousands."
"Total assessment scores will also be adjusted upward—but the passing score remains the same."
The students were stunned.
You could fight ten-thousand-year soul beasts for the assessment?!
But… who could possibly manage that?
Still, the passing score hadn't changed—which was a relief.
In simple terms, it wouldn't affect ordinary students.
But for the elite students, this was a chance to challenge stronger soul beasts and rack up impressive scores.
The scores didn't have any real benefit—just looked nice.
Even the teachers were caught off guard.
In all their years at Shrek Academy, this was the first time they'd seen the promotion assessment rules change.
Even Du Weilun had only learned about it moments before the start.
But Huo Yuhao just smiled faintly.
"Max it out. I choose a ten-thousand-year soul beast."
Huo Yuhao's choice shocked everyone once again.
Several of the grading teachers frowned, ready to speak up and dissuade him.
But before they could say anything, Du Weilun nodded and agreed, "Alright!"
Everyone: "???"
Is there something wrong with him, or is there something wrong with Huo Yuhao?
Du Weilun didn't even hesitate.
He had personally witnessed Huo Yuhao's training in the Beast Arena. In his eyes, even a ten-thousand-year soul beast seemed a bit too easy.
A ten-thousand-year soul beast was only the limit of the rules, not the limit of Huo Yuhao.
In fact, Du Weilun believed this rule change had been made specifically for Huo Yuhao.
Yan Shaozhe was clearly afraid someone else might get the same score as him!
As Huo Yuhao prepared to step into the Beast Arena, Du Weilun leaned in and whispered a reminder:
"Be careful. Don't cripple or kill the soul beast. You'll lose points—and have to pay damages."
"Got it, Director Du. Don't worry."
Huo Yuhao walked into the Beast Arena.
All eyes were on him.
"Go Yuhao!"
"Class Rep, you got this!"
"Class Rep is the strongest!"
Most of Class One, especially the girls, were cheering him on.
Xie Huanyue asked curiously, "Is Yuhao really confident he can pull this off?"
Dai Huabin stared at the arena with a gloomy expression.
"Just a show-off."
He didn't believe Huo Yuhao could stand up to a ten-thousand-year soul beast. He couldn't even do that—why should Huo Yuhao be able to?
Last year, Huo Yuhao defeated the Evil-Eyed White Tiger because Dai Huabin had been weaker back then. Plus, Huo Yuhao's martial soul was unusual, and he had used poison—cowardly tactics.
But things were different now. Dai Huabin was confident he could face Huo Yuhao head-on.
Basically, Dai Huabin had forgotten the pain once the wound healed.
The storm had passed. The sky was clear. He thought he was invincible again.
So in his mind, Huo Yuhao had picked a ten-thousand-year soul beast just to get attention.
After all, it was his mutated Frost Jade Centipede martial soul doing the fighting, not Huo Yuhao himself. So of course he dared to take risks.
But he could do the same—why not?
Wu Feng felt the same way. But unlike Dai Huabin, she hadn't gotten cocky. She knew she couldn't take on a ten-thousand-year soul beast.
She was more excited to see Huo Yuhao running for his life.
"Wang Dong, what do you think?" Lan Yin asked with interest.
Xiao Xiao also looked toward Wang Dong curiously.
Wang Dong's expression was… complicated.
Could she say that Huo Yuhao killed ten-thousand-year soul beasts like a butcher kills chickens?
During the beast tide, his poisonous fog had left a deep impression on her.
Especially the way that Snowscale Beast died—she still couldn't get it out of her mind.
Inside the Beast Arena—
The iron gate opened, and the roar of the soul beast thundered out first. The roar of a ten-thousand-year soul beast alone sent a chill through everyone's hearts.
A golden figure charged out from the tunnel.
It was a ten-thousand-year Golden Lion, standing three meters tall, its whole body gleaming with golden light. It had immense strength and could unleash powerful sonic attacks.
What made it especially terrifying was its golden bloodline. Its physical strength alone could rival that of a thirty-thousand-year soul beast.
As soon as it appeared, the Golden Lion radiated the dominance of a king, stunning everyone with its presence. Gasps rippled through the crowd.
Huang Tao and a few others instinctively stepped forward, shielding the students and keeping a wary eye on the lion, in case it lost control.
Almost no one noticed the figure of Gong Changlong silently appearing at the edge of the arena after the Golden Lion showed up.
"Xiao Yan's being reckless again... but if it's for Yuhao, I suppose it's fine. Worst case, I'll just work a little harder," Gong Changlong muttered.
Only Huo Yuhao noticed Gong Changlong's arrival—but with the strength he pretended to show, he shouldn't have been able to sense it. So, he just pretended he hadn't.
The moment the Golden Lion saw Huo Yuhao, it suddenly stopped roaring and even took two unconscious steps back.
No kidding—it really was a familiar lion.
There weren't many ten-thousand-year soul beasts in Shrek Academy's beast pens.
And most of them had already been beaten up by Huo Yuhao.
The Golden Lion was no exception.
But it wasn't too afraid of Huo Yuhao.
After all, Huo Yuhao had never shown his true power within the academy.
In the eyes of Mu En and the others, with his powerful poison, Huo Yuhao could easily handle any soul beast below fifty thousand years.
Even his Frost Jade Centipede soul ring had been controlled to stay within the 50,000-year limit.
Don't ask why. Just accept that 50,000 years is a natural bottleneck—hard to surpass.
The Golden Lion, having fought him before, believed it could go toe-to-toe with Huo Yuhao—worst case, it would just get beaten up again.
"Assessment begins!" Du Weilun shouted.
Huo Yuhao instantly activated his martial soul.
He didn't summon the Frost Jade Centipede itself—he directly activated his armor mode.
"Frost Jade Scorpion—Armor Transformation!"
A wave of cold erupted. The phantom of the Frost Jade Centipede rose into the air before falling onto Huo Yuhao, transforming into the Centipede Battle Armor.
The armor covered only his upper and lower torso.
Merged cicada wings on his back fluttered like a cape.
This time, though, something was different.
Countless blood-red rose petals swirled around him.
Purple, black, and ominous!
Four soul rings floated up from beneath his feet.
The crowd collectively gasped.
"Four-ring Soul Ancestor?!"
"What kind of soul ring configuration is that?!"
"Kyaa! Yuhao is so handsome!"
"He's my hubby, no doubt!"
"Yuhao is my hubby!!"
"You wanna fight about it?"
"Bring it on!!"
Dai Huabin, Zhu Lu, Wu Feng—all were in total shock.
"No way! That's impossible!" Dai Huabin said in disbelief.
How could Huo Yuhao have reached Soul Ancestor?
And those third and fourth rings—they were ten-thousand-year rings?!
But no one explained anything to them. The battle had already begun.
Technically, Huo Yuhao was classified as a Control-type, but once his Frost Jade Centipede martial soul manifested as armor, he could easily pass for an Assault-type.
In fact, both Mu En and Yan Shaozhe were already working on dual-training him in both categories.
However, for this advancement exam, Huo Yuhao had signed up as a Control-type—so he had to demonstrate control-oriented abilities in battle.
The focus was: controlling the enemy.
"ROAR!" The Golden Lion let out a battle cry, buffing itself before charging at Huo Yuhao.
It excelled at melee combat.
Normally, Huo Yuhao would've met the charge head-on.
But this time, he bit down on a blood-red rose.
It was the Northern Blood Rose External Soul Bone!
The corpse of that blood rose, used to forge his external soul bone, could also be summoned by Huo Yuhao as a tool or weapon.
When used, it greatly enhanced his ability to control other Blood Rose Wraiths.
Like a wizard's staff.
But he didn't need to hold it in his hand—biting it in his mouth freed up both arms while still activating its effect.
As Huo Yuhao bit down on the blood rose, a vast rose garden bloomed silently beneath his feet, spreading across most of the Beast Arena.
The Golden Lion had already charged into its area.
Then, Huo Yuhao raised both arms above his head, crossing them, hands forming claws aimed forward. His fourth soul ring glowed.
"Witness my new technique!"
He infused the roses with poison and soul power.
Fourth Soul Skill: Poisonous Frenzy!
Northern Blood Rose External Soul Bone—Summon Blood Rose Wraiths!
Combo Skill—
"A Thousand Flowers Bloom—The Frenzy of the Roses!"
The Golden Lion lunged toward him.
In that instant, the blood-red roses on the ground grew rapidly into thick, snaring rose vines, which wrapped around the charging lion.
The vines, laced with potent poison, spread into its body on contact, freezing the beast in place.
Eventually, the lion's claws stopped just one inch from Huo Yuhao's forehead—completely frozen.
Bound mid-air by countless rose vines, frozen in icy poison.
There was even a sort of artistic beauty to the scene.
Huo Yuhao hadn't dodged once.
He remained elegant and calm.
Watching this, Gong Changlong's lips trembled.
He muttered, "Damn… he's such a show-off."