It turned out that the external spirit bone crafted in a semi-spirit tool form was much smoother and easier for Huo Yuhao to use, manipulate, and develop further.
In contrast, the two abilities that came with the hundred-thousand-year Golden Heart Mirror—Golden Tortoise Crystal Wall and Auspicious Protection—couldn't be altered by Huo Yuhao at all.
Most spirit bone techniques were like this.
They were just like game skills: one could only release them as-is, like a fool pressing a button. They couldn't truly be integrated into a soul master's personal abilities or developed further.
Perhaps a few soul masters had managed to push the boundaries due to special circumstances, but they were extremely rare cases and difficult to replicate.
Once the golden lion had been bound and frozen, it was clear—Huo Yuhao had passed the trial.
Binding and freezing—both were control-type abilities, used excellently and powerfully by Huo Yuhao.
In other words—he had control, and strong control at that!
"Ahhh!!!"
"So handsome!!!"
"Girls, I can't take it anymore!"
"I'm wet~"
The female students screamed in frenzy.
Even the male students were shocked by Huo Yuhao's strength. Some of them even began to doubt—were they really in the same grade as this guy?
But then, an unpleasant voice suddenly cut through the excitement.
"He cheated! He cheated!"
Everyone turned toward the sound and saw Dai Huabin, face twisted with fury, shouting loudly.
Zhu Lu tried to hold Dai Huabin back, but he shoved her aside.
Whether someone cheated or not was for the judges to decide. What gave a student like him the right to interfere?
Instead of gaining favor, he was only going to offend people.
"Dai Huabin, what are you talking about?" Huang Tao was sweating.
This wasn't part of the plan!
Huo Yuhao's impressive performance had made Huang Tao quite pleased. But now Dai Huabin was stirring up trouble—Huang Tao wasn't happy at all.
Du Weilun frowned slightly and said in a deep voice, "If I'm not mistaken, you're Dai Huabin from Class One?"
Du Weilun certainly recognized the core disciples.
"That's right," Dai Huabin replied with a nod.
"Why are you accusing Huo Yuhao of cheating?" Du Weilun continued, narrowing his eyes, his tone turning severe. "You do realize that falsely accusing a fellow student could lead to disciplinary action? In severe cases, even the loss of cultivation or expulsion from Shrek Academy! We don't tolerate students who smear others without proof!"
"I know that!" Dai Huabin pointed at Huo Yuhao and shouted, "His martial soul is the Beast-type Ice Jade Centipede, but he was using a rose! That means he's cheating! He must have used an external tool!"
His accusation caused a wave of suspicion among the students.
But while they were confused, Du Weilun's face darkened. He wasn't blind—of course he could tell that Huo Yuhao was using a spirit bone.
"The rules of the promotion exam only prohibit the use of soul tools. They don't ban ordinary weapons or other accessories. Huo Yuhao has not broken any rules."
"What?!" Dai Huabin's eyes bulged in disbelief. "That's cheating..."
"Huabin!" Zhu Lu quickly covered his mouth.
Huo Yuhao was very pleased by Dai Huabin's irrational behavior. He knew that his setup was finally paying off.
And of course Dai Huabin was panicking.
Huo Yuhao had just defeated a ten-thousand-year golden lion. How could Dai Huabin accept such a result?
How was he supposed to defeat Huo Yuhao now?
If he lost, he would have to hand over a ten-thousand-year spirit bone. If that really happened, the Duke White Tiger's household would absolutely punish him severely.
The resources he'd worked so hard to earn would probably be taken away too.
So he panicked—and started lashing out wildly.
To be fair, Dai Huabin's accusation did make some students look at Huo Yuhao with suspicion.
But Du Weilun's face grew even darker. As an instructor, how could he not recognize the presence of a spirit bone?
"The move he used was merely a soul bone technique, fused with his soul ring ability," Huo Yuhao explained. "That was the result you all saw."
"Spirit bone?!"
The students erupted into whispers.
After all, spirit bones were still legendary items—even though they had become more common in this era, they were still far beyond the reach of ordinary students.
Both Gong Changlong and Du Weilun looked at Huo Yuhao with approval.
"For the honor of Shrek Academy, you were willing to expose the fact that you possess a spirit bone. Truly a good kid," they thought.
"Damn... I'm literally crying here."
In contrast, Dai Huabin's image in their minds took a serious hit—and even began to stir hostility.
"Dai Huabin, do you have anything more to say?" Du Weilun questioned coldly.
"I... I..." Dai Huabin was flustered, overwhelmed by regret. Why had he lost his cool and made such outrageous claims?
This wasn't just the result of Huo Yuhao's setup.
Within Dai Huabin's destiny field, the image of the White Tiger had covered its own eyes.
"My cultivation has improved," Huo Yuhao thought to himself. "That allows me to use some subtle techniques more easily."
If your eyes are covered—how can you see clearly?
From the very beginning of the trial, Huo Yuhao had already made his move against Dai Huabin.
To defeat your opponent, you not only need to be strong yourself—but also make the opponent act foolishly enough.
And Dai Huabin had completely lost his mind. He suddenly shouted, "Huo Yuhao, our bet doesn't count anymore! You already fused your spirit bone!"
"If you can win, I'm willing to dig out my own spirit bone and hand it over to you," Huo Yuhao replied calmly.
His calmness only made Dai Huabin more terrified. A bead of cold sweat slid down Dai Huabin's forehead as he recalled once more the fear of being dominated by Huo Yuhao's mutated Ice Jade Centipede.
"Enough!" Du Weilun barked. "Dai Huabin, stop causing a scene!"
"After confirmation, Huo Yuhao did not cheat. His results are valid, and he has successfully passed the exam. For defeating a ten-thousand-year soul beast and demonstrating strong binding and freezing control abilities, Huo Yuhao is awarded a full base score of 150 points, plus an additional bonus of 1,000 points."
"As for Dai Huabin, due to the seriousness of your misconduct, I will report this to the Dean for further disciplinary action. This may include, but is not limited to, revoking your status and privileges as a core disciple."
"Pfft—"
Du Weilun's words landed like a deathblow, shattering Dai Huabin's last bit of hope. Overcome with humiliation and fear, he coughed up a mouthful of blood and collapsed on the spot.
At that moment, the White Tiger's shadow surged forward and swallowed a large portion of Dai Huabin's destiny.
"Huabin!" Zhu Lu cried out, quickly supporting him.
Huang Tao and Wang Yan were both startled.
Though Dai Huabin's actions were despicable, he was still their student.
"Take him to the infirmary!" Wang Yan ordered, then carried Dai Huabin himself and rushed off.
Zhu Lu didn't care about the exam anymore—she chased after them in a hurry.
But no one else followed.
Leaving Dai Huabin and Zhu Lu looking rather lonely.
Huo Yuhao watched Zhu Lu's retreating figure, his eyes dark and deep. He licked his teeth slightly and muttered,
"Duke White Tiger's household… this is only the beginning…"
Then Huo Yuhao tapped on the frozen golden lion and used Blood Rose to detoxify it.
Thankfully, he had held back. Otherwise, the lion would have already frozen stiff by now.
If that had happened, Gong Changlong would definitely have come to trouble him.
He'd be spitting mad.
This recent incident—combined with the visualization of the White Tiger devouring Dai Huabin's fortune—actually led to a change in Dai Huabin's fate tags.
Originally, Dai Huabin had three fate tags: [Tiger Shakes the World], [Heaven-Sent Romance], and [White Tiger Fate].
Now, the first two have been downgraded. His new fate tags are: [Tiger Roars in the Forest], [Bloodline Betrothal], and [White Tiger Fate].
There was no doubt about it—Dai Huabin's fate had been downgraded.
A tiger once capable of shaking the world now could only rule over a patch of forest.
A heavenly romance had turned into a marriage that needed bloodline and status to sustain.
Conversely, Huo Yuhao noticed that while Dai Huabin's fate was downgraded, he himself—having plundered Dai's fortune—had two of his fate tags upgraded.
His [Hidden Dragon in the Abyss] tag had evolved into [Dragon Seen in the Fields].
This signified that Huo Yuhao had officially begun to emerge in the eyes of the world, would gain recognition, and had a bright future ahead.
His [Doomed for Romance] fate had upgraded to [Blossoming Peach Blossoms].
[Blossoming Peach Blossoms] is a genuine "romantic luck" fate, indicating that Huo Yuhao would soon encounter many romantic opportunities.
If he could seize them—and if real-life circumstances allowed—then building a harem wouldn't be an issue.
Important Note:
Ma Xiaotao and Nan Shushui, who were under mind control, do not count as "romance" and do not contribute to romantic fate changes or growth.
After this brief interlude…
Gong Changlong took the Lion to receive treatment. Before leaving, he sought out Huo Yuhao to complain a bit.
Huo Yuhao could only obediently apologize.
Then, Huo Yuhao chose to return to the class team rather than leave—he still had to harvest the fortunes of both classes' students. The chaotic energy from combat made for easier plundering.
The advancement trials continued.
"Class Two, take the stage!" Du Weilun announced loudly.
The two classes were taking turns. It was now Class Two's turn. Naturally, the first to appear was Xie Huan Yue.
Xie Huan Yue chose to battle a millennium soul beast.
Though this year allowed higher-year soul beasts to be chosen, everyone felt uninspired after seeing Huo Yuhao solo a ten-thousand-year soul beast. So the rest decided to play it safe.
"Martial Soul Possession!"
Xie Huan Yue activated his Martial Soul, and to everyone's surprise, he had four soul rings:
Yellow, Yellow, Purple, Purple!
With a sweep of Spiritual Detection, Huo Yuhao noticed something odd—Xie Huan Yue had acquired a torso soul bone, and it seemed quite high in age.
Something was definitely off—very off.
So Huo Yuhao quickly made secret calculations, and his expression slowly turned strange.
It turned out that Xie Huan Yue's stroke of fortune was thanks to him!
Previously, it had been mentioned that people with close bonds could develop linked fortune.
And with how favorably Xie Huan Yue viewed Huo Yuhao, the two had indeed developed a fortune linkage.
Usually, this benefited Huo Yuhao, allowing him to siphon Xie Huan Yue's fortune.
But during the recent break, since Huo Yuhao hadn't had a chance to "harvest" from him, Xie Huan Yue gained a fortune buff through the link.
"Oh no, that brat got a freebie from me!" Huo Yuhao was briefly speechless.
So he let his imagined White Tiger and Black Tortoise spirit devour a bit more of Xie Huan Yue's fortune to compensate.
Then he had a sudden thought—if Xie Huan Yue benefited this much, what about Lulu and the other girls?
Xie Huan Yue did have strength, but his luck faltered. The soul beast he faced landed a critical hit, nearly breaking through his defense and costing him the match.
Still, Xie Huan Yue passed the trial and earned 140 points.
Normally, 150 points was the full score, factoring in both beast age and combat performance.
The 10-point deduction came because he nearly lost due to bad luck—nothing Xie Huan Yue could control.
Back in the team, he approached Huo Yuhao. After hesitating, he whispered,
"Yuhao, actually… I also have a soul bone."
"…Huh?" Huo Yuhao gave him a strange look.
Why are you telling me this?
"Well, it's kind of thanks to you," Xie Huan Yue said sheepishly. "During the break, a senior in my family went to obtain a soul ring and unexpectedly found a soul bone. When they heard I was close with Director Yan's disciple, they gave it to me—to help me grow stronger and catch up to you, maybe deepen our bond."
"…But it seems like I still can't catch up," he said, his smile turning a little bitter.
This kid was clearly making a confession—of camaraderie, fortunately.
Thankfully, not a romantic one.
After the surprise, Huo Yuhao smiled.
"Huan Yue, you've got two things wrong."
"…What?"
"First, I'm not Yan Shaozhe's disciple."
"…Huh?"
"I'm his junior fellow apprentice!"
"HUH?!"
"Second—we're not just friends."
"HUH?!?"
"We're brothers!"
"HUH?!??!"
Huo Yuhao's verbal jabs nearly dislocated Xie Huan Yue's metaphorical waist.
But it left Xie Huan Yue even more excited—and deeply moved.
He grabbed Huo Yuhao's shoulders and said emotionally,
"Yes! We're brothers!"
"Ah, yes, yes…"
"But, Yuhao, how did you become Dean Yan's junior fellow apprentice? Who's your master…"
"Can't say. It's a secret."
"…Got it, got it. Hehehe…"
While Huo Yuhao and Xie Huan Yue were chatting, students from both Class One and Class Two continued taking turns in the advancement trials.
Those going up early were all fairly strong, with high chances of passing.
Especially the girls who always hovered around Huo Yuhao—many had already become Soul Elders, and others were close to reaching level 30.
Teacher Huang Tao was grinning from ear to ear.
Du Weilun nodded silently.
"This batch of students is quite diligent—and Teacher Huang has guided them well."
So far, no one had failed the trial.
Though strangely, all the students who took the test today seemed to have unlucky encounters.
Huo Yuhao, of course, was secretly harvesting fortunes while observing their fate tags.
Especially the characters who appeared in the original story.
Wang Dong was first up. She had already reached the Soul Elder level, and her fate tags were the same number as Jin Qiu'er's—seven total:
[Twin Souls, One Bloom!]
[Butterfly Goddess's Blessing!]
[Hao Tian Protection!]
[Peerless Prodigy!]
[Tragic Beauty!]
[Sea God's Daughter!]
[Puppet!]
Wang Dong's fate tags were fascinating and easy to interpret.
Compared to Jin Qiu'er's, hers were even more direct. That [Tragic Beauty] tag was a big red flag—her death omen star was already flashing.
Next up was Wu Feng, who had two fate tags:
[Loyal Like Oil]
[Fiery Fate]
Like spring rain nourishing the earth, her loyalty ran deep.
But she was also born under a "fiery" fate.
Together, those tags could be either good or bad.
Would it be fire cooking oil or fuel poured on fire? Only time would tell.
Finally, there was Xiao Xiao—the one who caught Huo Yuhao's attention the most. She had five fate tags:
[Phoenix Enters the Imperial Nest!]
[Three Lives!]
[National Treasure!]
[Nine Provinces!]
[Coming of Harmony!]
Huo Yuhao's eyes widened.
Each of Xiao Xiao's fate tags revealed itself before him:
[Phoenix Enters the Imperial Nest]: A phoenix must marry into royal blood!
[Three Lives]: Blessed across three lifetimes!
[National Treasure]: A pillar of the nation!
[Nine Provinces]: A phoenix that unites the land!
[Coming of Harmony]: All corners pay tribute, unity arises from the many!
Huo Yuhao:
"This girl… she and I are destined!"
The advancement assessment concluded smoothly.
Veteran harvester Huo Yuhao once again reaped a fresh crop of "fortune," a joyous look of harvest spread across his face.
His "leeks" had all grown up, and this year's yield far exceeded the last.
Of course, both Class One and Class Two had students who failed the assessment—and not just a few. The academy could only apologize and let them go.
In truth, some of these expelled students might have barely passed under normal circumstances. But unfortunately, their luck was devoured by Brother Hao. Devoid of fortune, they were directly booted into the abyss by him.
Huang Tao and the Class Two head teacher were left with numb scalps.
Even Du Weilun had to admit: this batch of students was incredibly polarized. Many were outstanding, but many were clearly subpar. This level of polarization was rare in recent years.
After the assessment, Huo Yuhao returned to his usual rhythm of cultivation and studies—much like the previous semester.
The only major change: he added ice-fire body tempering to his nighttime training regimen.
This tempering not only enhanced his physique and cultivation speed but also accelerated his fusion with the Ice Pole Divine Crystals.
At the current pace, once he fully fused with all three crystals—and combined with his regular training and ice-fire body tempering—he should theoretically be able to possess a body capable of withstanding a 100,000-year soul ring.
But this would take time.
Moreover, to be safe, Huo Yuhao needed to further strengthen his body.
As for Dai Huabin and Zhu Lu, Huo Yuhao hadn't seen them since the assessment ended.
It wasn't until the third day after the exams that Du Weilun called him into the office—only then did he learn of their whereabouts.
"Dai Huabin and Zhu Lu have voluntarily withdrawn from school," Du Weilun said, handing Huo Yuhao a special pouch. "This is what Dai Huabin owed you after losing."
The pouch was unmistakably a container specifically for soul bones.
Huo Yuhao hadn't expected Dai Huabin to flee.
Still, withdrawing on his own initiative was likely the last bit of dignity he could cling to.
Zhu Lu, on the other hand, was entirely dragged down by Dai Huabin.
But given their engagement, she had no choice.
"Thank you, Director Du," Huo Yuhao said politely, taking the pouch.
Du Weilun smiled and nodded.
"Alright, Yuhao. Go on and take care of your own matters. That's all from me."
"Understood. Goodbye, Director Du."
As Huo Yuhao left obediently, Du Weilun watched him go and couldn't help but remark:
"What a good kid."
Outside the office, Huo Yuhao examined the contents of the pouch.
Indeed, it was a ten-thousand-year soul bone—but it was a fire-attribute left leg bone.
"Heh... knowing I'm an ice-attribute soul master, he still picked out a fire-type soul bone for me?" Huo Yuhao sneered.
If someone said that wasn't intentional, he wouldn't believe it. It was most likely orchestrated by the White Tiger Duke's household.
"The White Tiger Duke's house is on the path of destruction."
What Huo Yuhao really wanted was the soul bone fused with Dai Huabin's body.
Not because it suited him—just because he wanted Dai Huabin to be crippled.
But that was unlikely.
After all, Dai Huabin was the heir to the White Tiger Duke's estate—they could afford to give up a ten-thousand-year soul bone.
"One thing is clear: I've completely offended the White Tiger Duke's house. In the original story, they sent assassins after me over something as trivial as kneeling and kowtowing. Now that I've truly crossed them, there's no way they'll let me go."
"So there's only one solution..."
"I'll strike first!"
That very night, five Centipede Foot clones slipped quietly out of Shrek Academy under cover of darkness.
Meanwhile, at the White Tiger Duke's mansion:
In the study room.
Dai Huabin knelt before the Duchess, having returned home.
The Duchess sat gracefully in her chair—elegant and regal. Though middle-aged, she was still dignified and beautiful.
But at the moment, her expression was tinged with anger.
After all, Dai Huabin had cost the White Tiger Duke's house a ten-thousand-year soul bone. A punishment was unavoidable—otherwise, how could they maintain authority?
Since Duke Dai Hao wasn't home, it was up to the Duchess to handle the disciplinary measures.
In truth, it was little more than a formality.
To the Duchess, the White Tiger House's interests were secondary. What mattered most was that her son was safe—and still in line to inherit the dukedom.
Her firstborn son, Dai Yaoheng, had already been slain by evil soul masters. She couldn't afford to lose her younger son.
Dai Huabin's face showed no remorse. He looked up at her, suppressing the resentment in his heart.
"Mother, I want to take revenge on Huo Yuhao!"
The Duchess narrowed her eyes. She didn't immediately refuse—instead, she considered the possibilities.
Ever since Dai Yaoheng's death, she had harbored a deep hatred for Shrek Academy.
If not for that ridiculous sense of Shrek "glory"… If not for the idiotic inspection squad system, Dai Yaoheng wouldn't have been out chasing down evil soul masters—and wouldn't have been murdered by them.
And what did Shrek offer afterward?
A token condolence, then… nothing.
The culprits vanished without a trace.
Shrek Academy? Utterly useless.
They couldn't even capture one evil soul master—yet still claimed to be the continent's overseers?
How could a grieving mother not be enraged?
Worse still, she had written to Dai Hao, asking him to confront Shrek—only to receive a two-word reply:
"Be restrained."
Dai Hao didn't even return for Dai Yaoheng's funeral—he remained stationed with the army.
It was then that the Duchess realized: to Dai Hao, neither wife nor son mattered. Only his own goals—and the interests of the White Tiger House.
Just like imperial households of old, the White Tiger House was just as heartless.
To Dai Hao, angering Shrek over Dai Yaoheng's death wasn't worth the risk.
After all, Dai Yaoheng went to the front lines of his own volition.
Back when they married, the Duchess had believed Dai Hao to be a hero. She had even employed many tactics to monopolize his affections.
But now, she saw clearly:
Dai Hao was a coward.
A spineless wretch who wouldn't even seek justice for his dead son!
She could no longer count on Dai Hao. She had to act herself.
She didn't just want revenge on Huo Yuhao—she wanted revenge on Shrek Academy.
Huo Yuhao was reportedly Yan Shaozhe's disciple. If she could kill him, it would strike at the heart of Shrek as well.
However, without Dai Hao's support, she couldn't mobilize the White Tiger House's full power. She would have to use her own resources.
Fortunately, she was a princess of the Star Luo Empire and still had a personal force of her own.
Having made her decision, she said solemnly:
"Huabin, I'm granting you command over two Soul Douluos, five Soul Sages, and ten Soul Emperors. They were originally meant to serve your brother. Now… you decide how to proceed. Treat this as training."
Dai Huabin's eyes gleamed with excitement. He crawled forward and hugged her leg.
"Thank you, Mother! You're the best!"
"You're my son—if I don't help you, who will?" The Duchess smiled indulgently and gently tousled his hair.
"But Huabin, remember: if you succeed, these people must not remain alive. If they get caught by Shrek, you must claim they acted on their own, seeking revenge for your brother."
"Your brother is gone—you must survive. And if you're captured, your path to the dukedom will be ruined."
"Since your brother's death, the branch families of the White Tiger House have grown restless. We can't give them any opportunity."
With no more royal infighting, the White Tiger House had accumulated many side-branch descendants. But Dai Hao's line remained the main branch.
Still, humans are driven by ambition.
Those branch families were all eyeing the Duke's seat.
A cold gleam flickered in Dai Huabin's eyes.
"Don't worry, Mother. No one will take what's mine!"
"Good. My son understands." She smiled, then changed the subject.
"Huabin, tomorrow, take some gifts and visit the Zhu family. Apologize to Zhu Lu and her clan."
"Their support is crucial for your future succession. Don't neglect them. You can deal with everything else after you become Duke."
"Understood, Mother."
"Come, Yuhua, let me introduce you. This is your junior sister, a first-year student, Jin Qiu'er," Mu En said with a smiling face to Huo Yuhua.
It was time again for Huo Yuhua's training session on Sea God Island.
And the moment he arrived, Mu En gave him a surprise.
Standing beside Mu En, Jin Qiu'er tilted her chin slightly and stared at Huo Yuhua with a look that seemed to say—Surprised, aren't you?
Huo Yuhua: "..."
He truly hadn't expected that not only had Jin Qiu'er not been expelled, she had even been accepted as Mu En's disciple. This didn't happen in the original novel!
In fact, the matter of dealing with Jin Qiu'er was initially handled by Yan Shaozhe, who found it quite difficult.
Jin Qiu'er turned out to be an Ultimate Attribute soul master, and like Huo Yuhua, her combat capabilities far exceeded her actual soul level.
Yes, they were indeed similar—both had concealed their true strength.
More importantly, they were both still young.
Letting someone like Jin Qiu'er go would be a waste, but punishing her too harshly might cause her to hold a grudge against the academy.
Still, she had violated the dignity of Shrek Academy. Ignoring her actions would set a bad precedent and influence the mindset of the outer courtyard teachers.
No matter what relationship Zhou Yi and the other teachers had with her, or how powerful she was...
Now that a teacher from the outer courtyard had been attacked, if the academy didn't intervene, what would the rest of the faculty think?
That teachers deserved to be beaten?
Just when Yan Shaozhe was at his wit's end, Mu En suddenly stepped in and decided to take Jin Qiu'er as a disciple. As part of her punishment, she was confined to Sea God Island.
And just like that, Yan Shaozhe gained a junior sister.
Still, he was relieved and impressed. Mu En truly lived up to being his mentor.
By taking Jin Qiu'er in, Mu En won her over.
By restricting her to Sea God Island and keeping her away from the outer courtyard, he prevented the incident from escalating. After the situation cooled down, Jin Qiu'er could freely move about again without issue.
"Greetings, Junior Sister." Huo Yuhua quickly recovered from his surprise and greeted her politely.
Mu En's decision was understandable.
With Jin Qiu'er's exceptional talent, accepting her as a disciple—even if she didn't become fully loyal to Shrek—was still a worthwhile connection.
By introducing her to Huo Yuhua today, Mu En hoped the two could get to know each other.
And then, the next second—
"So you're Huo Yuhua, huh?" Jin Qiu'er swung her Golden Dragon Spear and looked at Huo Yuhua with bright eyes full of fighting spirit. "I want to challenge you, Senior Brother! Do you dare accept?!"
Mu En: "..."
Huo Yuhua: "..."
Huo Yuhua looked toward Mu En, who paused for two seconds and then smiled kindly. "Well then, as fellow disciples, you should have a good exchange."
After a few days of observation, Mu En had come to understand Jin Qiu'er's character.
Though she always acted arrogant, she was actually quite innocent—especially when it came to social norms.
In simpler terms, Jin Qiu'er was… kind of a brute.
She had never revealed her origin, but Mu En had his guesses—Jin Qiu'er likely hailed from an ancient, secluded clan and held a high status within it. That would explain her haughty demeanor. But due to her lack of exposure to the outside world, she was completely unfamiliar with social etiquette.
And that clan was certainly no ordinary group.
A weapon like the Golden Dragon Spear wasn't something just any family could own.
Not even Shrek Academy had anything like it.
Letting two Ultimate Attribute soul masters spar could only benefit both sides.
With Mu En's permission, Huo Yuhua and Jin Qiu'er moved to an open area to prepare for their match.
Xuanzi arrived, fashionably late. "Since you're going to fight, let this old man serve as your referee."
"Thank you, Senior Brother," Huo Yuhua said obediently.
Jin Qiu'er only nodded slightly.
Seeing this, Xuanzi munched on a chicken leg and muttered to Mu En, "Mu Lao, I still prefer little Yuhua. That Jin Qiu'er is way too arrogant."
"It's understandable—they come from different backgrounds," Mu En replied with a chuckle.
An orphan versus a noble heiress—how could they be the same?
"Let Yuhua teach that little girl a lesson!" Xuanzi grumbled.
In terms of soul rings, Huo Yuhua with four rings clearly outclassed Jin Qiu'er with three.
But both of their actual combat abilities far exceeded their soul power levels.
"Since this is just a sparring match, let's add a rule—no soul skills allowed," Mu En suddenly announced.
"Alright, Teacher," Huo Yuhua nodded.
Jin Qiu'er looked at him. "That suits me just fine! When I beat you, don't say I bullied you!"
Xuanzi made a strange face.
Where did Jin Qiu'er get such confidence?
The ban on soul skills was likely to prevent Huo Yuhua's Ice Poison from harming Jin Qiu'er, right?
"Alright, enough talk. Release your martial souls," Xuanzi waved.
Huo Yuhua immediately armored up with the Ice Jade Centipede.
Jin Qiu'er activated her Golden Dragon Martial Soul but set aside her spear.
"I won't use a weapon. Otherwise, you'd just say I won unfairly."
"Whatever makes you happy, Junior Sister."
Clearly, Jin Qiu'er might not be the sharpest.
But that's understandable—after all, she'd spent tens of thousands of years in the Star Dou Forest. Suddenly entering human society, how could she adapt instantly?
Still, as a Golden Dragon soul master with Ultimate Strength, she was the perfect partner for training Huo Yuhua's close-combat skills.
Seeing that both were ready, Xuanzi took a sip of wine and announced, "Begin!"
Jin Qiu'er struck first, charging at Huo Yuhua with a fist wrapped in golden light bearing the Ultimate Strength attribute. "Take this punch!"
Time to repay the humiliation from the Star Dou Forest!
"Good!" Huo Yuhua shouted, throwing a punch of his own. "Ultimate Ice—Centipede Fist!"
His fist, carrying the power of Ultimate Ice, met hers head-on.
BOOM!
The impact shattered the ground beneath them and caused the earth to cave in.
Huo Yuhua was forced back several steps.
Jin Qiu'er, however, remained rooted in place.
Clearly, Huo Yuhua had been overwhelmed.
Jin Qiu'er smiled smugly.
"So this is Ultimate Strength… such incredible power! If I don't enhance my body, my physique in its normal state can't stand up to hers," Huo Yuhua thought to himself.
But Jin Qiu'er came at him again, fists flying.
Huo Yuhua didn't dodge this time—he met her head-on.
"My Ultimate Ice isn't so easy to deal with!"
Now that Jin Qiu'er was in human form, her body no longer had the terrifying physical resilience of a soul beast. She couldn't completely ignore the effects of Huo Yuhua's Ultimate Ice.
Though it was just a match of fists and feet, the strength unleashed was immense, sending shockwaves with every clash.
When two Ultimate Attributes collided, there was no talk of elemental advantage—just pure, overwhelming power.
Mu En and Xuanzi watched them trade blows.
Xuanzi clicked his tongue in amazement. "Clash of Ultimate Attributes… never seen this before."
"Me neither," Mu En replied sourly, thinking Xuanzi was just stating the obvious.
In Shrek's long history, how many Ultimate Attribute soul masters had ever appeared?
Two appearing in the same era—unheard of.
Yet it was happening right in front of them.
"If we can keep both Huo Yuhua and Jin Qiu'er at Shrek Academy, then…" A gleam of light flashed in Mu En's eyes.
The old man was plotting again.
In a head-to-head brawl, Huo Yuhao was being suppressed by Jin Qiu'er.
On one hand, it was because Huo Yuhao could only use the abilities of his Variant Ice Jade Centipede martial soul, standard combat techniques, and physical strength.
On the other hand, Jin Qiu'er's Golden Dragon martial soul was ridiculously overpowering—it simply overwhelmed everything with brute force.
However, after exchanging several blows, Huo Yuhao had more or less figured out the extent of Jin Qiu'er's strength.
It was because her abilities and attack patterns were overly simplistic.
In fact, Huo Yuhao understood very well that Jin Qiu'er's true trump cards were her soul skills and the Golden Dragon Spear.
But if it were a real life-or-death battle, and both sides went all out, Huo Yuhao was confident—he had a hundred ways to defeat Jin Qiu'er.
Even at this moment, Huo Yuhao didn't believe he would lose to her.
"Senior brother, put more effort into it! At this rate, your junior sister isn't getting anything out of this!" Jin Qiu'er taunted Huo Yuhao loudly, grinning smugly.
Suppressing Huo Yuhao made Jin Qiu'er genuinely excited, and the usually aloof and arrogant girl couldn't keep her mouth shut.
But her suggestive words made both Mu En and Xuan Zi furrow their brows uncomfortably.
"She's just innocent and ignorant of worldly matters. That's a pure heart," Mu En said, trying to rationalize it.
Huo Yuhao leapt back, putting some distance between them. Squinting at Jin Qiu'er, he warned, "In that case, junior sister should be careful. Senior brother is about to show you his true skill."
"Bring it on!" Jin Qiu'er beckoned him over carelessly, her tone full of provocation.
Suddenly, the wings behind Huo Yuhao—his cloak-like appendages—unfurled. A wave of spiritual energy radiated from the wings, while Huo Yuhao raised his fist once again.
Mu En and Xuan Zi became alert at once.
"This is a move I've never seen before," Xuan Zi said in surprise.
"He's already able to manipulate the spiritual power within his martial soul? And that starting stance—is that the Ice Mirage Fist?" Mu En looked intrigued.
They had seen Huo Yuhao's usual set of combat techniques before. Those flashy, standard skills he had claimed to have acquired from the Heavenly Soul Empire had never seemed too out of the ordinary.
But now, what Huo Yuhao was about to use looked very similar to the Ice Mirage Fist, and yet distinct from it.
Rather, it was an advanced version of the Ice Mirage Fist!
Spiritual energy wrapped around Huo Yuhao's fist as he charged at Jin Qiu'er and threw a punch.
"Illusionary—Ice Mirage Fist!"
"Think I'm scared? I'll give you a serious punch!" Jin Qiu'er responded, her fist imbued with her Ultimate Strength as she struck back.
But just as she got close, Jin Qiu'er suddenly felt her body growing heavy. Her movements slowed, and her awareness began to blur.
Her vision went black.
Her punch veered off course, slamming into the ground and creating a deep crater.
Meanwhile, Huo Yuhao's punch, with no restraint, struck true—right on Jin Qiu'er's forehead.
BOOM!
The blow generated a sonic boom!
Her head snapped back, and she was sent flying backward at a speed faster than a charge.
Even Mu En and Xuan Zi winced in sympathy.
"Xuan Zi!" Mu En called quickly.
Xuan Zi rushed forward immediately, catching the flying Jin Qiu'er just in time—but she had already lost consciousness.
A bright red fist mark stood out starkly on her smooth, white forehead, giving her a comical look.
"This brat really doesn't know how to show mercy to a lady," Xuan Zi muttered.
Fortunately, she didn't seem physically injured—at least not externally. Whether there was internal damage remained to be seen.
"Yuhao, did you use spiritual power in that punch?" Mu En asked pointedly.
"That's right, I added spiritual power," Huo Yuhao nodded, deactivating his Ice Centipede Armored Form. "This punch sacrifices the multiple-hit effect for a spiritual strike, but it only works as a hypnotic technique. It can distract or put the target to sleep, but can't cause direct mental damage."
That was a lie.
The truth? That punch could shatter someone's spirit entirely!
But Huo Yuhao pretended to be a newbie just dabbling in spiritual power. How could a novice possibly develop such a dangerous technique? He was just a weakling using spiritual power for minor support~
Mu En looked at Huo Yuhao with admiration. "To develop and utilize the various strengths of your martial soul—Yuhao, you've made progress again."
Such a gifted youth—Mu En admitted he couldn't compare when he was younger. And on top of that, Huo Yuhao was hard-working too.
Even Ma Xiaotao hadn't distracted him.
This disciple was truly perfect!
Xuan Zi carried the unconscious Jin Qiu'er over and gave Huo Yuhao a strange look. "Kid, you really don't pull your punches."
Though Xuan Zi had no real combat experience, he was a top-notch theory expert—and a skilled instigator, too.
"Alright, Xuan Zi, take Qiu'er for treatment. Have someone help her recover mentally as well. Go and come back quickly. Yuhao and I will wait here," Mu En said with a chuckle, cutting off Xuan Zi's teasing.
"Got it, Elder Mu." Xuan Zi nodded and vanished instantly.
Huo Yuhao looked at Mu En curiously. "Teacher, is there something else going on with Senior Brother?"
"You'll know in a moment," Mu En replied mysteriously. "Or, you could try to guess."
"…"
Crafty old man!
"I guess Senior Brother Xuan Zi's going to announce he found his other half," Huo Yuhao said grumpily.
"Hahaha…" Mu En laughed heartily, shaking his head. "If only. I'd love for Xuan Zi to pass on his bloodline and martial soul. But unlike you, he's never been very obedient."
"Uh…" Huo Yuhao scratched his head awkwardly.
He didn't mean it, but Mu En's words struck a chord.
In that instant, Huo Yuhao felt a sense of destiny calling.
If Senior Brother had a mission… then the Junior Brother would carry it out.
Rest easy, Xuan Zi Senior Brother. Your bloodline—I'll carry it forward!
As for your martial soul… well, no guarantees on that one.
After all, who knew what kind of martial soul would emerge from a mix of Ice Centipede + White Tiger + Xuanwu + Gluttonous Beast?
Soon, Xuan Zi returned—and he didn't come alone. With him were six figures.
To Huo Yuhao's surprise, these six were all Inner Court students—the current generation of the Shrek Seven Devils!
Oh, correction: Dai Yaoheng had been "removed," so now there were only six left.
Chen Zifeng, Xixi, Ling Luocheng, Yao Haoxuan, Gongyang Mo,
And their captain—Ma Xiaotao!
The group arrived and respectfully saluted Mu En and Xuan Zi.
Only Ma Xiaotao gave a separate bow to Huo Yuhao. "Little Martial Uncle."
However, Ma Xiaotao's demeanor toward Huo Yuhao was extremely cold, with little sign of respect. It was clear at a glance—their relationship wasn't good.
The others looked at Huo Yuhao in surprise.
They hadn't expected this young man to be Ma Xiaotao's martial uncle.
Didn't that mean—he was Elder Mu's disciple?
Their view of Huo Yuhao shifted instantly.
He was no longer just a junior from the Outer Court.
Xuan Zi was a bit helpless about Ma Xiaotao's coldness toward Huo Yuhao. He didn't know how to mediate.
Privately, he and Yan Shaozhe had speculated—it must be that Ma Xiaotao was unhappy about having a child for a martial uncle, and couldn't swallow her pride, hence the coldness.
All they could do was try to reconcile things over time.
And once Huo Yuhao grew up and matured, Ma Xiaotao probably wouldn't feel as awkward anymore.
They weren't in a hurry.
Only Mu En smiled silently, glancing meaningfully between Ma Xiaotao and Huo Yuhao.
Coldness, huh?
Every night you're running to Huo Yuhao's room—didn't see you trying to keep your distance then!
"Young people these days, they're into some wild stuff."