In front of the students, Teacher Zhou Yi exuded dominance, but in front of this middle-aged man named Fan Yu, she seemed to have completely lost her assertiveness, speaking amicably, "What I'm referring to is the matter you mentioned last time, about Soul Masters with spiritual attributes using Soul Guidance Devices."
Hearing this, Fan Yu's eyes lit up involuntarily, and his gaze unconsciously fell on the nearby Huo Yuhao, "He possesses a Spirit Martial Soul?"
Zhou Yi nodded and said, "Exactly, his name is Huo Yuhao, he's a new student this year. His self martial soul is spirit eyes, of the spiritual attribute."
After taking a serious look at Huo Yuhao, Fan Yu shook his head and said, "No, his body and soul power are too weak. I'm afraid he wouldn't even be able to lift the lightest Fixed Soul Guidance Device. And from what I see, his talent is also mediocre, far from meeting my requirements."
Zhou Yi snorted and said, "Are you underestimating my judgment? Indeed, Huo Yuhao's strength is weak now, but his soul skills are quite exceptional. They are the most practical spiritual attribute skills I've ever seen. Huo Yuhao, show him what you can do."
"Oh." As a student, Huo Yuhao could only be a bystander at this time. He immediately executed his Shared Spiritual Detection on the middle-aged man.
Immediately after, Huo Yuhao was shocked, nearly losing his composure. The moment his Shared Spiritual Detection landed on the middle-aged man, that man's eyebrows furrowed slightly. In that instant, Huo Yuhao felt as if a terrifying giant beast had suddenly opened its mouth wide in front of him, as though it was about to devour him whole.
This feeling even roused the Skydream Ice Silkworm that was in deep slumber within him. A cool sensation emerged in his Sea of Spirit, and only then did the shock in Huo Yuhao's heart subside.
The terrifying aura from Fan Yu appeared only momentarily before disappearing, allowing Huo Yuhao's Shared Spiritual Detection to complete the connection with him.
"Huh!" In just a moment, Fan Yu discovered the intricacies of Huo Yuhao's Shared Spiritual Detection, and his normally calm eyes suddenly rippled with waves.
"There's actually such a spiritual attribute skill? How could it be a soul skill from a ten-year soul beast?" Fan Yu looked at the White Soul Ring on Huo Yuhao with a face full of confusion, but more than that, he was pleasantly surprised.
Of course, Huo Yuhao wouldn't reveal the matter of the Skydream Ice Silkworm, so once again, the Wind Baboon was used as his explanation.
"A ten-year Wind Baboon?" Both Fan Yu and Zhou Yi wore incredulous expressions.
Zhou Yi looked at Fan Yu and said, "Could it be a Soul Skill Mutation?"
Fan Yu nodded and answered, "Possibly, this little fellow's Martial Soul is a self martial soul and also a Spirit Martial Soul, inherently a mutant existence. And the soul ring from the soul beast he chose is completely inharmonious with his Martial Soul's properties, which triggered a very low probability of mutation. It's already a miracle that a Spirit Martial Soul can absorb Wind Attribute Soul Rings without suffering backlash. Unexpectedly, there was such a mutation; this is probably a miracle that can never be replicated."
"Caitou, come over here," Fan Yu waved to the group of people not too far away. Immediately, one of the young men quickly jogged over.
At the sight of this young man, Huo Yuhao couldn't help but be startled. Judging from his face, he should be around the same age as Bei Bei, but he was extremely tall, standing over two meters tall, with shoulders even broader than Fan Yu's. His upper body, bare, revealed dark muscles, and his head was completely shaven. Compared to ordinary people, he was much darker, with an honest face.
"Teacher," the young man greeted Fan Yu respectfully.
Fan Yu pointed at Huo Yuhao and said, "Try firing a Fixed Soul Guidance Cannon, have this kid assist you, and aim for the moving target."
"Yes," the burly young man didn't ask anything, gave a simple smile to Huo Yuhao, and said, "Little brother, come with me."
Zhou Yi said, "Huo Yuhao, just assist him with your skill."
"Okay," Huo Yuhao was beginning to understand some of the reasons Zhou Yi brought him here. He quickly followed the burly young man.
"Little brother, hello, my name is He Caitou, everyone calls me Caitou. You can call me that too," the burly young man said with a simple smile.
Huo Yuhao said, "Hello, Big Brother He, my name is Huo Yuhao."
At these words, "Big Brother He," He Caitou was first stunned, then he gave Huo Yuhao a thumbs up and said, "Little brother, you're pretty good."
Even the historians of later generations wouldn't know that the friendship between Asura's Eyes Huo Yuhao and the Source of Destruction He Caitou began with such a simple appellation.
The two arrived at the edge of the testing area. He Caitou slapped his dark waist belt, and with a flash of light, a strange thing appeared in his hand, peculiar to Huo Yuhao.
It was a black metal tube about one and a half meters long with a diameter of around fifteen centimeters at the cross-section. The tail end was slightly thicker, and it was etched with many bizarre patterns.
He Caitou held it adeptly in his hands, and with two presses at the back end of the metal tube, a lid popped open, revealing an opening about twenty centimeters long and ten wide.
With another quick tap at his waist, he had a shuttle-shaped metal piece in hand. He carefully placed this shuttle-shaped metal into the opening exposed when the metal tube's lid was opened, then closed the lid. Lifting the tube onto his broad shoulder with his right hand.
The previously honest and simple-looking He Caitou, as he shouldered the metal tube, underwent a sudden change in temperament. Huo Yuhao, with his spiritually attributed Martial Soul, sensed a strong danger emanating from He Caitou with his keen perception.
"Huo Yuhao, let's begin," He Caitou's voice sounded.
Huo Yuhao's eyes flickered with golden light as his Shared Spiritual Detection accurately landed on He Caitou. He Caitou's eyes revealed a hint of surprise and he excitedly shouted toward the distance, "Moving target, fire."
On the other side, as if controlled by someone, whoosh, an object resembling a disc shot out from a corner in the distance and flew rapidly toward Huo Yuhao and He Caitou.
A strong surge of Soul Power fluctuation erupted from He Caitou at that moment. The three Soul Rings, two yellow and one purple, lit up simultaneously. The metallic tube on his shoulder seemed to tremble slightly, a thick black halo flowing over the surface of the metal tube. He Caitou's body moved slightly, the metal tube aiming at the swiftly flying disc.
"Boom—" A thunderous roar erupted as the metal tube burst forth a dazzling black light. This sudden surge of airflow nearly caused Huo Yuhao to stumble and fall.
However, the black light did not hit the incoming disc, instead, it missed, flying past it and toward the distance, and then fiercely struck a metal plate a hundred meters away, exploding with a thunderous bang. The massive airflow rebounded back, with He Caitou quickly shielding Huo Yuhao behind him.
The airflow lasted for several seconds before it gradually calmed down, yet the disc that had been shot out fell not far from them, having not left the test area.
He Caitou said with a frustrated face, "Still no good."
Teacher Fan Yu and Zhou Yi had already walked over. Zhou Yi's face looked rather unpleasant, but Teacher Fan Yu seemed to have thought of something and asked Huo Yuhao, "Huo Yuhao, how far does your Spiritual Detection reach?"
Huo Yuhao replied, "About a thirty-meter diameter."
Teacher Fan Yu suddenly understood, "So that's why. No wonder. It is, after all, only a 10-year soul ring skill. It's already not easy to detect so finely within a certain distance. We can't ask for too much. It's just a bit of a pity."
Huo Yuhao suddenly said, "Teacher Fan Yu, my Shared Spiritual Detection will increase its range as my Soul Power improves."
Teacher Fan Yu was stunned. "That's impossible. How can a soul skill evolve?"
Huo Yuhao seriously said, "It really can. Since I've had this ability, the detection's diameter has already increased by one meter. Moreover, I still can't fully control this skill. Perhaps in the future, I will be able to make its range smaller but extend its distance."
Zhou Yi brought him here, and during the subsequent conversation, Huo Yuhao had already keenly sensed that this might be an opportunity for him, although he was not clear about what this opportunity was. He seized the moment to speak up, holding true to the purpose that an opportunity should not be missed.
Teacher Fan Yu looked toward Zhou Yi, and she gave him a slight nod.
Teacher Fan Yu said, "Good. If one day your Shared Spiritual Detection can reach a distance of over a hundred meters in one direction, come find me. I'll teach you how to make Soul Guidance Devices."
"Yes, thank you, Teacher," Huo Yuhao promptly replied with a respectful bow.
Fan Yu waved his hand, saying, "Caitou, take him aside and explain to him what a Fixed Soul Guidance Device is."
"Alright," He Caitou, who had a very good impression of Huo Yuhao, gestured for him to follow and walked to one side.
Watching their retreating figures, Fan Yu asked Zhou Yi, "What do you think of this kid? His ability is indeed very strong. Its role in a team is beyond doubt. Am I being too demanding of him? Yes, if he wants to use that ability in conjunction with a Fixed Soul Guidance Device, it would require a distance of at least one hundred meters. I dare say that one day, if the range of his Shared Spiritual Detection can reach a straight one thousand meters, then he will be the most terrifying auxiliary-type Soul Master on the continent."
Zhou Yi said, "I've only just met this child, so it's hard to say right now. However, as you might have noticed, even though his cultivation is not strong and his physique is weak, his temperament is more mature than his peers. Not every student would have said what he just did. I will keep an eye on him for you for the time being. But if he fails the newcomer assessment this year, I will still expel him. Rules cannot be ignored."
Fan Yu thought for a moment and said, "Watch him more closely for me. Even if he doesn't pass the assessment on the Martial Soul Department's side, as long as his Shared Spiritual Detection soul skill continues to improve, I can still special recruit him to the Soul Guidance Department. I have been devoted to the research of Fixed Soul Guidance Devices for over a decade, and by combining the experience of predecessors, I have finally created the most terrifying soul tool. Now, what I lack is a user!"
Zhou Yi sighed lightly and said, "Don't be too obsessed. You should understand that besides lacking users, the prohibitively high cost of Fixed Soul Guidance Devices is a fatal flaw that prevents their widespread use."
Fan Yu proudly said, "Soul tools are originally powerful weapons that only a select few outstanding Soul Masters can use. I never thought of promoting Fixed Soul Guidance Devices among Soul Masters. If only a very small number of Soul Masters can use them, then Fixed Soul Guidance Devices will become the true trump card of our academy."
"Big Brother He, what is a Fixed Soul Guidance Device?" Huo Yuhao asked curiously.
He Caitou chuckled and said, "There are many categories of soul tools, too many to explain all at once, but mainly they are divided into Close Combat Soul Guidance Devices and Long-Distance Soul Guidance Devices. Close Combat Soul Guidance Devices are similar to the weapons we use regularly; when infused with soul power, they can unleash even more formidable force. In a certain range, their power tends to be stronger. On the other hand, Long-Distance Soul Guidance Devices use soul power to launch remote attacks. The more powerful the soul tool, the more soul power it requires. That is to say, the higher a Soul Master's cultivation, the higher grade of soul tool they can use."
"Fixed Soul Guidance Devices are a special kind of soul tool that the Teacher has developed through summarizing the wisdom of his predecessors. They are used for remote attacks but do not require a large amount of soul power to be injected. You saw the process I used just now. In simple terms, it separates the soul tool and the attack weapon into two parts. The soul tool only serves to launch and detonate, like the Fixed Soul Guidance Cannon I just fired. The biggest advantage of Fixed Soul Guidance Devices is that they consume very little soul power and do not require a strong cultivation to be effective. However, their flaw lies in difficulty targeting, especially against moving targets; it's hard to achieve a hit. But against fixed targets, their power is quite formidable. The only issue is that the ammunition is difficult to make and consumes precious materials. The Teacher usually won't let me fire it casually. The Teacher said that in theory, Fixed Soul Guidance Devices could increase a Soul Master's attack power by ten times. However, the power of Fixed Soul Guidance Devices also has limits, as it ultimately depends on the materials. Therefore, it is destined to be equipped only by a very small number of Soul Masters suitable for using it."
He Caitou's explanation wasn't exactly dazzling or all that clear, but it did, for the first time, open up the door to soul tools in front of Huo Yuhao, giving him a preliminary understanding. He vaguely realized that Teacher Fan Yu must have great achievements in the field of soul tools. Teacher Xiao Ya had said that he would also learn to make soul tools in the future, and becoming a disciple of Teacher Fan Yu would obviously be the best choice.
"Huo Yuhao, let's go," Zhou Yi's voice called out just then.
Huo Yuhao said to He Caitou, "Big Brother He, I have to go now. It was a pleasure meeting you."
He Caitou chuckled and said, "You're a new student this year, aren't you? Work hard. It would be great if you could become my junior brother in the future. The Teacher doesn't allow me to leave this place usually; it's too boring."
After leaving the soul tool testing area, Zhou Yi brought Huo Yuhao back to the outside of the dormitory and said, "Huo Yuhao, you heard everything Teacher Fan Yu said just now. I can only tell you, he is one of the leading soul tool creators in our academy. If you can become his disciple, the sky's the limit for your future. However, you must first be able to stay in the academy. Go and have your meal."
Watching Zhou Yi walk away, Huo Yuhao headed straight for the dining hall. By then, students from other classes had also finished classes, and the entrance of the dining hall was bustling with people.
Suddenly, a figure blocked his path. Startled, Huo Yuhao looked up to find it was Tang Ya.
"Teacher Xiao Ya?"
With a somewhat mysterious smile on her face, Tang Ya pulled Huo Yuhao to the side and whispered, "Little Yuhao, you don't have much money, right?"
Huo Yuhao nodded, "Yes! Big brother told me that the academy offers some jobs. I'm planning to give it a try after school."
One year's tuition was ten gold coins, plus everyday expenses. Although Huo Yuhao would rather spend all his time cultivating, he still needed to live.
Tang Ya giggled and said, "You are a disciple of the Tang Sect. As your teacher, I should take care of you. I've thought of a way for you. I know the auntie who is in charge of food procurement in the cafeteria. From now on, I can get her to buy an extra twenty fish for you every day. Then, I've ordered a grill for you outside, as well as some charcoal. I've also prepared some seasonings. After school, you can sell grilled fish at the academy entrance. With your skills, you'll surely be able to sell them. The cost of our fish is roughly one copper coin, and after you cook them, selling them for five copper coins each should be no problem at all! That way, won't you have money?"
Huo Yuhao's eyes lit up, "Teacher Xiao Ya, that's really a great idea. I have spirit eyes, so I'm very accurate with controlling the heat. Should I give it a try tonight then?"
Tang Ya nodded repeatedly, and finally revealed her ulterior motive, "Well, since I helped you get all these things, when you grill the fish, I want to eat first. Don't worry, I'll buy from you too. As for the materials in the future, you'll have to buy them yourself."
Ever since that day she had the grilled fish made by Huo Yuhao, she had been thinking about it nonstop. After finishing the assessment, she finally came up with this perfect solution yesterday. Of course, she did this without Bei Bei's knowledge.
Looking at Tang Ya's yearning expression, Huo Yuhao understood and smiled knowingly, "Okay, Teacher Xiao Ya, shall we meet here again this evening?"
"Mm, mm. I'll go back first. Oh, I have some good news for you—I've been promoted to the fourth grade along with Bei Bei." Tang Ya waved at him and ran off excitedly.
After a quick lunch, Huo Yuhao returned to his dormitory. Wang Dong wasn't there, not knowing what he was up to. Teacher Zhou had said that they would have more training in the afternoon, so taking advantage of the lunch break, he once again entered a meditative state to cultivate and also to try to recover his strength.
This session of cultivation brought Huo Yuhao a pleasant surprise. After the morning's over-exertion with running, he found that his cultivation of the Mystic Sky Method over this meridian cycle during noon had slightly increased his soul power more than usual. Although it was just a little bit, he was already quite satisfied. He thought to himself that pushing the body to its limits seemed to boost the growth of soul power. His own physical condition was rather mediocre to begin with, so training it would enhance both his cultivation and body—a win-win!
When Huo Yuhao came out of his meditation, he was shocked as he opened his eyes and saw Wang Dong sitting on the opposite bed, staring at him intensely.
"You're back? It must be time for class," said Huo Yuhao, jumping off the bed to put on his shoes. After the morning's events, his relationship with Wang Dong had obviously improved.
Wang Dong asked in a low voice, "Huo Yuhao, I've always been curious about your Martial Soul. You saw mine today, can you tell me about your Martial Soul?"
Huo Yuhao put on his shoes and stood up straight, saying, "My Martial Soul is my own eyes, which I call spirit eyes, with a spiritual attribute. I know what you are wondering about. My soul skill is Spiritual Detection, which is why you couldn't attack me that day—I used Spiritual Detection to predict your actions."
Wang Dong had an epiphany, "So that's how it is. I didn't expect you to actually have a self martial soul. Let's go, we shouldn't be late. I just went out to inquire about something. Our teacher, Zhou Yi, is nicknamed the 'Abnormal Old Witch.' They say the number of students she has expelled is at least equivalent to the combined total of ten other teachers. With a class advisor like that, our luck doesn't seem to be very good."
Huo Yuhao shook his head and smiled, "You can't exactly say that. Teacher Zhou is just a bit stricter. As long as we are equally strict with ourselves and meet her requirements, that is. By the way, I have seen your Martial Soul, but I still don't know its name. Your soul rings are one yellow and one purple. How come your second soul ring can be a thousand-year one?"
Wang Dong chuckled and replied, "Having a thousand-year soul ring as my second one is my secret, I can't tell you. My Martial Soul is the Bright Goddess Butterfly, the most beautiful butterfly on the continent, and it is on the brink of extinction. Having it as a Martial Soul is even rarer than your self martial soul. Later on, you will see its power. By the way, what did Teacher Zhou want with you today?"
The two of them talked as they left the dormitory and headed towards the academic building. Not just them, but probably not a single student from the freshmen class dared to be late.
Huo Yuhao didn't keep secret the fact that Teacher Zhou took him to see Teacher Fan Yu and told everything to Wang Dong without reservations.
"What? Your Spiritual Detection can be shared? Let me try it!" After all, they were just eleven or twelve-year-old boys, and driven by curiosity, Wang Dong excitedly requested it.
Having no choice, Huo Yuhao had to release his Shared Spiritual Detection, allowing Wang Dong to experience it as well.
Everything within a thirty-meter radius suddenly became clear, including that kind of data-like feedback, which left Wang Dong somewhat stunned. It was as if a blind person had suddenly gained the ability to clearly see the world, and this kind of astonishment was what every Soul Master felt upon their first encounter with Huo Yuhao's Shared Spiritual Detection.
And, with continuous use, Huo Yuhao's Shared Spiritual Detection became more and more proficient. While letting Wang Dong feel it, he couldn't help but remember Fan Yu's words and subconsciously directed his Spiritual Detection in one direction, trying to cover as far as possible.
With his focus concentrated, Huo Yuhao did not realize that the faint gold in his eyes had become noticeably more intense and the spiritual fluctuations he released had intensified considerably. The originally omnidirectional Spiritual Detection slowly began to converge forward.
Wang Dong also sensed the changes in the Spiritual Detection. He found that the three-dimensional images on his left, right, and behind him disappeared, and only the one in front remained, which was gradually extending its range.
A few seconds felt longer to Huo Yuhao than a usual quarter-hour of releasing Spiritual Detection. He only felt his Soul Power being rapidly transformed into Spiritual Power and then draining away. In just a moment, waves of weakness had already begun to assail him.
Staggering, he grabbed Wang Dong's arm and managed to steady himself, and the Shared Spiritual Detection came to an end.
"Huo Yuhao, what's wrong with you?" Wang Dong quickly supported him.
Huo Yuhao's face was pale, and his forehead was covered in cold sweat, clearly showing signs of extreme weakness.
Huo Yuhao waved his hand to signal that he was alright and said, "The consumption of Spiritual Power was a bit too much. Wang Dong, when you looked straight ahead just now, how far could my Spiritual Detection reach?"
Wang Dong recalled briefly before saying, "I didn't pay much attention, but it seemed to be about fifty or sixty meters. The spiritual detection in other directions was gone. Only towards the front did the distance increase by more than twice."
Hearing him say that, Huo Yuhao was immediately energized, and even his tiredness decreased a lot, "That's great. It turns out this works. It's just that the consumption of Spiritual Power is too large."
Focusing spiritual detection in one direction and extending the distance, his consumption of Spiritual Power was almost ten times the normal rate. That's why, in such a short time, he experienced excessive consumption of Spiritual Power. However, Huo Yuhao believed that the consumption was so significant because it was his first attempt, and with more practice, there should be further improvements.
Teacher Fan Yu had said that once his Spiritual Detection reached one hundred meters, he could become his student.
After witnessing the terrifying power of Soul Guidance Devices and hearing He Caitou's introduction, he was filled with interest in this magical existence.
In the freshman class one classroom, ten minutes before the afternoon bell rang, the classroom was already full, and unexpectedly quiet, not a single student dared to speak loudly. So sometimes it's not a bad thing for the teacher to be strict, as it is beneficial for motivating students to study seriously.
Since the seating was not strictly arranged, this time Wang Dong and Huo Yuhao sat together. Two children, just eleven years old, were both deep in thought. Huo Yuhao was naturally contemplating the gains and losses from changing the direction of his Spiritual Detection earlier. What Wang Dong thought was unknown.
When Zhou Yi slowly walked into the classroom, the atmosphere in freshman class one instantly became tense, and Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong both snapped out of their contemplation. Although not much time had passed, Huo Yuhao, due to his low foundational Soul Power, had already recovered most of his Spiritual Power and Soul Power; at least he no longer felt weak.
"All stand up, assemble on the square." Surprisingly, Zhou Yi only said this phrase after walking into the classroom, then turned and left.
No one dared to delay. The students quickly left the classroom and followed Zhou Yi to Shrek Square in an orderly and quiet manner.
They didn't see the hint of a smile in Zhou Yi's eyes. This strict, almost abnormal teacher was thinking that teaching freshmen also had its benefits. At least these new students had less haughtiness and were easier to control. Unlike the students in the third year and above, who, because of their achievements, were more arrogant and rebellious.
On Shrek Square, an unknown amount of time ago, a pile of iron chains had been gathered. Under Zhou Yi's command, the students stood neatly.
"Wang Dong," Zhou Yi called out.
"Here," Wang Dong stepped forward.
Zhou Yi said to all the students, "I reviewed your entrance exam scores, along with the morning's test. So far, Wang Dong has the highest cultivation among you. Therefore, I declare that starting now, he is the freshman class one monitor. The position of the monitor is subject to change. Whoever has the ability to defeat him can replace him as monitor. Do you all understand?"
"We understand," several male students who considered themselves strong looked at Wang Dong with a sharper gaze. However, the female students seemed to gaze at Wang Dong with a bit more gentleness.
Zhou Yi pointed at the iron chains in front of her, "These are metal shirts, specifically used to improve physical fitness. Each of you take one. After putting them on, start running laps around the square. From now, run until the class ends at the bell. You can use Soul Power, but not soul skills. Ranking will be based on the number of laps run. The last one will be expelled from freshman class one."
"I want to reemphasize one point. In my class, people are not only eliminated during assessments, but they can be at any time. Today, ninety-one will become ninety. Begin now."
As she spoke, Zhou Yi flicked her foot, and a metal shirt made entirely of thick iron chains reached Wang Dong, who hurriedly caught it and put it on.
When he put on the metal shirt, he couldn't help but his expression change slightly. The metal shirt weighed at least thirty pounds!
Hearing about elimination, the students did not dare to slack off; they rushed to put on the metal shirts. The male students managed slightly better, but most of the female students turned pale after putting on the heavy metal shirts.
Zhou Yi said coldly, "I know, among you, many want to tell me this is unfair, because there are natural differences between the bodies of men and women, and the physical fitness of Tool Soul Masters, Beast Spirit Masters, and Battle Soul Masters also varies. But what I want to tell you is that in my class, everyone is treated the same. Think about it, if you were on a battlefield, would the enemy not kill you because you are a woman or because you are a Tool Soul Master? Start running now."
No matter how much the students cursed Zhou Yi in their minds, none dared to openly defy her. Under Wang Dong's lead, the group charged the track at the edge of the square and began running, bearing the weight of the heavy metal shirts.
No one wanted to be eliminated. Just at the beginning, the spirit, essence and energy of the students' running were dramatically different from the morning.
Wang Dong took the lead, and being at the top in both Martial Soul and Soul Power among these students, he did not slow down despite wearing the metal shirt.
Those few male students eager to compete also dashed out quickly, closely following him.
Huo Yuhao didn't speed up; he was well aware of his body's condition. Zhou Yi had said to keep running until class ended at the bell. And the afternoon class lasted for a full four hours. This was just the beginning! The most rational goal he set for himself was to keep running until the moment the class ended, not to compete with others for speed.
Thus, he was significantly slower than the other students when he started and watched as everyone swiftly passed him by. However, Huo Yuhao remained calm and continued running at a steady and somewhat slow pace.
After only two laps, Huo Yuhao was already the last one, even the female students had passed him. But he didn't seem to care at all.
By the fourth lap, Wang Dong, who was in the lead, had already lapped him. As Wang Dong passed by, he gave Huo Yuhao a look of surprise.
Huo Yuhao simply smiled back nonchalantly.
Zhou Yi stood on the square expressionless, watching the students run; nobody knew what she was thinking.
```
When Huo Yuhao was sweating profusely on his tenth lap, Wang Dong, who was in the lead, had already outpaced him by three laps, and the other students had at least surpassed him by one. Many even cast disdainful glances at him, as they all knew that his soul power cultivation was the weakest among them.
However, by this time, the students running ahead began to slow down. The longer the time passed, the more evident the effect of the metal shirts became. Even Wang Dong was covered in sweat.
The few boys who had started out following closely behind Wang Dong were now lagging, even being overtaken by those behind them.
Droplets of sweat began to dampen the ground of the track. When the time passed half a "shi chen", a female student with a slight figure fell to the ground with a thud, struggling to get up but failing to do so.
Just as Wang Dong ran past her, he helped her up and gave her an inquiring look. The girl shook her head, sitting down on the square, refusing to get up again. She couldn't even speak anymore.
With the first one down, a second soon followed. Perhaps because Huo Yuhao was bringing up the rear, even though the students tried hard to persevere, their willpower was not very strong.
Running with the heavy metal shirts indeed posed a huge burden, especially since they started at full speed and quickly exhausted their soul power. Relying solely on their physical strength to bear the weight of the metal shirts was somewhat too demanding for their age.
By the end of a whole "shi chen", at least half of the students had collapsed on the ground. Zhou Yi stood there, her face expressionless, without urging them to continue.
Huo Yuhao also began to falter. Though he maintained a steady pace throughout, conserving energy, his soul power was indeed the weakest of all, and his physical strength wasn't much better. The fact that he had managed to last this long was already quite an achievement. In terms of laps, because he had persevered for so long, he was no longer in last place.
His vision darkened intermittently, his chest felt as if it was burning with flames, his mouth parched, his entire body uncomfortably sticky with sweat. The metal shirts chafed against his skin through his school uniform, sending waves of burning pain.
I can't, I can't keep going. A voice in Huo Yuhao's head kept repeating, as he barely managed to channel the soul power in his body into his spirit eyes.
A coolness from the spirit eyes made him slightly more alert.
No, I absolutely cannot fall here, I must keep going. Watching the many students still running ahead and recalling the accelerated improvement in his cultivation after exhausting his physical strength in the morning, Huo Yuhao bit the tip of his tongue fiercely to stay spirited and keep running.
It was at that moment that he felt a warm sensation in his lower abdomen. Although his soul power was nearly depleted, this warmth slowly flowed to his limbs, slightly alleviating the soreness in his muscles.
Is this…
The power of the Mystic Sky Method?
```
Huo Yuhao quickly recognized the source of the warm current. After cultivating the Mystic Sky Method, it ultimately converged in the lower abdomen. Although Yuhao had not practiced the Mystic Sky Method for long, he had a foundation in soul power. Having converted his original soul power into that of the Mystic Sky Method, he had managed to cultivate the first layer of the technique.
The Grandmaster and the Skydream Ice Silkworm had both told him that the Mystic Sky Method was very suitable for him and could nourish his meridians. Was it now playing its role?
While thinking, Yuhao's consciousness naturally followed the trajectory of the Mystic Sky Method's operation to feel it, and to his surprise, the warmth in his lower abdomen followed the movement of his consciousness through his meridians.
Yuhao saw a faint trace of soul power from the Mystic Sky Method, which was slowly dispersing into his meridians as it operated, which was also the reason he felt the warmth.
What surprised him even more was that his meridians were absorbing this soul power very smoothly. This was also the source of the comfortable sensation that was alleviating his fatigue.
Huo Yuhao was born with a weak constitution, but he was smart. He could absorb the Mystic Sky Method when his body reached its limit, meaning he could operate the Mystic Sky Method while in action, and not just during meditation. Operating it this way differed from normal cultivation, the speed of soul power increase was not significant, but it integrated more closely with the body.
With this discovery, Yuhao hurriedly concentrated, slowing down his pace while quietly starting to operate the Mystic Sky Method.
The Mystic Sky Method of Tang Sect was brought to this world by the first generation Sect Master, Tang San. In a sense, it did not belong to Soul Land, but it was definitely a top-level technique, extremely beneficial for nourishing one's health.
In a serendipitous mistake, Huo Yuhao began to create a method to operate the Mystic Sky Method outside of the meditative state, in which the main effect of the Mystic Sky Method turned into nourishing the body and meridians with soul power.
Since the Mystic Sky Method gradually recovered during operation, a marvelous circulating state formed within his body. It could be regarded as a type of cultivation while in action.
Yuhao was unaware that even the first-generation Sect Master of the Tang Sect, Tang San, had not accomplished this, because he alone had a unique advantage. His cultivation was weak, which was why he could reach the limits of his body, and his strong mental power, along with his Spirit Martial Soul, was the fundamental reason he could sense this peculiarity and manipulate it.
Many strong practitioners had emerged from Tang Sect, but none of them had the conditions Yuhao possessed at that moment. After becoming powerful, they wouldn't easily experience a state of limit, nor would they carefully sense the faint warmth in their Dantian. It could be said that the Mystic Sky Method had evolved in Huo Yuhao's case.
With the regulation of this warmth, Yuhao's body, which had already reached its limit, was somewhat relieved. This not only firmed his willpower but also enabled him to invest more energy in guiding this warmth.
The warmth followed the route of the Mystic Sky Method's operation, and when it completed a cycle, the trace of subtle warmth was nearly exhausted. It was at this moment, upon completing the circuit, that the warmth seemed to grow a bit stronger, continuing its journey.
His body grew increasingly weary, yet Yuhao's spirit became more and more excited. The nourishment the Mystic Sky Method provided to his meridians was exactly what he needed at the moment! Some of the delicate meridians, which usually needed great care, became more elastic under the nourishment of this warmth and even widened a bit. Everywhere the warmth passed, an unprecedented sense of openness told Yuhao that what he was doing was completely correct.
Around Shrek square, more and more students fell, even those running in the front were gradually unable to sustain themselves, and the sound of metal shirts hitting the ground could be heard from time to time.
Wang Dong passed Huo Yuhao once again, and by now, he too was finding it increasingly difficult to move. To his surprise, he noticed that Huo Yuhao's eyelids were slightly closed, leaving only a sliver open, through which a faint golden light seemed to flow. Huo Yuhao's pace was slow, but he was still steadily moving forward. Those students with far higher cultivation than him had fallen, yet he persisted stubbornly. Each step he took even left a watermark on the ground, formed by his sweat.
"If you can't do it, don't push yourself," Wang Dong said in a low voice before continuing on. He had already taken the lead by a wide margin, but his body was also nearing its limit.
One and a half hours had passed, and the end-of-class bell was drawing ever closer. Only nine students on the outer ring of Shrek square were still running, and Huo Yuhao, who had been trailing from the start, was surprisingly one of them.
Zhou Yi had been paying close attention to Huo Yuhao the whole time. When one hour had passed, she was already astonished. Given her assessment of Huo Yuhao's physical and soul power, he should have reached his limit by now. Yet, he had just kept going. Although his consistent pace gave him some advantage, his cultivation level and physical condition were obvious!
Could a person's willpower really be so strong? And he was still so young.
"Thump, thump..." Two more students collapsed. And as they did, it was like knocking over domino bones, with several more falling one after another. One of them even bumped into Wang Dong as he was passing by.
Wang Dong stumbled, and his already sore legs could no longer hold up, causing him to sit down on the ground. The resolve in his heart also crumbled in that instant. He had run the most laps and it was already impossible for anyone to surpass him now.
Three remained, including Huo Yuhao.
Five minutes later, the other two students also collapsed one after the other, leaving Huo Yuhao, the weakest of the freshmen in class one, as the last one standing on the field. Even though his steps were staggering and his pace barely faster than a walk, he persisted when everyone else had fallen. This caused many students to look at him with amazement.
Yes, Huo Yuhao had already reached his limit. The warmth brought by the Mystic Sky Method could certainly nourish his body and alleviate fatigue to an extent, but it couldn't make him truly stronger!
Time and again, he reached his limit, and time and again, he gritted his teeth and bore it. Huo Yuhao knew very well that he was the weakest in this freshman class. If he wanted to stay till the end, he had to put in two hundred, even three hundred percent of the effort of others. And now, this extreme physical training could actually help expand his meridians and increase his soul power, so no matter what, he had to persist a bit longer.
Persist, hold on. Huo Yuhao kept shouting to himself inside. By now, he didn't even have any soul power left to pour into his spirit eyes to keep his mind more alert.
Gradually, a chant to support himself emerged from his throat.
"Mom, mom..." For his mother's last wish, for the day when he could proudly retrieve his mother's body from that place, to cleanse her of dishonor and avenge her. He had to persist, no matter what.
"Bang, bang..." Huo Yuhao's footsteps landing were extremely heavy, and his legs and body were shaking uncontrollably. Yet, he did not fall, and in such a hard situation, he still mechanically repeated the motion of lifting his foot, setting it down, then lifting it again, and setting it down again.
Gradually, the teasing glint in the eyes of those students who had collapsed disappeared. The power of an example is great. They began to get up from the ground one by one, watching Huo Yuhao's persistence in a daze.
Wang Dong was stunned for a moment, then he was the first to run up, following behind Huo Yuhao, but this time, he did not surpass him.
With Wang Dong taking the lead, a second and a third person began to follow, and gradually, all the freshmen of Class One clenched their teeth, lifted their already stiff legs, and reluctantly moved to get back on the track.
Zhou Yi was moved. Since becoming a teacher, she rarely got emotional over her students' performance, but this time, she truly was moved. It was because of Huo Yuhao, as well as the ninety students who got up and followed behind him. This was no longer just a mere physical training; it was a test of their spirit as well! On the faces of these children, only eleven or twelve years old, Zhou Yi saw a determination amidst their exhaustion.
This lesson had been far more effective than she had imagined.
"Dinglingling—"
Finally, the bell signalling the end of the class rang.
Crash, crash, this time, it truly was like domino bones toppling over, as the piercing sound of the bell knocked down a large number of students.
The sound of metal shirts clashing with the ground echoed as the fallen freshmen of Class One stirred up dust.
Huo Yuhao at the very front finally fell too, as the bell allowed him to fully release the persistence and tenacity in his heart. However, he did not crash directly to the ground. As he fell, Wang Dong grabbed his metal shirt from behind, and then the two of them rolled to the ground together, both gasping for air.
Looking up at the sky, Huo Yuhao's vision darkened, yet strangely, his meridians were warm and comfortable, indescribably so. His soul power was depleted, and his physical strength was long overdrawn, but his meridians still gave him a pleasant sensation. He had a hunch that, after this ordeal, he must have made substantial progress in all aspects.
Wang Dong lay beside Huo Yuhao; his physical condition and cultivation were much stronger, and although he was also exhausted, he was not immobilized like Huo Yuhao.
"I really don't know what strength is supporting you to hold out until now. You, a Soul Master with only a 10-year soul ring, actually lasted longer than I did, a Grand Soul Master. You are really an oddity."
Huo Yuhao let out a silly chuckle but lacked the strength even to speak.
Zhou Yi slowly took a deep breath and waved towards the distance. A man dressed in Bai Se clothes glided over, seeming to only touch the ground a few times before reaching her side. After nodding at her, he turned to the students.
A series of dazzling soul rings rose from his feet, two yellow, two purple, and three black, totalling to seven.
A Soul Sage, this was a Soul Sage level expert above level 70. Among Soul Masters, he was nearing the peak! And yet, he appeared to be only in his thirties, with eyes that revealed a wisdom that belied his youthful exterior.
Raising both hands, a soft green light began to grow from his palms. His seventh soul ring's black light swirled around him, and with a shake of his body, he simply vanished. The green leaves grew wildly, and in the blink of an eye, that powerful existence with seven soul rings transformed into a towering tree.
It seemed as though a breeze had passed, and exactly ninety-one green leaves fluttered down from that enormous tree with a vast canopy, landing delicately on each of the ninety-one freshmen of class one.
Everyone felt an indescribably comfortable coolness that instantly spread throughout their bodies. Whether it was their muscles aching to the extreme or their wounds chafed by metal shirts, all were healing at an astonishing speed. Even their physical strength was gradually recovering bit by bit. Only their soul power remained empty, unaffected by the green leaves.
Wang Dong had the highest cultivation and was the first to recover. He flipped over and sat up, staring at the towering tree with blazing eyes, and he inhaled sharply, "This, this is one of the pinnacles of plant-class martial souls, the Life Tree Martial Soul! Level 70, Martial Soul True Body. Teacher Zhou actually brought a plant-class Tool Soul Sage above level 70 to restore and heal us."
The tree shrouded in jade light, after releasing those ninety-one leaves, quickly receded and transformed back into the white-clothed man from before. He nodded at Zhou Yi, who bowed respectfully to him in return. The man left as if carried by the wind, just like when he had arrived. From beginning to end, he did not even exchange a word with Zhou Yi.
The students got up from the ground one after another. Although they still felt tired, their bodies, having pushed beyond their limits, now also experienced an indescribable sensation of pleasure.
Huo Yuhao also came to from his semi-conscious state, refreshed by the divine tool's soul skill from just before. The cooling sensation made the fatigue in his muscles disappear without trace, and the channels within his body were still immersed in the warm and melting sensation brought by the Mystic Sky Method. It was truly a clash of fire and ice worlds; ever since his Martial Soul Awakening at the age of six, he had never felt so comfortable during cultivation.
He managed to get up, his body filthy but his spirit eyes shining brighter by the moment. Subconsciously, he stimulated the soul power inside his body to circulate along the Mystic Sky Method's path, and indeed, it was possible. The method subtly nourished his channels and, since it was no longer being consumed, the Mystic Sky Method's internal strength even had a bit left over after traversing and nourishing the channels to return to his dantian and start circulating again.
Zhou Yi looked at the students who were standing up one by one and said indifferently, "I must say, you've provided me with a surprising answer. Today, no one will be eliminated."
Upon hearing this, the students couldn't help but cheer, especially a few who were lagging behind in the number of laps they had run; they felt as if a huge burden had been lifted.
Zhou Yi continued, "You should thank Huo Yuhao. Originally, I had prepared a punishment for you all. The task I set was to have you run until the end-of-class bell rang before counting the laps, but apart from Huo Yuhao, not a single one of you ran from start to finish. However, seeing that you were able to ignite a bit of fighting spirit in the end under his lead, I will no longer punish you. Wang Dong, step forward."
"Teacher," Wang Dong took a step forward.
Zhou Yi said indifferently, "As the class leader, you only cared about yourself and did not fulfill your role as a leader. From now on, I'm revoking your position as class leader, and it will be taken over by Huo Yuhao. Until the next physical training class, Huo Yuhao will be the class leader of class one. If anyone wants to challenge him, Wang Dong, you will be responsible for the fight."
Upon hearing Zhou Yi's words, Wang Dong was slightly stunned.
Zhou Yi's voice turned cold, "What? Do you have an objection?"
Wang Dong then came to his senses, shaking his head vigorously, "No. Teacher Zhou, I am completely convinced."
Zhou Yi nodded and said, "Dismissed. Everyone, take your metal shirts back with you. Tomorrow, other teachers will give you theoretical lessons, and I suggest you meditate well to fully assimilate the improvements and significance of today's physical training. The day after tomorrow afternoon is my class again. By then, I hope not to see any more weaklings."
"Yes," the students answered with a roar, but instead of dispersing, they collectively rushed towards Huo Yuhao and threw him high into the air.
For these teenagers, excitement and joy were very direct. Because of Huo Yuhao's effort, no one was eliminated and punishment was avoided. At this moment, Huo Yuhao was their hero.
Moreover, after the grueling and painful physical training, Teacher Zhou had summoned that miraculous plant-class spirit Tool Soul Sage to collectively restore and heal them, allowing them to truly feel the power of a high level Soul Master. As the physical pain disappeared, their animosity towards Teacher Zhou also diminished significantly.
The students made a fuss for a good fifteen minutes until the students from the other classes were also let out; only then did they stop and each returned to their dorms to clean up. They were looking a bit too disheveled.
Unbeknownst to these ninety-one students, it was precisely because of this lesson that a sense of collective pride had gradually begun to take root in their hearts. The class had been established for only one day, and they still couldn't call each other by name, but to have a collective pride appear was undoubtedly due to Zhou Yi's effective teaching. Coupled with a bit of luck from Huo Yuhao's last performance, Class One of the freshmen was already leading. And Huo Yuhao had become the weakest class president.
Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong went straight back to their room in their metal shirts, as they had to use the bathrooms located on either side of the hallway to clean themselves. Wang Dong let Huo Yuhao go first, while he washed himself with a basin of water in the dormitory.
Huo Yuhao was still immersed in his unique understanding of the Mysterious Heaven Method and didn't think much about it before going to wash up, and the Mysterious Heaven Method had been constantly active inside him. However, he noticed that the warm currents that had been continuously produced were beginning to weaken.
Why? Because my physical strength has recovered? Huo Yuhao was greatly puzzled in his heart, and it was not until he had finished cleaning himself that he vaguely guessed some reasons. It seemed that the warmth only appeared when his soul power was exhausted and his body was extremely tired. Now, with his body mostly recovered through healing, and his soul power slowly regenerating, the warm currents would no longer emerge.
If I had known, I would not have undergone the healing, Huo Yuhao thought somewhat helplessly. In that case, maybe his meridians could have benefited even more.
However, since the teacher left the metal shirts with us, I can try again by myself later. Thinking this, he couldn't help but feel excited again.
"Huo Yuhao." Just then, a calling voice woke him from his excitement.
Huo Yuhao silently cursed himself for forgetting about her and quickly shouted in the hallway, "Teacher Xiao Ya, I'm coming out right away." Then he hurried back to the dormitory, planning to change into a fresh uniform and go out.
Because he was anxious, he didn't think to knock before returning to the dormitory; he just pushed the door open and froze when he entered...
What he saw was a vast expanse of white... back.
Shoulders not broad yet rounded, tracing a gentle curve at the waistline, bulging slightly at the hips, with thighs that were straight and slender, a bit longer in proportion than normal. Nothing was exaggerated due to age. The skin, still with droplets of water on it, seemed translucent and sparkling, the visual impact was simply too strong.
"Ah—," a somewhat shrill cry rang out. Immediately after, the white in front of Huo Yuhao turned into a dazzling blue.
A pair of huge wings suddenly opened, and then he saw the letter V composed of individual golden rings on the wings suddenly light up, turning the treasured blue wings into a blue-purple color. A strong soul power fluctuation burst forth, as if it would devour him.
Fortunately, the wave-like soul power ultimately came to a halt.
"What are you doing? Why didn't you knock?" Wang Dong's voice rose, full of anger. The blue glow receded, and when Huo Yuhao looked again, Wang Dong had already dressed in school uniform, charged over furiously, but in the end did not lay hands on Huo Yuhao. Huo Yuhao had just cleansed his body and was only wearing trousers; his skin was clean and slick. However, compared to the fair skin of Wang Dong, his own bronze color was far less eye-catching…
"I... Someone outside was calling me, and I was in a hurry. Sorry!" Huo Yuhao didn't know why, but his heart was beating particularly hard, and he quickly put on a clean school uniform and ran out of the dormitory.
Wang Dong stood there, dumbfounded, not stopping him until after Huo Yuhao had closed the door and fled. Only then did he come to his senses, his face alternating between red and white, not knowing what to say.
Rushing out of the dormitory, Huo Yuhao's mood calmed down a bit, but the previous blinding whiteness still lingered in his mind, especially the already slightly substantial and perky buttocks…
What am I even thinking about! Huo Yuhao internally despised himself for a moment, hastily shifting his attention to the Mystic Sky Method.
Suddenly, his ear hurt, and Huo Yuhao cried out in pain, "Ouch."
Tang Ya's playful voice sounded, "You actually remembered to come out? I've been waiting for half the day."
Huo Yuhao pleaded pitifully, "Teacher Xiao Ya, please let go first. We just sweated a lot during the physical training class. I went back to the dormitory to take a shower, and then I came out, right?"
Tang Ya let go, frowning slightly as she looked at Huo Yuhao's somewhat pale face, saying, "Has that Abnormal Old Witch Zhou Yi been hard on you guys again? You need to be careful around her, she's always been known for her impartiality. If you offend her, if not dead, you would be skinned. How are you feeling? If you're not feeling well, let's forget it and talk about it tomorrow."
Huo Yuhao hurriedly shook his head, saying, "Teacher Xiao Ya, I am fine. Let's go." Today's physical training made him further realize the need for nutrition, a lot of nutrition. The warmth from the Mysterious Heaven Method inside him had disappeared, but a strong hunger had risen. Without money, what would he use to buy food?
Tang Ya giggled, saying, "Just grilling twenty fish, I've prepared everything for you. It won't take much of your time. It will definitely be less than the time you waste working for the school."
"Teacher Xiao Ya, where should we go to sell?" Huo Yuhao asked.
It was clear that Tang Ya had already thought it through, "Right outside the school entrance! The main gate of our Shrek Academy is also the east gate of Shrek City, and there have always been many vendors outside the east gate, including students from our academy doing business. We'll sell there too. With your grilled fish skills, we won't have to worry about not being able to sell them. Even if they don't sell, we can enjoy them ourselves."
Huo Yuhao followed Tang Ya out of the academy, and upon exiting, he was taken aback. There were no students registering now, and indeed, a large number of merchants had gathered on both sides of the road outside the east gate. There was everything for sale, dazzling to the eyes, and among them, those selling various foods were the most numerous. The cries of the vendors were endless. Obviously, they had all gathered here to do business with the students of Shrek Academy.
Tang Ya seemed to be a bit impatient, setting up her prepared items not far from the city gate, even occupying a bit of the big road. She took out all the things she had prepared.
She really was ready, having specially commissioned a craftsman to make a metal grill, complete with grill racks and various seasonings; the green fish were already killed and cleaned. She quickly took out all these things. And to place these items, she even brought a small table.
Huo Yuhao helped her set up the grill, and couldn't help but laugh in his heart, Teacher Xiao Ya's resistance to good food really is low!
Tang Ya also took out some charcoal and placed it on the ground, saying, "Alright, my task is done. It's all up to you now. I'll go buy something else to eat. Remember, there are two fish in there for me. Selling for five copper coins each is fine. In the future, if you need to buy ingredients, just go to Aunt Lin in your canteen."
After she finished speaking, she'd already run off excitedly.
Huo Yuhao first checked the seasonings, then started preparing the green fish. Tang Ya had really thought of everything, even finding some perilla leaves. Huo Yuhao tore up the perilla and mixed them with other seasonings, then stuffed them into the bellies of the green fish and skewered them with bamboo sticks.
The physical training class that day gave him a lot of insights, and he was eager to return and cultivate, naturally not wanting to waste too much time here.
Starting a fire was even easier for him, and in a short time, the grill was glowing with several red-hot charcoals. The grill was not small, able to hold four fish simultaneously. He started grilling right away.
It must be said that Huo Yuhao was truly exceptional at grilling fish. In no time, the rich aroma had already drifted out. This was even better than any advertising. Not to mention the students coming out from the academy, even the nearby vendors couldn't help but cast curious glances his way.
"Hey, buddy, how much for your grilled fish?" A male student in a yellow uniform came over and asked.
Huo Yuhao replied politely, "Senior, the grilled fish are five copper soul coins each."
The student responded with straightforwardness, "Smells good, let me try one." While saying so, he handed Huo Yuhao five copper soul coins.
This was Huo Yuhao's first successful transaction, and he couldn't help feeling excited. After receiving the coins, he grilled the fish even more seriously, even using the soul power that had just recovered a bit through Spiritual Detection to observe the perfect moment to take the fish off the grill.
With the first interested person, naturally, more people crowded around. However, since Huo Yuhao was appearing there for the first time, no one knew how good the taste was based on the smell alone. Almost all those who gathered around were students who had just finished classes at Shrek Academy.
When Huo Yuhao handed a well-grilled green fish to the yellow-clad student, the others couldn't help but focus their attention on him.
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