After a brief silence, a deafening cheer erupted across the examination area.
Facing a team that was also a championship favorite, Huo Yuhao proved with his actions what true domination meant.
Crushing victory!
"Champion! Champion!"
Someone suddenly shouted, and these two simple words quickly spread like a tidal wave, engulfing the entire examination area.
It was as if they were crowning a triumphant hero. Every student roared with excitement. Even though this match was just the round of 32 advancing to the top 16, in their hearts, this young man was already the undisputed champion of this year's freshman assessment.
The seemingly short battle reached its climax with Huo Yuhao's final sword strike, which even injured Du Weilun.
A self-created soul skill by a Grand Soul Master actually managed to wound a Soul Douluo. If they hadn't seen it with their own eyes, they would have never believed it.
Compared to the students' current enthusiasm, Yan Shaozhe felt a chill in his heart.
This was bad. He had initially thought a one-versus-two would suffice, but instead, his disciple got trounced in a one-versus-three.
The Soul Elder he had personally accepted as his disciple couldn't even defeat a Grand Soul Master. Forget Tang San; even Yan Shaozhe himself now questioned his judgment deeply.
When Du Weilun finally managed to expel the extreme cold from his hands and returned to the high platform, Xian Lin'er and Zhang Lexuan were already nowhere to be found.
Looking at Yan Shaozhe, who suddenly seemed to have aged a dozen years, Du Weilun hesitated before stepping forward to whisper, "Dean…"
Yan Shaozhe remained silent for a long time before belatedly asking, "How is Tang San?"
Du Weilun immediately straightened his posture and replied softly, "I've checked him. Tang San's physical condition is fine, only some internal injuries. However, his mental state seems off. He might be disheartened from losing the match. After receiving treatment from his teacher, I sent him back to rest."
Hearing the words mental state seems off, Yan Shaozhe's pupils constricted sharply.
Truly a domineering force. Would Tang San be unable to lift his head in front of Huo Yuhao for the rest of his life?
No, impossible.
That technique was the exclusive skill of Tang San's teacher. Others couldn't possibly replicate it. At most, it was a similar fusion of spiritual and soul power, and its effectiveness was uncertain.
Reassuring himself inwardly, Yan Shaozhe nodded lightly. "Thank you, Old Du."
"This is my duty."
Du Weilun hesitated briefly, then lowered his voice further. "Dean, this was just one match. Don't lose faith in yourself. Huo Yuhao's second martial soul was hidden far too well. We hadn't found any clues for three months."
Hearing this, Yan Shaozhe's face showed a bitter smile. Before he could say anything, Elder Xuan's voice, calm as ever, rang out.
"Old Du is right. It's just a match. So what if we lost? Win it back next time, that's all. Shaozhe, are you really this fragile after all these years as the Martial Soul Department Dean?"
Yan Shaozhe frowned slightly, his tone tinged with displeasure. "Elder Xuan, Huo Yuhao has now revealed his second martial soul as well. Apart from his slower cultivation speed, his talent is in no way inferior to Tang San's. If he can't win now, how can he win in the future?"
If he could, he would've dragged this old man, who always gave terrible advice, and beaten him up.
Had it not been for Elder Xuan's endless talk about Tang San being the most talented of the three, how could things have turned out like this?
Three months ago, he had the chance to make amends, to show Huo Yuhao and Gu Yue Na the sincerity of the Martial Soul Department. But trusting Elder Xuan's words, he chose to invest everything in Tang San to prove the department's foundation.
And what was the result? Total disaster.
Their foundation wasn't showcased; instead, a Grand Soul Master crushed three opponents singlehandedly.
Should he go back now, offer terms, and beg for others to join the department? Would it even work?
Leaving aside the significantly higher cost, there was no guarantee they would agree.
Most importantly, going back now would make him look like a shortsighted, sycophantic fool.
As the thought crossed his mind, Yan Shaozhe could already picture Xian Lin'er and the Soul Tool Department crowd laughing at him.
Growing more infuriated by the second, Yan Shaozhe cursed silently.
Damn it, this old man fooled me into a mess.
Giving away two prodigies with thousand-year-level innate soul rings to the Soul Tool Department while hyping up a student with hundred-year-level innate soul rings? How could I have believed his nonsense!
Unaware of the curses Yan Shaozhe muttered in his heart, Elder Xuan casually took a swig from a newly acquired wine gourd and said nonchalantly, "Shaozhe, why do you think Huo Yuhao is more talented than Tang San?"
Before Yan Shaozhe could answer, Elder Xuan continued, "It's because you've realized that kid not only has a second martial soul, seemingly of the Ultimate Ice element, but also a body martial soul capable of secondary evolution. Compared to that, Tang San's twin martial souls seem inferior in quality, don't they?"
Yan Shaozhe hesitated before nodding reluctantly.
Elder Xuan smirked disdainfully. "And what's the Grandmaster's famous saying?"
"There are no useless martial souls, only useless soul masters."
"Good, you remember."
Elder Xuan nodded approvingly, took another swig, and asked again, "Now, between the Spirit Hall's Six-Winged Angel martial soul and Ultimate Ice, which is stronger?"
"…The Six-Winged Angel."
As he spoke, a light returned to Yan Shaozhe's eyes.
"Exactly."
Elder Xuan shook his head slightly and explained, "If martial soul quality alone determined someone's future, how did Tang San's ancestor defeat the Spirit Hall's Six-Winged Angel user?"
"The quality of a martial soul doesn't decide one's achievements. That's your first mistake. Second, you underestimated the potential of the Clear Sky Hammer. In today's match, do you think Tang San fully utilized its power? Didn't something seem missing?"
Missing? Was it the new rule forbidding removing clothing during fights? No, that was too absurd.
Shaking off the bizarre thought, Yan Shaozhe's face lit up as realization struck. "The Clear Sky Sect's secret techniques?"
Elder Xuan nodded with satisfaction.
"The Clear Sky Sect wasn't the top sect of its time solely because of their Clear Sky Hammer martial soul. Their legacy of secret techniques played a critical role.
Though I've never seen them myself, I've heard of their unique methods. Compared to those, techniques like the Random Cloak Hammer Method are ordinary.
One of their signature moves is said to be a technique called 'Ring Explosion.' Now imagine if Tang San learned these skills in the future. Would he still lose to Huo Yuhao?"
It was as though a shot of adrenaline had been injected into Yan Shaozhe. The gloom in his heart vanished instantly.
Indeed, Tang San's ancestor defeated a Six-Winged Angel wielder under the Grandmaster's guidance using the Blue Silver Grass and Clear Sky Hammer.
As a Title Douluo personally mentoring someone even more talented than the ancestor, could he not defeat someone with an Ultimate martial soul?
If he couldn't even believe that, how could he surpass the Grandmaster and secure a place in Shrek's history?
But then, as reality struck, his excitement cooled, and he asked hesitantly, "But Elder Xuan, Tang San's father has been expelled from the Clear Sky Sect. How will he access these techniques?"
Elder Xuan cast him a sidelong glance as if disappointed by the naivety of the question.
"If you were a leader of the Clear Sky Sect, would you let a genius like Tang San drift away after learning about his potential?"
Yan Shaozhe fell silent, the logic undeniable.
"But in that case, wouldn't Tang San become part of the Clear Sky Sect? Wouldn't Shrek just be nurturing a genius for someone else?"
"Regardless of their origin, once they enter Shrek's inner court, they become a true member of Shrek, forever carrying the academy's mark."
Elder Xuan smirked. "Countless inner court graduates continue to hold Shrek close to their hearts even decades after leaving. Joining a sect doesn't change that."
As enlightenment dawned, Yan Shaozhe straightened and nodded resolutely.
"I understand now, Elder Xuan."
"Good. As long as you do."
(End of Chapter)
"As for that punch, you can rest assured. I've never heard of Elder Mu passing down his signature technique to anyone. For someone to have figured out this path on their own and developed it to this level, that kid indeed has extraordinary talent."
"However, the skill Domination of the World is something Elder Mu spent many years perfecting. It's not something a child under twelve could fully understand. What he demonstrated shouldn't be the true Domination of the World, and it won't have the effects you're worried about."
Elder Xuan paused briefly, then spoke in a calm tone.
"Without trials and tribulations, one cannot become truly strong. This is especially true for geniuses. Experiencing failure appropriately won't crush their confidence but will instead push them to improve rapidly. This incident is a good thing for Tang San. Let's not intervene for now and give him time to reflect on his own."
"As a warning, that 10,000-year spirit bone will not be given to him. During the break, I will take him to the Star Dou Forest to see if we can find the Eight Spider Lances of Tang San's ancestor."
"Understood, Elder Xuan!"
Hearing Elder Xuan's thorough arrangements, Yan Shaozhe couldn't help but feel moved.
Having such a senior to guide one along the path of growth—how could they not become strong?
Having regained his confidence in his genius disciple, Yan Shaozhe was about to leave when a figure in a fiery red school uniform appeared in his view.
"Xiao Tao? What brings you here?"
Hearing Yan Shaozhe's voice, Ma Xiaotao, who had been looking around, instinctively turned toward him and smiled as she explained.
"It's been a while, Teacher. I'm here looking for a student named Huo Yuhao. I heard he has an assessment today, so I came to cheer him on."
Unaware of Yan Shaozhe's stunned expression at her words, Ma Xiaotao continued scanning the assessment area below. However, her anticipation soon gave way to confusion on her delicate face.
"Could it have already ended? But didn't the assessment just begin? It seems Huo Yuhao's opponent wasn't very strong to lose so quickly. Teacher, did you watch the match? Has Huo Yuhao already—"
Not spotting the figure she was looking for, Ma Xiaotao turned back to ask Yan Shaozhe about it, only to be taken aback by his darkened expression. She subconsciously asked, "Teacher, what's wrong with you?"
"Nothing, nothing."
Yan Shaozhe coughed twice and waved his hand repeatedly. "His match did indeed end. He's probably on his way back now."
For some reason, seeing this disciple whom he had neglected for several months since taking Tang San as his student, Yan Shaozhe found the situation increasingly unsettling.
"In that case, Teacher, I'll go find Huo Yuhao now."
Ma Xiaotao nodded and left directly, heading toward the assessment area exit.
After watching Ma Xiaotao disappear from view, Du Weilun, who also sensed something amiss, finally spoke hesitantly.
"Dean, I suspect that Zhang Lexuan's personal recruitment of Huo Yuhao wasn't just because of his first spirit ring. She likely knew about his second martial soul as well..."
"I know."
Yan Shaozhe nodded slightly, recalling Ma Xiaotao's earlier demeanor. His fists clenched tightly under his sleeves.
It didn't take much thought. Ma Xiaotao, who had been in the inner courtyard for a long time, wouldn't have had the opportunity to get to know Huo Yuhao without Zhang Lexuan's intervention.
Moreover, her eyes and state made it clear that compared to three months ago, Ma Xiaotao's demonic fire was much weaker—a clear sign of suppression.
Adding this to the fact that Huo Yuhao had just revealed his Ultimate Ice martial soul today, Yan Shaozhe couldn't help but feel agitated.
So, in just a few months of neglect, his disciple had been poached?
And now he was the last one in the world to find out about Huo Yuhao's second martial soul being Ultimate Ice?
The more he thought about it, the more frustrated he became!
If Ma Xiaotao had told him earlier, how could the Martial Soul Department have lost such a talent?
Suppressing his growing dissatisfaction, Yan Shaozhe sighed deeply.
"Old Du, let's go check on Tang San."
"Huh?"
Du Weilun froze. "Dean, what about Ma Xiaotao—"
"Let her be. After all, she's grown up and has her own ideas now..."
Yan Shaozhe's tone was somewhat dejected.
"Compared to that, Tang San just lost a match. As his teacher, I should at least go comfort him."
"...Understood."
"Um..."
On the way back to the dormitory, Zhu Lu kept glancing at Huo Yuhao. After hesitating for a long time, she finally gathered the courage to ask, "Do you still plan to take action against the Duchess?"
The icy words of that frail boy from five years ago remained deeply imprinted in her memory. Even now, she remembered them vividly.
Having learned about Huo Yuhao and Huo Yun'er's ordeal later, she naturally investigated further. It wasn't just the Duchess—many in the Duke's mansion were likely already on Huo Yuhao's list.
While he hadn't done anything to Dai Huabin at the academy, she didn't think he would let the Duchess off so easily.
At first, she thought Huo Yuhao's talent was extraordinary, but it would still take years for him to gain the strength to take revenge.
However, after witnessing his performance in today's match, she suddenly felt that this task wasn't so difficult for him anymore.
"Yes."
Huo Yuhao, surprised that Zhu Lu would bring this up, nodded calmly. "Why? Does it concern you?"
This kind of thing wasn't worth hiding. Zhu Lu had heard his words back then, and if she wanted to report them, she would have done so long ago. Besides, he didn't sense any malice from her now.
"Not exactly."
Zhu Lu paused to organize her thoughts before softly explaining, "The Zhu family, as Star Luo nobles, has developed many factions over the millennia. My mother and the Duchess are not from the same faction; they are, at best, lukewarm toward each other."
"Although there are internal disputes within the Zhu family, they generally maintain a close relationship with the Duke's mansion. After all, the two families have a stable martial soul fusion technique. Weakening their bond could jeopardize their status in the Star Luo Empire. That's why each generation arranges a marriage between their most talented individuals."
Seeing Huo Yuhao nod in understanding, Zhu Lu pursed her lips and continued softly.
"The Duchess married the current White Tiger Duke under similar circumstances. However, after the incident five years ago, I grew curious and looked into it. I found some oddities."
She paused, her expression turning peculiar.
"It turns out that the current White Tiger Duke, Dai Hao, wasn't the most talented among his siblings. Instead, he only stood out because he joined the military at around twelve or thirteen years old."
"But this meant that he had no significant interaction with the Duchess early on. She mostly spent time with one of Dai Hao's brothers, who was more talented."
Zhu Lu hesitated before adding, "And their relationship...was very close."
Huo Yuhao's eyes blinked involuntarily, his expression also turning strange.
Close? Just how close?
He had always wondered why the Duchess started targeting his mother and him only after he turned two. If she was worried about his mother threatening her position, why not act the moment Huo Yun'er became pregnant?
Could this be tied to the death of Dai Hao's brother nine years ago?
Huo Yuhao's thoughts raced. Could it be...?
Was Dai Huabin not Dai Hao's biological son? Could this also explain the mutations in his and Dai Luoli's martial souls?
The more he thought about it, the stranger it all seemed.
(End of Chapter)
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