Half a month later, Heaven Dou City.
A youth dressed in ragged clothes stood beneath the towering city gate, raised his head, and tilted it slightly as he looked up.
"So this is the former largest city in the continent… Heaven Dou City?"
This youth was none other than Huo Yuhao, who had just returned from the Far North.
After muttering to himself, Yuhao stepped into the city alone.
The streets were bustling with people coming and going, but the moment they noticed Yuhao, many subconsciously gave him a wide berth.
There was no helping it—his current appearance was simply too miserable.
Yuhao, however, paid no attention to the strange and wary gazes around him. He walked straight ahead, his steps steady and purposeful.
"Yuhao, isn't the Noumenon Sect you mentioned located in this city?"
Tianmeng Iceworm's voice suddenly rang out within his spiritual sea.
Back in the Far North, after Yuhao had successfully absorbed the second soul ring of his Spirit Eye martial soul, Tianmeng had asked him about his next plans.
At that time, Yuhao had clearly stated that he wanted to join a top-tier power.
On the Douluo Continent, there were three recognized top forces: Shrek Academy, the Sun and Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy, and the Noumenon Sect.
As for Shrek Academy, a place where people judged potential merely by the color of one's soul ring, Yuhao had never considered joining it from the very beginning.
Thinking back to the unfair treatment his original self had once suffered at Shrek Academy, a trace of anger flickered through Yuhao's heart.
The Sun and Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy was extremely exclusive, and its primary focus lay in cultivating soul engineers. For Yuhao in his current state, it was clearly not a suitable choice.
Thus, the Noumenon Sect became Yuhao's only option—or rather, the best option.
Although the Noumenon Sect was a reclusive sect that rarely appeared in public, its strength was terrifying. Even Shrek Academy would not dare to easily provoke it.
Moreover, every disciple of the Noumenon Sect possessed a Noumenon-type martial soul. If Yuhao joined, he would receive the most suitable training and guidance.
More importantly, the Noumenon Sect possessed the profound mysteries of Noumenon cultivation and unique methods for tempering qi and blood.
If Yuhao could master these techniques, his strength would undoubtedly rise by leaps and bounds.
However, there was one problem.
Yuhao did not actually know the exact location of the Noumenon Sect.
"What? You don't even know where the Noumenon Sect is, then what are you doing here?"
Tianmeng Iceworm was momentarily speechless.
"Heh, just wait and see."
Yuhao chuckled softly, a cunning smile appearing on his face.
Although he did not know the specific location of the Noumenon Sect, he knew one crucial fact—the Noumenon Sect was the nation-protecting sect of the Heavenly Soul Empire.
In that case, there was no need for him to painstakingly search for the sect. He only needed to make them come to him.
The Noumenon Sect had once declared that any soul master who awakened a Noumenon-type martial soul would be considered a disciple of the Noumenon Sect.
As for how to let the Noumenon Sect notice his existence, Yuhao had already prepared a plan.
...
Zhengtian Academy.
One of the oldest academies in the Heavenly Soul Empire.
Although its reputation and overall strength could not compare to Shrek Academy, it was still a prestigious institution that attracted countless soul masters to study and cultivate.
At this moment, however, an eleven- or twelve-year-old boy stood boldly at the entrance of Zhengtian Academy.
The boy held a wooden board taller than himself, with two large characters carved onto it:
"踢馆" — Challenge the Academy.
Naturally, this boy was Huo Yuhao.
With one hand holding the wooden board, Yuhao took out a trumpet-shaped soul tool with the other. This was a simple amplification soul guide he had purchased from a roadside stall, capable of greatly amplifying sound.
"Cough, cough!"
Yuhao raised the loudspeaker soul guide to his mouth, coughed twice, and then shouted loudly:
"My name is Huo Yuhao, I am twelve years old. I've long heard that Zhengtian Academy is the second-ranked soul master academy in the Heavenly Soul Empire, but in my opinion… it's nothing special!"
At the entrance of Zhengtian Academy, students and visitors were constantly passing by. With the sound amplified several times by the soul guide, Yuhao's words instantly drew hundreds of gazes.
"Huh? What did that brat just say? He said our Zhengtian Academy is just average?"
"Damn it! Is this kid looking for a beating?"
"Can't you see the wooden board he's holding? He's here to challenge the academy!"
...
After clearly hearing Yuhao's words, the students of Zhengtian Academy—who possessed a strong sense of pride—could no longer endure it. Even passers-by cast furious and disdainful looks toward Yuhao.
After all, Zhengtian Academy had trained countless talents for the empire. How could they tolerate such open insult?
If Yuhao were not obviously a child of twelve, he would have been beaten down on the spot.
Yet Yuhao completely ignored the surrounding hostility and continued speaking calmly:
"I came here today with only one purpose—to beat all of you Zhengtian Academy students until you are convinced, or to be beaten by you until I am convinced."
Originally, Yuhao had wanted to say "be beaten to death," but after some thought, he decided not to be overly provocative.
Even so, Tianmeng Iceworm's utterly speechless voice echoed in his mind.
"Little Yuhao… I really didn't know you had such a side that begs for a beating."
"Do I?"
Yuhao smiled faintly, completely ignoring the hundreds of Zhengtian Academy students who were already surrounding him.
"Kid, take back what you just said. You still have a chance to walk out of here on your own two legs."
A student wearing the Zhengtian Academy uniform stepped forward. His physique was extremely robust, and as he clenched his fists, his knuckles cracked loudly.
"Take it back? Why should I take it back?"
Yuhao glanced at him and said proudly,
"I'll put my words right here. As long as you are a student of Zhengtian Academy, no matter your age or your soul power level, as long as you dare to step forward, I will accept your challenge."
As soon as his words fell, hundreds of people stepped forward simultaneously, producing a unified sound.
Whoosh!
Yuhao was startled. Looking at the angry crowd, he quickly added,
"One at a time."
Although Yuhao was extremely confident in his own strength, if hundreds of people attacked together, his only option would be to flee for his life.
Yuhao's sudden "change of tone" caused many students to sneer.
"Brat, you really deserve a beating, but you said yourself that you're only twelve. I bet your soul power is barely level thirty."
Yuhao raised his chin slightly and replied loudly,
"Wrong. I am a level 23 Great Soul Master. And I already said—any student of Zhengtian Academy, whether you're a Soul King or even a Soul Emperor, is free to challenge me."
His posture was arrogant to the extreme.
Since his time at the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Eyes, Yuhao had accumulated an enormous amount of soul power within his body. Because he had not yet attached a second soul ring at the time, that power had been forcibly suppressed.
After obtaining his second soul ring in the Far North, his soul power broke through three levels in succession, directly reaching level 23.
If he had not deliberately compressed and stabilized his soul power, it might have been even higher.
Upon hearing Yuhao's soul power level, the surrounding crowd either burst into laughter or shook their heads mockingly, as though they were watching a clown.
"Such a little brat, and only a level 23 Great Soul Master. You'd better go home and find your mommy."
"That's right. Don't embarrass yourself here."
...
Facing the ridicule from all directions, Yuhao merely smiled with contempt and said coldly:
"What? So the dignified Zhengtian Academy only knows how to talk? Not a single person dares to step forward and fight? What a bunch of cowards."