"Uh... well about that..." Huo Yuhao struggled internally—should he really say it?
Yesterday, he had received a letter from Xu Jiujiu. Aside from the usual greetings, she wrote about the recent movements of the Dai family and the Imperial Household, while inviting him to the palace to discuss future actions against the Dai family.
She even mentioned that Emperor Xu Jiawei intended for him to take over Dai Hao's military power...
Of course, the reliability of an Emperor's words wasn't high; such things were best read and then set aside.
This was a private family matter. Was there a need to tell Zhang Lexuan and Ma Xiaotao?
Though telling them wouldn't hurt anything—after all, they knew his life story and had helped him quite a bit.
The most critical point was that if he wanted to take a leave of absence, he needed the approval of Zhang Lexuan as the class teacher. Making up a random excuse definitely wouldn't pass muster.
After a moment of hesitation, Huo Yuhao told Zhang Lexuan and Ma Xiaotao everything regarding himself, the Star Net Imperial Family, and the Dai family.
After listening, Zhang Lexuan tapped her chin thoughtfully. "I see... a short one-month holiday is indeed not enough."
This brought to mind the "landlord-style" schedule of Shrek Academy.
After attending school for a full eleven months, there was only a one-month break, and upon returning, students had to face examinations immediately...
As far as Huo Yuhao knew, other schools on Douluo rested for at least two months a year, while students at the Star Net National Academy had at least three months of holiday—the longest break within the Star Net Empire.
The cafeteria had no dining tables, and the dormitories had no private bathrooms. It seemed the higher-ups of Shrek Academy were terrified that if the students rested even a little, their graduation rates would suffer.
Zhang Lexuan naturally felt this deeply, as she had once suffered through it herself. She had even planned to comprehensively reform the academy's various systems once she became the Master of the Sea God Pavilion.
Having walked through the rain herself, she always wanted to hold an umbrella for others. But looking at the elders of the Sea God Pavilion who had also walked through that same rain, they didn't seem to want to give these new students umbrellas; instead, they wanted the freshmen to run laps in the rain for "discipline."
Ma Xiaotao looked at him meaningfully. "Oh... our little Yuhao is actually on such good terms with the Princess of Star Net."
Huo Yuhao said casually, "It's not that great of a relationship, we just ate together often when we were little..."
These words immediately put Zhang Lexuan and Ma Xiaotao on high alert.
Since childhood... could they be childhood sweethearts?
Not just Zhang Lexuan, even Ma Xiaotao's eyes suddenly turned cold.
They were well aware of this brat's ability to attract "bees and butterflies." For instance, there were currently rumors that Huo Yuhao was on a date at a tea house with the eldest miss of the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect...
And now even a Princess? Truly a man of heavy sins!
While he was still young, they had to correct him quickly! This was the responsibility of a teacher and a big sister!
Zhang Lexuan gave a gentle smile, though the smile seemed to carry a hint of frost.
"Ho... it seems that as your teacher, I can't just sit by and watch. How about this, little Yuhao—Teacher will also take a trip to Star Net City to help you out."
"Eh? But Teacher Lexuan, as a class teacher, you can't just take leave whenever you want, right?"
Zhang Lexuan spread her hands dismissively, shrugging slightly. "Why do you think I continued being this class teacher? Naturally, it's for a certain someone who causes worry. Such a major event naturally requires your teacher to plan and strategize for you."
Huo Yuhao's heart skipped a beat. This... wasn't this basically a home visit?
"Then I'm going too!"
Huo Yuhao blinked twice, so startled he nearly jumped. "Eh eh? Sister Xiaotao is going too?"
Ma Xiaotao toyed with her fingernails and gave Huo Yuhao a wink.
"I need to keep an eye on little Yuhao to see if you're doing anything bad~"
Huo Yuhao wiped away non-existent cold sweat from his forehead and said weakly, "What bad things could I possibly do..."
Hearing Ma Xiaotao's dangerous statement, Zhang Lexuan's eyes narrowed slightly, not yielding an inch. "Xiaotao, if I remember correctly, don't you still have tasks for the Inspection Team to complete? Three months isn't a short time; illegal incidents could happen at any moment."
Ma Xiaotao pouted. "But with three months being such a long time, my evil fire also needs Yuhao to help me suppress it."
In reality, Ma Xiaotao's evil fire was already mostly under control. Even if she practiced recklessly for a year, no problems would arise.
With Huo Yuhao's help, Ma Xiaotao had even developed a "Dark Phoenix Form."
Strictly speaking, it wasn't complicated. Normally, whether practicing or fighting, she used the standard Fire Phoenix martial soul. When necessary, she could channel the evil fire for combat, much like a transformation.
Evil fire was still fire; it was simply flame infused with an evil attribute.
In just these three months since school started, Ma Xiaotao's soul power level had even risen to Rank 66. By the time they went to Star Net City for the competition next year, Ma Xiaotao estimated she could reach Rank 68 or even 69 at the lowest.
But the thought of not seeing her cute little brother for a full three months was something Ma Xiaotao couldn't even fathom; she was so upset she almost couldn't sleep.
After some discussion, the two of them cheerfully decided to go to Huo Yuhao's home together to spend a happy three-month holiday...
Naturally, this did not require Huo Yuhao's consent.
"Oh, right!"
Zhang Lexuan suddenly seemed to remember something, her eyes curving into a smile she couldn't suppress. She looked at Huo Yuhao with a bit of ambiguity. "I almost forgot. Student Yuhao, are you free tonight?"
Huo Yuhao nodded with some confusion. "Uh, I'm free, but I don't know what instructions Teacher Lexuan has."
Ma Xiaotao's eyes also lit up, her expression even appearing somewhat excited.
Zhang Lexuan spread her hands casually, smiling with total honesty. "Is there even a need to ask? Naturally, it's to ask Student Yuhao to help solve the dinner problem."
Huo Yuhao breathed a sigh of relief. He thought it was something else...
"Ah, yes, of course, no problem."
"Good then... tonight will be at my dormitory. Let's see how you perform."
"Hehe... then I'll leave it to you."
After a pleasant farewell to the two women, Huo Yuhao returned to his dormitory alone.
Noon had passed. If he took an afternoon nap now, it would be close to evening.
With his feet resting boldly on the desk in a comfortable position, Huo Yuhao casually pulled out the soul bone that Ning Tian had given him.
It was a small bone, only about the length of a palm, emitting a faint yellow light.
The Hollow Demon Leopard Left Leg Bone. Judging by its quality, it was close to ten thousand years old, but Huo Yuhao already possessed a hundred-thousand-year left leg bone.
Furthermore, the age of this soul bone was too low; for the sake of his future development, he couldn't allow himself to use such a soul bone.
So, what should he do with it?
The first method Huo Yuhao thought of was to auction it off. In any country's auction house, a soul bone would always be the most precious item. Plus, with Xu Jiujiu being the chief auctioneer of the Starlight Auction House, asking for her help would surely fetch a good price.
But doing that felt a bit disrespectful to Ning Tian. Someone had kindly given it to him as a reward for the freshman assessment; it wouldn't be right to just sell it for cash, would it?
With a flash of light, the two soul spirits, Skydream Ice Silkworm and Golden Tortoise, appeared by his side. Skydream Ice Silkworm landed lightly on Huo Yuhao's shoulder, looked the soul bone up and down, and said grandly:
"Little Yuhao, keep this soul bone for now. When you go to the Far North to fuse with the Ice Emperor, I'll use it for you. It should be able to reduce your pain by thirty percent."
Huo Yuhao curled his lip. "Why do I always feel like this is unreliable... Brother Skydream, are you sure you can get a Ferocious Beast with nearly 400,000 years of cultivation to become my soul spirit?"
Skydream patted his chest proudly. "Just leave this matter to your Brother Skydream! Rest assured, with your talent, even the Snow Emperor would have no reason to refuse!"
The reason Huo Yuhao had asked for leave in advance wasn't just to deal with the Dai family; he also naturally had to go to the Far North that Brother Skydream had been longing for, to obtain the first soul ring for his Deep Blue Glazed Dragon martial soul.
Ever since that time in the Star Constellation Great Forest when the two of them had stood up before the soul beast co-ruler, the Silver Dragon King, there were no longer any barriers between the boy and the two soul spirits. Skydream had naturally revealed his entire plan, including his feelings for the Ice Emperor that transcended species.
Regarding Brother Skydream's feelings, Huo Yuhao naturally wouldn't say much, but he was a bit worried about whether absorbing a Ferocious Beast soul spirit so early would cause problems.
Skydream was quite open-minded about it now, not needing to use deception or persuasion like he did with the Huo of the original timeline.
"If you don't want to go, Yuhao, it's fine. The Ice Emperor still has nearly a hundred years before facing a heavenly tribulation. With your talent, it won't take a hundred years—I'm certain that in twenty years at most, you will reach a Divine Position. It's just that high-level soul rings and soul bones play a greater role in the early stages of your cultivation. That's why I'm having you find the Ice Emperor early, so the effect of the soul ring and soul bone she gives you can be maximized, just like me and the Old Tortoise."
The fact that Huo Yuhao could frequently fight above his level—even going toe-to-toe with a five-thousand-year-old Golden-Haired Lion-Mastiff—was due to his own superb combat techniques, but primarily because the soul ring and soul bone skills provided by Skydream and Golden Tortoise were powerful enough.
In the end, battles between soul masters were a competition of stats and mechanics; combat experience didn't differ that much among elites.
"I see... Brother Skydream, you've thought this through. Then it's settled—we'll head to the Far North during the holidays."
"However, Yuhao..." Golden Tortoise spoke up, his voice carrying a hint of embarrassment. "There's something I should clarify first. In my current state, I'm afraid I cannot provide you with a fourth soul ring."
Huo Yuhao looked at Golden Tortoise in confusion. "Ah? Old Tortoise, you're a hundred-thousand-year soul beast. According to Teacher Electrolux's calculations, a hundred-thousand-year soul beast with sufficient energy can even provide three soul rings."
Golden Tortoise said somewhat dejectedly, "Exactly. You also know my condition when we fused. My life energy was essentially sucked dry by that 'Life Gold' thing. It's a good thing I met you; if I hadn't, I reckon I would have been finished in ten years at most."
"After all, my original Water and Earth attributes didn't quite harmonize with your Spirit Eye martial soul. The power used to shape those two soul skills was my own inherent power of destiny. My origin power can ultimately only help you condense one soul bone; it can no longer provide you with another soul ring."
"So that's how it is..."
Huo Yuhao felt a bit conflicted. From the bottom of his heart, after gaining Skydream and the Old Tortoise as soul spirits, he was somewhat repulsed by the idea of hunting soul beasts to obtain soul rings.
In Huo Yuhao's view, this method of cultivation—forcibly seizing power from another—was inherently problematic. But he wasn't a soul beast in human form and couldn't produce his own rings; being able to have a soul spirit, a unique existence on the continent, was already a stroke of luck.
He could only wait and see if his luck held out, perhaps encountering another soul beast willing to sign a soul spirit contract.
The three of them chatted for a while about everything under the sun, and then Huo Yuhao went to bed to cultivate.
During these three months since enrollment, Huo Yuhao wasn't in a hurry to increase his soul power; instead, he spent more time stabilizing his cultivation.
With three God-level martial souls and innate Rank 20 soul power, he possessed talent that surpassed the world. But as a cautionary tale, the lesson of Qian Renxue could not be forgotten.
Lay a solid foundation first before thinking about advancing in cultivation. There was no rush for soul power levels; sometimes taking the long way around is the fastest method.
Steadying the [Spirit Ice Technique] within his body, faint gold and blue light radiated outward from him. The small dormitory actually felt like being in the Far North watching the aurora, giving off a surreal, kaleidoscopic feeling.
The heaven-and-earth primordial energy drawn in by Huo Yuhao became increasingly dense, yet Huo Yuhao's body was like a bottomless pit, accepting all of this pure heaven-and-earth primordial energy without refusal.
Shrek Academy was, after all, close to the Star Constellation Great Forest, and with the presence of the Golden Ancient Tree, it was practically a blessed land. The density of heaven-and-earth primordial energy far exceeded other academies. Moreover, the [Spirit Ice Technique] that Huo Yuhao practiced was created by a God King—it was a true God-level technique.
Baili Du also had something to say: if after cultivating for so many years I still used a third-rate technique like the [Mysterious Heaven Skill], then what difference would there be between me and Tang San?
This incidentally allowed his roommates to benefit; many successfully entered a meditative state.
Soon, Huo Yuhao broke through the Rank 36 bottleneck and smoothly reached Rank 37 without any obstacles.
Ending his cultivation, he looked at the sky outside. The sun was leaning toward the west; it was time to prepare the ingredients for dinner.
Just as Huo Yuhao stepped out of the dormitory door, he saw someone unexpected.
It was Lan Xuanyu, returning to the dorm after his own cultivation.
Neither had the intention of greeting the other, and they quickly averted their gazes.
On the surface, Lan Xuanyu wore a cold expression, but in reality, he was carefully observing Huo Yuhao. He suddenly noticed that Huo Yuhao seemed to be wearing something around his neck.
It looked like... a silver necklace, which seemed somewhat familiar.
Huo Yuhao was wearing V-neck casual clothes, making his fair collarbones easily visible. Just below his neck, one could faintly see a small, delicate, oval-shaped object.
Lan Xuanyu narrowed his eyes. He had seen this somewhere...
"!!!"
Lan Xuanyu felt as if the sky had collapsed. He remembered!
That was... that was...
His mother's... Dragon Scale?!