Time fast-forwarded again, arriving eleven days later.
Huo Yuhao, who had been leisurely researching soul tools, suddenly heard a muffled thud against the laboratory door.
When he opened it, a young girl wreathed in flames lunged directly into his arms. Her body, saturated with Evil Fire, was incredibly scorching; it had incinerated her clothes until only a few fragments remained, revealing large expanses of fair skin.
Without hesitation, Huo Yuhao carried the fiery girl straight into the laboratory, ignoring a certain ice-blue-haired girl who was secretly peeking from outside.
A moment later, inside the lab, Ma Xiaotao sat on the experimental table. She was wrapped in Huo Yuhao's white lab coat to cover her nearly bare body.
She kept her head down, her peripheral vision drifting toward the figure who had already returned to studying soul tools. For a moment, she didn't know how to face him.
Over the past few days, the unpleasantness that occurred during the first Evil Fire sealing had left her inexplicably furious. She had spent an entire day fighting in the Soul Dueling Arena until her soul power was completely exhausted and she collapsed, only then returning to her dormitory.
Afterward, her life became a cycle of cultivation-combat-cultivation-combat.
Without the influence of the Evil Fire, she no longer had to carefully set aside a portion of her mind to avoid stray thoughts while cultivating; she could focus all her energy entirely on her progress.
Perhaps because she had been suppressed for too long, despite having just broken through to Rank 46, those few days of intense cultivation pushed her to Rank 47. Her progress was lightning-fast.
However, it was precisely because of her lack of restraint that her seal shattered prematurely—at a time when she was fighting with all her might in the arena.
The moment the seal broke, the suppressed Evil Fire instantly consumed her. Her remaining sliver of sanity analyzed the situation and found only one solution: find Huo Yuhao.
Thus, the scene from moments ago occurred.
Recalling how she had lost all reason under the erosion of the Evil Fire and had instinctively bitten and gnawed on Huo Yuhao, Ma Xiaotao felt another wave of shame and indignation.
Yet, she couldn't direct her anger at Huo Yuhao. After all, the problem lay with her; he was the one helping her, the one she owed a debt to. How could she return kindness with enmity?
Feeling the coolness at her lower abdomen, Ma Xiaotao's cheeks burned slightly.
This time... her clothes at her abdomen, and even in worse, lower positions, had been burned completely away.
Her thighs rubbed together involuntarily. The only saving grace was that her martial soul attribute was fire; even when her consciousness was blurred, she could evaporate any "traces." Otherwise, she would have wanted to die of embarrassment!
Ma Xiaotao wrapped the oversized lab coat tighter around herself. Forcing her weak legs to stand, she looked at the back of Huo Yuhao, who was hunched over his research, with a complex gaze. After a long silence, she spoke:
"Th—thank you..."
Huo Yuhao paused his movements, nodded slightly, and said, "No need. It's a standard transaction."
After a pause, Huo Yuhao turned around to face Ma Xiaotao. "From now on, come to me once a week to prevent the Evil Fire from spiraling out of control like it did today.
"I won't always be in the laboratory. If this happens again, I might not be able to save you. So, please, exercise some restraint, okay?"
His calm tone made Ma Xiaotao nod subconsciously. However, she quickly thought of something; her cheeks flushed, and she hurriedly lowered her head. "I... I understand. I'm leaving now!"
With that, regardless of Huo Yuhao's reaction, she clutched the coat around her and fled the laboratory like a bolt of lightning.
Huo Yuhao sighed softly and continued his research.
The fact that the young Sister Xiaotao still possessed the emotion of shyness was certainly interesting, but unfortunately, he didn't have the mood to appreciate it for now.
His Spiritual Detection spread out slightly. He saw Ma Xiaotao quickly depart using her martial soul possession, and he also saw a suspicious ice-blue figure acting very "sneaky," watching Ma Xiaotao leave before stealthily turning her gaze toward his laboratory.
Senior Ling Luochen?
Looking at Ling Luochen, memories of his previous life surfaced in his mind.
Mm... I've run into another familiar person.
A nostalgic smile touched his lips. Huo Yuhao rested for a while, packed up his things in the lab, and then stepped into the portal.
Sister Xiaotao's sudden visit had slightly disrupted his plans, but it wasn't a big deal—it was still within controllable limits.
...
A moment later, in Radiant City, inside a deserted alleyway not far from the recruitment office of the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Tool Academy, Huo Yuhao—having shed his disguise and carrying a small bag—stepped out of the portal.
The Sun Moon Imperial Soul Tool Academy opened three days earlier than Shrek, and the five days leading up to the start of the semester were dedicated to recruitment.
Stepping out of the alley, Huo Yuhao immediately saw the long queue at the recruitment office in the distance.
Well, Sister Xiaotao's sudden appearance did have an impact. For instance, he had originally planned to arrive an hour early to queue so he could register quickly. Now, however... he had to wait in line like everyone else.
Huo Yuhao sighed softly and began his wait.
...
"Name?"
"Huo Yuhao."
"Age?"
"Eight years old... well, I'm a few months away from nine."
"Rank... wait, how old are you?"
"Eight! Is there a problem, Sister?"
Huo Yuhao blinked, looking innocently at the older girl wearing the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Tool Academy uniform.
Through the dual modification of Emotional Power and the Ultimate Ice martial soul, Huo Yuhao's appearance had reached a breathtaking level.
The senior student, who had come to the recruitment office just to earn some credits, was momentarily stunned by his beauty. This boy was even more handsome than the Dean's two children!
But upon hearing his age, she blinked and asked hesitantly:
"Little brother, you do know this is the recruitment office for the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Tool Academy, right?"
"I know."
Huo Yuhao nodded and spoke earnestly, "Isn't the recruitment requirement to be under twelve years old and have the cultivation of a one-ring Soul Master? I have met those conditions."
As he spoke, Huo Yuhao summoned his martial soul, and a single yellow soul ring instantly appeared beside him.
The senior student froze, clearly sensing the soul power fluctuations from the boy—roughly around Rank 16.
Eight years old, Rank 16...
This is eight years old?!
This qualified as a genius! But... this age was just too small, wasn't it?
Although the official requirements stated one could apply if they were under twelve and reached Rank 10, the "default" expectation was usually someone between eleven and twelve.
Yet this boy had come at eight... was this some kind of loophole abuse?
The senior student hesitated, wanting to reject him, but looking at Huo Yuhao's "innocent and pure" face, the rejection got stuck in her throat.
How could such a beautiful boy be a loophole abuser? It must be the recruitment office's fault; they clearly didn't specify the conditions well enough, which caused little brother Huo Yuhao to misunderstand!
Yes... it's all their fault!
But she couldn't just let him through on her own authority.
Her gaze shifted, revealing a "clear-eyed" look common in college students.
Should I find a tutor?