Leaving the spirit tool testing area, the midday sun sprinkled lazily onto the paths of Shrek Academy.
Xiao Xiao walked a few quick steps to stand side-by-side with Furina, asking curiously: "Furina, where are we going next? Are we heading straight back to the classroom?"
Furina looked up at the sky, then glanced at the sparkling lake surface not far away, a relaxed smile lifting the corners of her mouth: "There's still some time before afternoon classes start. It's boring just going back to the dorms, so why don't we take a walk over to Sea God Lake? I've heard the fish there are exceptionally plump and delicious; catching them and roasting them to eat must be a heavenly delicacy."
Her words carried a natural allure, as if the charred aroma of roasted fish could already be smelled.
Huo Yuhao's eyes lit up, and he immediately expressed his approval: "Sister Furina, that's a great idea! I was just wondering how the fish in Shrek's Sea God Lake differ from the ones we used to catch in the streams outside; perhaps the meat is sweeter? It's the perfect chance to test my skills."
When it came to cooking, his eyes revealed a familiar focus and passion.
Hearing this, Xiao Xiao couldn't help but clap her hands happily: "I'm really in for a treat following you two! I've been thinking about Yuhao's roasted fish skills non-stop; it tastes even better than what the chefs in the academy cafeteria make!"
Wang Dong, standing to the side, also nodded and rarely agreed: "I'll admit that much. Huo Yuhao, with this unique skill of yours, who knows how many girls you'll charm in the future."
His tone was slightly teasing, though his gaze flickered toward Huo Yuhao.
Huo Yuhao was a bit embarrassed by this, scratching his head with a shy yet firm smile: "It's alright... Actually, compared to that, I want to become stronger quickly. Only by being strong enough can I protect the people I want to protect, and..."
He stopped halfway through his sentence.
The second half of the sentence, "repay Sister Furina's kindness," swirled in his throat but ultimately remained unspoken.
In his heart, the priority of revenge had already quietly receded.
He understood that as long as his own strength was sufficient to protect the people who mattered and repay the kindness of Furina's recognition and support, then the matter of revenge would simply be a natural outcome.
"And what else?" Wang Dong keenly caught his pause and pressed on.
Huo Yuhao shook his head, burying his thoughts: "It's nothing."
Wang Dong pouted, somewhat dissatisfied: "What's that about? Leaving your sentence halfway done."
Seeing this, Xiao Xiao smiled and tried to smooth things over: "Alright, alright, everyone has a few little secrets in their hearts; how can you tell everything to others? Right?"
Wang Dong rolled his eyes at Xiao Xiao and muttered: "Fine, fine, you're the only one who knows how to talk; it makes me look like the bad guy for prying."
Xiao Xiao and Huo Yuhao exchanged a smile and didn't respond, the atmosphere remaining relaxed and harmonious.
Xiao Xiao timely changed the subject, casting her gaze toward that vast and mysterious body of water in the center of the academy: "By the way, I heard the Inner Court is on the island in the center of Sea God Lake. What do you think the cultivation of those seniors in the Inner Court is now? They must be really powerful, right?"
Wang Dong crossed his arms and speculated: "Need you ask? Those who can enter the Inner Court must be at least Soul Ancestor level, right? Maybe many are already Spirit King level."
Huo Yuhao nodded and added: "I agree with Wang Dong's view. However... that sounds a bit like a correct but useless statement. The Inner Court selection is strict, the number of people is small, and the students are generally older and have spent more time Cultivating than us, so it's inevitable that they are strong."
His analysis was objective, but unintentionally carried a tone of "it goes without saying."
Wang Dong heard this, raised his eyebrows, and felt somewhat displeased: "Huo Yuhao, are you intentionally trying to argue with me today?"
Huo Yuhao quickly waved his hands, explaining with an innocent face: "No, no, I'm just discussing the facts, I definitely don't mean to go against you! How about this, the first fish I roast, I guarantee the biggest and fattest one will be for you first. Consider it my apology, okay?"
Hearing the promise of the roasted fish, Wang Dong's expression turned from cloudy to sunny, and he snorted lightly: "Fine, for the sake of the roasted fish, This Lord will reluctantly forgive you."
Xiao Xiao shook her head with a smile and looked at Furina, who seemed to have been keeping an eye on the lake: "Furina, what do you think? What level are the Inner Court students roughly at?"
Furina withdrew her gaze from the center of the lake, appearing to recall something, and spoke based on the information she knew: "Following common logic, the students currently in the Inner Court are likely at least at the Spirit King level at the lowest. As for the top few, reaching the Spirit Emperor Realm shouldn't be a problem. But Spirit Saint and above... unless they are about to graduate or staying to teach, they should be extremely rare, if not non-existent, among the current students."
At the same time, the tragic ending of the current Shrek Seven Devils from the original work flashed through her mind—only three survived, with the rest either dead or crippled—and she couldn't help but sigh inwardly.
Her suggestion to come to Sea God Lake, besides relaxing, actually had another layer of intention.
She remembered a key plot point: Ma Xiaotao suffered Qi Deviation due to the Evil Fire problem, rushed out of Sea God Lake out of control, and nearly injured Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong.
Afterward, the academy provided a profound water pill and a soul ascension pill as compensation.
In Furina's view, that bit of compensation was truly insignificant compared to the fright and potential life risk the parties involved suffered.
She harbored a thought of "coincidentally" encountering this event; if she could intervene, perhaps she could secure more substantial "compensation" for their side from the guilty Shrek Academy.
Mosquito legs are meat too, and besides, this might be quite a nice "chicken leg."
As the group was chatting while walking toward the lakeshore, Huo Yuhao's gaze suddenly sharpened, pointing at a red shadow rapidly approaching above the lake in front of them: "Look! What's that? It seems... like a person?!"
Upon hearing this, Wang Dong also curiously stood on tiptoe to look: "Where, where? Let me see... Wow, really! It's so fast, and it's rushing right toward us!"
Xiao Xiao focused her gaze and confirmed: "That's right, it's getting closer and closer! This aura... so violent!"
Huo Yuhao's perception was even sharper, his expression changing abruptly: "Not good! The other person's Soul Power fluctuations are extremely chaotic and filled with a violent aura; I'm afraid they are suffering from Qi Deviation! Everyone, be careful, hurry and dodge!"
While shouting a warning, he didn't hesitate to urge his Soul Power, his Ice Jade Empress Scorpion Martial Soul possessing him.
His first spirit ring lit up, and a layer of crystal-clear ice armor emitting biting cold air instantly covered his entire body—this was exactly the Ice Emperor's Protection.
In his Sea of Consciousness, Tianmeng Ice Silkworm exclaimed in surprise: "What a scorching flame! This person's Martial Soul must be related to a Phoenix, the quality is extremely high, and the power of the flames is already very close to the level of Ultimate Fire!"
Ice Empress snorted coldly and said proudly: "Hmph, it's only close. As long as it hasn't reached the Ultimate, it's nothing to fear in front of real Ultimate Ice. Yuhao, no need to panic and retreat."
"If she dares to rush too close, directly use my Soul Bone Skill, Eternal Frozen Domain, or launch the Ice Emperor's Fury, and I guarantee it will make her Evil Fire completely calm down."
Seeing this, a flicker of "as expected" realization flashed in Furina's eyes, and she thought to herself: "It came just right; the plot hasn't deviated too much."
Her expression, however, quickly turned serious, and she said loudly: "Wang Dong, Xiao Xiao, you two quickly retreat behind me and Yuhao! This flame is no small matter; if you don't want to turn into roasted suckling pigs, move quickly!"
Before her voice faded, she had already stepped forward and clearly shouted: "Appear, my partners—Gentilhomme Usher, Surintendante Chevalmarin, Mademoiselle Crabaletta!"
Accompanied by her call, three figures of different forms, yet all emitting rich water element fluctuations, quietly emerged.
These were the three members of her Second Martial Soul, "Salon Solitaire."
At the same time, a flash of brilliance appeared in her hand, and that gorgeous and mysterious one-handed sword, radiance of the flowing still water, was already in her grip, the blade faintly flowing with an azure luster.
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