Chapter 128: This is Way Over the Top, Ji Juechen!
She wasn't really dead. Huo Yuhao still wanted to continue playing later. If Na Na died, the number of participants would definitely decrease significantly, which would be more trouble than it was worth.
The unconscious Na Na, who had fallen to the ground, was taken care of by someone. Huo Yuhao, with his hands in his pockets, walked off the challenge arena under the gaze of tens of thousands of people.
"Long live!!"
"The number one genius, Huo Yuhao, you are my God!!"
"Keep it up, Huo Yuhao, you must continue tomorrow!"
"..."
He didn't pay much attention to the cheers behind him. After all, today was just the first day, and the challengers weren't that strong. There would definitely be stronger people coming to fight later, and that's when he would truly feel the pressure of battle.
Below the stage, after Huo Yuhao left, Xiao Hongchen excitedly ran to his side and said cheerfully,
"Yuhao, guess how many gold coins I made from betting? Thirteen million! A full thirteen million, Yuhao! We're rich, hahaha!"
"Even after splitting it with Ma Rulong and the others, I can still get over ten million gold coins. I made a huge profit!"
"Oh, then give me half."
"I just remembered I have something to do. Yuhao, I'm leaving first."
Xiao Hongchen didn't expect Huo Yuhao to play by his own rules. He disappeared like a clown—of course, not because he was worried about splitting the money with Huo Yuhao. He just enjoyed the fun of it; he wasn't short on money.
But those accounts still needed to be settled. The Hongchen family wasn't afraid of those who defaulted on their bets.
Huo Yuhao was helpless with this lively character. It seemed the Dean's little whip hadn't cured this proud personality.
According to the rules set earlier, it was decided to accept ten challenges in one morning. After Huo Yuhao completed his quota for the morning, Jing Hongchen appeared on stage.
"Hall Master, it's the Hall Master!"
"Why is the Dean here? Is the Dean also paying attention to this match?"
"Nonsense! Huo Yuhao is the Sun Moon Empire's number one genius. It would be strange if the Dean didn't pay attention!"
"I just lost 100,000 gold coins to that scoundrel Xiao Hongchen in a bet. Can I get it back through the Dean?"
"Sigh, don't say it. Really, don't say it."
"Forget it, it's not like you can't afford to lose. Analyze it carefully tomorrow and try to win the money back. What if that kid Xiao Hongchen is still the bookmaker?"
"The Dean is going to speak!"
"..."
Jing Hongchen's purpose in appearing was very simple: to appropriately encourage the confidence of these young ones. After all, a challenge is a challenge, but he didn't want those young students to be disheartened by Yuhao's blow.
"Students of the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineering Academy, listen up. The reason Huo Yuhao is called the number one genius is not only because of his Soul Engineer talent but also because of his absolutely invincible strength among his peers."
"For the next period, Huo Yuhao will regularly accept your challenges in the training ground. Bring out your true abilities. Even if you fail, you can still be proud because you lost to the Empire's number one genius."
"Don't be discouraged. The purpose of this challenge is to make you realize that a Soul Guidance Device is not invincible and to show you the gap between yourselves and a Soul Master."
"Huo Yuhao will not use a Soul Guidance Device; this is your good fortune. Failure is not terrifying; what is terrifying is blindly living in your own worldview, unable to extricate yourself. You must know that complacency will not get you far, just like Shrek. Only by learning from the strengths of Soul Masters can we continue our glory, keep defeating Shrek, and win honor for the Empire!"
Many of those who had just been defeated, as well as students who felt Huo Yuhao's strength was insurmountable, instantly regained their confidence.
"The Dean is right. Although our Soul Guidance Devices are ahead of Shrek and the Douluo Three Empires, we must never be complacent, or we will become like Shrek—hated by everyone."
"Exactly. Huo Yuhao specifically fought us as a Soul Master because he wanted us to learn the fighting style of Soul Masters. We must study it well."
"A temporary failure is nothing. I think I know how to defeat Huo Yuhao."
"You're bragging. You really think you can do it, too, huh? If you can win, I'll dare to eat while standing on my head tomorrow..."
"Huo Yuhao and the Dean have truly gone to great lengths. I will not let down the expectations of the Dean and Huo Yuhao!"
"..."
Jing Hongchen nodded in satisfaction. Although the plot was developing in a strange direction, the goal was ultimately achieved.
After saying these words, he didn't stay long. After all, no one won today, which was expected. There was still time to wait.
He hoped that one or two outstanding young ones would appear.
Not far away, Ju Zi, Xu Tianzhen, and the others had not yet recovered from the shock. One versus ten—winning all ten battles of the first day's challenge—was simply too exaggerated.
"Sister Ju Zi, do you think if this continues, the geniuses in Illustrious Virtue Hall will make a move in a few days?"
"I don't know, but... I think those guys will soon be unable to sit still."
"Then Huo Yuhao..."
"Don't worry, we all know his background. Even if those guys lose, they deserve it. No one dares to trouble him!"
The true top combat power among the younger generation was in Illustrious Virtue Hall. Although the rules stated that challenges were limited to students from the teaching department, given today's situation, the rules would definitely change later.
Because of the halo effect, many people even overlooked Huo Yuhao's age and the fact that he was only a student entering his second year.
However, when the new school year began, Huo Yuhao would likely be promoted to a higher grade or perhaps directly enter Illustrious Virtue Hall. No one doubted whether Huo Yuhao could do it.
Ju Zi even felt that Huo Yuhao might be able to study with his senior brother, Xuan Ziwen, which was an innate advantage. There was nothing left for him to learn in the teaching department.
On the other side, Du Busi, who had been observing the situation, was somewhat helpless.
Although he knew his disciple's strength far surpassed his peers, this was simply too much.
If the students of the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineering Academy continued to be this strong, then his disciple would learn nothing but combat skills, and the stimulation to his Martial Soul would be minimal.
'No, I must go talk to Old Man Kong later. What's with all these rotten eggplants? Tomorrow, I must arrange real opponents—at least true Level 6 Soul Engineers—to give my disciple a good fight.'
Otherwise, who knows when the Bloodline Power will be stimulated or when the Body Secret Art will be cultivated.
However, that girl just now was a pity. Her Martial Soul was a Spectre. If she had a Body Martial Soul of the soul type, she would be a good prospect.
"Old Ji, do you want to challenge Huo Yuhao? His strength has already surpassed most Level 6 Soul Engineers. This might be a good opponent for you."
Below the stage, a man with long, dark green hair, carrying a meteor iron sword about 1.8 meters long on his back with seven star gems inlaid in its scabbard, silently nodded.
Ji Juechen slowly turned around, his demeanor cold and stern, preparing to leave the challenge arena. At the same time, he said to Jing Ziyan, his soulmate and close comrade, who was beside him,
"Not yet. I'll observe him again tomorrow to understand his fighting style. Moreover, the Dean doesn't allow Soul Kings like us to challenge yet."
"However, as these students from the teaching department fail one after another, I think it will be our turn soon."
At this time, Ji Juechen had not yet broken through to the Soul Emperor. He was currently only a Soul King with a soul power level of fifty-eight.
Jing Ziyan didn't say much either. She felt that if anyone in the academy had a chance to defeat Huo Yuhao, it would only be Ji Juechen.
Others, including Level 6 Soul Engineers, would only be defeated in front of Huo Yuhao, the number one genius.
The two disappeared from the training ground, and some who noticed them began to discuss.
"That's Ji Juechen. He's also interested in challenging Huo Yuhao. That's great! This way, situations like today won't happen again, right?"
"This person is a ruthless one. With innate Rank 3 soul power, he broke through the limitations of his aptitude purely through dedication to swordsmanship, reaching his current level."
"To be honest, putting myself in his shoes, I couldn't reach Ji Juechen's level. He's too dedicated. Truly a sword fanatic!"
"I think this is unfair. Huo Yuhao is only Rank 38, while this person is a Rank 58 Soul King. There's a full twenty-rank difference. The latter is also one of the top combat powers of the younger generation in Illustrious Virtue Hall, specializing in real combat. It's suspiciously like bullying the weak."
"Forget it, the world of geniuses isn't something we can judge. Huo Yuhao is probably very happy, who knows?"
—
End of Chapter