Huo Yuhao originally wanted to pull Wang Dong along, but the latter had already unlocked his soul tool bicycle, his long legs pedaling like the wind.
Afraid that if he slowed down, he'd get dragged off too.
"Talk about a clean freak…"
Huo Yuhao didn't think too much about it.
He changed into his uniform along with the others and was the first to arrive in the classroom.
Out of a hundred students, seven had been eliminated. Ninety-three remained.
Fortunately, everyone had learned their lesson this time. No one dared pull any stunts and all returned on time.
Huo Yuhao let out a sigh of relief as he sat down in the front row.
"Teacher Zhou, all ninety-three are here!"
For the first time, Zhou Yi revealed a trace of satisfaction—though it flashed by quickly.
"Class begins."
"Your performance in the test earlier… truly exceeded my expectations."
"Huo Yuhao, stand up."
Just as he sat down, Yuhao quickly got back on his feet.
"Yes, Teacher Zhou?"
"Report your soul power rank." Zhou Yi's tone was sharp.
"Yes, Teacher Zhou. My soul power is Rank 15," Yuhao replied.
There wasn't much of a reaction in the room. After all, Shrek's minimum requirement was Rank 15.
But Zhou Yi was shocked!
"Rank 15? But according to your registration file, you were only Rank 11?"
Now the others perked up. Something juicy!
"I was Rank 11 when I entered as a special admit," Yuhao scratched his head sheepishly.
"But I had a little… talent that helped out senior San Shi. In return, he gave me three Profound Water Pills. With those, plus four days of hard cultivation, I advanced four ranks."
The classroom fell dead silent.
Four days. Four ranks?!
That wasn't something a human should say. Hard work alone clearly wasn't enough!
"A single Profound Water Pills is worth a fortune!"
"Heavens!"
"Yuhao's luck is completely against the heavens!"
"But what kind of special ability did he use to earn three Profound Water Pills?"
"Well… Yuhao is pretty good-looking…"
"Bah! Yuhao isn't that kind of person! Besides, that senior must be Xu Sanshi—he only has eyes for Jiang Nannan!"
…
Outsiders only saw the commotion. Insiders knew better: three pills shouldn't have been enough for such a leap.
These medicines had resistance buildup.
But Zhou Yi didn't press the issue. Everyone had their secrets, after all.
Fine.
She had originally wanted to expose his "special admission" status directly to stop others from targeting him.
She didn't expect Yuhao himself to earn his way up to the standard.
"You've done well," Zhou Yi actually smiled for once.
"You work hard, and fortune favors you. For now, you'll serve as acting class monitor until the freshmen assessment in three months."
"Anyone have objections?"
There was a pause—then an uproar.
"Yuhao as monitor? I've got no complaints!"
"Ahhh! With Yuhao as class monitor, life will be bliss!"
"Such a caring monitor—it's like a dream!"
…
Zhou Yi's gaze lingered on the top talents, especially Wang Dong.
Aside from him, even the other strong two-ring Soul Masters supported Yuhao.
Wang Dong hesitated for a few seconds but didn't rise.
Zhou Yi remembered—these two were dormmates, weren't they? Looks like they got along decently.
She pressed her hand for silence.
"Then it's settled. Sit down."
Yuhao acknowledged and sat. A line of text flashed before his eyes:
[Fate altered: +233 Fortune Points!]
This was from Brother Zhuge's special system—the doubled numbers reflected the real total.
"Huh?" Yuhao blinked. "Brother Lan, what's this?"
"I added a prompt to let you know when you gain fortune points. Makes it easier to track and plan," Zhuge Lan explained.
Yuhao nodded in realization.
Class continued, the topic shifting to how soul tools affected the soul master system, with Zhou Yi emphasizing the strength of a soul master's own cultivation over reliance on tools.
"What nonsense," Zhuge Lan scoffed in Yuhao's mind.
"Ignore her—soul tools are the future. Besides, with us here, you'll be able to cultivate both martial soul and soul tools together."
"Dual cultivation? Perfect!" Yuhao accepted without a shred of doubt. If Brother Lan said he could do it, then he absolutely could.
The lesson ended soon after.
"For the next three months, your focus will be on physical training. Eat well. This afternoon you'll run. Dismissed." Zhou Yi added, "Huo Yuhao, come to my office."
Yuhao waited at his seat.
Bang!
The poor classroom door was once again kicked open.
Ma Xiaotao strode in with her long legs, ignoring Zhou Yi's scowling face, and locked eyes straight on Yuhao.
"Yuhao, come with big sis. I need you."
Yuhao looked at Zhou Yi—this?
Her brows furrowed tightly. Even as an inner court disciple, Ma Xiaotao was being far too unruly.
But Xiaotao was unfazed, raising her voice:
"I clearly heard you say class was dismissed. And I'm here under my teacher's orders to deliver something to Yuhao. If you delay my teacher's business, can you take the responsibility?"
Her teacher? Yan Shaozhe—the Dean of the Martial Soul Department, a Rank 95 Super Douluo, disciple of Elder Mu of the Sea God's Pavilion, and future Pavilion Master candidate.
Zhou Yi really couldn't afford to offend that.
Fine.
She had wanted to take Yuhao to the Soul Tool Department herself, but that would have to wait three months until class divisions.
"Class is over. What are you looking at me for?" Zhou Yi snorted coldly and strode off through the passage behind the podium.
"Heh, that old hag sure made an entrance earlier," Zhuge Lan muttered.
"Why're you nervous, Yuhao? Whatever she can teach, I can fill your head with if I just spend a little fortune points. And without her biases, too. Once you awaken spiritual thought, you'll be able to scan and learn anything instantly."
"Go with Ma Xiaotao. With her temper, she wouldn't make such a scene without a real reason."
Yuhao stood and followed.
"Sister Tao, perfect timing—I needed to find you too."
"Save it. Let's go!"
Ma Xiaotao grabbed Yuhao by the shoulder, spread fiery phoenix wings, and shot them out the classroom window. They landed on the rooftop of the teaching building.
Yuhao clutched the railing, still reeling from the high-speed flight.
In all his eleven years, this was his first time flying—it was overwhelming.
"Ha! Already scared?" Xiaotao laughed.
"Here, this flight soul tool's for you. Practice more when you can."
Her ring flashed, and she produced a 30-centimeter disk, slapping it onto Yuhao's chest.
Click, click, click!
The disk unfolded, forming half-armor over his shoulders.
Mechanical wings sprang out from his back, jets of air propelling him a few feet off the ground.
He was about to shoot upward when Yuhao instinctively activated his Spiritual Detection.
He quickly realized the device was powered by soul power, cut off the flow, and stabilized his body, landing back down.
"Oh? You mastered control already?" Xiaotao praised.
"As expected of someone who stood as my equal in the Holy Flame Sect. Take this as your reward."
She pulled out a skull—emerald green, laced with starry blue patterns.
This was…
___
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