After Huo Yuhao's carousel of bitter childhood memories finally slowed to a stop, the second round of the freshmen assessment had already ended.
The winners of the Class Ten freshmen squad immediately shouted out.
"We concede!"
"Huo Yuhao's squad is the champions of the freshmen assessment, we admit defeat wholeheartedly!"
What a joke!
Cui Yajie, a two-ring Grandmaster, was defeated with just a single glare!
And then, a fused martial soul technique from a three-ring Soul Elder and a two-ring Grandmaster was smashed apart with a single punch!
Not to mention Wang Dong and Xiao Xiao, who could also take down three opponents on their own.
How were they supposed to fight that?
Better not to ask for abuse.
Yan Shaozhe announced on the spot:
"The champions of this year's freshmen assessment are—Class One, Huo Yuhao's squad!"
[Fate of Huo Yuhao, Wang Dong, and Xiao Xiao altered. +1500 Fortune Points!]
Thunderous applause filled the arena, snapping Huo Yuhao out of his daze.
Seeing those approving gazes fixed on him, his heart suddenly cleared.
Strength!
Only with true strength could he exact revenge, only with strength could he command respect, only with strength could he bend the world to his will!
Before, he had cultivated only out of hatred.
From now on, he would grow stronger for his own sake.
[Huo Yuhao's fate altered. +25,000 Fortune Points!]
---
In his spiritual sea,
Zhuge Lan raised a brow at Electrolux, as if to say see?
"Could it be that releasing old grudges is enough for clarity of mind?" Electrolux sighed softly. "If, back then, I could have seen things so clearly..."
He shook his head and closed his eyes in feigned sleep.
---
Outside, Yan Shaozhe declared:
"As the champion squad, Huo Yuhao, Wang Dong, and Xiao Xiao are hereby designated as core disciples of the Martial Soul Department!"
"In addition, Ning Tian, Wu Feng..."
"And finally, Lan Susu and Lan Luoluo will serve as provisional core disciples. Should they meet the requirements in the next year's assessment, they may advance to full core disciples."
[Fates of Huo Yuhao, Wang Dong, Xiao Xiao, Lan Susu, Lan Luoluo... altered. +2500 Fortune Points!]
Yan Shaozhe paused, giving everyone time to digest this, before continuing:
"Huo Yuhao's squad, come with me. The champion's reward requires separate handling."
The three hurried after him, while the rest of the arena buzzed with speculation.
Every so often, eyes flicked toward Zhu Lu and Cui Yajie, while Dai Huabin remained unconscious.
They had placed fourth in the assessment, yet not even provisional core disciple status was given to them.
Was anyone really going to believe this wasn't Yan Shaozhe, as senior brother, openly backing his junior?
And then they recalled the duel—when Huo Yuhao's attack suppressed the Nether White Tiger, and his final strike was about to land, logically the referee should have ended the fight.
Yet no teacher moved.
Elder Zhuang, who shouldn't have even been present, merely used a first-ring healing skill, letting Dai Huabin be pummeled for another half a minute.
It was all too obvious: "We stand with our little Yuhao."
Still, everything was technically within the rules.
Even if the White Tiger Duke's household lost their minds and came demanding answers, they'd only be asking for humiliation.
Black-and-white or not, this was downright rothschild level backing!
More and more discerning people came to the same conclusion—provoking Huo Yuhao in Shrek was the same as courting death.
---
In the Dean's office.
"Senior brother, I've caused you trouble," Huo Yuhao said quietly.
"No deaths in Shrek, so no issue," Yan Shaozhe replied casually. "Here, your champion's reward."
He pulled out a green object. A wave of soul power spread out like a fresh breeze brushing across their faces.
"A soul bone?" Xiao Xiao exclaimed. "The freshmen champion reward is this good? Heavens!"
By comparison, Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong were much calmer.
The former didn't particularly need soul bones—he already had ones tailored to him with perfect compatibility.
The latter, with his 240,000-year torso bone, wasn't very interested in one barely over 10,000 years.
Yan Shaozhe caught all three of their reactions, the corner of his lips twitching upward.
He turned to Xiao Xiao and explained—
"This left leg bone, though only fourteen thousand years in age, comes from the Nine-Headed Phoenix Beast. It's called the Nine Phoenix Soaring Sky Left Leg Bone."
"Both assault-type and control-type soul masters can use it. Discuss among yourselves who should take it. If absorbed here, I'll aid the fusion with my soul power—it should complete within one night."
Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong didn't hesitate, both pointing at the still-stunned Xiao Xiao.
"Eh?" Xiao Xiao pointed to herself. "Me? This... isn't right, is it? Class monitor, Wang Dong, you two are far more qualified!"
"This bone doesn't suit me," Huo Yuhao said calmly. "Besides, Brother Lan won't let me absorb anything under fifty thousand years."
Xiao Xiao: "..."
So basically you're saying it's beneath you, huh?
"I'm the same," Wang Dong added vaguely. "Xiao Xiao, just take it. At worst, next time we'll prioritize ourselves."
Xiao Xiao: "..."
Oh, sure! So I'm the clueless bumpkin who should be grateful for scraps, huh?
Still, even if it was "unwanted leftovers," she couldn't hide her excitement.
This was a soul bone!
"Since you both insist... fine. Next time, I'll sit out of the loot split!"
"Teacher, please help me fuse it!"
Yan Shaozhe agreed with a smile.
"We'll get going then," Huo Yuhao said, bowing slightly. "Sister Xiaotao is waiting for us—she said she'd take us to..."
"Go, go," Yan Shaozhe waved them off. "With Xiaotao around, no one in the academy can touch you."
Huo Yuhao pursed his lips.
Yeah, he could see it now—this soul bone was clearly handpicked, meant for Xiao Xiao all along.
Since Yan Shaozhe liked playing games, fine.
Tonight at the treasure auction, whoever's card got swiped... he wasn't going to give any warnings.
---
Outside the Dean's office.
Ma Xiaotao was waiting with the others.
Ning Tian and her group, the Lan sisters, and even the squads that had surrendered in the finals.
"You're here for the top-three rewards and to join the Holy Flame Sect, right?" Huo Yuhao said. "Tomorrow morning, under the banyan tree by the dorms, I'll pass down either our cultivation method or Taichi. Whoever comprehends it can enter the sect."
The six nodded in delight and departed.
Ning Tian stepped forward with a smile.
"I hear you're going to the treasure auction tonight. Mind if I come along? The Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect still has some wealth. Since you brought me into the Holy Flame Sect, if I see something I like, I'll bid without hesitation."
Ma Xiaotao, who had originally planned to cover the whole event herself, suddenly had a glint in her eyes.
She grinned mischievously,
"Little Yuhao, have they gone through the initiation ritual yet?"
"..." Huo Yuhao fell silent.
But Wang Dong instantly caught on, snickering.
Then Xu Sanshi and Tang Ya joined in, even Bei Bei's lips curled upward.
Jiang Nannan quietly stepped back a few paces, deciding to watch the show instead.
Ning Tian and her group exchanged bewildered looks.
What was going on?
Why did the atmosphere suddenly feel off?
"Ahem!" Ma Xiaotao explained, "The initiation ritual goes like this... and then like that... got it?"
Ning Tian's jaw dropped, eyes wide with disbelief.
Wait. THIS was the sect initiation?
Wasn't this just comedy show?
They all turned to Huo Yuhao, who scratched his head awkwardly.
"This rule was set by a senior. Everyone who joins has to follow it."
Wu Feng, sharp as ever, latched onto the key point.
"So... you all went through this initiation ritual too?"
When Ma Xiaotao and the others nodded, she understood immediately.
'Ah. So it's a pit you all fell into, and now you're just digging it deeper for the next ones.'
___
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