Xiao La felt unbelievably unlucky.
He had acted so many times around those small villages without ever slipping up, yet the one time he acted on a sudden impulse, he ran into such a powerful Shrek Academy student.
It looked like he might really meet his end here today.
No.
He had endured people’s scorn for so long, and now he had finally obtained such tremendous power.
If he were given just a little more time, there was no reason he couldn’t defeat the person before him.
He absolutely could not fall here today!
“Chain Corpse Explosion!”
Xiao La hurled every corpse he currently had out of his Storage Bag and detonated them all at once.
In an instant, the explosions erupted, spreading toxic fumes in every direction.
Using the blast and poisonous fog as cover, Xiao La did not dare waste a single second.
He swallowed every medicinal pill he had, pushed his Soul Power to its limit, and fled desperately into the depths of the forest, intent on shaking Zhang Lexuan off as quickly as possible.
But the difference in their strength was simply too great.
Zhang Lexuan’s Seventh Soul Ring flickered, and the phantom of the Silver Moon True Body immediately appeared behind her.
Silver-white moonlight gathered around her body, forming a protective barrier that kept the poisonous mist completely at bay.
In barely a moment, Zhang Lexuan appeared behind Xiao La.
Soul Power gathered in her hand as she prepared to capture him alive.
Huo Yuhao witnessed the entire exchange.
In truth, he had already started running, but the sounds of their battle kept drawing closer to his position, forcing him to pick up his pace.
Suddenly, Huo Yuhao’s Spirit Eyes detected Xiao La’s Soul Power and Spiritual Power surging violently.
Combined with his bizarre ability to detonate corpses, could it be…
“Big sister, watch out!
He might be about to self-detonate!”
His shout cut through the wind in the forest and reached Zhang Lexuan clearly.
Zhang Lexuan’s heart tightened.
From the corner of her eye, she caught sight of the resolute yet vicious grin spreading across Xiao La’s face.
She immediately pulled back her arm and retreated.
“Trying to run?
Too late!
Even if I die today, I’m taking someone with me!
Art is explosion!”
In an instant, Xiao La detonated all of his Soul Power along with the accumulated effects of every medicinal pill he had swallowed.
A violent shockwave erupted outward in every direction.
After a while, the dust finally settled.
All that remained where Xiao La had stood was a massive crater.
Zhang Lexuan now stood beside Huo Yuhao, still shaken by what had happened.
“Good thing you warned me.
If I’d grabbed him carelessly just now, I probably would’ve been seriously injured.”
Even that wouldn’t have blown her to pieces?
Just how powerful was this sister?
“By the way, what is your Martial Soul?
You actually managed to tell that he was about to self-detonate.”
Zhang Lexuan carefully studied Huo Yuhao.
In her eyes, that kind of perception was anything but ordinary.
“I actually just guessed.
He’d already attacked using corpses, and my Martial Soul is ‘Spirit Eyes,’ so I can notice fluctuations in other people’s Soul Power.
When I saw his Soul Power behaving like that, I figured that might be what he was planning.”
Spirit Eyes…
a naturally awakened Body Soul?
“The way you were meditating earlier…
are you a student at Shrek Academy?”
Zhang Lexuan had noticed his cultivation method while observing him earlier, but the situation had been too urgent for her to ask about it then.
“I secretly learned it by watching someone else.
I want to apply to Shrek Academy in the future, so…”
As Huo Yuhao spoke, he put on an aggrieved expression and looked pitifully at Zhang Lexuan.
“…It’s fine.
I was only curious.
Shrek will always welcome your application, little brother.”
Seeing that, Huo Yuhao smoothly changed the subject.
“Um, big sister, that person just now was…”
Huo Yuhao had noticed that the man’s Soul Power fluctuations were completely different from Jiang Nannan’s and Zhang Lexuan’s.
They carried an unmistakably evil presence, making him curious.
“There’s no harm in telling you now.
He was an Evil Soul Master.
Evil Soul Masters are heretics who cultivate through inhuman methods.
Before reaching Titled Douluo, they generally increase their strength extremely quickly, and at the same level, their Soul Power tends to be stronger than that of ordinary Soul Masters.”
“What you just saw, using corpses like that, is one example.
My name is Zhang Lexuan, and I’m a member of the Shrek Guardians.
Our organization is specifically responsible for dealing with Evil Soul Masters.
If you ever encounter one in the future, avoid them whenever possible.”
“Got it!
Nice to meet you, Sister Lexuan.
My name is Huo Yuhao!”
Zhang Lexuan nodded slightly.
“Huo Yuhao…
I’ll remember that.
You’re welcome to come study at Shrek in the future.
As for helping me deal with that Evil Soul Master, these are the Gold Soul Coins I have on me, along with a Mysterious Water Pill.
Take them.”
“But…”
Zhang Lexuan directly pressed everything into Huo Yuhao’s hands.
“Just consider it an early reward from your Senior Sister.
Take it.
It’s getting late, so I’ll bring you back.”
“All right.”
…
“By the way, Xiao Yuhao, did you know that joining Shrek requires a letter of recommendation from someone of City Lord rank or higher?”
“Huh?”
So he needed a letter of recommendation?
Then who had recommended Sister Nannan?
Seeing Huo Yuhao completely dumbfounded, Zhang Lexuan’s lips curved slightly upward.
She took out an envelope.
“This is my letter of recommendation.
If you don’t already have one, use this.”
Sister Lexuan, I’m touched…
When the city gates finally came into view, Zhang Lexuan stopped.
“Well then, this is where we part ways, Xiao Yuhao.”
“Mm!
Goodbye, Sister Lexuan!”
Huo Yuhao stopped and watched Zhang Lexuan gradually disappear into the distance.
His expectations for Shrek grew even stronger.
Just how extraordinary would Shrek, the number one academy on the entire continent, be?
…
“Take this with you too.
And this looks like it might be useful…”
At the clinic, Jiang Nannan was helping Huo Yuhao pack.
Looking at the several Storage Bags she had crammed full, Huo Yuhao could not help wondering whether he was actually going sightseeing rather than out for training.
“Sister Nannan, isn’t this a bit too much?
I won’t normally use most of this.”
Jiang Nannan lowered her eyes and smoothed out the slightly wrinkled front of Huo Yuhao’s clothes.
“It’s fine.
Better safe than sorry.”
In truth, Jiang Nannan knew Huo Yuhao did not need so many things.
She was simply worried about him and afraid he might not take proper care of himself.
Besides, she could not shake a vague feeling.
Xiao Yuhao was still so innocent and adorable.
What if someone lured him away on this trip?
If she had to watch Xiao Yuhao become that close to someone else while she could only stand off to the side…
Just imagining it brought a faint sourness to her heart.
She couldn’t accept that!
With that thought, Jiang Nannan began packing even faster.
…
“Where are you planning to go first this time, Yuhao?”
“The Star Dou Forest.
I want to look around the outskirts and see if I can find a suitable Soul Ring.”
Somehow, Huo Yuhao had the persistent feeling that something was guiding him toward the Star Dou Forest, and that he should go as soon as possible.
There was still plenty of time before enrollment anyway, so he did not need to worry about missing it.
“I see.
Then when you enroll, you have to come find me.
I can still help you out in the Outer Courtyard!”
“Okay.
Until we meet again, Sister Nannan.”
“Have a safe journey, Yuhao!”
Huo Yuhao said nothing more.
He turned around, hoisted his luggage onto his back, secured the heavy Storage Bags at his waist, and set off on his journey.
Jiang Nannan stood quietly outside the clinic without moving a single step.
The morning breeze gently stirred her golden hair, while her eyes remained fixed on the boy’s retreating figure.
She simply stood there in silence, watching that familiar figure grow smaller and smaller until it finally blended into the distant morning light.