With Shrek Academy’s new term not far off, Huo Yuhao hurried back as soon as he’d made his arrangements with Snow Empress.
As his Martial Soul continued to nourish him, his aura became increasingly pure and composed.
Seeing the sky begin to darken, Huo Yuhao found an open spot and decided to meditate until morning before continuing on his way.
Ever since acquiring his Ice-type Martial Soul, Huo Yuhao had simply frozen his food before storing it directly in his Storage Bag.
He thawed several fish.
Thanks to the preservation of “Ultimate Ice,” he no longer had to worry about them spoiling at all.
Just as he was about to place the fish on his homemade grill, Huo Yuhao sensed roughly twelve people approaching.
Observing them through his Spirit Eyes, he saw both men and women, all of them energetic and in high spirits.
The oldest looked to be only in their twenties, and one of them seemed familiar.
Wasn’t that…
Sister Lexuan?
In that case, the others were probably students from Shrek Academy as well.
Sensing someone ahead, Zhang Lexuan and her group stopped too.
As Huo Yuhao stepped closer, everyone looked over and saw an eleven-year-old child with delicate, adorable features.
But why was he out here all by himself?
Zhang Lexuan’s pleasantly surprised voice broke the brief silence.
“Yuhao?
I didn’t expect to run into you here!”
“Sister Lexuan, long time no see!”
Huo Yuhao walked a little closer, and Zhang Lexuan came forward to meet him.
Everyone’s gazes shifted between Zhang Lexuan and Huo Yuhao.
No one knew what the others were thinking, but a few students had already begun letting their imaginations run wild.
Well, well, Eldest Senior Sister.
Who would’ve thought you knew such a cute little boy out here?
No wonder you always turn down everyone who confesses to you.
So this is your type.
Of course, thinking it was one thing.
No one was stupid enough to say it aloud.
“Your cultivation seems much stronger than it was back then.”
“Mm.
It’s all thanks to Sister Lexuan’s Mysterious Water Pill.
I’m almost Level 20 now.”
Ten levels in such a short time?
Zhang Lexuan was stunned.
It hadn’t been long at all, yet Huo Yuhao had already advanced by ten levels.
It seemed the Mysterious Water Pill’s effect on improving his constitution really had helped him enormously.
Mysterious Water Pill?
So Senior Sister is already keeping this kid?
…
After chatting for a while, Huo Yuhao led Zhang Lexuan and the others back to the open area.
At Zhang Lexuan’s instruction, everyone else quickly took out their tents and began setting them up.
“Um, Eldest Senior Sister.
Do we need to notify Elder Xuan?”
“Don’t worry.
With Elder Xuan’s strength, as long as he isn’t surrounded by Savage Beasts, he can come and go through this forest whenever he wants.”
“Okay.”
…
“Xiao Yuhao, do you want to come with us tomorrow?
We can help you obtain your Second Soul Ring while we’re at it.”
Huo Yuhao shook his head.
“No, Sister Lexuan.
I’d still rather hunt for it myself.
It feels more rewarding that way, don’t you think?”
Naturally, Huo Yuhao couldn’t agree.
If they really did help him catch one, how was he supposed to explain everything to Sister Lexuan afterward?
Was he supposed to tell her that he was actually a super genius who could shoot up more than ten levels in no time, and that he had only hidden it because he was afraid people would be jealous?
“All right, then.
Be extra careful after we part ways tomorrow, okay?”
“Mm-hmm.”
…
Zhang Lexuan and the others took Shrek’s specially made rations out of their storage spaces.
The only good thing that could be said about them was that they were nutritionally complete.
The taste, on the other hand, was enough to break your heart.
Leave them sitting around a little longer, and eating them felt like chewing reinforced concrete.
Add a sip of water, and it perfectly solved the problem of Shrek students being unable to swallow what felt like dirt.
Suddenly, the aroma of grilled fish drifted over on the breeze and lingered beneath everyone’s noses.
After returning to his own spot, Huo Yuhao started grilling fish again.
With a little of the seasoning he carried sprinkled on top, it was the kind of thing he could never get tired of eating.
Still, why did he feel like he was being watched?
Huo Yuhao turned his head suspiciously and found several people on the other side staring wide-eyed at the grilled fish in his hands.
Even Zhang Lexuan unconsciously swallowed.
“…”
“Sister Lexuan, you can have these.
I can’t finish this much by myself.”
Huo Yuhao walked over with the grilled fish and handed them to Zhang Lexuan.
“N-No, you don’t have to…”
Realizing how obvious her reaction had been, Zhang Lexuan felt the tips of her ears grow hot.
She wanted to refuse outright, but her hands had already very naturally reached out to accept them.
“…”
“…Thank you.”
Huo Yuhao’s lips twitched, but he said nothing and simply went back to his own spot.
Seeing the others staring fixedly at the grilled fish in her hands, Zhang Lexuan sighed helplessly.
“You can split these among yourselves.”
“What about you, Senior Sister?”
“I’m fine.”
With that, Zhang Lexuan divided up the grilled fish.
To her surprise, after everyone took a single bite, they immediately began wolfing down the rest.
“Eldest Senior Sister, you’re going to have it good from now on!”
“Exactly!
Grilled fish this delicious…”
What are you people even talking about?
Everyone looked as though they were enjoying it immensely.
Was it really that good?
If she’d known, she would’ve kept some for herself.
There was no way she could bring herself to ask for another fish now!
…
The moon shone brightly overhead.
Everyone else had already gone to sleep, leaving Zhang Lexuan on watch.
Still thinking about what had happened earlier, Zhang Lexuan idly nudged the pebbles on the ground with a twig.
Suddenly, a piping-hot grilled fish appeared in front of her.
“Xiao Yuhao?
What’s this…?”
Huo Yuhao blinked.
“I saw that Sister Lexuan didn’t get to eat any, so I thought I’d grill another one for you.”
“You really don’t have to go to all that trouble.
I honestly don’t mind…”
Before Zhang Lexuan could finish, her stomach betrayed her with a loud growl.
It didn’t even sound like hunger.
It sounded more like pure craving.
“…”
Zhang Lexuan’s cheeks instantly turned bright red.
The moment she caught sight of the slight upward curve of Huo Yuhao’s lips, she lowered her head.
She didn’t want to see what expression he was making anymore.
She still had a dignified image in his eyes…
right?
…
Huo Yuhao opened his eyes.
Beneath his feet stretched an endless sea of golden light, gentle yet boundlessly vast.
He instinctively tried to activate his Spirit Eyes to investigate his surroundings, but they failed to appear, as though they had stopped working altogether.
“Sister Skydream?
Ice Empress?”
Huo Yuhao tried to contact the others within the Spirit Sea Realm, but his calls vanished without a trace, receiving no response.
Suddenly, a faint voice came from every direction.
It was gentle, yet carried a profound weight that allowed no doubt.
At the same time, the golden light enveloped Huo Yuhao.
“My child…
across this entire continent…
only you can…”
Huo Yuhao’s brows abruptly furrowed, and his eyes snapped open inside the tent.
A thin layer of sweat covered his back.
He raised a hand to his chest, where he could almost still feel the lingering throb from moments before.
“Child?
The continent?”
Huo Yuhao murmured under his breath, deep shock flashing through his eyes.
Had everything just now truly been nothing more than a dream, or…
“Yuhao, what’s wrong?”
Skydream Ice Worm was awakened by Huo Yuhao’s movement.
She slowly opened her eyes and scratched at her tangled hair.
“I’m fine, Sister Skydream.”