After Huang Yan left, Huo Yuhao sat cross-legged on his bed and began cultivating. Since his martial soul had evolved, the slight damage accumulated in his soul had completely healed, but the depletion of his spiritual power was still significant. So, he immediately began cultivating Heavenly Demon Art to recover.
It was only now that Huo Yuhao felt that all his effort over the past days had not been in vain. His Golden-grade Spirit Eye, having undergone a secondary awakening, now rivaled an Ultimate Martial Soul in quality.
With his spiritual power reaching the peak of tangible-yet-formless, his Heavenly Demon Art also advanced. This art was divided into three layers: Spiritual Flow, Soul Condensation, and Dao Entry, from bottom to top.
It wasn't that there were only three layers—just that Ming Zhihan, the creator of Heavenly Demon Art, had not cultivated beyond the peak of Dao Entry due to time constraints.
Previously, Huo Yuhao had just entered the Soul Condensation Realm. After the second awakening of his martial soul, aided by his spiritual force, he had now reached the mid-stage of Soul Condensation, and could feel he was not far from the peak.
Maybe once he entered the Dao Entry Realm, he could develop spiritual power with form and substance.
Two months had passed since his expedition to the Extreme North. Huo Yuhao's soul power was still only at level 36, and that last level-up occurred even before Du Bushi accepted him as a disciple.
But compared to the benefits of his martial soul's evolution, the delay in soul power growth was negligible.
The next day, while cultivating, Huo Yuhao suddenly felt a flash of insight and opened his eyes. Then, he got up and went downstairs.
In the first-floor living room, Du Bushi sat quietly on the sofa. Seeing Huo Yuhao come down, he nodded with satisfaction.
Du Bushi: "You're becoming more perceptive."
Huo Yuhao: "Master, I'm ashamed to trouble you like this."
His words were heartfelt. Du Bushi was a Level 98 Super Douluo with room to improve, yet he spent so much effort on a mere Soul Elder like himself.
Du Bushi: "Enough. No need for that between master and disciple. Come here. I've got something good for you today."
He pointed at the seat opposite him, signaling Huo Yuhao to sit.
After Huo Yuhao settled down, Du Bushi gently extended his right hand and opened his palm. In the center of his broad hand lay a diamond-shaped crystal, shrouded in a white glow—his soul power. The crystal was a lustrous emerald green, polished smooth like a finely cut gem, radiating a rich aura of life.
Du Bushi: "This is a Legacy Imprint. Wherever you are, it will dramatically boost your cultivation speed. It contains the cultivation insights of this sect's successive leaders. Study it carefully—it'll help you avoid detours in your future training."
Huo Yuhao found this a bit ominous.
Huo Yuhao: "Master, won't you be guiding me through my future cultivation anyway? Don't make it sound like a deathbed confession."
Du Bushi's face darkened. He smacked Huo Yuhao on the head.
Du Bushi: "Even if I kick the bucket one day, I'll add my piece to the Legacy Imprint just like our forebears. And you'll do the same in the future."
Then, with a meaningful tone:
Du Bushi: "Although, you might not even need it someday…"
Du Bushi: "Enough talk. Hurry up and integrate it."
He withdrew the soul power wrapping the Legacy Imprint.
Huo Yuhao was about to ask how to integrate it when the crystal, now free from his master's power, floated toward him. He didn't move—his master had said the Legacy Imprint possessed a spirit from birth, and now it seemed true.
Without resistance, the glowing green crystal merged directly into Huo Yuhao's forehead.
The process was quick—less than five minutes—and to Huo Yuhao's surprise, painless. Instead of discomfort, a warm, pleasant sensation spread through him.
Du Bushi: "Alright, go cultivate for a bit. Get a feel for its effects."
Huo Yuhao: "Yes, Master."
Half an hour later, Huo Yuhao ended his session, eyes blazing with excitement. That short training period had yielded more progress than his usual three hours!
Thanks to his evolved martial soul, Huo Yuhao could sense the reason—worldly energy. The Legacy Imprint had a freakish ability to gather surrounding worldly energy. Not only would it skyrocket his own training speed, but anyone near him would benefit as well.
At this point, Huo Yuhao was practically a walking cultivation sanctuary.
He looked around, but Du Bushi was gone—par for the course with his master's ghostlike comings and goings.
Huo Yuhao: "This is too conspicuous. Can't have this happening in public—might attract trouble."
He remembered how his master had wrapped the imprint with soul power. Copying that method, he enveloped the crystal's aura, which instantly stopped the energy from gathering.
Three days later, Huo Yuhao returned to Shrek Academy. The moment he entered the classroom, he noticed many curious eyes on him. He assumed they were just intrigued by his eyes and paid it no mind.
But when he reached his seat, he found it occupied.
The one sitting there had long golden hair, striking features, heterochromatic eyes, and a noble air—it was Dai Huabin.
There were other open seats in the classroom, but Huo Yuhao had no intention of switching. He slowly walked toward Dai Huabin.
Dai Huabin was chatting away with Wang Qiu'er, who, however, looked like she didn't even acknowledge his existence.
Back during the assessment trials, Huo Yuhao and Wang Qiu'er had stunned the audience with their performance. Dai Huabin had ordered an investigation into them, but all he found was that Huo Yuhao came from the Star Luo Empire, and Wang Qiu'er hailed from an ordinary family under the Heaven Dou Empire.
Being the son of the White Tiger Duke, Dai Huabin had to build his own faction to compete with his older brother for inheritance. He had been trying hard to win over Wang Qiu'er, offering big promises—though most were just empty words.
What Huo Yuhao saw now was exactly that scene.
The classroom suddenly quieted. The students, aware of Huo Yuhao's past interest in Wang Qiu'er, assumed he might have misunderstood the situation. No one stepped in. Everyone was waiting for the drama.
Dai Huabin noticed something off and turned—Huo Yuhao was already standing right in front of him.
Before Dai Huabin could speak, Huo Yuhao calmly said:
Huo Yuhao: "Get lost."
Dai Huabin: "What did you say?"
He was stunned. What's up with this guy? They were getting along just fine during the trials, weren't they?
Huo Yuhao: "I said get lost. Didn't you hear me? Or do I need to make you?"
There was no politeness in his tone. Since his identity had already been exposed, and Dai Huabin's mother had sent assassins after him, there was no need to play nice anymore.
Though it seemed Dai Huabin didn't know anything yet.
And he truly didn't. After all, he was only a noble's second son, with limited authority in the duke's manor. It made sense he hadn't uncovered Huo Yuhao's identity—not like the massive forces of Shrek or the Body Sect.
Realizing he hadn't misheard, Dai Huabin turned beet red. Veins popped on his temples, and his fists clenched tightly, eyes blazing with fury. He had never been humiliated like this.
Huo Yuhao: "What? Want to spar?"
His calm voice made Dai Huabin hesitate. He didn't want to admit it, but he knew he couldn't win. Back when Huo Yuhao was just a Great Soul Master, he already beat him. Now the guy had three soul rings.
After a moment of internal struggle, Dai Huabin gave in. He returned to his original seat, head down, avoiding everyone's gaze. He felt like the whole class was mocking him, even imagining their sneers.
Of course, that was just his pride talking. While the others might have laughed inwardly, they didn't show it. No one wanted to provoke Dai Huabin, especially given his powerful background.
Wang Qiu'er's eyes flickered slightly.
Wang Qiu'er (thinking): Is he... jealous?
For some reason, seeing Huo Yuhao act so possessive actually made her a little... happy.
(End of Chapter)
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