Three months passed quietly. Perhaps because he had avoided the incident near Sea God Lake, nothing unusual happened to Huo Yuhao during this period.
Tang Ya and Beibei often visited to guide him and Wang Dong, the two newest members of the Tang Sect, testing their mastery of the sect's secret techniques.
Each time, Huo Yuhao gave them new surprises—though they never realized those "surprises" were the result of him deliberately holding back.
After three months of cultivation aided by the Skydream Iceworm's spiritual nourishment, Huo Yuhao's meridians, once narrow and blocked, had been completely cleared and stabilized. His cultivation speed had improved dramatically.
Following his body's strengthening and the consolidation of his energy channels, the Skydream Iceworm—under Huo Yuhao's guidance—began exploring smaller meridians not included in the Mysterious Heaven Technique's main circulation paths.
Using his Eye of Truth, Huo Yuhao had observed how other Spirit Masters circulated their soul power and began piecing together how to open these minor meridians himself.
Although the Douluo Continent lacked a standardized meridian system like in martial arts, every sect had its own methods. Patchwork together enough of those "wild paths," and one could form a working framework.
With the aid of his Soul Power Condensation Array and Conversion Array, Huo Yuhao gradually mastered the control of these minute pathways. As they opened, he discovered that his soul power had grown far denser than what the Mysterious Heaven Technique alone could produce.
So this is what the first generation called "opening the eight extraordinary meridians," he mused. The so-called materialization of soul power is just the result of a fully connected, stabilized circulation throughout the body—energy condensed and capable of outward release.
It's not true solidification, just the gaseous phase of externalized energy. Still, it's the first step toward forming a soul core.
Ordinary Spirit Masters wouldn't have the spiritual power to manage full-body circulation. The original version of the Mysterious Heaven Technique probably used the eight meridians as shortcuts to achieve the same effect, creating the illusion of completion. The Tang Sect's modern version lost that refinement—it only speeds up circulation without inducing qualitative change. No wonder the sect fell so far.
I could reconstruct the complete version now, but there's no need. My current method is stronger. Back then, even Tang San didn't have spiritual power like mine backing him.
At this rate, I'll soon open every meridian in my body—even the smallest. When that happens, my soul power will surpass any traditional Mysterious Heaven practitioner.
In martial terms, Tang San's "small circulation" corresponds to my full-body "great circulation." But this isn't a cultivation novel—I just need results, not philosophy.
Even without the Elixirs from the original timeline, Huo Yuhao had reached rank seventeen, almost eighteen.
Though technically one level behind his canonical counterpart, his natural speed far exceeded it—no drugs, no shortcuts.
Five levels in three months was an extraordinary feat for a Spirit Master. The others simply credited it to his body's affinity with the Tang Sect's art, which was famous for rapid cultivation.
Now at rank seventeen, he had caught up with the class average. He was no longer a standout—just another solid student.
"Physical training is suspended today," Zhou Yi announced coldly, glancing across the remaining fifty-five students. Without Huo Yuhao's past disruptions, the current class had even fewer members than before.
She had deliberately kept fifty-five to form perfect three-person squads for the assessment, with one extra student she intended to transfer to the Soul Tool Department.
"Three months have passed. Tomorrow is your first academy assessment. Only those who pass will officially become first-year students of Shrek Academy."
"Pass this test, and you'll be allowed to continue your studies until the end-of-year examination."
"The test begins tomorrow. Today, I'll explain the key points."
"Wang Dong, hand these out." She gave her a stack of papers to distribute.
Tension filled the room. Everyone knew what this meant.
"After the test, you'll submit your intended specialization. Write down your chosen path and hand it to me."
Without hesitation, Huo Yuhao wrote "Agility Attack Type." He'd already decided to stay inconspicuous—a background figure within Shrek.
Beside him, Wang Dong nudged his arm, but he ignored her.
Zhou Yi began outlining the test procedures: team rules, scoring criteria, and classification by martial soul type.
As expected, she used her authority to pull one student directly into the Soul Tool Department.
Watching the delighted boy, Huo Yuhao shook his head. The three empires miles behind in soul engineering study, so Shrek's imitation department is the best they can get.
When it came to grouping, Zhou Yi read aloud:
"Group One: Wang Dong, Huo Yuhao, and Xiao Xiao."
The assignments continued quickly. Over time, Huo Yuhao had observed each classmate's martial soul and abilities.
Xiao Xiao, who also existed in the original timeline, naturally drew his attention.
Unlike before, she hadn't yet attached a soul ring to her second martial soul. Zhou Yi's harsh regime had pushed her close to giving up on it altogether—but Huo Yuhao had subtly warned her not to.
A naturally-born dual martial soul was rare and valuable. Wasting it would be foolish.
When she heard her name grouped with theirs, Xiao Xiao smiled brightly and waved. Just like before, she seemed slightly smitten by Wang Dong's appearance.
"That's it," Zhou Yi said. "You have one day to review and report any issues. Submit your chosen training direction and you're dismissed."
"But listen well—if anyone fails tomorrow, don't say I didn't warn you."
Her tone was cold enough to freeze the air.
"Dismissed. Wang Dong, Huo Yuhao, Xiao Xiao—stay behind."
She examined their submitted paths and frowned. "Wang Dong, what's the meaning of this? You marked yourself as Agility Attack Type? Your first two rings are clearly Power Attack type! Aside from those wings, there's nothing agile about you!"
Then, noticing Huo Yuhao's form, she blinked in realization. "Ah, so that's it. You're also applying for Agility Attack?"
"Yes," Huo Yuhao replied calmly. "My first soul skill focuses on self-support. I lack offensive and auxiliary ability. Combined with Tang Sect techniques, Agility Attack fits me best."
Zhou Yi's face stiffened. Losing two of her best students to another department wasn't acceptable. Her teaching record depended on them.
"Change it back," she ordered Wang Dong. "A strong Power Attack martial soul like yours belongs in the proper division."
Then she turned to Huo Yuhao. "And you—think carefully. A spirit-type martial soul doesn't strengthen the body. Even with Tang Sect skills, you'll be at a disadvantage later on. Why not consider Control Type? Be versatile, like Tang San himself—the Sea God. Isn't that better?"
"…Alright, Teacher. I'll consider it," Huo Yuhao said smoothly.
He caught a faint golden rune flicker in Wang Dong's spiritual sea and sighed inwardly. So that's your little trick, Tang San? Forcing contact between me and your daughter? Fine, I'll play along for now. But I'll remember this.
"Good," Zhou Yi said, satisfied. "This assessment is your first real test—and your first chance to stand out. Impress the faculty, and your names will enter the academy's priority training list."
"Wang Dong, Xiao Xiao, Huo Yuhao—you three are my chosen team. Your goal is simple: take first place."
"If you fail," she added with a cold smile, "then starting next semester, you'll study directly under me."
None of them argued. Huo Yuhao simply nodded. What a self-righteous woman. Still, this test shouldn't be a problem. Maybe I'll use it to analyze the structure of spirit bones.
"You may go. Rest well tonight."
As they stepped out, Xiao Xiao turned toward Wang Dong. "Wang Dong, I—"
But Wang Dong quickly pushed Huo Yuhao ahead. "We, uh, need to prepare for tomorrow. Bye!"
Watching his retreating back, Xiao Xiao stomped her foot in frustration.
"Shy, huh?" Huo Yuhao teased.
"Shut up! You knew she was going to say something—that's why you didn't leave!" Wang Dong snapped, cheeks red.
"Well, I was curious whether the 'cross-dressing princess' joined Shrek because she likes girls," he said with a grin.
"Say that again and I'll kill you!" she hissed, face burning.
Over the months, she had learned that he knew her secret—and he didn't bother hiding it.
Despite her embarrassment, she hadn't moved out. Doing so would only fuel gossip among students.
And truthfully, she didn't want to.
Something about Huo Yuhao intrigued her. He always seemed calm, confident, unreadable. Lazy most of the time, yet somehow unstoppable when it mattered.
Her curiosity about him only deepened.
"How did you find out I was a girl, anyway?" she finally asked.
"Read more books," he said, smirking. "In the Outer Court library, there's a silly volume called The Continent's Hundred Most Beautiful Martial Souls. Page thirteen—the Light Goddess Butterfly, praised as the most beautiful butterfly spirit on the continent. All its known wielders are female."
"Add that to your behavior, and the conclusion was obvious."
(End of Chapter)