Huo Yuhao's grilled fish is also a must-try. One of the world's greatest delicacies.
Feeling the aroma of the fish near his lips, a crisp and pleasant mechanical notification sound seemed to ring in Lu Cheng's ears.
"Yuhao, where are you from?"
Lu Cheng looked at the slightly reserved youth standing to the side and spoke slowly.
"I... am from the Star Luo Empire." Huo Yuhao swallowed, hesitated for a moment, and spoke slowly.
For some reason, he felt an inexplicable sense of closeness to this youth, who was clearly only a few years older than him yet obviously the core of this group, as if his martial soul, Spirit Eye, resonated with him.
However, looking at his own shabby clothing and then at the other party's exquisite attire—which, while not overly opulent, was finely crafted and clearly expensive—the youth's inferiority complex reached its peak.
After all, he had just left his novice village only to encounter a top-tier genius. Aside from Tang Ya, who among those present wasn't a top-notch monster?
Looking across Shrek Academy, they could all suppress their peers.
Not to mention Lu Cheng, the Devil King of the Outer Academy.
"Yuhao, this person is the most monstrous genius our Shrek Academy has seen in years. If you can befriend him, never mind a soul ring, even joining Shrek Academy would be a breeze..." Tang Ya said with a smile while eating the grilled fish.
"..." The youth's pupils constricted sharply.
His lips twitched.
Looking at that handsome face, he felt a trace of disbelief. A monster?
He naturally knew of Shrek Academy; it was the academy he dreamed of joining. It was said that geniuses were as common as clouds there, and even if the direct descendants of the Duke's Mansion joined, they might not necessarily come out on top.
Just as the saying goes, you are a genius, but Shrek Academy is filled with geniuses...
And to be able to stand above the rest and look down on the crowd in that monster academy, where geniuses are everywhere, he seemed to have encountered an extraordinary individual, one of the top figures on this continent.
Perhaps years from now, he would stand at the pinnacle of the entire continent, becoming a figure revered by countless people.
Huo Yuhao swallowed hard. His head hung lower and lower.
Having been oppressed by the Duchess at home since childhood, combined with his mother's death, this had forged his sensitive, inferior, yet stubborn personality.
But... Lu Cheng was well aware.
Once someone offers him light in a desperate situation, this kid will follow them wholeheartedly. The original story of Shrek Academy is an example. Even with Yan Shaozhe being so petty and hesitant to grant the core disciple status, Huo Yuhao had no complaints about the Martial Soul Department in the Late Stage.
Just by giving him some benefits, he could recruit this devoted little brother.
It was naturally a profitable deal.
"I won't eat this grilled fish for free..." Lu Cheng revealed a smile.
"I see that your first soul ring is still vacant. Why don't I help you hunt for a suitable soul ring?"
"This... thank you, thank you so much..." Huo Yuhao opened his mouth, but his head hung even lower.
Pat~
A palm gently tapped on his shoulder.
Huo Yuhao looked up in bewilderment, only to see the handsome youth wearing a gentle smile at the corner of his mouth.
"Head up. Never hang your head low..."
He was saying this to Huo Yuhao and also to the Huo Yuhao from the original story—the pawn of the Tang Clan whose spine had been broken, destined to live the rest of his life in the shadow of Tang San.
Huo Yuhao's lips trembled, and his eyes gradually filled with tears.
"Yes!"
He wiped away the tears from the corners of his eyes and gradually clenched his fists.
Lu Cheng smiled and didn't say much more.
If there were a favorability meter, it would surely be skyrocketing. At this time, little Huo was easily satisfied; just a tiny bit of benefit was enough to fill that humble and fragile heart.
"Thump..." As a stunned colorful butterfly fell in front of Huo Yuhao, the latter was also startled.
"This is an illusion butterfly, three hundred years of cultivation. It's a perfect match for your martial soul, Spirit Eye. Since they both belong to the mental attribute, it's a decent quality soul ring," Lu Cheng explained with a smile.
"Brother Cheng, thank you!"
The youth's gaze was firm as he nodded solemnly. He then picked up the White Tiger Dagger and slashed down. A yellow soul ring rose, and he sat cross-legged on the ground to absorb it.
Shrek City.
"Where did you gather so many people from?!!!"
Ma Xiaotao's mouth twitched, looking completely bewildered at the four people beside Lu Cheng. After hunting for her fifth soul ring, she had parted ways with Lu Cheng, agreeing to meet again in Shrek City.
When they left, there was only one person. When they met again, there were... a full five people.
"I met them all on the road," Lu Cheng said with a smile.
"Forget it..." Ma Xiaotao said, speechless. "Seeing that you're safe, I'm relieved. I still have to go back and report to the senior sister. You guys should go register quickly; it's about to close."
Lu Cheng: "..."
East Gate.
Some Shrek Outer Academy disciples wearing yellow junior uniforms were sitting together, chatting about something, with a registration book placed in front of them.
"The Devil King Lu Cheng... cough cough, Senior Lu Cheng?"
Seeing the group approach, the expressions of the several boys and girls at the registration desk suddenly changed, especially when they saw Lu Cheng in the lead, showing him great respect.
"Could you please help them register?" Lu Cheng revealed a warm smile.
"Okay, Senior, please wait a moment..."
Except for Huo Yuhao's barely level 12 soul power, which was a bit intriguing, the others, like Ning Tian and Wu Feng, were naturally expected.
After entering the academy, Lu Cheng parted ways with everyone.
Looking at Lu Cheng's retreating figure.
The question that had been building up in Huo Yuhao's heart was finally asked.
"Sister Xiao Ya, is Brother Cheng... very strong?"
"Hehe, 'strong' is an understatement." Tang Ya chuckled and shook her head.
"He reached Spirit Elder at ten, broke through to Spirit Ancestor at eleven, and became a Spirit King at twelve..."
"Just a short while ago, during the second-year assessment, he easily slaughtered a ten thousand-year-old Blazing Rhinoceros. No one in the entire Outer Academy could match him. That guy is just a monster wearing a human skin." Tang Ya's eyes were filled with emotion, as if she were recalling the scene in the Star Dou Great Forest where she was saved by that figure in a desperate situation...
"That strong?!!!"
Huo Yuhao's pupils widened, filled with disbelief.
A spirit king, slaughtering a ten-thousand-year-old spirit beast.
He had to know that for him right now, encountering a hundred-year spirit beast was a life-or-death situation, let alone the ten thousand-year existence that was far out of reach.
"He is destined to stand at the pinnacle of the continent and be a person recorded in history. Being able to have any connection with him is already your good fortune. Don't fantasize about surpassing him." Tang Ya said with a complex look in her eyes.
"Yes!" The youth's spirit eyes gradually brightened. Following him, it didn't seem like a bad idea...
Tang Ya looked a bit weary. After pointing the way for Huo Yuhao, Ning Tian, and the others, she walked along the path towards the girls' dormitory.
"Xiao Ya! You're finally back!"
A golden-haired youth was squatting under the girls' dormitory. The moment he saw the young girl, he hurried over, his eyes filled with worry.
"What is it?" Tang Ya hesitated for a moment, her tone flat.
"Are you still angry with me?" Bei Bei wanted to say more but stopped.
He had been called away by Elder Mu for intensive training.
He was even told that in the future, he would be given the power of his origin to help him evolve his Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon martial soul.
Even if he was unwilling, he dared not defy Elder Mu's wishes.
Notes:
Motivation down...
ദ്ദി(˵ •̀ ᴗ - ˵ ) ✧
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