Huo Yuhao, drenched in sweat, managed to run ten laps, but Wang Dong was already three laps ahead of him, and the other disciples had all surpassed him by at least one lap. Many of them, as they ran past, turned their heads and shot him contemptuous glances; after all, they all knew Huo Yuhao had the lowest cultivation level in the class.
However, by this point, the pace of the students ahead had begun to slow. As time wore on, the effects of the Iron Armor became increasingly apparent, and even Wang Dong was now beaded with sweat.
A few male students who had initially intended to compete with Wang Dong had now fallen behind, some even overtaken by disciples from further back. Drops of sweat fell, growing more numerous, gradually soaking the ground.
After half an hour, a female disciple with poor stamina collapsed onto the ground with a thud. She struggled to stand but couldn't. Just then, Wang Dong ran past her. He reached out to offer a hand, looking down at her with concern. The female disciple shook her head, then sat back down, refusing to continue running no matter what. She was too exhausted; she didn't even have the strength to speak.
Where there's a first, there's bound to be a second. Perhaps because Huo Yuhao had already set the lowest bar, the students, though exerting themselves to the utmost, didn't possess particularly strong willpower.
Running lap after lap in the heavy Iron Armor was a nightmare. Moreover, everyone had pushed themselves to run at full speed from the start, and their stamina was rapidly depleted as a result. On top of that, the Iron Armor was simply too heavy for their age.
After an hour, at least half the students had collapsed onto the ground. Zhou Yi remained still, observing, with no intention of urging them to continue running.
Huo Yuhao was now almost at his limit. Although he had maintained a steady pace from the beginning, his cultivation was weak, and his physical strength was nothing special; it was already impressive that he had managed to get this far. As he ran, the Iron Armor rubbed against his uniform, growing hotter and more painful.
This isn't good, I'm done for. Waves of discomfort and pain spread throughout Huo Yuhao's body. He forced himself to channel his soul power into his eyes. A cool sensation emanated from his Spirit Eyes, helping him regain some clarity.
No, I can't collapse. I must persevere, I must push on. Many classmates were still running steadily ahead of him. He recalled how his cultivation speed had increased after he pushed himself to his limit that morning. He immediately bit his tongue, steeling his resolve, and continued to run at a steady pace.
It was at this moment that a strange warm sensation emanated from his abdomen, even though his soul power was clearly depleted. The warm sensation slowly spread to his limbs and throughout his body; gradually, the aching pain subsided somewhat.
This is...
Energy from the Mysterious Heaven Method?
Huo Yuhao immediately recognized the source of the warm energy. Whenever he cultivated the Mysterious Heaven Method, the energy would always gather in his abdomen. Although he had only just begun cultivating the Mysterious Heaven Method, by using his soul power as a foundation, transforming his existing soul power into Mysterious Heaven Method energy, he had easily broken through the first layer of the Mysterious Heaven Method cultivation technique.
Both his Senior Brother and the Heavenly Dream Iceworm had said that the Mysterious Heaven Method was an extremely suitable cultivation technique for him, and its greatest effects were to transform the body and strengthen the meridians.
Is this feeling its effect?
As Huo Yuhao thought, he tried to activate the Mysterious Heaven Method's cultivation cycle. At first, there was no unusual sensation, and although he was very anxious, he continued to circulate it.
He felt that during the process of converting his soul power into Mysterious Heaven Skill, a small portion of soul power seeped into his meridians, which was the cause of his worry. But a moment later, he was startled to discover that not only were his meridians fine, but they were also gradually being soothed by the soul power. His fatigue slowly dissipated, replaced by a feeling of comfort and refreshment.
Although his physical constitution wasn't good, his mind was still sharp. He immediately understood that when his body reached its limit, he could absorb Mysterious Heaven Skill without needing to sit down and meditate. This situation was different from the norm; the Mysterious Heaven Skill didn't increase too quickly but slowly and intimately integrated with his body.
With this discovery, Huo Yuhao quickly focused his mind, slowing his steps while simultaneously controlling the flow of Mysterious Heaven Skill circulating within his body.
The Tang Sect's Mysterious Heaven Skill was precisely the cultivation technique that Sect Master Tang San brought to this world. In other words, it didn't originally belong to the Douluo Continent, but it was absolutely a high-level cultivation technique that offered numerous benefits in terms of health preservation.
Huo Yuhao, by sheer coincidence, inadvertently created a method of cultivating Mysterious Heaven Skill without needing meditation. In this process, the primary effect of Mysterious Heaven Skill was to repair the body and use soul power to transform the meridians.
Because the Mysterious Heaven Skill could both circulate and self-restore, everything within his body unconsciously formed a cycle. This could be called a form of cultivation during movement, a unique and unprecedented innovation.
Huo Yuhao didn't know that even Tang San, the first generation Sect Master of the Tang Sect, couldn't achieve this. This was because his cultivation was too weak, yet his spiritual power was exceptionally strong, leading to this unique situation only when his body reached its absolute limit.
The Tang Sect had produced many powerful cultivators, but none of them had ever met the conditions Huo Yuhao currently possessed. This was because by the time their spiritual power reached the required level, it was very difficult for their bodies to reach their limits. Moreover, no one would have paid attention to that tiny warm sensation appearing in their Dantian. It could be said that the Mysterious Heaven Skill within Huo Yuhao had undergone an evolution.
Thanks to the warm qi regulating within his body, Huo Yuhao, who should have already reached his limit, momentarily recovered a little. This not only helped him stand firm but also gave him more resolve, prompting him to strive even harder.
The warm current flowed in a cycle, following the circulation of the Mysterious Heaven Skill. Each time a cycle was completed, the warm current would dissipate, only to reappear with slightly increased density, continuously circulating, vanishing, and growing stronger.
Huo Yuhao's body grew increasingly tired, yet his spirit was unusually excited. He had found what suited him best at this moment! His meridians, which previously required careful and lengthy repair, now seemed to be mending with ease. How could he not be happy? Every part of his meridians that the warm current passed through became unobstructed, proving that everything he had done so far was completely correct.
Around Shrek Plaza, the number of fallen disciples grew steadily. Even those disciples running at the front were gradually starting to lose their endurance. The clang of Iron Armor hitting the ground occasionally echoed.
Wang Dong overtook Huo Yuhao once again. By now, Huo Yuhao’s steps already seemed difficult. Wang Dong was startled to see Huo Yuhao’s eyes flicker slightly, golden light swirling within them. Though he moved very slowly, he didn't stop. All the students with higher cultivation than him had already fallen, yet he persisted in moving forward. In fact, every step he took left a damp mark from his sweat.
"Reaching your limit is enough, no need to push too hard."
Wang Dong murmured softly, then continued running. He was still in the lead, but his body was also nearing its limit.
Another half an hour passed. The time until class ended grew closer and closer. By now, only nine students were still able to move. Surprisingly, Huo Yuhao was among them.
Zhou Yi had been paying close attention to Huo Yuhao. After an hour, she began to be startled. According to her calculations, Huo Yuhao's physical strength and soul power should have reached their limits, yet somehow he was still able to persevere.
Could a person's willpower be so immense? And he was still so young.
Thump, thump, thump...
Two more students collapsed. Then a domino effect occurred, with several students falling one after another. One of them lightly brushed against Wang Dong.
Wang Dong's legs wobbled. His entire body was aching. Finally, his legs could no longer support him, and he sank to the ground. His last shred of willpower crumbled. Up to this point, he had run the most laps; it would be difficult for anyone to surpass his achievement.
Three people remained, and Huo Yuhao was still one of them.
Five minutes later, the remaining two students collapsed. On the training ground, only Huo Yuhao was left. Even though his steps were unsteady and his pace incredibly slow, he still didn't fall. His figure now drew many astonished gazes from the surrounding students.
Huo Yuhao had long since reached his limit. Although the Mysterious Heaven Technique (Xuan Tian Gong) could soothe his body and slow down the onset of fatigue, it couldn't make his body stronger.
Each time he hit his limit, Huo Yuhao gritted his teeth and held on. He knew very well that in his first year, he was one of the weakest; if he wanted to stay, he had to work twice, even thrice, as hard as others. Moreover, pushing past his physical limits could expand his meridians and increase his Soul Power. That's why he always tried to persevere, even if only for a moment.
Huo Yuhao continuously encouraged himself to persevere. By now, his soul power was no longer enough to channel into his spiritual eyes to keep himself clear-headed.
Gradually, he mumbled to himself as he walked.
"Mother... Mother..."
For her last wish, so that he could honorably bring his mother's remains out, to wash away the humiliation and exact revenge, he had to strive and persevere at all costs.
Thump, thump!!!
By now, Huo Yuhao's footsteps were incredibly heavy. His body uncontrollably trembled, yet he still didn't fall. He laboriously lifted one foot, then struggled to put it down... and continued walking like that.
By now, the mocking gazes of the students had vanished. They scrambled up, staring blankly at the figure tirelessly persevering before their eyes.
Wang Dong was stunned. Then he struggled to his feet and continued walking behind Huo Yuhao, but he didn't overtake him.
As Wang Dong stood up, a second, then a third person followed. Gradually, all the new students gritted their teeth, lifted their exhausted legs, and reluctantly took one step after another forward.
Chu Y was startled. Since becoming a teacher, her emotions rarely fluctuated because of her students, but this time, she was truly taken aback. Because at this moment, there were ninety more students behind Huo Yuhao. This wasn't just a simple physical training session, but also a mental one! Looking at the eleven and twelve-year-olds before her, a resolute expression appeared on Chu Y's face.
The effectiveness of this lesson far exceeded her imagination.
Ring… ring… ring…
The bell signaling the end of class rang out.
Thud… thud… sounds echoed, and in an instant, a group of people collapsed.
The clanging of the Iron Armor hitting the ground rang out continuously. The new students' clothes were now covered in dust and dirt.
Huo Yuhao also collapsed. The ringing of the bell had removed the last shred of stubbornness from his mind, but his body didn't just roll over directly. Wang Dong, who was behind him, stepped forward to catch him, and then both of them tumbled down together, gasping for breath.
Looking up at the sky, black spots appeared before Huo Yuhao's eyes. Although his body couldn't move, his meridians were fully expanded, making his body feel incredibly comfortable. His Soul Power was depleted, his physical strength exhausted, and the expansion of his meridians brought a sense of comfort. He had a premonition that after this experience, he would make significant progress.
Wang Dong collapsed beside Huo Yuhao. His body and cultivation were far stronger than Huo Yuhao's. Although extremely tired, he wasn't as utterly immobile as Huo Yuhao.
"I really don't understand what power helped you hold on until now. A Soul Master with only a ten-year Soul Ring, yet able to persevere alongside a Great Soul Master like me – you truly are a monster."
Huo Yuhao let out two naive laughs. At this moment, even speaking was incredibly difficult for him.
Chu Y took a deep breath and waved her hand towards the distance. A young man in white approached. He took only a few steps to reach her side, gave a nod, and then walked towards the students.
Rings of Soul Rings rose from his feet: two yellow, two purple, three white – a total of six Soul Rings.
A Soul Saint! Unexpectedly, it was a Soul Saint powerhouse. Powerhouses of this caliber were considered near the peak in the world of Soul Masters. He looked to be only in his early thirties, yet his eyes held a strangely weathered and sorrowful look.
He raised both hands, and gentle green light emanated from his palms in waves. His seventh Soul Ring emitted a dense black light. His body trembled slightly. The light transformed into leaves, which rapidly grew into a massive tree.
As if a gentle breeze had passed by, leaves drifted down softly. Exactly ninety-one leaves, no more, no less, fell upon the ninety-one new students.
Everyone felt incredibly comfortable all over. A refreshing sensation instantly spread throughout their bodies. Whether it was aching muscles or wounds torn by the Iron Armor, everything was recovering at an astonishing speed. Even their physical strength gradually recovered. Only their Soul Power remained as depleted as before; those leaves seemed to have no effect on it.
Wang Dong, having the highest cultivation, was the first to recover. He leaned up into a sitting position, his eyes quickly drawn to the massive tree. The moment he clearly saw it, he couldn't help but take a deep breath:
"This is one of the strongest Plant-type Martial Souls, the Life Tree Martial Soul! Level seventy, Martial Soul True Body. I can't believe Teacher Chu found a Level seventy Plant-type Soul Saint to heal us."
Azure light flickered. A moment later, ninety-one leaves disappeared one after another, and the shadow of the sky-shrouding giant tree gradually faded away. In a flash, he returned to the form of the white-robed young man from before. He turned and nodded at Chu Y. Chu Y turned and bowed respectfully to him. The young man, just like before, vanished in the blink of an eye. From beginning to end, he and Chu Y did not exchange a single word.
On the ground, the students slowly got to their feet. Although the feeling of exhaustion still lingered, breaking through their physical limits naturally had its benefits.
Huo Yuhao also recovered from his semi-conscious state. Thanks to the miraculous soul skill's healing, the intense warmth in his body had subsided, but his internal meridians were still being repaired by Xuan Tian Gong. It could be said that both internally and externally, he felt warm and refreshed. This comfortable sensation was something he had never experienced since awakening his martial soul at the age of six.
He struggled to his feet, his entire body covered in dirt and sand, but his Spirit Eyes glowed with an unusual light. Instinctively, he urged his soul power to circulate along the pathways of Xuan Tian Gong. Aha, it still worked; it continued to soothe his meridians. Moreover, because he didn't need to replenish any expended soul power, after completing one cycle, there was still some Xuan Tian Gong left, flowing back to his dantian, before continuing into the second cycle.
Chu Y watched her students slowly get to their feet, and said softly:
"You truly surprised me. Therefore, today, no one will be expelled."
As soon as Chu Y finished speaking, the students cheered joyfully. Especially those with the lowest scores; their faces looked as if a huge burden had been lifted.
Chu Y continued:
"You all should thank Huo Yuhao. I had already prepared your punishments. Your task was to run for two hours, and even coming in last wouldn't have been an issue. Yet, look at yourselves! Only Huo Yuhao managed to persevere until the very end. Luckily for you, you were eventually inspired by his passion to get up and complete the task. Otherwise, there would have been even more punishment waiting for you today. Wang Dong, step forward and line up."
"Teacher."
Wang Dong stepped forward.
Chu Y said indifferently:
"As class monitor, you only cared about yourself and didn't play any role at all. From now on, your position as class monitor will be handed over to Huo Yuhao. In the future, if anyone challenges him, Wang Dong, you will fight in his stead."
Upon hearing Chu Y's words, Wang Dong was momentarily stunned.
Chu Y said coldly:
"What? Do you have an objection?"
Only then did Wang Dong snap out of it, shaking his head and saying:
"No, Teacher Chu, I am completely convinced."
Chu Y nodded and said:
"Dismissed. Each of you take your Iron Armor with you. Tomorrow, another teacher will come to teach your theory class. You should meditate well and make good use of the benefits from today's training. From now on, the afternoon class will be mine. I do not wish to see any good-for-nothings in my class."
"Yes, Teacher."
All the students replied in unison. However, they didn't immediately disperse. Instead, they turned to Huo Yuhao and, at the same time, lifted him into the air. For young people, joy and excitement are expressed very directly. Thanks to Huo Yuhao, none of them were expelled today. Unbeknownst to him, he had become their hero.
Moreover, after the hardships and suffering they had endured, being treated by a Plant-type Soul Saint made them truly understand what a powerful Soul Master was like. The pain in their bodies had completely vanished, and their resentment towards Teacher Zhou also greatly diminished.
About ten minutes later, all the students dispersed. They all returned to their dorms to wash up, their appearance at this moment truly disheveled.
The ninety-four students of Class One didn't know that thanks to today's lesson, their sense of teamwork had taken a huge leap forward. After all, the ninety-one members had only met a few days ago, and before they could even get close, it was inevitable that conflicts would arise. This teaching method of Zhou Yi was truly special and brought many benefits. Moreover, Huo Yuhao's performance today was entirely due to luck; he ended up becoming the weakest class monitor among all the new students.
Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong, still wearing their Iron Suits, returned to their room. They showered in the communal bathroom outside. Wang Dong let Huo Yuhao shower first, then carried a basin of water into the dorm.
All of Huo Yuhao's thoughts at this moment were focused on the Mysterious Heaven Technique. He even forgot about showering, while the Mysterious Heaven Technique within his body continued to circulate. At this point, he also noticed that the warm current was weakening. Why was this happening? Was it because his vitality had recovered? Huo Yuhao couldn't explain why, so he finally started showering, continuing to ponder as he washed. It wasn't until he finished showering that he vaguely guessed the reason: the warm current had been generated because his body had reached its limit, and now that he was almost fully recovered, it was gradually disappearing and would no longer be produced.
If he had known this earlier, he wouldn't have accepted the treatment just now. Otherwise, his meridians would have received even more benefits.
However, Teacher Zhou had given them the Iron Suits to keep, so there would definitely be more training. He decided that next time he would try again. Thinking this, his earlier sadness quickly vanished, transforming into excitement.
"Huo Yuhao."
A voice rang out, jolting him from his excited state.
Huo Yuhao inwardly cursed, "Oh no! How could I have forgotten my appointment with Tang Ya?" He quickly rushed out of the bathroom and ran back to the dorm to change into a different uniform, shouting as he ran.
"Teacher Xiaoya, I'm coming right out!"
Because he was rushing back in a hurry, he forgot to knock on the door. The moment he pushed the door open, he saw... a sight... that made him... widen his eyes in shock.
A pristine white back...
From shoulder to waist, a perfect curve, complemented by long, slender legs... and streams of water flowing down the pristine white body. It was truly too stimulating for human eyes...
Everyone felt incredibly comfortable all over. A refreshing sensation instantly spread throughout their bodies. Whether it was their aching bodies or the wounds chafed by the Iron Suits, everything was recovering at an astonishing speed. Even their physical strength was gradually recovering. Only their soul power remained as depleted as before; those tree leaves seemed to have no effect on it.
Wang Dong had the highest cultivation, so he was the first to recover. He leaned up and sat upright, his eyes quickly drawn to the base of the large tree. The moment he clearly saw the object, he couldn't help but take a deep breath:
—This is one of the strongest martial souls of the Plant System, the Life Tree Martial Soul! Seventy-first rank, Martial Soul True Body. I can't believe Teacher Chu found a seventy-first rank Plant System Soul Saint to heal us.
The emerald light flickered, and a moment later, ninety-one leaves vanished one by one. The shadow of the sky-covering great tree gradually faded, and in a flash, it returned to the form of the white-robed young man from before. He turned and nodded to Chu Y. Chu Y, in turn, bowed respectfully to him. The young man, just like before, vanished in an instant. From beginning to end, he and Chu Y did not exchange a single word.
On the ground, the students slowly got up. Although the feeling of exhaustion lingered, breaking through their physical limits naturally had its benefits.
Huo Yuhao also recovered from his semi-conscious state. Thanks to the miraculous soul skill's healing, the warm sensation in his body had disappeared, but his internal meridians were still being repaired by the Mysterious Heaven Method. It could be said that both inside and out, he felt warm and refreshed. This feeling of comfort was something he had never experienced since awakening his martial soul at the age of six.
He struggled to stand up, his entire body covered in dirt and sand, but his Spirit Eyes glowed with an unusual light. He instinctively urged his soul power to circulate along the Mysterious Heaven Method's pathways. Aha, it still worked; it continued to soothe his meridians. Moreover, since he didn't need to replenish depleted soul power, after completing one cycle, there was still some excess Mysterious Heaven Method energy flowing back to his dantian, then continuing into the second cycle.
Chu Y watched her students slowly stand up, and said softly:
—You truly surprised me, therefore, today, no one will be expelled.
As soon as Chu Y finished speaking, the students cheered joyfully. Especially those with the lowest scores; their faces looked as if a huge burden had just been lifted.
Chu Y continued:
—You should thank Huo Yuhao. I had already prepared your punishment. My task for you was to run for two hours straight, and even if you came in last, it wouldn't be a problem. But what did you do? Look, only Huo Yuhao in the entire class managed to hold on until the end. Luckily for you, you were eventually inspired by his passion to stand up and complete the task, otherwise, even more punishment would be waiting for you today. Wang Dong, step forward and line up.
—Teacher.
Wang Dong stepped forward, one pace at a time.
Chu Y said indifferently:
—As class monitor, you only cared about yourself and didn't play any role at all. From now on, your position as class monitor will be given to Huo Yuhao. In the future, if anyone challenges him, Wang Dong, you will fight in his stead.
After hearing Chu Y's words, Wang Dong was momentarily stunned.
Chu Y said coldly:
—What? Do you have an objection?
Only then did Wang Dong snap out of it, shaking his head and saying:
—No, Teacher Chu, I am completely convinced.
Chu Y nodded and said:
—Dismissed. Each of you take your Iron Armor back with you. Tomorrow, another teacher will come to teach your theory class. You should meditate well and make good use of the benefits from today's training. From now on, the afternoon class will be mine. I do not wish to see any good-for-nothings in my class.
—Yes, Teacher.
All the students answered in unison. However, they didn't immediately disperse but turned to Huo Yuhao, simultaneously lifting him and tossing him into the air. For young people, moments of joy or excitement are expressed very directly. Today, thanks to Huo Yuhao, none of them were expelled; unknowingly, he had become their hero.
Moreover, after the hardships and suffering they endured, being treated by a Plant-type Spirit Saint truly made them understand what a powerful Spirit Master was like. The pain in their bodies had completely vanished, and their resentment towards Teacher Zhou also diminished significantly.
About ten-odd minutes later, all the students finally dispersed. They all returned to their dorms to shower; their appearance at this moment was truly disheveled.
The ninety-four students of Class One didn't know that thanks to today's lesson, their collective spirit had taken a huge leap forward. After all, the ninety-one members had only met a few days ago; before they could even get close, it was inevitable that there would be friction. This teaching method of Zhou Yi was indeed special and brought many benefits. Furthermore, Huo Yuhao's performance today was entirely due to luck; he ended up becoming the weakest class leader among all the new students.
Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong, still wearing their Iron Suits, headed back to their room. They showered in the communal bathroom outside. Wang Dong let Huo Yuhao shower first, while he carried a basin of water into the dorm.
All of Huo Yuhao's thoughts were currently focused on contemplating the Mysterious Heaven Method; he even forgot about showering, and the Mysterious Heaven Method within his body circulated continuously. At this moment, he also noticed that the warm current was weakening. Why was this happening? Was it because his vitality had recovered? Huo Yuhao couldn't explain why in his heart. Only then did he start to shower, continuing to ponder as he bathed. It wasn't until he finished showering that he vaguely guessed a little. The warm current had been generated because his body had reached its limit; now that it was almost fully recovered, it was gradually disappearing, no longer being produced.
If he had known this earlier, he wouldn't have accepted the treatment just now. Otherwise, his meridians would have received even more benefits.
However, Teacher Zhou had given them the Iron Suits to keep, which meant there would definitely be more training. He decided to try again next time. With this thought, his earlier sadness quickly vanished, transforming into excitement.
"Huo Yuhao."
A voice rang out, startling him from his state of excitement.
Huo Yuhao secretly cursed, "Oh no, how could I forget my appointment with Tang Ya?" He hurriedly exited the bathroom and rushed back to the dorm to change into a different uniform, shouting as he ran.
"Teacher Xiaoya, I'm coming right out!"
Because he was rushing back in a hurry, he forgot to knock on the door. The moment he pushed the door open, he saw… a sight… that made him… widen his eyes.
A pristine white back…
From shoulder to waist, a perfect curve, complemented by long, straight legs… and water flowing down the pristine white body, truly too stimulating for human eyes…
"Aaaaaaaaaaaa!"
A piercing scream rang out. Immediately after, Huo Yuhao's vision was filled with a dazzling blue light.
A pair of enormous wings suddenly appeared, striking towards him as if to swallow him whole. Fortunately, halfway there, they stopped.
"What are you doing? Why didn't you knock?"
Wang Dong’s angry voice rang out. The blood-blue light slowly faded. He had already put his clothes on and was about to give Huo Yuhao a beating when he was startled to see Huo Yuhao wearing only his underwear, so he turned his face away. However, there was a stark difference in their skin tones. Huo Yuhao’s was like ancient bronze, while his was strangely fair and delicate...
“I... someone called me just now, I was impatient so... I’m sorry...”
Huo Yuhao didn’t know why his heart was pounding so strangely. He hurriedly rushed to his bed, grabbed his uniform, put it on, then turned and ran out of the room.
Wang Dong stood there dumbfounded, not stopping him. It wasn’t until Huo Yuhao had run out of the room that he regained his senses, his face flushed crimson, unsure of what to do.
After running outside for a while, Huo Yuhao’s mood finally stabilized a little, but the previous image still couldn’t be erased from his mind, especially those fair, slender legs...
“What am I thinking... *Ptooey, ptooey*...”
Huo Yuhao scorned himself, hastily redirecting his attention to the Mysterious Heaven Method.
Suddenly, a sharp pain in his ear made him yelp softly.
Tang Ya’s petulant voice rang out:
“So you’ve finally decided to come out, do you know how long I’ve been waiting?”
Huo Yuhao felt very wronged and said:
“Teacher Xiao Ya, please let go first. The last training session made us sweat so much, it took a long time to get clean...”
Only then did Tang Ya release her grip. Seeing Huo Yuhao’s pale face, she asked:
“Did that crazy old maid Chu Yi give you a hard time? You need to be careful. That woman is famously impartial and ruthless; students who break the rules and fall into her hands either die or lose half their lives. Is something wrong with your body? If you’re not well, go rest immediately. We’ll continue tomorrow.”
Huo Yuhao quickly shook his head:
“No, no, I’m fine. Let’s start.”
Just now, due to the physical training, his Soul Power and stamina were almost completely depleted. His whole body trembled with hunger, but without money, what could he eat?
Tang Ya giggled:
“Good, grill twenty fish. I’ve prepared everything, so it won’t waste your time. It’ll be much faster than the tasks the academy assigns.”
“Teacher Xiao Ya, where are we going?”
Huo Yuhao asked.
Tang Ya had already thought about it and immediately said:
“Let’s go to the academy gate, the main gate of Shrek Academy is in the east. There are many small vendors there, and students frequent the area. We’ll go there. With your fish-grilling skills, there’s no fear of not selling them. At worst, you can grill them for me to eat.”
Huo Yuhao followed Tang Ya out of the academy. As soon as they exited the gate, he was startled. At this time, the registration disciples were gone, and everywhere on both sides were small vendors, with colorful stalls and tents. Among them, food vendors made up the largest number, their selling cries ceaseless in his ears. Clearly, their main customers were the students of Shrek Academy.
Tang Ya had prepared in advance. The fish-grilling spot wasn’t far from the academy gate, even occupying a good location near the wide road.
She had specially found craftsmen to make various iron frames and grills, prepared all the seasonings, grass carp, and more... In a flash, everything was laid out on the table. This large table was also custom-made for him to use...
Huo Yuhao helped her arrange the grill, secretly chuckling to himself. Indeed, Teacher Xiao Ya’s resistance to delicious food was incredibly weak.
Tang Ya spread the charcoal on the ground:
“Alright, the rest is up to you. I’m going out to buy some food. The fish costs five copper coins each, and I’ll take two portions. If you want to buy more, go find Aunt Lin in the kitchen.”
Before she could finish speaking, her figure had vanished.
First, Huo Yuhao checked the seasonings and prepared the fish. There was quite a lot of seasoning, and Tang Ya had gathered everything needed; no essential items were missing. Huo Yuhao tore up the perilla leaves, mixed them with other seasonings, and stuffed them into the belly of the grass carp, then threaded a bamboo skewer through the fish.
Today’s physical training session had given him many insights, so he didn’t want to spend too much time on this.
Starting a fire was a very familiar task for him. The grill wasn’t small either; it could roast four fish at once.
One had to admit, Huo Yuhao’s fish-roasting skills were superb. In just a moment, a rich aroma wafted out. This was far better than any advertisement. Not to mention the students, even the small vendors nearby turned to look with curiosity.
“Little brother, how much for the grilled fish?”
A male student in a yellow uniform asked.
Huo Yuhao politely replied:
“Five coins per fish, senior.”
The male student was also very straightforward:
“That’s not expensive, and it smells so good, I’ll try one.”
After speaking, he handed over five soul coins.
This was Huo Yuhao’s first successful transaction. After excitedly taking the money, he continued to roast the fish, even urging a few wisps of Soul Power to observe its doneness.
The first customer had arrived. Seeing this, others also began to gather and observe. Huo Yuhao was a new student who had just entered the academy, so he naturally didn’t know anyone. At this time, the students were also starting to come out.
As soon as Huo Yuhao handed the fish to the male student from earlier, all eyes around him began to focus on him.