Chu Y's eyes also darted back and forth. This was the first time a situation had arisen that was beyond her control, surprising her for a moment. She thought for a bit and then said:
"Alright, a Control System it is then. That way, it'll be easier for the three of you to cooperate. The freshman assessment is your first evaluation at Shrek Academy, and it's very important for your future cultivation path. In this assessment, only students who achieve a high rank can be included in the academy's cultivation program. Among our class, I value the three of you the most. Wang Dong and Xiao Xiao go without saying; their strength and talent are far superior to other disciples. As for you, Huo Yuhao, although your cultivation isn't strong and your talent is ordinary, you possess strong willpower coupled with a special spirit soul with spiritual attributes. The three of you, provided Xiao Xiao's second spirit soul can make up for it. I'm giving you a mission: you must win the championship in the freshman assessment. If you don't win the championship, Xiao Xiao will be excused, but the two of you should prepare yourselves to cultivate under me."
Huo Yuhao nodded and said:
"Teacher Chu, even if we win the championship, I still want to cultivate under you."
Chu Y was stunned:
"Kid, don't you find me very strict? I'm well aware of what outsiders say about me behind my back. There's no need to flatter me like this."
Huo Yuhao shook his head and sincerely replied:
"No, Teacher Chu. I truly always wanted to learn from you. Although you are strict, only by following you can one learn many useful things. I've occasionally noticed students from other classes, and at least among the freshmen classes, their strength hasn't increased as much as ours in the past three months."
Chu Y finally smiled. Although her aged face wasn't particularly beautiful when she smiled, this was the first time Huo Yuhao had felt such gentle emotions from her.
"Alright, the three of you go back and rest for now. Remember, you absolutely must win the championship. Furthermore, let me tell you, Shrek Academy – and I'm not boasting – offers the most rewards for the champions of the Freshman Assessment and the Outer Court Graduation Assessment. What they are, you'll find out once you become champions. Go on, go adjust your condition well. I believe in your strength."
"Yes."
The three of them said in unison and then left the classroom.
As soon as they stepped out the door, Xiao Xiao seemed to gather all her courage and said:
"Wang Dong, can I talk to you?"
Wang Dong waved his hand and said:
"Not now, I still want to go back and prepare for tomorrow's match. Xiao Xiao, in this assessment, I want to see the power of your twin spirit souls."
After saying that, he slung an arm over Huo Yuhao's shoulder and walked away.
Seeing the disappointment in Xiao Xiao's eyes, Huo Yuhao looked at her and smiled. Xiao Xiao also forced a smile in return. They were still young, and their feelings towards the opposite sex were still a bit vague. Wang Dong's rejection made Xiao Xiao feel a little lost, but she didn't dwell on it, only thinking to herself: "What's so special about him? You'll understand my abilities once the assessment begins. Hmph!" Her pride was always hidden deep within her heart.
"She has a crush on you, you didn't have to reject her so bluntly!" Huo Yuhao teased Wang Dong.
Over the past three months, the two of them had become quite close. For Huo Yuhao, life cultivating at the academy was merely physical training, and his spirit had relaxed much more than before. At least here, all disciples were equal, with no hierarchy like in the Duke's mansion. With his mind at ease, his personality also became much more cheerful; he was no longer the quiet, reserved youth he had been upon arrival.
Wang Dong pouted and said:
"Many young ladies like me a lot. Am I supposed to accept every single one of them?"
As he said this, he became even more smug.
"We're still young, and our studies should be our top priority. How can we have the mind for anything else? Huo Yuhao, your mindset is truly abnormal."
"I..."
Huo Yuhao truly couldn't argue with him.
"You win!"
Wang Dong chuckled and said:
"Let's go. First, we'll head back and make some grilled fish today. Tomorrow is the official registration, and I reckon things won't truly begin until the day after. The time for us to show off our skills has arrived."
Huo Yuhao said angrily:
"Will you die if you don't eat grilled fish every day? Besides, the assessment is coming soon. Are you planning to sharpen your sword only when you're already on the battlefield?"
Wang Dong snorted and said:
"You idiot, all you know is training, training, training. Aren't you afraid of getting dizzy from too much training?"
Huo Yuhao gave a wry laugh and said:
"My talent is poor, and my cultivation is low, so of course I have to worry. You also know that my current Spirit Power reaching rank seventeen is largely due to the effects of medicinal substances. In the end, it was with a bit of luck that I passed the assessment. Teacher Zhou arranging me to be in the same group as Xiao Xiao and you is clearly to look after me. If I don't work hard, wouldn't I be letting Teacher Zhou down?"
Wang Dong pouted and said:
"Your innate talent is indeed nothing special, but your Martial Soul isn't too bad. Don't worry, with a genius like me around, let alone dealing with a few new students, even second-year disciples might not be able to defeat me. When the time comes, you just need to use your spirit detection, and then stay at the back. That'll be enough. With this genius taking action, winning the championship will be as easy as turning over one's hand."
Huo Yuhao reminded him:
"Our Shrek Academy is the number one academy in the world. There's no shortage of hidden geniuses, so you must be careful and not be careless. However, I think Xiao Xiao's strength isn't bad either. When the time comes, the two of you just need to cooperate well."
He possessed four spiritual skills, but Wang Dong only knew about his Spirit Detection Sharing. Regarding combat ability, although Huo Yuhao had achieved some success in cultivating the Tang Sect's ultimate techniques, fighting solely with these techniques and his powerful Martial Soul was not enough. Just as Wang Dong said, during the assessment, his most significant contribution would be his Spirit Detection skill.
Although Wang Dong could verbally overpower Huo Yuhao, in reality, he was far from being able to sway Huo Yuhao's stubbornness. After returning to their dormitory, the two immediately began meditating and cultivating. However, Huo Yuhao did promise Wang Dong that he would grill fish for him that evening.
At rank seventeen Spirit Power, a stream of white qi could already gather within his body. Following the operational pathways of Mysterious Heaven Method, his entire body felt clear and his meridians warm, not only bringing comfort but also clear progress.
After three months of intense training, Huo Yuhao vaguely felt that, thanks to the two Xuan Shui Pills he had consumed and the meridian-nourishing effects of Xuan Tian Gong, his meridians had expanded significantly, becoming extremely flexible and resilient. Physically, he was now on par with his peers. However, his proper cultivation path had begun a little late, making it highly improbable for him to catch up to Wang Dong. They could only advance together.