Unlike the usual academy exchanges, Huo Yuhao was special, as he was the only one to return to Shrek Academy.
Others, such as He Caitou and Ye Xiaosheng, needed to stay for another six months.
For a year, Huo Yuhao never left the Sun Moon Royal Soul Master Academy, remaining obediently inside, researching soul tools and cultivating as usual, undisturbed by the outside world.
During this time, he also received a letter from Sister Xiaotao.
The elemental storm from the Douling Empire mysteriously disappeared after their arrival, so the final mission was ultimately pointless.
Above, the dusky yellow and deep blue merged, the stars gradually brightened, and the world began to enter night.
Stepping out of Mingde Hall, Huo Yuhao looked up at the sky and stood there motionless.
"Yuhao." After a while, a voice sounded from behind Huo Yuhao. He turned around and saw Xuan Ziwen walking towards him with a smile.
"Teacher Xuan," he greeted politely.
Xuan Ziwen smiled and said, "You're going back to Shrek Academy tomorrow. Ju Zi and Ke Ke prepared a delicious meal. Come with me to the lab."
"They're so thoughtful," Huo Yuhao said, somewhat surprised.
"Let's talk as we walk," Xuan Ziwen gestured, and started walking towards the teaching building. Huo Yuhao quickly followed. Xuan Ziwen continued, "After all, you've made a lot of delicious food for them over this long period. You should give them something in return."
"And you, Teacher Xuan, I remember you ate quite a bit too," Huo Yuhao teased.
Xuan Ziwen paused, his lips twitching. "Alright, alright, I'll just give you a gift, so you won't be thinking about these things all the time when you return to Shrek Academy."
Huo Yuhao's eyes lit up. "What gift?"
"There are too many people around. I'll tell you when we get back." Xuan Ziwen glanced around.
It was dismissal time, and many students were walking around the academy. Occasionally, a monitoring soul tool would be glowing red next to a streetlamp.
Huo Yuhao remained silent, and the two began chatting about everyday matters until they reached the teaching building and entered the corridor.
The laboratory door was open, the lights were bright, and Huo Yuhao even smelled the aroma of barbecue.
When he and Xuan Ziwen entered, they were immediately taken aback.
It was indeed barbecue; Ju Zi and Ke Ke were busy at work, but surprisingly, Jing Ziyan and Ye Guyi were also there, and Ji Juechen, the swordsman, was in charge of slicing the meat—and it had to be said, the slices were incredibly smooth.
"You're here." Ju Zi, preparing the seasonings, noticed Huo Yuhao and Xuan Ziwen and greeted them with a smile. "Sit down, sit down, we'll start eating soon."
The aroma filled the air, whetting Huo Yuhao's appetite. He walked straight over, first exchanging a few words with Ju Zi and Ke Ke, then asked with some surprise, "Sister Zi Yan, Gu Yi, Brother Ji, what brings you three here?"
No need to misunderstand, while Jing Zi Yan wasn't familiar with Ju Zi and Ke Ke, she was acquainted with Xuan Ziwen, being his junior.
Jing Zi Yan put her hands on her hips. "What? You're going back tomorrow, can't I come and see you off? Besides, it's not just you leaving, it includes Gu Yi too."
Hearing this, Huo Yuhao's gaze shifted to Ye Gu Yi, her cool, beautiful eyes smiling. "I've already applied for withdrawal from school with the headmaster, how about it? Do you need me to ride with you?"
"You've decided?" Huo Yuhao asked.
"Yes." Ye Gu Yi nodded.
"Then I'd definitely welcome her." Huo Yuhao said thoughtfully, looking at Ye Guyi, while also having an idea in mind.
He recruited Ye Guyi mainly because of the divine power within her, and now that she had a place to go, it might be helpful.
"Now that Guyi's gone, I'll be bored." Jing Ziyan sighed.
Ye Guyi joked, "Isn't it the same with Brother Ji around even without me?"
Mentioning this, Ji Juechen, who was cutting meat, paused subtly, a slight smile slowly curving his lips.
Jing Ziyan's cheeks flushed slightly, but she didn't say anything.
She didn't know what had happened; Ji Juechen, who used to be like a block of wood, suddenly seemed to have come to his senses, finally treating her like a woman, and occasionally even giving her flowers.
Although those flowers were just picked casually from the academy's flowerbed...
"Yuhao, come here." Huo Yuhao was about to help Ju Zi prepare the dipping sauce when he heard Xuan Ziwen call him.
"Go ahead, we'll do it." Ju Zi said softly.
Nodding, Huo Yuhao walked over to Xuan Ziwen. Before he could speak, Xuan Ziwen pulled out a gift box from his pocket and transmitted his voice using his soul power, saying, "This is a level seven sealed milk bottle. Consider it a gift from me."
"You know, I don't have anything else on me besides soul tools."
"Teacher Xuan, you've successfully developed it?" Huo Yuhao took the gift box and transmitted his voice with interest.
"Hmm," Xuan Ziwen said in a relaxed tone, "Now I can finally get some rest. This thing has taken a lot of my energy."
"Rest?" Huo Yuhao joked, "This is the first time I've heard you use that word."
Xuan Ziwen sighed, "The struggle between the Second Prince and the Crown Prince is intensifying, even affecting the Mingde Hall. Almost all the level eight researchers and level nine soul master elders have chosen sides. But I don't like my research being disturbed. So, I might as well rest a bit longer."
Huo Yuhao's eyes became complicated. In just one year, the brothers Xu Tianran and Xu Tianming had fought far too fiercely, both in the court and elsewhere.
Unlike the comfortable life of Xu Tianran in the original story, he faced considerable pressure in this life.
Occasionally, Huo Yuhao heard rumors—that some minor noble families had their entire clan wiped out overnight, and that the descendants of powerful nobles who went out for training had been brutally murdered. In any case, these incidents happened quite often.
Of course, there were also some evil soul masters claiming to be from the Body Sect, causing chaos everywhere and incurring the extreme hatred of the people of Mingdu for the Body Sect. Naturally, the nobles would not let this go either, and they were extremely ruthless.
But the Body Sect, far away in the Heavenly Soul Empire, could not resolve this mess and could only accept it with tears in their eyes.
Of course, the lives of ordinary people in Mingdu remained unchanged, but the noble class was almost bloodthirsty.
Because of the deaths of many nobles and the departure of evil soul masters, the underground forces actually expanded.
With only a few months left before the new All-Continent Advanced Soul Master Academy Battle Tournament, the conflict between the two sides was barely contained thanks to the emperor's mediation.
"Teacher Xuan, I still maintain that if you are willing to come to Shrek Academy, the Soul Guidance Department can be changed according to your ideas." Huo Yuhao's tone was firm and sincere.
In the past, Xuan Ziwen would have refused outright, but this time, he remained silent.
Huo Yuhao, being sensible, didn't say anything more, because the sizzling sound of grilling meat had already begun.
"Yuhao, Teacher Xuan, dinner's ready!" Ju Zi called out excitedly.
"Let's eat." Xuan Ziwen stood up, his thoughts already wandering.
The food was naturally excellent; in fact, Ju Zi was better at cooking than Huo Yuhao. Everyone enjoyed the grilled meat.
By the time everyone except Xuan Ziwen left the laboratory, it was already pitch black, and countless stars floated in the universe, emitting a faint glow, which was particularly beautiful.
"This farewell might be the last time we see each other." Walking on the academy's path, Ju Zi said with a touch of melancholy.
"I remember Yuhao is a member of the Shrek Academy's Soul Fighting Team, which means he'll be back in Mingdu in a few months. We can get together again." Ke Ke interjected.
"Yeah." Suddenly, Ju Zi's eyes lit up, but then she seemed to remember something, and her expression became inscrutable.
"I think you two aren't reluctant to part with me, but rather with the grilled fish I make," Huo Yuhao glanced at the two.
Ju Zi and Ke Ke chuckled, "You always speak the truth.
" "With you two gone, I'm starting to want to go to Shrek Academy," Ju Zi and Ke Ke had barely finished speaking when Jing Ziyan began to complain.
"It's better not to come. Otherwise, Brother Ji will come too, challenging me to spar every day, I can't handle it," Huo Yuhao objected.
In this year, Ji Juechen had probably challenged him to spar more than twenty times.
Suddenly, as soon as the word "spar" was uttered, Jing Ziyan and Ji Juechen realized something and stopped in their tracks.
Then they looked at each other.
That's right.
If Huo Yuhao left, wouldn't they be unable to spar with him anytime, anywhere?
Almost instantly, the two tacitly understanding individuals reached a consensus, their eyes fixed firmly on Huo Yuhao.
Huo Yuhao's expression changed, and he tentatively asked, "You...you don't really want to come, do you?"
"No, no, how could we?" Jing Ziyan shook her head.
"Oh, then it's alright." Huo Yuhao feigned relief.
Jing Ziyan and Ji Juechen smiled slightly.
"Guyi, wait for me at the sixth-grade dormitory building at eight o'clock tomorrow morning." Huo Yuhao turned to Ye Guyi, who had been silent all along, and said.
"Okay." Ye Guyi replied simply.
"It's getting late, let's stop here. If there's a chance, see you in the future."
Stopping down at the dormitory building, Huo Yuhao faced the crowd and smiled as he spoke.
"Have a safe trip." Jing Ziyan and Keke didn't say much.
Ji Juechen simply nodded in acknowledgment.
"Here, take this." Ju Zi suddenly stepped forward and handed Huo Yuhao a delicate little pen holder. "You can look at it when you get back."
Huo Yuhao looked at her, but saw the seriousness in Ju Zi's eyes.
Almost instantly, he understood, nodding and saying, "I understand."
Waving, Huo Yuhao turned and went back to his dormitory. "
I hope you return safely..." Ju Zi watched Huo Yuhao's retreating figure until it disappeared.
Back in his dormitory, Huo Yuhao didn't have time to look at it, because He Caitou and the others had already surrounded him, even bringing some drinks.
It was another farewell party. Only after everyone was drunk and had returned to their dorms, collapsing into bed and falling into a deep sleep, did Huo Yuhao take out the pen holder. He
pinched the top of the pen holder with his fingers and turned it slightly, opening the lid. Huo Yuhao looked inside and saw a rolled-up piece of paper. He took it out and immediately unfolded it.
With the help of the bright soul guide lamp, he easily saw the contents. His deep blue eyes immediately flashed with cold killing intent.
"Heh, you really want to kill me, don't you?"
The paper clearly stated:
[Be careful, after entering the territory of the Heavenly Soul Empire, evil soul masters will cause you trouble.] Huo
Yuhao hadn't expected that, just like in the original story, someone was planning to cause trouble on his return journey.
However, receiving this warning note also surprised him, because Ju Zi hadn't revealed her position in the Eastern Palace. If the Huo Yuhao from the original story were here, he would likely be bewildered as to why Ju Zi knew all this.
But that didn't make sense either; in the original story, Ju Zi dropped out of school and joined the army long ago. Two years had passed in this life, and she was still at the Sun Moon Royal Soul Master Academy, most likely because Xu Tianming's appearance had disrupted the original plans.
As Huo Yuhao pondered this, he subconsciously flipped the paper over and discovered another passage.
He brought the paper closer, his eyes immediately freezing.
[Huo Yuhao, I believe you'll be surprised to see my message. Why do I know about the evil soul masters' actions against you? If you have any ideas in the future, you can come to me for cooperation. I serve the Crown Prince of the Eastern Palace; this identity should be enough to attract the attention of the Shrek Academy's higher-ups.]
Interesting… Huo Yuhao murmured to himself. He was indeed somewhat puzzled; logically, Ju Zi had no reason to say these things.
However, considering Xu Tianran's methods and ruthlessness, perhaps the reason can be guessed.
Ju Zi is wary of Xu Tianran.
Serving a ruler is like serving a tiger; who knows if Xu Tianran might betray her for personal gain one day? That's why she's already planning to find a partner to protect her life in the future.
In the original story, Xu Tianran, because he had no children, planned to have a marginalized cousin impregnate Ju Zi.
Although it didn't go so far as to have that cousin physically assault Ju Zi, it was this incident that made Ju Zi understand Xu Tianran's character, ultimately leading her to switch sides.
Huo Yuhao, on the other hand, is a member of Shrek Academy, with a powerful background, no imperial status to back him up, and the added advantage of being a senior and junior student—making him the perfect partner.
Indeed, although the original character Ju Zi seemed to be under Tang Buddha's spell, acting like a madwoman in matters of the heart, she definitely possessed ability.
"I was planning to proactively seek you out for cooperation when I came to Mingdu for the competition, but I didn't expect you to anticipate my prediction and propose cooperation before me." Huo Yuhao shook his head with a wry smile. He put away the note, silently washed up, and went to sleep, preparing to return refreshed and energetic the next day.
Early the next morning.
When Huo Yuhao went downstairs, he happened to see Ye Guyi standing quietly, waiting patiently.
Students passing by along the way were all stealing glances at her.
The amazement in their eyes was undisguised.
"Yuhao." At this moment, Qian Duoduo, who was leading the team back to the academy, also came over and approached Huo Yuhao. He transmitted his voice with a strange expression, "Why did you bring someone back with you? Aren't you afraid that Xiao Tao will beat you up?"
Bringing someone back... This made Huo Yuhao's lips twitch. He said, "The Sacred Angel Martial Soul, just tell me if you want it or not."
Qian Duoduo's words caught in his throat, but he said firmly, "Yes."
"That's right." Huo Yuhao replied with a smile.
"Thank you for your trouble today, Dean Qian." Ye Guyi took the initiative to step forward and bow to Qian Duoduo, her tone quite respectful.
Qian Duoduo scratched his head and smiled, "What's the trouble? Once you get to the academy, you'll probably be immediately designated as a core student. The Sacred Angel Martial Soul, even Shrek Academy hasn't encountered one in many years."
Ye Guyi chuckled, without replying, and stood quietly in place.
If it weren't for Huo Yuhao, she would never have considered joining Shrek.
"What do we do now?" Huo Yuhao asked.
Because he left early, there was no farewell ceremony, unlike in the original story where Xu Tianran personally came to see Shrek Academy off.
"Master Hongchen is waiting for us at the academy gate. He will accompany us to Maple Leaf City. After our academy's experts accept you, I will return to Mingdu with him. We will officially return to the academy in six months," Qian Duoduo said, then led the two towards the academy gate.
Sure enough, when the three arrived, Jing Hongchen had been waiting for a long time, alone.
"Dean Qian," Jing Hongchen said calmly.
"Master Hongchen," Qian Duoduo greeted politely.
Jing Hongchen's gaze shifted to Huo Yuhao and Ye Guyi, especially Ye Guyi. His lips twitched a few times. He had learned yesterday that she wanted to drop out of school. Although he was disappointed, he didn't think Ye Guyi was interested in this, so he didn't say anything. But he didn't expect that this girl was dropping out to join Shrek Academy.
This really annoyed him.
The Holy Angel Martial Soul! That's a top-tier Martial Soul. Didn't the original Douluo Continent produce an Angel God?
Noticing Jing Hongchen's gaze, Huo Yuhao quietly stepped forward, shielding Ye Guyi's body, and said with a smile, "Thank you for your guidance over the past two years."
Seeing that it was now Huo Yuhao, Jing Hongchen quickly withdrew his gaze and said calmly, "This is what you should do during your exchange program. You don't need to thank me. Speaking of which, I hope you've learned something good here."
Jing Hongchen's eyes swept over Huo Yuhao. He knew very well that Huo Yuhao hadn't seriously studied soul tools at all; he was probably the same as when he came.
At most, he'd only understood a few civilian soul tools.
Qian Duoduo's expression turned strange.
Yuhao hadn't really learned much, but…
"Let's go." Jing Hongchen didn't give Qian Duoduo a chance to continue recalling and immediately spoke.
"Then let's go." Qian Duoduo nodded.
Soon, the four of them strode towards the courtyard gate. Just then, several figures arrived at the gate and met Huo Yuhao and Ye Guyi.
It was Ji Juechen and Jing Ziyan, along with Ju Zi and Ke Ke.
However, no one spoke, except for Huo Yuhao, who gave Ju Zi a deep look, and she looked back at him with a smile.
====================
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