Shrek Academy was not unfamiliar to Huo Yuhao.
Out of curiosity and longing for this academy that had a legacy of ten thousand years and was known as the continent's number one academy, he had previously begged Leng Yaozhu to bring him for a few visits.
However, previously they had only wandered around the outer court, but this time Leng Yaozhu took Huo Yuhao directly to the inner court's Sea God Island!
This place stood in stark contrast to the technological feel of the outer court; Sea God Island was permeated with an aura of ancient simplicity and solemnity that had settled over ten thousand years of time.
Amidst the shade of towering ancient trees, the pavilions and buildings were mostly in the architectural style of ten thousand years ago, with upturned eaves, bracket sets, blue bricks, and gray tiles, steeped in the vicissitudes and weight of history.
Although Leng Yaozhu was not part of the Shrek Academy system, her prominent status as the vice tower master of the Spirit Pagoda meant her visit was naturally unimpeded.
Finally, the two stopped outside a seemingly ordinary and quiet small courtyard in the center of Sea God Island.
At the very moment they stood still... "Creak!"
That tightly closed courtyard gate actually opened inward on its own, silently.
From inside the gate, a figure slowly walked out.
It was a young man who looked to be about twenty-seven or twenty-eight years old, dressed in a simple style of plain white long robes.
He had a handsome face and a gentle temperament, with a faint, gentle smile playing on the corners of his lips.
However, when his gaze fell upon Leng Yaozhu, a nearly imperceptible flicker of avoidance passed through the depths of his eyes.
"Yaozhu? Why... did you suddenly come over?"
Leng Yaozhu's expression remained calm, like the surface of a lake in late autumn, without a ripple.
Meeting his gaze, she said in a flat tone, "I heard Ya Li mention that you've recently taken in a proud disciple with extraordinary talent. Coincidentally, I also have a disciple with decent talent. So, I specifically brought him here today to give the two children... a chance to get to know each other."
Before coming, Huo Yuhao already knew who the subject of today's visit was.
He took half a step forward and bowed respectfully yet with poise.
"Greetings, Your Excellency Atlas."
That's right, the person standing before Huo Yuhao at this moment was the pavilion master of Shrek Academy's Sea God Pavilion, the Atlas Douluo Yun Ming, known as the strongest person on the continent!
Only then did Yun Ming's gaze truly fall upon Huo Yuhao, carrying a hint of scrutiny and a touch of curiosity.
With his insight, he could naturally see that this youth before him had a solid foundation and condensed spirit power, and even possessed a steady temperament far beyond his age; he was indeed extraordinary.
His gaze once again quickly swept across Leng Yaozhu's calm and expressionless face, a flicker of helplessness flashing in the depths of his eyes.
Immediately, that gentle smile that felt like a spring breeze spread across his face again. He stepped aside to clear the path and made a "please" gesture.
"Please, come in!"
Huo Yuhao followed Leng Yaozhu into the small courtyard. The area was not large, but it was maintained very warmly.
In the flower beds, many exotic plants and herbs whose names he didn't know were planted. Although it was late autumn, they were still full of life, emitting a refined and elegant fragrance.
A bluestone path meandered, and in a corner, a simple wooden swing hung quietly, with a few strands of emerald green vines even binding around the ropes.
Just as they reached the middle of the courtyard, the door of the simple and unadorned small house ahead opened slightly, and a beautiful figure walked out gracefully.
The person was wearing a green long dress that was well-tailored and body integration, the hem swaying gently like the freshest leaves of spring.
A head of smooth, dark green long hair draped over her shoulders, the ends slightly curled.
Her appearance was absolutely stunning, with skin as white as snow and features like a painting, especially a pair of emerald green eyes that were gentle and clear, as if containing infinite vitality.
She wore a natural and gentle smile on her face. Just by standing there, it felt as if a spring breeze was blowing past, making one involuntarily feel a sense of closeness.
Huo Yuhao knew that this was Yun Ming's wife, hailed as the "most beautiful woman on the continent," and also the continent's number one healing-system spirit master, the Saint Spirit Douluo Ya Li!
Ya Li's steps were light as she walked straight to Yun Ming's side, subtly and gently taking his arm.
Then, she looked at Leng Yaozhu with a soft gaze: "Yaozhu is here. Quickly, don't just stand in the courtyard; come inside and talk."
Her tone was familiar, as if receiving a close friend who visited frequently.
Leng Yaozhu's gaze quickly swept over Ya Li's arm linked with Yun Ming's, but her expression didn't change at all as she just nodded slightly: "Mhm."
After entering the house, the four sat down. Huo Yuhao's gaze shifted back and forth between the three of them, always feeling that the atmosphere here was a bit off.
"Cough."
A light cough broke the silence.
Yun Ming's gentle gaze fell on Huo Yuhao, and he was the first to speak, breaking the silence in the room.
"I've long heard that you, Yaozhu, took in a genius disciple. Today, I've finally seen him."
Hearing this, Leng Yaozhu's slender willow-like eyebrows twitched almost imperceptibly.
She set down her teacup and laughed without reservation, "Pavilion Master Yun overpraises him, but Yuhao is indeed a genius."
She specifically placed emphasis on the word "genius."
Then, she added word by word, "He is the... strongest genius I, Leng Yaozhu, have ever seen in my life!"
Just a short while ago, she had run into Ya Li, who, whether intentionally or not, mentioned that Yun Ming had taken in a new disciple with extraordinary talent.
The pride in her words, like showing off one's own child, made Leng Yaozhu's heart tighten, even giving rise to a desire for comparison.
Of course, she didn't bring Huo Yuhao here today just to vent her frustration.
She was also preparing for the trouble that would follow once Huo Yuhao's identity was exposed!
Although Shrek Academy, which has a legacy of twenty thousand years, also has various problems, Yun Ming, the pavilion master of the Sea God Pavilion, is still trustworthy.
After all, Huo Yuhao is an ancestor of the Seven Monsters who originated from Shrek Academy. If he encounters trouble later, given Yun Ming's personality, he likely wouldn't stand by and do nothing.
However, Yun Ming and Ya Li, currently sitting opposite her, naturally had no way of knowing about these long-term plans in Leng Yaozhu's heart.
Hearing Leng Yaozhu's unmodest "strongest genius" claim, Ya Li did not show the slightest displeasure or doubt.
Her gentle gaze fell on Huo Yuhao, carrying a perfect amount of curiosity.
"Oh? Your personal disciple is named 'Yuhao'?"
She tapped her chin with a slender finger, a spark of light flashing in her emerald eyes. "This name is actually the same as the legendary founder of the Spirit Pagoda, the Spirit Ice Douluo!"
As Leng Yaozhu's personal disciple, Huo Yuhao had always acted with a low profile.
Furthermore, under Leng Yaozhu's orders, the name Huo Yuhao only circulated within a very small circle of the Spirit Pagoda Headquarters' high-level management; almost no one in the outside world knew the specific name of this vice tower master's disciple.
Leng Yaozhu's gaze slowly shifted away from Yun Ming's face and landed on Ya Li's flawless features.
The smile on her red lips deepened slightly, and her tone carried a casual frankness: "Not only is the name the same, but the surname is too. This disciple of mine is also called Huo Yuhao!"
As soon as these words were spoken, Yun Ming and Ya Li's gazes instantly focused on Huo Yuhao!
The Douluo Continent is vast and boundless with a population of billions; people with the same name and surname are indeed not rare.
However, with Leng Yaozhu being the vice tower master of the Spirit Pagoda, her personal disciple having the same name and surname as the Spirit Pagoda's founder, the Spirit Ice Douluo, one couldn't help but overthink it.
Yun Ming and Ya Li naturally wouldn't imagine that the Huo Yuhao before them was precisely that common ancestor of Shrek Academy, the Spirit Pagoda, and the Tang Sect from ten thousand years ago—the Spirit Ice Douluo.
However, the surprise in their eyes was fleeting, and they didn't dwell too much on the name.
Yun Ming then said, "It's good for these young people to interact more. Where has that girl Naer run off to again?"
Ya Li smiled. "Who knows where she's gone to play again. There are only those few places she usually goes to. I'll go call her back!"
Saying that, Ya Li stood up and walked outside.
Meanwhile, that name echoed in Huo Yuhao's mind, thinking that "Naer" should be a girl's name, right?
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