Douluo Continent: The Peerless Hunting Heavenly Lord, Huo Yuhao!

The white-robed teacher's face instantly darkened, and his Soul Saint aura suddenly locked onto Ning Tian, ​​his tone icy and threatening: "Insolence! You are slandering Shrek Academy's honor. Trust me, I'll deal with you on the spot!"

"Deal with me?" Ning Tian showed no fear, holding Huo Yuhao tightly in his arms, and looked directly at the other party. "You are welcome to try! I am Ning Tian, ​​the young master of the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile School. If you dare to touch me, the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile School will definitely demand an explanation from Shrek Academy!"

The teacher in white's expression changed drastically, and he froze on the spot.

He could manipulate commoners and minor nobles at will, even killing them to silence them, but the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile School was a top sect on the continent. Ten thousand years ago, Ning Rongrong and Oscar were graduates of Shrek Academy. The relationship between the two was actually very delicate, but he dared not provoke them at all!

"What happened?"

A gentle male voice rang out, and Yan Shaozhe, with his white hair flying and refined demeanor, walked slowly over. He was the dean of the Martial Soul Department.

The teacher in white quickly stepped forward and embellished the story, concealing his arrogance and threat.

Yan Shaozhe waved his hand to interrupt him, his gaze falling on Ning Tian, ​​a look of understanding flashing in his eyes: "I recognize you, Ning Tian, ​​the young master of the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile School."

When his gaze swept over the unconscious Huo Yuhao, a flash of relief mixed with calculation suddenly appeared in his eyes.

It was that boy who shone with the utmost light!

No wonder he was able to temporarily suppress Xiao Tao's evil fire; this kid's value is far greater than I imagined.

With a heavy heart, he took out a drop of seven-colored, flowing water from his soul tool. The drop transformed into the shape of a phoenix, radiating a warm and gentle aura of light: "This is the Glazed Phoenix Tear, a rare treasure of the light attribute. It is enough to make up for today's mistake. Let's let this matter rest, shall we?"

Ning Tian initially wanted to refuse, but then he thought that the establishment of a club required the approval of the academy, which was the best bargaining chip. He immediately nodded: "I will accept the treasure, but I want the academy to promise us one thing."

"Speak freely." Yan Shaozhe breathed a sigh of relief. As long as things didn't escalate, exchanging a little treasure for the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile School's apology was a bargain.

"We need the college's immediate approval to establish a student club, and we must not be obstructed."

“Okay.” Yan Shaozhe agreed without hesitation. In his opinion, it was just a minor incident among freshmen and nothing to worry about.

……

In the medical room, a soft glow of soul energy surrounded him.

Huo Yuhao slowly opened his eyes, feeling as if his bones were falling apart, aching and weak.

Before my eyes were two faces so close together: Ning Tian's golden hair was slightly disheveled as he rested by the bedside; Gu Yue's silver hair hung down as she stood guard on the other side.

The softest part of his heart was gently touched, and Huo Yuhao's eyes softened instantly.

"Um... Yuhao, you're awake!" Ning Tian was startled awake by the noise, and immediately looked up, revealing a bright smile, the worry in his eyes completely gone.

"What happened after I fell into a coma?" Huo Yuhao asked softly, his memory only remaining at the moment when Gu Yue froze Ma Xiaotao.

Ning Tian recounted everything without embellishment, from the white-robed teacher's arrogance and the confrontation involving the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile School, to Yan Shaozhe's compensation and the use of the club as a condition.

The more Huo Yuhao listened, the more his brows furrowed, until finally he could only let out a soft sigh.

A chilling disappointment flashed in his gentle eyes.

Shrek Academy is no longer the academy that only accepted monsters ten thousand years ago.

The inner circle is arrogant, teachers are unethical, and human life is treated like dirt. Double standards and privileges run rampant, and the corruption has long since reached its core.

"It seems that establishing a club is not just for the reputation of the freshman competition, but also to protect our own little corner in this chaotic Shrek Academy."

Huo Yuhao murmured softly, his resolve growing ever stronger.

Chapter 18, the final battle is approaching, vs. Zhou Sichen's team.

The soft light in the medical room was enveloped in a gentle, healing spiritual energy, and the air was filled with a slightly bitter medicinal fragrance.

Huo Yuhao leaned against the headboard, the golden cloud pattern on his forehead slightly receding.

"Don't push yourself too hard. Teacher Mu Jin said that the battle ahead is going to be tough. Your martial soul consumes mental energy, which is different from ordinary soul energy. If you don't take care of it properly, it will leave hidden dangers." Ning Tian said, her tone filled with unquestionable certainty. The Nine Treasure Glazed Tile School's vision made her understand better than anyone how precious the foundation of a mental soul master is.

Huo Yuhao chuckled softly, his gentle eyes concealing a sharp glint: "Don't worry, I know what I'm doing."

Compared to the fierce battles in the round of 16, the quarterfinals were rather dull.

Because of his unhealed injuries, Huo Yuhao was forced by Gu Yue and Ning Tian to stay in the medical room to rest and prepare for the subsequent elimination rounds.

Their opponent was merely a mediocre three-man team.

There is one each of the food-type, power-attack-type, and control-type, all of whom are two-ring Great Soul Masters, with no rare martial souls and no ability to fight beyond their level.

Before the competition, the three freshmen were so excited when they saw that Huo Yuhao was absent that their excitement was almost overflowing.

In their view, winning the game would be much easier without Huo Yuhao, and they have even begun to plan for the glory after reaching the semi-finals.

But when the bell rang to start the battle, the ecstasy on their faces instantly turned into a deep-seated bitterness.

Because what they were facing was Gu Yue.

Like the twin kings in "Dragon Raja", one wields power and the other wields authority.

Gu Yue is the incarnation of the Silver Dragon King, who holds the power over the elements in the Douluo Continent. He possesses the Dragon God's 'world-shaking' wisdom and has ultimate control over all elements.

Not the ultimate, but better than the ultimate!

Before the referee finished speaking, a pale blue elemental tide rippled around Gu Yue, and her first soul skill was activated instantly, causing her elemental affinity to surge by four levels.

Before the food-type Soul Master could crush the food and use its Soul Skill to amplify his teammates, Gu Yue's eyes flashed with a cold light: "Second Soul Skill, Elemental Mastery - Ice."

Water elements condensed wildly between heaven and earth, and an ice cone as thick as an arm instantly took shape, moving as fast as a shooting star, and accurately struck the food-type Soul Master between the eyebrows.

Before he could react, thick ice grew wildly from the soles of his feet, instantly freezing him into a crystal-clear ice sculpture, even completely freezing the flow of his soul power.

In less than half a breath, just as the offensive and control-type Soul Masters were about to charge, Gu Yue's figure transformed into a silver-white afterimage. The speed of a three-ring Soul Master overwhelmed that of a two-ring Great Soul Master, and he appeared in front of the two as if by teleportation.

"Second Soul Skill, Elemental Mastery - Ice Lock."

Two ice chains coiled upwards, freezing the two into blocks of ice in the same way, and slamming them heavily onto the arena floor, sending ice shards flying everywhere.

The whole thing took no more than three seconds.

Without exchanging soul skills or engaging in tactical maneuvers, Gu Yue swept aside his opponent single-handedly with absolute dominance.

The arena fell silent for three breaths, then erupted in a deafening roar.

This was Huo Yuhao's team's most dominant match since entering the knockout stage, and it also became a legendary moment for Gu Yue's solo achievement.

"The Goddess of the Elements!"

It's unclear who first uttered the title, but it instantly resounded throughout the arena and firmly stuck to Gu Yue.

The aloof and proud girl thus became an insurmountable pinnacle of elements in the hearts of the new students of Shrek Academy.

……

In the rest area of ​​the competition venue, Mu Jin looked at the battle report with satisfaction in her eyes: "This year's freshmen are the strongest class I have ever taught, far surpassing the past. If you can win the freshman assessment championship, your potential will be enough to attract the attention of the inner academy in advance."

Huo Yuhao nodded silently; he was determined to win the championship.

Not for glory, but to protect their own and their teammates' space and earn a voice in this decaying Shrek Academy.

The final day of the new student assessment arrived as scheduled.

The Shrek Academy Arena was packed to capacity. Unlike yesterday, today's spectators were all senior faculty members of the academy. Although the students had classes, the atmosphere in the arena was ten times more intense than usual.

Xuanzi did not appear. This chicken leg elder, who was always easygoing, was obviously not interested in watching the formalities of the freshmen finals.

As the twelve freshmen who made it to the final four stood in the center of the arena, a refined and gentle figure slowly walked onto the stage, instantly causing all the teachers to bow in respect.

Clad in white, with a gentle and warm demeanor like a spring breeze, he appeared to be an ordinary old man, yet he possessed the imposing aura of a titled Douluo.

It was Yan Shaozhe, the 261st dean of Shrek Academy and the head of the Martial Soul Department.

"Hello, young people. I am Yan Shaozhe." He smiled and spoke in a gentle voice, yet with an undeniable air of authority. "For ordinary freshmen assessment finals, a vice dean would suffice. But you are the most talented class Shrek Academy has produced in nearly a century. I have come personally to draw lots for you and to watch all the matches."

His gaze swept over everyone before finally settling on Huo Yuhao, his intense gaze almost scorching.

That was greed—a desire to acquire exceptional talent and incorporate it into one's martial soul system.

Huo Yuhao remained calm and unconcerned.

He had already made up his mind to enter the Soul Guidance System and never set foot in the Martial Soul System.

Gu Yue and Ning Tian already knew about this, and they directly stated: Wherever Yu Hao goes, we will go.

Huo Yuhao did not refuse.

Ning Tian is a top-tier support character, and her Soul Guidance System Soul Guidance Device is a perfect match for her Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda; Gu Yue doesn't need to deliberately improve her Soul Power, and learning about Soul Guidance Devices is just a novelty for her.

Du Weilun, the dean of students, hurriedly stepped forward with the lottery box, trying to curry favor with the dean, but Yan Shaozhe smiled and waved his hand, refusing: "No need, I'll do it myself."

"Class 9 of freshmen, Huo Yuhao's team, come forward to draw lots."

Huo Yuhao stepped forward without any stage fright, walked confidently onto the stage, and reached into the lottery box.

"Little guy, I have high hopes for you. I wish you great success." Yan Shaozhe's tone was gentle, full of conciliatory intent. (Don't assume that because Yan Shaozhe is opposed to Huo Yuhao, he will target or exclude him.)

Yan Shaozhe will definitely make things difficult for Huo Yuhao, but he will also try to win him over, because Ma Xiaotao can't wait. In the original novel, Yan Shaozhe used the "Extreme Ice" technique to win over Huo Yuhao with a spirit of craftsmanship.

Huo Yuhao bowed slightly, displaying impeccable manners: "Thank you for your kind words, Dean. My teammates and I will certainly live up to your expectations."

In his heart, however, he was already sneering: "Don't give me that crap. Do you really think I can't see through the little schemes behind the scenes at the Sea God Pavilion meeting? You can fool others, but you can't fool me."

The winning slip was handed to Du Weilun, and the referee announced the vote loudly: "Class 9 of Freshmen, Huo Yuhao's team, draw number two!"

Number two means that the semi-finals will be held in the second venue, so there is no need to face the strongest opponent in advance.

"Class 5 of the freshmen, Dai Huabin's team, draw lots."

In previous competitions, Dai Huabin would never draw lots himself, but today, with Yan Shaozhe present, he was eager to make his presence known to the Dean of the Martial Soul Department, so he personally stepped onto the stage.