"Boom——!"
The massive word 'Kill' collided with the Golden Road. A terrifying shockwave of soul power exploded, spreading across the field in a violent ripple. The force was enough to rival a true ten-thousand-year soul skill.
On the viewing platform, Teaching Director Du Weilun was already on his feet, soul power surging and ready to intervene. Any accident now would be a massive loss—not just to the academy, but to its relationship with major factions. Especially when one of the students involved carried the bloodline of the Clear Sky Clan.
As for the martial soul fusion skill? Du Weilun didn't pay it much attention. In his mind, Huo Yuhao and the others probably just got lucky to trigger it again so soon.
Most teachers thought the same.
Only Wang Yan took it seriously.
"Huo Yuhao's martial soul is definitely... unusual," he muttered. "What a shame Xuan Lao already handed him to the Soul Guidance Department. And he's a disciple of the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect too…"
He sighed, already thinking about how to stay close enough to study Huo Yuhao without stepping on any toes.
Back on the field—
One side of the fight was about to break.
The hilt of the Seven Killing Sword slipped from Chen Junting's hand. But then, his third soul ring lit up. The sword enlarged and floated beneath him, lifting him into the air like a flying blade.
At that same moment, the blue-gold light from Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong's Golden Road destroyed the glowing Kill character and surged straight toward Chen Junting.
But he was already airborne.
The beam missed and scorched the ground below instead, leaving behind a golden trench ten meters long and half a meter deep. It shimmered faintly in the afternoon light.
Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong—soul power almost completely drained—could only watch in silence.
They had planned everything. Laid every card on the table. Even bent the rules slightly with Tianmeng's help.
And still… not a scratch.
Seeing Chen Junting speeding through the air on his blade, closing in on Dugu Xin with sword drawn, Huo Yuhao raised his hand and called out—
"We concede!"
Wang Dong turned sharply, startled. But Huo Yuhao's voice was calm, steady. "We lost."
He wasn't bitter. He knew the gap. Even with the fusion skill—borrowed strength, no less—they couldn't shake Chen Junting. In fact, using Tianmeng's help had only made it clear how far behind they still were.
The referee stepped in quickly and announced the results: Chen Junting's team had won the championship.
Chen Junting halted midair, gaze still fixed on Huo Yuhao.
He hadn't expected Huo Yuhao to surrender.
That wasn't like him.
Was it because of Tianmeng?
Yeah, that had to be it.
Huo Yuhao, meanwhile, stood in place, frowning slightly—not at the result, but at himself. Even with all his preparation, nothing had landed. Had he disappointed Brother Junting? Sister Xiao Ya?
Then—
"Well done."
Four simple words.
Chen Junting clapped a hand on his shoulder, breaking his train of thought.
Just like that, the frustration in Huo Yuhao's chest dissolved.
Beside him, Wang Dong, still panting, muttered under his breath.
"What do you mean 'well done'? We hit you with everything and didn't even land a hit. I feel worse than Wu Feng when she lost—at least her opponent looked like they tried."
Chen Junting laughed.
"You think it was easy for me? I'm down to one-sixth of my soul power. I just didn't show it."
He wasn't lying. His Kill technique burned soul power like wildfire.
Wang Dong grunted. That made him feel better.
Moments later, Teacher Mu Jin came rushing down from the viewing platform.
Her expression said it all—she was over the moon. And why wouldn't she be?
Class Nine had taken the entire top three spots.
"You kids—really made history today!"
She didn't even bother hiding her pride. She summoned her martial soul—a long green vine—and wrapped all nine of them together into a big group hug.
"C'mon, my little monsters. Tonight, teacher's treating everyone! Don't you dare skip it!"
As the students of Class Nine left the field, the whole outer courtyard was already buzzing. Word of their victory had spread fast, and Class Nine was suddenly the center of attention. Even students upset about being split into classes had forgotten their complaints.
---
That night, under the soft glow of Shrek City's lights, Mu Jin led her students into one of the city's top-tier restaurants.
Inside the private room, dishes of all kinds filled the tables. The warm lighting and elegant decor gave the celebration a cozy, noble air.
"This place... isn't it one of ours?" Chen Junting asked, sipping his juice.
Ning Tian leaned against him with a playful smile.
"Mm-hmm. Half the continent's best hotels are under the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect. But don't tell anyone, it's low-key."
She popped a golden piece of pheasant into her mouth. "I'll swing by the counter later and pay on Teacher Mu Jin's behalf. She's been good to us."
"Yeah, sure," Chen Junting said casually. But the next second, he frowned and shoved his palm lightly onto Wu Feng's head.
"Who let her drink?"
Wu Feng, clearly tipsy, grinned with stained clothes and flushed cheeks.
"You just changed that outfit, and now look at you," Junting muttered, shaking his head.
Wang Dong, slurping juice nearby, glanced around sheepishly.
He turned to Huo Yuhao and hissed,
"Don't. You. Say. Anything."
But before he could change the topic—
"Hey, Yuhao—how did you skip the cooldown on our fusion skill?"
Huo Yuhao opened his mouth, hesitating...
And that's when Mu Jin set her chopsticks down.
"Glad you're enjoying yourselves," she said with a smile. "I actually have another surprise for you all."
Nine heads turned toward her.
"Starting tomorrow, you're all either core disciples or core disciple candidates of the Martial Soul Department."
Wang Dong blinked.
"Wait—core disciples?"
He remembered hearing Chen Junting and Ning Tian mention it, but he hadn't paid attention at the time.
Now, he was all ears.
But Mu Jin hadn't finished.
Her eyes lingered on Huo Yuhao.
That look sent a chill down his spine.
Even Chen Junting set down his cup.
"Teacher... Yuhao didn't make it?" Ning Tian asked, tone sharpening.
Wang Dong almost flipped the table—but Dugu Xin grabbed his wrist.
"Wait," he said quietly. "She's not finished."
Mu Jin's eyes twinkled.
"That's right. Huo Yuhao wasn't selected as a core disciple by the Martial Soul Department—because the Soul Guidance Department requested him. He's been accepted as a core disciple there. Due to certain circumstances, he'll still attend some classes here, so nothing's really changing."
The room exhaled.
Especially Wang Dong—who froze, dumbfounded—before realizing he'd almost thrown a tantrum for no reason.
His face turned red.
"Okay! Enough laughing!"
Everyone laughed harder.
---
When the banquet was over, Mu Jin went to pay—but the staff told her the bill had already been covered.
She didn't even have to ask who did it.
"Those two again," she sighed with a smile. "Guess I'll have to go find them now. Good timing—I've got something to give them."
----
(End of Chapter)
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Alright gimme your stones man~~