After spending a night at the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineering Academy, the exchange students from Shrek Academy began their studies in soul tool knowledge the following day.
To showcase the academy's sincerity in teaching, Jing Hongchen arranged for each exchange student to be paired with a personal instructor—each one a senior researcher from the Mingde Hall. This reflected the academy's generous and impressive standing.
Of course, Jing Hongchen had his own plans. These researchers, though highly knowledgeable, weren't professional teachers. They would explain, but whether the students could actually comprehend was entirely up to them.
At the moment, the exchange students from Shrek stood in a line. Across from them, the instructors were getting ready to draw lots to select their students.
Wang Dong nervously eyed the draw box. Her name hadn't been called yet. She and Ma Xiaotao stood out—they were the only ones without even a basic soul engineer qualification badge. Wang Dong kept a haughty air, but deep down, she worried she would be looked down on.
"He Caitou."
After drawing his lot, Xuan Ziwen glanced at the name and called out calmly. He Caitou, seeing the youthful man in front of him wearing an eight-tier soul engineer badge, stood up in surprise and responded.
"Here!"
A soul engineer of such a young age at level eight was a rare genius. He Caitou felt lucky to have drawn such a good teacher.
Xuan Ziwen also raised an eyebrow when he noticed He Caitou's dark skin—a trait common to the imperial lineage of the Sun Moon Empire. Then, seeing the five-tier badge on his chest and sensing his spirit power, he nodded in approval. A fifteen-year-old Soul Ancestor? Impressive talent indeed.
"Come with me."
Now only Wang Dong and Ma Xiaotao remained—two complete outsiders with no soul engineer qualifications at all. Wang Dong looked down, biting her lip. Was this on purpose? Leaving them to the end?
One ordinary instructor, a six-tier engineer who wasn't even a Mingde Hall researcher, called over the unconcerned-looking Ma Xiaotao. But Wang Dong didn't see the sudden mix of shock and shy embarrassment flash across Ma Xiaotao's face as she glanced at someone nearby.
"The last one, Wang Dong, right? Come with me."
Wang Dong heard a voice—faintly familiar. She looked up and saw the face of someone who had haunted her thoughts... It was Huo Yuhao.
Seeing his cold, indifferent expression, Wang Dong felt dazed. In this unfamiliar place, his presence felt unexpectedly comforting.
"Don't just stand there. I'm your instructor. Surprised because I'm young? Hurry up."
With that, Huo Yuhao turned away impatiently and started walking. Wang Dong quickly jogged to keep up.
Along the way, Wang Dong's mind was in turmoil. Why was he her instructor? Why did she feel so safe looking at him? Wasn't she supposed to hate him? He looked so cold and impatient now. Did he even recognize her? Had they really met before?
Huo Yuhao, hearing her catch up behind him, slowed his pace slightly. He kept a cold facade, but inside, he was uneasy—after all, the pink-haired star of doom sent by the Tang Buddha was walking right beside him.
Why had he insisted on becoming Wang Dong's teacher? He had requested this arrangement from Jing Hongchen directly, allowing them to be paired perfectly by "coincidence."
With his newly earned six-tier engineer certification, teaching a soul tool novice like Wang Dong was more than fitting. But it also meant he'd be stuck interacting with someone he didn't want to face.
Still, Huo Yuhao had thought it through. He couldn't just keep running away. He needed to act—take the offensive.
He was certain the Tang Buddha couldn't directly interfere with the mortal realm right now. With the God of Destruction watching him closely, and with both the God of Destruction and Goddess of Life's support, Yuhao was safe—for now.
But if Tang San used his pawns in the mortal realm, like Wang Dong or even the Haotian Sect's beasts, then his loved ones—those not protected by divine forces—could be in danger. People like the Hongchen family, who were never supposed to meet him in the original timeline.
That was why he had to act—to pull Wang Dong out of Tang San's control. At the very least, he needed her to hesitate if she were ever given orders against him.
The only way to achieve that was through close interaction.
In short, Huo Yuhao's plan was to PUA Wang Dong—break her allegiance to Tang San and make her his own pawn instead.
He suspected her coming here had something to do with Tang San. But maybe, just maybe, he could turn that to his advantage.
Seeing Wang Dong's conflicted expression upon seeing him gave Huo Yuhao a spark of hope.
They arrived at a seldom-used lab in the academy. Huo Yuhao scanned the access panel. With a beep, the door slid open.
"Get in."
Wang Dong glanced at his frosty face and nodded. Was he disgusted because she was from Shrek? Or because of her soul tool ignorance? Or because they'd fought before?
She felt a little down and followed him in.
The lab was spacious, filled with various soul tools and metal parts. The massive silver-gray experiment table spanned over thirty square meters—clean and tidy, creating a pleasant atmosphere.
"Sit."
Huo Yuhao pulled up a swivel chair, sat down in front of her, spun once to turn his back, and crossed his legs arrogantly.
"I know you've got questions. Go ahead."
Wang Dong stared at him. That condescending attitude lit her anger like a match. All the mixed feelings she'd been carrying vanished in a flash.
"Why are you my instructor?"
Of all the things she wanted to ask, this was what came out. She had no fire left in her voice when looking at this cold but oddly familiar boy who had once stood on the opposite side in battle.
Huo Yuhao swiveled slightly to the side, leaving her with a glimpse of his smirk.
"Yeah, we met in Star Luo City, right? What a coincidence. You're wondering why someone your age is your teacher? Heh. You don't even have a soul engineer badge. A random first or second-tier engineer off the street could teach you."
"You…"
Wang Dong wanted to snap at him but held it in, balling her fists and glaring at his back. She couldn't refute his words—they were true.
"You don't have classes to attend?"
"Heh. I'm a six-tier engineer. Even if I weren't, as the Mingde Hall's top student and the disciple of the Hall Master, I don't need to take regular courses."
Wang Dong clenched her teeth at his smug look. But she couldn't deny he was incredibly gifted.
"Wait… you're still a Soul Elder?"
Huo Yuhao didn't respond. His silence confirmed it. Wang Dong was stunned. A Soul Elder and a six-tier engineer? Impossible.
She shook her head. She didn't understand soul tools enough to gauge what this meant—but it definitely wasn't normal.
"You get one more question."
Huo Yuhao raised a finger behind him.
Wang Dong grew more frustrated. There were limits now? With her emotions boiling over, she blurted out what had haunted her:
"Why did you kill Dai Huabin and Zhu Lu during the tournament? It was just a competition! Why go that far?!"
Her voice trembled. She had finally said it.
Huo Yuhao slowly turned, meeting her gaze with icy eyes.
"Wang Dong. Maybe you've lived too comfortably to understand—but for people like me, there are some enemies who simply deserve to die."
Coddled? Wang Dong didn't want to admit it, but… it was true. Her powerful fathers in the Haotian Sect doted on her.
His words were cruel, but she fell silent. Slowly, she lowered her hand and sat down again.
Vengeance. She didn't fully understand it yet—but she should try to.
A headache suddenly gripped her. 'I should understand… but why don't I?' She curled into herself, her face twisted in pain.
Huo Yuhao frowned. Had he said something too harsh?
"You okay?"
"I'm fine."
She finally composed herself.
"From now on, I'm your instructor for the next three years. So don't just call me by name—call me Teacher. Got it?"
"...Mm."
Wang Dong nodded obediently, surprising him.
"Now that we're done chatting, I have a question. As one of Shrek's top martial soul students with no soul tool background, why come here as an exchange student? Be honest."
Wang Dong hesitated. How could she say, 'Because of you'? That'd be insane.
"...I want to learn about civilian soul tools. Maybe bring them back to help improve lives in the Douluo Federation."
That surprised Huo Yuhao. Not the full truth, perhaps, but not a lie either.
"Not a bad goal. You came to the right place. We've made great progress in that field. Anything else?"
Wang Dong fidgeted with her sleeve. She didn't want to say the real reason. But looking at him, she felt like she couldn't lie.
"...Teacher, can I tell you next time?"
Her voice dropped to a whisper. Huo Yuhao kept a straight face, but inside, he was smiling.
"There's time. Now let's start our first lesson."
He stood up and walked to the blackboard.
"So, since you have zero background and your goal is different from others, your lessons will be different."
This was perfect. Wang Dong's interest in civilian soul tools gave him a chance—an opening to spread Sun Moon Empire tech into the Douluo Federation. A way to build bridges, influence minds… just like Tang San once did.
Thus, instead of beginning with the standard core array lesson, Huo Yuhao began Wang Dong's first class with the principles behind electrical-type soul tools.
(End of Chapter)
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