As a result, half a year passed in the blink of an eye.
"Boom!"
The roar of cannon fire suddenly rang out. The shell fired from Huo Yuhao's hand flew hundreds of meters and hit the rapidly moving target.
Fan Yu nodded in satisfaction.
"Not bad, Yuhao. You succeeded."
Hearing this, Huo Yuhao put down the soul cannon in his hand and wiped the sweat from his forehead.
He had finally managed to create his first Rank 5 soul tool before the semester break, crossing the threshold of a Rank 5 Soul Engineer.
He Caitou laughed heartily and slapped Huo Yuhao on the back.
"Awesome, little junior brother! Now your Soul Engineer rank has completely caught up to mine!"
He Caitou had only just become a Rank 5 Soul Engineer half a month ago. Huo Yuhao had now fully caught up to him in every aspect except for soul power level.
Both of them had learned a great deal during this half-year of intensive teaching. Furthermore, thanks to the various high-end ingredients and medicines provided by the academy, Huo Yuhao's cultivation speed had not only not decreased, but had even accelerated significantly.
Just two weeks ago, his soul power level had successfully broken through Rank 30, and he could now follow the instructions of the Heavenly Dream Iceworm to obtain his second martial soul.
Fan Yu asked with concern:
"How is it, Yuhao? Do you need the academy to send someone to accompany you to obtain your third soul ring?"
Huo Yuhao smiled and shook his head.
"No need, teacher. I'll just have my family accompany me."
"Is that so."
Since Huo Yuhao said so, Fan Yu didn't pry further. He gently patted Huo Yuhao's head and said with a gentle expression:
"Keep up the good work. Once you break through the three-ring level, crafting Rank 5 soul tools should become much easier. At that time, you can try to push for Rank 6 Soul Engineer before the All-Continent Advanced Soul Master Academy Elite Tournament begins."
"I can't do that, absolutely not."
Huo Yuhao quickly interrupted Fan Yu's fantasy.
Don't joke around. He had just broken through to Rank 5 Soul Engineer, and there was less than three months until the next tournament started, even at a stretch. It was simply impossible for him to reach Rank 6.
Fan Yu wasn't annoyed and chuckled.
"It's hard to say. What if you create another miracle?"
After all, Huo Yuhao had already created enough miracles so far; one more wouldn't hurt.
Huo Yuhao lightly coughed and forcefully changed the subject:
"Then I'll be going, teacher. Xiao Yun is still waiting for me."
"Alright, alright, go accompany your fiancée."
Fan Yu shook his hand with a wry smile.
He Caitou was dumbfounded watching from the side.
In his memory, Fan Yu had never been so kind to other students.
Huo Yuhao bowed to Fan Yu and left the soul tool testing area.
This would be the last time he came here before obtaining his second martial soul.
...
Early in the morning, two people were taking a walk together on the path by Sea God Lake.
By appearance, both of them were among the top tier of their peers. Coupled with the rising mist over Sea God Lake, walking together was simply picturesque.
—Provided that one of them wasn't so noisy.
"Ah, Xiao Yun, are you confident about passing the second-year entrance exam?"
"..."
"Ah, I wasn't saying you personally passing, oh. Of course, I know you, a Soul Venerable, can definitely pass. I'm talking about our class passing."
"..."
"So annoying! We top students actually have to represent the class in a competition to determine the remaining number of students in the class? There should be a limit to jokes!"
"..."
"Ah, maybe I should ask Big Dad and Second Dad for some good stuff during the break. Even if I have to take medicine, I need to reach Rank 30!"
"..."
"Xiao Yun, are you listening—wah wah wah!"
Zhu Yun, who was bothered beyond endurance by Wang Dong, directly raised her hand and stuffed a fish into his mouth, saying indifferently:
"Why do you care so much? You won't be expelled anyway."
Wang Dong fumbled to take the fish out of his mouth, coughed violently a few times, and said helplessly:
"No matter what, I'm still the class monitor, right? I have to make some contribution to the class! Didn't Yuhao also do a lot for the class back then!"
"..."
Zhu Yun fell silent again.
Looking at her like this, Wang Dong felt a little heartache.
Ever since Huo Yuhao entered deep meditation, Zhu Yun had become increasingly taciturn.
Her personality was already a bit strange, and after not talking much, she became even more withdrawn. If Wang Dong hadn't constantly pestered her to talk, she might not have spoken once in a week.
In fact, if it were anyone else being so dismissive, Wang Dong would have long since broken ties with them. Only when facing Zhu Yun, he couldn't do it.
It wasn't just because Zhu Yun was his second friend, but also because she was the only person in the academy who knew his secret.
Although he didn't know why she still allowed him to be so close to Huo Yuhao after realizing the truth, regardless, Wang Dong felt guilty towards her in his heart.
He couldn't just leave her alone.
Wang Dong let out a long sigh.
"I don't know what's so great about that Extreme Solo Operative plan that guy Yuhao is participating in. He can't even spare a little time. Can't he come and gather with us more often?"
Since the end of the freshman assessment until now, the number of times they had seen Huo Yuhao could be counted on one hand.
Deep meditation was understandable, it was something unavoidable. But did that Extreme Solo Operative plan really require him to be so busy that they couldn't even meet once?
Zhu Yun said coldly:
"Someone like you who didn't work hard before would naturally think that way."
"Uh... I think I'm considered quite hardworking now, right?"
"So-so."
Zhu Yun snorted.
"Compared to before, you are indeed much more hardworking, but that's just comparing yourself to yourself. Have you ever thought about how much harder Brother Hao is working than you now?"
"This..."
Wang Dong hesitated to speak.
Zhu Yun directly interrupted him:
"So I don't want you to say such things again. Brother Hao isn't going off to enjoy himself; he's working hard for the future. If you truly like him, you should think about things from his perspective more, instead of just thinking about yourself all the time."
"...Sorry."
Wang Dong had nothing to say.
Just as Zhu Yun said, the Extreme Solo Operative plan didn't sound easy at all, and he had no right to criticize Huo Yuhao.
As soon as he stopped talking, the atmosphere suddenly became awkward.
Just as he was about to restart the conversation, Zhu Yun suddenly put a finger to her lips and looked towards Sea God Lake.
"Shush."
"?"
Wang Dong looked in the direction she was staring, filled with doubt, and saw a figure flying towards them from the direction of Sea God Island.
Wang Dong was stunned for a moment, then suddenly reacted.
"Wait, could that be Yuhao?"
After not seeing him for a while, how did this guy suddenly learn to fly?