"This bastard is still so annoying!"
"But we have to admit that this kid really has the qualifications to be arrogant. His original martial soul is a spiritual-type Noumenon martial soul, and even his second soul ring is a ten-thousand-year soul ring. He is simply a monster among monsters."
"Monster? Don't tell me this guy is from Shrek Academy, right?"
"Tsk, it's very possible. Only that place could cultivate such a terrifying little freak."
...
Inside Zhengtian Academy, discussions rose one after another. Many people were whispering among themselves, their gazes unconsciously drifting toward the calm-looking youth standing in the arena. Most of them had already begun to speculate that Yuhao was very likely a disciple trained by Shrek Academy.
After all, apart from Shrek, who else could nurture a twelve-year-old Great Soul Master with a ten-thousand-year soul ring and an original spiritual Noumenon martial soul?
"A level 23 Great Soul Master actually dares to come to our Zhengtian Academy to challenge the arena. He really doesn't know the immensity of heaven and earth."
Just as Yuhao was gradually losing his patience, a tall young man finally stepped forward from the crowd.
"It's Yang Yifan!"
"If Senior Yang makes a move, that kid will definitely lose. After all, Yang Yifan is one of the official contestants representing our Zhengtian Academy in the Continental Advanced Soul Master Elite Competition."
"That's not necessarily true. Chen Longlong was only one rank lower than Yang Yifan, and he was defeated without even managing to touch that kid. I think Yang Yifan might not be able to suppress him either."
"How can you grow someone else's ambition while destroying your own prestige? The reason Chen Longlong lost so badly was because he didn't know that kid possessed a spiritual attribute. Now that Senior Yang is going up, he definitely has countermeasures prepared."
...
The students of Zhengtian Academy were clearly divided into two factions. One side firmly believed that Yang Yifan would definitely win, while the other side had already begun leaning toward Yuhao.
Hearing the surrounding discussions, Yuhao raised his eyebrows slightly and said calmly:
"I didn't expect that there would be an official contestant of the Soul Master Elite Competition here."
"What? Are you afraid?"
The corners of Yang Yifan's mouth curled upward faintly, his expression filled with confidence and pride.
"Afraid?" Yuhao let out a cold laugh. "I'm afraid that your Zhengtian Academy will continue to lose face."
"You say our Zhengtian Academy only relies on empty words to show off, but aren't you doing the same thing right now?"
Yang Yifan's face darkened as he spoke, his tone turning gloomy.
"It's different," Yuhao replied indifferently, raising his right index finger and gently shaking it.
"Because my strength is stronger than my words."
"Arrogant!"
Yang Yifan snorted coldly. In the next instant, he fully activated his soul power, and a sharp dagger-shaped martial soul instantly condensed into his palm, emitting a cold metallic sheen.
"Let's begin!"
As he spoke, Yang Yifan had already begun circulating his soul power within his sea of consciousness. The reason he dared to step forward was precisely because he had already learned that Yuhao possessed a spiritual attribute.
Therefore, in his judgment, as long as he used soul power to protect his spiritual sea, Yuhao's mental-type attacks would be unable to pose any real threat to him.
However, what he did not know was that he had severely underestimated Yuhao's spiritual power.
Buzz——
A terrifying soul fluctuation erupted without warning.
Another Soul Shock!
Yang Yifan's pupils constricted sharply. His figure lunged forward instinctively, while his head involuntarily jerked backward.
In that instant of haziness, his mind went completely blank.
Bang!
His body crashed heavily onto the ground.
Same method.
Same ending.
Yuhao was indeed only a level 23 Great Soul Master, but his spiritual power far surpassed everyone present. Moreover, his Soul Shock skill had already reached the level of a five-thousand-year soul skill.
Even a level 42 Soul Master relying solely on soul power defense could not block such a terrifying spiritual impact.
"Next."
...
Zhengtian Academy, inner courtyard.
A middle-aged man with a panicked expression hurriedly rushed into an office. When he saw the old man leisurely sitting on a chair and drinking tea, he blurted out anxiously:
"Dean, something terrible has happened!"
"Eh? Xiaofeng, what could possibly make you this flustered?"
The old man smiled faintly. "Come, have a sip of tea first and speak slowly."
The speaker was none other than the dean of Zhengtian Academy. Despite clearly sensing the middle-aged man's anxiety, he remained unhurried and even personally poured him a cup of tea.
"My backside is practically on fire already, Dean! How can you still be in the mood to drink tea?"
Xiaofeng was clearly far less calm. He immediately recounted everything that had happened at the front gate of Zhengtian Academy.
...
Clatter!
The teacup slipped from the dean's hand and shattered into pieces on the floor. The calm expression he had worn earlier completely vanished as he abruptly stood up.
"What did you say?! A little brat dares to come to our Zhengtian Academy to challenge the arena? And we've already lost three consecutive matches, one of which involved an official contestant for the Soul Master Elite Competition?!"
"Uh… yes."
Xiaofeng lowered his head in embarrassment.
"What is that little fellow's name? Which academy or sect does he belong to? What is his soul power level and his martial soul?"
The dean took several deep breaths, forcibly suppressing his agitation.
"His name is Huo Yuhao. He is twelve years old. His soul power level is… level 23, a Great Soul Master."
When mentioning the soul power level, Xiaofeng could not help but sneak a glance at the dean. After all, Yang Yifan was a level 42 Soul Master. Being defeated by a Great Soul Master was by no means an honorable matter.
Sure enough, upon hearing that Yuhao was merely a twelve-year-old Great Soul Master, the dean slowly closed his eyes. After a long pause, he exhaled hoarsely and said:
"Continue."
"His martial soul is an eye-type Noumenon martial soul with spiritual attributes. Additionally, his second soul ring is a ten-thousand-year soul ring."
Even after witnessing it personally, Xiaofeng still found it difficult to believe.
Hearing this, the dean's eyes suddenly narrowed.
"The original martial soul?" he asked in astonishment. "Could that kid be from the Noumenon Sect?"
Previously, he had assumed Yuhao was from Shrek Academy, the number one academy on the continent.
But after learning about Yuhao's martial soul, the Noumenon Sect immediately came to his mind.
When it came to cultivating Noumenon martial souls, even Shrek Academy could not compare to the Noumenon Sect.
"No, I'm not sure," Xiaofeng shook his head. "He didn't say which academy or sect he belongs to."
"Oh?"
A sharp gleam flashed through the dean's eyes. "Then I'll go take a look myself. If this kid truly hasn't joined any academy or sect, I'll bring him into our Zhengtian Academy no matter what."
With that, he grabbed Xiaofeng and strode out.
"But Dean, the Noumenon Sect has always claimed that anyone who awakens a Noumenon martial soul is automatically their disciple. You…"
Xiaofeng hesitated, glancing at the dean.
"Hmph!" The dean snorted coldly. "Why should the Noumenon Sect be so overbearing? Remember this—this is Zhengtian Academy."
He suddenly seemed to recall something and asked again:
"By the way, are the three of them currently in the academy?"
Xiaofeng naturally understood who the dean was referring to.
"Ye Wuqing is not here. Tang Xiaolei and Yu Mengdi are both present."
These three were the strongest students of Zhengtian Academy, and all of them had already reached the Soul King level.
"Good. Call the two of them over," the dean said without turning back.
"If that kid is willing to join our Zhengtian Academy, then everything can be discussed. But if he refuses, or if he was deliberately sent by another academy to provoke us, then no matter what, I will personally teach him a lesson."
Although the dean admired Yuhao's talent immensely, being publicly humiliated at his own academy still made him feel deeply displeased.
Xiaofeng nodded in agreement.
However, a strange thought suddenly surfaced in his mind.
If Tang Xiaolei and Yu Mengdi were also defeated by Yuhao, wouldn't Zhengtian Academy suffer an even greater humiliation?
"It's impossible… absolutely impossible."
Xiaofeng shook his head rapidly, silently mocking himself for such a ridiculous thought.
"No matter how terrifying that kid is, he's still only a level 23 Great Soul Master. There's no way he could defeat a Soul King."