"Then I'll look forward to it."
Zhang Lexuan smiled slightly, then her expression became a bit more serious, her tone carrying a hint of solemnity.
"The next matter is the most important, as it concerns your upcoming treatment."
"I'll give you a brief explanation first. Every five years, our academy sends a team of seven Inner Court disciples to participate in the Soul Master Tournament."
"In addition to the main team, the academy also selects seven promising students from the Core disciples of the Outer Court to form an alternate team that accompanies the main team to the tournament."
Huo Yuhao nodded nonchalantly, as he was already aware of this from his past life when he had participated as an alternate team member.
What surprised him, though, was why Zhang Lexuan was bringing this up now, with over a year left before the selection process.
"Although most alternate team members are determined through selection, some core disciples can be pre-designated if they show exceptional potential. If selected in advance, they enjoy privileges above regular core disciples of the Outer Court."
After taking a sip of water, Zhang Lexuan continued warmly.
"Currently, there are only two pre-designated members in the entire Outer Court. I am well aware of your strength, Yuhao. Even though you aren't yet a core disciple, if you're willing, I can recommend you to the academy's higher-ups as a pre-designated alternate team member."
"With my recommendation, the academy will likely test you. Once you pass, you'll immediately start receiving the benefits of a pre-designated alternate team member."
Upon hearing this, Huo Yuhao instantly understood Zhang Lexuan's intent.
The Outer Court's core disciple selection happens after the freshman assessments, which is in three months. But if he became a pre-designated alternate member now, he'd get three months of enhanced benefits, even better than the core disciples.
In his past life, he had also heard Beibei mention pre-designation. Back then, Beibei and Xu Sanshi had been pre-designated as alternates, so it was unexpected that he had this opportunity right upon entering the academy.
Although these resources might not be incredibly useful to him, he'd get free meals three months early!
The most expensive dishes at the cafeteria cost over thirty gold soul coins per plate, and with the Gluttony Sin and his growth phase, he and Gu Yue Na had spent hundreds of gold soul coins on dinner just last night, barely eating enough.
Three free months of meals would save him quite a lot of money.
After a brief moment of hesitation, he thanked Zhang Lexuan with a subtle smile.
"Thank you, Lexuan-jie. I'm willing to take the test. Oh, and my deskmate—"
"Gu Yue Na, right?"
Before Huo Yuhao could finish, Zhang Lexuan nodded.
"I saw her profile too. A Soul Elder with three purple rings. Do you know exactly how strong she is?"
Although this girl's information was quite remarkable, Zhang Lexuan knew well that Huo Yuhao had the second martial soul of Ultimate Ice, as well as one orange-gold and one blood-red ring. She wasn't certain if Gu Yue Na was stronger than Huo Yuhao.
However, the question left Huo Yuhao unsure of how to respond.
Her strength level? How should he put it?
The level where she could practically walk across the continent without opposition?
With a complicated expression, Huo Yuhao pursed his lips and finally answered slowly.
"Um… let's just say she's significantly stronger than me."
"Is that so?"
Zhang Lexuan nodded. "I'll include her in the report as well. You can explain it to her later. It's getting late, go have lunch. After class this afternoon, I'll take you two to the assessment."
"Thank you, Lexuan-jie."
When Huo Yuhao returned to the classroom, he found that several male students, besides Gu Yue Na, hadn't left. They were busy with various tasks, clearly unwilling to go.
The reason was, of course, the aloof, distant Gu Yue Na, sitting silently at her desk.
Her unapproachable aura kept them from initiating conversation, yet they stayed, hoping to attract her attention.
Only when Huo Yuhao entered the classroom did they feel that inexplicable tension dissipate. Seeing Gu Yue Na raise her head, her beautiful eyes blinked as she looked at Huo Yuhao approaching her.
"Kept you waiting? Let's go eat."
"Mm. Hold my hand."
Huo Yuhao was momentarily stunned, only realizing her intention when he saw her raised hand. Chuckling, he took it, and they left the classroom under the envious gazes of the male students.
The quiet classroom finally erupted with gritted complaints.
"He's heartless! Didn't spare a single one."
"I want to switch classes! Who can stand all this PDA?"
"Ha! First day, and it's like this. Do you really think the beauties in other classes will escape him? Remember the two Outer Court seniors during registration?"
Outside the academic building, Tang San, who had just returned from changing his clothes as instructed by Zhou Yi, encountered Huo Yuhao and Gu Yue Na as they exited.
Seeing the two of them, Tang San was momentarily dazed. Then, locking eyes with those deep blue irises, a powerful sense of familiarity surged from his heart.
That gaze...
Though there was a slight difference from what he remembered in the God Realm, that gaze was engraved in his memory, even up to his death!
Realizing the identity of the young man in front of him, a flood of rage filled his chest.
It was him!
His betrayal was why Tang San ended up in this state!
He could have become the King of Gods, if not for this betrayal!
Tang San's body tensed, his chest heaving as his eyes burned with fury, a bitter growl escaping his lips.
"Huo Yuhao—!"
In stark contrast to Tang San's hysteria, Huo Yuhao remained composed, nodding slightly.
"Long time no see, Tang San."
"Long time? It has indeed been a long time!"
Red veins appeared in Tang San's eyes, his cultivated demeanor shattered by the overwhelming fury.
"If it weren't for that soul beast attacking me because of you, things wouldn't have turned out like this!"
"Why… Why did you betray me…?"
Tang San's voice trembled, distorted by emotion.
"I was going to make you my successor. Why betray me!?"
"Ambush? I don't recall ambushing you."
Huo Yuhao tilted his head, puzzled.
"Or do you mean I should've killed them more slowly and given you more recovery time?"
Not wanting to engage further, Huo Yuhao tugged Gu Yue Na's hand and turned to leave.
"Oh, by the way…"
As if remembering something, Huo Yuhao glanced back at Tang San, his face distorted by rage, and spoke slowly.
"Last time, you didn't get to answer my question. So, let me ask you again."
Pausing briefly, Huo Yuhao asked the question Tang San had heard just before his death in his previous life.
"Tang San, when you controlled others' lives… were you smiling?"
(End of Chapter)