Afternoon.
"Alright, today's class ends here. You're all dismissed. Huo Yuhao, Gu Yuena, please follow me."
After clapping her hands to announce the end of the class, Zhang Lexuan led the two out of the classroom, leaving behind a group of students exchanging bewildered looks.
After they had walked in silence for a while, Zhang Lexuan finally spoke again, explaining the situation to the two.
"This afternoon, I put in a request, and the academy approved an internal assessment for you both. The test involves fighting two other pre-selected team members. They're probably already waiting for you in the Soul Arena."
"Yuhao, since you only have two spirit rings, and your martial soul leans toward control, your task is to last twenty minutes in battle with one of the pre-selected team members. That will be considered a pass."
"Gu Yuena, the academy has high expectations of your abilities. Since your martial soul is focused on offense, you need to win against one of the team members to pass."
Huo Yuhao couldn't help but show a slightly strange expression. They were going to make him and Gu Yuena fight against Bei Bei and Xu Sanshi?
For an ordinary Soul Grandmaster, going up against someone with Bei Bei or Xu Sanshi's level of power would be a tough challenge. But for him and Gu Yuena, it wouldn't be hard at all.
Thinking of this, Huo Yuhao couldn't help glancing at Gu Yuena, lowering his voice to remind her, "The two we're going to face will be our teammates later, so remember to go easy and stay low-key."
He couldn't leave this unspoken, worried she might unleash the strength she used in practice battles with him and accidentally vaporize someone.
Gu Yuena nodded as if she half understood. "Got it."
Huo Yuhao looked a bit skeptical. "You really get it?"
Gu Yuena blinked. "Hug me, and I'll agree."
"?"
Huo Yuhao felt his brain stutter. After a brief pause, he asked, "Uh… can I try it first before I pay?"
"Fine," Gu Yue Na replied, nodding calmly, "But the price doubles."
"… Fine."
Hearing their odd conversation, Zhang Lexuan, who was walking a few steps ahead, couldn't help but have her shoulders shake as she tried to stifle her laughter.
She had to admit, whenever she was with Huo Yuhao, whether they were talking business or joking around, she always felt this indescribable comfort.
Just then, the soul guide speakers nearby buzzed to life.
"Bzzzz—"
"Attention, outer courtyard students! Today, Year One students Huo Yuhao and Gu Yue Na will challenge fifth-year students Bei Bei and Xu Sanshi in the Soul Arena."
"What!?"
The outer courtyard students walking by immediately erupted, their faces filled with disbelief.
"Someone actually dared to challenge the Twin Stars of the outer courtyard? And they're both first-years? Did I hear that right?"
"Aren't first-years forbidden from using the Soul Arena?"
"No idea. Since the announcement went out, let's go check it out!"
Watching the stream of people rushing to the Soul Arena, Huo Yuhao blinked in surprise and looked at Zhang Lexuan. "Sister Lexuan, isn't this a bit too flashy?"
"You're worried about that?" Zhang Lexuan's lips curved as she lightly patted Huo Yuhao's shoulder.
"Don't worry. This is tradition for internal candidates. While it's best not to reveal anything about being pre-selected, your strength has to be seen by the outer courtyard students to earn their respect. Bei Bei and Xu Sanshi got the title of 'Twin Stars of the outer courtyard' for the same reason."
Huo Yuhao nodded without saying more. Soon, under Zhang Lexuan's guidance, they entered a rest area in the Soul Arena. Besides Bei Bei and Xu Sanshi, another unexpected figure was also present: the head of the martial soul department, Du Weilun.
Seeing him, Zhang Lexuan's eyes flashed, and she asked nonchalantly, "Director, what brings you here?"
Du Weilun's face showed a hint of awkwardness. After a couple of soft coughs, he replied, stumbling over his words, "Lexuan… I think this assessment doesn't need to be so high-profile. Why not conduct it privately? Maybe we can call it off for today?"
He was practically breaking down.
Just last night, Yan Shaozhe had told him to keep Huo Yuhao and Gu Yuena's abilities under wraps, and now Zhang Lexuan had stirred up this whole affair.
While the outer courtyard students might not understand, he and the staff certainly did. If Huo Yuhao and Gu Yuena's strength got exposed, the Soul Tool Department would definitely make a scene.
The new student assessments hadn't even begun, and they hadn't yet had time to grant core disciple status to Huo Yuhao and Gu Yuena. If the Soul Tool Department learned the truth, they'd rush over to snatch them up.
And with Tang San's recent return, they'd likely have to assign at least one of these extraordinary talents to the Soul Tool Department.
It was practically like carving out a piece of their dean's heart! Yet at this critical moment, Yan Shaozhe was absent from the academy, investigating Tang San's affairs, leaving Du Weilun no choice but to come and try to salvage the situation.
Zhang Lexuan narrowed her eyes slightly, easily guessing the director's intentions.
"No need, Director Du. Now that the announcement's gone out, there are already plenty of students outside waiting to watch the match. We can't just send them away, right?"
She then reached out and ruffled Huo Yuhao's hair, saying with a smile, "Besides, being a bit flashy isn't a bad thing for a genius. I'm sure Yuhao and Gu Yue Na won't let it go to their heads."
Truthfully, she preferred that Huo Yuhao chose the martial soul department. His martial souls alone were terrifying, even to her untrained eyes.
But when she remembered how Huo Yuhao had demonstrated some soul tool techniques against the Blood-Engorged Dragon Lizard, she felt a bit hesitant.
After much deliberation, she had opted for an internal assessment to attract the attention of both the martial soul and soul tool departments, leaving the choice up to Huo Yuhao.
That way, the two departments would compete for him, raising their offers and giving him the best resources possible.
Off to the side, Xu Sanshi raised an eyebrow as he looked at Huo Yuhao and Gu Yue Na, muttering softly, "These two are the candidates for the pre-selection assessment? What a handsome pair…"
"Heh, ogling other girls again, aren't you? Should I tell your girlfriend?"
Hearing Bei Bei's mischievous remark, Xu Sanshi shivered and retorted in frustration, "I just took a quick glance!"
Bei Bei nodded, his smile sly. "Alright, I'll tell her you only looked once."
"You little—trying to mess with me, aren't you!?"
As he cursed, Xu Sanshi glanced at his friend and noticed Bei Bei looking thoughtfully at Huo Yuhao and Zhang Lexuan.
"What's going on? Every time you look like that, you're up to no good."
But this time, Bei Bei didn't make a witty comeback. Hesitating, he finally asked, "I… have something to ask you."
"Hm?"
Xu Sanshi raised an eyebrow. "There's actually something you can't figure out? Tell me what it is. Let Grandpa Xu here enlighten you!"
"Well…"
Bei Bei took a deep breath and, after a long moment, finally found the words.
"This is just a hypothetical question, but… if your sister got herself a boyfriend who was younger than you, how would you refer to him?"
"…What?"
(End of chapter)