"As for that punch, you can rest assured. I've never heard of Elder Mu passing down his signature technique to anyone. For someone to have figured out this path on their own and developed it to this level, that kid indeed has extraordinary talent."
"However, the skill Domination of the World is something Elder Mu spent many years perfecting. It's not something a child under twelve could fully understand. What he demonstrated shouldn't be the true Domination of the World, and it won't have the effects you're worried about."
Elder Xuan paused briefly, then spoke in a calm tone.
"Without trials and tribulations, one cannot become truly strong. This is especially true for geniuses. Experiencing failure appropriately won't crush their confidence but will instead push them to improve rapidly. This incident is a good thing for Tang San. Let's not intervene for now and give him time to reflect on his own."
"As a warning, that 10,000-year spirit bone will not be given to him. During the break, I will take him to the Star Dou Forest to see if we can find the Eight Spider Lances of Tang San's ancestor."
"Understood, Elder Xuan!"
Hearing Elder Xuan's thorough arrangements, Yan Shaozhe couldn't help but feel moved.
Having such a senior to guide one along the path of growth—how could they not become strong?
Having regained his confidence in his genius disciple, Yan Shaozhe was about to leave when a figure in a fiery red school uniform appeared in his view.
"Xiao Tao? What brings you here?"
Hearing Yan Shaozhe's voice, Ma Xiaotao, who had been looking around, instinctively turned toward him and smiled as she explained.
"It's been a while, Teacher. I'm here looking for a student named Huo Yuhao. I heard he has an assessment today, so I came to cheer him on."
Unaware of Yan Shaozhe's stunned expression at her words, Ma Xiaotao continued scanning the assessment area below. However, her anticipation soon gave way to confusion on her delicate face.
"Could it have already ended? But didn't the assessment just begin? It seems Huo Yuhao's opponent wasn't very strong to lose so quickly. Teacher, did you watch the match? Has Huo Yuhao already—"
Not spotting the figure she was looking for, Ma Xiaotao turned back to ask Yan Shaozhe about it, only to be taken aback by his darkened expression. She subconsciously asked, "Teacher, what's wrong with you?"
"Nothing, nothing."
Yan Shaozhe coughed twice and waved his hand repeatedly. "His match did indeed end. He's probably on his way back now."
For some reason, seeing this disciple whom he had neglected for several months since taking Tang San as his student, Yan Shaozhe found the situation increasingly unsettling.
"In that case, Teacher, I'll go find Huo Yuhao now."
Ma Xiaotao nodded and left directly, heading toward the assessment area exit.
After watching Ma Xiaotao disappear from view, Du Weilun, who also sensed something amiss, finally spoke hesitantly.
"Dean, I suspect that Zhang Lexuan's personal recruitment of Huo Yuhao wasn't just because of his first spirit ring. She likely knew about his second martial soul as well..."
"I know."
Yan Shaozhe nodded slightly, recalling Ma Xiaotao's earlier demeanor. His fists clenched tightly under his sleeves.
It didn't take much thought. Ma Xiaotao, who had been in the inner courtyard for a long time, wouldn't have had the opportunity to get to know Huo Yuhao without Zhang Lexuan's intervention.
Moreover, her eyes and state made it clear that compared to three months ago, Ma Xiaotao's demonic fire was much weaker—a clear sign of suppression.
Adding this to the fact that Huo Yuhao had just revealed his Ultimate Ice martial soul today, Yan Shaozhe couldn't help but feel agitated.
So, in just a few months of neglect, his disciple had been poached?
And now he was the last one in the world to find out about Huo Yuhao's second martial soul being Ultimate Ice?
The more he thought about it, the more frustrated he became!
If Ma Xiaotao had told him earlier, how could the Martial Soul Department have lost such a talent?
Suppressing his growing dissatisfaction, Yan Shaozhe sighed deeply.
"Old Du, let's go check on Tang San."
"Huh?"
Du Weilun froze. "Dean, what about Ma Xiaotao—"
"Let her be. After all, she's grown up and has her own ideas now..."
Yan Shaozhe's tone was somewhat dejected.
"Compared to that, Tang San just lost a match. As his teacher, I should at least go comfort him."
"...Understood."
"Um..."
On the way back to the dormitory, Zhu Lu kept glancing at Huo Yuhao. After hesitating for a long time, she finally gathered the courage to ask, "Do you still plan to take action against the Duchess?"
The icy words of that frail boy from five years ago remained deeply imprinted in her memory. Even now, she remembered them vividly.
Having learned about Huo Yuhao and Huo Yun'er's ordeal later, she naturally investigated further. It wasn't just the Duchess—many in the Duke's mansion were likely already on Huo Yuhao's list.
While he hadn't done anything to Dai Huabin at the academy, she didn't think he would let the Duchess off so easily.
At first, she thought Huo Yuhao's talent was extraordinary, but it would still take years for him to gain the strength to take revenge.
However, after witnessing his performance in today's match, she suddenly felt that this task wasn't so difficult for him anymore.
"Yes."
Huo Yuhao, surprised that Zhu Lu would bring this up, nodded calmly. "Why? Does it concern you?"
This kind of thing wasn't worth hiding. Zhu Lu had heard his words back then, and if she wanted to report them, she would have done so long ago. Besides, he didn't sense any malice from her now.
"Not exactly."
Zhu Lu paused to organize her thoughts before softly explaining, "The Zhu family, as Star Luo nobles, has developed many factions over the millennia. My mother and the Duchess are not from the same faction; they are, at best, lukewarm toward each other."
"Although there are internal disputes within the Zhu family, they generally maintain a close relationship with the Duke's mansion. After all, the two families have a stable martial soul fusion technique. Weakening their bond could jeopardize their status in the Star Luo Empire. That's why each generation arranges a marriage between their most talented individuals."
Seeing Huo Yuhao nod in understanding, Zhu Lu pursed her lips and continued softly.
"The Duchess married the current White Tiger Duke under similar circumstances. However, after the incident five years ago, I grew curious and looked into it. I found some oddities."
She paused, her expression turning peculiar.
"It turns out that the current White Tiger Duke, Dai Hao, wasn't the most talented among his siblings. Instead, he only stood out because he joined the military at around twelve or thirteen years old."
"But this meant that he had no significant interaction with the Duchess early on. She mostly spent time with one of Dai Hao's brothers, who was more talented."
Zhu Lu hesitated before adding, "And their relationship...was very close."
Huo Yuhao's eyes blinked involuntarily, his expression also turning strange.
Close? Just how close?
He had always wondered why the Duchess started targeting his mother and him only after he turned two. If she was worried about his mother threatening her position, why not act the moment Huo Yun'er became pregnant?
Could this be tied to the death of Dai Hao's brother nine years ago?
Huo Yuhao's thoughts raced. Could it be...?
Was Dai Huabin not Dai Hao's biological son? Could this also explain the mutations in his and Dai Luoli's martial souls?
The more he thought about it, the stranger it all seemed.
(End of Chapter)