svetikya Chapter 19 The Snow Empress's Plan: Huo Yuhao Returns
Chapter 19 The Snow Empress's Plan: Huo Yuhao Returns
Upon hearing this, Dai Youheng's heart was stirred.
A 100,000-year spirit ring? Yet another 100,000-year spirit ring! And judging from Xue Di's words, the skill this spirit ring grants will be very special?
But he immediately calmed down and raised the most crucial question, "A 100,000-year spirit ring? With my current physical strength and spirit power level, how can I withstand the energy impact of a 100,000-year spirit ring? Even with Xiaobai's help to suppress it, I'm afraid..."
"Under normal circumstances, unless you willingly sacrifice your soul like I have, sealing away most of its power, it's truly impossible for someone with your Soul Master cultivation level to absorb a 100,000-year Soul Ring." The Snow Empress acknowledged his concerns, but then changed the subject, "However, now that I'm here, I can help you seal away part of that Soul Ring's power, increasing your chances of successfully absorbing it!"
"Its characteristics are a perfect match for you right now!" Xue Di's tone was full of confidence.
Dai Youheng's curiosity was completely piqued. "Oh? What kind of soul beast is it that's so special?"
"Don't rush me." Xue Di unusually kept everyone in suspense, her voice tinged with amusement. "You'll know when the time is right. Telling you now would diminish the surprise. The most important thing right now is to reach level forty as soon as possible."
Dai Youheng was calm by nature, and seeing that Xue Di was unwilling to say more, he didn't press the matter further. Anyway, there was still a long way to go before reaching level forty, so he had plenty of time.
Moreover, he had considerable trust in Xue Di's judgment.
"Okay," he replied succinctly, already prioritizing "reaching level 40 as soon as possible" and "finding a reasonable excuse to go out."
Just as his soul conversation with Xue Di came to an end, he felt Zhou Sichen gently nudge his shoulder with his elbow.
"Youheng? Youheng! What are you daydreaming about? You didn't even notice get out of class was over. You dare to daydream in Old Lady Zhou's class? Luckily, she didn't come down to patrol today," Zhou Sichen reminded her in a low voice.
Dai Youheng suddenly woke up and realized that her classmates were already packing up their things and preparing to leave the classroom in twos and threes. Zhou Yi was no longer on the podium.
Unbeknownst to him, he and Xue Di had already discussed an entire lesson. As for what Soul Master theories, combat techniques, or academy rules Zhou Yi had covered in that lesson... he had no idea.
He stood up calmly and began to tidy up his textbook, which he had barely opened, as if he had just taken a short nap.
Looking at him like this, Zhou Sichen couldn't help but mutter, "You're acting really strange today, but what you said to me before about my martial soul's development was so true! Thanks, brother!"
Dai Youheng gave a noncommittal "hmm," but his gaze was already fixed on the window, as if he were looking towards the far north, or as if he were planning a path to leave the academy and reach greater power.
The knowledge learned in class? The trivial matters between classmates—these were no longer important to him.
A few days later, one morning, a minor commotion broke out at the gates of Shrek Academy. A travel-worn young man finally appeared in everyone's sight—it was none other than Huo Yuhao, who had been missing for a long time.
Wang Dong, who had been waiting anxiously near the entrance, was the first to spot him. He rushed over excitedly, both complaining and delighted, and pulled him into the academy, afraid that he would miss something.
Dai Youheng stood by the window in the corridor of the teaching building, watching this scene from afar. His gaze was calm, but his soul perception was like the most precise instrument, carefully scanning Huo Yuhao.
"As expected..." he thought to himself, "Although the soul power fluctuation is only around level 20, the soul power itself is profound and icy cold. The sea of consciousness is even more vast. It seems that the Ice Jade Emperor Scorpion is already in place."
This guy currently possesses a million-year soul ring, a four-hundred-thousand-year soul ring, and a four-hundred-thousand-year torso soul bone. The age of his soul rings alone is almost twice that of his.
Youheng sighed. That guy from The Scar of the Sky, if he was going to throw him over here, why couldn't he have done it sooner? Tianmeng Ice Silkworm is one thing, but now even getting together the Ice and Snow Emperors is a pipe dream.
As for Huo Yuhao himself, Dai Youheng honestly felt nothing. He had neither a natural fondness or sympathy for him because of the original plot, nor did he feel any excessive dislike.
In his view, the early Huo Yuhao was a hardworking, resilient, somewhat clever, and principled normal person. Although he had a habit of cheating, in a world where the strong prey on the weak, it wasn't a major flaw.
Unfortunately, after the Valley of Love and Destiny, this guy gradually fell into the trap carefully woven by Tang San. The so-called trials, the so-called opportunities, and even love and destiny were all clearly calculated by that high and mighty God King.
A chosen one of destiny in this era, who should have possessed limitless potential, ultimately became nothing more than Tang San's most loyal dog, used to maintain his family's rule and perpetuate the authority of the God Realm. It's truly pathetic and lamentable.
Just as his thoughts were churning, news of Huo Yuhao's return had already alarmed the academy's higher-ups.
As expected, Zhou Yi and Fan Yu, the vice dean of the Soul Guidance Department, immediately stepped in and, on the grounds that Huo Yuhao had become a core disciple of the Soul Guidance Department, tried their best to protect him from being expelled for being late.
This naturally drew strong criticism and challenges from Mu Jin, Zhou Yi's old rival and the homeroom teacher of Class Two.
The two argued incessantly in the academic affairs office, one insisting that the rules must be followed, and the other emphasizing the special status of the core disciples of the Soul Guidance Department and the value of Huo Yuhao.
Although Dai Youheng wasn't present, he could imagine the tense scene. The feud between Mu Jin and Zhou Yi was no secret in the academy; it stemmed from both emotional entanglements and Zhou Yi's old grudge over expelling Mu Jin's brother years ago, making the two practically irreconcilable enemies.
"Core disciples?" Dai Youheng stroked his chin. He remembered that he seemed to be one of the core disciples as well.
This is not surprising. Although the soul power of that sycophant Youheng at the age of fourteen with a level of thirty-something is incomparable to those monsters who reach the Soul King level at the age of fourteen, fifteen, or sixteen, it is still quite good among ordinary geniuses.
Moreover, his martial soul is the Evil Shadow Demon Tiger, a top-tier offensive beast martial soul with enormous potential, which has undergone a benign mutation.
Last year, during the freshman assessment competition, although that sycophant's individual strength was not the most outstanding, he was lucky and was assigned teammates who were of decent strength. In order to perform well in front of Huo Yuhao, Wang Dong and others, he did his best and finally made it to the top four, thus obtaining the qualification of a core disciple.
"This identity is something I can make good use of." A glint of light flashed in Dai Youheng's eyes. Core disciples not only have the privilege of being exempt from expulsion, but also enjoy many conveniences in resource exchange, library access, consulting teachers, and even requesting leave. This provides a good layer of cover for his subsequent plans.
He looked down at Huo Yuhao, who was finally being escorted by Wang Dong and Xiao Xiao as they left the administration office and headed to the classroom, his eyes deep.
"Huo Yuhao's cheat code is in place, so I need to speed things up too. Level 40... I must reach it as soon as possible! That special 100,000-year-old soul beast that the Snow Empress mentioned, I'm determined to get it!"
He didn't linger, turning and heading towards the classroom. For him, the peaceful life at Shrek Academy was merely a period of dormancy, a time to accumulate strength and await his opportunity. The real stage lay in the vast and dangerous world beyond the academy.