Chapter 77: with translation of chapter title

Xu Sanshi said: "Your batch of students really produces talent. Not only did you, Wang Dong, and Xiao Xiao enter the inner court, but several other students also skipped levels to enter the inner court."

"How many? Besides Dai Huabin, who else?" Huo Yuhao asked curiously.

Xu Sanshi said: "There are three more. Ning Tian, a Soul Master of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda support system; Wu Feng, a Soul Master of the Red Dragon strong attack system; and Xie Huanyue, a Soul Master of the Hippopotamus defense system. See, they're over there, aren't they?"

Following Xu Sanshi's gaze, Huo Yuhao indeed found Xie Huanyue's figure.

Compared to a few years ago, Xie Huanyue has also grown taller and his body seems much fatter. His appearance has changed considerably, after all everyone has gone through puberty. At this moment, Dai Huabin walked over to him and said a few words. Xie Huanyue's gaze naturally also turned toward Huo Yuhao's side.

【6】

【7】

Seven Treasures Glazed Pagoda

Ning Tian

Xu Sanshi said: "They managed to get into the inner court; what do you think?"

【9】

Xie Huan Yue

Xu Sanshi nodded and said: "Even in our Shrek Academy, they can be called geniuses, just like you and Wang Dong. Although they don't have twin martial souls, each of their martial souls is very strong. Especially Dai Huabin—his performance these past few years has been remarkably outstanding. His soul power should already be over rank fifty-five. Remember, he previously studied only in the outer court and didn't have the advantage of Wang Dong's twin martial souls. Looking at his current momentum, he will definitely break through rank sixty within two years. Among our Seven Monsters, Nan Nan and Xiao Xiao's cultivation speed might still not catch up to him."

【11】

Outer Court

Xu Sanshi said impatiently: "Can you freak be like anyone else? Don't go using yourself as the standard. Although I don't think Dai Huabin can surpass you, his talent even exceeds that of senior Dai Yaoheng. If he causes trouble for you tomorrow, you'd better be careful, after all it concerns your lifelong affair."

Huo Yuhao laughed: "Third senior brother, hearing you say that makes it sound like I'm sure to find my sweetheart tomorrow."

Xu Sanshi also laughed: "As long as you're not stupid enough to blow snot bubbles, you'll definitely find them."

Huo Yuhao felt a bit awkward about his way of putting it, but he could still sense Xu Sanshi's concern for him.

"Come on, let's have another drink. It's rare for the academy to spend money on wine. This grape wine is really good—at least aged over ten years, and it's already been decanted beforehand. These two barrels of grape wine are worth a fortune! Look at Bei Bei, good-for-nothing."

Bei Bei and He Caitou were chatting elsewhere, and their spot happened to be guarding a barrel of grape wine. Bei Bei drank quickly, downing a cup in just a few gulps, then casually grabbed another and kept drinking. He Caitou, despite his large build, couldn't drink as fast as him.

Xu Sanshi frowned slightly and said: "These past two years, Bei Bei hasn't been feeling well inside!"

Huo Yuhao lightly nodded; he of course knew what Xu Sanshi meant.

Xu Sanshi sighed and said: "In the vast sea of people, how difficult it is to find someone. Although we all know Xiao Ya might have met with misfortune, he simply refuses to believe it. I've already seen him several times late at night drinking alone. Compared to his outward toughness, his inner self is actually quite fragile. Xiao Ya carries too much weight in his heart."

Huo Yuhao gradually clenched his fists and said in a low voice: "Teacher Xiao Ya will surely be fine."

【22】

Purple Ultimate Magic Pupil

As they spoke, they had already arrived beside Bei Bei and He Caitou. Bei Bei's eyes were already hazy; he looked at Huo Yuhao, gave a faint smile, lightly patted his shoulder, downed the cup of grape wine in one gulp, and said: "Huo Yuhao, remember what the eldest senior brother said—you must cherish the people before you. Only after losing them can you feel how deep that pain is. I'm not drinking anymore; I don't want you to see my weak side. Let's go!" Having said that, he waved at the three of them and staggered away.

Huo Yuhao wanted to chase after him, but Xu Sanshi grabbed him and said: "Don't go. At times like this, any words of comfort are no match for letting him be quiet alone. Everything we could say, we've already said. He doesn't want to get drunk in front of us because he wants to keep this last bit of dignity."

Xu Sanshi has known Bei Bei the longest, and undoubtedly understands him best.

Huo Yuhao turned away; he really didn't want to see the eldest senior brother like this, and his eye sockets unconsciously reddened. Is this what love feels like? If one day my beloved also suddenly leaves me, will I end up like the eldest senior brother? Bei Bei's loneliness ultimately still affected everyone's mood, and this so-called single's night passed hastily. Huo Yuhao and several senior brothers live in different places; his dorm on Sea God Island has already been assigned to someone else, so he can only temporarily stay at the Sea God Pavilion.

Walking slowly to the Sea God Pavilion and seeing that towering golden tree, Huo Yuhao's tears finally flowed uncontrollably. He wasn't just sad for Bei Bei; returning here, he also thought of the departed Mu Lao.

Facing the direction of the Sea God Pavilion, he went "plop" and knelt on the ground, knocking his head three times before that tall ancient tree.

"Teacher, I'm back. I miss you so much." Before he could finish the sentence, Huo Yuhao was already weeping uncontrollably.

This is truly his home; only here can his body and mind completely relax. After two and a half years, he finally saw Sea God Island again, saw the Sea God Pavilion, and also saw that golden tree.

Huo Yuhao's crying lasted a full quarter hour, as if he wanted to release all the emotions he had accumulated over the past two years or more.

Mu En died, Yilaixi's spiritual awareness also dissipated, and Teacher Xiao Ya went missing... these were all the people closest to him! At the Sun-Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy, he had been so strong; over a month, he hardly got any real sleep. He spent most of his time either drawing blueprints or cultivating.

More than two years passed, Huo Yuhao grew up and became more mature. But no matter what, he was still only seventeen. While many of his peers were still psychologically dependent on their parents, he had already taken on many responsibilities on his own.

Xuan Lao stood quietly not far from Huo Yuhao, occasionally raising his wine gourd and taking a sip. He did not go to comfort Huo Yuhao. Such emotional release was not a bad thing for Huo Yuhao; rather, it allowed his pent-up emotions to be released.

Mu Lao, Mu Lao, even in your twilight years you still took on two fine disciples!

Xuan Lao's eyes were full of gratification, and not far away, inside the Sea God's Pavilion, a pair of clear pink-blue eyes were gazing at Huo Yuhao, who knelt there weeping bitterly. He several times wanted to rush out to comfort him, but was stopped by the two people beside him.

"Do you want to waste all your previous effort?"

"Not a big deal if it's just this one day. Hold it in. Crying isn't bad for him. A man's tears are not shed lightly, but I think he's under too much pressure."

"But he's crying so sadly. I…"

"Don't look anymore, your tears are falling. Tomorrow everything will be fine. With Xuan Lao here, he'll be alright. After all, he's a Soul King–level powerhouse; how could crying hurt him?"

"Huo Yuhao."

Huo Yuhao turned his head, and the person coming was Chen Qiye.

"Chen Qiye, is that you?" Chen Qiye nodded.

"You're also here to see the teacher, right?"

"I guess so."

"It's a shame, but that's how the world is: some people leave, some come, no one stays by your side forever, and in the end you're left alone."

"By the way, I still haven't asked where you've been these past few years."

"I found something, and it took a while. As for why I had to disappear, that's not convenient to say."

Chen Qiye and Huo Yuhao talked for a long time before parting.

And Huo Yuhao's crying left him feeling dazed; he didn't even know when he returned to the Sea God's Pavilion, forgot how he got into his room, went in, and immediately fell asleep.

A faint golden light slowly seeped from the four walls of Huo Yuhao's room, turning into specks of gold that drifted down onto him, as if gently caressing him.

In his sleep, Huo Yuhao seemed to feel warmth; his furrowed brows gradually relaxed, and he slept even more soundly.

When he woke from his deep sleep, he felt his whole body soft and limp, with an indescribable sense of relaxation and comfort, all fatigue gone—nothing like the dazed slumber he had experienced at the Sun-Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy.

"I'm home." Lying on the bed with his eyes closed, a faint smile appeared at the corner of Huo Yuhao's mouth. Nothing beats the feeling of being home.

Hugging his sunshine-scented blanket, he turned over, seeming even more comfortable. Despite the sunlight streaming into the room, he didn't want to get up for anything.

In a daze, he slept another nap, and upon waking again, Huo Yuhao felt refreshed and clear-headed. The only thing feeling off was his stomach.

How could I be so hungry!

Sitting up, Huo Yuhao rubbed his sleepy eyes, leaned on the window to glance outside. That glance gave him a start. The sun had already begun to tilt westward—noon was long past! Had I really slept that long?

He hadn't even practiced the Purple Extreme Magic Eye today—that was the first thing that came to mind. However, it seemed there was nothing else to do. Being home, he might as well rest for the day.

After a good night's sleep, he now felt especially energetic; after putting on his clothes, he went out.

The Sea God Pavilion never lacks food; Huo Yuhao grabbed some fruit and snacks to fill his stomach, then headed straight for the Sea God Island dormitory area. He first went to find a few senior brothers to see what the schedule was for today.

By the way, there's still that Sea God Affinity event tonight. Huo Yuhao patted his forehead; he was still a bit dazed from sleep and almost forgot it.

Surely the senior brother will tell me the rules now, right?

When he arrived at Bei Bei's dorm, Xu Sanshi and He Caitou were also there.

The living conditions of inner court disciples are naturally much better than those of the outer court. Two-story small buildings are scattered across Sea God Island. Each building can house two disciples. Bei Bei and Xu Sanshi naturally took one of them. He Caitou, like Huo Yuhao, had nowhere to live, but he couldn't stay in the Sea God Pavilion, so he simply crashed with Bei Bei and Xu Sanshi for the night; the place was big enough that one more person didn't matter.

"Eldest senior brother, second senior brother, third senior brother," Huo Yuhao greeted the three senior brothers.

"Junior brother, you couldn't have just gotten up, could you?" Bei Bei asked with a smile; he looked as if he had fully recovered, with no trace of last night's desolation.

Huo Yuhao said a little embarrassedly: "I just got up. I haven't slept this comfortably in a long time; maybe it's because I'm home, so I slept especially soundly."

He Caitou nodded in agreement, saying: "I feel the same way; I slept especially well last night. Sleeping is far more comfortable than meditation!"

Xu Sanshi rolled his eyes and said: "You may have slept well, but we two suffered. Your snoring could shake the ceiling apart."

Bei Bei let out a soft sigh and said: "I should thank Caitou; at least amid his thunderous snoring I temporarily forgot Xiao Ya."

"I... do you guys have any humanity?! Is it really that exaggerated?" He Caitou said indignantly.

"Yes!" Bei Bei and Xu Sanshi nodded in unison; obviously, the two of them really suffered a lot last night.

Huo Yuhao struggled to keep from laughing; days spent with the senior brothers were always so carefree.

Xu Sanshi said: "Hey Caitou, shouldn't you see a doctor? Your snoring is so loud that even if Xiao Xiao follows you at this Sea God Affinity event, you two would still be a handful—who could endure sleepless nights?"

He Caitou protested: "I can meditate; if I don't sleep, I won't snore. Do you really sleep all the time?"

"Huh, that actually makes some sense." As Soul Masters, they indeed don't sleep much; they obviously spend far more nights in meditation.

Huo Yuhao interjected to help the second senior brother: "Eldest senior brother, what are the rules for tonight's Sea God Affinity event, and how many people will participate?"

Bei Bei said: "You really asked the right person. Besides me and the eldest senior sister, nobody else knows the exact number for tonight. Being close to the water gets the first moon—I'll give you the precautions to at least ensure nothing goes wrong before you confess."

Xu Sanshi, He Caitou, and Huo Yuhao immediately perked up.

Xu Sanshi and He Caitou each had their own goals; Huo Yuhao also secretly harbored a dream lover he longed for. But the three of them shared one thing: none of them had any confidence.

As for Xu Sanshi and Jiang Nannan, that resentful couple—needless to say. Although Jiang Nannan occasionally shows a hint of concern for Xu Sanshi, most of the time she just gives him a cold stare, without any courtesy.

The relationship between He Caitou and Xiao Xiao was somewhat better; it had been a bit ambiguous before, but back then Xiao Xiao was still young and He Caitou was unusually shy in that regard, so they never formally established a relationship. He Caitou and Huo Yuhao have been together for over two years now, and he even fears that Xiao Xiao has forgotten him—how could he have any confidence?

(End of chapter)