Chapter 128: Ripples

Outside the Heavenly Sea Stadium, the night crowd surged in all directions like a receding tide, yet the clamor about the match rose like an incoming tide, each wave higher than the last.

From the bar street around the stadium to the subway carriages at the other end of the city, the entire Heavenly Sea City was immersed in heated discussion, and through the Soul Guidance Network, this match had already begun spreading across the entire Federation.

However, Huo Yuhao and the others paid no attention to this matter, simply returning to the hotel as before to prepare for rest.

After all, in the eyes of Huo Yuhao and Gu Yue Na, this did not amount to much.

As for Xie Xie and the others...

"What's there to be proud of about winning by lying down? We're just Big Brother's background board."

Xie Xie rolled his eyes.

Too brutal, Big Brother Yuhao's fight nearly shattered people's confidence in cultivation.

Good thing they weren't opponents, otherwise who knows how severe the shadow in their hearts would be.

"Don't compare yourself with others."

Huo Yuhao smiled faintly, "There will always be someone more outstanding than yourself, someone you can't catch up to."

"I don't believe there's anyone more outstanding than you, Big Brother." Xie Xie curled his lip.

"Aren't you more outstanding than me?" Huo Yuhao chuckled lightly, "Your poisonous tongue kung fu is something I can't learn."

"... Pfft!" Xu Xiaoyan couldn't help laughing out loud, and the others couldn't help but laugh as well.

"How can that be the same?"

Xie Xie retorted verbally, but his mood eased considerably, becoming relaxed.

True, Big Brother is a monster, what's the point of comparing with him?

"..."

Before the Soul Guidance Screen, Yu Zhen and Long Hengxu watched the entire match, remaining silent for a long time.

Long Hengxu closed his eyes, waiting for his mood to calm down before opening them and saying: "Dean, if I hadn't seen it with my own eyes, I really wouldn't dare believe that such a genius came from East Sea, and even has a connection to our Academy."

The Soul Guidance Screen was still replaying the previous scene of Huo Yuhao — a single palm strike, yet it caused the opponent's Battle Armor to shatter inch by inch.

Who could have imagined that one day East Sea Academy could defeat Shrek Academy? And in such a crushing manner?

Yu Zhen shook his head, "He is no longer a genius, but a powerhouse."

Able to defeat Shrek's genius students who possessed Battle Armor, Huo Yuhao's strength could rank among the top in East Sea as well.

"Next, I'm afraid the East Sea Executive Official will come looking for me to discuss some matters; you'll need to pay more attention to the Academy's side."

Yu Zhen rose from his office chair, walking toward the doorway with his back straight.

East Sea Academy gaining this much limelight would certainly attract attention from all sides.

But this was exactly what he wanted, wasn't it?

"Taking advantage of the wind stirred up by Classmate Yuhao, our East Sea Academy can also rise."

As for Shrek Academy's attitude... Yu wasn't very worried.

The ones who challenged the arena this time were essentially the Spirit Pagoda and Shrek Academy; once Huo Yuhao and the others' identities as Spirit Pagoda people are exposed, there won't be many people paying attention to them.

Moreover, he had already contacted Hua Yichen before, and the latter said he would not implicate them.

Having cooperated with the East Sea Spirit Pagoda for so long, the other party's credibility has always been worthy of trust.

As an alliance formed by the five major first-tier cities in the east, the Heavenly Sea Alliance's Grand Competition naturally attracted the attention of the entire Federation; coupled with some forces fanning the flames, in just a few days the news of Shrek's defeat by a single person spread across the entire Federation, repeatedly played and watched by some.

It was at this time that the Spirit Pagoda adjusted Huo Yuhao's ranking on the Young Genius Ranking from eighth place to first place, and bestowed upon him the title "Spirit Transmission".

Leaving aside the thoughts of the Spirit Pagoda's internal factions, not a single person who had watched the match recording dared to directly raise doubts.

Spiritual Power reaching the Spirit Abyss Realm, four ten-thousand-year Soul Rings, Soul Ancestor cultivation, achieving this at ten years old — likely unprecedented in the past, and not necessarily to be seen in the future either.

Coupled with the Spirit Pagoda as backing, there is no doubt that Huo Yuhao will be a figure who commands the winds and clouds of this era.

This match thoroughly brought Huo Yuhao into the view of all forces, making his name known under heaven.

"Big Brother, you're really number one under heaven now!"

Xie Xie looked at the praise for Huo Yuhao online and the new Young Genius Ranking, exclaiming in amazement repeatedly.

"Not only Yuhao, Sister Na's ranking has also risen, to Yuhao's previous ranking." Xu Xiaoyan remarked with emotion: "If Sister Na had performed a bit more on the competition field before, she might have risen even higher."

"I don't care." Gu Yue Na sat beside Huo Yuhao, delicately picking up a piece of Rose Pastry, tasting it in small bites, her black long hair falling down, reflecting a soft light halo in the sunlight.

"Rankings and such don't matter."

Gu Yue Na swallowed the sweet pastry, her eyes curving slightly, "Anyway, Yuhao is already first."

Huo Yuhao smiled and handed over a cup of warm Honey Flower Tea, saying: "Eat slowly, don't choke."

Xie Xie looked at the two, exaggeratedly covering his chest: "Hey hey, can you two not be this calm? The entire Soul Master World is discussing Big Brother Yuhao right now, and by association the few of us have been dug up too!"

Gu Yue Na took the tea cup, "You've also become famous across the Continent, isn't that good?"

"... That's true too."

Xie Xie thought about it carefully, then nodded.

Making a name for oneself — which youth doesn't have this dream?

But the pressure is also quite great; at least he couldn't be as calm as Big Brother Yuhao, would he have to wear a mask when going out in the future?

To the side, Tang Wulin held the Crystal Cake made by Huo Yuhao, eating with a face full of happiness while asking: "But what about Shrek's side? They lost so tragically this time, online evaluations of them aren't very friendly... nothing bad will happen, right?"

People always sympathize with the weak; although the result was Huo Yuhao single-handedly sweeping away thousands, the ages of the seven from East Sea were right there, so public opinion naturally leaned toward them, causing all the pressure to fall on Shrek.

"Wu Lin, you're just too soft-hearted."

Wang Jinxi shook his head, "Everything has a price; Teacher Luo has already communicated with the Heavenly Sea Alliance, not letting the cause of the conflict be exposed — that's already very humane, don't think too much."

It is worth mentioning that during this public opinion storm, the Spirit Pagoda did not fan the flames, but instead actively communicated with the Heavenly Sea Alliance, appropriately controlling certain key information. Otherwise, once the true cause of the match conflict was exposed, those seven Shrek students would likely suffer an even heavier blow.

Hearing this, Tang Wulin nodded, and thought no more about it.

Xie Xie asked curiously, "Speaking of which, Wu Lin, how's your forging competition going?"

Tang Wulin swallowed the last piece of pastry and replied, "One more day, and it's the finals. I can win!"

"Nice. Compared to us freeloaders, Wu Lin, you're really going to make a name for yourself." Xie Xie was a bit envious.

Sub-occupation... Although the few of them had also chosen their own sub-occupations, the progress wasn't fast; it needed time to raise.

Tang Wulin scratched his head and smiled slightly.

It was the people from Spirit Pagoda who gave him this opportunity; previously, he simply didn't dare show his forging talent in front of outsiders.

Compared to the relaxed atmosphere on Donghai Academy's side, the Shrek Academy students staying at the hotel were dead silent.

In the spacious suite, curtains tightly drawn, dim light enveloped every corner. The once proud and confident young Soul Masters now either slumped on sofas or leaned against walls, eyes hollow, as if still unable to regain their senses from the shock of that battle.

"We... lost to one person?" Yao Qixuan stared at the match footage looping on the Soul Guidance Screen, voice hoarse.

In the footage, Huo Yuhao's figure shuttled like a ghost, four pitch-black ten-thousand-year Soul Rings emitting a suffocating pressure, while they were powerless like children before him.

"Spirit Abyss Realm spiritual power... How could this be..." Ning Yue murmured, fingers unconsciously twisting her clothes hem, still in disbelief.

Lin Xuyao stared at the posts constantly jumping on the Soul Guidance Screen, face gloomy.

【Seven vs Seven? Wrong, One vs Seven! Shrek's Glory No More.】

【Shrek Academy Students Post-Match Interview: "We Lost Fairly, He's Just Too Strong..."】

【Eighth to First: This Youth's Advancement Road Shocked Everyone.】 (Small text: Especially Those He Defeated)

【Shrek Academy Emergency Statement: This Match Was Purely An Accident, We Are Researching How To Reasonably Lose To A Kid!】

Reading down the line, especially upon seeing the fourth post, Lin Xuyao's forehead veins bulged, fists clenched until they cracked, could no longer hold back, "These unscrupulous..."

Swish—

Perhaps sensing his anger, the fourth post rapidly disappeared, deleted by someone.

"..."

(End of Chapter)