Chapter 96 – Time to Raise the Intensity
"Students, in three days the first-year curriculum will end, and you will have a one-month holiday," Mu Jin announced with a smile as she stood on the podium beside Wang Yan.
"Yeah!"
The class erupted in cheers. Shrek Academy's workload wasn't overly heavy, but a whole month to return home and be with family was a joy no one would refuse.
"Don't think a vacation means you can relax," Wang Yan reminded. "The requirement to advance to second year is to obtain your second soul ring and break through to the Soul Grandmaster rank. Anyone who hasn't yet reached level twenty must work hard, or you won't be allowed to advance."
His words stirred many students. Shrek's admission standard was level fifteen or above, and several had entered right at that threshold. To raise five more levels in eleven months was a challenge for them.
In Class One, however, this was rare. Fewer than one-third lacked their second soul ring, and many of those were already at level twenty, only missing the ring itself.
Huo Yuhao was one of the few still below level twenty.
Beibei had managed to trick Xu Sanshi into giving him a Xuan Shui Pill, but unlike the original story he only had one, and he had not received Yan Shaozhe's supplemental pill either. Now Yuhao's soul power was only at level eighteen.
That was still remarkable progress.
He had entered Shrek at only level eleven. In eleven months he had climbed seven levels, averaging more than one level per month—an achievement born of relentless effort.
Yuhao truly spared nothing. Lin Yun had never seen him rest; he was always studying or cultivating, taking breaks only to sell grilled fish for money. He treated himself like a machine without feelings.
If not for Tianmeng Iceworm's constant nourishment of his body with origin power, Yuhao would have long since collapsed.
The Iceworm recognized Yuhao's problem but wasn't concerned. Minor injuries and overdrawn vitality meant little. Once Ice Emperor was recruited, with her four-hundred-thousand-year soul ring and bone and her immense origin power, all such issues would be healed.
By contrast, Wang Dong, that lazy mutt, was only at level twenty-eight—two whole levels lower than in the original timeline.
It might be because the two of them hadn't awakened their Martial Soul Fusion Technique. In the original, their one-hundred-percent compatibility doubled their training efficiency.
Without it, slower progress was inevitable. And without Yuhao constantly dragging him along, Wang Dong would never train diligently.
"Tianmeng-ge, I'm still two levels short. What should I do?" Yuhao asked anxiously. "There are only three days left before vacation, and I can't even reach level nineteen in time, let alone twenty."
"Calm down, Yuhao," the Iceworm replied lazily. "Your growth has already surpassed my expectations. As for the last two levels, I can irrigate you with my origin power and push you directly to level twenty."
"Will there be side effects?" Yuhao asked nervously.
"Of course," Tianmeng answered. "Levels not earned by your own training will be somewhat hollow. But it doesn't matter—once you gain your second martial soul, those problems will disappear."
"At first, I didn't irrigate you because your body was too weak. But after eleven months of training, with my origin power strengthening you, your physique is now sufficient to bear it. It's just enough for me to force two levels onto you."
"I understand. Thank you, Tianmeng-ge."
"Master, I sensed a faint spiritual fluctuation. Very familiar—it should be that meat worm," the Ice Emperor's voice sounded in Lin Yun's ear.
"Oh?" Lin Yun raised a brow and glanced at Huo Yuhao's back.
Communicating?
It must be about the upcoming vacation. According to the original timeline, Yuhao was supposed to head to the Extreme North. But now that the two Ice Emperors had been taken away by him years in advance, Lin Yun couldn't help but wonder—what kind of second martial soul would Yuhao obtain this time? Truly worth anticipating.
"Ice, I told you to gather your people and make sure they don't leave the territory for the next six months. Did you arrange that?" Lin Yun's lips curved into a sly smile.
"Of course. I already had them prepare half a year's worth of food. During this time, they'll stay within the territory and won't leave," the Ice Emperor answered seriously.
"Why make such an arrangement though, Master?"
"You don't need to worry. Just make sure your clan stays put."
Extreme Ice? What a joke! On the entire continent, the Snow Empress was the only remaining Ice Sky Snow Woman. As for the Ice Jade Scorpion clan, they would all remain within the Ice Emperor's territory. Lin Yun wanted to see if, under these circumstances, Yuhao could still obtain an extreme ice martial soul.
He had no hostility toward Yuhao, but he wouldn't let Ice Emperor's kin die just to serve as Yuhao's martial soul. The Ice Emperor belonged to him now, and so did the Ice Jade Scorpion clan.
Even after Yuhao became a god, he hadn't revived them, letting them remain in soul form instead. Lin Yun did not believe that Yuhao would ever go out of his way to resurrect a mere scorpion.
Extreme Ice? Dream on!
There were more than a handful of hundred-thousand-year Ice Scorpion Kings still in the clan. Lin Yun was eager to see whether Tianmeng Iceworm would dare take Yuhao into the Ice Emperor's domain without the Ice Emperor herself to shield him.
For the first time since coming to Shrek Academy, Lin Yun was actually raising the stakes for Yuhao.
Would this child of destiny, severed from his fated path, still manage to keep his string of outrageous luck?
Even the words of Mu Jin and Wang Yan on the stage didn't enter Lin Yun's ears. Their talk was only about the post-vacation advancement test anyway. The strongest soul beast allowed for that test was only millennial level—no pressure for him at all.
He could even spice things up with some flair, maybe play at taming a beast live during the exam.
"All right, that's about all you need to keep in mind," Mu Jin concluded with a smile. "Your teachers wish you all a happy vacation, and may you return in your best state to continue your studies."
"I hope a month from now, I can still see every single one of you in this classroom."
(End of Chapter)
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