FE-Chapter 75: The Messenger of Death is Breaking Through to Soul King
Listening to Nana's rather cold and majestic voice, Huo Yuhao pondered for a moment. Perhaps this time he would not take away her soul to train her, as Huo Yuhao had done in the original novel.
He had never demonstrated any ability in necromancy magic, so when facing Huo Yuhao, Nana acted like a cold and aloof senior classmate.
He didn't feel much pressure in his heart; he just thought of her as a younger sister with better talents.
Huo Yuhao pursed his lips and tilted his head to look at Nana. He wanted to ask something but suddenly found that Nana was half a head taller than him, walking beside him with long, voluptuous legs. Huo Yuhao had to look up at her.
He had suffered from malnutrition in the Duke of White Tiger's Mansion when he was young, but in the past few months since arriving at Sun Moon, his diet had improved greatly, and every meal in Illustrious Virtue Hall was delicious.
After several months of nourishment with precious ingredients in Illustrious Virtue Hall, along with taking ten-thousand-year-old whale glue, Huo Yuhao's physical fitness had improved. At the age of eleven, his height had already reached nearly 1.7 meters.
But Nana, whether due to the characteristics of her martial soul or because girls are generally taller, appeared very tall, which made it visually easy for him to feel like clinging to her.
Even though girls' physical development generally starts much earlier than boys', it shouldn't be that exaggerated.
Nana's eyes moved slightly as if she realized that she was indeed much taller than Huo Yuhao.
She bent her straight and slender legs slightly, tilted her head to look at Huo Yuhao, lowered her eyes, and whispered, "Yuhao, what do you want to ask?"
Huo Yuhao blinked a look of doubt on his face. "Senior Nana, I just entered the Soul Guidance Class of the Control Department, and you asked me to form a team. Do you think I'm better than the other students?"
Nana smiled softly. "You have been in school for less than a semester, yet you broke Xiao Hongchen's record to become the fastest second-level soul engineer. That has already caused quite a stir on campus."
"It shouldn't be strange that I came to you, Yuhao."
Nana had naturally paid attention to Huo Yuhao, a little celebrity in the academy. Huo Yuhao's portraits often appeared in the top three of the creative list.
His noble appearance in the portrait contrasted with his thin and weak body. He was the type that wealthy ladies couldn't help but want to support.
Although Nana was not a wealthy woman and even needed to budget her daily expenses carefully, she never missed the free voting and ranking every day.
Today, she found out that this suddenly talented junior student had transferred to her class, and she had been secretly delighted until now.
Huo Yuhao raised his eyes, looked at Nana silently, and spoke slowly.
"Senior Nana, you should know that those praises are flattery. Brother Xiao is the number one genius in a thousand years. I don't want to compete with him, nor do I want to take away that title."
Nana subconsciously lowered her eyes and glanced at Huo Yuhao upon hearing this. She was immediately attracted by his spiritual eyes and couldn't help but snort twice.
Humph, his skin is whiter than that of a girl, his eyes are beautiful, and he looks like a little boy who has been bullied. She could lift two of him with just one thigh. No wonder he is favored by the wealthy Meng Hongchen.
Other female students in the class, who had been silently supporting Huo Yuhao, wanted to come over and talk to him, thinking that maybe they could team up to compete together.
Nana noticed these gazes and pulled Huo Yuhao closer to her. With an expression that said "I have already reserved him," she persuaded the other female students to leave.
Half an hour later, Xu Sheng brought all the students under the age of fifteen from the Practical Control Department to the trial field.
At this time, more than a hundred talented students from grades one to five had gathered in the soul guidance trial field.
Lin Jiayi's resonant voice came through the soul guide to ensure that every student could hear it: "Please keep quiet, students present. Next, we will hold the All-Continent Advanced Soul Master Academy Soul Fighting Competition for the selection of reserve players."
"All students under the age of fifteen from grades one to five can participate. The entire selection process will be a free-for-all."
"You can form a team on your own within the same grade, but the number of people in a team cannot exceed four. In the end, students from the top teams have the hope of being selected as reserve players."
Xiao Hongchen, Huo Yuhao, and Meng Hongchen had already been selected, and there were only four spots left for other students.
But this situation was quite beneficial. You see, Jing Hongchen did not plan to select students from lower grades at the beginning; having his pair of grandchildren was enough.
It was because of Huo Yuhao's appearance that this selection competition was specially organized.
Then Lin Jiayi brought all the students to the center of the soul guide trial site, which had a large venue for various competitions.
Lin Jiayi looked at all the students. "Now, everyone enter the central trial site and check your soul guidance equipment in advance."
As soon as he finished speaking, all the students took action.
The restriction of being under fifteen years old meant there were few fifth-grade students, and the only outstanding ones were the Hongchen siblings.
The Sun-Moon Imperial Soul Engineering Academy divides grades based on the level of soul engineers. Those who can reach the fourth or fifth level of soul engineer at the age of fifteen are considered top-level talents, and there are only a handful of them.
Most of the students participating in the trials are from the third and fourth grades.
Nana and Huo Yuhao walked into the soul guidance trial site. Thinking of her parents' souls still imprisoned by the Holy Spirit Church, Nana's face showed a bit of sadness and urgency. She wanted to become a reserve team member to gain more resources and quickly enhance her strength.
"Brother Yuhao, let's go directly to the middle area of the venue instead of lingering on the edge. We will beat whoever provokes us."
Huo Yuhao nodded and happily agreed, "Yes, no problem." With his current comprehensive personal strength, he had nothing to worry about. He had defeated Chen Fei in the previous competition against the regular players, so beating these students would be easy.
At the other edge of the venue, a team from a fifth-grade class gathered.
Meng Hongchen curled her lips and complained, "I don't know what grandpa is thinking. Xiao, me, and Yuhao have already been selected. Is there a need to participate in this selection competition?"
"If we have this time, it would be better for Yuhao and me to practice our martial soul fusion skills."
Xiao Hongchen smiled. "Meng, the two of us are rare geniuses in the empire in a thousand years, and it's recognized by everyone."
"But for Yuhao, some students are not familiar with him, so Grandpa held this selection competition to choose other reserve players and enhance his credibility."
This was what Xiao Hongchen understood; he wanted all the students to know that Huo Yuhao's status as a reserve player was earned.
It wasn't what some students imagined—that he got a spot in the reserve team by relying on some shameful relationship with Miss Meng.
Lin Jiayi unfolded the flying soul guidance device and soared above the venue: "Everyone gets ten minutes to prepare. In ten minutes, the selection will officially begin."
He took out a rectangular soul guidance device and pressed it. A soul guidance screen projected in the sky in front of the venue, and a countdown began.
"All students, give full play to your abilities. We will arrange ten eighth-level soul engineers from Illustrious Virtue Hall to guard around the soul guidance test site and observe your combat situation at all times."
"If we sense an attack that could endanger your life, we will protect you in time."
Sending so many eighth-level soul engineers to ensure the normal progress of the selection was already a significant deal.
You should know that the soul power of every eighth-level soul engineer has reached the level of Soul Douluo. Ten of them represent an unstoppable force.
Even the Imperial Academy of the Three Kingdoms of Douluo Continent and Shrek Academy have their upper limit in the field of soul guides capped at the eighth level.
Of course, it was worth it for these ten eighth-level soul engineers to pause their research projects and soul guidance device manufacturing for the day to maintain the selection competition.
After all, all the students in the field were potential talents of the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineering Academy. Any accident encountered by any of them during the competition would be a huge loss to the school.
The ten-minute countdown began, and Lin Jiayi flew to the platform in front of the venue.
Jing Hongchen stood on the high platform, scanning the trial field below as if he were looking for something. When he saw his three most precious students (Yuhao, Meng & Xiao), he couldn't help but smile.
"Hall Master, what about Princess Xu Tianzhen? What did Master Kong say? Will she participate in this selection?" Lin Jiayi asked with a slightly furrowed brow.
Jing Hongchen laughed. "Don't worry too much. Master Kong said that the princess would not be allowed to participate as a reserve team member. For the Soul Master Competition five years later, she can be considered a formal team member."
Lin Jiayi nodded slightly. "That's good. The reserve team already has Xiao, Meng, and Yuhao, and with the students we selected, the lineup is already quite luxurious."
In the trial field, students were looking for teammates to form teams and discuss tactics.
Some artillery soul engineers armed themselves with numerous metal gun barrels installed all over their bodies.
A student in a fourth-grade class exclaimed.
"Hey, did you see that? Brother Hao is on that team. Let's go talk to him."
"Brother Hao!?"
Another student followed and looked but was disappointed. "Hey, you're talking about this Brother Hao… Zhou Xinghao..."
"I thought it was Huo Yuhao, who's even more perverted than Xiao Hongchen."
He gazed at the plump player named Zhou Xinghao and felt extremely disappointed. The gap between Brother Hao and Brother Hao was huge.
Zhou Xinghao fixed his metal soul cannon base and rubbed his hands together. "Haha, it's finally time for me to show off my skills. I'll show you how powerful I am—the second cannon king of the Sun Moon."
"Who's the first cannon king?" the student next to him asked curiously.
"Xiao Hongchen. As long as Xiao Hongchen doesn't make a move, I, Zhou Xinghao, am invincible among my peers."
Zhou Xinghao was filled with a fighting spirit: "Call me Brother Hao from now on."
"Xiao Zhou, do you know there's a Brother Hao named Huo Yuhao in our academy?"
Zhou Xinghao was stunned and then said a bit proudly, "Are you talking about the little scientist who likes to research the creativity list? No, his actual combat ability may not be as strong as mine. If we meet later, he might have to be afraid of me."
"I think… Brother Hao can't be afraid of you."
All the students in the trial field formed teams of twos and threes and began discussing tactical countermeasures for the upcoming selection.
Zhou Xinghao looked at his teammate Lan Xiu and asked with a smile, "Brother Lan Xiu, how do you think we should fight? Should we adopt firepower coverage or tactical insertion?"
The student called Lan Xiu thought seriously. "We can roam around the edge of the field first. Although in this kind of melee, someone will inevitably take the initiative to attack us, we should try to avoid fighting and preserve our soul power."
Zhou Xinghao nodded in approval. "That makes sense. When everyone's soul power is almost consumed, it will be my turn, Zhou Xinghao, to take them all down."
The vast majority of junior students chose to hide at the edge of the field first, developing in a wretched manner, and trying not to be targeted by the fifth-year students.
Somewhere on the edge of the trial field, Xiao Hongchen hugged his shoulders and laughed heartily. "Meng, we will start from this side later, and bomb the ground with artillery fire to the other side."
Meng Hongchen stood on tiptoe to look into the field from afar. "I don't know where Yuhao is..."
"Don't worry, Meng. As my soul guidance turret pushes forward, I will find Yuhao."
In the middle area of the trial field, Huo Yuhao and Nana chose a spot they liked.
"Yuhao, can you give me a brief introduction to your martial soul's abilities? It will be easier for us to cooperate during the competition."
"Spiritual Martial Soul: Spirit Eyes."
"Spiritual? You're probably not very good at close combat, then."
"It's OK."
When the selection competition started, Huo Yuhao contemplated whether to make an Angry Buddha Lotus Flame in advance to let these soul engineers see what explosive aesthetics look like and showcase his close combat strength.
...
In a hidden cave in the central area of the Mingdou Mountains.
"Hehehe, God is helping me. This messenger has finally broken through to the Soul King level."
A man in a black robe, emitting a fierce and murderous aura, sneered sinisterly. It was evident that he was a person with a deep-rooted evil nature.
"After refining a few more corpse slaves, we should cross the Mingdou Mountains and go to the area controlled by the Star Luo Empire on the other side of the mountains to make a big profit."
At this time, a man with a ferocious scar walked into the cave and first congratulated him respectfully on his breakthrough to the Soul King level, then said in a deep voice,
"Boss, the next Soul Master Competition will be held in the Star Luo Empire."
"The military control on the side of the Mingdou Mountains close to the Star Luo Empire must be extremely strict. Why don't we intercept the passing caravans here?"
The Death Messenger sneered, "It's just a group of insects. The Star Luo Empire has sent troops many times to wipe out our Death Hand Bandits, but they all returned in vain."
Scarface wore a worried expression. "But the Star Luo Empire is holding a soul master competition, and Shrek Academy will participate."
"According to the convention, Shrek will send members of the inspection team to carry out a powerful eradication operation against bandit groups like ours."
"If we can't return to the Sun Moon Empire in time, I'm afraid we will be doomed."
The Death Messenger grinned, revealing a sinister smile. "Shrek Inspection Team? They are just a bunch of good-for-nothing. How dare they come to my door? This messenger will make them taste the taste of corpse explosion, jie..."
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