After leaving the temporarily carved ice cave, Liu Yuan did not linger for a moment.
He already had a crystal-clear goal in mind—to return to the Sun Moon Empire's capital, Bright Capital, and represent the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy in the upcoming All-Continent High-Rank Soul Master Academy Soul Dueling Tournament!
At the thought of the enticing reward—a brand-new Divine Rank Spirit—and the scene of thoroughly crushing Shrek Academy's glory under the gaze of thousands, his blood felt as if it were boiling.
"Swoosh—"
A green-gold flash of light lit up once more as his figure transformed into an arrow tearing through the wind and snow. Moving at the extreme speed of "Extreme Speed," he rushed back in the direction he had come from.
The biting winds and filling ice crystals of the Extreme North Land were as if they didn't exist before his "Frozen Body" trait, unable to hinder him in the slightest.
However, just as he was traveling at full speed across a vast stretch of glaciers, a rich aroma—completely out of place in this frozen world and filled with the scent of human life—suddenly wafted into his nostrils.
It was... the scent of grilled fish.
Moreover, the grilling technique seemed exceptionally skilled; the charred aroma of the fish blended perfectly with some special spices, giving off an enticing scent that made one's mouth water.
In this desolate, snow-covered Extreme North Land, why would anyone be grilling fish here?
A hint of curiosity rose in Liu Yuan's heart, and his speed unconsciously slowed down. Following the direction of the scent, his figure flickered across the icy plains several times as he silently skirted around a massive ice mound.
The sight before him made him pause slightly.
Beneath a leeward ice cliff not far away, a small, warm orange-yellow fire flickered.
A young boy, appearing no older than twelve or thirteen, was crouching by the fire, intently flipping a skewer of golden, crispy grilled fish.
The fish sizzled as it cooked, its fat dripping into the flames and kicking up small sparks, making the enticing aroma even more intense.
And that boy's figure was one Liu Yuan knew all too well.
"Yuhao?"
A flash of surprise crossed Liu Yuan's eyes. He stopped and slowly stepped out from behind the ice mound, coming to stand before the boy.
Huo Yuhao, who was focusing entirely on the grilled fish for fear of overcooking it even by a fraction, was startled by the sudden voice.
He snapped his head up, and when he saw who it was, he froze instantly.
Because Liu Yuan had appeared so suddenly—as if out of thin air—Huo Yuhao's keen Spiritual Detection hadn't caught even a trace of him beforehand!
But this shock was quickly replaced by the immense joy of a reunion.
"Big Brother Liu?!" Huo Yuhao's eyes went wide, his face filled with unbelievable surprise. He almost instinctively stood up and shouted excitedly, "Is it really you, Big Brother Liu! Why are you here?"
"I was about to ask you the same thing, Yuhao." Liu Yuan looked at his long-lost friend, a gentle smile appearing on his face. "I thought this place had nothing but Spirit Beasts and ice; I didn't expect to smell your grilled fish."
The two smiled at each other, and any sense of distance vanished within that familiar address and smile.
"Quick, sit down, Big Brother Liu!" Huo Yuhao greeted him warmly. "I just obtained a spirit ring and was about to grill some fish to celebrate; I didn't expect to run into you. What a coincidence!"
Liu Yuan nodded understandingly and sat down by the fire. Based on the current timeline, he reached a conclusion: it seemed Yuhao had successfully absorbed the Ice Jade Empress Scorpion and obtained the Extreme Ice Spirit.
He asked, "You came to the Extreme North Land alone to get a spirit ring? You're quite brave."
"Hehe, just lucky." Huo Yuhao scratched his head, but he didn't go into detail about obtaining the spirit ring, as that involved his greatest secret.
And Liu Yuan didn't mind this at all.
Huo Yuhao had secrets, and so did he.
So, they were even.
Liu Yuan listened quietly, his expression calm while he understood everything perfectly.
He said with a smile, "I see, that truly is a grand Opportunity. It's a coincidence; I was also in the Extreme North Land a few days ago. It's a pity I didn't run into you sooner."
Huo Yuhao's eyes widened in surprise. "Really?"
He casually handed over a skewer of the most fragrant grilled fish and asked curiously, "By the way, Big Brother Liu, what are you doing in the Extreme North Land? You're not here for a spirit ring too, are you? Also, where did you go after leaving Shrek?"
Liu Yuan took the grilled fish and didn't hide anything, briefly summarizing his experiences.
He first spoke about his encounter with Xiao Hongchen and Meng Hongchen.
Then he mentioned the process of traveling to Bright Capital together.
After that, he described how he joined the Sun Moon Royal Academy and how Jing Hongchen's "sincerity" was more than enough.
He spoke nonchalantly, but every word fell on Huo Yuhao's ears like a thunderclap.
The Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy! The only top-tier institution on the entire continent capable of standing as an equal to Shrek Academy!
And Big Brother Liu had not only gained their recognition and earnest invitation, but upon joining, he had immediately become... a Core Disciple?
Huo Yuhao's eyes were filled with undisguised shock and envy.
While he was genuinely happy for his friend's achievement...
...at the thought of the words "Core Disciple," a hint of bitterness involuntarily welled up in the depths of his heart.
He remembered how, during the Freshman Assessment, he had worked with Wang Dong and Xiao Xiao, giving their all to defeat one powerful opponent after another, eventually winning the championship.
Yet even so, when the list of Core Disciples was announced, his name was not on it.
The academy given reason was that his spirit power Rank was too low.
That sense of loss and resentment remained deeply buried in his heart even now.
How keen was Liu Yuan? He saw through the forced nature of Huo Yuhao's smile and the bitterness within at a glance, so he asked, "Yuhao, how have you been faring... at Shrek?"
Hearing this question, the smile on Huo Yuhao's face froze completely, replaced by an indescribable mix of complex emotions.
He was silent for a moment before saying in a low voice, "It's alright... it's just..."
He paused, seemingly organizing his words, his voice growing deeper. "We won the championship in the Freshman Assessment. I thought... I thought the academy would recognize me for it."
"But because my spirit power was only in the teens—the lowest among all the freshmen—the academy didn't grant me Core Disciple status. They felt my potential... might end right here."
Huo Yuhao's fists clenched involuntarily, his words filled with suppressed grievance and indignation. "They can't see my mental force, nor can they see my role in the team. They only care about spirit power Rank... in their eyes, low spirit power is the original sin."
Seeing Huo Yuhao's dejected and bitter appearance, Liu Yuan's contempt and disgust for Shrek Academy deepened even further.
Geniuses who come and go at their beck and call, they treat with indifference.
Yet they are blind to the unpolished gems that possess infinite potential but are temporarily lagging.
This is the so-called "Number One Academy on the Continent"? How utterly laughable!
Liu Yuan casually tossed the fish bones into the fire and looked at Huo Yuhao, his gaze becoming serious and solemn. He spoke slowly, emphasizing every word:
"Since Shrek fails to recognize a pearl and only uses that set of rigid standards to bury your talent."
"How about you come to our Sun Moon Royal Academy instead?"
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