Shrek City, Shrek Academy, Outer Court First Grade.
Over a hundred people sat in the large classroom, sunlight streaming in through the windows, making the entire room bright and warm.
The teacher, Shen Yi, stood at the front podium, explaining the development and application of Spirit Ability. Her voice was crisp and loud, echoing throughout the classroom.
The blackboard was covered in dense writing regarding the circulation of Spirit Power, the construction of Spirit Ability, and their application in actual combat.
Huo Yuhao sat in the back row by a window, the sunlight falling on his profile and outlining a soft silhouette.
At this moment, he had no intention of listening to the lecture at all, his gaze frequently drifting toward Gu Yue beside him. In those Spirit Eyes, there was reflection, inquiry, and a sense of complexity that was hard to put into words.
Feeling Huo Yuhao's gaze, a faint smile tugged at the corners of Gu Yue's mouth, and her cheeks flushed slightly, as if touched by a layer of light rouge.
"Why do you keep looking at me?" Gu Yue sent a voice transmission to Huo Yuhao, her tone carrying a hint of coquettish annoyance.
Huo Yuhao's movement as he retracted his gaze paused for a moment, a flash of unease flickering through his Spirit Eyes.
After a moment, he only replied with: "It's nothing."
Shen Yi, the teacher on the podium, saw the small interactions between the two clearly. However, she did not point it out, simply continuing her lecture as if nothing were happening. She knew that these two little ancestors had joined Shrek Academy primarily for those two spots; they weren't here to study at all.
Moreover, given their cultivation and strength, Shen Yi didn't feel there was much she could teach them anyway. As long as they didn't affect the others, she simply chose to ignore it.
As the bell rang to signal the end of class, a cacophony of noise filled the room, and Students began to leave in groups of twos and threes.
Gu Yue propped her right elbow on the desk, resting her chin in her palm. Her purple eyes blinked as she tilted her head to look at Huo Yuhao.
"You're acting strange!"
Huo Yuhao was indeed acting strange. Usually decisive in his actions, he now suddenly found himself unsure of how to face Gu Yue. His heart felt like a tangled mess that could neither be unraveled nor cut through.
What should he do about the question hidden in his heart?
Should he ask directly?
If things were truly as he suspected, he and Gu Yue might not even be able to remain friends afterward. But if he didn't ask, it didn't seem like the final outcome would change; he would just find out the truth a bit later.
Seeing Huo Yuhao hesitating to speak, Gu Yue's purple eyes blinked as she said, "If there's something on your mind, just say it. Being so wishy-washy doesn't suit your personality."
Gu Yue's words instantly drew the attention of others, and Tang Wulin and the rest sitting nearby immediately cast their gazes over.
Huo Yuhao glanced at the crowd, a flash of determination crossing his Spirit Eyes. Then, as if he had made up his mind.
He stood up and reached out to take Gu Yue's hand. Her hand was soft and warm, and holding it in his palm made his heart beat a little faster.
"Let's go outside and talk." He pulled Gu Yue through the rows of desks and chairs, heading toward the classroom door, eventually disappearing from everyone's sight.
Seeing the two leave, the others tactfully refrained from following.
The two left the teaching building, crossed the playground, walked down a tree-lined path, and finally stopped under a secluded ancient tree within the academy.
The ancient tree was so thick it would take several people to encircle it. Its canopy was like a massive umbrella, blotting out the sky, with sunlight filtering through the gaps in the leaves to cast mottled patterns of light and shadow on the ground.
The surroundings were very quiet, with only the rustling of the wind through the leaves.
Gu Yue looked at the solemn Huo Yuhao, a trace of confusion flashing in her purple eyes.
"What is it exactly? Why are you being so serious?"
Huo Yuhao took a deep breath, looked straight into Gu Yue's eyes, and asked, "Gu Yue, does your Clan have contact with the Vicious Beasts of Star Dou?"
With that one question, the smile on Gu Yue's lips instantly froze. Gu Yue's purple eyes narrowed slightly, and thousands of thoughts surged through her mind in an instant.
Why did Huo Yuhao ask this?
What did he see?
Has my identity as the Silver Dragon King been exposed?
...
As Huo Yuhao watched Gu Yue's expression, no answer was needed; her reaction had already betrayed her.
He sighed, his voice carrying a hint of helplessness and a touch of relief: "So it really is so!"
Gu Yue snapped back to her senses. She took a deep breath, suppressing the stormy waves in her heart, and her purple eyes regained their clarity. Huo Yuhao had only asked if she had contact with the Vicious Beasts; he hadn't recognized her true identity.
She forced herself to calm down and asked, "Why are you suddenly asking this?"
In that instant, Gu Yue returned to her cold and aloof demeanor, looking exactly like the figure Huo Yuhao had seen Ten Thousand Years ago.
Huo Yuhao thought to himself, 'I can't exactly say I met your ancestor, can I?'
Huo Yuhao quickly organized his words, trying to make his tone sound as natural as possible: "I ran into someone who recognized that the true dragon inverse scale you gave me is a Star Dou treasure, something that has always been kept in the hands of Vicious Beasts. That's why I asked."
Hearing this, Gu Yue felt an immediate sense of relief. Her tense nerves relaxed slightly, and her heart, which had been hanging in her throat, settled back into her chest. As long as her identity hadn't been exposed, it was fine.
However, a moment later, she realized that Huo Yuhao spent most of his time with her. Where could he have met 'that person'?
Furthermore, those capable of recognizing her inverse scale should only be the Vicious Beasts at the core of Star Dou.
Humans shouldn't be able to recognize her inverse scale, let alone know she was in Star Dou!
Could it be... that a Vicious Beast leaked the secret?
Has a beast traitor emerged?!
Gu Yuena showed nothing on her face; her exquisite features remained as calm as still water, betraying no emotion. But in her heart, it was already freezing cold.
If a Spirit Beast had truly betrayed her, then her ten-thousand-year plan was at risk of exposure. She had already decided that she would send word to Di Tian later to have him begin an investigation.
Suppressing these emotions, Gu Yue looked at Huo Yuhao and said, "The place where my Clan once lived in seclusion was in the Star Dou Great Forest, so we do have some contact with the Vicious Beasts there."
"It's more than just'some contact,' isn't it?" Huo Yuhao looked into Gu Yue's eyes. "I suspect your Clan's ancestors were actually transformed hundred-thousand-year Spirit Beasts."
Gu Yue was stunned for a moment, a flicker of surprise passing through her purple eyes. She hadn't expected Huo Yuhao to suddenly say such a thing.
But on second thought, this explanation seemed even more reasonable.
Gu Yue's gaze shifted slightly, and a hint of helplessness flashed in her purple eyes, as if a secret had been exposed.
She sighed, her voice carrying a touch of annoyance: "Did that person tell you this as well?"
In the years she had spent integrating into human society, her acting skills had also improved. Those micro-expressions, those small movements, and those seemingly unintentional reactions were all carefully designed by her.
At any rate, Huo Yuhao didn't see through her micro-expressions just now; instead, he became even more certain of his suspicion.
He shook his head. "I analyzed it myself. I don't think a Star Dou treasure would be easily given to a human, but if it were a transformed Spirit Beast, that would be different."
Gu Yue looked at Huo Yuhao, a complex light flashing in her purple eyes. "I didn't expect this secret to be discovered by you after all."
"You're right. My Clan's ancestors were indeed transformed Spirit Beasts."
"Are you... going to report this to the Federation now?"
---------------------------------------------
A/N:
5 Power Stones = 1 Extra Chapter
2 Reviews = 1 Extra Chapter
I hope all of you are enjoying this story so far. I would appreciate some Power Stones if you can spare any. Leave a review if you like the story. Thank you.