Part 1
The domineering teacher, Zhou Yi, appeared to have lost her high-handed att.i.tude before the middle-aged man named Fan Yu in front of her. She answered politely, “I’m referring to what you told me last time about a mental attribute Spirit Master using a spirit guidance device.”
Hearing her say this, Fan Yu’s eyes lit up and fell upon Huo Yuhao. “He has a mental attribute Battle Spirit?”
Zhou Yi nodded, “Yes. He is Huo Yuhao, a freshman this year. He has a body type eye spirit of the mental attribute.”
After carefully looking at Huo Yuhao, Fan Yu shook his head, “No good. His const.i.tution and Spirit Power are both too weak. He probably won’t even be able to use the smallest spirit guidance weapon. His potential looks pretty average, too. Far from what I need.”
Zhou Yi snorted, “Are you looking down on my judgment? Yes, Huo Yuhao’s present abilities are weak but his spirit ability is not common. It is the most practical of any mental spirit ability I have ever seen. Huo Yuhao, let him experience it.”
“Oh.” As a student, Huo Yuhao could only be a spectator at the time. He immediately released his Mental Detection and Sharing ability on the middle-aged man.
Right after, Huo Yuhao was greatly shocked and he almost lost control of his mind. When his Mental Detection and Sharing ability fell on that middle-aged man, that man frowned a little, and in that instant, Huo Yuhao felt as if a fearsome and enormous beast had opened its mouth in front of him, as if he would be swallowed in one bite.
This feeling immediately roused the Daydream Iceworm from his deep sleep. A refreshing wave appeared in his sea of consciousness and Huo Yuhao’s shock disappeared.
Fan Yu’s fearsome pressure only appeared for a second before it disappeared and allowed Huo Yuhao’s Mental Detection and Sharing ability to establish a connection.
“What!” After only a moment, Fan Yu had discovered the profoundness of Huo Yuhao’s ability. His calm eyes suddenly surged with emotions.
“There can be a mental attribute spirit ability like this? How can it appear as a ten-year spirit ring ability?” Fan Yu gave a puzzled look at Huo Yuhao’s white spirit ring. More than confusion, he was more pleasantly surprised.
Of course, Huo Yuhao wouldn’t reveal his story about the Daydream Iceworm and explained that it was from a Wind Baboon.
“Ten-year Wind Baboon?” Fan Yu and Zhou Yi were both speechless.
Zhou Yi looked at Fan Yu, “Could it be a spirit ability variation?”
Fan Yu nodded, “That’s possible. This little guy’s Battle Spirit is body type and mental attribute so it is already a variation. His choice of Spirit Beast is also incompatible with his Battle Spirit so there could have been some variation. For a mental attribute Battle Spirit to absorb a wind attribute spirit ring without consequences is already a miracle. Who could have thought that it would give this type of variation? It is probably a miracle that will never appear again.”
“Caitou, come here.” Fan Yu called to the group of people nearby. Immediately, a young man ran over.
Seeing this young man, Huo Yuhao couldn’t help but be surprised. From his face, he was around the same age of Beibei. However, his body was extremely big with a height of more than two meters and shoulders wider than Fan Yu, showing tanned muscles. Not a single strand of hair was on his head and, compared to regular people, he was much darker. He also had a simple and honest face.
“Teacher.” The young man bowed to Fan Yu respectfully.
Fan Yu pointed at Huo Yuhao, “You try to fire a mounted spirit guidance cannon and let this boy help you to hit a moving target.”
“Yes.” The strong, black young man didn’t ask anything and turned to Huo Yuhao with a smile, “Little brother, come with me.”
Zhou Yi said, “Huo Yuhao, just use your ability to support him.”
“Okay.” Huo Yuhao had a better understanding of Zhou Yi’s reason for taking him here now. He rushed to catch up with the young man.
“Little brother, nice to meet you. I am He Caitou. Everyone calls me Caitou so you can call me that too.” The young man smiled once more.
“Nice to meet you, Big Brother He, I am Huo Yuhao.”
He Caitou paused a second when he was called Big Brother He and immediately turned around to give a thumbs up. “Little brother, you’re pretty good.”
Even historians in the future will never know that the friendship between Shura Eyes Huo Yuhao and Source of Destruction He Caitou had started with a simple form of address.
The two of them arrived at the edge of the testing area. He Caitou slapped the black belt on his waist, a glow flashed and a weird object, to Huo Yuhao, was in his hands.
It was a black metal tube around a one and a half meters long with an opening of fifteen centimeters in diameter. It’s end was a little bigger with many bizarre markings.
He Caitou skillfully held it. He tapped below the metal tube twice with his right hand and suddenly, a cover opened, revealing a twenty centimeter long, ten centimeter wide gap.
He rapidly tapped his waist again and a small ear shaped metal landed on his hand. He carefully put it into the gap on the metal tube and closed the cover. Raising his right hand, the metal tube landed on his wide shoulders.
The former He Caitou gave off a comfortable feeling but with this metal tube on his shoulder, he experienced a great change in att.i.tude. Since Huo Yuhao’s Battle Spirit is of the mental attribute, he could quickly detect danger coming from He Caitou.
“Huo Yuhao, let’s get started.”
Huo Yuhao’s eyes flickered with a gold light and Mental Detection and Sharing accurately fell on He Caitou. He Caitou showed a hint of surprise and excitedly shouted into the distance, “Move the target. Shoot.”
There seemed to be someone controlling from the other side. A round disk shot out from a far away corner, aimed directly at Huo Yuhao and He Caitou.
A strong fluctuation of Spirit Power radiated from He Caitou’s body in that instant. Two yellow rings and one purple ring simultaneously appeared. The metal tube on his shoulder slightly tremored and a layer of black halos circulated around the tube. He Caitou’s body gently moved so the metal tube was pointed directly at the speeding disk.
“Bang!” A violent roar sounded as a ball of black air shot out from the metal tube. The strong air current almost caused Huo Yuhao to fall over.
However, the black ball of air did not collide with the disk. Instead, it flew right by it. After another hundred meters, it collided with the metal wall and caused a huge noise. As the current bounced back, He Caitou quickly guarded Huo Yuhao behind him.
It took a couple of seconds for the air current to finally settle down. The original flying disk did not fly out, instead it fell to the ground near them.
Part 2
He Caitou said with disappointment, “Still not enough.”
Fan Yu and Zhou Yi had walked over. Zhou Yi’s expression was not happy but Fan Yu seemed to have thought of something and said, “Huo Yuhao, how wide is the perimeter of your Mental Detection?”
Huo Yuhao responded, “Around thirty meters in diameter.”
Fan Yu said with sudden understanding, “So, that’s why. No wonder. Well, no matter what, it’s still a ten-year spirit ring ability. To have such detection within your range is already not simple. We shouldn’t ask for too much. Just, it could have been better.”
Huo Yuhao suddenly said, “Teacher Fan Yu, my Mental Detection and Sharing ability can expand its range as my Spirit Power increases.”
Fan Yu paused, “How can that be? A spirit ability can evolve?”
Huo Yuhao said with a serious tone, “It really can. From the time I obtained the ability to now, the detection range has already increased by a meter. I still cannot fully control this ability. Maybe, I will be able to change the perimeter and expand it to be long and narrow in the future.”
Huo Yuhao had already realized that Zhou Yi bringing him here and the following conversation could be an opportunity for him; even though he was still not clear on what the benefit could be. But, he still grabbed this opportunity and said those words.
Fan Yu looked toward Zhou Yi and Zhou Yi slightly nodded her head.
Fan Yu said, “Good. If there is a day when your Mental Detection and Sharing ability can reach a range above a hundred meters, then come find me. I will teach you to make spirit guidance devices.”
“Yes. Thank you, Teacher.” Huo Yuhao quickly gave a respectful bow.
Fan Yu waved his hands, “Caitou, you take him aside and explain to him what a mounted spirit guidance weapon is.”
“Sure.” He Caitou already had a great impression of Huo Yuhao and waved for him to walk over.
Watching them leave, Fan Yu turned to Zhou Yi and said, “What do you think about this child? His ability is truly powerful. It would be an unreplaceable ability in a party. I might be asking too much of him, but in order for his ability to be compatible with a spirit guidance weapon, it would have to reach at least a hundred meters. I can say, if one day, his Spirit Detection and Sharing ability can reach a thousand meters, then he would be the continent’s most fearsome support Spirit Master.”
Zhou Yi responded, “I have just started getting to know this child so I cannot say now. However, you have seen as well. Even though his cultivation is not strong and his const.i.tution weak, his heart is more mature than people his age. No other student would have said what he just did. I will look after him for you now. But, if he cannot pa.s.s the freshman examination, I will still expel him. The rules cannot be abandoned.”
Fan Yu thought for a moment, “Help me observe him more. Even if he doesn’t pa.s.s the examination, as long as he has this Mental Detection and Sharing ability that can continue evolving, then I can still recruit him for the Spirit Guidance Department. I had already researched spirit guidance devices for ten years. Incorporating past research, I have finally created these fearsome mounted spirit guidance weapons. The only thing I lack now is someone to use them!”
Zhou Yi sighed, “You shouldn’t be so attached. You should understand that other than lacking people to use them, the mounted spirit guidance weapons’ cost for creation is also a fatal flaw. They will never be used widely.”
Fan Yu said unyieldingly, “Spirit guidance weapons were originally powerful weapons for the few exceptional Spirit Masters. My research on mounted spirit weapons was never meant to be popularized amongst all Spirit Masters. I only need the fewest Spirit Masters to use them in order for mounted spirit weapons to be our academy’s real trump card.”
“Big Brother He, what are mounted spirit guidance weapons?” Huo Yuhao asked He Caitou with curiosity.
He Caitou laughed merrily, “Spirit guidance weapons are separated into many different types. It’s hard to clarify them all right now. There are two main categories: close range spirit guidance weapons and long range spirit guidance weapons. Our common weapons are close range spirit guidance weapons. After activating with Spirit Power, they can become powerful weapons. Comparatively, within a certain reach, close range spirit guidance weapons will be more powerful. Long range spirit guidance weapons are activated by Spirit Power to release a long ranged attack. The more powerful the spirit guidance weapon, the more Spirit Power it will require. That is to say, the higher the Spirit Master’s cultivation, the more powerful weapons they can use.
“The mounted spirit guidance weapon is a unique type of spirit guidance device developed by teacher by incorporating past research. They release a long ranged attack but do not require much Spirit Power. You saw the process by which I used it before. Simply, it is to break the spirit guidance device and the attacking weapon into two parts. The spirit guidance device is used to release and ignite. The mounted spirit guidance cannon I used before was just to release the cannon ball. The most exceptional quality of mounted spirit guidance weapons is the small cost of Spirit Power, which means it can be used without a high cultivation. But, what they lack is accuracy. Especially against moving targets. Against stationary targets, they have extreme power. However, it is hard to create the cannon b.a.l.l.s and they require many precious materials. Usually, teacher wouldn’t even let me fire one. Teacher said that, conceptually, mounted spirit guidance weapons can increase a Spirit Master’s power by ten fold. Unfortunately, even a mounted spirit guidance weapon’s power is limited since it is still affected by the materials used to create it. So it is destined that very few spirit masters will be compatible with its usage.”
He Caitou’s explanation was fantastic, even though it was not very clear. However, it finally opened the door to spirit guidance devices for Huo Yuhao and allowed him to gain an introductory understanding. He secretly understood that Teacher Fan Yu must have great accomplishments concerning spirit guidance devices. Teacher Xiao Ya had said that he needs to learn how to make spirit guidance devices. If he could become Teacher Fan Yu’s disciple, then it would be the greatest option.
“Huo Yuhao, let’s go.” Just at this moment, Zhou Yi’s voice came.
Huo Yuhao said to He Caitou, “Big Brother He, I will leave now. It was a pleasure to meet you.”
He Caitou laughed, “You are this year’s freshman right? Work hard. It would be great if you can become my brother in the future. Usually, teacher won’t let me leave this place. It’s so boring.”
Leaving the Spirit Guidance Testing Area, Zhou Yi brought Huo Yuhao back to the dormitory, “Huo Yuhao, you heard what teacher Fan Yu said. I can only tell you that he is our academy’s greatest creator of spirit guidance devices. If you can become his disciple then you will have a limitless future. However, you must be able to stay in the academy first. Go eat now.”
Seeing Zhou Yi leave, Huo Yuhao went directly to the cafeteria. By now, students from other cla.s.ses had also been released and there were a great number of people in front of the cafeteria entrance.
Part 3
Suddenly, a figure came in front of Huo Yuhao. He was very surprised. When he lifted his head, he saw that it was actually Tang Ya.
“Teacher Xiao Ya?”
Tang Ya’s face carried a mysterious smile. Grabbing Huo Yuhao to the side, she said with a low voice, “Xiao Yuhao, you don’t have much money, right?”
Huo Yuhao nodded, “Yes. Elder Brother told me that the academy has some jobs I can take. I plan to go check them out after cla.s.ses end.”
A year’s tuition is ten gold coins along with everyday expenditures. Even though Huo Yuhao wants to spend all his attention on cultivation, he still needs money to live.
Tang Ya laughed merrily, “You are our Tang Clan’s disciple. Let Teacher care for you. I thought of a way for you to make money. I know the auntie who buys food for the cafeteria. From now on, I will ask her to give you around twenty fish every day. I ordered a rack for you to roast them outside, along with some coal. I also prepared some spices. After school, why don’t you just sell roasted fish near the academy gate? With your skills, you will definitely sell out. The fish will cost a copper coin each. After you prepare them, you can sell them easily for five copper coins. This way, wouldn’t you be rich?”
Huo Yuhao’s eyes brightened, “Teacher Xiao Ya, this really is a good idea. I have Spirit Eyes so I can control the fire very accurately. Why don’t we try it tonight?”
Tang Ya continuously nodded her head and finally revealed her fox tail, “Then, I will prepare everything for you. When you start roasting your fish, give one to me to eat first. Don’t worry, I will also buy from you. As for materials in the future, you will need to go buy them yourself.”
Since that day she tasted Huo Yuhao’s roasted fish, she had never forgotten it. After her examination, she finally thought of a good plan to benefit them both. Of course, she did it without Beibei’s knowledge.
Seeing Tang Ya’s greedy look, Huo Yuhao had also understood. Smiling within, he said, “Okay, Teacher Xiao Ya. Then let’s meet here tonight?”
“Ok, ok. Then I will go back now. Oh yeah, let me tell you some good news. Beibei and I have successfully entered the fourth year!” Tang Ya waved to him and happily rushed off.
After eating a simple lunch, Huo Yuhao returned to the dormitory. w.a.n.g Dong wasn’t there. Who knows where he went. Zhou Yi had said that she will train them more in the afternoon. Using the afternoon break, he once again entered meditation to cultivate and also recover his energy.
The cultivation this time gave Huo Yuhao quite a big surprise. After the overbearing run in the morning, he found that, with a cycle of the Mysterious Heaven Skill, his spirit energy increased more than usual. Even though it was only a hint more, it was still very satisfying. He thought to himself, *It looks like the extreme workouts can actually positively affect my spirit energy cultivation.* Since his const.i.tution was originally average, he should exercise more anyway. This double benefit was a great!
When Huo Yuhao woke up from meditation, he was shocked as he opened his eyes because he found w.a.n.g Dong sitting there watching him.
“You’ve returned? Let’s go to cla.s.s then.” As he said this, Huo Yuhao jumped down from the bed to change shoes. After the experience in the morning, their relationship was obviously warmer.
w.a.n.g Dong said with a low voice, “Huo Yuhao, I have been very curious about your Battle Spirit. You saw mine today. Can you tell me what yours is?”
Huo Yuhao finished putting on his shoes and stood up, “My Battle Spirit is my own eyes. I call it Spirit Eyes. It’s of the mental attribute. I know what you’re wondering. My spirit ability is Mental Detection. So the reason you couldn’t hit me before was because my Mental Detection could predict your movements.”
w.a.n.g Dong finally understood, “So that’s why. I didn’t think you would have a body Battle Spirit. Let’s go. We can’t be late. I just went outside to ask around. It seems like our Teacher Zhou has the nickname of Perverted Old Hag. Rumor has it that she has expelled more students than any ten other teachers put together. To have this homeroom teacher is really our misfortune.”
Huo Yuhao smiled and shook his head, “It can’t be said like that. It’s true that Teacher Zhou is a little strict, but we should be striving for those standards ourselves, fulfill her expectations and it will be fine. Oh right, I saw your Battle Spirit but I still don’t know its name. I saw that you have a yellow and a purple ring too. How can your second spirit ring be a thousand-year?”
w.a.n.g Dong laughed, “To have a thousand-year second spirit ring is my secret. I can’t tell you. My Battle Spirit is the Bright G.o.ddess b.u.t.terfly. One of the continent’s most beautiful b.u.t.terflies that has become extinct. It’s even rarer to have it as a Battle Spirit than your body Battle Spirit. You will see its power in the future. Oh right, why did Teacher Zhou call you away today?”
The two had already left the dorm as they talked and was walking toward the academic building. Not only them but every student in cla.s.s one was afraid to be late.
Huo Yuhao didn’t hide the fact that Teacher Zhou had taken him to see Teacher Fan Yu. There’s no reason to hide it so he told everything to w.a.n.g Dong.
“What? You can share your Mental Detection ability? Let me try it.” w.a.n.g Dong asked very eagerly. Everyone was still eleven or twelve years old, so they couldn’t hide their curiosity.
Helplessly, Huo Yuhao could only release his Mental Detection and Sharing to let w.a.n.g Dong experience it.
The thirty meter area around them suddenly became clear and data fed back to them. In an instant, w.a.n.g Dong turned a little sluggish. It was as if a blind person could suddenly see the world clearly. The shocking feeling was experienced by everyone who first came in contact with Huo Yuhao’s Mental Detection and Sharing ability.
Furthermore, under the continuous use, Huo Yuhao had become more skilled at controlling it. As he let w.a.n.g Dong experience it, he also remembered what Fan Yu had said before. He consciously altered his range to extend toward a single direction in order to gain coverage of a greater distance.
Huo Yuhao was not aware that as he became more focused, the pale gold in his eyes turned richer in color. The mental fluctuations he released also became stronger and retracted from all directions to face toward the front.
w.a.n.g Dong also felt the change in Mental Detection. He noticed that the images from his side and back all disappeared. Only the view from the front remained and the distance also became greater.
The couple of seconds of this alteration felt longer to Huo Yuhao than having Mental Detection active for a quarter of an hour. He could only feel his Spirit Power disappearing at a shocking speed. Even though it was only a short duration, bursts of weakness had already affected him.
His body shook and he grabbed onto w.a.n.g Dong’s arm to steady himself while also ending Mental Detection and Sharing.
“Huo Yuhao, are you okay?” said w.a.n.g Dong as he quickly stabilized Huo Yuhao.
Part 4
Huo Yuhao’s face was pale and cold sweat could be seen on his forehead, showing his weakened state.
Huo Yuhao waved toward w.a.n.g Dong to say that he was fine. “I just expended a little too much of my mental energy. Did you see how long my Mental Detection ability could reach when you were looking toward the front before?”
w.a.n.g Dong thought back a moment and said, “I wasn’t really paying attention. Maybe fifty to sixty meters. Your Mental Detection also disappeared in other directions while the front increased by about two times.”
Hearing this, Huo Yuhao’s exhaustion lessened greatly. “That’s great. It’s actually possible. Too bad I have to expend so much mental energy.”
To alter the perimeter of Mental Detection toward a single direction used more than ten times the amount of spirit energy he usually uses. That’s why he experienced mental exhaustion in such a short period of time. However, Huo Yuhao believed that if he practices this more, the energy expenditure will lessen and its effects will increase.
Teacher Fan Yu had said that when his Mental Detection reaches a hundred meters, he will take Huo Yuhao as a student.
After seeing the spirit guidance device’s power and hearing He Caitou’s explanation, he was even more interested in its miraculous existence.
Ten minutes before the afternoon cla.s.s bell rang, all ninety-one students were already seated in silence. Not a single student dared make a noise. So it can be said that sometimes, having a strict teacher is not a bad thing. It can allow students to be more focused on learning.
Since they didn’t receive any seating arrangements, w.a.n.g Dong and Huo Yuhao sat together this time. The two eleven-year-old children gave the same sense of being in deep thought. Huo Yuhao was thinking about his previous experience altering his Mental Detection ability while no one knows what w.a.n.g Dong was thinking about.
When Zhou Yi walked into the cla.s.sroom, the atmosphere became focused and Huo Yuhao and w.a.n.g Dong woke up from their thoughts. Even though not much time had pa.s.sed, Huo Yuhao’s Spirit Power level was little, so he could quickly recover and no longer felt weak.
“Everyone stand up and gather in the plaza.” Surprisingly, Zhou Yi only said this one line before turning around and leaving.
No one slacked and everyone quickly left the cla.s.sroom in a quiet and orderly fashion behind Zhou Yi.
The students didn’t see that Zhou Yi’s eyes carried a hint of a smile. This strict and sometimes s.a.d.i.s.tic teacher was thinking that new students have some good points. At least they don’t have much character and are easy to control unlike those third year students who think they have accomplished something and are too proud to listen.
Unknowingly, someone had placed a pile of iron chains on Shrek Plaza. Under Zhou Yi’s orders, the students neatly stood there.
“w.a.n.g Dong.” Zhou Yi called.
“Here.” w.a.n.g Dong walked forward.
Zhou Yi said to all the students, “I had just looked at all of your entrance scores. After adding that to how you performed this morning, w.a.n.g Dong’s cultivation is the highest out of all of you. So, from this point on, he will be cla.s.s one’s cla.s.s president. This position can be obtained by any of you who can defeat him. Do you all understand?”
“Understood.” There were many strong male students whose eyes suddenly turned sharp as they looked at w.a.n.g Dong while the female students’ gazes suddenly turned soft.
Zhou Yi pointed to the pile of chains in front of her. “These are metal suits used to raise one’s const.i.tution. There is one for each of you. After you put them on, start running around the plaza. Run from now until the bell rings. You can use your spirit energy but not any spirit abilities. You will be ranked by the number of laps you run. The last student will be expelled.”
“There is one point I will emphasize. In my cla.s.s, people are not only expelled during examinations, but at any time. Today, ninety-one students will become ninety. You may begin.”
As she talked, Zhou Yi flicked the tip of her foot and a heavy metal suit flew in front of w.a.n.g Dong. He quickly caught it and put it on.
When he finished, his face couldn’t help but change. This metal suit weighed at least thirty kilograms!
Hearing that the last will be expelled, the students didn’t hesitate but all ran to put on their metal suits. The male students were okay, but after the female students put on these heavy metal suits, most had lost their composure.
Zhou Yi coldly said, “I know that there are some of you who want to say that this isn’t fair because there are natural differences between the bodies of males and females, Tool Spirit Masters and Beast Spirit Masters, and differences in one’s innate conditions. But I will tell you that within my cla.s.s, everyone is equal. Think for yourselves, if this were a battlefield then would the enemy let you live because you are a woman or if you are a Tool Spirit Master? Now begin. Run laps.”
No matter how much these students insulted Zhou Yi in their hearts, not a single one dared to speak out. Under w.a.n.g Dong’s lead, everyone rushed to the edge of the plaza to start running with the heavy suits.
Since no one wanted to get expelled, everyone ran with fervor from the beginning, unlike in the morning.
w.a.n.g Dong stayed in the front. Be it Battle Spirit or Spirit Power, he was the strongest within this group of students. Even though he was wearing the metal suit, his speed didn’t decrease at all.
The few male students who had wanted to surpa.s.s him also rushed ahead and stayed right behind him.
Huo Yuhao didn’t increase his speed. He knew his body’s condition very well. Zhou Yi had said that they must run until the bell rings, but there was another two hours until it rings. This was only the beginning. The goal he set for himself was to keep running until the end of cla.s.s, but not compete with others in terms of speed.
This way, when he started running, he was obviously much slower than many others. Seeing others pa.s.s him, Huo Yuhao was not anxious at all but continued his steady run forward.
After only two laps, Huo Yuhao had already fallen to the last. Even the female students had all surpa.s.sed him. However, he didn’t seem to mind at all.
By the time he completed four laps, w.a.n.g Dong had already ran an entire lap more than him. When w.a.n.g Dong pa.s.sed Huo Yuhao, he gave a surprised look.
Huo Yuhao nodded toward him casually and gave him a smile.
Zhou Yi stood expressionless on the plaza watching everyone run without anyone knowing what she was thinking about.