As soon as class ended, Wei Xiaofeng and his roommates approached Huo Yuhao.
"Yuhao, I still have some questions about the Soul Spirit Symbiotic Meditation method. Could I ask for your guidance again?"
Over time, they had become more familiar with Huo Yuhao and had benefited greatly from his advice.
Some of the insights he provided on this new meditation technique had proven incredibly valuable.
They couldn't help but wonder how someone of his age could be so knowledgeable.
Watching Huo Yuhao leave the classroom after giving his pointers, Gu Yuena also departed shortly after. Wei Xiaofeng glanced at his companions and asked,
"Now that I think about it, I've never actually seen Huo Yuhao in the dorms. Does he live somewhere else?"
"Huh? You just noticed?" Passing by, Xie Xie overheard and commented with an exasperated tone, "He and Gu Yuena have probably already been admitted to the advanced academy and are just here for formalities. With their talent, do you really think any academy would refuse them?"
Wei Xiaofeng frowned slightly. "Of course, I know that. I'm just curious about his relationship with Gu Yuena."
After learning that Gu Yuena wasn't actually an arrogant person, some of the braver girls approached her.
While they managed to strike up conversations, she remained somewhat aloof and only formed casual friendships.
However, her relationship with Huo Yuhao seemed much closer.
Wei Xiaofeng often saw the two of them leaving campus together, which piqued his curiosity and stirred his gossip-loving heart.
Was it the camaraderie of geniuses, or was there another reason?
"They probably live together, which explains why they're close," said Wang Jinxi, who had been silent until now.
Wei Xiaofeng and Xie Xie widened their eyes in shock, staring at him in disbelief.
Who would have thought that this usually quiet guy would suddenly drop such an explosive statement?
Realizing the misunderstanding, Wang Jinxi calmly clarified, "You're getting the wrong idea. I meant that their dorms are in the same building. I once saw them entering a building near the greenery when I was out for morning practice."
"Oh, so that's how it is."
Xie Xie nodded thoughtfully and then added, "But I still think they aren't ordinary people. Do you guys remember how I speculated that Teacher Luo might be from the Spirit Pagoda? He didn't deny it."
"Are you saying that Yuhao and Gu Yuena are also from the Spirit Pagoda, which is why they're close?"
Wei Xiaofeng frowned, surprised. "Really?"
"I believe this theory." Xie Xie rubbed his chin. "In Eastsea City, only someone from there could defeat me so effortlessly."
Wei Xiaofeng twitched at his words and scoffed, "Tch, you're not even better than me."
"If you don't upgrade your soul spirit to a thousand-year level, your cultivation speed will slow down. You know that better than anyone."
Xie Xie shrugged and grinned, "But for me, my real advantage begins at Level 30."
His family's inherited soul spirit was already at the ten thousand-year level.
That would be his true power spike!
Wei Xiaofeng opened his mouth to retort but found himself at a loss for words.
No matter how compatible his little Blue Shadow Snake was, it could only accompany him until two rings.
Once he reached three rings and had to add another soul spirit, he wouldn't be able to progress as smoothly.
Breaking the momentary silence, Wang Jinxi asked, "If they really are from the Spirit Pagoda, why would they come to Eastsea Academy? They could've gone to a much better intermediate academy or even Shrek Academy."
Xie Xie pondered for a moment before responding, "The dormitory arrangement is handled by the academy. With their strength, it's not surprising they received special treatment. But if they've been here since the start of the semester, it means the academy already knew about them... Maybe the academy specifically recruited them."
"Could it be for the Skysea Alliance Tournament next year? Our academy's dean must be pretty capable if he managed to get people from the Spirit Pagoda to join us..."
As Xie Xie continued his monologue, Wei Xiaofeng and Wang Jinxi exchanged looks, unsure what to say.
---
At the Mecha Master Association, Huo Yuhao walked towards a reception room and knocked on the door.
"Come in," a somewhat familiar female voice called out.
Huo Yuhao's expression became a little strange upon recognizing the voice, but he still opened the door and stepped inside.
At the center of the room, a young girl with golden ponytailed hair turned around and introduced herself,
"Hello, you must be the mecha designer assigned to work with me. I'm a second-rank forging master, Mu Xi—"
She paused mid-sentence, staring at the familiar young man before her. In that instant, memories of an embarrassing moment three years ago flooded back.
She wanted to dig a hole and disappear!
---
"Miss Mu Xi, no need to be so nervous."
Seeing Mu Xi lower her head as if trying to find a crack in the floor to slip into, Huo Yuhao found the situation rather amusing.
"Back then, we didn't have any real conflict, did we?"
"…You sure have a good mindset."
Mu Xi took a deep breath and forced a calm expression, though she was mentally cursing Tang Wulin.
It was all your fault, Tang Wulin!
Since the Mecha Master Association and the Blacksmith Association had established an official partnership, some resources had been allocated to training younger members.
The Mecha Master Association provided rare metals, which the forging apprentices refined before handing them back for mecha design and manufacturing.
This collaboration aimed to strengthen ties between the younger generations and promote mutual growth.
The reason for this approach was simple: the Mecha Master Association had far more funding.
After all, one provided materials, while the other produced high-value soul devices.
While forging was essential, aside from legendary blacksmiths like Divine Craftsmen or Saint Craftsmen, most smiths didn't make much money from raw material processing.
For lower-rank blacksmiths, this collaboration was a golden opportunity.
Given such favorable conditions, Mu Chen had sent Mu Xiz formerly the most outstanding young blacksmith in Eastsea City but now ranked second, as a representative.
However, she had been too preoccupied with challenging Tang Wulin to a forging competition these past few days to pay attention. And today, she unexpectedly ran into Huo Yuhao.
She vividly remembered what happened three years ago and really didn't want to work with him!
Ignoring Mu Xi's stiff expression, Huo Yuhao took out three pieces of rare metal.
"Let's not talk about the past. I need you to refine these metals through hundredfold tempering. Can you do it?"
Mu Xi frowned as she examined the metals, then nodded. "Of course, no problem."
"Then I'll be relying on you," Huo Yuhao said with a smile. Then, he casually asked, "By the way, didn't your association recently produce a nine-year-old second-rank blacksmith? Why isn't he here?"
"He's busy making money," Mu Xi replied, narrowing her eyes.
"How do you even know about our association's affairs?"
"I'm from the Spirit Pagoda."
"..."
Right, she almost forgot. That Tang Wulin kid had ties to the Spirit Pagoda too.
Mu Xi looked at Huo Yuhao thoughtfully. "You don't really want to partner with me, do you? You'd rather work with Tang Wulin instead?"
Huo Yuhao chuckled and shook his head. "Miss Mu Xi, you're overthinking things."
Since Tang San's divine consciousness had awakened and Tang Wulin was desperately earning money, it meant that he was getting close to breaking his first seal.
After chatting a bit more, Huo Yuhao noticed Mu Xi's slightly restless gaze and decided to let her off the hook. He stood up and left the reception room.
Just as he was about to head to his workshop to tinker with a sentient metal, he saw Gu Yuena standing at his door... holding a small hammer.
"…"
Miss Gu Yuena, are you planning to knock me out with that?