Chapter 8: First Encounter with Wang Dong—A Fight Breaks Out at the Drop of a Hat!

“That lake was created to honor my Tang Clan ancestor, Thousand-Handed Douluo Tang San,” Tang Ya explained.

“The inner courtyard is located on the island at the heart of Sea God Lake. All outer courtyard disciples take pride in setting foot on that island!”

“Same here!” Huo Yuhao listened silently, withholding any comment. At this moment, his favor toward Tang San was negative.

Sea God Lake was vast. Walking along the shore for nearly half an hour, they finally reached a spacious plaza. A grand sign read: Shrek Plaza.

Behind the plaza stood tall buildings painted in white, yellow, purple, and black.

In the distant north, there appeared to be gray buildings.

Tang Ya continued, “The colors represent different grades: white for freshmen, yellow for second and third-year outer courtyard students, purple for fourth and fifth years, and black denotes the sixth-year teaching building.”

“Only those who graduate from the black teaching building receive the outer courtyard diploma.”

“The gray buildings in the distance belong to the Soul Guidance Department.”

“Behind those are facilities like the Douhun Arena, the assessment area, dormitories, and faculty offices. I’ll show you around when we have time.”

As she spoke, they arrived at the southernmost white teaching building.

Since it was freshman registration time, the place was bustling with many passing assessments and registering.

Bei Bei had been waiting for a while, clutching a stack of forms.

“You’re here,” she greeted. “Take a look at these forms. I filled them out for you earlier—correct anything if needed.”

Huo Yuhao glanced over them briefly; everything was accurate.

Bei Bei then led the way, and with green lights all along, he smoothly completed registration.

He received his dorm key, two sets of school uniforms, and a white freshman emblem.

For a moment, Huo Yuhao felt dazed.

Was he really... becoming a freshman at the continent’s premier academy?

Bei Bei patted his shoulder with a smile.

“Xiao Yuhao, head back to the freshman dorm and take some time to settle in.”

“The new academic year officially starts in three days, so you have plenty of time.”

“Xiao Ya and I will be preparing for our upgrade test to enter fourth grade.”

“Once you’re settled, come find me in dorm 316. I’ll introduce you to some friends.”

Huo Yuhao could tell those “friends” meant people he’d be asked to watch over, so he nodded in agreement.

Tang Ya was reluctant to part ways.

Pulled along by Bei Bei, she kept looking back, nearly shedding tears from the corners of her eyes.

—Isn’t anyone staying for dinner?

Huo Yuhao caught her thought but, uncertain about freshman dorm rules, only smiled and saw them off.

Once out of sight, he briskly approached the white building’s entrance and spotted Moon lounging on a deck chair.

His face was lined like tree bark, eyelids drooping drowsily, embodying the image of a weathered old man.

Several freshmen passed by, ignoring him completely.

Huo Yuhao did not.

He stepped forward respectfully. “Good day, grandfather. I’m a freshman moving into the dorm. Do you need to check my freshman emblem?”

Moon didn’t look up, his voice hoarse.

“The fourth floor and above are for female dormitories. If boys go up there, they’ll be expelled immediately.”

“Thank you,” Huo Yuhao bowed again before heading to his assigned dorm, number 108.

Moon lifted his eyelids to glance at him; his wrinkles softened slightly.

“Gifted and polite… the White Tiger Duke’s residence really is…”

“Since you’re enrolled in Shrek and that mysterious Holy Fire Sect, things will get interesting.”

His voice gradually faded away.

At the dorm door, Huo Yuhao took out his key to enter, eager to collapse on the bed and diligently cultivate the Yi Jin Jing.

His body was already noticeably improving—a sensation almost addictive.

But just as he lifted his left foot, a violent gust of wind blew him back outside.

Then a boy stepped out.

Handsome and fair-skinned, even more striking than Bei Bei, with unusually pale blue eyes.

Such looks instantly earned his favor—Huo Yuhao smiled and waved a greeting.

“Hello, roommate, I was assigned to this dorm—”

“Doesn’t matter,” the boy cut him off brusquely, towering over him.

“If you want to stay here, you must follow my rules.”

“First: No bringing people into the dorm casually!”

“Second: Don’t walk around naked and annoy others!”

“Third: No snoring at night!”

“Fourth: Never disturb me at any time!”

“Fifth: You’re responsible for cleaning the dorm, but don’t touch my bed!”

“Got it?”

Even good-natured Huo Yuhao furrowed his brows.

He lowered his greeting hand and calmly asked, “Why should I listen to you?”

“Don’t listen?” The boy raised an eyebrow. “Then I’ll throw you out!”

That haughty demeanor reminded Huo Yuhao of the high-handed manner of those who bullied him back at the Duke’s mansion.

Back then, he had no strength to resist, but times had changed.

“Try me! Let’s take it outside!”

“Come on!”

The boy was terse but full of disdain and contempt.

This only fueled Huo Yuhao’s anger.

Within the spiritual realm, Zhuge Lan stroked his chin thoughtfully as he watched the fateful encounter between the two.

This boy was naturally Wang Dong, the disguised female Wang Donger.

She was Tang San’s daughter, Tang Wutong, whose memories of the divine realm had been sealed, giving rise to a “second personality” in the mortal world.

But soon, she and Wang Qiuer would merge back into Tang Wutong.

Would she still be Wang Donger then?

Zhuge Lan doubted she was truly Tang Wutong, seeing her only as the daughter of the Tang God King who possessed the memories of three girls—a “leash” to bind Huo Yuhao.

He disliked this outcome and vowed to change it.

Meanwhile, Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong had already exchanged blows for more than ten rounds.

Without the Tang Clan’s martial arts and only beginning to cultivate Yi Jin Jing, even with spirit detection aiding him, Huo Yuhao was heavily suppressed and barely able to defend.

Yet he didn’t give up, using the fight to temper his body and activate Yi Jin Jing to recover.

He was determined to outlast his opponent.

Occasionally, when Wang Dong’s combos faltered, he seized the chance to strike vital points, forcing her to retreat.

After several such exchanges, Wang Dong grew frustrated.

“You, with your ten-year soul ring, are you a turtle?”

“You think you can predict my moves?”

“Fine, let’s clash head-on!”

Abandoning technique, Wang Dong’s legs lashed like steel whips, unleashing a storm of attacks.

Huo Yuhao held his defense.

“Tsk!” Zhuge Lan interjected at the right moment. “If the opponent weren’t overconfident and mistakenly claimed white soul rings meant no need for martial souls, you would have lost already.”

Huo Yuhao remained silent, focusing on defense.

Wang Dong was stubborn too, honoring her vow to avoid martial souls while intensifying her assault.

He refused to believe she could wear him down.

Indeed, Wang Dong’s strikes were powerful, heavy, and swift.

Only by focusing his spirit detection could he barely defend.

But his frail body, despite Yi Jin Jing’s healing, couldn’t endure a prolonged battle.

“So?” Zhuge Lan asked, “Want me to intervene?”

“No!” Huo Yuhao refused. “How can you see a rainbow without enduring the storm? I’ll fight to the end!”