Thank You, Xie Xie

Following the student handbook, Huo Yuhao located his designated dormitory building. He exchanged a glance with Gu Yuena, who had also been walking with her handbook in hand the entire way, and then took in their surroundings. The building was tucked away in a quiet corner of the campus, encircled by tall, lush trees that created a tranquil atmosphere. The dormitory possessed an unassuming, dignified exterior, with walls of soft beige complemented by dark brown wooden window frames. Even though it was opening day, there were no other students anywhere near the building. Evidently, the two of them were its only residents for now. This was a single-occupancy dormitory—or rather, faculty housing—not the four-person dormitories where the vast majority of students stayed. Gu Yuena blinked and turned her head to look at Huo Yuhao. "Special treatment for us?" "No, or at least not entirely," Huo Yuhao said, shaking his head. "Other people will probably move into this building later. We just had our spots reserved in advance." It was likely something akin to Class Zero from the original story. Yu Zhen probably intended to concentrate resources on cultivating a handful of exceptionally gifted students. Thanks to their talent and backgrounds, the two of them were simply enjoying various privileges early, and the single-room dormitory before them was one of them. Gu Yuena glanced down at her handbook. "I'm in 202. See you later?" "...I'm in 201, right next door to you." With that, Huo Yuhao headed toward the dormitory building. Gu Yuena paused for a moment before following along. *So we're neighbors... Then again, with only two people, how else would they arrange it?* The first floor consisted of meditation chambers and accompanying testing rooms, while the living quarters began on the second floor. Standing before his door, Huo Yuhao opened it and carefully looked around. The room was well laid out with excellent natural lighting. Through the window, he could see the vibrant greenery of the campus outside. The furnishings were simple: a spacious desk sat before the window, a bookshelf stood against the wall, and right beside it was the bed. Naturally, it couldn't compare to the accommodations the Spirit Pagoda had provided for him, but compared to ten thousand years ago when he had slipped into various academies to study, these conditions were vastly superior. Huo Yuhao walked over to the bookshelf, drew out various books he had prepared from his storage ring, picked out several that weren't of critical importance, and arranged them one by one upon the shelves. Next, he retrieved some everyday necessities and civilian Soul Tools he had prepared ahead of time. After spending some time setting things in order, Huo Yuhao changed into the East Sea Academy uniform and read for a while. Just then, a knock sounded at his door. When Huo Yuhao opened it, Gu Yuena stood outside. She looked up at him with spirited, bright eyes and said, "Want to go check out the cafeteria together? This is my first time visiting an academy." Huo Yuhao looked at Gu Yuena, who had changed into the academy uniform and seemed genuinely eager to experience student life, feeling a wave of mixed emotions. Ever since setting foot in the academy, she acted as though she had forgotten both of their true identities, conversing with him purely as a fellow student. While that certainly made things easier, it still felt somewhat strange. Come to think of it, according to Teacher Hua, the Heavenly Phoenix Douluo had sent Gu Yuena here primarily to escape the turmoil at headquarters. Ruling out the possibility that she had come to investigate his identity, had she truly come just... to go to school? *Your Ladyship, Silver Dragon King, you've already joined the Spirit Pagoda. Instead of attending to proper business, is it really fine for you to attend a regular school?* With that thought in mind, Huo Yuhao nodded. "Sure." At present, there was no irreconcilable conflict between the Star Dou Great Forest and humanity. Ever since ten thousand years ago, the forest's territory had never diminished, a world of difference from the original timeline where only the core zone remained. Gu Yuena had no real need to embark on the path of the "Ten Thousand Beast Platform" to exterminate humanity. Still, Gu Yuena's strength made it hard for him to let his guard down entirely; he always felt the urge to hold a few extra cards up his sleeve just in case. But in everyday interactions, maintaining a normal attitude was enough. Seeing Huo Yuhao agree, Gu Yuena inwardly breathed a quiet sigh of relief. It seemed her understanding was correct: this Godking was indeed savoring this stretch of life, intending to live as an ordinary Soul Master. Down the line, he would likely rise through the ranks as a core disciple of the Spirit Pagoda to confront the Abyssal Plane. Unless absolutely necessary, he wouldn't reveal his true self. In that case, interacting naturally and drawing closer was the right approach; she couldn't afford to rush things. *** On their way to the cafeteria, Huo Yuhao saw two young boys walking toward them. Hearing their conversation, his expression stirred slightly. "Thank you, Xie Xie. If you hadn't stepped in to stop our fight in the dorm, I probably would've broken more things and had to pay even more compensation. Once I have money, I'll treat you to a meal," Tang Wulin said gratefully to the boy beside him. "Treat me to a meal? I'm worried you'd eat me along with it! I've never seen anyone who can eat like you. Didn't you just finish eighty large meat buns? No wonder you're so strong... And if you want to thank me, just thank me! Don't add my name—it sounds weird!" Xie Xie shot Tang Wulin a stern, aloof look. Tang Wulin smiled. "Sure, thanks." "I told you, stop calling my name!" "..." Tang Wulin stared at Xie Xie, rendered thoroughly speechless. The latter caught on to what he had just said, his stern facade instantly shattering as he looked away in awkward annoyance. He had always said this name was awful! Sooner or later, he was definitely going to change it! *Tang Wulin and Xie Xie...* Huo Yuhao glanced at the calm Gu Yuena beside him, then quickly looked away. Tang Wulin looked away from Xie Xie and turned forward, just in time to see two fellow students approaching. Both of them could only be described as having ordinary looks, delicate and pleasing at best, yet each possessed a distinct and extraordinary aura. "Hello," Tang "Not-a-Pushover" Wulin greeted them naturally. Although he had run into an unpleasant incident today and broken some school property that required compensation, a fellow student had helped him, and the academy teacher had been reasonable enough to grant him an extension on the payment. All in all, Tang Wulin felt that while there were bad people in the city, the good far outnumbered the bad! "Hello." Huo Yuhao offered a faint smile, while Gu Yuena gave a cool nod by way of greeting before brushing past them. One shouldn't strike a smiling face, so Xie Xie had intended to greet them as well. But seeing Gu Yuena's indifferent expression, he paused mid-motion and curled his lip. "So aloof. She probably has decent talent. Wonder which class they'll be assigned to." "Huh? Class assignments?" Tang Wulin asked in surprise. "What does that mean?" "This school assigns classes based on talent. I'm definitely going to Class One. As for you..." Recalling that Tang Wulin possessed a spatial Soul Tool from the Spirit Pagoda, Xie Xie said somewhat uncertainly, "We'll see tomorrow. I don't really know either." "Oh." Tang Wulin's mood sank. His talent was poor to begin with... He could only hope to get into a decent class. *** Once they had put some distance between them, Gu Yuena noticed Huo Yuhao drawing his gaze back from Tang Wulin. She suddenly asked via sound transmission, *"Sir, is the God Core on him?"* Compressing sound into a focused thread was impossible for an ordinary Great Spirit Master, but for her, it posed no difficulty at all. Huo Yuhao showed no surprise, giving a subtle nod. His earlier glance at Gu Yuena had been an intentional hint. Since they were keeping each other in check, it was best for both sides to be aware of each other's presence, lest she end up falling into a trap. Seeing him nod, Gu Yuena knitted her brows. From her previous conversation with Huo Yuhao, she had learned that the Golden Dragon King's God Core still remained, and that the person beside her knew its whereabouts yet hadn't gone to retrieve it. What did that signify? It meant the God Core was right here on the Douluo Continent, perhaps even somewhere near East Sea City. She hadn't sensed the Golden Dragon King's bloodline from Tang Wulin just now, but the dialogue between the two boys—an uncanny appetite, immense strength—combined with Huo Yuhao's unprovoked glance in her direction, had triggered this line of thought, prompting her question. And who could possibly seal the Golden Dragon King's God Core inside the body of an ordinary mortal? It could only be one of the God Realm's Five Great Godkings!