Douluo Dalu 2: Peerless Gu master

When Huo Yuhao left the dormitory, there was still more than an hour before class.

He went to the innermost part of the cafeteria to enjoy a top-notch breakfast. The meal cost him nearly a hundred gold soul coins—a steep price, but worth every coin.

The delicacies, specially prepared by Shrek Academy, were crafted from high-level soul beast meat and rare ingredients. Not only were they exquisite in flavor, but they also provided significant benefits to a soul master's body and cultivation.

When Huo Yuhao arrived at Freshman Class Nine, the classroom was nearly full. His entrance immediately drew the attention of the entire class, stirring the already lively atmosphere into a frenzy. Whispers erupted among the students, particularly the girls.

"Wow, he's so handsome! His eyes are mesmerizing!"

"I'm done for, sisters!"

"Even though our class has more girls than boys, having someone like him is more than enough."

While most of the female students gazed at him with admiration, a few of the male students eyed him with hostility. At their age, who wouldn't want to be the center of attention, especially when it came to the admiration of their female peers?

"Tsk, a bunch of love-struck girls. What's the point of being handsome? Strength is what matters. Just wait—I'll prove myself and win them over."

"Humph, Shrek Academy values strength above all. Let's hope this guy isn't just a pretty face."

Huo Yuhao, however, remained unfazed by their chatter. He calmly scanned the room, located an empty seat, and took his place. In a class of a hundred students, fewer than half would remain in the academy by the end of the year. Even fewer were worthy of his attention.

As he surveyed the classroom, he activated his system vision. Only two individuals stood out, their panel information hovering above their heads: Ning Tian and Wu Feng. Both had reached the "acquaintance" stage in terms of favorability, and their achievement tasks were yet to be refreshed.

Huo Yuhao couldn't help but feel a flicker of satisfaction. Relying on his looks had its advantages, especially when dealing with young, impressionable girls. It was almost too easy.

As for the third member of the original trio, Nanmen Yuner, was nowhere to be seen.

Huo Yuhao wondered if she hadn't arrived yet—or if she simply didn't qualify. He suspected it was the latter. After all, in the original story, Nanmen Yuner had faded into obscurity, becoming an outsider in the trio. Her absence didn't surprise him.

The plotline involving the Yin-Yang Love Querying Valley, where a woman turned into a man and sisters eventually married, had been jarring enough. If Nanmen Yuner had been part of the protagonist group, her sudden disappearance would have been even more glaring.

Still, Huo Yuhao found himself mildly pleased. The fact that two individuals had qualified for his system's judgment was a pleasant surprise—like discovering a "buy one, get one free" deal on a popsicle during the sweltering summer.

At the very least, their presence would make the three months leading up to the freshman assessment far more interesting.

Among the female students, a girl with long, light green hair and gentle dark green eyes leaned toward her companion. "Ning Tian, look—a handsome boy just walked in. I think I'm in love."

Ning Tian, a blonde girl with sharp blue eyes and delicate features, rolled her eyes. "Stop daydreaming, Yoona. But I'll admit, he is quite striking."

As the young miss of the Nine Treasures Glazed Sect, Ning Tian wasn't one to fawn over appearances. Her primary goal at Shrek Academy was to find a suitable guardian partner, and strength was her top criterion. That said, Huo Yuhao's stunning looks and noble demeanor were hard to ignore.

"I wonder which faction he's from and how strong he is," Ning Tian mused aloud. She turned to her right, where a girl with short, fiery red hair and cold crimson eyes sat. "Wu Feng, what do you think?"

Wu Feng, ever the loyal protector, scoffed. "What's so great about men? No matter how good-looking they are, they're all the same. In my eyes, only the young miss is worthy of admiration."

Ning Tian sighed. "I've told you not to call me 'young miss' at the academy. We're sisters here."

"Right," Wu Feng replied obediently, though her gaze lingered on Huo Yuhao. His extraordinary appearance set off alarm bells in her mind. 'If the young miss falls for him, all my years of hard work will be for nothing.' 

Determined, Wu Feng clenched her fists. She would rely on her strength to protect what mattered most. A flicker of cold determination flashed in her dark red eyes.

Just then, the classroom door swung open, and Mu Jin, the head teacher of Class Nine, strode in. The room fell silent as the students turned their attention to her.

Mu Jin's presence commanded respect. Though her teaching style was gentler than that of the notoriously strict Zhou Yi, she still carried an air of authority. Standing at the podium, her gaze swept across the room, and an invisible pressure settled over the students.

"My name is Mu Jin," she began, her voice calm but firm. "And I will be your head teacher for this year."

…

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