Outside the Tianhai Sports Stadium, the nighttime crowds ebbed away in all directions like a retreating tide. But the clamor about the match was like the rising sea, wave after wave growing higher.
From the bar streets around the stadium to the subway cars on the other side of the city, the entire city of Tianhai was immersed in lively and heated discussion. And through the soul tool network, this match had already begun to spread across the entire Federation.
However, Huo Yuhao and the others paid no attention to this. They simply returned to the hotel as before, preparing to rest.
After all, in the eyes of Huo Yuhao and Gu Yuena, this was nothing.
As for Xie Xie and the others...
"What's there to be proud of in a free ride? We're just the Boss's backdrop."
Xie Xie rolled his eyes.
Too vicious. The Boss's fighting style was destroying everyone's motivation to cultivate.
Good thing they weren't the opponents — otherwise, the psychological shadow would have been unimaginable.
"Don't compare yourselves to others."
Huo Yuhao smiled slightly. "There will always be people better than you. You can't win them all."
"I don't believe there's anyone better than you, Boss." Xie Xie curled his lip.
"Aren't you better than me?" Huo Yuhao chuckled. "I could never learn your sharp tongue."
"...Pfft!" Xu Xiaoyan couldn't help laughing. The others also found it amusing.
"How can that be the same?"
Xie Xie retorted, but his mood had considerably improved, becoming more relaxed and relaxed.
True — the Boss was a monster. Why compare himself to him?
"..."
Before the soul tool screen, Yu Zhen and Long Hengxu watched the entire match, long silent.
Long Hengxu closed his eyes, waiting for his emotions to calm, then opened them and said: "Dean — if I hadn't seen it with my own eyes, I truly wouldn't believe that a genius like this came from Eastsea and had any connection to our academy."
The screen was still replaying the earlier footage of Huo Yuhao — a single palm strike, shattering his opponent's Battle Armor inch by inch.
Who could have imagined that their Eastsea Academy could one day defeat Shrek Academy — and in such a dominating fashion?
Yu Zhen shook his head. "He is no longer just a genius. He is a powerhouse."
Being able to defeat a Shrek genius student who possessed Battle Armor — Huo Yuhao's strength was now among the ranks in Eastsea.
"Next, the Eastsea Archon will probably seek me out to discuss some matters. You keep an eye on the academy side."
Yu Zhen rose from his office chair, his back straight, and walked toward the door.
Eastsea Academy had gained such prominence — they would certainly be noticed by all sides.
But this was what he had wanted, wasn't it?
"With the wave started by Student Yuhao, our Eastsea Academy can also rise."
As for Shrek Academy's attitude... Yu Zhen wasn't very worried.
The ones really clashing this time were, in essence, the Spirit Transmission Tower and Shrek Academy. Once it became known that Huo Yuhao and the others were from the Spirit Transmission Tower, not many people would focus on them.
And he had already contacted Hua Yichen. The latter had said they would not implicate the academy.
Having cooperated with the Eastsea Spirit Transmission Tower for so long, their trustworthiness had always been very reliable.
As an alliance of five eastern first-tier cities, the Tianhai Alliance Grand Competition naturally drew the attention of the entire Federation. Plus some powers fanning the flames, in just a few days, the news of Shrek's defeat at the hands of one person had spread throughout the Federation, with some replaying the repeatedly footage.
It was also at this time that the Spirit Transmission Tower adjusted Huo Yuhao's ranking on the Junior Genius Rankings from eighth to first, and bestowed upon him the title "Spirit Transmission."
Regardless of differing opinions within the Spirit Transmission Tower, anyone who had watched the match recording could hardly question the result.
Spiritual power at the Spirit Abyss realm, four ten-thousand-year spirit rings, and Spirit Ancestor cultivation at the age of ten. This was unprecedented, and likely never to be seen again.
With the Spirit Transmission Tower backing him, there was no doubt that Huo Yuhao would become a defining figure of this era.
That match had truly brought him into the sight of every major power and made his name known across the continent.
"Boss — you're now truly number one in the world!"
Xie Xie looked at the glowing praise for Huo Yuhao online, and the new ranking on the Junior Genius Rankings, exclaiming in amazement.
"Not only Yuhao — Na'er's ranking also went up. She's now at the old ranking Yuhao held." Xu Xiaoyan sighed. "If Na'er had shown more on stage earlier, she could have risen even higher."
"I don't mind." Gu Yuena sat beside Huo Yuhao, gently picking up a delicate rose pastry and tasting it in small bites. Her long black hair cascaded down, glowing with a soft halo in the sunlight. "Rankings — it doesn't matter."
She swallowed the sweet pastry, her eyes slightly curving. "After all — Yuhao is already number one."
Huo Yuhao smiled and handed over a cup of warm honey flower tea. "Slow down — don't choke."
Xie Xie looked at the two of them, clutching his chest dramatically. "Hey, hey can you two not be so calm? Right now, the entire spirit master world is discussing Boss Yuhao. Even the rest of us are being dug up!"
Gu Yuena took the teacup. "You're becoming famous across the continent too. Isn't that good?"
"...I suppose."
Xie Xie thought for a moment, then nodded.
Shooting to fame — what youth hadn't dreamed of such a thing?
But the pressure was also quite large. At least he couldn't be as calm as Boss Yuhao. Should he wear a mask when going out from now on?
Beside them, Tang Wulin was holding some crystal cake made by Huo Yuhao, eating it with a happy face, while asking: "But — what will happen to Shrek? They lost this badly. The comments online haven't been very kind... Will they be okay?"
People always tend to favor the underdog. Although the result was Huo Yuhao single-handedly sweeping through the opposition, the seven of them from Eastsea were still young. Naturally, the public opinion favored them, placing all the pressure on Shrek.
"Wulin — you're too soft-hearted."
Wang Jinxi shook his head. "All actions have consequences. Teacher Luo has already communicated with the Tianhai Alliance. The cause of the conflict wasn't exposed. That's already very considerate. Don't overthink it."
It's worth noting that in this storm of public opinion, the Spirit Transmission Tower did not fan the flames. On the contrary, they proactively communicated with the Tianhai Alliance to properly manage and control certain key information. If not for that, if the true cause of the match's conflict were exposed, those seven Shrek students would have suffered an even heavier blow.
Hearing this, Tang Wulin nodded and didn't think further.
Xie Xie asked curiously: "Speaking of which — how's your blacksmithing competition going, Wulin?"
Swallowing the last piece of pastry, Tang Wulin said confidently: "One more day — it's the final. I can win!"
"How nice — unlike us free-riders, you're really going to become famous, Wulin." Xie Xie was a bit envious.
Secondary professions... Although they had all chosen theirs, their progress wasn't very fast. They needed time.
Tang Wulin scratched his head, smiling slightly.
It was the Spirit Transmission Tower's people who had given him this opportunity. Before, he wouldn't have dared to show his forging talent in front of outsiders.
Compared to the relaxed and relaxed atmosphere at Eastsea Academy, the Shrek students staying in the hotel were completely lifeless.
In the spacious suite, the curtains were drawn tight. Dim light shrouded every corner. The previously proud and confident young spirit masters were now either slumped on sofas or leaning against walls, their eyes vacant — as if they still hadn't snapped back from the shock of that battle.
"We... lost to one person?" Yao Qixuan stared at the match footage playing on a loop on the screen, his voice hoarse.
In the footage, Huo Yuhao's figure moved like a ghost. Four dark ten-thousand-year spirit rings radiated a suffocating pressure. And before him, they had seemed as powerless as children.
"Spirit Abyss realm spiritual power... how is this possible..." Ning Yue murmured, her fingers unconsciously twisting the hem of her clothes, still finding it hard to believe.
Lin Xuyao, meanwhile, stared at the on the screen, his expression dark.
[Seven vs. Seven? No — One vs. Seven! Shrek's glory no more.]
[Post-match interview with Shrek student: "We didn't lose unfairly. He's just too strong..."]
[From eighth to first: This youth's rise has shocked everyone.] (Small print: Especially those he defeated.)
[Shrek Academy urgent statement: This match was purely accidental. We are studying how to lose to a child properly!]
Reading down, especially at the fourth post, Lin Xuyao's forehead veins bulged. His fists clenched with a cracking sound. He could no longer hold it in. "These unscrupulous..."
WHOOSH——
Perhaps sensing his anger, the fourth post quickly disappeared — deleted by someone.
"..."
***
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