Chapter 98: Ju Zi – Gotta Pay Up!
A visibly exhausted Ju Zi stepped out of the laboratory. As a Soul Engineer, her daily routine involved researching soul tools, but for her, soul tool research had a deeper purpose revenge.
If she wanted to become a top commander in the Sun Moon Empire's army, she had to master soul tool technology. The Sun Moon military relied heavily on soul engineers, and to lead them, she first needed to understand what it truly meant to be one.
Professor Xuan, as the chief researcher of Mingde Hall, had extremely high standards when it came to soul tool development. Lately, he had been constantly using the peerless genius Huo Yuhao as an example to motivate the students.
Of course, he wasn't telling them to learn Yuhao's talent talent wasn't something one could just learn. Instead, Xuan Ziwen emphasized Yuhao's work ethic, encouraging everyone to learn from his dedication.
From Ju Zi's perspective, Huo Yuhao was both talented and hardworking.
He had an extraordinary gift, yet he never slacked off in either soul master training or soul tool research. It was as if something terrifying was chasing him something that forced him to keep moving forward and growing stronger.
Then, after Huo Yuhao revealed his identity as the son of the White Tiger Duke during the Soul Dueling Tournament and exposed the grudge between himself and the White Tiger Duke's family, Ju Zi finally understood everything!
"Huo Yuhao must be seeking revenge on the White Tiger Duke!"
"From what I've learned, even though Yuhao is the duke's son, because of the duchess and his mother, Huo Yun'er, there's nothing but enmity between them!"
"If things continue like this, father and son might end up facing each other on the battlefield!"
This thought surged through Ju Zi's mind, and some of her exhaustion faded.
If that were true, then she and Huo Yuhao were on the same side, because she also had a deep hatred for the White Tiger Duke!
That meant that in the future, she and Huo Yuhao could join forces against him!
Honestly, Ju Zi was afraid of becoming Yuhao's enemy.
After all, he could cook food that tasted like her father's. If they ever stood on opposing sides, she knew she wouldn't be able to bring herself to kill him or hand him over to the Sun Moon Empire.
To make things worse, Ju Zi had realized something even more unsettling she had started to like him.
Huo Yuhao was the first person in years who had given her the chance to taste a father's warmth through food.
Of course, Ju Zi also felt sympathy for his past. His childhood had been filled with suffering.
Perhaps Huo Yun'er had been the only light in his dark childhood, but that light had been extinguished under the Duke's indifference and the Duchess' cruelty.
For Yuhao, that must have been a devastating blow.
Ju Zi understood his pain after all, her own parents were gone too.
Although Yuhao's father, the White Tiger Duke, was still alive, in Ju Zi's eyes, a father who only realized he had a son now might as well already be dead.
"Ju Zi! Ju Zi!"
Ke Ke's voice rang in her ears. She waved a hand in front of Ju Zi's face and asked suspiciously,
"What are you thinking about? You totally zoned out. Don't tell me you're thinking about Yuhao? Tsk, tsk, tsk… If Zimu knew, he'd probably go cry in the bathroom!"
"Anyway, where should we go for lunch?"
Ju Zi snapped back to reality, her ears turning slightly red as she averted her gaze.
Annoyed, she replied, "Anywhere is fine. You only ever think about eating. Look how fat you've gotten!"
Ke Ke's face darkened.
"Ju Zi! I was just trying to be nice and check on you, but you call me fat?! Unbelievable!"
She huffed and raised her voice, drawing attention from students around them.
"You have the nerve to call me a glutton? You're literally one of the biggest foodies at the academy! Even if they made a ranking of the top eaters, you'd be right at the top!"
"And honestly, I think the only reason your body looks better than mine is because you eat too well!"
Hearing the chatter around them, Ju Zi grew embarrassed.
She quickly pushed Ke Ke toward the cafeteria, saying,
"Enough, let's just go to the same place as last time!"
Ke Ke crossed her arms.
"No way. You have to make it up to me for calling me fat."
"How about this you cook for me! It's been a while since I've had your food, and honestly, you're better than the cafeteria chefs!"
Ju Zi rolled her eyes.
"Not happening. I don't have time to cook. Professor Xuan has been pushing us hard on soul tool research.
I've barely gotten any sleep lately! You know how exhausting cooking is!"
Ke Ke pouted.
"Then what will it take for you to cook for me?"
Ju Zi smirked and said in a serious tone,
"Cooking takes a lot of effort and emotion. Gotta pay up."
Ke Ke was stunned, then burst out laughing.
"Pay up?! Wow, Ju Zi, you know I spent all my gold soul coins on soul tools. My wallet is drier than my face in winter, and you're still asking for money?! You're messing with me!"
Ju Zi sighed.
"Fine, how about I make you some oranges instead?"
As a food type soul master, Ju Zi's martial soul was oranges.
She could create various types of oranges with different effects through her soul skills.
Ke Ke saw how tired Ju Zi looked and relented.
"Alright, fine. Since you're exhausted, just make me some oranges. I'll have them as dessert."
Suddenly, they heard a commotion nearby.
"Isn't that the Dean and Xiao Hongchen?! Why are they flying so fast?!"
"Yeah! I've never seen the Dean move like that before. Something must be wrong."
Ke Ke instinctively looked up, just in time to see Jing Hongchen and Xiao Hongchen soaring through the sky.
They were moving so fast that within moments, they had become tiny black dots on the horizon.
Mingde Hall.
The Snow Empress was quietly examining her current state.
"My strength is greatly restricted... But this so called soul spirit state is truly fascinating.
This is undoubtedly a remarkable invention.
If Huo Yuhao becomes stronger, I'll be able to unleash even more of my power."
She then turned to him and asked,
"Huo Yuhao, are you interested in the soul beasts of the Extreme North?"
"If possible, I'd like to offer you some powerful soul beasts who are unable to overcome their tribulations. They could become your soul spirits instead of perishing."
According to the Ice Empress, this human Huo Yuhao was a reincarnated god.
If that were true, then his chances of ascending to godhood again were incredibly high.
Thus, the Snow Empress had started considering bringing some of her people into this divine ascension plan.
After all, becoming Yuhao's soul spirit was a far better fate than dying under the divine tribulation.
At that moment, one particular soul beast came to her mind the Ice Bear King.
That foolish yet powerful bear was practically her adopted son.
But she doubted he would survive his 200,000 year tribulation...
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