Chapter 30 The more you compare, the worse it gets! Huo Yuhao from the underworld is so envious he cries!
Images flow across the sky.
Shrek Academy, a dark world, seemed to have a gloomy sky that foreshadowed a kind of oppressive atmosphere.
Inside the classroom, Zhou Yi had just announced the end of get out of class. The students, as if granted a reprieve, hurriedly packed their belongings to leave.
Huo Yuhao also slung his backpack over his shoulder, preparing to slip away into the crowd.
"Huo Yuhao, wait a moment."
Zhou Yi's icy voice suddenly rang out, causing Huo Yuhao to stiffen.
Other classmates cast sympathetic or gloating glances at him. Wang Dong looked at him worriedly, but under Zhou Yi's stern gaze, he could only helplessly walk away first.
When only the two of them remained in the classroom, Zhou Yi didn't get angry as everyone expected. Instead, she surprisingly showed a hint of... interest, like someone who had spotted prey.
"Tell me, what is your martial spirit?" Zhou Yi asked bluntly.
Huo Yuhao answered honestly, "Spirit Eye, mental attribute."
Upon hearing the words "Spirit Eye," Zhou Yi's eyes visibly lit up, and she then inquired in detail about Huo Yuhao's first soul skill.
Upon learning it was the divine skill of "mental detection sharing," Zhou Yi's wrinkles seemed to smooth out a bit. Without a word, she grabbed Huo Yuhao's wrist and pulled him outside.
"Come with me, I'll take you somewhere."
The two passed through numerous buildings and arrived at an area filled with the sounds of metal clanging and machinery roaring—the Soul Tool Testing Area.
Along the way, Zhou Yi casually explained, "This is the Soul Guidance Department. According to the academy's rules, students from the Martial Soul Department must wait until their second year and pass an examination to enroll in the Soul Guidance Department."
Huo Yuhao was taken aback, and asked cautiously, "Teacher Zhou, I've only just enrolled..."
"Rules are rules, but people are flexible," Zhou Yi scoffed, a hint of arrogance in her voice. "If you have the talent, I can get you started early."
Soon, the two arrived at the door of a huge laboratory.
A tall, middle-aged man was intently adjusting a soul-guided cannon. He was Fan Yu, one of the core figures of the Soul Guidance System, an eighth-level Soul Guidance Master.
[He was also Zhou Yi's husband.]
After a brief exchange and testing, Fan Yu showed great interest in Huo Yuhao's mental detection abilities.
"Not bad, a promising talent." Fan Yu nodded, looking at Huo Yuhao, and said, "However, your mental strength is still a little weak. How about this, if you can raise your mental strength to another level in the next few months, I will accept you as my disciple."
Huo Yuhao's eyes lit up, and he quickly bowed to express his gratitude. For him, who craved power, this was a rare opportunity.
...
However, outside the sky, the soul masters of the underworld, witnessing this scene, began to discuss it once again.
Their voices were filled with silence.
"This...this is called the 'Number One Academy on the Continent'?"
A Soul Master from the Sun Moon Empire couldn't help but sneer.
"You have to wait until the second year to learn how to use a soul tool? That's way too late!"
Another Soul Master from Douluo Three Kingdoms spoke up:
"I've always heard that Shrek Academy is prejudiced against soul tools. Although the academy has a soul tool department, it has always been suppressed by the martial soul department..."
"I didn't believe it before, but now it seems to be true."
"After studying the Martial Soul system for a year, people are already biased towards the Soul Guidance system, making them even less willing to learn about Soul Guidance Devices..."
"That's why Shrek Academy's soul tools have never been able to catch up with the Sun and Moon Sects..."
Although many of the Soul Masters in the Douluo Three Kingdoms disliked the Sun Moon Empire, they had to admit that Shrek Academy's outdated system was a classic example of stagnation and self-imposed limitations.
Of course, what's even more ironic is Zhou Yi's behavior.
"Um... I wanted to ask something."
A young Soul Master raised his hand and said weakly.
"Didn't Zhou Yi from our underworld just say that the academy stipulates that students can only learn this in their second year?"
"So, if she takes Huo Yuhao now, isn't that... against the rules?"
"What violation? This is called 'using connections'!"
A seasoned veteran next to him sneered, his face full of disdain.
"Didn't you realize? That Fan Yu is her husband! Those so-called rules are only for ordinary students without connections. As long as you have a relationship with a teacher, the rules are worthless!"
"So that's how it is... Is this Shrek Academy's 'fairness'?"
"Heh, Elder Xuan of the White World went so far as to break down sectarian barriers and reveal divine-level cultivation techniques to the public so that all students could succeed. Zhou Yi of the Black World, on the other hand, is using personal connections to seek special treatment. The difference in their character is obvious!"
"The rules and regulations of Shrek in the underworld are truly appalling."
Not only ordinary Soul Masters, but even the leaders of various forces looked at the sky with a different gaze.
The Shrek Academy that was once sacred and inviolable in their hearts now seems to be full of loopholes and privileges.
Inside the Sea God Pavilion.
Moon lay on the recliner, his cloudy old eyes slightly narrowed, his fingers gently tapping the armrest.
"You can only access the Soul Guidance System in your second year..."
He murmured softly, his voice unreadable, "Indeed, this rule has been in place for thousands of years. It used to be thought that it was to allow students to focus on cultivating their martial spirits and build a solid foundation. But now it seems..."
He thought of the students in the White World who enjoyed all-around soul tool assistance as soon as they entered school, and he thought of the so-called "five-in-one" cultivation system.
"Times have changed."
Mu En sighed, "Others are already using soul tools to assist in cultivation and improve efficiency, while we're still creating these artificial barriers. If this continues, we'll be eliminated sooner or later."
"There's even such blatant backdoor behavior..."
Moon's brow furrowed even more.
"Zhou Yi's eating manners are indeed rather unseemly. It seems that the atmosphere within the academy really needs to be rectified."
...
The images on the celestial screen continued to rotate.
After leaving the Soul Guidance Department, Huo Yuhao did not return to his dormitory to rest.
He hurriedly ran out of the school gate and found Tang Ya waiting for him by the roadside.
"Xiao Yuhao, over here!" Tang Ya waved excitedly, pointing to the oven and ingredients that had already been prepared. "I've got everything ready for you, let's open for business now!"
Huo Yuhao nodded gratefully, skillfully put on an apron, and began to start a fire, brush on oil, and grill the fish.
It must be said, Huo Yuhao's culinary skills are truly exceptional.
[Furthermore, the Spirit Eye Martial Soul's precise control over the heat quickly spread, attracting many passing students.]
"Boss, two grilled fish, please!"
"Alright! Five copper soul coins per stick!"
Huo Yuhao was working tirelessly, his face etched with sweat and smoke. Though exhausted, his eyes held an unwavering determination. For a child with no family or support, being able to earn his tuition and living expenses with his own hands was an immense blessing.
Business is booming; we're busy until late at night.
When Huo Yuhao dragged his weary body back to the dormitory, Wang Dong was already asleep. He could only quickly wash up and then sit cross-legged on the bed, seizing the last bit of time for meditation.
...
To many ordinary soul masters in the underworld, this scene was originally an inspiring story of struggle full of positive energy.
"This child is so sensible; he knows how to be self-reliant at such a young age."
"Yes, it was tough, but this spirit deserves praise."
Some people even found it quite touching.
but--
The worst thing is to compare things.
When this "emotion" is placed in contrast to "Huo Yuhao" in the White World, it instantly changes its meaning.
"Sigh... Although this child is working very hard, why do I feel so heartbroken?"
A female Soul Master who looked like a mother wiped the corner of her eye.
"What is Huo Yuhao in the White World doing at this time? Is he soaking in a medicinal bath in his luxurious dormitory, enjoying a massage from a top-tier soul tool, and eating a nutritious medicinal meal?"
"More than that!"
Someone nearby chimed in, "Not only does Bai Yuhao not have to worry about making a living, but the academy also gives him a subsidy! He spends all his time cultivating god-level techniques, and he also has the guidance of Teacher Bai Zhouyi, who is a titled Douluo and has a gentle personality."
"And look at Hei Yuhao... He attends those incredibly boring classes during the day, runs laps until he's exhausted in the afternoon, and then has to sell grilled fish in the smoky heat at night to earn his tuition. How can he possibly have the time and energy to catch up with those geniuses?"
"That's the difference!"
"Both are named Shrek, but one treats students like treasures, afraid that you won't get enough nutrition or that your cultivation will be too slow. He even wants to feed you."
"And the other one? It's a situation where students are completely left to their own devices, and it's also full of privileges and injustices."
"In the white world, Master Xuan truly treats his students like his own children. But in the black world... it feels like raising poisonous insects. Whether you survive or not depends entirely on how tough your life is."
In the crowd, a young Soul Master wearing patched clothes clenched his fists tightly, his eyes filled with envy and resentment: "If... if I could have been born in that White World, how wonderful that would be."
"I have talent, and I'm willing to work hard, but I don't have the money to buy resources, so I have to work most of the time every day... If I were given an environment like Bai Shijie's, I could also become a strong person!"
This sentiment spread like a virus in the dark world.
The more powerless a person feels about life, the stronger their yearning for a world of white light becomes at this moment.
For Huo Yuhao himself, who was in the underworld, this impact was even more profound, striking straight to the soul.
Shrek Academy, downstairs in the dormitory building.
Huo Yuhao originally didn't have this idea either.
But at this moment, whenever he thought about Huo Yuhao's life in the Bai world, he couldn't help but feel a little envious.
"Seriously... this white world of mine is so awesome..."
"I also wish I could just focus on cultivation... I also wish I didn't have to worry about whether I have enough money every day... I also wish I had a titled Douluo teacher and super powerful cultivation techniques..."
No one is born liking hardship.
The saying "poor children learn to be independent early" is nothing more than a helpless situation forced by life.
If given a choice, who wouldn't want to live a life like the White World?
"The Mysterious Elder of that world..."
Huo Yuhao sighed, his eyes filled with longing.
"If I could be your student... I would give up everything I have now in exchange."
...
Shrek City, a restaurant.
"Bang!"
Xuanzi crushed another wine cup.
Listening to the praise for the white world and the denigration of the black world outside, his mentality had completely collapsed.
"These unruly people! They know nothing!"
Xuanzi gritted his teeth and growled.
"This is also a kind of training! Only Soul Masters who grow up in adversity are true strongmen! That White World protects its students so well, how is that any different from flowers in a greenhouse? When they really get to the battlefield of life and death, they won't even know how they died!"
He was trying hard to find a way to justify his actions, trying to prove that the educational philosophy of the underworld was the "orthodox" one.
"Just wait and see... Selling grilled fish is tough for this kid right now, but it's also a way to toughen him up! In the long run, I don't believe that Bai Yuhao, who only knows how to enjoy life, can have the same resilience as us!"
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