Chapter 6: Divine Thought from the Heavens, Finally Meeting Elder Yi
During the days of settling down in Star Luo City, Huo Yuhao was like a wound-up spring, living every day busy and fulfilling.
By day, he relied on Spiritual Detection to hunt and gather herbs on the outskirts of the Soul Hunting Forest outside the city, exchanging them for gold coins to nurse his mother's body.
At night, he would Cultivate hard, constantly pondering the wonderful uses of the Spirit Eyes.
And the profound knowledge regarding the Soul Origin from Electrolux in his mind.
His mother's complexion grew rosier day by day, and the family's savings slowly increased, yet a sense of urgency always lingered in Huo Yuhao's heart.
The speed of his strength improvement was still too slow!
Without the resources of an academy, without systematic guidance, relying only on himself to grope in the dark.
Even with the experience of his previous life and the help of Brother Tianmeng, it was far from enough.
More importantly, one of his most vital opportunities.
The encounter with the Death Spirit Saint Magus Electrolux still had no leads.
In his previous life, that wisp of Elder Yi's remnant Soul was attracted by sensing his intense obsession with revenge and emotional impact.
But in this life, having returned through Rebirth, his mindset was already different.
He was no longer that youth whose eyes were completely blinded by hatred; that extreme emotional fluctuation had not been generated.
"Could it be that because of my Rebirth, the opportunity to meet Elder Yi has changed?"
In the dead of night, Huo Yuhao often frowned in thought, inevitably feeling some anxiety and unease.
"Elder Yi's Legacy is crucial for my future creation of a God Position; if I miss it because of this..."
This thought weighed on his heart like a stone.
Without Elder Yi's supreme wisdom regarding the Soul, relying on himself alone to figure out the path to a Soul God Position would be as difficult as reaching the heavens.
"Kid, don't look so miserable."
Tianmeng Ice Silkworm sensed his emotions and spoke up to comfort him, "This brother's million-year mental force isn't just for show; helping you nourish your Soul and enhance your mental strength is no problem!"
"As for that God Position thing, there's always a way when the time comes!"
Huo Yuhao gave a bitter smile; Brother Tianmeng's power was vast and boundless.
But it leaned toward the 'quantity' and purity of mental force.
Whereas what Elder Yi mastered were the 'quality' and Laws of the Soul; the two complemented each other and neither could be missing.
"I must do something..."
Huo Yuhao took a deep breath, his gaze becoming firm again.
"I can't just wait. Since the emotional fluctuations aren't enough, then I'll try to call out using the purest Soul power!"
He decided to take a risk and try. According to his memories from his previous life, Elder Yi's remnant Soul should be drifting near the Douluo Continent.
It was exceptionally sensitive to pure Soul power.
That night, Huo Yuhao did not Cultivate spirit power as usual, but instead adjusted his state to its peak.
He sat cross-legged on the bed, his hands forming a strange hand seal.
This was a basic seal for condensing the Soul Origin that Elder Yi had taught him in the Late Stage of his previous life.
He closed his eyes, and his Spirit Eyes Martial Soul quietly opened.
Yet it wasn't used for detection, but was instead withdrawn inward, sinking all his mental force deep into his sea of consciousness.
"Brother Tianmeng, lend me a hand to spread my Soul aura outward as purely as possible."
"Don't carry any power fluctuations, just that sense of 'existence'."
Huo Yuhao said solemnly in his heart.
"Got it! You kid always have some weird ideas, but I like it!"
Although Tianmeng Ice Silkworm didn't understand what Huo Yuhao wanted to do, it still unhesitatingly mobilized its massive mental Origin, carefully enveloping Huo Yuhao's consciousness.
It filtered out all distracting thoughts and spirit power fluctuations, leaving only the most core and pure aura of the Soul Origin.
Then, like ripples on water.
This incomparably pure Soul aura spread out silently toward the endless night sky, with Huo Yuhao as the center.
Time passed minute by minute.
Huo Yuhao maintained this state with all his might, fine beads of sweat gradually seeping from his forehead.
This operation required extremely high control over mental force; if not for the assistance of the Tianmeng Ice Silkworm, he wouldn't have been able to do it at all.
Fifteen minutes, thirty minutes...
Just as Huo Yuhao felt his mental force was about to be exhausted and he was nearly unable to hold on.
Suddenly!
An indescribable, vast, desolate, and terrifying Divine Thought filled with endless wisdom and vicissitudes.
As if traveling through the Universe and the primordial chaos, it abruptly descended from the highest reaches of the sky!
This Divine Thought was so powerful and noble, yet it appeared incomparably broken and weak.
Like a candle in the wind, but the level it contained made the Tianmeng Ice Silkworm in Huo Yuhao's sea of consciousness nearly scream in fright!
"Holy crap!! What is this?! What a terrifying feeling!"
"It's even more awesome than when I was in my prime!"
"Kid, what kind of thing did you attract?!"
Tianmeng Ice Silkworm's voice was full of terror and disbelief.
At this moment, however, Huo Yuhao was so excited that even his Soul was trembling!
It's here! It's really here!
Just as he had anticipated, although Elder Yi's state was extremely poor, he had an extraordinary sensitivity to pure and special Soul auras!
His aura, which combined the Rebirth Soul Origin and the characteristics of the Spirit Eyes, had indeed successfully attracted him!
That broken Divine Thought seemed to carry a trace of doubt and curiosity.
It circled slightly above Huo Yuhao, as if examining something.
Huo Yuhao didn't dare to make any movement, maintaining the purity and openness of his Soul aura with all his might, expressing goodwill and desire.
Finally, that Divine Thought seemed to confirm that the weak but exceptionally pure Soul aura below had an instinctive attraction to it.
Perhaps it was for nourishment, or perhaps it was a sense of common Origin.
It no longer hesitated and, like a falling star, instantly withdrew all the Soul-shaking pressure.
Transforming into an extremely fine grey stream of light, it silently merged into the space between Huo Yuhao's brows.
It drilled directly into the depths of his sea of consciousness.
*Buzz!*
Huo Yuhao only felt a coolness in his mind, as if a spring had been poured in during a scorching summer.
His sea of consciousness, which had been stinging slightly from over-exhaustion, instantly calmed down, even becoming more stable and profound.
Following that, an old, gentle, yet infinitely weary voice sounded intermittently directly in the depths of his Soul:
"Light... is not... the only..."
"Darkness... is also not... the end..."
"Pure... Soul... calling... why..."
The voice was blurry and filled with confusion, like an ancient consciousness that had slept for ten thousand years just waking up.
"Success! I've really succeeded!"
Huo Yuhao was ecstatic in his heart, nearly moved to tears.
All worries and all anxieties vanished into thin air at this moment!
He suppressed his excitement and responded with the most respectful and sincere thought:
"Respected powerhouse, my name is Huo Yuhao. I sensed your existence and crave your guidance."
"Please rest and sleep here in peace; my Soul power is willing to provide you with some nourishment."
That old voice fell silent for a moment, seemingly sensing Huo Yuhao's sincerity and the condition of this sea of consciousness.
"...Interesting... little fellow... Twin... Souls?..."
"And... a million-year... Spirit Beast... aura...?"
"Never mind... this old man... Electrolux... shall... disturb you for a while..."
The voice grew lower and lower, finally falling completely silent.
Transforming into a tiny, extremely weak grey speck of light, it sank to the very bottom of Huo Yuhao's sea of consciousness.
It fell into a deep state of self-repair and slumber.
But from the moment it existed, Huo Yuhao could clearly feel that his sea of consciousness had undergone a fundamental transformation.
It became tougher, and his perception of Soul power became sharper.
"E... Electrolux? He's the badass you were talking about?"
Tianmeng Ice Silkworm finally spoke up, its voice still carrying lingering fear.
"What a terrifying guy. Just now, I felt like a little bug! What exactly is his background?"
Huo Yuhao let out a long sigh of relief, a smile of relief and hope appearing on his face.
"Brother Tianmeng, he is the other guide for the future path I mentioned.
The Death Spirit Saint Magus—Electrolux."
"Although he is extremely weak now, as long as he is here, we have infinite possibilities."
The most important puzzle piece was finally in place!
This time, it was he who took the initiative to call out and attract Elder Yi's remnant Soul.
This proved that even if the trajectory of fate changed due to Rebirth.
He still had the ability to pull key people and events back onto the path he had chosen!
Feeling that faint but incredibly solid connection deep in his sea of consciousness, Huo Yuhao cast his gaze toward the starry night sky outside the window.
Shrek Academy, Ma Xiaotao, wait for me.
This time, I will walk toward you with a brand new posture!
Chapter 7: Initial Exploration of the Wonders of the Soul
Electrolux's remnant Soul was like a pebble tossed into a lake, though silent.
It stirred deep and distant ripples within Huo Yuhao's sea of consciousness.
After that faint grey light sank to the bottom of the sea.
Huo Yuhao could clearly feel that his entire mental World seemed to have become more stable.
His mental force, which was originally vast but somewhat "empty," seemed to have gained a backbone.
It gained an indescribable sense of order and weight.
Even the pressure brought by the Tianmeng Ice Silkworm's million-year mental Origin was quietly harmonized by this new power.
Becoming more harmonious.
"Phew..."
Huo Yuhao let out a long breath and slowly opened his eyes.
A restrained light shone in his deep blue eyes, adding a bit more depth.
Although his mental force consumption was massive and his face was somewhat pale, his mental state was better than ever before.
"I succeeded... Elder Yi, I have finally met you once again."
He murmured to himself, his fingertips lightly brushing his forehead, feeling that faint but incredibly important connection.
His heart was filled with a sense of stability and hope.
"Hey, hey, hey, kid! You really scared me to death just now!"
The blustering voice of the Tianmeng Ice Silkworm immediately rang out, filled with lingering fear and intense curiosity.
"Just what is the background of that Electrolux?"
"Even as just a wisp of a remnant Soul, his level feels terrifyingly high!"
"It seems my million years of cultivation aren't even enough to look at in front of him?"
Huo Yuhao smiled slightly and replied in his mind, "Brother Tianmeng, Elder Yi's background is very complex; he is not from this World."
"You only need to know that he is a powerhouse who has reached a Realm near the pinnacle in the Soul Domain."
"His knowledge and wisdom are our most important Treasure Troves for the future."
"The pinnacle of the Soul Domain?"
The Tianmeng Ice Silkworm understood only half of it. "That sounds really impressive!"
"No wonder you were so determined to find him. With his help, can we walk tall from now on?"
"It's too early to walk tall."
Huo Yuhao chuckled and shook his head.
"Elder Yi is extremely weak right now and needs a long time to be nurtured."
"What we need to do now is improve our strength as quickly as possible, while using our Soul power to help Elder Yi recover."
He paused, his tone becoming serious.
"Brother Tianmeng, things will be hard for you from now on."
"My spirit power cultivation cannot fall behind, and the tempering of my mental force and the nurturing of Elder Yi's remnant Soul will need even more of your strong support."
"Leave it to me!"
The Tianmeng Ice Silkworm patted its chest (if it had one).
It guaranteed, "I can't say about other things, but when it comes to the quantity of mental force and nurturing Souls, I'm a professional!"
"I'll make sure this grand sir is served comfortably!"
With the Tianmeng Ice Silkworm's guarantee, Huo Yuhao felt a bit more at ease.
He glanced out the window; the sky was nearing dawn.
In the days that followed, Huo Yuhao's lifestyle upgraded once again.
He still went to the Soul Hunting Forest every day to gather resources, but he became more efficient.
After Elder Yi's remnant Soul settled in, he found that his fine control over Spiritual Detection had actually improved by a notch.
His insight into the weaknesses of Spirit Beasts was also more precise, often allowing him to end battles more quickly.
He invested more energy into the exploration and cultivation of Soul power.
At night, he no longer just meditated to improve his spirit power.
He would spend more than half his time sinking his consciousness into the sea of consciousness.
He carefully guided his own mental force and that wisp of initially condensed Soul power.
Like a trickling stream, they gently wrapped around and nurtured that dormant grey light.
This process was tedious and slow, and it was extremely exhausting for the mind.
But Huo Yuhao never tired of it.
He could vaguely feel that at the core of the grey light, a tiny wisp of consciousness was slowly absorbing power.
Like a sleeping seed waiting to sprout.
Occasionally, when he focused all his heart on infusing Soul power, one or two runes or fragments of thought containing endless mysteries would appear.
They would unconsciously flow out from the grey light and merge into his consciousness.
These fragments were incomplete, sometimes analyzing Soul structures, sometimes regarding the utilization and purification of negative emotions.
Sometimes they were techniques for the extreme compression and transformation of mental force...
Each fragment was like a precious treasure to Huo Yuhao, who obsessively chewed over and understood them.
Although it was only a glimpse through a narrow tube, it already caused his understanding of the Soul to improve rapidly.
It far exceeded the scope of this World's Spirit Master system.
He even began to try imitating those incomplete runes, mobilizing the power of the sea of consciousness to outline them.
Failure was the norm, but every successful prototype would make his mental force more concise and his control more exquisite.
"Kid, these scribbles you're drawing... seem to have some merit?"
The Tianmeng Ice Silkworm curiously observed an extremely crude and unstable grey rune that Huo Yuhao had condensed with mental force in the sea of consciousness.
"I feel that this thing helps with the stability of mental force?"
"Mhm."
Huo Yuhao concentrated, carefully maintaining the stability of the rune.
"This is an inspiration I got from Elder Yi. It seems to be a basic structure of a soul rune that can purify and stabilize mental power."
Even as he spoke, that crude rune finally couldn't hold up.
With a soft "poof," it shattered and dissipated into the sea of consciousness.
Huo Yuhao wasn't discouraged; after a brief rest, he began to try again.
He knew that this was only the first step of a long journey.
Besides cultivating, the types of medicinal herbs he purchased also began to change.
In addition to those for nurturing his mother's body, he also bought some expensive medicinal herbs said to be able to nourish the spirit.
Although the effects might be negligible, Huo Yuhao still bought them without hesitation and ground them into powder.
He placed them beside him every time he cultivated, hoping they would provide some help to Elder Yi's recovery.
Huo Yuner watched her son become busier by the day, the light in his eyes growing brighter and brighter.
Her heart was both gratified and pained.
She could only do her best to manage their small home, prepare hot meals for her son, and support him silently.
Time passed quietly in such a fulfilling and regular rhythm.
Huo Yuhao's spirit power steadily rose to Rank 13.
And his mental force, under the joint nourishment of the knowledge fragments unconsciously emitted by Elder Yi and the Tianmeng Ice Silkworm's Origin, improved at an even more terrifying speed.
Its strength was already far beyond that of an ordinary Spirit Grandmaster, and his application of Spirit Abilities became increasingly proficient.
More importantly, his understanding and application of Soul power.
Had already quietly opened up a unique and potential-filled shortcut outside of this World's Spirit Master system.
This night, Huo Yuhao sank his consciousness into the sea of consciousness as usual.
Carefully nurturing Elder Yi's remnant Soul.
Suddenly, that grey light, which had been dormant for a long time, fluctuated very slightly.
Immediately after, that old and gentle voice rang out, a tiny bit clearer than the last time.
It rang out in the depths of his Soul once again.
Although it was still intermittent, it was no longer entirely confused mumblings:
"Child... thank you... for your... nurturing..."
"The Dao... of the Soul... is as vast as the sea... You... are very good..."
"Continue... keep going..."
The voice quickly fell silent again, as if it had exhausted the little power it had just accumulated.
But this time, Huo Yuhao clearly felt a hint of gratification and clear guidance contained in that voice!
Elder Yi has awakened more!
He can even conduct brief exchanges now!
Immense joy instantly filled Huo Yuhao's heart. He struggled to maintain his mental stability and respectfully replied in his mind:
"Elder Yi, please rest assured, I will persevere. Please rest in peace."
He knew that although the path was long, the direction was already incredibly clear.
He looked up, his gaze seemingly able to penetrate the roof, looking toward the direction of Shrek Academy.
His strength had taken a step further, and Elder Yi had begun to recover.
The time to head to Shrek and find Ma Xiaotao was almost ripe.
Early the next morning, Huo Yuhao went to find his mother.
"Mom, my spirit power has already reached Rank 14." He got straight to the point.
"Moreover, I found knowledge left behind by a teacher that is very helpful for controlling that special flame."
"I plan to go to Shrek Academy."
Huo Yuner's hand, which was mending clothes, paused. She looked up, her eyes full of worry.
"Shrek? That's so far... and there are so many geniuses there, you..."
"Mom, don't worry."
Huo Yuhao's tone was firm. "I have a reason why I must go. Besides, I have confidence."
He gently took his mother's hand. "Once I've established myself, I'll come get you."
Huo Yuner looked at the unquestionable light in her son's eyes and finally nodded. "Alright, Mom will wait for you. Be careful with everything."
After settling his mother, Huo Yuhao immediately set off.
With his Spiritual Detection, he easily found a merchant caravan heading to Shrek Academy and paid to hitch a ride.
Along the way, several young Spirit Masters in the same carriage chatted excitedly.
"I heard that Shrek's enrollment is packed again this year!"
"Tell me about it, the threshold is terrifyingly high. Under twelve years old, and spirit power must be at least Rank 15!"
"How many people will that filter out!"
"Rank 15 is just the minimum requirement! I heard the assessments are perverted; if you don't pass, you're kicked out all the same."
"Sigh, I hope we have good luck..."
Huo Yuhao listened silently.
Rank 15?
He was currently exactly at Rank 14, just a bit short.
But he wasn't worried; he had his ways.
A few days later, the massive Shrek City appeared before his eyes.
Huo Yuhao thanked the caravan and walked straight toward the continent-renowned academy.
The academy entrance was a sea of people, all young Spirit Masters and their families from various places.
The long registration line moved slowly, with staff busily verifying ages and spirit power Ranks.
Huo Yuhao joined the end of the line. When it was his turn, the staff member didn't even look up. "Name, age, spirit power Rank, Spirit."
"Huo Yuhao, eleven years old, Rank 14 spirit power, Spirit: Spirit Eyes."
The staff member's pen paused. He looked up, frowning. "Rank 14? You haven't reached the minimum standard. Next."
A few sneers sounded around them. Huo Yuhao's expression remained unchanged.
"Teacher, could you make an exception? My Spirit is a bit special."
"Special?"
The staff member waved his hand impatiently.
"No matter how special it is, it's useless. Rules are rules! Insufficient spirit power means you haven't worked hard enough and your talent is lacking! Hurry up and move aside!"
At this moment, someone who looked like a senior student responsible for maintaining order walked over. "What's going on?"
The staff member curled his lip. "Senior Wang, another one trying to sneak through. Eleven years old, only Rank 14 spirit power, one Rank short."
That Senior Wang sized up Huo Yuhao. Seeing his ordinary clothes but calm gaze, he said:
"Junior, it's not that we're heartless."
"The academy's hard deadline is Rank 15; even one Rank short won't do. Come back and try again next year."
Huo Yuhao looked at Senior Wang and suddenly asked, "Senior, the final goal of the academy's assessment is to screen for students with potential and strength, right?"
Senior Wang was taken aback. "Of course."
"Then if I can prove that my actual ability far exceeds Rank 14 spirit power,"
"And is even not inferior to an average Rank 15 Spirit Master?"
Huo Yuhao asked calmly, "Rules are dead, but the purpose of selecting talent is alive."
"The academy shouldn't refuse a student with true potential, right?"
His voice wasn't loud, but it carried a strange persuasiveness.
Both Senior Wang and the staff member were stunned.
"Heh, what a big mouth!"
A fat boy nearby who had just finished testing his spirit power and met the standard couldn't help but mock him.
"Rank 14 and you dare to brag so much? I might as well say I can rival a Spirit Elder!"
Huo Yuhao ignored him, only looking at Senior Wang.
Senior Wang pondered for a moment.
Shrek did indeed have precedents for exceptional admissions, but those were targeted at extremely rare top-tier Spirits or special talents.
This boy's Spirit was just Spirit Eyes.
Although it was a Mental-type Spirit, it really didn't look that powerful.
"How do you prove it?"
Senior Wang asked.
Huo Yuhao's gaze swept over the still-sneering fat boy, then back to Senior Wang.
"Simple. Please ask a senior around Rank 20 to spar with me."
"If I win, or if the ability I show is enough to be recognized, then please give me a chance to participate in the subsequent assessments."
"If I lose, I will leave immediately without any complaints."
As soon as these words were spoken, not only the staff and the fat boy, but even many people in the surrounding lines looked over, thinking this kid was crazy.
Rank 14 challenging Rank 20?
What kind of joke is that!
Senior Wang also furrowed his brows tightly. "Are you sure? Fists and feet have no eyes."
"I'm sure." Huo Yuhao's eyes didn't waver in the slightest.
Looking at those overly calm eyes, Senior Wang felt a strange stir in his heart.
He thought for a moment and shouted to a senior student watching the commotion nearby:
"Li Bin, come here for a second! You're Rank 21, exchange a few moves with this junior. Watch your strength!"
The student named Li Bin walked over with a grin. "Sure thing, Senior Wang. Guiding a junior is my specialty!"
The crowd automatically cleared a small open space. Everyone looked at Huo Yuhao with eyes expecting a joke.
Li Bin stood casually, and two yellow hundred-year spirit rings rose from beneath his feet.
"Junior, come on. Let me see how you aren't inferior to a Rank 15 Spirit Master?"
Huo Yuhao didn't speak; a spirit ring likewise rose from beneath his feet.
That jaw-dropping White-gold Spirit Ring flashed and vanished once more!
Though it was only for an instant, that noble and terrifying aura caused the smile on Li Bin's face to freeze instantly.
Even his movements slowed by half a beat!
Now!
Huo Yuhao moved!
His body lunged out like a cheetah, his speed far beyond what a Rank 14 Spirit Master should have!
At the same time, Spiritual Detection had already predicted and perceived all of Li Bin's movements!
Li Bin, after all, had Rank 21 spirit power and quickly recovered from his shock.
He gave a low shout: "First Spirit Ability, Great Bear Palm!"
His palm glowed with an earthy yellow light, becoming thick and powerful as he struck toward Huo Yuhao.
But in Huo Yuhao's Spiritual Detection, the trajectory, force, and even the spirit power flow of this palm were crystal clear.
With just an extremely clever side-step, he dodged the palm by a hair's breadth.
Simultaneously, his body closed in on the wide-open gap in Li Bin's center!
"What?!"
Li Bin was startled, not expecting the opponent's speed to be so fast and his prediction so accurate!
He subconsciously wanted to pull back his arm to defend, but felt his brain go slightly dizzy, and his movement slowed by half a beat.
This was a weak interference caused by Huo Yuhao mobilizing his mental force; its effect against a Spirit Master much higher in Rank than him was limited.
But it was enough to create an opening!
Huo Yuhao didn't use any Spirit Ability, just a simple and direct punch containing the full strength of his Rank 14 spirit power.
It slammed precisely into the soft ribs under Li Bin's armpit!
Bang!
"Ugh!" Li Bin groaned in pain, feeling half his body go numb as he staggered back several steps.
He barely managed to steady himself, his face full of shock and disbelief.
The entire field was dead silent.
Everyone was dazed.
A Rank 14 Spirit Master, in a single exchange, had bare-handedly repelled a Rank 21 Spirit Grandmaster?!
Although Li Bin had clearly underestimated his opponent and wasn't really injured, this result was simply too inconceivable!
Huo Yuhao withdrew his fist and stood straight, his breathing steady, as he looked at Senior Wang. "Senior, is this acceptable?"
Senior Wang took a deep breath and looked deeply at Huo Yuhao, especially at the spot where that White-gold Spirit Ring had disappeared.
"You... come with me."
He finally said, then instructed the still-dazed staff member.
"Process his paperwork. It's a special case; I'll take him to see a teacher."
"Yes... yes! Senior Wang!"
The staff member jolted awake and quickly nodded.
Huo Yuhao's heart settled, knowing he had gambled correctly.
He ignored the surrounding gazes of shock, envy, and jealousy, following Senior Wang as he stepped through the gates of Shrek Academy.
The new challenge had only just begun
Senior Wang Mian led Huo Yuhao through the grand gilded gates of Shrek Academy; the scene inside and outside the gates was like two different Worlds.
Outside the gates was a bustling, crowded tide of people registering.
Inside was a bluestone road wide enough for ten carriages to pass side-by-side, leading straight into the depths of the academy.
On both sides of the road stood towering ancient trees with lush foliage, casting large patches of cool shade.
The air was filled with a faint fragrance of vegetation and dense, active Heaven and Earth Origin Qi.
In the distance, various grand buildings were faintly visible.
From time to time, students wearing Shrek's green school uniforms walked by, each with a steady Aura and sharp eyes.
This was the continent's number one academy, Shrek!
Deep foundations, with experts as numerous as clouds.
Huo Yuhao composed himself and followed Wang Mian closely.
As they walked, a huge plaza ahead caught Huo Yuhao's attention.
In the center of the plaza stood a group of magnificent, lifelike statues.
Seeing this, a proud expression appeared on Wang Mian's face as he took the initiative to introduce them:
"Those are the symbols of our Shrek Academy's glory—the statues of the Original Shrek Seven Devils, Dean Flender, and Grandmaster Yu Xiaogang."
"It was they who defeated powerful enemies in the Continental Advanced Spirit Master Academy Elite Tournament of that year, defending the academy's glory!"
His finger pointed toward the most central and prominent statue:
"Look, that one is the core of the team, the one who later became the Sea God, and also the founder of our Tang Sect—Ancestor Tang San!"
The young man in the statue had a handsome face.
His gaze was resolute yet gentle, holding a golden trident that seemed capable of tearing the heavens and earth apart.
Standing tall and upright, bathed in sunlight, he received the admiration of countless successors.
However, when Huo Yuhao's gaze fell upon that statue, his heart suddenly constricted!
His blood seemed to turn icy in an instant, only to burn fiercely the next!
Sea God? Founder of the Tang Sect?
Great ancestor?
What a glorious and magnificent image!
But who could have imagined that behind this glorious image lay meticulous calculation and manipulation of his life?
Was it the coldness and selfishness of treating him like a marionette?
The tragedy of his mother's lonely and early death, his own past life that seemed glorious but was actually that of a Puppet...
Countless images surged up along with bone-deep hatred, almost overwhelming his reason!
His fists clenched suddenly inside his sleeves, nails digging deep into his palms.
A sharp pain radiated from them, barely allowing him to suppress the roar that almost escaped his lips.
He quickly lowered his head, concealing the fleeting cold killing intent and churning emotions in his eyes.
"...Indeed, it is admirable."
Huo Yuhao's voice sounded somewhat low and hoarse, carrying a trace of imperceptible tension.
Wang Mian did not notice anything unusual, still immersed in the academy's glory.
He sighed with emotion, "Yes, they are the goals all our students strive for!"
"Let's go, Dean Yan's office is just ahead."
Huo Yuhao gave the statue one last cold glance out of the corner of his eye, sneering in his heart:
"Tang San, just watch. You stand here receiving the admiration of ten thousand people, and I shall eventually pull you down from your pedestal!"
He took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing all emotions into the deepest part of his heart, and restored his outward calm.
Following Wang Mian toward that simple and ancient office building.
Inside the office, the Dean of the Martial Soul Department, Yan Shaozhe, finished listening to Wang Yan's report.
"Rank fourteen spirit power, and the Spirit is the mental-type Spirit Eyes."
"Yet he possesses extraordinary physical fitness and combat awareness, and even a..."
"Never-before-seen spirit ring?"
Yan Shaozhe looked at Huo Yuhao and said in a gentle voice, "Huo Yuhao, is it? Is what Wang Mian said true?"
"Answering Dean Yan, it is basically true."
Huo Yuhao replied neither humbly nor arrogantly; at this moment, his heart was as calm as still water.
"Can you tell me what's going on with your spirit ring?"
"It was caused by an accidental Fusion of Opportunity; I do not know the specific reason either."
"But it has indeed brought me immense mental force and some special buffs."
Huo Yuhao replied with a mix of truth and lies.
Yan Shaozhe nodded, not probing further, and instead asked:
"You say your Spirit is the Spirit Eyes, and it possesses the Spiritual Detection ability?"
"Yes. My mutated Spirit Eyes can perceive subtle movements and energy flows within a certain range and share them."
"Spiritual Detection Sharing!"
Yan Shaozhe's eyes instantly intensified.
He knew all too well the value of such a strategic-level auxiliary ability!
He pondered for a moment, the smile on his face deepening: "Huo Yuhao, I understand your situation."
"Although your spirit power Rank has not reached the standard, your mutated Spirit and special ability indeed have great potential."
"It fully meets Shrek's standard for selecting 'monsters'."
He stood up and handed a form to Wang Mian:
"Wang Mian, take him to handle the enrollment procedures and report directly to freshman class one."
"I believe you will catch up soon, right?"
"I will certainly work hard and not fail the Dean's expectations."
Huo Yuhao bowed respectfully.
"Very good, go ahead. I look forward to your performance."
Watching Huo Yuhao's departing back, Yan Shaozhe murmured to himself:
"Mutated Spirit Eyes, Spiritual Detection, strange spirit ring... interesting little fellow."
"His Heart-Nature also seems exceptionally steady, but just now at the statue plaza..."
He recalled that brief moment of subtle emotional fluctuation and rapid composure from Huo Yuhao.
A deeper sense of curiosity and expectation flashed in his eyes.
Chapter 10: Zhou Yi's Assessment
Wang Mian was very efficient and quickly helped Huo Yuhao complete all the enrollment procedures.
He received his school uniform, keys, and dormitory badge.
"freshman class one is on the east side of the first floor of the Teaching Building. The class teacher is Teacher Zhou Yi."
Wang Mian handed the items to Huo Yuhao, his expression a bit subtle.
"Teacher Zhou's teaching level is extremely high, but her requirements are also very strict, even a bit... eccentric."
"Just pay more attention."
"Thank you, Senior Wang, I'll keep that in mind."
Huo Yuhao nodded.
He had heard of Zhou Yi's great reputation in his past life.
Following the instructions, Huo Yuhao found the classroom for freshman class one.
The door was open, and many people were already seated inside. They were all freshmen who had passed the assessment, each with excitement and curiosity on their faces.
Huo Yuhao found an empty seat toward the back and sat down, observing silently.
The spirit power Ranks of these freshmen were generally between level fifteen and eighteen; outside, they would indeed be considered little Geniuses.
But here, it was only the starting point.
After a while, the school bell rang.
A figure appeared at the door right on time.
It was an old woman of medium build, wearing a neat teacher's uniform and a pair of black-rimmed glasses on her face.
The gaze behind the lenses was as sharp as a blade.
As she scanned the room, she carried an unquestionable majesty. It was indeed Zhou Yi.
The classroom fell silent instantly, and all the students reflexively straightened their backs.
Zhou Yi walked up to the podium and, without any opening remarks, said coldly:
"My name is Zhou Yi, and I am your class teacher."
"I don't care if you were so-called Geniuses or trash before; in my class, you have only one identity—student."
"I have only one rule: obey orders and give it your all. Those who can't do it can get lost right now."
Her voice was hoarse yet extremely piercing, making many students turn pale.
"Now, everyone stand up! Assemble at the Playground!"
Zhou Yi gave them no time to react and issued her first command.
The students were stunned for a moment before hurriedly getting up and running outside. Huo Yuhao blended into the crowd, his movements neither hurried nor slow.
On the massive Playground, the ninety students of freshman class one stood in formation. Zhou Yi stood at the front, her gaze sweeping over everyone.
"I know many of you are unconvinced in your hearts, thinking that being able to enter Shrek makes you superior to others."
Zhou Yi sneered, "Now, I will make you see reality clearly."
"The first assessment: endurance. Everyone, run laps around the Playground until I tell you to stop."
"You are not allowed to use spirit power. The last ten will be expelled immediately."
As soon as these words were spoken, there was an uproar!
Running laps without using spirit power?
And eliminating the last ten? This assessment is just too perverse!
But no one dared to question Zhou Yi's command; they could only brace themselves and start running.
Huo Yuhao's expression was calm.
Running without the aid of spirit power tested pure physical fitness and willpower.
For him, who had a million-year spirit ring subtly transforming his body and had lived two lives, this wasn't too difficult.
The laps began. Initially, everyone's speed wasn't slow, but after a few laps, the gap began to show.
Some students with poorer physical fitness or who were pampered began to pant, and their speed slowed down.
Huo Yuhao adjusted his breathing and rhythm, consistently maintaining a position in the upper-middle of the group, neither standing out nor falling behind.
Zhou Yi's gaze swept through the running students and quickly noticed Huo Yuhao.
This youth's breathing was steady, his steps were firm, and his eyes were focused and calm.
He stood out remarkably among the group of students who were gradually showing signs of fatigue.
"A bit interesting." Zhou Yi adjusted her glasses.
Time passed bit by bit; the sun rose, and the temperature gradually climbed.
Students were constantly collapsing from exhaustion or slowing to a crawl. Wails filled the Playground.
Sweat appeared on Huo Yuhao's forehead as well, but he still maintained a steady rhythm.
His physical strength far exceeded those of the same Rank, and his willpower had been tempered a thousand times over.
Finally, when more than half the students were almost unable to run, Zhou Yi coldly called a halt.
"Stop! Stand where you are!"
The students felt as if they had been granted a grand amnesty; most slumped directly onto the ground, gasping for air.
Zhou Yi walked over and unceremoniously called out the last ten students to arrive.
She directly announced the expulsion decision without any room for negotiation.
Those ten students turned pale, and some even burst into tears, but Zhou Yi didn't give them a single glance.
The remaining eighty people were filled with lingering fear, their gazes toward Zhou Yi full of awe and dread.
Zhou Yi's gaze swept over everyone again, finally settling on Huo Yuhao: "You, step out. What is your name?"
"Reporting to teacher, my name is Huo Yuhao."
Huo Yuhao took a step forward.
"Huo Yuhao."
Zhou Yi looked at him, "You still look quite relaxed? You think my assessment is very simple?"
"Reporting to teacher, it's not simple. It's just that I usually focus on physical exercise." Huo Yuhao replied calmly.
"Oh?" Zhou Yi raised an eyebrow, "Just having a good body isn't enough. The second assessment: reaction and actual combat. You, trade a few moves with me."
The crowd erupted in an uproar again! The teacher was personally conducting the assessment? This Huo Yuhao was going to be in trouble!
Huo Yuhao's eyes lit up instead: "Please guide me, teacher."
He also wanted to test what level his current physical reaction capabilities had reached.
Zhou Yi didn't waste words; beneath her feet, six spirit rings with the optimal configuration—two yellow, two purple, two black—instantly rose!
The powerful pressure of a Spirit Emperor bore down!
She didn't use her Spirit; she simply took a step forward and threw a punch straight at Huo Yuhao's face, her speed startlingly fast!
If it were an ordinary freshman, they probably wouldn't even be able to react.
But Huo Yuhao's Spiritual Detection was already active; Zhou Yi's movements were crystal clear in his eyes.
He didn't dare take it head-on; his footwork changed as he skillfully slid toward the side and back.
Simultaneously, he tilted his body slightly, avoiding the punch by a hair's breadth. The wind from the punch made his cheek sting.
"Hmm?"
A flash of surprise crossed Zhou Yi's eyes.
Although she hadn't used much force in that punch, its speed was extremely fast. This kid could actually dodge it?
And his movements were quite experienced.
She became somewhat interested; this kid was much more interesting than she had imagined.
Zhou Yi became a bit more serious.
Her strike speed increased, her punches and kicks attacking Huo Yuhao like a torrential storm.
Huo Yuhao pushed his Spiritual Detection to the limit, his figure constantly shifting and dodging within a small area.
Every time looked perilous, yet he could always avoid the attacks by a fraction of an inch, occasionally using his arms to parry and deflect the force.
Although he didn't use any Spirit Abilities, the predictive ability, reaction speed, and close-quarters dodging skills he displayed left all the surrounding students stunned!
Was this truly a level a level fourteen Spirit Master could have? Teacher Zhou is a Spirit Emperor!
Zhou Yi became more alarmed as the fight went on. This kid was as slippery as a loach, always able to predict her attack path!
This wasn't just pure speed, but some kind of... insight?
Could it be related to his Spirit?
After attacking for more than ten moves and failing to even touch the edge of Huo Yuhao's clothes, Zhou Yi finally stopped.
She looked at the slightly panting but still bright-eyed Huo Yuhao and nodded.
A rare, almost negligible look of satisfaction appeared on her face:
"Good reaction, very solid foundation. You passed. Return to the Ranks."
"Thank you, teacher." Huo Yuhao calmly returned to the formation.
The way the surrounding students looked at him completely changed, from previous sympathy to shock and curiosity.
Zhou Yi Looking around at the remaining eighty people,coldly:"Did you see that??That's the difference.!"
"Having spirit power Rank alone is useless! Combat, reaction, willpower—none can be missing!"
"Today is only the beginning; your training will only get harder in the future! Those who can't take it, get lost as soon as possible!"
Her words were like a whip striking every student's heart, but this time, no one dared to complain again.
Standing in the formation, Huo Yuhao knew that he had taken a steady first step in Shrek.
And with Zhou Yi, he had left a sufficiently deep impression.