New students in white school uniforms streamed out of the dorms toward the teaching buildings. Yet around Su Wen and Xie Huanyue there seemed to be a forbidden zone. The crowd was huge—over a thousand freshmen—but they instinctively kept their distance.
After all, Su Wen's performance a few days ago had been too shocking.
Someone had even leaked that he was a level 39 Soul Elder. Everyone knew he wasn't to be trifled with, so although he and Xie Huanyue moved at an unhurried pace, they weren't swept up by the rushing mass of students. From above, the gap around them would be striking.
They entered the classroom.
It was already full.
Clearly because it was the first day, most wanted to leave a good impression on their teachers.
At Shrek Academy, teachers hold great authority, including the right to expel at will. If you get made an example of, that'd be embarrassing.
Su Wen's appearance made the previously noisy room fall quiet for a moment.
His gaze swept the room.
Ning Tian sat at the back, smiling as she patted the seat beside her, inviting him over.
Only after Su Wen took his seat—and the others finished sneaking curious, fearful, or respectful glances—did the classroom's chatter slowly resume.
A few minutes later, the bell rang.
Heels clicked closer from the corridor. Mu Jin's relaxed, cheerful voice sounded: "Hello, students. I'll be your homeroom teacher for the next six years, Mu Jin."
"Name suits her—she's gorgeous."
"Heard she's way better than that old witch Zhou Yi from Class One next door. Beautiful, kind, gentle, heh heh…"
"…"
Mu Jin covertly glanced at Su Wen, the corners of her mouth lifting before she pressed down her joy and began the lesson.
"In the future we'll deepen each person's specialties. For example, for assault and support types, you'll have tailored courses and targeted training. But for our first lesson today, we need to figure out who fits which path. This also relates to the freshman assessment in three months. I hope no one in our class gets eliminated…"
She pointed to the board.
On the screen played footage of soul tools.
She briefly introduced the most basic offensive and defensive soul tools.
"With the rise of the Soul Tool Department, the ecosystem of traditional soul masters has been greatly affected. Originally, support-type soul masters could only stand at the rear as protected cores, but now…"
She indicated defensive soul tools.
"With defensive soul tools, even support-type soul masters can temporarily serve as tanks. So unless you're a highly gifted candidate in assault, control, or support, don't rush to fix your role in a team."
"For example, Ning Tian." Mu Jin looked toward her. "The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda has always been a top-tier martial soul. In any team, it's the most important, core support. If she were to act as a defensive role, that would be a waste of resources."
Many turned back, using the moment to sneak a look at Su Wen.
His expression didn't change.
Mu Jin's content was similar to Zhou Yi's, but gentler and more detailed. It seemed Shrek Academy had a unified teaching outline.
As for what Mu Jin mentioned—
Soul tools indeed changed the continent significantly. Food-type soul masters, who once simply occupied a competition slot, can now redefine their roles via soul tools: they can tank (defensive tools) and deal damage (ranged tools), with their usefulness rising exponentially.
He Caitou is an example.
So soul tools are a must-learn.
Fortunately, learning soul tools isn't like magic requiring powerful spiritual force—anyone can learn. Talent matters more for crafting—for instance, a metal attribute like Xiao Hongchen's, or outstanding spiritual power like Huo Yuhao's. The difficulty lies in manufacturing, not in using them.
Otherwise, after a lifetime of research, Qian Duoduo wouldn't still be only an eighth-rank soul engineer.
Mu Jin's voice was soft and her lecture flowed smoothly.
Su Wen didn't mind it. His gaze drifted out the window: nearly a hundred people were already running laps around the square.
He looked farther—Huo Yuhao was among them.
…
"Run faster! Did none of you eat?!" Zhou Yi barked coldly.
All of Class One wore bitter expressions. That old witch asserted dominance from the start, ordering a hundred laps around the square! Within two hours! No soul skills allowed!
But intimidated by Shrek teachers' authority, they gritted their teeth and ran under the blazing sun.
Huo Yuhao was drenched in sweat. With the lowest soul power and long-term malnutrition, his body was thin; he quickly fell behind.
Fortunately—
He still finished on time.
Panting heavily, he stared, dazed, as those who cut corners, used soul skills, or failed to finish within the time limit were mercilessly expelled by Zhou Yi. Fear flickered in his eyes.
This seems way harsher than Sister Xiao Ya described.
Isn't this a bit too strict…
…
Mu Jin left.
They waited for the next class to bombard them.
Su Wen listened to Ning Tian's gossip. The girl twirled a strand of golden hair, beaming—some freshmen had already started dating, even childhood sweethearts and the like.
Wu Feng sat next to Ning Tian, bored, fiddling with her fingers.
Xie Huanyue sat behind Su Wen, boasting to several students from Class Two, face full of pride.
"Tang San was born ten thousand years before me—does he fear me three points, or is it 'king not meeting king'?"
"Do you know why gods are in the sky? Because I'm on the ground."
"…"
Su Wen: "…"
Everyone around: "…"
Their faces twitched. How did they not notice before how hard this guy could brag?
Ning Tian was so amused she was shaking with laughter, falling into Su Wen's arms, perhaps intentionally, while Wu Feng nearly rolled her eyes into the heavens.
…
Freshmen mostly had theory classes.
Few combat classes.
So for several days, Su Wen lived a leisurely cultivation life. Classes with Ning Tian by day, solo training by night. With Skydream's molting, his three pet beasts' strength grew rapidly—likely within a month he could obtain a fourth soul beast.
As for the pets' extra abilities, like Gigantify or Hidden Move, Su Wen hadn't found them yet. Perhaps he'd only see such group buffs at the seventh ring—Martial Soul True Body—stage.
…
Huo Yuhao was indeed diligent.
Half-dead from Zhou Yi's training by day, he sold grilled fish in Shrek City at night, drawing many customers.
The funds from the three empires were pitifully small—barely enough for subsistence. At Shrek, especially at his age with monstrous daytime training loads, it was tight. Even with grilled fish sales, he could only barely eat his fill.
Over time, he did earn Zhou Yi's recognition.
She even recommended him to Fan Yu.
Only then did the Skydream Iceworm's million-year soul ring begin to show its power.
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Advanced chapter here: p-atreon.com/Sajaboyzzz
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