It was noon at Shrek Academy. Classes had just ended, and the students were enjoying their break. The first class after the new term's division was largely ceremonial—an icebreaker between teachers and students—so the afternoon would be when the real instructions for the term began.
Back in the dormitory, Huo Yuhao didn't bother with the cafeteria. After a brief rest, he allowed Skydream Iceworm to take over his body and dove directly into his Spiritual Sea.
In one corner floated the familiar gray sphere—the fragmented consciousness of Electrolux. Through the Eye of Truth, Yuhao could see that its structure had become much more stable after months of nourishment.
He approached, reaching out with his spiritual power to touch it. A wave of quiet warmth spread through his spiritual form.
"Senior," Yuhao called gently, "you've been living in my Spiritual Sea for three months now. Don't you think it's time we talked about paying rent?"
He had tried this many times over the past month, but never received a reply. The original story suggested Electrolux only awakened under intense emotional fluctuation—so Yuhao didn't expect much. Still, persistence paid off.
The gray sphere trembled faintly.
"Senior? You're awake?" Yuhao asked again.
A moment later, a weary, aged voice sighed softly.
"Young one, my divine sense is indeed fractured, but I am not entirely cut off from perception."
"I've watched you for months now—your diligence is admirable. Every day, you return here to cultivate, and even take the time to greet an old ghost like me. But there's no need. My strength is limited; I cannot act freely. For minor matters, that oversized worm living in your Sea should suffice."
"I bear you no malice. You need not be so cautious."
Yuhao chuckled awkwardly. "I only worried something might have happened, Senior. Besides, I admit I'm curious. Now that you're awake, could you perhaps share a little about who you are?"
Electrolux fell silent for a few seconds. "I… was not originally of this world. Beyond that, my memories are fragments, blurred and scattered. When I recover further, I'll tell you more—and perhaps lend you a hand."
Huo Yuhao seized the opening. "Then, Senior, do you still remember any methods related to spiritual power control or cultivation? If so, could you perhaps teach me a bit? In return, I'll do my best to find materials that might help repair your divine sense."
A dry laugh echoed. "Ambitious little one. With your current cultivation, items that can repair divine sense are far beyond your reach. But… your sincerity pleases me."
"Very well. I'll give you something as compensation for the 'rent'—a small portion of my knowledge about spiritual control."
A cool stream of energy flowed from the gray sphere, wrapping around Yuhao's spiritual form. Immediately, intricate patterns and insights appeared in his mind—techniques for manipulating spiritual power, fragmented but profound.
"Now, child, I must return to my slumber to repair my consciousness. Unless you face true peril, do not disturb me again. When the time comes, I will act of my own accord."
Yuhao grinned. "Understood, Senior. By the way, what should I call you?"
"I can't recall my name," Electrolux murmured. "If I remember one day, I'll tell you then."
The link faded, and the gray sphere dimmed once more.
Yuhao's smile deepened. Even incomplete, this control method is leagues beyond the Purple Demon Eyes. With it, I can refine my Spiritual Impact technique—make it stronger, yet with less backlash.
Just as he was about to start experimenting, a mechanical voice echoed through the Sea.
"Beep! Beep! Little Yuhao, alert! Little Yuhao, alert! Unexpected external situation detected! Please return to your body immediately!"
The sound came from Skydream Iceworm's spiritual avatar—a simple, lazy consciousness fragment it had created after months of "body management." The real Iceworm lay on the ground, snoring contentedly.
Yuhao exited his Spiritual Sea.
The scene that greeted him: a classroom buzzing with chatter.
He quickly synchronized with the Iceworm's leftover memory and understood what had happened.
He rolled his eyes. Of course.
Due to his unique Main Body Martial Soul, Wang Yan had nominated him as a Control Department class monitor candidate, despite his official classification as "Agility-type."
The other nominees were Cao Jinxuan, Lan Susu, and Lan Luoluo.
But unlike the original timeline, this time no one objected. After all, the boy who could one-shot a Soul Elder with a single ring clearly had the right to lead the control group. Even Dai Huabin had no room to speak—if he mocked Yuhao, he'd only remind everyone of his own defeat.
"Teacher Wang," Yuhao said calmly, "I have an objection."
The class fell silent.
"The position of class monitor takes too much time and energy. My soul power is still too low—I'd rather focus on cultivation."
Wang Yan blinked, momentarily stunned. No student had ever refused the monitor role before.
After all, to most eleven- or twelve-year-olds, such a title meant prestige, authority, and admiration. Teachers loved using it as a tool to make the children manage themselves.
But this boy was rejecting it outright.
The students began whispering. True, Yuhao's performance was impressive—but he was still only a single-ring Soul Master.
Wang Yan sighed. "Very well, if you're unwilling, I won't force you. Still, I hope you understand—courage and responsibility are sometimes more important than raw strength."
"Shrek Academy is our home," he continued solemnly. "For a day, for a lifetime. To protect and unite this academy is every student's duty."
Yuhao nodded obediently, though his thoughts were entirely different.
Sure, sure. Once I'm strong enough to crush this place, you can lecture me all you want.
With that brief interlude over, the rest of the class election continued smoothly.
Wang Dong, thanks to her stunning appearance and her team's championship win, quickly won over most of the girls—and many of the boys who disliked Dai Huabin. She easily secured the Power Attack Department monitor position.
She glanced at Yuhao from her seat, understanding full well why he had refused.
In their dorm conversations, Yuhao had told her plainly: being monitor was thankless—no rewards, endless chores, and a big glowing target for resentment.
Still, Wang Dong's pride wouldn't allow her to decline. Letting Dai Huabin of all people hold that title? Never.
When class ended, Wang Yan dismissed them with a smile.
"All right, that's enough for today. Go rest. Tomorrow, real lessons begin. The workload will be far heavier than during your first three months."
The students cheered—they were being dismissed early. None of them realized that tomorrow would bring their first encounter with the demonic instructor Zhou Yi, whose brutal regimen would soon make them beg for mercy.
Back in the dorm, Yuhao leaned against his bed, smirking.
"So, how does it feel, Monitor Wang?"
Wang Dong groaned into her pillow. "I regret it. I should've followed your lead!"
She flailed dramatically. "That old witch Zhou Yi was already tormenting me last term! Now she's my direct supervisor—why didn't you help me refuse!?"
A pillow came flying. Yuhao caught it effortlessly and tossed it back, smacking her square in the face.
"Too late now. Do as you please. If you don't want to do it later, quit. You're a core student—what's she going to do, expel you?"
Wang Dong puffed her cheeks. "I just couldn't let Dai Huabin take it! Did you see his smug look? Ugh! Why should a loser like him get to act superior!?"
"Because his soul power's higher," Yuhao replied dryly. "Anyway, your problem, not mine. I'm meditating."
He rolled over and shut his eyes.
By now, Yuhao had already copied most of the Outer Court's library. He no longer needed to borrow books daily. Whenever he "meditated," it was actually Skydream Iceworm handling his body while his true consciousness performed research within his Spiritual Sea—testing new soul power circuits, analyzing martial souls, and breaking down soul skills.
But lately, his progress had slowed. He'd run out of fresh data, reusing the same patterns repeatedly.
Time to gather new material, he thought. And maybe finish analyzing that Soul Bone too. Its structure is still more complex than expected… probably because it's a stronger thousand-year specimen. Shame I don't have a hundred-year one to compare it with.
(End of Chapter)