Inside Shrek Academy's Soul Engineering Department, Dean Qian Duoduo looked helplessly at Fan Yu, who stood before his desk.
"Fan Yu, it's not that I don't want to help you," Qian said with a sigh. "I'd love to recruit that talented kid you mentioned into our Soul Engineering Department, truly. But you know what kind of man Yan Shaozhe is. On matters like this, that old fox never compromises — he'll never allow it."
He leaned back, rubbing his temples. "And besides, that boy you've got your eye on — ever since he came back, he's been holed up in the dormitory. None of our people can even reach him privately."
Fan Yu frowned. "Dean Qian, please, you have to believe me. This is our best opportunity yet!"
"Huo Yuhao's martial soul — a spiritual-type main body martial soul — is the perfect candidate for the Ultimate Soldier Project. In the last few decades, I doubt we'll ever see another student like him!"
"If we can bring him into our department, I guarantee the Soul Engineering Division can finally make a real comeback. You know how things are now — our students are all rejects from the Martial Soul Department. Whatever's left over from their talent pool is what we get."
"Some are decent, sure, but at best, they're just the tall ones among the dwarfs. With Huo Yuhao as our benchmark, I could make the Martial Soul Department look at us with awe — within five years, no, three years!"
Qian Duoduo sighed deeply. Of course he understood.
Though Shrek Academy's Soul Engineering Department appeared to hold a third of the academy's faculty, the truth was obvious to anyone inside.
It existed mainly to appease the times, not because Shrek truly valued soul engineers. Compared to the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineering Academy, or even the smaller ones within the Sun Moon Empire, Shrek's research and practical capabilities lagged far behind.
"This is just how things are," Qian finally said. "Neither you nor I can change the academy's academic culture. And frankly, the boy doesn't seem interested in joining us anyway. You can't force what isn't meant to be."
He softened his tone. "Go focus on your disciple instead — that He Caitou kid. He's got potential, maybe not as special as a spiritual-type main body soul, but still a fine student."
Fan Yu clenched his fists, unwilling to give up, but after a long silence, he turned and left.
Qian watched him go, murmuring, "The road ahead is long…"
It was now the twenty-eighth day of vacation. As the break neared its end, Shrek Academy entered its new enrollment period.
New first-years arrived early for their entrance exams, while older students began returning to campus ahead of schedule. The academy and the surrounding Shrek City grew crowded once more, merchants flocking to profit from the influx. Business boomed; taxes rose.
In the dormitory, a familiar voice suddenly rang out:
"I'm back!"
The door burst open. Sunlight streamed in, falling upon Huo Yuhao, who lay lazily on his bed, half-asleep. He cracked one eye open.
"Oh. The old witch told me to tell you to go see her as soon as you got back."
Then he rolled over and closed his eyes again.
"...What?" Wang Dong froze mid-step, glaring.
He dropped his luggage and stormed over. "Seriously? We haven't seen each other in a month and that's all you say?! And don't tell me you've been sleeping here this entire vacation after your hunt!"
"What else would I do?" Yuhao yawned. "You're twelve already — don't act like a kid. Oh, and by the way, that old witch's been coming by every single day looking for you. Said you were supposed to be back ten days ago. You might want to hurry — her wrath's overdue."
Wang Dong's face paled. "It's not my fault! There was… family business!"
He dashed out in panic, racing toward Zhou Yi's office.
When he returned some time later, his expression was one of pure misery. The chaotic vacation finally drew to a close, and Yuhao began preparing for the upcoming advancement examination, testing several new experimental techniques he had devised.
The second-year promotion test was held in Shrek Academy's Beast Dueling Grounds.
Yuhao had never quite understood why such a facility existed.
If they wanted students to fight real spirit beasts, why not just capture some from the wild? he mused. Instead, they waste resources taming and confining them here.
The justification was "safety," but Yuhao disagreed. Real combat wasn't fought under bright lights and controlled conditions. Wild spirit beasts attacked from shadows, ambushed, adapted — no cage could mimic that.
To him, the Beast Grounds were nothing but a monument to Shrek's wealth and vanity, draining nearly a third of Shrek City's tax income.
And the beasts used? Mostly mid-level, under ten thousand years old. Anything stronger couldn't endure captivity — their primal instincts would reject confinement.
Soon, students from Class One and Class Two gathered before the dueling platforms.
Their task was simple: defeat a spirit beast alone — at least a hundred years old, up to a thousand if they dared. The higher the age, the higher the credit score.
Yuhao lined up quietly with the others. He paid little attention to Dai Huabin, despite catching the noble boy's lingering glare. Yuhao's revenge could wait until he reached the Spirit Sage level; there was no point in squabbling early.
Meanwhile, Dai Huabin's attention shifted to Wang Dong — his long-standing rival from the strong-attack class. This test would be his chance to challenge Wang Dong's status as class monitor.
Yuhao chuckled. "Didn't you say you didn't even want to be class monitor? Why not let him have it?"
"I said I didn't want it — but that doesn't mean I'll hand it over to him!" Wang Dong huffed.
Yuhao shrugged and went back to calibrating his soul power circuits, ensuring their stability.
All set. I'll use this test to see how my techniques hold up in live combat. Against soul beasts first — soul masters later.
Under their teachers' supervision, the two classes entered the arena. Around twenty staff members were on guard, ensuring safety and managing the beasts. On the observation platform sat Director Du Weilun and four evaluators, monitoring every match in real time.
Once everything was ready, Class One began.
Zhou Yi turned to Wang Dong. "You're up first. Make a strong start. Choose a thousand-year beast if you're confident — even if you lose, lasting long enough will still earn high marks."
Her eyes met Mu Jin's from across the platform, silent sparks flying. It was another round of their unspoken rivalry — each determined to prove their students superior.
Yuhao glanced at them both, expression flat. These women really never stop…
"I understand," Wang Dong said crisply, stepping into the arena.
"I'll take a thousand-year beast."
The referee nodded, signaling to the handlers. With a heavy clang, the gate opened — and a Thousand-Year Bloodthirsty Demon Bear stormed out, bellowing, crimson energy flaring.
Yuhao watched dispassionately. It looks fierce, but it's been caged too long. After countless beatings without death, its ferocity must have dulled. Probably only fights well when it has the upper hand.
His eyes, however, were on Wang Dong.
When Wang Dong's martial soul activated, radiant butterfly wings of blue and gold unfurled, and three spirit rings — one yellow, two purple — glowed brilliantly.
Through his Eye of Truth, Yuhao saw beneath the surface. A layer of dark crystalline energy covered Wang Dong's bones, dense and refined — just like the spirit bone Yuhao had once acquired.
A spirit bone, huh? That explains how she jumped to level thirty in just a month. These things are priceless on this continent.
Yet something felt off. The bone wasn't fully integrated — its energy didn't fuse naturally with her own soul power.
Strange. It strengthens her body but doesn't blend with her essence. Doesn't look like a normal bone — maybe something Tang San or the Clear Sky Sect created? I'll record it for later study.
As the battle unfolded, it ended swiftly.
Wang Dong, using her third soul skill and overwhelming speed, subdued the Bloodthirsty Demon Bear with ease — without even relying on her spirit bone.
"How's that? Impressed?" she called, waving smugly at Yuhao — and shooting a pointed look toward Dai Huabin.
He scowled in return, jaw tightening.
Yuhao chuckled under his breath. The real show was only just beginning.
(End of Chapter)