Originally, with a temper that could rival Ma Xiaotao, Wu Feng naturally wouldn't have endured such treatment. However, under Ning Tian's comfort, she chose to swallow her resentment.
As reserve members of the reserve team, the odds of them actually stepping onto the field to compete were slim to none. They were essentially there to become familiar faces to the Inner Courtyard disciples and build good connections.
Originally, Zhang Lexuan had applied to be the leading teacher for this competition. Because the leading Elder this time was Xuan Zi, Zhang Lexuan was truly terrified that her precious disciple would be screwed over by that old fogey; otherwise, she wouldn't even have a place to cry.
However, the high-level officials of the Sea God Pavilion did not agree to Zhang Lexuan's request. Yan Shaozhe personally stepped forward to reassure Zhang Lexuan, saying many things about how Elder Xuan had repented and would not make the same mistakes again.
Therefore, the leading teacher of this competing team was Wang Yan, the grand-disciple of Xuan Zi.
Having no other choice, Zhang Lexuan could only give thousand-fold instructions and exhortations, telling Ma Xiaotao that she must protect Huo Yuhao's safety, and stated that she would rush over as quickly as possible after they arrived in Star Net City.
After several weeks of mixed combat training, the reserve teams from the Outer Courtyard and the seven official members from the Inner Courtyard had become well-acquainted. Of course, the one most familiar with Huo Yuhao was still Ma Xiaotao. On Ling Luochen's side, she would also lean over to chat with him from time to time, and their relationship wasn't too bad.
Regarding whether or not to engage in team combat with Lan Xuanyu and Wang Dong, although Huo Yuhao was unwilling in his heart, he kept up appearances. He shared his Spiritual Detection Sharing with them and commanded them in battle.
Although Lan Xuanyu was also quite reluctant, he had to admit that Huo Yuhao's Spiritual Detection was truly a good soul skill. With this assistance, even his own elemental condensation was much easier than usual.
Unfortunately, the "last glory of the Soul Tool Department"—the selected Inner Courtyard disciple—had a slight mishap in his cultivation as the competition approached and could only regretfully stay behind at Shrek Academy. The official Inner Courtyard team was left with only six people, but for Ma Xiaotao and the others, this wasn't a difficult issue since Huo Yuhao could substitute at any time.
In the early morning, at the main gate of Shrek Academy shrouded in a layer of morning mist, a group of over ten people slowly walked out.
It was the official team and reserve team members preparing to head to Star Net City, along with the leaders Xuan Zi and Wang Yan.
At this moment, none of them were wearing the Shrek Academy school uniform. Some wore plain cloth clothes, others wore lavish robes; they were all different.
Lavish robes didn't necessarily mean beauty, and plain cloth didn't represent mediocrity.
For instance, Xu Sanshi, dressed in a yellow and black lavish robe, was full of wretched and dissolute vibes. In contrast, Huo Yuhao, in simple blue and white cloth clothes, possessed a sort of transcendental and peerless noble temperament—a sharp contrast.
Not to mention Ling Luochen and Xi Xi staring blankly at Huo Yuhao from time to time; it was Gong-yang Mo's gaze that Huo Yuhao found terrifying...
Fortunately, Ma Xiaotao stepped to Huo Yuhao's side in time and gave Gong-yang Mo a fierce glare.
Ma Xiaotao's style of dress today could be described as quite bold. In sharp contrast to the consistently conservative Ling Luochen, she made Huo Yuhao unable to help but steal glances frequently.
A black tube top contained her heavy fullness, and paired with an outer red sleeveless leather jacket, it revealed her strong, slender waist. Below, tight black shorts paired with boots that reached her thighs made her figure look even more elongated, possessing both efficiency and charm.
Ma Xiaotao quietly leaned into the ear of the slightly dazed Huo Yuhao, her breath like orchids.
"Do you like it...?"
Huo Yuhao blinked a couple of times. "Ahem... it really suits you, Sister Xiaotao."
Ma Xiaotao nodded with satisfaction; this little "puppy" wasn't that dense after all.
The dozen or so people walked in twos and threes, each with their own small groups. Half an hour after leaving the academy, Xuan Zi paused his steps and cleared his throat: "Ahem, alright, everyone come over. I need to explain a few things. You Outer Courtyard kids, pay attention."
"...In the eyes of outsiders, entering the Shrek Inner Courtyard is a supreme honor. But in reality, behind this glory, there is something even more important: responsibility."
Elder Xuan took a deep breath, his face full of solemnity, as if his body were radiating infinite glory and light. "And this responsibility is called Supervision."
Everyone except Huo Yuhao couldn't help but straighten their spines, seemingly feeling this infinite glory.
Soon, after finishing the explanation of the origins of the Shrek Supervision Group, Xuan Zi rewarded himself with a gulp of wine, moistened his somewhat dry throat, and continued.
"The Supervision Group doesn't just deal with evil soul masters. The bandits who pillage and rape, and the corrupt officials who disregard human life within the borders of various countries, are all within our scope of supervision."
"Furthermore, the Supervision Group receives no compensation. This is the most sincere and selfless contribution Shrek makes to the continent."
By the end, Xuan Zi's gaze swept across every member of the reserve team. Except for Huo Yuhao, he saw the flicker of that glory belonging to Shrek in everyone's eyes.
Especially Lan Xuanyu; he naturally supported such supervisory actions the most.
In his previous life, he was the most outstanding Sky-Fighter of Shrek Academy, and had even once gone undercover as the leader of the Dragon-Horse Star System under the name of the Golden Dragon Princess. He naturally identified strongly with this kind of Supervision Group.
The Federation is incompetent; it seems my Shrek has no choice but to come out of the mountains...
Ma Xiaotao subconsciously glanced toward Huo Yuhao, unable to help but recall the words Huo Yuhao had said to her before.
Her lips parted slightly as if she wanted to say something, but she lowered her brows and didn't speak. Instead, she firmly grasped Huo Yuhao's hand.
Elder Xuan shook his wine gourd and said, "Alright, you need to give me an answer now. Join or quit."
"Join!"
The voices should have been in unison, but an untimely voice rang out.
"But I refuse."
Under the strange gazes of the crowd, Huo Yuhao remained calm, but Xuan Zi's face immediately darkened. It's this kid again, is there no end to this!?
Pulling the rug out from under this old man several times—do you really think I don't dare to give you a hard time?!
Before Xuan Zi could erupt, Huo Yuhao spoke up: "Elder Xuan, may I ask a few questions?"
Xuan Zi said crossly, "What do you want to ask? Don't waste everyone's time!"
Huo Yuhao scanned the surroundings. "The Inner Courtyard has no more than fifty people in total. May I ask what fifty people can supervise? Can they supervise a single city in one day?"
"This..."
Xuan Zi was momentarily at a loss for words; he hadn't expected Huo Yuhao to ask such a thing.
Indeed, for a medium-sized city, fifty people were like a handful of sesame seeds scattered on the ground—invisible. Moreover, it was impossible for Shrek to throw the entire Supervision Group into one city.
And the Douluo Continent has four entire countries with such a vast area; what could a mere fifty people do?
"And then there are the results of the supervision... I am not doubting the seniors' abilities, but I ask: under the supervision of the Supervision Group, have the evil soul masters gone into hiding or been completely eliminated? Have the corrupt officials of various countries been executed, or have they simply stopped being corrupt?"
...For a moment, the Inner and Outer Courtyard disciples stared at each other. The Inner Courtyard disciples' gazes toward Huo Yuhao were mostly filled with dissatisfaction, feeling that Huo Yuhao was negating their hard work. The Outer Courtyard disciples, however, began to wonder: Does this Supervision Group really have any meaning?
Xuan Zi snorted coldly. "Under the strikes of our Supervision Group, the range of evil soul masters' atrocities has been shrinking in recent years. Is this not a result of our Supervision Group?"
Huo Yuhao blinked twice. "Then why did a structured organization like the Holy Spirit Cult appear among the evil soul masters? Is that also the credit of the Supervision Group?"
Now it was Xuan Zi's turn to be confused. "Holy Spirit Cult? What is that? Where did you hear about it?"
Huo Yuhao: "..."
He had still overestimated the Shrek Supervision Group.
Originally, he thought the Shrek Supervision Group's rules of engagement were... Bandits can be suppressed, but not completely, because if they are completely wiped out, there's no reason to collect money...
Because he had heard from Zhang Lexuan and Ma Xiaotao that after Supervision Group members executed corrupt officials, they could take the wealth embezzled by those officials as a task reward for the members. For example, Dai Yueheng, in the 28 supervision missions he completed before being expelled, mostly dealt with corrupt officials and fierce bandits within the borders of the Star Net Empire, and he actually earned quite a lot for himself.
After all, nothing in this world is perfectly clean. If you don't pay a salary, people have to find their own ways to earn one.
As for whether the source of that money was truly corrupt officials... that was debatable.
But the result... these fools at Shrek didn't even know who the "bandits" were...
"It's nothing... then may I ask, while the Inner Courtyard disciples are skipping school to complete these supervision tasks, what are the Elders of the Sea God Pavilion and the teachers of the Inner Courtyard doing? Why don't they go and supervise?"
"...Enough!" Xuan Zi waved his sleeve, his powerful soul power interrupting Huo Yuhao's words.