The Reason

A few days earlier, in the meeting room for the scoring teachers.

Shrek Academy's upperclassmen were organizing the applicants' files. One by one, background checks and ability assessments were sent to the examiners, who then gave each applicant a score.

The scores from several examiners were compared and averaged. Applicants with widely differing scores underwent a second review. Overall, the process was fairly impartial and could identify promising students.

Of course, there were good applicants and bad ones. Some had Martial Souls and abilities that were completely unsuited to their chosen major. Others saw the special consideration given to Support System applicants and tried to use it as a back door into Shrek Academy. This took up places intended for Support Soul Masters, whose already limited opportunities had been made even harsher. That was one of the reasons this stage had been introduced.

Originally, few applicants needed a second review. Shrek had a deep history, and most Martial Souls were documented, so the teachers had some understanding of each type of Soul Master's potential and path. They had all received the same education, so their knowledge was more or less on the same level.

The Soul Guidance Department's arrival had thoroughly disrupted this state of affairs. The standards for students suited to the Martial Soul Department and the Soul Guidance Department were completely different, which led to enormous discrepancies in their scores.

As a result, second reviews naturally became more common, and debates in the meeting room grew more frequent. Both sides were fairly restrained, though; nobody resorted to violence to settle the argument, since they knew the consequences of a fight would be serious. The compensation alone could leave them bankrupt.

This discussion was unusually heated. Everyone was already fuming. Both sides clung to their own opinions and refused to budge, each convinced they were right.

Just as they were about to come to blows, Yan Shaozhe, who had been enjoying the show, hurriedly stepped in to defuse the situation. If they fought, he, as the dean, would certainly be held responsible. He would be punished.

"Ahem, everyone, calm down. Let's talk this through. There's no need to get so worked up." After speaking, he picked up the applicant's file and began reading. His brow furrowed as soon as he took a closer look. The applicant in question was Huo Yuhao.

Although the Martial Soul Department didn't have much experience teaching students with Spirit System abilities, it was always delighted to accept a promising student. Huo Yuhao's talent, however, was clearly lacking. His First Soul Ring was only a Ten-Year Soul Ring. That wasn't a major problem, since it could be corrected later.

Huo Yuhao's Ten-Year Soul Ring proved that he didn't have a powerful force backing him. That wouldn't be a problem if he had a traditional Beast Martial Soul or Tool Martial Soul; every family would be happy to support a gifted but poor student from Shrek Academy. Spirit System Soul Rings were extremely difficult to obtain and few in number. Huo Yuhao wasn't a once-in-a-generation talent, either, so few people paid him any attention. If he could grow strong enough to compete in the Continental Soul Master Tournament, people would be lining up to give him money if he wanted it. Unfortunately, he had neither talent nor background.

The Soul Guidance Department was different. Strong spiritual power meant better control and memory, and a top Soul Engineer needed strong spiritual power. It was essential; without it, there was no way to navigate the vast sea of knowledge involved in soul guidance.

To make a Soul Tool, you had to control both yourself and the knife in your hand. Keen observation could greatly reduce mistakes and misjudgments. Soul Power was important, but it wasn't the most important thing in the world of soul guidance. If your Soul Power was inadequate, there were plenty of unconventional ways to increase it. If the right Soul Ring was hard to find, you could lower your standards—as long as it worked. In this era, Soul Engineers still relied on Soul Tools to deal damage, while most Soul Ring abilities served a supporting function.

This naturally lowered the bar considerably. Talent mattered less; what mattered most was having room to grow. Even if a few geniuses emerged from the Martial Soul Department, they were still the exception.

Most of the students each year came from top Martial Soul families, leaving no room for commoners to get involved.

Huo Yuhao's case was the most extreme. He seemed practically born for the Soul Guidance Department. By the Martial Soul Department's standards, he wasn't qualified to enter Shrek Academy at all. They weren't being unreasonable; the same standard applied to nearly everyone.

Watching the two sides face off, Yan Shaozhe saw how firmly the Soul Guidance Department was making its case and decided to go along with them. After all, it wouldn't hurt to do the department a favor for a student who wasn't especially talented. This student wouldn't join the Martial Soul Department anyway; he would definitely belong to the Soul Guidance Department. Letting him in would earn them a favor—not a huge one, but just the right size.

That way, when the Soul Guidance Department tried to poach students in the future, the Martial Soul Department would have more leverage to tell them to get lost. The other Martial Soul Department teachers were probably thinking along the same lines. One student wasn't worth making a big fuss over; it was what lay behind the matter that counted.

Just as Yan Shaozhe was about to settle the matter by accepting the Soul Guidance Department's score, a Martial Soul Department teacher suddenly looked at the file and said, "But this student has a Body Martial Soul. Dean, are you sure you want to accept him?"

Yan Shaozhe froze at the news. He truly hadn't known. He had only learned the details of the situation by listening to the argument. He hadn't expected this complication.

Some of the Soul Guidance Department teachers looked confused. Was that such a big problem? Body Martial Souls were rare, but that didn't mean they should refuse to accept him.

Most of the Martial Soul Department teachers understood the issue, but few had brought it up. It would have been too embarrassing to say aloud. Were they really going to suspect someone of bad intentions because of his Martial Soul? That would be humiliating. The continent's number-one Soul Master Academy was actually afraid.

Yan Shaozhe understood what the teacher meant, but didn't want to say it himself. It would damage his reputation and make him a laughingstock. So he suddenly no longer wanted to get involved. If they fought, he would get an earful and then it would be over. But if he made this decision, he would be remembered for it for generations.

At that moment, both sides spoke in unison. "Dean, you decide."

Yan Shaozhe cursed inwardly. How am I supposed to handle this? No matter what I do, one side will be unhappy.

"Your opinions are completely opposed, so it's hard for me to weigh in as dean. People could easily think I'm taking sides. You decide among yourselves."

"If you really can't agree, then compromise and give him a middling score. See how he does in the Individual Battle, then decide whether to admit him." Without realizing it, Yan Shaozhe had effectively sided with the Martial Soul Department. After all, he had come from that department, and his standards were naturally similar to theirs.

At that moment, a teacher from the Soul Guidance Department spoke up. "Dean, do you really want a student with such great potential to go to another academy because of infighting?"

Clearly, the teacher didn't understand what Yan Shaozhe was worried about, but those words struck a chord with him. What do I have to be afraid of? It's obvious the Soul Guidance Department wants this student, but he probably won't stay at Shrek for long anyway. Fine, I'll give him a chance. If something goes wrong, it's not as if I can't take responsibility.

"Let's do that. We'll compromise and give him a chance. The Soul Guidance Department doesn't know the whole story, but those were good words. What does Shrek have to fear? Still, he really isn't suited to our academy. If he doesn't make it in, I'll find him a sect that suits him."

Hearing him put it that way, the Soul Guidance Department didn't know what the real issue was, and they felt too awkward to ask.