The moment those words were spoken, the entire scene fell deathly silent.
Mu En was stunned. Xuan Zi was stunned. Even the students peeking over the wall in the distance were stunned.
No one had expected Du Busi, who had just been shouting about flattening Shrek, to say something like that.
"What did you say?"
Mu En furrowed his brow, scarcely believing his ears.
"I said I want the disciples of the Body Sect to study at Shrek Academy!"
Du Busi took a deep breath. His tone was still gruff, but it held a trace of pleading.
"All the disciples of our Body Sect have Body Martial Souls, and none of them lack talent.
"If you're willing to take them in and let them sign that Talent Sharing Contract, so they can cultivate using Life Crystals, then the Body Sect is willing to befriend Shrek!"
Mu En pondered for a moment. Looking at the earnestness in Du Busi's eyes, he slowly replied:
"This is a matter of great importance. I'll need to discuss it with the elders of Sea God Pavilion.
"However, I can give you an answer now.
"As long as the Body Sect sincerely cooperates with Shrek, we welcome its disciples to study at the academy."
"Good!"
Du Busi breathed a sigh of relief, the weight finally lifting from his heart.
Although he hadn't managed to bring Huo Yuhao back to the Body Sect, getting the entire sect aboard Shrek's fast-moving train was already an unexpected windfall.
"I'll send someone back to the Body Sect at once to select the most outstanding disciples."
Du Busi wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and spoke to Mu En.
After that, he took a long look at Huo Yuhao, turned, and transformed into a streak of light that vanished on the horizon.
Only after Du Busi had completely disappeared did Xuan Zi move beside Mu En and ask in a lowered voice:
"Elder Mu, are you really planning to let people from the Body Sect come to Shrek? Their sect has always been unruly. What if they cause trouble...?"
"Don't worry."
Mu En waved a hand, his gaze profound.
"I can tell that Du Busi is sincere this time.
"Better to turn an enemy into a friend than to gain another foe who won't rest until one of us is dead.
"What's more, the Body Sect's cultivation methods for Body Martial Souls are unmatched in the world.
"With those methods, Yuhao's Spirit Eye can undergo a Second Awakening, fully unleashing the potential of his Body Martial Soul.
"This deal can only benefit us."
He was thinking far beyond what Xuan Zi could see. Although the Body Sect had declined, it still had deep foundations. The cultivation experience it had accumulated over thousands of years was a treasure Shrek had long coveted.
Meanwhile, Shrek could offer the Talent Sharing Contract and Life Crystals—the very things the Body Sect needed most.
Their cooperation would be a win-win.
As he spoke, Mu En turned to Huo Yuhao beside him and smiled warmly:
"Yuhao, we have you to thank for resolving this peacefully.
"Without your Life Crystals and Talent Sharing Contract, Du Busi wouldn't have backed down so easily."
Huo Yuhao scratched his head sheepishly.
"Elder Mu, I didn't do much. It was you and the other seniors who were amazing."
"Silly child, being at Shrek is already the greatest help you could give us."
Mu En smiled and patted his shoulder, his tone earnest.
"By the way, you've already reached level twenty, haven't you? Have you decided what you want for your Second Soul Ring?
"Just tell me what Soul Beast you want. I'll personally hunt it for you."
Just then, Zhao Ze's calm voice sounded in the Sea of Consciousness:
"Yuhao, have Mu En go to the Extreme North and catch you a five-thousand-year-old Ice Silkworm.
"That age is just right for you. It'll maximize the power of your second Soul Skill."
Huo Yuhao nodded at once and said to Mu En, "Elder Mu, I want a five-thousand-year-old Ice Silkworm Soul Ring. It has a Mental Attribute, so it's the best fit for my Spirit Eye."
"Five thousand years?"
Mu En paused in surprise, then smiled in understanding.
He knew Huo Yuhao had a solid foundation and had been nourished by Life Crystals. Absorbing a five-thousand-year Soul Ring would be no problem for him.
"Good, no problem. Ice Silkworms live in the Extreme North. I'll leave now and be back within three days."
With that, Mu En's figure blurred. He transformed into a golden streak of light and flew toward the Extreme North.
Three days later, Mu En returned as promised, bringing a five-thousand-year-old Ice Silkworm with a snowy-white body and a piercing chill radiating from it.
With Mu En and several elders guarding him, Huo Yuhao absorbed the Ice Silkworm Soul Ring without a hitch.
The moment he opened his eyes, a pale-blue halo spread out from his body.
Second Soul Skill—Simulation.
Over the next two months, Huo Yuhao's cultivation soared like a rocket.
Under the boost of the Talent Sharing Contract, the talents of the twelve Sea God Pavilion Elders, along with those of more than a dozen Body Sect prodigies who had just joined, all stacked onto him.
With Life Crystals nourishing him without pause, his Soul Power surged forward, and he quickly broke through to the rank of a level-thirty Soul Elder.
At the same time, his Soul Tool skills made rapid strides.
With Fan Yu's meticulous instruction and Zhao Ze's guidance in secret, he could now craft Level 3 Soul Tools on his own, becoming the youngest Level 3 Soul Engineer in Shrek Academy.
Even Qian Duoduo talked about him every day, praising the Soul Guidance Department's extraordinary prodigy to anyone who would listen.
One night, just after Huo Yuhao finished making a Soul Tool, Zhao Ze's voice suddenly rang out in his Sea of Consciousness:
"Yuhao, go to the woods outside the academy. I'm going to teach you something new."
Huo Yuhao's heart leaped with delight. Following Zhao Ze's directions, he quietly slipped out of the academy and made his way to a secluded patch of woods outside the city.
Moonlight filtered through the leaves, casting dappled shadows across the ground.
Zhao Ze's figure slowly emerged from the Sea of Consciousness and appeared before Huo Yuhao.
"Master."
Huo Yuhao bowed respectfully.
Zhao Ze waved a hand and said:
"Your spiritual cultivation is sufficient, and your Soul Power has broken through level thirty. Your foundation is solid enough now.
"Today, I'm going to teach you your first Self-Created Soul Skill."
"A Self-Created Soul Skill?!"
Huo Yuhao jerked his head up, his eyes shining with delight and excitement.
"That's right. I'll start by teaching you the basics."
Zhao Ze nodded and slowly raised his right hand.
His Mental Power and Soul Power fused, condensing to the utmost degree as they formed a silvery-white slash at his fingertip.
He flicked his hand. The slash shot through the air, and with a sharp crack, it cut through a nearby tree as thick as a bowl. The cut was smooth as a mirror.
"That's incredible!"
Huo Yuhao couldn't help exclaiming.
He could sense that the slash carried not only powerful Soul Power but also terrifying mental damage. Anyone struck by it would suffer severe injuries to both body and mind.
"This is the most basic Mental Materialization technique."
Zhao Ze smiled and explained:
"If you fuse Mental Power and Soul Power, then condense them into a physical attack, you can strike both an enemy's body and mind at once."
He patiently instructed him:
"First, circulate your Soul Power while also mobilizing your Mental Power, then fuse the two at your fingertips.
"Remember, Mental Power is the core, and Soul Power is the vessel. They have to fit together perfectly, without the slightest deviation.
"You can start by using the method of exerting force for Soul Shock to help you find the feel."
Before you continue