Setting Out

His words rang out with conviction, echoing throughout the Great Soul Arena.

Everyone fell silent.

Qian Duoduo slapped his thigh, then said excitedly:

"Well said! Yuhao's absolutely right! Soul Tools are the future! Elder Mu, I support Yuhao going to the Sun Moon Empire!"

Yan Shaozhe furrowed his brow and said with some concern:

"But Dean Qian, the people of the Sun Moon Empire are inscrutable. It's far too dangerous for Yuhao to go alone.

What if they try to harm him..."

Mu En said nothing. He simply gazed deeply at Huo Yuhao, taking in the vision and sense of responsibility in the boy's eyes—qualities far beyond his years. His heart was filled with conflicting emotions.

How could he have failed to recognize the importance of Soul Tools?

Shrek had spent these past years vigorously developing the Soul Guidance Department precisely to catch up with the Sun Moon Empire.

After a long silence, Mu En slowly nodded.

"Very well. I agree with your idea."

His words set the entire arena abuzz.

"However."

Mu En changed tack and continued:

"It's too dangerous for you to go alone.

We can't send you directly to the Sun Moon Empire. It would attract too much attention.

How about this? Shrek Academy and the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineering Academy will launch a student exchange program.

We'll send ten of our best Soul Guidance Department students there to study, and they'll send ten students here in return.

That way, you can learn Soul Tool Technology while also staying safe."

"An exchange program?"

Huo Yuhao's eyes lit up.

"That's wonderful! Thank you, Elder Mu!"

"Don't thank me just yet."

Mu En smiled.

"An exchange program can't be launched at the drop of a hat. I still need to send people to the Sun Moon Empire to negotiate.

And before that, you must pass the survival assessment in the Star Dou Great Forest three days from now.

Only after passing will you be qualified to become an exchange student."

"I understand! I'll definitely pass the assessment!"

Huo Yuhao nodded vigorously, his eyes brimming with excitement.

Watching his excitement, Wang Dong'er felt a strange pang of sadness. She tugged at Huo Yuhao's hand and asked in a small voice, "Are you really going to the Sun Moon Empire? It's so far away..."

On the high platform, Mu En stroked his beard and smiled in satisfaction.

He turned to Yan Shaozhe and Qian Duoduo:

"Shaozhe, send people to the Sun Moon Empire at once to discuss the exchange program.

Qian Duoduo, select ten of the best students from the Soul Guidance Department and get them ready to depart."

"Yes!"

They answered in unison.

Over the next three months, Huo Yuhao devoted himself to training every day.

Every morning, he immersed himself in the Soul Guidance Department's laboratory, studying Level 4 Soul Tool techniques with Fan Yu and Qian Duoduo.

His spiritual power gave him a natural advantage in engraving Soul Tools. In just three short months, he advanced from a Level 3 Soul Engineer to a Level 4 Soul Engineer.

Every afternoon, the senior sisters from the inner court still came to train with him right on schedule.

With their complementary attributes boosting him, Huo Yuhao's Soul Power rose at rocket speed. A week before the exchange students' departure, he finally broke through Level 40 and entered the Soul Ancestor realm.

In the Sea of Consciousness, Electrolux also completed the final refinements to the Soul Spirit Contract.

This contract, which allowed Soul Masters and Soul Beasts to coexist as equals, completely overturned the Soul Master system that had endured for tens of thousands of years on Douluo Continent. All it needed was the right moment to astonish the entire continent.

On the day of departure, a crowd of people gathered at the gates of Shrek Academy to see them off.

The senior sisters from the inner court formed a circle around Huo Yuhao. Their eyes were red as they took turns hugging him goodbye.

"Junior Yuhao, take good care of yourself in the Sun Moon Empire."

"Remember to write to us! If anyone bullies you, you have to tell us. We'll form a group and go beat them up in the Sun Moon Empire!"

Ma Xiaotao stood at the front, crying harder than anyone as she hugged Huo Yuhao. Her fiery red hair was damp with tears.

"Yuhao, I don't want you to go... Who's going to train with me once you're gone? No, I'm going to become a Soul Engineer too! I'm going to the Sun Moon Empire to find you!"

"All right, all right, Xiaotao. Don't be difficult."

Yan Shaozhe hurried over to pull her away, speaking helplessly.

"The exchange student list was settled long ago. You're a core disciple of the Martial Soul Department, so you can't go. Once Yuhao comes back, you'll have plenty of time to train together."

Ma Xiaotao pouted and wiped her tears. Then she pulled a warm sachet from her arms and stuffed it into Huo Yuhao's hands.

"Here, take this. It's filled with Calming Grass I dried with my Ultimate Fire. If you can't sleep at night, give it a sniff. Remember to come back soon!"

"Thank you, Senior Xiaotao."

Huo Yuhao took the sachet, warmth spreading through his heart.

His classmates from Freshman Class One had come too.

Cao Jinxuan's eyes were red as he gave Huo Yuhao's shoulder a hearty slap.

"Yuhao, we'll miss you! Make sure you come back soon. Then we'll have another match!"

"I'll miss you all too."

Huo Yuhao smiled.

Xiao Xiao folded her arms and grinned.

"Yuhao, don't go making too much of a scene in the Sun Moon Empire.

And remember to bring us some local specialties!"

Bei Bei and Xu Sanshi stepped forward as well.

Bei Bei smiled.

"Yuhao, have a safe journey. Shrek will always have your back."

"Kid, don't let anyone give you a hard time out there. If someone dares bully you, tell them you're from Shrek!"

Xu Sanshi said boisterously.

Just then, Wang Dong'er stepped out of the crowd.

She wore a pink outfit and had her hair tied high. Her cheeks were faintly flushed, though her eyes stubbornly looked away.

She clenched her fists and hesitated for a long time before finally stepping up to Huo Yuhao. In a stiff voice, she said:

"Huo Yuhao!

Don't think going to the Sun Moon Empire makes you so great!

When you come back, I'll definitely beat you! Then you'll see who's the strongest in the freshman class!"

Before Huo Yuhao could reply, she spun around and ran off. After a few steps, she secretly glanced back.

When she saw Huo Yuhao looking at her in confusion, her cheeks flushed even redder, and she ran faster.

Huo Yuhao scratched his head, baffled.

"Strange. Why is Wang Dong'er always picking a fight with me?"

Just then, Yan Shaozhe clapped his hands and called out, "All right, it's about time. Exchange students, assemble!"

The ten Soul Guidance Department students immediately lined up behind Yan Shaozhe.

Huo Yuhao took one last look at the familiar Shrek Academy and the familiar faces at the gate. He drew a deep breath, turned, and followed the group.

Yan Shaozhe led everyone south. Three days later, they arrived in Maple Leaf City, which lay on the border between the two empires.

At the city gate, a middle-aged man in the uniform of the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineering Academy was already waiting.

He was tall and straight-backed, with refined features and eyes as sharp as an eagle's. A faint pulse of Soul Power radiated from him. He was none other than Jing Hongchen, the dean of the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineering Academy and a Level 9 Soul Engineer.

Ten students from the Sun Moon Empire stood behind him in the same uniform. Every one of them looked arrogant, their eyes full of disdain for the Shrek students.

"Dean Yan, sorry to have kept you waiting." Jing Hongchen smiled as he stepped forward and shook Yan Shaozhe's hand.

"Dean Jing, you're too kind."

Yan Shaozhe smiled in reply.

After a few brief pleasantries, they completed the student exchange.

Jing Hongchen's gaze swept across the ten Shrek students before finally settling on Huo Yuhao.

When he sensed the spiritual power surging from Huo Yuhao—far beyond what one would expect at his level—and noticed the Level 4 Soul Engineer badge at his waist, a flicker of surprise crossed his eyes.