Setting Off

These words were spoken with resounding force, echoing throughout the entire Great Soul Arena.

Everyone fell silent.

Qian Duoduo slapped his thigh hard and said excitedly:

"Well said! Yuhao is absolutely right! Soul Tools are the future! Elder Mu, I support Yuhao going to the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineering Academy!"

Yan Shaozhe frowned, saying with some concern:

"But Dean Qian, the hearts of the people in the Sun Moon Empire are unpredictable. It is too unsafe for Yuhao to go alone.

What if they do something to him..."

Mu En did not speak, only looking deeply at Huo Yuhao. He gazed at the foresight and sense of responsibility in the youth's eyes, which far exceeded his age, and felt a complex mix of emotions in his heart.

In truth, how could he not have realized the importance of Soul Tools?

For these years, Shrek Academy had been vigorously developing the Soul Guidance Department precisely to catch up with the pace of the Sun Moon Empire.

After a long silence, Mu En nodded slowly.

"Very well. I agree with your idea."

As soon as these words were spoken, the entire venue was in an uproar.

"However."

Mu En shifted his tone and continued.

"It is too dangerous for you to go alone.

We cannot send you directly to the Sun Moon Empire; that would be too conspicuous.

How about this: Shrek Academy and the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineering Academy will initiate an exchange student program.

We will send ten of our most outstanding Soul Guidance Department students to study there, and they will send ten students to us.

In this way, you can learn Soul Tool technology while ensuring your safety."

"An exchange student program?"

Huo Yuhao's eyes lit up.

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

"Don't thank me yet."

Mu En said with a smile.

"An exchange student program cannot be started just by saying so; I still have to send people to the Sun Moon Empire to negotiate.

Furthermore, before that, you must first complete the Star Dou Great Forest survival assessment in three days.

Only by passing the assessment will you be qualified to become an exchange student."

"I understand! I will definitely pass the assessment!"

Huo Yuhao nodded vigorously, his eyes filled with excitement.

Wang Dong'er watched his excited expression, but felt a strange sense of loss in her heart. She tugged at Huo Yuhao's hand and whispered: "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 with gratification.

He turned to look at Yan Shaozhe and Qian Duoduo:

"Shaozhe, send people to the Sun Moon Empire immediately to negotiate the exchange student matter.

Qian Duoduo, select the ten most outstanding students from the Soul Guidance Department and prepare for departure."

"Yes!"

The two replied in unison.

Over the next three months, Huo Yuhao practiced diligently every day.

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

His advantage in mental power allowed him to take to engraving Soul Tools like a fish to water, and in just three months, he advanced from a Level 3 Soul Master to a Level 4 Soul Master.

Every afternoon, the senior sisters from the Inner Court still came to find him for cultivation on time.

With the support of their complementary attributes, Huo Yuhao's soul power rose as if on a rocket, and finally, one week before the exchange students departed, he successfully broke through to Level 40 and stepped into the realm of a Soul Ancestor.

In the Sea of Consciousness, Electrolux also completed the final refinement of 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 persisted on the Douluo Continent for tens of thousands of years; it only awaited a suitable moment to shock the entire continent.

On the day of departure, the main gate of Shrek Academy was crowded with people seeing them off.

The senior sisters from the Inner Court formed a circle, their eyes red, taking turns hugging Huo Yuhao to say goodbye.

"Junior Brother Yuhao, take good care of yourself when you get to the Sun Moon Empire."

"Remember to write to us! If anyone bullies you, you must tell us, and we will group up and go to the Sun Moon Empire to beat them up!"

Ma Xiaotao stood at the very front, crying the hardest as she hugged Huo Yuhao, her fiery red hair dampened by her tears:

"Yuhao, I don't want you to leave... If you go, who will cultivate with me? No, I'm going to be a Soul Engineer too! I'm going to the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineering Academy to find you!"

"Alright, alright, Xiaotao, stop making a scene."

Yan Shaozhe hurriedly stepped forward to pull her away, saying helplessly.

"The list of exchange students has long been finalized. You are a core disciple of the Martial Soul Department and cannot go. When Yuhao returns, there will be plenty of time to cultivate."

Ma Xiaotao pouted, wiped away her tears, and pulled a warm sachet from her bosom to stuff into Huo Yuhao's hand:

"Take this. Inside is Calming Grass dried with my Ultimate Fire. If you can't sleep at night, just take a sniff. Remember to come back soon!"

"Thank you, Senior Sister Xiaotao."

Huo Yuhao took the sachet, feeling a warmth in his heart.

The students of Freshman Class One had all arrived as well.

Cao Jinxuan's eyes were red-rimmed as he patted Huo Yuhao's shoulder hard:

"Yuhao, we will miss you! You must come back early, and when you do, we'll have another match!"

"I will miss everyone too."

Huo Yuhao said with a smile.

Xiao Xiao crossed her arms and said with a grin:

"Yuhao, don't be too flashy once you reach the Sun Moon Empire.

Also, remember to bring us back some local specialties from the Sun Moon Empire!"

Bei Bei and Xu Sanshi also walked forward.

Bei Bei said with a smile:

"Yuhao, take care on your journey. Shrek Academy will always be your backing."

"Kid, don't let yourself be wronged out there. If anyone dares to bully you, just drop our Shrek name!"

Xu Sanshi said boisterously.

Just then, Wang Dong'er walked out from the crowd.

She was wearing a pink athletic outfit with her hair tied up high. Her cheeks were slightly flushed, but her gaze was still stubbornly fixed elsewhere.

She clenched her fists and hesitated for a long time before walking up to Huo Yuhao and saying stiffly:

"Huo Yuhao!

Don't think you're so amazing just because you're going to the Sun Moon Empire!

When you come back, I will definitely defeat you! I'll show you then who the strongest in the freshman year really is!"

After saying this, she didn't wait for Huo Yuhao to respond, turned around, and ran off. After a few steps, she secretly looked back.

Seeing Huo Yuhao looking at her with a bewildered expression, her cheeks turned even redder, and she ran even faster.

Huo Yuhao scratched his head, feeling somewhat confused:

"Strange, why does this Wang Dong'er always have it out for me?"

At this moment, Yan Shaozhe clapped his hands and said loudly: "Alright, it's about time. Exchange students, assemble!"

The ten students from the Soul Guidance Department immediately formed a line and stood behind Yan Shaozhe.

Huo Yuhao took one last look at the familiar Shrek Academy and the familiar faces at the gate, took a deep breath, and turned to follow the team.

Yan Shaozhe led the group south, arriving three days later at Maple Leaf City, located on the border between the two empires.

At the city gate, a middle-aged man wearing the uniform of the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineering Academy had been waiting there for some time.

He was tall and straight with a scholarly appearance, yet his eyes were as sharp as an eagle's. A faint ripple of soul power emanated from his body; he was none other than the dean of the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineering Academy, the Level 9 Soul Engineer Jing Hongchen.

Behind him stood ten Sun Moon Empire students in the same uniform, each with an arrogant expression and eyes filled with disdain for the Shrek students.

"Dean Yan, you've been kept waiting." Jing Hongchen walked forward with a smile and shook hands with Yan Shaozhe.

"Dean Jing is too kind."

Yan Shaozhe also responded with a smile.

After the two exchanged a few brief pleasantries, the student exchange was completed.

Jing Hongchen's gaze swept over the ten Shrek students, finally landing on Huo Yuhao.

When he sensed the mental power fluctuations from Huo Yuhao that far exceeded his peers, as well as the Level 4 Soul Engineer badge at his waist, a flash of surprise crossed his eyes.