One Mind, Two Uses

Although Huo Yuhao was already planning to sell the White Tiger Dagger, this Rank 5 Soul Tool itself was still quite effective.

The Devouring Soul Skill attached to its Soul Tool Core Array could absorb foreign energy and convert it into armor-piercing attacks. It could barely be considered both offensive and defensive.

Let me see. The most complicated one should be the Rank 5 Soul Tool Core Array. Let me look for it... Right, there was a book that recorded something like this before, but the one in that book was only a Rank 3 Soul Tool Core Array.

Its complexity is worlds apart from this Rank 5 Soul Tool Core Array. Still, this Rank 5 Soul Tool Core Array seems like it can be dismantled. The problem is the power it consumes... My current Spiritual Power doesn't seem sufficient.

Huo Yuhao glanced at the Sky Dream Ice Silkworm, who was still sleeping soundly. Unlike the Thunder Dragon Claw from before, the Thunder Dragon Claw was merely a First Soul Skill. It was only at the hundred-year level and was not particularly complicated.

However, with his current Spiritual Power, he could not completely simulate this Rank 5 Soul Tool Core Array. Though he could memorize its structure, he could not directly form it.

It seemed that if he wanted to try dismantling it, he would have to borrow some of the Sky Dream Ice Silkworm's Spiritual Power.

In order to help Huo Yuhao cultivate while still allowing himself to sleep happily,

the Sky Dream Ice Silkworm had released a portion of his Spiritual Power, allowing it to flow naturally through the Spiritual Sea while constantly replenishing itself along a prearranged circulation route.

Although this portion of Spiritual Power was but a drop in the ocean compared to the Sky Dream Ice Silkworm's vast Spiritual Power source, drawing a little from it was more than enough for the current Huo Yuhao.

Furthermore, Huo Yuhao was the master of the Spiritual Sea, while the Sky Dream Ice Silkworm was merely a guest staying there. Thus, even while the Sky Dream Ice Silkworm slept,

Huo Yuhao could directly mobilize this unsealed portion of Spiritual Power within the Spiritual Sea without obtaining his permission.

After a brief preparation, he guided the Sky Dream Ice Silkworm's Spiritual Power. A Rank 5 Soul Tool Core Array formed entirely from Spiritual Power appeared before Huo Yuhao.

Then, as vast amounts of Spiritual Power flowed into it, the complex Soul Tool Core Array gradually began to come apart and reassemble.

It's still rather complicated. Dismantling it while preserving its functions is more troublesome than simply using it directly, but at this rate, it shouldn't take too long.

Before long, the originally complete Rank 5 Soul Tool Core Array had been split into five Soul Tool Core Arrays that were simpler than the Rank 5 array,

yet still far more complicated than a Rank 3 Soul Tool Core Array.

These should be Rank 4 Soul Tool Core Arrays, but I still can't identify their precise effects. Let's dismantle them further and see.

He split them apart once more. Soon, the structure of each Rank 4 Soul Tool Core Array had been separately divided into four identical Soul Tool Core Arrays. Their complexity was roughly equivalent, by Huo Yuhao's comparison, to the Rank 3 Soul Tool Core Arrays recorded in the books.

Now I can make out a little of it. Many Soul Master Soul Skills also contain structures similar to Soul Tool Core Arrays, but they lack the large number of Formation structures used for stabilization.

No, that's not quite right. With a wave of Huo Yuhao's hand, a yellow Soul Ring appeared in the Spiritual Sea. It was a hundred-year Soul Ring belonging to a Soul Master.

It should be put this way: because the task of stabilization is handed directly to the Soul Ring, a Soul Master's Soul Skills do not need to be as stable as Soul Tools. But fundamentally, the logic is the same.

The more powerful a Soul Skill is, the more complex its underlying principles are. Yet Soul Tool Core Arrays with the same effect can be repeatedly stacked.

Once they are stacked, their effects naturally improve. That is the difference between a Rank 3 Soul Tool Core Array and a Rank 4 Soul Tool Core Array.

By that principle, perhaps a Rank 5 Soul Tool Core Array is constructed in the same way.

However, Soul Tool Core Arrays formed through repeated stacking of a single structure struggle to produce varied effects. Therefore, based on the effects a Soul Tool requires, more Soul Tool Core Arrays of different types must be assembled together.

But there's no time now. I'll continue researching it when I get the chance.

With that thought, he casually dispersed the several Soul Tool Core Array models, and Huo Yuhao's spiritual body withdrew from the Spiritual Sea.

He stretched and loosened his somewhat stiff limbs after lying in bed. Seeing Huo Yuhao's lazy appearance, Wang Dong could not help but complain.

"I really don't know why you can be so carefree. Your Soul Power Level is already low, and you go to sleep earlier than I do every day. Aren't you afraid you'll be eliminated in the assessments later?"

Huo Yuhao smiled faintly. "Those who are wise have their own plans. Besides, if I really get eliminated, perhaps Shrek Academy will be the one suffering the loss."

"Pah, pah, pah! Shameless bastard. Hurry up, hurry up. Don't let that perverted old hag catch us." Wang Dong grabbed Huo Yuhao, who had just risen, and hurriedly ran outside.

Huo Yuhao simply let her pull him along. Perhaps because of their earlier exchange, Wang Dong seemed considerably closer to him now.

Running every day, running every day—what's the point? Although he already knew what would happen next, Huo Yuhao still thought helplessly.

After all, first-year freshmen were still too physically frail. Without nourishing food, depleted blood and vital energy was a serious matter. Their bodies developed quickly, but excessive training was actually unsuitable, as it could instead prove counterproductive.

Using Soul Power to nourish the bones and meridians, progressing step by step, was the proper path. As for why Zhou Yi's method of squeezing students dry through running produced decent results, it could only be said that this was Shrek Academy, where the students were either wealthy or noble.

Aside from Huo Yuhao, the only true commoner in the original story, the other students could afford to purchase food that replenished their blood and vital energy. That was precisely why too many drawbacks had not surfaced.

But spending huge amounts of time training one's body through inefficient weighted running without any proper method could only be called brainless.

The only reason it worked for Huo Yuhao in the end was because the Mysterious Heaven Skill could nourish his meridians during intense exercise.

Otherwise, whether Huo Yuhao's small body might damage its foundation through this training method was truly hard to say.

In the freshman Class One classroom, although class had not begun yet, everyone had already arrived.

Soon, as Zhou Yi entered the classroom, everyone immediately sat upright, their expressions solemn.

Looking at these students who resembled startled birds, Zhou Yi merely curled her lips before coldly saying, "Everyone, stand. Assemble at Shrek Plaza."

She then walked straight out. The other students did not dare delay and hurriedly lined up to follow.

At the plaza, piles of iron chains were heaped together. These were the Iron Clothes Zhou Yi had specially prepared to "improve the students' physical fitness."

"Wang Dong, I reviewed your entrance examinations, along with this morning's test. Since you currently have the highest cultivation, you will serve as the class monitor for freshman Class One."

"At the same time, the position of class monitor will be open to challenge. Whoever can defeat Wang Dong can naturally take her place as class monitor. Do you all understand?"

"Understood." Upon hearing this, several students whose Soul Power Levels hovered around Rank 18 and Rank 19 immediately sharpened their gazes.

At the same time, as the teacher's lackey, Wang Dong unknowingly took on a portion of the students' resentment toward Zhou Yi.

Through the Eye of Truth, Huo Yuhao could see that Wang Dong seemed to be thinking. He suddenly felt relieved. Good. At least she's not beyond saving. As long as she isn't completely brainless, it's fine.

Zhou Yi continued, "Each of you gets one Iron Clothes. Put it on, then begin running laps around the plaza."

"Keep running until class ends. You may use Soul Power, but you may not use Soul Skills."

"You will be ranked by the number of laps you complete. I will expel the last-place student. In my class, aside from formal assessments, I can set elimination criteria for you anytime, anywhere!"

"If you understand, begin immediately!"

Having heard the rules of this Last Elimination System, the students immediately rushed forward and put on the heavy Iron Clothes.

Then, led by Wang Dong, they hurriedly began running.

At the same time, Zhou Yi continued feeding her crooked logic and distorted worldview to the students whose heads were still buzzing.

At this moment, chased by the threat of last-place elimination, most of them had no mind to refute Zhou Yi or consider the flaws in her words.

Among the group, only Wang Dong, who had the best physical condition and had been taking this seriously from the start, and Huo Yuhao, who had never considered it a big deal, could still analyze the meaning behind Zhou Yi's words.

Of course, Huo Yuhao could not be bothered to think about it. He saw no need to waste his brain on an idiot already brainwashed by Shrek.

Brother Sky Dream, Brother Sky Dream, are you there? Wake up! Through Spiritual Sharing, Huo Yuhao called out to the still-sleeping Sky Dream Ice Silkworm.

Huh? Ah! Here, here, here. I'm busy helping you cultivate. What is it now? The Sky Dream Ice Silkworm apparently had yet to realize that Huo Yuhao had long known he was slacking off and sleeping, and Huo Yuhao could not be bothered to expose him.

Brother Sky Dream, do me a favor. Control my body and run a few laps. Just act normal and follow at the back of the group. I'm going to split my attention and do something else.

Sure, leave it to me. Isn't something this small easy for me?

The Sky Dream Ice Silkworm readily agreed. The Spiritual Power that had originally been guiding Huo Yuhao's Soul Power through his meridians now drove that Soul Power, controlling Huo Yuhao's blood, muscles, and body as it began to move.

Huo Yuhao did not use Soul Power or Spiritual Power to resist the Sky Dream Ice Silkworm's control. Instead, he temporarily handed control of his body over to him.

All right. I'll test the effects of those Soul Tool Core Arrays dismantled from the White Tiger Dagger here.

As long as I don't actively pour in too much Soul Power and rely only on Spiritual Power to construct them, it shouldn't trigger any serious accidents.

While Huo Yuhao tested those Rank 4 Soul Tool Core Arrays and attempted to simplify and split them apart, some of those running at the back of the group were left dumbfounded.

They were all astonished by Huo Yuhao. Zhou Yi had clearly singled him out earlier as the one with the lowest Soul Power.

Everyone present had at least three more Soul Power Levels than Huo Yuhao. Yet after more than a dozen laps, Huo Yuhao was neither flushed nor out of breath. He stayed firmly within the leading group and even looked more relaxed than Wang Dong, who had the highest cultivation.

Damn, what kind of monster is this?

No way. I thought that even with this Last Elimination System, the guy with the lowest Soul Power would definitely come in last. What's going on?

A monster. An absolute monster. If this is the physical ability of a Rank 12 Soul Master, I might as well drop out!

The few people at the very back of the group had nothing but despair in their eyes. Unless something unexpected happened, the student eliminated in the end would surely be one of them.

Wang Dong could not help glancing sideways as well, muttering inwardly, Those who are wise have their own plans? Your plan is your physical fitness? Is a Body Martial Soul's enhancement to the body really this powerful? Why does he look like he's in even better shape than I am?

Mm, I've more or less tested it. This should be a Soul Power Compression Array. At minimum, it can only be dismantled into a Rank 2 Soul Tool Core Array. If I split it any further, it loses its effect.

This Soul Tool Core Array can gather energy. I'll call it the Energy Gathering Array. At minimum, it can be divided into a Rank 1 Soul Tool Core Array. It gathers energy quickly, making it perfect for my current cultivation.

This Soul Tool Core Array's effect is to accelerate the conversion of energy. Combined with the White Tiger Dagger's devouring property, that should be where it comes from.

It should work on foreign energy as well. At minimum, it can also be divided into a Rank 1 Soul Tool Core Array. Later, I can pair it with the Soul Power Gathering Array to speed up cultivation.

This Soul Tool Core Array should store Soul Power. At minimum, it can be divided into a Rank 1 Soul Tool Core Array.

As for the remaining Soul Tool Core Array, I can't test its effects for now. I'll find a place to study it slowly after we return.

By the time Huo Yuhao had nearly finished his research, many students were still collapsing one after another. Though they faced last-place elimination, their stamina had been completely drained. These boys and girls could no longer muster the will to continue.

"Damn it, are you a freak?" Wang Dong gritted out beside Huo Yuhao.

Class was nearly over. Ninety percent of the students could no longer endure and had collapsed on the ground, panting laboriously.

Even Wang Dong's body had reached its limit. She ran unevenly, one step steady and the next unsteady.

Yet Huo Yuhao continued running at a constant pace. Of course, he was simply cheating. With the Sky Dream Ice Silkworm's Spiritual Power assisting him, the pressure borne and energy consumed by every muscle and bone in his body had been optimized to the best possible degree.

Furthermore, the continuous replenishment of Soul Power greatly extended the fatigue threshold of his muscles and bones. Thus, though Huo Yuhao was drenched in sweat, that was all. He was nowhere near his limit.

At that moment, Huo Yuhao took back control of his body, just as the bell signaling the end of class rang.