During class, Wang Yan stood at the lectern and spoke at length. Since this was the freshmen's first lesson, he explained in detail the basic knowledge of Martial Soul classifications on the Douluo Continent, Soul Power cultivation, and other topics.
Huo Yuhao listened intently from his seat. There was no denying that Wang Yan had a wealth of theoretical knowledge and had studied all kinds of Martial Souls in depth. Some of what he said gave Huo Yuhao plenty to think about.
It broadened his horizons considerably.
Halfway through the lesson, Wang Yan suddenly said, "Students, I'm sure you all know that the continent underwent tremendous changes after the Sun Moon Continent collided with the Douluo Continent more than four thousand years ago. The source of those changes was Soul Tools."
"Soul Masters from ten thousand years ago would never have believed that, ten thousand years later, a low-level food-type Soul Master could use the power of Soul Tools to defeat a Power Attack System Battle Soul Master. They would never have believed that so many wondrous forms of Soul Guidance Technology would exist on the continent today, even changing the lives of ordinary people."
"So I'd like you all to consider a question. Where does the future of the Douluo Continent lie? Will Soul Masters rule this world, or will Soul Tools?"
At that, a petite female student immediately raised her hand.
Wang Yan nodded for her to speak, and she stood. "Teacher, I believe the future Douluo Continent will certainly remain a world ruled by Soul Masters. Soul Tools are external objects, after all, not a reflection of a Soul Master's own strength. The most important thing for a Soul Master is still cultivating their Martial Soul."
"Just look at the war four thousand years ago. In the end, it was the dean of our Shrek Academy who rallied the call, gathering dozens of Titled Douluo-level powerhouses. They crushed the Sun Moon Empire in an instant. That proves the Douluo Continent will ultimately belong to Soul Masters!"
Wang Yan smiled, neither agreeing nor disagreeing with her answer.
"Does anyone else have a different answer?"
The other students in class shook their heads. As students in Shrek Academy's Martial Soul Department, most of them clearly agreed with her.
Students in the Martial Soul Department even seemed to look down on Soul Tools by nature.
Seeing this, Wang Yan felt a little disappointed and let out an almost imperceptible sigh.
He knew that Shrek Academy had fallen far behind the Sun Moon Empire in Soul Tools.
If the younger generation continued to cling to such outdated ideas, they would pay dearly one day.
It was something he worried about deeply.
Then his gaze swept over to a corner of the classroom, where he saw Huo Yuhao frowning slightly, as though he disagreed with the answer.
Wang Yan was very interested in Huo Yuhao. Though he hadn't shown him any special attention earlier, he still found himself keeping an extra eye on him from time to time.
Perhaps this remarkable boy had a unique perspective?
Wang Yan's thoughts shifted, and he said, "Yuhao, why don't you share your opinion as well?"
Huo Yuhao hadn't intended to answer the question.
The future of the Douluo Continent? He had read Douluo 1–4. He knew better than anyone what would happen to this world.
He knew full well that the Sun Moon Empire's military strength already far surpassed that of the Douluo Three Kingdoms.
If war broke out, the Douluo Three Kingdoms would be annexed. There was no other possibility.
In the original story, if the shameless Tang God King hadn't repeatedly interfered in the lower world, and the brainwashed Huo Gua hadn't forcefully intervened, Shrek and the Douluo Three Kingdoms together wouldn't have stood a chance against the Sun Moon Empire. (Assuming the Holy Spirit Cult was also on the Sun Moon Empire's side.)
But that story had all depended on the Huo Yuhao of the past becoming a loyal defender of the Tang God King, the Tang Sect, and Shrek.
Now, Huo Yuhao would no longer let anyone control him. A butterfly had beaten its wings, and who could say how the future of this world would unfold?
But since Wang Yan had asked him, Huo Yuhao didn't want to keep silent.
He'd let a few things slip and see how Shrek Academy reacted.
Huo Yuhao felt a little like sitting back to watch the show.
He stood and said calmly, "It's simple. I dare say that the future of this world will be ruled neither by Soul Masters nor by Soul Tools alone. It will be ruled jointly by Soul Masters, Soul Tools, and Spirit Beasts. If that isn't how things end, the Douluo Continent is doomed to destruction. There's no other possibility."
At his words, everyone in Freshman Class 3 stared wide-eyed and turned to look at Huo Yuhao in disbelief.
Even Wang Yan wore a thoughtful expression.
Spirit Beasts? Even he had overlooked that faction.
Only after Huo Yuhao's reminder did he suddenly remember the Soul Beast Clan.
They had been the Douluo Continent's overlords for millions of years, long before humanity. How had he forgotten them?
But after thinking it over, Wang Yan was filled with doubt.
Could the Soul Beast Clan really pose a threat to human Soul Masters at this point?
Even if the Ten Great Beast Kings existed, the number of powerful human Soul Masters was simply beyond what the Spirit Beasts could withstand.
Perhaps that was why this learned Outer Court instructor listened with such interest, waiting quietly for Huo Yuhao to continue.
Huo Yuhao went on, "The student just said that four thousand years ago, Soul Masters defeated Soul Engineers and brought peace to the continent. That's true."
"But she forgot to look at the problem from the perspective of progress. Soul Tools may have lost four thousand years ago, but they've had four thousand years to develop since then. They've been transformed beyond recognition. I doubt even a Limit Douluo would dare claim they could withstand an attack from a Level 10 Soul Tool."
"From that perspective, in a war between the Sun Moon Empire and the Douluo Three Kingdoms, the Douluo Three Kingdoms would be routed without a doubt."
At this point, Ouyang Junyi, seated in front of him, couldn't help speaking up. "A Level 10 Soul Tool? The Sun Moon Empire shouldn't have anything like that. They might not even have Level 9 Soul Tools."
Huo Yuhao smiled faintly. "Would anyone be foolish enough to lay their trump cards out in the open? Strategic weapons like Level 9 and Level 10 Soul Tools would either never be used, or, if they were, they'd come like a thunderclap—one strike, and the target would be destroyed."
"By then, the Douluo Continent would be unified!"
Like most of the class, Ouyang Junyi looked doubtful and refused to believe him.
Most of Shrek Academy's students came from noble families in the three great empires of the Douluo Continent. Their families' interests were bound to those of their countries, so naturally they didn't want their nations to fall.
"But if that's the case, shouldn't Soul Tools rule the world? Why would the Douluo Continent be destroyed? There are Ferocious Beasts among the Spirit Beasts, but they shouldn't be able to stand against human Soul Masters, should they?"
Chen Junfeng had noticed the key point.
He had asked the very question Wang Yan wanted to ask.
This time, Huo Yuhao didn't answer at once. He thought for a while before choosing his words. "The Ferocious Beasts aren't fools. The conflict between Soul Masters and Spirit Beasts is a conflict between races. In a war of extermination, where one side must die for the other to live, the Ferocious Beasts have continued to endure in silence, letting their people dwindle day by day—even to the point of extinction."
"Isn't that strange? Given how quickly Soul Masters are developing on the Douluo Continent, the Spirit Beasts will eventually be wiped out. The Ferocious Beasts and humanity are locked in a feud to the death."
"But in recent years, as human civilization has advanced, the Spirit Beasts have retreated again and again without end. It isn't because they're afraid. They're waiting."
"They're waiting for the true supreme being of their race to awaken or return. It may well be a Spirit Beast that has surpassed Limit Douluo and reached the divine level. Once the Douluo Continent is unified, the Spirit Beasts will know their days are numbered. That will be the beginning of a war between races."
"And when that Spirit Beast, a true being beyond the divine level, appears, no one on the Douluo Continent will be able to stop it. Every Soul Master and Spirit Beast in the world will be caught in a great war that sweeps across the world!"
"In the end, Shrek and the Evil Spirit Masters, the Douluo Three Kingdoms and the Sun Moon Empire, Soul Masters and Spirit Beasts—everything will fall into utter silence. No one will escape."
One astonishing statement after another poured from Huo Yuhao's mouth.
As he spoke, an image formed in everyone's minds: a barren, lifeless world, devoid of all living things.
It was dark, cold, and utterly desolate.
Everyone shuddered.
Fine beads of sweat broke out on Wang Yan's forehead.
Huo Yuhao had made his meaning clear enough.
He suspected that a God of Spirit Beasts existed on the Douluo Continent!
The Spirit Beasts had endured in silence in recent years because they were waiting for this God of Spirit Beasts to awaken or return!
The students were one thing. They might take Huo Yuhao's words as nothing more than an alarmist tale and laugh them off.
But Wang Yan was different. He had read records at Shrek about the deepest reaches of the Star Dou Great Forest.
His instincts told him that Huo Yuhao's theory might well be true!
A war between the Sun Moon Empire and the Douluo Three Kingdoms. A war between Soul Masters and Spirit Beasts.
In the end, it would become a great war sweeping every living thing on the Douluo Continent!
Wang Yan's keen instincts could already picture the terrifying future Huo Yuhao had described.
That future might even arrive in just a few short years!
Wang Yan shuddered, his back soaked with cold sweat.
At the same time, something else seemed to occur to him. He stared deeply at Huo Yuhao, his heart full of shock.
How could this boy analyze the balance of power between all the factions on the Douluo Continent so accurately?
Huo Yuhao—who was he, really?
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