Huo Yuhao: Shrek is a backward, corrupt, and feudal academy

Huo Yuhao did not shy away, instead cupping his fists toward the two women with a generous, open manner. "Many thanks to you both for the ride. Otherwise, I truly don't know how much longer I would have been walking."

He then found a spot in the carriage, maintaining a respectful distance from the two women before sitting down.

Seeing that the young man was handsome and refined, and that his conduct was both polite and measured, Zhang Lexuan and Han Ruoruo could not help but feel a sense of favor toward him.

Zhang Lexuan was naturally a quiet soul, but Han Ruoruo, sitting beside her, was quite different, possessing a much more outgoing personality.

Furthermore, as students of the Shrek Inner Court, they spent the vast majority of their time cultivating within the academy walls and rarely had the chance to converse with outsiders while out on missions.

Seeing Huo Yuhao, who was not yet of age, traveling alone, curiosity immediately piqued within them.

Han Ruoruo spoke up, asking, "Little brother, are you heading to Shrek City all by yourself to take the Shrek Academy entrance exam?"

Huo Yuhao nodded.

Han Ruoruo continued, "Little brother, have you brought the tuition fees required for the entrance exam, as well as a recommendation letter from the mayor of any major city in the three great empires?"

"Ah? Does taking the exam at Shrek require all that?" Huo Yuhao was stunned.

Although he remembered the general plot of the original story, he had truly forgotten that Shrek Academy required a mayor's recommendation letter for admission.

Now, reminded by her, he recalled that in the original work, these two items were indeed necessary to register for Shrek.

"Then, are you under 12 years old this year, and is your soul power level above rank 21?" Han Ruoruo frowned.

Where did this greenhorn come from, wanting to apply to Shrek Academy without knowing a single thing?

"I am 11 this year, and my soul power is only at rank 15," Huo Yuhao replied.

Han Ruoruo shook her head and said, "Then I advise you to turn back, little brother. Your soul power doesn't meet Shrek's standards; don't waste your effort only to fail the exam."

Huo Yuhao, however, said calmly, "I still want to try. If Shrek Academy doesn't want me, it will only prove that they lack vision."

Han Ruoruo raised an eyebrow. "Oh? You little brat, you're quite arrogant for your age. Shrek Academy is the number one academy on the continent, and it has been for ten thousand years. If they don't accept you, it means they lack vision?"

Huo Yuhao was indifferent. "That's right. In my eyes, while Shrek Academy is nominally the continent's top institution, it is also riddled with backward, decaying, and feudal elements. If not for Shrek Academy, I think the Douluo Continent might actually be better off."

These words filled Han Ruoruo with indignation, and even the quiet Zhang Lexuan, sitting to the side, furrowed her brows.

The two had studied at Shrek Academy since childhood, from the outer court to the inner, spending most of their lives within its walls. To them, Shrek Academy was like a home.

Shrek's history, glory, and teachings were all sources of pride that they would not allow anyone to disparage.

Hearing Huo Yuhao speak this way, both were somewhat angered.

Zhang Lexuan remained composed and silent, but Han Ruoruo immediately let out a cold hum, staring at Huo Yuhao. "You little brat, you're still wet behind the ears—what could you possibly know about the merits or flaws of Shrek Academy? Tell me right now, to my face: where is Shrek Academy backward, decaying, or feudal? And why would the continent be better off without it? If you can't give me a good reason, I'll have you thrown off this carriage immediately!"

Huo Yuhao was not particularly surprised by their reaction.

People of this era could only see Shrek's achievements and honors; they were unable to perceive its shortcomings. This was the limitation of their time.

He, however, spoke from the perspective of having understood the entire chronicle of the Douluo Continent, so his views naturally differed from theirs.

"What I just said was merely my personal opinion. If you wish to hear it, I will tell you. If you find anything I say incorrect, you may refute me. If you can convince me that I am wrong, I will get off the carriage myself. How about that?"

"Hmph, fine. An 11-year-old child wants to debate philosophy with me? Go ahead, let's hear it."

Han Ruoruo gave a disdainful scoff.

She wanted to see what kind of high-minded nonsense such a young child could possibly spout.

"First, I believe the most backward and decaying system at Shrek Academy is its entrance examination, and the most unreasonable rule is the requirement for a recommendation letter from a mayor of the three great empires. This rule alone has blocked the path for countless talented soul masters to enter Shrek."

"Many children from commoner families have no way to reach a mayor or obtain such a letter. Even those who exhaust themselves to find one, how can they guarantee the mayor will actually issue it? In the end, many gifted geniuses can only stand before Shrek's gates and sigh in despair," Huo Yuhao said calmly.

"Hey, what do you know? Do you even know what 'Shrek' means?" Han Ruoruo retorted. "Ten thousand years ago, Shrek was a type of ugly soul beast; people called them monsters. In other words, Shrek Academy is the 'Monster Academy.' We must recruit students with high-quality martial souls. If those mayors recognize the quality of your martial soul and recommend you to Shrek, it counts toward their political achievements. Why wouldn't they be willing to issue such a letter?"

Huo Yuhao smiled. "Oh, is that so? Based on my understanding of those mayors, a 'mayor's recommendation letter' has likely long since devolved into a tool for them to extract personal benefits."

"For powerful soul master clans, nobles, and sects, those mayors would practically hand over these letters on a silver platter like servants. But for truly gifted commoner soul masters, obtaining such a thing is as difficult as ascending to the heavens."

"As time goes on, Shrek Academy has long since become a private garden controlled by these nobles, clans, and sects. What is the actual percentage of commoner students? The most typical example is the Shrek Seven Devils. For ten thousand years, the composition has been largely the same. By blindly chasing the glory of ten thousand years ago, constantly featuring martial souls like the White Tiger, Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon, Phoenix, Hell Civet, and Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda—does this not reflect the backwardness of Shrek over the last ten millennia?"

Huo Yuhao laid bare the bloody reality: "The current Shrek is no longer a pure institution of learning; it is more like the Spirit Hall of ten thousand years ago. It uses its influence to stand as a colossus over the continent."

However, in some respects, it is even more terrifying than the Spirit Hall of ten thousand years ago. At the very least, in the Douluo Three Kingdoms, no one dares to cross them. The only difference is that back then, Spirit Hall was ruled by the Angel Spirit and the Qian Clan, whereas now, I don't know what spirit rules Shrek, but such an entity certainly exists.

Zhang Lexuan and Han Ruoruo's expressions shifted drastically.

Han Ruoruo's face was filled with fury, her eyes practically spitting fire.

On the other side, after hearing these words, an incredibly complex expression surfaced on Zhang Lexuan's face.

Was Huo Yuhao wrong? She desperately wanted to refute him.

But she could not, because she knew very well that what the youth before her said was not only correct, it was spot on.

She herself was a living example. After awakening her spirit, she had once tried to join Shrek through the proper channels, but because she could not obtain a recommendation letter from the city lord, she ended up destitute. If not for Elder Mu discovering her top-tier talent and bringing her back to Shrek, she would not be the Inner Court's head senior sister today.

As for the spirit lineage currently ruling Shrek that Huo Yuhao mentioned, such a secret was unknown to everyone in the Inner Court, yet she happened to be the one who knew it best. What Huo Yuhao was pointing to was none other than the Bright Sacred Dragon spirit lineage—the lineage of the Shrek founder, Ancestor Yu Xiaogang.

She, Zhang Lexuan, was the child bride of the next successor in this very lineage.

Backward, feudal, and corrupt?

It was truly a heart-piercing indictment.

She mocked herself in her heart.

Then, she shifted her gaze toward Huo Yuhao.

The youth was dressed plainly, his coat even washed to the point of fading and sporting a few patches.

How could such a young child know these inside stories?

Who was he?