We Shrek Strictly Crack Down on Evil Soul Masters, But Don't Ask Where the Evil Soul Masters Came From.

"You!" Han Ruoruo could no longer contain herself, making a move to toss Huo Yuhao off the carriage.

"Ruoruo, sit down first. Don't be rash." Zhang Lexuan spoke up, stopping the furious Han Ruoruo in her tracks.

"But Senior Sister..."

Zhang Lexuan shot a look at Han Ruoruo, who could only let out a huff and sit back down.

"Little brother, would you mind telling us your name and where you are from?" Zhang Lexuan's expression was complex.

Huo Yuhao's face remained calm. "My name is Huo Yuhao. I'm just an ordinary civilian soul master with no background to speak of."

Zhang Lexuan turned her head. "Yuhao, I won't comment on whether the situation you described earlier is right or wrong, but I want to say this: while Shrek's current systems may be imperfect and have led to some unfairness, it is fundamentally different from the Spirit Hall of ten thousand years ago.

The peace on the continent today is, in fact, largely due to Shrek. I don't know if you've heard of Evil Soul Masters; they use cruel methods and often harm innocent people. For these past ten thousand years, Shrek has expended immense effort fighting these hidden Evil Soul Masters to prevent the people of the Douluo Continent from suffering. I am certain that Shrek has played a positive role in maintaining peace on the Douluo Continent."

Huo Yuhao didn't want to bring this up, but at the mention of Evil Soul Masters, he let out a laugh.

"Heh."

"You brat, what are you laughing at? Do you have any idea how much the Shrek Inspectorate has contributed to the peace of this continent? That was bought with the sacrifices of countless Shrek students!"

Han Ruoruo glared at him with her beautiful eyes.

"Heh, forgive my bluntness, but the reason Evil Soul Masters are so rampant has a great deal to do with Shrek Academy itself." Huo Yuhao sneered.

Han Ruoruo's brows furrowed tightly. "What nonsense are you spouting? Are you suggesting Shrek secretly cultivates Evil Soul Masters?"

Oh, but you do. Didn't you secretly cultivate the Supreme Elder of the Holy Spirit Cult and the Phoenix Saintess of the Holy Spirit Cult? Huo Yuhao thought to himself.

"Not directly, but Shrek has indirectly led to the proliferation of Evil Soul Masters."

Huo Yuhao did not pause, continuing, "As far as I know, the concept of 'Evil Soul Masters' did not exist ten thousand years ago. They only truly emerged after the original Shrek Seven Devils attained godhood, and the reason for that has everything to do with that Sea God, Tang San, one of the original Shrek Seven Devils."

"Ten thousand years ago, these so-called Evil Soul Masters were concentrated in a place called the City of Slaughter. When the Sea God Tang San left the City of Slaughter, he destroyed it, causing the Evil Soul Masters to swarm out. From that day on, the Douluo Continent has known no peace."

"That is only one aspect. Another crucial point is that the definition of an Evil Soul Master has changed, and this was spearheaded by Shrek Academy."

"In the past, after a martial soul awakened, there was no such thing as an 'evil' martial soul. But now, any martial soul capable of rapidly increasing soul power is defined as evil."

"The term 'evil martial soul' is largely pushed by Shrek Academy. Most of these people with such martial souls are found in remote areas; they are civilian soul masters."

"They crave power and long to change their circumstances. If they were guided properly from the start, they might have walked a righteous path. But let me ask you, can their talent ever be realized?"

"It cannot be realized at all. Why? Because the very label of 'evil martial soul' ensures that no academy will accept them. In the end, these talented civilian soul masters are left with only one path: to fall into depravity and become Evil Soul Masters. That is their only way forward."

"Since ancient times, where there is light, there is darkness. In this regard, Shrek Academy is not even as good as the Spirit Hall of ten thousand years ago. At the very least, the Spirit Hall would travel to every remote corner of the continent to perform free martial soul awakenings. If they found a talented child, they would take them in and provide proper guidance to prevent them from going astray. But Shrek? Their values only recognize 'good' and 'evil'."

"Does power have a moral alignment? I believe only people do."

"Are evil martial souls truly evil? I think it is merely the upper class of the Douluo Continent being afraid. They fear their status will be challenged, so they define those martial souls as evil."

"Is there really only one path of slaughter for those martial souls to cultivate? I don't think so. It's just that this world only allows them to walk that one path."

"So, you two, do you still think the proliferation of Evil Soul Masters has nothing to do with Shrek Academy?"

Huo Yuhao laid out the relationship between the Evil Soul Masters and Shrek Academy in detail.

These accusations against Shrek were shocking, but Huo Yuhao was by no means talking nonsense or shooting blindly.

At the very least, the origin of the Evil Soul Masters was inextricably linked to Tang San.

As for the rest, it was Huo Yuhao's own analysis—perhaps extreme, but such situations certainly occurred.

Zhang Lexuan and Han Ruoruo's lips turned pale.

Two pure inner-court students—where had they ever been exposed to such conspiracy theories?

Moreover, these words were not entirely conspiracy theories; most were based on reality, with only a portion colored by Huo Yuhao's own perspective.

Before meeting Huo Yuhao, both of them were the most loyal defenders of Shrek Academy.

They believed from the bottom of their hearts that Shrek was righteous and correct.

But after Huo Yuhao finished speaking, both were left in a state of extreme bewilderment.

Han Ruoruo, at this moment, could not utter a single word.

Zhang Lexuan was also left speechless, left only to quietly ponder these words in her heart.

The rest of the journey passed in silence.

After an unknown amount of time, Huo Yuhao heard the sounds outside the carriage growing louder.

"Everyone, we have arrived at Shrek City," the coachman called out.

Huo Yuhao stood up and said, "The two of you, thank you for the ride. May we meet again if fate allows."

He then stepped directly off the carriage.

Han Ruoruo watched Huo Yuhao leave, her face filled with frustration. She asked in confusion, "Senior Sister, was everything that brat just said true? The appearance of Evil Soul Masters is actually related to the Sea God from ten thousand years ago?"

"And are those evil soul masters really appearing endlessly because of us, Shrek? If that's the case, then what were all the sacrifices we've made for the continent over these ten thousand years for?"

Han Ruoruo felt her past values had been dealt a massive blow. Huo Yuhao's words today made her pride in Shrek Academy waver, if only slightly.

Zhang Lexuan's gaze gradually returned to calm. "Although I hate to admit it, the secret he mentioned regarding the ancestor, the Sea God Tang San, is indeed true. It is recorded in the inner court's library regarding that past event, and it was indeed the direct cause of the emergence of Evil Soul Masters. But the strange thing is, how could he possibly know such a secret?"

"Doesn't that mean the appearance of Evil Soul Masters is truly because of Shrek Academy?" Han Ruoruo grew increasingly despondent.

"That is not the case, Ruoruo. Do not forget what kind of people Evil Soul Masters are—they are a group of deranged, bloodthirsty soul masters. Their martial souls dictate that from the moment they awaken, they are forced onto a path of slaughtering living beings."

"Perhaps some of Shrek's policies inadvertently led to them lacking a path for advancement, but that is no excuse for them to slaughter living beings. The fault does not lie with us, Shrek." Zhang Lexuan spoke up to console her.

"Then, then what about Xiao Tao's martial soul? It has caused several accidents before, even accidentally harming several outer court students. Isn't that no different from an evil martial soul..."

"Ruoruo, Xiao Tao... Xiao Tao is different after all."

Zhang Lexuan's voice trailed off, as if she had realized her own lack of conviction, and for a moment, she did not know how to explain it.

"Huo Yuhao! He said his name was Huo Yuhao! Senior Sister, why don't we find that kid and have him join Shrek? I want to prove that what he said is wrong! We at Shrek are not rotten or backward, and commoner soul masters have just as much of a chance to get ahead! I want to prove him wrong!"

Han Ruoruo jolted, speaking with excitement.

A light flickered in Zhang Lexuan's eyes as well. "You're right. You're absolutely right. Let's find him."

The two stepped out of the carriage, but the bustling crowds of Shrek City had already swallowed any trace of Huo Yuhao.

Is anyone actually reading my book? Why does it feel like everyone is a bot? Could this world just be one giant bot?