Enrollment

Hearing that Yao Shi had no intention of joining, Huo Yuhao also declined. "Then I won't join the Tang Sect either, but thank you for the invitation, Sister Xiao Ya."

Although Huo Yuhao had heard his mother tell stories of the Tang Sect's legends, those were things of the past. Once the continent's number one sect, it had declined because of the emergence of soul tools. Its rigid, inflexible rules must have played a part as well. If he truly joined the Tang Sect, he would be bound by its rules—but would they really support him in destroying the White Tiger Duke's Estate one day?

Rather than joining a declining sect and being restricted by its rules, he would be better off keeping to himself and growing stronger step by step.

Hearing both of them refuse the invitation to join the sect, Tang Ya immediately became anxious. "Why? I can understand why Little Brother Yao won't join, but Little Yuhao, you've only just absorbed your first soul ring. Your soul power is still far below Shrek Academy's admission requirements. As long as you join the Tang Sect, you can use this spot!"

"No!"

Only then did Bei Bei notice the fluctuations of soul power around Huo Yuhao.

"That dense soul power... it's completely unlike someone who has only just absorbed their first soul ring. Little Brother Huo, are you about to break through to level twenty?" Bei Bei asked in shock.

Hearing Bei Bei's words, Tang Ya's face filled with disbelief. "How is that possible? We were only apart for a few hours. How could he have gone from a level-ten soul master without a soul ring to nearly level twenty?"

Even Bei Bei found it difficult to believe. Based on his knowledge of soul masters, even absorbing a soul ring should not raise someone's soul power by so much at once—especially when Huo Yuhao had only absorbed a ten-year soul ring.

Even taking pills could not possibly raise one's soul power by more than eight levels in just a few hours. Besides, his soul power was stable and solid, without the slightest sign of the instability caused by taking medicine.

Yao Shi gave a soft cough from the side. Huo Yuhao immediately understood and explained.

"Brother Bei, Sister Xiao Ya, I really am close to breaking through to level twenty. After we parted ways, I happened to encounter a fortuitous opportunity. Then, after I absorbed that ten-year soul ring, my soul power directly rose several levels."

The two of them could scarcely believe it. What sort of opportunity could raise someone's strength by so much without any side effects?

Tang Ya looked dejected. "Then with your current soul power, Little Yuhao, there really is no need for you to join the Tang Sect..."

Bei Bei stepped in to smooth things over. "Since Little Brother Huo and Little Brother Yao are both heading to Shrek Academy, you should become our junior brothers in the future. Would you like to return with us?"

"Though we need to help Xiao Ya hunt for her third soul ring first."

"No need. Thank you, Brother Bei. We can register on our own."

Yao Shi stepped forward and spoke.

"Hehe, then we won't force you." Even after Yao Shi's refusal, Bei Bei retained his gentle and refined demeanor.

"Alright, Yuhao. Let's go."

As Yao Shi spoke, he reminded Huo Yuhao that it was time to leave.

"Then we'll be going first, Brother Bei, Sister Xiao Ya."

After bidding the two farewell, Huo Yuhao followed Yao Shi's footsteps.

Tang Ya still looked dejected as she silently walked deeper into the forest. Bei Bei glanced helplessly at the departing pair, sighed, and hurried after Tang Ya.

Three days later,

"Brother Yao, here. Grilled fish."

By the riverbank, Huo Yuhao handed a freshly grilled fish to Yao Shi. The moment Yao Shi accepted it, he devoured it in a few bites.

Yao Shi had made his living selling grilled fish over the past few years. Now, he had finally tasted one personally made by the source of his inspiration. Was this what it meant to be the protagonist? Though they both made grilled fish, Huo Yuhao's was indeed tastier than his. No wonder everyone in the original story loved Yuhao's grilled fish so much.

"We should reach Shrek Academy today."

After finishing the grilled fish in his hand, Yao Shi spoke to Huo Yuhao. At their normal pace, they should have arrived a day ago, but they had slowed down so Huo Yuhao could break through to level twenty.

He had finally reached level twenty, though he had not yet attached a soul ring. Spiritual-attribute soul beasts were truly rare, and Yao Shi also felt that Huo Yuhao's second soul skill should still be Simulation, just like in the original story.

By noon, the two finally caught sight of Shrek Academy.

Shrek Academy covered an enormous area, and a city had formed around it. Thus, this place was also called Shrek City.

Yao Shi had spent the past ten-odd years living in poor villages and towns. Not only was Huo Yuhao beside him dumbfounded, but even he was deeply awed by the sight of this magnificent city.

Yao Shi then took out two letters of recommendation from his storage ring. The city lords had given them to him after he treated several of them.

He handed one to Huo Yuhao and said, "Come on, let's go in and register."

Yao Shi truly could not understand why Shrek Academy's enrollment requirements during the era of the Peerless Tang Clan required letters of recommendation. Suitable age and sufficient soul power were understandable, but why were recommendation letters necessary too?

Huo Yuhao accepted the letter, once again deeply moved. He marveled at how fortunate he had been to meet Yao Shi. Not only had Yao Shi improved his cultivation talent, but he had also given him the chance to enter this continent-renowned number one academy.

The two arrived at the academy's eastern gate. More than a dozen young men and women around fifteen or sixteen years old stood guard at the entrance.

"Hello, Senior Brothers and Senior Sisters. We're here to register for Shrek Academy."

Yao Shi stepped forward, spoke to them, and handed over the city lords' letters of recommendation.

One of the boys accepted the letters, glanced over them, and returned them.

"Your identities are fine. Once you enter, just go directly to the line for registration, junior brothers."

As he spoke, they moved aside and cleared a path for the two.

Upon entering the academy, they saw more than ten statues, depicting the academy's three founders and the first generation of the Shrek Seven Monsters.

Neither paid much attention to the statues. They headed straight to the new student registration area. Since it was currently the new student enrollment period, the freshman teaching building was especially lively.

Although Huo Yuhao had not joined the Tang Sect, Yao Shi's intervention meant that both his age and soul power met the academy's requirements, and they both had letters of recommendation. As a result, their enrollment and registration went very smoothly. The only thing that pained Yao Shi was the tuition: a single academic year cost ten gold soul coins. For the two of them, that was twenty. Huo Yuhao did not have a single coin to his name, so naturally Yao Shi paid for it.

"Yuhao, you'd better study hard. I've completely emptied my family fortune for you."

"Don't worry, Brother Yao. I'll definitely work hard."

Unlike in the original story, Huo Yuhao did not enroll in the Martial Soul Department. Under Yao Shi's instruction, he registered for the Soul Guidance Department instead. Yao Shi told him that with his Spirit Eyes and soul skills, studying soul tools was undoubtedly the most suitable choice.

Huo Yuhao readily agreed.

After receiving their dormitory keys, school uniforms, and freshman badges, the two left the freshman teaching building.