On this day, the press conference hall of the Federal Parliament building had twice as many chairs as usual, and the Soul Guidance Camera on both sides of the aisle stretched from the entrance to the podium like a long dragon.
Reporters arrived half an hour early, filling the release hall to capacity with people reserving seats, debugging devices, and whispering about today's agenda.
After all, they had discovered that the new Parliament Speaker was practically a walking hit-making machine, causing a huge uproar every time he made a public statement.
Mo Yuan stepped onto the podium, holding only a thin piece of paper in his hand.
He glanced at the audience.
Two things to announce today.
The audience fell silent.
"First, the former Shrek Academy will be officially renamed St. Freya Academy, effective immediately. The academy will retain some of its original faculty and teaching facilities, but its teaching system, admission standards, and training focus will all be implemented in accordance with the new Federation education framework."
The audience erupted in commotion, but no one objected to the rather strange-sounding name " St. Freya." After all, it was their Parliament Speaker had chosen it; what else could they do but offer their support?
Otherwise, shall we rebel?
Mo Yuan continued, "Secondly, the amendment to the Federation Education Act has been approved by Parliament and will officially take effect immediately."
As he spoke, he waved his hand, a blue light flashed, and a file appeared in front of each person.
A flurry of camera shutter clicks erupted from the audience.
The reporters began to look down at the files they had received, their expressions changing instantly before they could even show the slightest shock at Mo Yuan's move.
Mo Yuan didn't wait for them to digest the information and continued reading, "The core content of the revision is threefold. First, all eligible students within the Federation, regardless of their Soul Power talent or whether they have awakened Martial Soul, must enter an academy for education. Tuition is free and will be uniformly allocated by the Federation's treasury. Second, no academy may refuse admission to students based on their Soul Power Level or Martial Soul quality; admission standards will be uniformly set by the Federation Academy of Sciences. Third, the academy's educational content will include three compulsory courses: basic soul guidance theory, basic mechanical operation, and basic medical knowledge. Soul Master training will no longer be the only direction, and more learning directions will be expanded in the future."
He paused after reading the three points.
"Above."
There was a moment of silence in the audience, about two seconds, and then more than a dozen hands were raised at the same time.
Mo Yuan pointed to a reporter who was near the front.
"Your Excellency Parliament Speaker, does this mean that ordinary people without Soul Power will also have to attend academies to study?"
"Right."
"What about the Soul Master courses at the academy? A class has both Soul Master and students without Soul Power, how can the classes be conducted?"
"In the first year, students will take basic courses. Starting in the second year, they will specialize according to their talents and interests: Soul Master, Soul Tool, Mecha, Medical, and Mechanical. Students can switch between these specializations. Students without Soul Power can choose the Soul Tool or Mechanical specialization, while students with Soul Power can choose a non-combat specialization. The specific curriculum design will be led by the Academy of Sciences ' Education Division, and each academy has the right to make adjustments."
"I have long emphasized that education should be provided to all without discrimination; in education, we should treat everyone equally."
Another reporter raised his hand. "Your Excellency Parliament Speaker, tuition waivers are funded by the Federation treasury. Where does this money come from?"
" The Federation budget for this year has already been allocated, with education accounting for 30%. If it's not enough, we'll draw from other sectors," Mo Yuan said. "Education is a long-term investment; spending more upfront will result in greater savings later."
The release lasted approximately twenty minutes.
After answering a few questions, Mo Yuan announced his departure. The reporters grabbed their materials and ran out, eager to publish their stories.
Outside the release hall, Yu Zhenshan and Ya Li stood in the corridor waiting.
" St. Freya Academy." Yu Zhenshan repeated the name. "It's a bit of a mouthful."
"Hehe, you'll get used to it," Mo Yuan said. "The academy's new regulations and curriculum will be sent to you next week; go through them first."
Yu Zhenshan nodded. Anyway, this matter was no longer of much concern to him, as he was going to resign after the start of the semester.
Mo Yuan ultimately failed to retain any of the original Shrek teachers, something he had anticipated, but he was already quite satisfied that he had managed to save his own life.
After Mo Yuan left the corridor, Yu Zhenshan and Ya Li exchanged a glance.
" Shrek is completely finished now," Yu Zhenshan said.
"Aren't you satisfied yet?" Ya Li said.
Yu Zhenshan said nothing more, and the two left separately.
The message spread throughout the Federation that evening.
After receiving the full text of the revision, the presidents of each college held a meeting overnight to discuss how to adjust the curriculum and enrollment plans.
Some colleges reacted quickly, issuing announcements about reform measures the very next day; others delayed submitting their plans for several days.
Some traditional academies that primarily train Soul Master are resistant to the addition of three compulsory courses. However, the revised Education Law stipulates that failure to comply will result in the cancellation of their operating licenses. After weighing the options for a few days, the resistant academies have successively submitted their reform plans.
Ordinary families across the Federation government responded more positively than colleges.
The tuition-free policy is a direct relief for low-income families. In the past, children without Soul Power talent would not be sent to academies. Now, the law mandates enrollment with tuition waived. Many families went to their local academies to inquire about the enrollment process the day after the announcement.
The phones at the admissions offices of various colleges were ringing off the hook that week, and long queues formed at the reception desks.
Mo Yuan was in his office looking at the first week's data reported by the Academy of Sciences' education section: the number of new students enrolled in academies across the Federation had increased nearly three times compared to the same period last year, with ordinary students without Soul Power talent accounting for 40% of the new enrollment.
After reviewing the materials, he wrote a line in the comments section, "Colleges with insufficient enrollment will have their facilities expanded through coordination by relevant Federation departments, with the expansion costs drawn from the education sector budget."
He sent the file to the head of the education section of the Academy of Sciences, then leaned back in his chair, picked up his communicator, and dialed Chen Xinjie's number.
"I heard your new academy is called St. Freya Academy? Tsk tsk, what a tongue-twisting name, you might as well call it Shrek again," Chen Xinjie said on the other end of the communicator.
"The name Shrek can no longer be used," Mo Yuan said. "That name carries the burden of the old era. If the academy wants to move forward, it needs a new name and a fresh start."
"Or are you just unable to forget the past? You've already started a new life..."
"Even though Shrek is gone, there's still St. Freya, isn't there? I think you could totally go and help her out..."
"Alright, alright, you're in charge," Chen Xinjie said. "But aren't you afraid of offending the entire Soul Master World by making such a big move?"
It should be noted that this right to education used to be a privilege of Soul Master.
" The Soul Master World? How many people are there in the Soul Master World now? Can the total number of Soul Master in the entire Federation even make up one percent of the population?" Mo Yuan said. "In the past, the education system revolved around Soul Master because Soul Master were the highest combat force. Now that the Stigmata Project and the Fusion Warrior Project are about to be implemented, ordinary people can also obtain combat power through various means. Soul Master are no longer the only path to transcendence, so the education system naturally needs to be changed."
Chen Xinjie was silent for a moment, then sighed, "You've gone further than I expected."
This is just the beginning.