"B-but without an emperor, who would rule this continent?"
"Shrek City doesn't have an emperor either. Is an emperor really that important?"
Qian Duoduo stared at Huo Yuhao in astonishment, silently digesting his words.
After a long while, he said, "I don't know whether your thinking is right, but if you really do that, Shrek Academy will definitely stop you."
"Suit yourself." Huo Yuhao didn't care in the slightest. "If I gave up just because someone stood in my way, I wouldn't be me."
He looked at Fan Yu and said, "Teacher Fan Yu, I know how much you value me. I actually like Soul Tools a lot too. How about we compromise? I'll come to the Soul Tool Department for an hour after classes every day. What do you think?"
Seeing Huo Yuhao relent, Fan Yu was overjoyed and hurriedly said, "It's a deal, Huo Yuhao. I'll teach you personally."
He strode up to Huo Yuhao and handed him a necklace. A black chain held a small, dark-gold pendant made of some unknown metal.
Huo Yuhao frowned slightly and was just about to politely decline, but Fan Yu pressed the necklace into his hand without allowing any argument.
"With this, you can enter and leave any area of the Soul Tool Department freely. I hereby declare you a Core Disciple of our Soul Tool Department."
Huo Yuhao was about to refuse. "Teacher Fan Yu, this..."
"Just take it," Fan Yu said. "Don't worry. Your status as a Core Disciple of the Soul Tool Department is only temporary. Once you've made your decision and the Martial Soul Department accepts you, it won't be too late to choose again. We will absolutely respect your choice."
"But I promise you that, even though your Core Disciple status is only temporary, the Soul