Shrek City has its own way of handling all administrative affairs, including taxation, laws, and overall governance.
To outsiders, it might seem like a semi-autonomous military regime, but in truth, the federal structure imposes strict limitations. The most prominent control lies in the Tri-Council Veto System. No organization can completely escape its authority—as long as you are a registered citizen of the Federation with authenticated identity, you remain under its jurisdiction.
This Tri-Council System grants veto power to three primary factions: Shrek Academy, the Spirit Pagoda, and the Federation's main parliament. Although the Battle God Hall is loyal to the Federation, it lacks veto rights. That means if even one of these three sides opposes a major proposal, it cannot pass. Naturally, this has its drawbacks—particularly in matters demanding fairness—which is where democratic public voting comes into play.
Society today is far more open-minded than it was ten or twenty thousand years ago. Who should be supported? Who's truly right? Gu You believed that, ultimately, the people would have their own answers.
"You all have student ID cards. These record your individual stats and also serve as your contribution point wallet," said Shen Yi, her tone solemn as always. "Contribution points are everything at the Academy. You can use them to exchange for cultivation resources, rent specialized training equipment, apply for soul spirits, and even gain access to spirit ascension platforms. Even asking your teacher a question costs contribution points. For working students, it even covers your meals. In short—within the Academy, contribution points can buy you everything, as long as it's within legal and reasonable bounds."
"The Academy only holds classes in the mornings. Afternoons and evenings are yours to manage freely. You may train, study, rest, or even leave the Academy grounds—as long as you return for morning lessons. Any tardiness will be treated as truancy unless it has been pre-approved by your class teacher. Three unexcused absences, and you're expelled."
She paused, letting the weight of her words sink in.
"One more thing. Anything purchased outside the Academy with Federation credits cannot be brought into Shrek. If you're caught, you'll be fined ten times the item's value in contribution points. Of course, if you're lucky enough not to get caught, then good for you."
'So that's why things were so expensive,' Gu You mused with a low hum. 'Good thing I didn't bring anything sketchy in. Guess I really was lucky.'
"For working students, things are even more challenging," Shen Yi continued. "You must pay for every meal using your contribution points. If you prefer, you can always trek outside to eat. But remember—you're also required to complete one assigned task every day. That's non-negotiable. Managing your time wisely will be crucial to your survival at Shrek. Falling behind here means being eliminated."
"Dean Cai didn't mention this earlier, but I will: Shrek Academy enforces a bottom-ranked elimination system. Each year, the five lowest-performing students in every grade are expelled without a chance at redemption. Shrek's philosophy has always been 'Only teach monsters—not ordinary people.' That hasn't changed in ten thousand years. If you're just looking for a comfy, easy life here, you're free to have it—but it'll only last a year at most."
Gu You stifled a yawn, already bored. 'Man, this woman really doesn't know when to stop talking.'
"Later today, you'll each receive a detailed list of elective courses and available resources. All of these cost contribution points. For regular students, some electives are free while others aren't. For working students—nothing is free."
"Contribution points can also be traded between students. If you have excess, you can sell them to others in exchange for goods or favors. But beware: private trades are not protected by the Academy. If you want safety, use the Academy's public task board. Any transaction there is protected by a contract—though the Academy will take a 15% commission."
"Lastly, failure in completing a task will result in a deduction. If your balance falls below minus 1000 points, you'll be expelled immediately."
Shen Yi clapped her hands once, crisply. "That concludes your orientation. Now for your first real lesson."
As she moved to the blackboard, Gu You muttered, 'Sheesh, her mouth sure works overtime.'
"Today's topic—how to become a battle armor master, and what a battle armor master truly is."
The classroom fell silent as every student except Gu You snapped to attention.
Becoming a battle armor master was every soul master's dream. For young newcomers, this was the very reason they worked so hard to pass Shrek's entrance exam.
"You might be wondering why your very first lesson covers battle armor," Shen Yi said. "The answer is simple. All of you have already completed your foundational education. If you hadn't mastered the basics, there's no way you would've made it into Shrek Academy."
"In other words, from this day forward, battle armor will be the focus of your life—five years, ten years, perhaps even twenty. Until you master it."
"You heard Dean Cai earlier: thirty-five is the outer court's age limit. If you can't become a One-Word Battle Armor Master by then, you'll be expelled—no exceptions. Those who succeed can graduate. That's the standard."
She paused for a beat and raised her voice slightly.
"Let me add this: only one-third of all students ever become full-fledged battle armor masters. That's our graduation rate. The rest? They drop out or are kicked out."
"If you've already built a solid foundation in your second profession—be it blacksmithing, mecha control, or another support role—then congratulations. You'll find the road ahead smoother than most. If not, be prepared to work ten times harder than everyone else."
"If you manage to become a One-Word Battle Armor Master by age twenty-five, you may apply for the inner court assessment. If you pass, you'll be elevated into the inner court. If not, you'll still graduate from the outer court as long as you meet the baseline requirements."
Shen Yi paused, letting her words sink in.
"Now, let's define what a battle armor master actually is. You may think it simply refers to soul masters who wear battle armor—but that's not quite right. The term also encompasses various inclusive professions, such as mecha pilots and others with similar skillsets."
"To put it simply, a battle armor master is a soul master who augments their strength using self-created battle armor, forged with the aid of a secondary profession. Your next few years will revolve around learning how to build, refine, and ultimately master that armor."
'So, soul masters with a hobby in cosplay,' Gu You thought lazily.
Unfazed, Shen Yi continued. "Starting next week, you'll begin preliminary assessments to determine your secondary profession aptitude. Those who show talent in areas like blacksmithing, mecha design, or array creation will be placed into specialized mentorship tracks."
"As I said, only one-third of you will reach the finish line. If you wish to be among them—start preparing now. Time waits for no one, and Shrek waits even less."
She glanced at the silent class.
"Dismissed."
(End of Chapter)
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