Chapter 68 – I Really Want to Improve
Huo Yuhao selectively revealed certain information to Wang Yan. For this man, who had always pursued Martial Soul theory research, it was hard to tell whether he was more shocked or delighted at this moment.
He had always known Huo Yuhao was extraordinary. After all, anyone capable of defeating seven opponents in a row during the tournament and being hailed as the greatest genius in the history of the Sun Moon Empire could not possibly be ordinary. Yet, he had not expected it to be this exaggerated!
A Body Martial Soul, a Silver-ranked Second Awakening, soul rings that defied convention, and twin Martial souls...
Every word was familiar to him, but strung together, they formed a future so boundless it felt like he was dreaming.
Overcome with excitement, Wang Yan grabbed Huo Yuhao by the shoulders, his body trembling uncontrollably.
"Yuhao! Promise me this—let me become your exclusive Martial Soul system tutor. I swear, I will help you ascend to the very peak!"
As if afraid Huo Yuhao would doubt him, Wang Yan hurriedly added,
"My soul power rank isn't high. I was never a core member of Shrek, so I don't know their soul skill linkages, fusion techniques, or hidden skill release sequences. But I have studied all of it in the archives and developed my own insights. I can pass all of this theoretical knowledge on to you."
"Promise me, Yuhao. I desperately want to improve."
Shrek? Who cared anymore? Right now, his only wish was to nurture Huo Yuhao and then ruthlessly slap Shrek across the face with the results.
He wanted to prove something—to prove to Shrek that even someone who focused only on theory could still achieve greatness.
Of course, this line of thinking was not without bias. There had been so-called "theory masters" before, but most were nothing more than hollow frauds, shaking loudly despite being half-empty bottles.
Wang Yan was different. He genuinely loved this field. He had real ability. His low soul power rank was only because he had never devoted himself to cultivation, having poured all his energy into research instead.
Huo Yuhao coughed lightly, reminding him that he had gotten carried away. Realizing this, Wang Yan quickly let go of his shoulders, embarrassed.
"Teacher Wang, I believe in you. Remember what I told you—I'll give you the chance to prove your worth, to pass down your theories and see them applied in practice. I promise."
His senior brother, Xuan Ziwen, had once said something very similar. In truth, from the moment Yuhao had drawn Wang Yan to his side, he had already sketched out a plan for him.
Wang Yan would be responsible for guiding him in Martial Soul theory and cultivation, integrating it with the path of a soul engineer to map out his overall direction. Of course, this would only be on the theoretical level.
Xuan Ziwen, on the other hand, would be responsible for the practical crafting of soul guidance devices. With both combined, Yuhao's training efficiency would soar, allowing him to avoid being dragged down by pursuing two paths at once.
Still, some things needed to be made clear. Yuhao's tone grew serious.
"Teacher Wang, do you think Shrek will just let you go once they find out you've joined the Sun Moon Empire?"
Wang Yan's face went pale. Just thinking of Xuan Zi's ruthless methods made him realize that no amount of explanation would save him.
If Shrek had only pushed him out earlier to act as the scapegoat for the academy's possible defeat, then by joining the Sun Moon Empire, he had crossed the line. He was now undoubtedly on Shrek's kill list.
No one understood Shrek's so-called "neutrality" better than Wang Yan—it was neutrality in name only. A teacher like him, who might aid an enemy nation's Martial Soul development, was nothing short of a threat.
And Shrek's stance on threats was clear: eliminate them without hesitation.
"Don't worry," Yuhao reassured calmly. "Even if you openly oppose Shrek one day, I can guarantee that my teacher will protect you."
"Thank you, Yuhao..." Wang Yan whispered gratefully.
Yuhao shook his head with a faint smile. "There's no need. I told you—we're the same kind of people. Besides, I'm not even a native of the Sun Moon Empire. I was born in the Star Luo Empire."
Wang Yan's eyes widened in disbelief as Yuhao walked to the window and began recounting his past—his entanglement with the White Tiger Duke's Mansion, his journey to the Sun Moon Empire, and how he had risen to become its brightest genius.
The impact of this revelation in Wang Yan's mind was no less than a level-nine soul guidance device detonating at point-blank range.
Huo Yuhao, Shrek's once-in-a-millennium prodigy, had such a bizarre and tragic background.
Yet, while Wang Yan sighed with emotion, he was not truly surprised.
Yes, the White Tiger Duke's Mansion bore much of the blame for letting such a talent slip away. But in the end, the true fault lay in the systems of Shrek and the three great empires.
A child neglected before the age of eleven, a child who could not even obtain a city lord's recommendation letter—how could such a child ever enter Shrek? Even stepping into Shrek City itself would have been impossible.
Shrek only admitted "monsters." But the city lord's recommendation requirement ensured that recruits were not only talented but also had reliable backgrounds.
The academy then separated students into inner and outer courtyards. Those without strong ties to Shrek remained in the outer court, while those with both talent and connections entered the inner court and its supervisory groups. Only the rarest geniuses with no background but extraordinary gifts received absolute focus and resources.
Outer court students, after several years of education, and inner court disciples upon graduation—whether entering the military or inheriting family power—would inevitably carry loyalty to Shrek.
Through this, Shrek extended its influence across the three empires. The Sea God's Pavilion, as its core, ensured every successor and elder placed Shrek's interests above all else.
That was why Wang Yan wasn't surprised. Even if Yuhao had obtained a city lord's recommendation letter, without revealing his true talent early on, he would have been left to rot in obscurity. He would never have received resources, let alone absolute nurturing.
"Alright, Teacher Wang," Yuhao concluded. "Go get some rest. Tomorrow we'll watch Shrek put on quite a show."
For some reason, ever since leaving Shrek and joining Sun Moon Empire, Wang Yan felt as though he had broken free of invisible chains. The sensation was strange, like his very thoughts had opened up.
Ideas and doubts that would never have crossed his mind at Shrek now came to him unbidden.
"Alright, then I'll rest for now."
After Wang Yan left, Yuhao sat alone, silently calculating.
With Tang San's divine Consciousness no longer present, this tournament was free of hidden threats.
Protected in secret by his teacher, he could now turn the entire competition upside down.
"Shrek... your thousand years of glory will end here. I wonder, how will you respond?"
Just imagining Xuan Zi's furious face made Yuhao eager for the show to begin.
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(End of Chapter)