Having just obtained a new soul ring, Tang Ya was eager to test her new Soul Skill.
"Third Soul Skill: Life Burial!"
The Blue Silver Grass in Tang Ya's hand erupted with growth, spanning dozens of meters in a single breath to completely entangle and envelop Beibei, her test subject.
Three layers thick, both inside and out, the dense strands left no room for movement.
"What a brutally controlling Soul Skill!" Beibei's voice rang out. "I can't move a muscle."
"At the points of contact, my Soul Power, Mental Power, and Vitality are rapidly draining. Is this consumption or absorption?"
"Martial Soul Avatar!"
"Still can't break free?"
"Second Soul Skill: Thunderous Might!"
As electric snakes writhed wildly, they finally tore through the Blue Silver Grass. But the gaps instantly began to close at a visible rate, threatening to swallow him whole again.
Just as he was about to be reabsorbed, Beibei ducked down and scrambled free.
"Too strong!" Beibei gasped. "Xiao Ya, your Third Soul Skill is absurdly powerful! Are you sure it's only 1,600 years? Shouldn't it be 6,100 years?"
Tang Ya stood proudly, hands on her hips.
"Of course!" she declared. "This is Blue Silver Grass! One of the Martial Souls used by my ancestor Tang San to ascend to godhood!"
Beibei and Huo Yuhao clapped in unison, playing along.
Only Zhuge Lan remained silent, his expression unimpressed. "The Martial Soul used by that wretch Tang San to ascend was the Blue Silver Emperor. Don't try to cash in on his name with mere Blue Silver Grass."
Huo Yuhao subtly stopped clapping.
Tang Ya, oblivious, stepped closer to him.
"Little Yuhao, your big sis really adores you!"
"Have you seriously considered joining the Tang Sect?"
Huo Yuhao shook his head without hesitation!
'*Five hundred thousand Fortune Points? He'd have to be insane to take that offer!*'
Tang Ya's face fell.
Beibei stepped forward and informed her that Huo Yuhao wanted to enroll at Shrek Academy.
Tang Ya immediately perked up.
"Yay!"
"I can have Little Yuhao's grilled fish again!"
"Let's head back to Shrek Academy right now and get you enrolled!"
She grabbed Huo Yuhao's hand and dashed out of the forest with unbridled enthusiasm.
Beibei smiled indulgently and quickened his pace to follow.
In this era, Shrek Academy stood guard at the northwest edge of the Star Dou Great Forest. The trio, traveling along the forest's perimeter, reached their destination in less than a day.
Though called an academy, Shrek City's prosperity rivaled that of an empire's capital. From afar, its towering black walls, resembling a chasm in the sky, loomed over the plains beyond the forest.
"That's Shrek City," Beibei said proudly, "home to over two million people."
"Shrek City is independent, belonging to no nation."
"Shrek Academy governs the city and pays no taxes to any state."
"It's not an exaggeration to call it the fourth great power on the continent!"
Seeing Huo Yuhao's astonished expression, Beibei's smile widened.
He instructed, "Xiao Ya, take Little Yuhao on a tour. I'll go arrange his recommendation to the academy."
"Got it! Stop nagging!" Tang Ya pouted. "And call me Teacher Xiao Ya!"
"Yes, Teacher Xiao Ya," Beibei chuckled, then hurried off.
Tang Ya led Huo Yuhao through the eastern gate of Shrek City, occasionally explaining basic facts along the way.
As they walked, they saw various soul tools already in widespread civilian use, leaving the Tianmeng Ice Silkworm from the spiritual world marveling.
"Humans are truly remarkable," it murmured. "With lifespans of barely a century, they've created such a dazzling world."
Zhuge Lan remained silent, a faint smile playing on his lips.
'*This is prosperity?*'
Compared to the world of his past life, this place still fell far short.
Beibei didn't go to see a teacher. Instead, he went to the dormitory building in the Outer Courtyard and found the "Gatekeeper Grandfather" resting on a recliner with his eyes closed.
"Ancestor, during this recent outing, your Great-Grandson discovered a talent..."
He recounted everything from the moment he first met Huo Yuhao, leaving out no detail.
Throughout his story, numerous students passed by, but they acted as if they hadn't seen the pair, skillfully avoiding them while carrying on their usual activities.
When he finished speaking, Beibei's Ancestor—Dragon God Douluo Mu En—slightly opened his eyes.
"A mutated Martial Soul and Soul Skill that can discern the direction of Martial Soul evolution? The world is indeed full of wonders."
"Admit him to the Outer Courtyard. And bring Xiao Tao and San Shi to see him too."
"Regardless of the outcome, remember to prepare gifts." With that, he closed his eyes again, leaving it unclear whether he was feigning sleep or truly drifting off.
Beibei bowed respectfully and retreated.
Not long after, Mu En reappeared in "public view."
Students occasionally glanced his way, but none approached. Time was precious at Shrek Academy, and everyone was busy cultivating.
Who had the leisure to chat with an old codger?
Outside Shrek Academy, Tang Ya led Huo Yuhao through the gates, and the scene before them suddenly opened up.
Before their eyes stretched lush vegetation and towering trees, while broad avenues crisscrossed the grounds like a meticulously designed formation.
After walking about two hundred meters, ten colossal statues blocked their view. Tang Ya gazed at them with admiration.
"Little Yuhao, the statue in the center is Flender, the founder of Shrek Academy and its first headmaster!"
"To his left is Yu Xiaogang, one of Beibei's ancestors. He established the foundational teachings for all Martial Soul branches at Shrek Academy, developed the Martial Soul world's ten core competencies, and is revered as the Grandmaster!"
"To the right is his wife, Liu Erlong!"
"Together with Headmaster Flender, they are known as the Golden Triangle."
"Beibei always says that the Grandmaster is the true soul of the academy. He single-handedly nurtured the Original Shrek Seven Devils—the first generation of seven deities!"
Huo Yuhao listened with growing admiration.
'*Hmph!*' Zhuge Lan scoffed. "That so-called Grandmaster? His theories are riddled with flaws. And his 'wife,' Liu Erlong? She's actually his younger cousin! They used to spout nonsense about 'forbidden love,' but as you can see, their descendants have been multiplying for millennia now."
Huo Yuhao's admiration vanished.
"Huh?"
"Is he really that despicable? He's still one of the founders of Shrek Academy..." Huo Yuhao stammered, uncertain.
"There's a saying," Zhuge Lan said, "that if you stand in the right place at the right time, even a pig can fly."
Huo Yuhao blinked, remaining silent.
Even when Tang Ya introduced the Original Shrek Seven Devils, Zhuge Lan's eyes only flickered slightly at the names "Dai Mubai" and "Zhu Zhuqing."
That was all.
Any reverence for their ancestors had been stripped away by Zhuge Lan's "demystification."
In fact, there was even a hint of resentment!
Look at your descendant, the White Tiger Duke.
After taking his mother once, he left a dagger and vanished. He abandoned them to struggle for survival for eleven years without ever reappearing. How could he not hate such an irresponsible man?
"Alright," Tang Ya clapped her hands. "Here we part ways. To the left is the Martial Soul Branch, and to the right is the Soul Tool Branch. Both are part of the Outer Courtyard."
"Relatively speaking, the Martial Soul Branch is larger, while the Soul Tool Branch is smaller."
"We'll register at the Martial Soul Branch first. Only after passing the freshmen's initial assessment will we qualify to apply for the Soul Tool Branch."
They continued walking.
The road was wide enough for five carriages to pass side by side, with directional signs appearing at regular intervals. They passed through a small grove of trees.
Ahead, a vast lake shimmered with azure light.