Today marked the final class of the semester. Once it ended, the students of Shrek Academy would finally begin their long-awaited vacation.
Both Zhou Yi and Wang Yan were present, and the moment the students caught sight of Zhou Yi's stern face, any trace of pre-holiday excitement vanished. The entire room fell silent and orderly.
Zhou Yi swept her cold gaze across the classroom. Because this timeline had lacked Huo Yuhao's "cause-and-effect face-slapping" incidents, she hadn't randomly expelled any core disciples this time. With a dismissive snort, she sat in the back row, crossing her arms.
Then Wang Yan smiled kindly from the podium.
"Students," he began, "today is your final day as first-years. The academy has no formal lessons scheduled, so I won't take too much of your time. Let me go over the vacation arrangements. After that, you may all go pack and prepare to return home."
The class immediately brightened, though no one dared to show it too openly under Zhou Yi's sharp gaze.
Wang Yan's speech started gently, praising everyone's progress and diligence. But soon, his tone shifted.
"Don't let the vacation make you complacent," he warned. "Unlike other schools, Shrek has no final exams. Instead, we test you the moment you return—through an opening-term examination."
"That means if you waste your holiday, when the next semester begins… some of you may not see this classroom again."
"I like every one of you," he continued, "and I've seen your hard work. I sincerely hope when we meet again, not a single person is missing."
Huo Yuhao almost rolled his eyes. Double your effort over the holidays? he thought dryly. Sure—if you're rich.
The reality was simple: most civilian students had no resources outside the academy.
Once they went home, their cultivation would slow drastically. Even if they had time to meditate, they lacked the soul-beast materials and guidance available at school.
Those from noble or sect backgrounds, however, would return to resource-laden families and undergo intensive training under expert supervision.
So, in truth, Wang Yan's "encouragement" was mostly aimed at the underprivileged students—a gentle warning to not fall too far behind.
"Next," Wang Yan continued, "a few details about the advancement examination."
"First—every student must reach Level 20 and possess two spirit rings. That is a non-negotiable requirement. If you fail to meet it, you won't be promoted to Year Two, no matter your other achievements."
"In other words, during the next month, anyone below Level 20 must push themselves hard. You must also obtain your second ring."
"This is the basic threshold for the advancement exam."
He paused, then added, "Based on previous years, the first-to-second-year exam typically requires each student to individually battle a soul beast of at least a hundred years in age under the supervision of a teacher. It's a direct test of your real combat ability."
"Roughly seventy percent of past exams have used this 'soul-beast duel' format. The rest replaced the beast with a sparring instructor or senior student. But in every case, the fight was one-on-one—no teammates, no help."
"Of course," he reassured them, "you'll be protected. If an accident occurs, the proctor will intervene immediately. But doing so means automatic failure. So unless you're on the verge of death, give it everything you've got."
"The takeaway," Wang Yan concluded, "is that those below Level 20 have an uphill battle ahead. Work on your cultivation and your combat skills."
He smiled again before continuing.
"That covers the individual exam. Now let's talk about the class advancement test."
"As you know, every class functions as a single unit. If the group as a whole fails to advance, what's the point of one or two individuals passing?"
"So, beyond your personal assessments, the academy will select three to seven students from each class to undertake a special team examination. The class's overall completion score will then factor into everyone's promotion."
"If the team performs well, it can even boost the promotion rate of those who struggled individually—a massive bonus."
"But if the team fails…" he let the words hang, "the difficulty of everyone's personal exams will increase accordingly."
He chuckled softly. "To put it simply—if the class task scores 100%, everyone advances automatically. But if it only earns 10%, then only the top 10% of individuals will be promoted."
The room fell silent.
Huo Yuhao mentally sighed. What kind of idiotic system is this?
How could such a design possibly identify genuine talent?
If the team failed, everyone suffered; if it excelled, even slackers were rewarded. It was as if the academy's founders had rolled dice when designing their policies.
"Alright," Wang Yan said cheerfully, "that's all. You're dismissed—go prepare for vacation."
Despite the bizarre grading scheme, many students felt relieved.
After all, Class One's collective strength was formidable:
Dai Huabin, a Soul Elder with a fusion ability.
Zhu Lu, the agile Nether Cat wielder.
The champion team of Huo Yuhao, Wang Dong, and Xiao Xiao.
The fusion-capable twins Lan Susu and Lan Luoluo.
And even Wu Feng, a capable offensive fighter.
With such a lineup, confidence ran high.
When class ended, Zhou Yi kept Wang Dong and Xiao Xiao behind for a brief reminder about returning promptly next term.
That night, as the dorm lights dimmed, Wang Dong suddenly asked from the neighboring bed, "If I leave tomorrow… will you miss me, oh mighty Yuhao?"
Huo Yuhao didn't even look up—he simply raised a middle finger and rolled over. "Go to sleep. It's only a month. Try not to get yourself killed."
Wang Dong pouted, sighed, and turned off the lamp.
Inside his spiritual sea, Huo Yuhao poked the faintly glowing gray orb resting quietly in the corner.
"Elder Yi… Elder Yi, wake up. Are you sure that thing on her isn't dangerous?"
A calm, aged voice replied, echoing in the vast space.
"You've asked me this dozens of times. You've seen it yourself, haven't you?"
"That rune in the girl's spirit sea—its effect is sealed. It can't influence the outside world, only her or those directly connected to her soul."
"As long as you don't form a direct link—physical, spiritual, or energetic—it won't trigger the divine sense embedded within."
"That divine mark's owner was certainly a high-tier being, perhaps divine level, but crude in technique. They sealed most of its functions, leaving it dormant."
"Even I wouldn't have noticed it without your Eye of Truth. Removing it is possible, but not now. You'd need at least seventh-rank power in this world to safely channel my strength. Then, I could either extract or permanently seal it."
Yuhao exhaled. "That's… a long way off. No other method?"
"Skydream's power isn't yours," Elder Yi reminded. "If I use it through your body, you'll shatter under the feedback. Unless your physique and life force grow far beyond your current state, leaving it untouched is safest."
"I'll keep searching for alternatives once my consciousness fully recovers."
Yuhao nodded. There was no point in pressing further. He had more immediate work to do.
Tomorrow, he would join the spirit beast expedition.
Though teachers would be leading, he preferred not to depend on anyone—or reveal his hidden cards.
He needed a new self-defense mechanism.
"Pure defense circuits won't cut it," he thought. "At my current strength, trading blows is suicidal. Better to focus on evasion—and perhaps some countermeasures for area attacks."
His body was now far stronger than months before, capable of sustaining more complex formations.
Previously, he could only run four Level-1 circuits or two Level-2 circuits simultaneously.
Now, he could bear the load of one Level-3 circuit—a massive leap.
A Level-3 circuit, however, required at least three Level-2 circuits intricately fused together, each composed of multiple Level-1 components.
He visualized ten key base nodes:
Cover, Connect, Buffer, Deflect, Absorb, Convert, Release, Sustain, Stabilize, Conceal.
He methodically assembled them, burning through his mental energy as he simulated endless configurations in his mind's inner world.
Level-2 Soul Power Circuit: Soul Armor
Formed from Release + Cover + Sustain.
Soul power emits from the meridians, coating the body in a protective layer. The defense is average but long-lasting, though tiny gaps remain between energy plates.
Level-2 Circuit: Deflection
Composed of Buffer + Connect + Deflect.
Redirects external force through controlled energy flow, dispersing and offsetting impact.
Level-2 Circuit: Shadow Slip
Built from Absorb + Convert + Stabilize + Conceal.
Absorbs surrounding energy, stabilizes form, and hides both aura and figure within limited range.
Combined, the three systems formed Huo Yuhao's newest masterpiece—
Level-3 Soul Power Circuit: Refraction.
A seamless blend of defense, evasion, and stealth, designed to warp attacks away while bending light and energy around his body.
It was, in every sense, his first true survival art—crafted not by teachers or gods,
but by Huo Yuhao himself.
(End of Chapter)