Chapter 194: Core Disciple Assessment (Part 1)
Three days later, the dismissal bell rang, and the day's lessons were finally over.
Wang Yan tidied the teaching notes in his hands and looked up at the students below: "All core disciples, stay behind for a moment. Follow me to the Spirit Arena district in a bit."
The classroom immediately stirred with commotion. Most of the students' faces were alight with excitement—everyone knew the selection competition was about to begin. This time, however, it was rather considerate of them, not taking up class time but holding it after the afternoon dismissal instead.
Furina grumbled inwardly: Damn it, they're actually occupying my after-school time! They should've gotten it done during class, so I could've skipped those boring lessons.
She certainly remembered from the original story that this selection competition was held after school, but experiencing it firsthand, it still felt very annoying.
The so-called core disciple selection competition was, to put it plainly, just picking the next generation of Shrek Seven Devils. Furina didn't have the slightest bit of interest in this title and planned to simply forfeit as soon as she got on stage. However, she did tell Huo Yuhao to perform well and strive for it.
After all, just a few days ago, she had obtained the ultimate martial soul cultivation method from Yan Shaozhe—one copy for herself and one for Huo Yuhao. This favor had to be repaid.
Then she'd just have to put Huo Yuhao through a bit of trouble—though it wasn't really trouble, since this title was something he deserved in the first place.
As for how to repay the favor, she had a plan in mind. Help the current Shrek Seven Devils avoid suffering Elder Xuan's disastrous mishandling and getting blown up—dead or crippled—by some Soul King-level evil soul master. Then help them contend for the championship or runner-up position, and along the way, grab some benefits for her own Water God Church, publicize things from both sides, and afterward, she could simply pat her behind and leave.
As for Dai Huabin, who had sent people to ambush and kill Huo Yuhao, Furina had already heard about the outcome from Yan Shaozhe a couple of days ago.
Through the clues, Shrek had found those six experts and discovered they were from the White Tiger Duke's Manor. Although there was no direct evidence proving Dai Huabin was the one who ordered it, the academy still had to give an answer.
Those six men were ultimately dealt with by Elder Xuan, and their corpses were dumped at the gates of the White Tiger Duke's Manor, along with a severe warning. On this front, Shrek was still relatively on point—after all, it concerned the academy's reputation.
Dai Huabin himself didn't escape either and received punishment just like in the original story. Although his position as a core disciple was kept, a stern warning from the academy was unavoidable. This was already out of consideration for the White Tiger Duke's face, plus the fact that Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong were completely unscathed with no serious consequences. Otherwise, Yan Shaozhe would have wanted to expel him directly.
Yan Shaozhe's side had already communicated with Furina, stating early on that Shrek Academy intended to cooperate with the Water God Church. Huo Yuhao was Furina's friend and a member of the Water God Church, so naturally, they had to give full face.
Moreover, Yan Shaozhe was planning to send Teacher Fan Yu to the Water God Church for exchange and cooperation, reportedly bringing all of Shrek's high-level soul tool design blueprints to show sincerity.
With that being the case, Furina couldn't be bothered to fuss over such small matters. A minor character like Dai Huabin wouldn't be able to bounce around for long. After receiving the warning, he would likely rein himself in, just like in the original story.
Compared to Dai Huabin, she'd rather worry about what other backup plans Tang San might still have.
Speaking of laying schemes across the Douluo Continent, who could surpass Tang San?
The schemes of Douluo Dalu 2 and Douluo Dalu 3 had both proven his success—first, swindling the Child of Destiny into becoming his family's watchdog; later, making his own parents the plane masters of the Douluo Continent; then luring the Abyssal Plane over to be devoured, allowing the Douluo Continent to evolve.
Even though Furina now held trump cards like the God of Destruction, the Goddess of Life, the Water God, Electrolux, and Gu Yuena, plus potential powerhouses like Huo Yuhao, Wang Dong, and Gu Qiuer, she still didn't dare underestimate Tang San.
Who knew when Tang San might just spring something huge on her—that would be the end.
As she was thinking, someone beside her poked her lightly.
Xiao Xiao leaned in and asked quietly, "Furina, are you really not participating in the competition?"
"Nope." Furina leaned back in her chair and said lazily, "There's no benefit in participating. You guys just go ahead. I don't need to."
She glanced at Xiao Xiao and added, "Work hard and show off your strength. Who knows, you might even find yourself a suitable boyfriend along the way."
Xiao Xiao's face flushed bright red, and she gave Furina a smack: "What are you talking about!"
Furina dodged with a laugh: "Ha ha ha, just joking!"
Xiao Xiao blushed and muttered a few words, then suddenly leaned in again and lowered her voice: "Come to think of it—if Wang Dong were a girl, or if Huo Yuhao were a girl, the two of them would actually be a pretty good match."
Furina raised an eyebrow and caught, out of the corner of her eye, the tips of Wang Dong's ears suddenly turning red in the front row.
Interesting.
She smiled faintly and replied quietly, "Mm, yeah. They'd both be nice. As long as it's not homosexuality."
Xiao Xiao blinked and asked curiously, "Does homosexuality really exist?"
Furina lifted her chin and pointed diagonally ahead: "Aren't those two just that?"
Xiao Xiao followed her gaze and froze.
Ning Tian and Wu Feng were standing together, talking. Wu Feng had said something unknown, and Ning Tian was slightly lowering her head, a faint smile on her face.
"Huh? No way?" Xiao Xiao's eyes widened in disbelief. "Two girls... and besides, Ning Tian is the young sect master of the Nine Treasures Glazed Sect! No matter what..."
"Then it just depends on whether enough effort is put in." Furina smiled mysteriously.
In the original story, Ning Tian had been turned into a boy by Tang San in the Qiankun Love Inquiry Valley, and only then did she and Wu Feng get together. Now... wanting to be together was indeed difficult. Unless she herself went to help them out and, along the way, absorbed the Nine Treasures Glazed Sect into the Water God Church as well.
Sooner or later, it would be eliminated anyway. In another ten thousand years, perhaps some might still remember the name of the Nine Treasures Glazed Sect, but the sect itself would certainly be no more. Even the Body Sect, so powerful and flourishing now, would be utterly fallen and destitute by the time of Douluo Dalu 3.
...
Very soon, under the guidance of the three teachers, all the second-year core disciples walked out of the teaching building and arrived at the Spirit Arena district.
They hadn't waited long when several familiar figures appeared in their field of vision.
Bei Bei, Xu Sanshi, and Jiang Nannan walked over in succession. They were all fifth-year core disciples. Naturally, there were more than just the three of them in the fifth year, but only these three had not yet passed their fifteenth birthday.
Excluding Furina and Huo Yuhao, they were the strongest among all the outer court core disciples in terms of cultivation.
A little while later, only one person came from the Soul Tool Department—He Caitou.
Huo Yuhao had been frequently running over to the Soul Tool Department during this period and had learned quite a lot under Fan Yu and Qian Duoduo's guidance. At this rate, before heading to the Sun Moon Empire, he would have made considerable improvement in the area of soul tools.
Through these interactions, he had naturally gotten close to He Caitou. The two were on good terms. Furina mused that poaching this kid for the Water God Church should be just around the corner. He was, after all, a twin martial soul soul master and an exceptionally rare genius in the field of soul tools.
He Caitou walked over, and upon seeing Huo Yuhao, grinned widely, flashing his white teeth: "Yuhao!"
Huo Yuhao also smiled and waved at him.
People were just about all here.
------------------------
Thanks for reading the chapter!
I started a new translation and I would be very happy if you decided to check out my new translation for a rather rare fandom. It's a crossover based on Mondaiji (Problem Children Are Coming from Another World, Aren't They?)
This story has a somewhat similar style to my other translation for this fandom (same author, after all), but it's completely different from any other fanfic I've come across for this fandom! It's set thousands of years before the original novel/anime, and the MC literally plays a part in shaping the backstory of this world. I really enjoyed it—hope you will too!
Mondaiji: I Really Didn't Want to Become God https://www.webnovel.com/book/36945944200410205