Huo Yuhao and his companions made their way toward Shrek Academy. Their pace wasn't particularly fast, as they needed to detour around the Star Dou Forest, making the journey nearly a thousand li long.
Along the way, Tang Ya and Bei Bei passed on the secret techniques of the Tang Sect to him, one by one. Among them, the techniques Huo Yuhao grasped most were Xuan Tian Art and Purple Demon Eye. As for Controlling Crane, Capturing Dragon, Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track, and Mysterious Jade Hand, he had only scratched the surface.
Huo Yuhao's diligence left Tang Ya and Bei Bei both deeply impressed. As long as conditions permitted, he would be seen sitting cross-legged in meditation. Even while traveling, he would ponder the Tang Sect's techniques. Were it not for his use of Spiritual Detection to stay aware of his surroundings, he might have tripped over something on the road.
To the point where even Bei Bei and Tang Ya couldn't help but advise him to relax a little.
Outwardly, Huo Yuhao agreed, but once it was time to rest, he continued to devote himself wholeheartedly to refining the Xuan Tian Art. According to what he'd read in the novel, once his soul power was fully converted into the Xuan Tian Art's variant, hidden functions would be unlocked. If diligence now meant unlocking them earlier, he was all in.
Thanks to his focus, the journey seemed to pass quickly. As they neared Shrek, Bei Bei interrupted Huo Yuhao's meditation to brief him on the academy.
"Yuhao, once you're enrolled, you'll begin cultivating in the Outer Court. The Outer Court is divided into several departments. For now, you'll join the Control Department for cultivation, and also take courses in the Soul Tool Department. What do you think?" Tang Ya said after giving a brief overview of Shrek Academy.
"Um... Teacher Tang Ya, is it possible for me to join the Soul Tool Department directly?"
"Nope~" she replied cheerfully. "We have to register at the Martial Soul Branch first. Only after passing the freshmen entrance exam will you even be eligible to apply for the Soul Tool Branch."
"What? I have to register with the Martial Soul Department first?" Huo Yuhao froze. He had hoped to join the Soul Tool Department directly so he wouldn't end up sharing a dorm with someone from the Martial Soul side—especially not with Wang Dong. Now you're telling me I have to enroll in the Martial Soul Department first?
He frantically searched his memories of the original novel, thinking he might have missed something. Sure enough, he found the exact line. Damn it, those fanfics where characters join the Soul Tool Department right away were misleading!
Was it still too late to defect to the Sun-Moon Empire? Probably... maybe... almost certainly too late.
Bei Bei's next words shattered any lingering illusions.
"That's right. At Shrek, Martial Soul cultivation is the foundation. Soul tools are considered secondary, which is why this requirement exists. What's the matter? You seem particularly interested in the Soul Tool Department."
Huo Yuhao nodded. "It's because I relied on the White Tiger Dagger to defeat that ten-year Wind Baboon. To me, soul tools allow soul masters who may not be strong in direct combat to protect themselves. And with my abilities, I think I'm especially compatible with soul tools. That's why I hoped to join that department directly."
"Martial Soul cultivation is the root of everything," Bei Bei said calmly. "Soul tools are ultimately external aids. They're useful—but shouldn't be overly relied upon."
Huo Yuhao was left speechless. But he'd already joined the Tang Sect. There was only one road forward now, and that was to grit his teeth and walk it.
Under Bei Bei's guidance, the enrollment process went smoothly and quickly.
"Little Yuhao, the dormitories are just behind the teaching buildings. The largest building in the academy—that's the one. Head there on your own. Classes officially begin in three days, so you have time to get used to your surroundings. We've paid your first-year tuition, but after that, you'll be on your own. The academy hosts various competitions with cash prizes, and you're now officially a soul master. Once registered, you'll receive a monthly stipend from the three great empires. If you're frugal, it should cover your food expenses."
"Teacher Tang Ya, could I trouble you with something? Would you be able to help me gather some cooking utensils, spices, and fresh fish? I want to set aside some time each day to sell grilled fish to earn money. Regular food isn't quite enough to sustain my intense cultivation anymore, and my meridians need nourishment from high-quality ingredients..."
Tang Ya patted her chest confidently. "Don't worry, leave it to me. I'll talk to the folks in the cafeteria and get it prepared. But it's already a bit late today, and they've likely finished procurement. I'll have everything delivered to you by tomorrow afternoon."
With Tang Ya's guarantee in hand, Huo Yuhao went to the notice board and spotted Bei Bei, but his expression darkened. Just like in the original novel, he had been assigned to Class One for new students—under the dreaded Zhou Yi.
Damn it. Was he really going to get expelled on the first day for not completing the morning run? Getting kicked out of Shrek less than a month after crossing into this world? Please, anything but that!
After asking Bei Bei and Tang Ya for more information about Zhou Yi, Huo Yuhao bid them farewell.
With slow, heavy steps, he made his way toward the dormitory, rehearsing scenes from the novel in his mind over and over again.
Passing between the white new student teaching building and the black buildings for second- and third-year students, he finally saw the dormitory complex. Though technically one building, it spanned a vast area and was clearly divided by color—white, yellow, purple, and black—representing the different grades of students from each teaching building. The structure stood six stories high.
Huo Yuhao approached the white-labeled entrance. Sitting there was an elderly man who looked extremely aged. Clad in plain gray robes, his face was covered in deep wrinkles—enough to trap dozens of flies between them. His eyes were dim and his eyelids drooped, giving him a frail, dying appearance. Yet the sunlight falling between the buildings cast a warm glow over him, and he reclined in his chair as if quite comfortable.
Huo Yuhao stepped forward and greeted respectfully, "Hello, Grandpa. I'm a new student here to check into the dorm. Do you need to inspect my student badge?"
Without lifting his head, the old man extended a trembling right hand and spoke in a hoarse, gravelly voice, "Badge and dorm key. Let me see."
Huo Yuhao hurriedly handed them over.
The old man waved the badge and key lightly in front of his face before handing them back. "Go on. Dorm 108 is on the first floor, third room on the left. Starting from the fourth floor, it's the girls' dormitory—you're not allowed up there. If you're caught, you'll be expelled."
"Thank you, sir." Huo Yuhao bowed respectfully once again before turning to enter the dormitory building.
The old man remained in the same relaxed posture, murmuring softly to himself, "Such a polite child... though when he looked at me, there was something in his eyes..."
No matter how well Huo Yuhao acted, his lack of real-world experience allowed Elder Mu to detect something subtly off.
As he muttered to himself, a few more new students passed by, but none of them seemed to notice the old man sitting near the entrance. They walked straight into the building. The old man didn't stop them either—just sat there, drowsy, as if half-asleep.
Pushing open the door to Dorm 108, Huo Yuhao stepped inside, a mix of emotions swirling in his chest. On one hand, there was the joy of finally embarking on a true path of cultivation; on the other, the unease of stepping directly into Tang San's grand game of fate. And added to that was the strange feeling that he was about to meet the female lead—the woman who, in the original story, had been "his" beloved.
He gave his head a brisk shake, clearing away those messy thoughts. Then he grabbed a set of cleaning tools and began giving the dormitory a thorough scrub-down.