White World, Sun Moon Empire, Bright Capital.
The commoners looked at the Sky Screen, discussing animatedly.
"Did that Dai Huabin really kowtow?"
"He did! In front of so many people! He really lost face this time!"
"Serves him right! Who told him to provoke others?"
Someone sighed: "But with this, that Dai Huabin will definitely hate Huo Yuhao to death. There will be plenty of trouble in the future."
"What's there to fear? Doesn't our Venerable Ming live perfectly well in that World?"
...
White World, Reincarnation God Realm.
Gu Yuena looked at the Sky Screen, her eyes flickering: "The aura of the Snow Empress; he certainly knows how to use it."
Wang Qiuer laughed: "This time, that Dai Huabin must be furious."
Snow Empress said softly: "The seed of hatred has been planted."
Gu Yuena nodded: "But the Yuhao of that World no longer cares. He has stronger power, and a longer path ahead. Someone like Dai Huabin is destined to only become a stepping stone under his feet."
"Anyway, they have a grudge, and Dai Huabin kowtowing makes the Huo Yuhao of that World's mind clearer, which is good for his future cultivation!"
...
[The Ultimate Ice that Huo Yuhao displayed during the assessment was like a huge rock thrown into a calm lake, stirring up ripples.]
[Only because of the aura of the Spirit Beast, the assessment was paused; it could only continue after the Spirit Beasts in the Great Beast Arena recovered.]
[Time came to the second assessment, and Yan Shaozhe, Dean of the Shrek Outer Court, came to watch in person.]
[He sat at the highest point of the spectator stand, his gaze falling on Huo Yuhao in the arena, lost in thought.]
[He had already seen that Huo Yuhao had awakened a second Spirit, the Ultimate Ice.]
[As for how Huo Yuhao awakened it, he did not know; what he did know was that this kind of top-tier Spirit could only remain in the Martial Soul Department.]
[After the assessment ended, Yan Shaozhe sent someone to invite Huo Yuhao to a quiet room.]
[Yan Shaozhe spoke first, staring at Huo Yuhao with burning eyes: "Student Huo Yuhao, your second Spirit is the Ultimate Ice Spirit, right?"]
[Huo Yuhao was slightly stunned and did not deny it.]
[The light in Yan Shaozhe's eyes grew brighter: "A Body Spirit, plus the Ultimate Ice—this is a natural control system Spirit Master! It's too much of a pity to stay in the Soul Tool Department. Come to the Martial Soul Department, and I will mentor you personally!"]
[Qian Duoduo snorted: "Dean Yan, I don't like hearing this. What do you mean by 'pity'? Do you know how much power the Ultimate Ice can unleash when combined with a spirit tool?"]
[Xian Liner said indifferently: "Huo Yuhao is originally a student of the Soul Tool Department. Are you trying to snatch people right in front of us?"]
[Yan Shaozhe became anxious: "But his Spirit awakening is a Body Spirit! A Body Spirit should naturally belong to the Martial Soul Department!"]
["Bullshit!" Qian Duoduo stood up and slammed the table. "He has been in the Soul Tool Department for a year; what have you given him? Now that you see the benefits, you want to come and snatch him?"]
...
Shrek City, Inner Court.
Xuan Zi looked at the scene on the Sky Screen and shook his head gently.
"That incident back then really caused quite a stir."
Yan Shaozhe offered a bitter smile on the side: "Who could have imagined that a first-grade work-study student could have achieved what he has today?"
Qian Duoduo said: "At that time, we argued until our faces turned red, and in the end, it reached the Sea Gods Pavilion, where neither side would yield."
Xuan Zi nodded: "Dual cultivation of Spirit and spirit tool is the only way out. But Yan Shaozhe, those promises of yours..."
Yan Shaozhe's expression stiffened, and he did not respond.
...
[The argument lasted for a whole hour. In the end, Yan Shaozhe took a deep breath, turned to Huo Yuhao, and his tone became solemn: ]
["Student Huo Yuhao, on behalf of the Martial Soul Department, I formally apologize to you."]
[Huo Yuhao was stunned.]
[Yan Shaozhe continued: "During the freshman assessment, you shouldn't have only received 'one year of core student treatment'. That was the Martial Soul Department's mistake, and I apologize to you."]
[He paused, and said word by word: "If you are willing to come to the Martial Soul Department, I can give you three promises."]
["First, I guarantee that you will be able to enter the Shrek Inner Court in the future. Wang Dong and Xiao Xiao can also enter together."]
["Second, the Martial Soul Department will provide you with a full set of spirit rings and Spirit Bones, one of which will definitely be a 100,000-year Spirit Bone."]
["Third, when your cultivation is sufficient, the Martial Soul Department will hunt a 100,000-year Spirit Beast for you."]
[When his voice fell, the room was silent.]
[Qian Duoduo's expression changed. Xian Liner's expression also changed.]
[Huo Yuhao was left stunned on the spot, his mind blank.]
[Because the dispute between the Martial Soul Department and the Soul Tool Department over Huo Yuhao did not yield a result, it eventually had to be taken to the Sea Gods Pavilion.]
...
Black World, Douluo Continent.
In the tavern, there was a sound of collective gasping.
"100,000-year spirit ring?! 100,000-year Spirit Bone?! Enter the Inner Court?!"
"Yan Shaozhe has really gone all out this time!"
"Huo Yuhao has hit the jackpot! Who could refuse these conditions?"
...
White World, Sun Moon Empire.
Countless people were shocked after hearing Yan Shaozhe's words.
"Giving Huo Yuhao a 100,000-year spirit ring and Spirit Bone directly—what a grand gesture, and what immense confidence!"
...
[However, the development of events exceeded everyone's expectations.]
[This dispute was eventually brought to a Sea Gods Pavilion meeting. The various elders argued endlessly, and finally reached a compromise—]
[Huo Yuhao belonged to neither the Martial Soul Department nor the Soul Tool Department. He would continue to study in both simultaneously, pursuing dual cultivation of Spirit and spirit tool.]
[As for Yan Shaozhe's promises... no one ever mentioned them again.]
...
Black World, Douluo Continent.
In the tavern, everyone was stunned.
"What does that mean? What about those promises?"
"Not mentioned anymore? What do you mean by 'not mentioned'?"
"Are Yan Shaozhe's words just being swept under the rug like that?"
Someone said indignantly: "Isn't this playing people for fools?! Making such promises in front of so many people, and then turning around and denying them?"
"But he is a Titled Douluo, a Dean; what can you do?"
"Pah! Faithless! How can such a person be a Dean?"
The tavern was filled with cursing.
...
Shrek City, Inner Court.
Xuan Zi looked at the Sky Screen and sighed softly.
"Shaozhe... didn't do this right this time."
Yan Shaozhe sat to the side, his face livid, saying nothing.
Qian Duoduo sneered: "Promising the moon and stars in front of the entire continent, only to renege on it later. Now it's great; everyone has seen it."
Xian Liner said indifferently: "Who will dare to believe his words in the future?"
"In the future, everyone will know that the Dean of the Shrek Outer Court is a faithless person!"
...
White World, Sun Moon Empire, Bright Capital.
The commoners looked at the Sky Screen, discussing animatedly.
"Haha, faithless! This Yan Shaozhe is truly a talent!"
"Promising the moon and stars in front of the entire continent, then reneging on it. How can such a person be a Dean?"
"How stifled must our Venerable Ming be in that World?"
"Stifled? Our Venerable Ming doesn't have to put up with this kind of treatment in this World!"
...
White World, Reincarnation God Realm.
Gu Yuena looked at the Sky Screen, a trace of mockery on her lips.
"Yan Shaozhe... he certainly has a good plan."
Wang Qiuer was puzzled: "What do you mean?"
"Those promises of his sound tempting, but they are actually empty checks." Gu Yuena said indifferently, "100,000-year spirit ring, 100,000-year Spirit Bone, entering the Inner Court—these all require time and conditions. He spoke of giving them, but he never said when or how."
"In the end, with the Sea Gods Pavilion meddling, he just went with the flow and didn't have to fulfill any of it. Huo Yuhao even had to be grateful, thinking the Martial Soul Department valued him."
Wang Qiuer frowned: "That is too insidious!"
Gu Yuena nodded: "That is why I said that the way of Shrek has long been rotten to the core."