Shrek Academy is located at the intersection of the territories of the three great Empires: Heaven Soul, Dou Ling, and Star Luo.
And Shrek City, built relying on this legendary academy, is a free city governed by no nation.
Its true controller is Shrek Academy itself.
Shrek Academy is not located in the center of the city, but instead dominates the eastern region of Shrek City, looking out from afar at the vast and mysterious Star Dou Great Forest.
Under the teaching by word and example of the two top powerhouses, Leng Yaozhu and Han Tianyi, although Huo Yuhao was still young, he had already developed a resolute and vigorous style of action.
Now, he had already brought his mother, Huo Yuner, and moved from West Arrival City to Shrek City.
Over the past few years, Huo Yuhao had accumulated a significant amount of savings in West Arrival City, but in Shrek City, where every inch of land is worth its weight in gold, his previous savings were instantly wiped out after paying for a small residence and a shop in the city.
However, they had finally settled down in this holy city of Spirit Masters, famous throughout the continent, and had a home of their own.
Huo Yuhao's spirit tool shop also put up its sign once again on a popular street in the western part of the city.
Compared to West Arrival City, the overall consumption level and the purchasing power of the Spirit Master community in Shrek City could not be compared.
The prices of the spirit tools sold by Huo Yuhao had directly doubled, but even so, they were still cheaper than those in many other shops.
Naturally, there were many shops selling spirit tools in Shrek City, including Shrek Academy's own shops and large malls belonging to various major chambers of commerce.
But a "young Soul Engineer" as young as Huo Yuhao was still as rare as phoenix feathers and was extremely eye-catching.
In just a few days, Huo Yuhao and his shop became a fresh topic of casual conversation among the neighbors of the nearby streets.
On this day, the shop was as quiet as usual, with only the faint hum of Spirit Power circulating as Huo Yuhao closed his eyes to concentrate on his cultivation.
"Ding-ling~"
A crisp bell sound rang out as the wind chime hanging on the inside of the shop door was moved by the airflow of the door being pushed open, breaking the silence of the room.
Huo Yuhao slowly opened his eyes, the sharp glint deep within his Spirit Eyes quickly fading as he turned his gaze toward the door.
A middle-aged man was stepping inside; he was about one point eight meters tall, but his build was exceptionally burly and robust, with broad shoulders and muscles that bulged against his ordinary-style clothes.
Just by standing there, he naturally radiated a sense of stability and pressure, as immovable as a mountain.
Huo Yuhao stood up to greet him; at ten years old, his height had already reached just over one point six meters, but standing before this guest, his frame still appeared slight.
"Welcome."
Huo Yuhao's voice was calm, carrying the clear tone unique to a youth: "What type of spirit tool does the guest require? I can make recommendations based on your specific needs."
However, the middle-aged man did not immediately respond to his inquiry.
His gaze first slowly swept through the shop; the shop was not large, and the furnishings were simple.
A few transparent showcases displayed some finished spirit tools, ranging from attack and defense to support types.
Finally, his gaze fell back onto Huo Yuhao, and he asked, "The spirit tools here, were they all made by your own hands?"
Huo Yuhao nodded, his expression composed.
Since opening, he had encountered many similar questions, mostly out of skepticism or curiosity regarding his age, and he had long since grown accustomed to it.
But the reaction of the person before him was different from previous guests.
He did not show obvious doubt or disdain, nor did he skip the question to say he wanted to buy a finished product.
On the contrary, a more serious look appeared on his face, his eyes shining brightly as he stared at Huo Yuhao and made an unexpected request.
"Since that's the case... produce a spirit tool right here and now, and let me see."
Hearing this, a flash of surprise couldn't help but cross Huo Yuhao's face.
He truly hadn't expected this guest to suddenly make such a request.
In Huo Yuhao's view, this request was somewhat presumptuous.
After all, he was running a shop to sell finished products, not a craftsman performing his skills on-site.
However, in business, one emphasizes that harmony brings wealth.
Huo Yuhao did not show the slight displeasure in his heart, only shaking his head with a calm expression; his tone was still polite, but carried a hint of refusal.
"If the guest wishes to purchase a spirit tool, you may look around freely. As for other requests... please forgive me, but I cannot fulfill them."
The burly middle-aged man clearly hadn't expected Huo Yuhao to refuse so flatly, without even a hint of hesitation.
A flash of surprise crossed his eyes, but he did not give up there.
The next moment... a thick, majestic aura erupted from Teacher Fan Yu without any warning!
Immediately after, two yellow, two purple, and four black—eight spirit rings emerged from beneath his feet in sequence, slowly circling!
The Spirit Power fluctuations of the Spirit Douluo level were like a physical tide, making the air in the shop feel several degrees heavier!
Huo Yuhao's pupils constricted slightly, a flash of surprise crossing his eyes.
Although he had previously sensed that this person's Spirit Power was profound, he hadn't expected that the man, who looked no more than middle-aged, was actually an eight-ring Spirit Douluo level powerhouse!
The surprise in Huo Yuhao's eyes was captured by the burly man, and a look of pride flashed across his face.
Then, he introduced himself directly: "My name is Teacher Fan Yu, and I am a teacher in the Soul Tool Department of Shrek Academy."
"You only need to produce a spirit tool right here in front of me."
"As long as the process and the result can satisfy me... I can make an exception and recommend you for entry into Shrek Academy."
Indeed, the burly middle-aged man before him was Teacher Fan Yu, and he was also the enlightenment teacher who truly introduced Huo Yuhao to the world of Spirit Tools in history.
He had also happened to hear that a new spirit tool shop run by a youth had opened in the western district of Shrek City, and his skills seemed quite extraordinary, which was why he had grown curious and specifically came to investigate.
When the name "Teacher Fan Yu" entered his ears, the memories belonging to historical records in Huo Yuhao's mind were also instantly activated.
This name, because of its master-disciple relationship with the Spirit Ice Douluo, naturally left a clear mark in the history books.
However, facing this future teacher of his, the expected excitement or joy did not surge in Huo Yuhao's heart.
On the contrary, his brow furrowed slightly, almost imperceptibly.
The other party's tone of "as long as you satisfy me, I can bestow you the qualification to enter Shrek," that condescending posture, made him involuntarily think of the Shrek teachers and students he had encountered in Ten Thousand Stars City ten thousand years later.
He thought that perhaps this deep-seated arrogance and power of Shrek had already been rooted in their hearts as early as Ten Thousand Years Ago.
Huo Yuhao then said with a calm face, "Producing a spirit tool on the spot is not necessary."
"As for Shrek Academy... I will rely on my own strength to test into it fair and square."
He looked up, his gaze meeting Teacher Fan Yu's directly, and added another sentence: "And... I also have no intention of entering the Soul Tool Department to study."
Facing Teacher Fan Yu's "recommendation" that would suffice to make countless Spirit Master families fight over it, a sense of repulsion and a faint disgust instinctively rose in Huo Yuhao's heart.
With his current talent, as long as it was revealed, the major top powers of the continent would likely all scramble to throw olive branches; why would he need someone else to "bestow" him an opportunity?
Furthermore, for Huo Yuhao, making and selling spirit tools was more a means of his current livelihood and accumulating resources, a way to expand his own abilities.
His Foundation and the core of his future path always lay in the Cultivation of his Martial Soul; this point had never wavered.
Therefore, joining the Soul Tool Department was naturally not within his scope of consideration.
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A/N:
5 Power Stones = 1 Extra Chapter
I hope all of you are enjoying this story so far. I would appreciate some Power Stones if you can spare any. Leave a review if you like the story. Thank you.