Chapter 11: Shrek's Reputation Crumbles!
Huo Yuhao's body was trembling slightly.
An uncontrollable chill rushed from the soles of his feet straight to the crown of his head.
"Then... what about me?"
This thought emerged in his mind like a nightmare.
He was the "Bole" in Huo Yuhao's heart.
Just how much "painstaking effort" had Wang Yan poured into him?
The sky screen seemed to hear his inner voice; the image shifted again, finally revealing Huo Yuhao's figure.
...
[Huo Yuhao... a very strange kid.]
[His Martial Soul Eyes Martial Soul is the most malleable specimen I have ever seen.]
[Of course, I also prepared a 'gift' for him—that Soul Brand originating from the Holy Spirit Cult. Once planted, he will surely be mine to use in the future.]
[However, something strange happened.]
For the first time, a hint of confusion entered the voice of the monologue.
[I took the opportunity of guiding his Spiritual Power cultivation three times to try and quietly plant that brand into his Sea of Consciousness.]
[But every time, the brand was like a clay ox entering the sea, disappearing without a trace and without causing the slightest ripple.]
[He must be hiding some great secret.]
[A secret that can even swallow the secret techniques of the Holy Spirit Cult... it's too dangerous.]
[Continuing to act is too risky; I might expose myself.]
[Forget it. An uncontrollable chess piece is better used as a pure tool.]
[As long as I keep showing him kindness and make him feel deeply grateful to me, that will be enough.]
...
In Shrek Plaza, everyone's gaze toward Huo Yuhao instantly became incredibly complex.
Suspicion, wariness, curiosity...
What secret did this seemingly ordinary youth hide that could even make Wang Yan feel it was too difficult and give up on his plot?
Meanwhile, within Huo Yuhao's Sea of Consciousness, it was a different scene entirely.
"What?! That bastard actually tried to move against you three times!"
Tianmeng Iceworm shrieked, its massive body churning the Sea of Consciousness into a frenzy.
"I didn't notice at all! What a total humiliation!"
Right then, a calm and aged voice rang out.
"There is no need to panic."
The figure of Electrolux slowly emerged.
"Elder Yi, do you know what happened?"
Huo Yuhao asked hurriedly.
Electrolux's voice was as indifferent as water:
"While I was in a deep sleep before, I subconsciously devoured some soul energy."
"Thinking back now, that soul energy must have been the brands he planted."
Huo Yuhao was somewhat dumbfounded.
"Just... just devoured like that?"
Electrolux's tone was as if he were speaking of a trivial matter:
"A few chaotic soul imprints are no different from dust to me; they weren't even enough to wake me from my slumber."
"However, even without me, this little worm's million-year Spiritual origin would have eventually ground them away, though the process would have been more troublesome."
Hearing this, Tianmeng Iceworm immediately puffed out its chest and said loudly:
"Of course! A mere imprint, I could have purified it in minutes!"
Huo Yuhao's tense heart instantly relaxed, and a warm current surged through his body.
He bowed deeply toward the Sea of Consciousness:
"Thank you, Elder Yi!"
Outside, seeing Huo Yuhao's expression of relief, everyone thought he was simply glad to have escaped a disaster.
But the monologue on the sky screen had not yet ended.
...
The scene switched to the preparation room of the Continental Advanced Spirit Master Academy Soul Duel Tournament!
The official members and substitute members of the Shrek Seven Devils were all present!
Teacher Wang Yan stood before the tactical board, his expression more serious than ever before.
[The Sun Moon Empire is indeed powerful. In a direct confrontation, we have no guarantee of victory.]
[But in Shrek's dictionary, there is no such word as 'lose'.]
[For the sake of victory, for that championship trophy representing the number one in the continent, they can use any means necessary.]
[Thus, I proposed a brilliant tactic.]
[I suggested letting Huo Yuhao use Mental Detection from below the stage to assist the members on stage.]
[I thought I would need to use some nonsense like 'Academy Glory' to persuade them.]
[But I was wrong. I overestimated their bottom line—or rather, they have no bottom line at all.]
Before the words finished, Elder Xuan's fan-like hand slammed heavily onto the table.
["Good! Let's do it!"]
["This isn't called cheating; this is a tactic! It's a reasonable tactic utilizing our students' own abilities!"]
["The tournament rules don't say substitute members aren't allowed to assist from off-stage!"]
Captain Ma Xiaotao's eyes flashed with an excited light:
["That's right, victory is above all else! For the glory of Shrek, we must take this championship!"]
Dai Yueheng, Xu Sanshi, and the rest of the team members showed no shame in their eyes; instead, a blazing fighting Martial Soul ignited.
Every single one of them accepted the plan with complete composure.
[As expected of Shrek, they are truly cut from the same cloth when it comes to being shameless.]
[But they have no idea that my goal was never victory!]
[What I want is for Shrek to be caught cheating in public!]
[Imagine that scene! The Shrek Seven Devils, under the gaze of everyone, pointed out by the referee for blatant cheating! Disqualified! Nailed to the pillar of shame in history!]
[The number one academy on the continent, using such lowly methods to steal victory!]
[Hahahaha! This would be a hundred times more painful for them than killing any one of their geniuses!]
[But... but why!]
For the first time, the voice of the monologue showed strong emotional fluctuations, filled with unwillingness and rage!
[Are those trash referees all blind!]
[Such obvious Spiritual fluctuations, and they actually couldn't detect them!]
[We... actually won just like that?]
[I stood below the stage, watching them cheer, watching them lift that trophy, and my heart was filled with curses!]
[I had to force a gratified smile onto my face and accept everyone's praise.]
[But in my heart, I had to admit that this was the greatest failure of my revenge plan!]
The monologue ended.
The entire Douluo Continent, across two timelines, completely exploded at this moment!
...
[soul land ii era]
Shrek Plaza.
"How... how could this be exposed!"
Dai Yueheng's face was pale as he subconsciously blurted it out.
Ma Xiaotao, Ling Luochen, Beibei... all the members who participated in that tournament bowed their heads.
There was no shame on their faces, only the humiliated rage of having been found out!
They could not refute it!
Because what was playing on the sky screen was the truth!
But they didn't think they had done anything wrong.
They only hated that this matter had been made public!
And outside of Shrek, the world was already in an uproar!
...
Sun Moon Empire, Mingde Hall.
"Cheating!! Collective cheating!!!"
Jing Hongchen suddenly crushed the armrest in his hand, trembling with rage; terrifying Soul Power fluctuations made the entire Mingde Hall hum!
The siblings Xiao Hongchen and Meng Hongchen had eyes that were even more bloodshot.
"So that's how it was! We actually lost to a bunch of frauds!"
Xiao Hongchen roared:
"From the Elders down to the students, not a single one in Shrek is innocent!"
"Grandfather! I demand a rematch!"
"No! I demand their championship be stripped immediately!"
"They don't deserve it!"
Jing Hongchen laughed from extreme anger:
"Quite a Shrek! Quite the number one academy on the continent! Morally bankrupt! Every single one of them is shameless!"
"Attendants!"
"Pass down my order, immediately issue an announcement to all powers across the continent!"
"Strongly condemn the shameless cheating behavior of all Shrek Academy members in the Continental Advanced Soul Master Tournament!"
"Demand that the tournament organizing committee immediately strip them of their championship title and issue a public apology to my Sun Moon Empire!"
"And!"
"During the competition, they also killed several of our team members!"
"Before, they stood on the side of the soul duel rules, and we had nothing to say."
"Now it seems they are simply a group of butchers who committed murder while cheating!"
"This matter must be settled as well!"
...
The Star Luo Empire, the Heavenly Soul Empire, and all the academies that had once been defeated by Shrek all erupted at this moment!
"Shameless! Shameless to the extreme!"
"Strongly demand the cancellation of all of Shrek's tournament results!"
"Shrek must give the entire continent an explanation!"
"They don't deserve to run an academy anymore! They are the shame of the continent!"
The tide of condemnation swept across the entire continent.
The reputation Shrek Academy had built over ten thousand years was, at this moment, teetering on the edge of total collapse!