The Class Division Ends
Regarding the class division system established by Shrek Academy, Huo Yuhao could only describe it with two words: ridiculous and absurd. Leaving aside the chaotic fourth class made up of a bunch of strange and mismatched departments, he simply couldn't understand the logic behind it.
Since Shrek Academy had enjoyed the lion's share of the continent's resources and talent output over ten thousand years, shouldn't it at least be able to provide independent educational resources for major departments like the Assault, Control, Defense, and Agility branches?
Or is it that the so-called tactical cooperation they teach must require students from different departments to be in the same class and taught by the same teacher?
If that's the case, why not just group an entire complete team into one class instead? Huo Yuhao really couldn't understand,was the Academy sick or something?
Moreover, Shrek Academy's theoretical classes claimed to teach battle tactics, cultivation methods, and teamwork among soul masters.
But every department had vast differences, and those differences weren't merely determined by the soul master's combat orientation.
In Huo Yuhao's view, whether it was the Assault, Agility, or Support branch, these were merely distinctions in developmental direction,they didn't represent the essence of one's martial soul.
What truly determined the difference between soul masters lay in their martial souls themselves.
For example, no matter whether a beast-type soul master chose the Assault or Support path, once they activated their martial soul, their innate physical strength and bodily enhancement would be far superior to that of tool-type soul masters.
In the early and middle stages of cultivation, a soul master's physical strength was directly related to their cultivation speed, since their soul power wasn't yet full or solid enough.
Their power couldn't fully spread throughout their body and usually gathered in the dantian, only circulating when consciously mobilized during cultivation or soul skill use.
Beast-type soul masters, due to their martial soul transformation, naturally had bodies more compatible with the flow of soul power. That was why, under equal conditions, beast-type soul masters cultivated faster in the early stages.
Tool-type soul masters, on the other hand, had the advantage of stronger soul skill effects, as their martial souls directly combined with their abilities, enhancing them further.
Most decent-quality tool martial souls came with unique attributes that affected their skills,like Xiao Xiao's Three Lives Town Soul Cauldron, which could split into three or merge into one, allowing for multiple transformations in her techniques.
Unlike beast-type soul masters, tool-type ones didn't need to distribute soul power throughout their bodies for physical reinforcement; their energy was concentrated in their martial soul, giving them greater control over skills early on.
This distinction only faded around the seven-ring level, when a soul master obtained their martial soul true body or formed a soul core.
At that point, beast- and tool-type soul masters' physical strengths became more balanced, and beast-type ones could allocate more soul power for precise control.
So if Shrek Academy really wanted to divide classes rationally and teach cultivation methods efficiently, shouldn't it divide based on martial soul type,beast or tool?
Beast-type soul masters should focus on combining physical training with martial soul and soul power in their early stages, while tool-type soul masters should concentrate on mastering the techniques of using martial souls and skills.
Honestly, after three months at Shrek Academy, Huo Yuhao felt that the teachers' existence was rather meaningless.
After all, they were just soul masters who happened to have power. The main criterion for selecting teachers was their cultivation level,at least a Soul Emperor.
But how much of their competence came from innate advantages or actual knowledge and insight was questionable,luck determined whether a student got a good teacher or not.
For instance, Yu Xiaogang's outdated physical training methods, or the first-year theory teacher who only read from textbooks,Huo Yuhao considered them both barely literate.
Most of what they taught were common cultivation techniques or basic knowledge. As for true secret arts or special methods, they might only mention their names or effects.
Even in the outer court's library, there were few records of secret techniques. This wasn't surprising.
The truth was, outer court students and teachers were never part of Shrek Academy's true inner circle. Only those who entered the inner court were considered real members.
The gap in library access, teaching quality, and cultivation resources between the inner and outer courts was the real reason Shrek Academy could maintain its power for ten thousand years.
In reality, the outer court's education system wasn't fundamentally different from other soul master academies.
Most students came just to add prestige to their resumes. Some even regressed because of the overly competitive environment.
As the saying went: "Better to be the head of a chicken than the tail of a phoenix."
Even if a student wasn't remarkable inside Shrek, their talent would easily earn them special treatment at any other academy or sect. With talent and resources, they wouldn't fade into mediocrity.
While Shrek's graduates had a good reputation, how many outer court students actually rose to the true high ranks of the soul master world?
Thus, despite Shrek's unique system, it retained all the worst traits,like its age-old motto that discouraged initiative.
Its survival was due more to monopolizing the best talent, its proximity to the Star Dou Forest's abundant resources, and its historical prestige from producing seven ascended gods.
Because of this, it became a giant,or perhaps a parasite,feeding off the three former Douluo nations.
Currently, this issue wasn't obvious yet, due to the Sun and Moon Empire's pressure and the gradual evolution of soul master civilization.
Soon after, Du Weilun announced the final class divisions: Huo Yuhao was placed in Class One.
He had neither the power nor the interest to challenge Shrek's system. He didn't plan to waste time switching classes or dealing with Zhou Yi,it was pointless.
During class, he simply let Tianmeng Iceworm handle things while he studied in his spiritual sea.
After realizing the classes were worthless, this had been his strategy for months.
Class One's teachers remained Zhou Yi and Wang Yan. After announcing the class lists, Du Weilun said, "Alright, everyone, follow your homeroom teachers back to your classrooms.
Wang Dong, Huo Yuhao, Xiao Xiao, you three come with me to receive your rewards."
In Du Weilun's office, he praised their performance in the freshman assessment, then got to the main point. From the ruby ring on his hand, he took out a small pouch.
Looking at the flashy design of the soul tool, Huo Yuhao couldn't help but think,it really lived up to being from Flander's academy.
The pouch emitted faint soul power fluctuations. Through the Eye of Truth, Huo Yuhao could see it was a concealment-type soul tool that masked energy signatures.
Its quality wasn't very high, so a bit of aura leaked out, but low-level soul masters wouldn't notice.
"Children, since you defeated the team led by three Soul Elders and won the championship,
I applied to the Academy to give you this special reward. There's only one, and you'll have to decide how to distribute it yourselves."
Du Weilun handed the pouch to Wang Dong.
"This is the most precious prize awarded in the freshman assessment in over three hundred years. Open it and see."
Wang Dong glanced at Huo Yuhao, who nodded. Wang Dong untied the cord, and a yellow light emerged, floating in midair.
A strong wave of soul power spread,this was a soul bone, one of the rarest treasures on the continent.
Huo Yuhao wasn't surprised; he already knew what it was from his knowledge of the plot and his Eye of Truth.
Still, he noticed the soul bone's internal structure was far more complex than that of a soul ring or skill,it would take time to fully analyze it.
"This… this is a soul bone?" Wang Dong said in shock.
Huo Yuhao was speechless,Wang Dong was always shocked by everything. What a waste of his background.
Xiao Xiao looked on curiously; she had never seen one before.
Du Weilun smiled. "That's right, a soul bone. You should understand how precious this is. The Academy can only give one.
You'll need to decide who gets it yourselves, but don't let it damage your friendship. Let me briefly introduce it."
"This is a left leg bone from a Clear Bright Demon Leopard. It increases speed and suits Assault or Control types.
It also grants a leg-based attack skill that adapts to your martial soul."
"Keep it in the pouch,it conceals its aura. Fuse with it soon, and don't let anyone know. Even in the Academy, treasures attract trouble."
After that, Du Weilun dismissed them.
Once outside, Wang Dong and Xiao Xiao looked at Huo Yuhao. Wang Dong said, "Huo Yuhao, you should take it.
Among us, your cultivation is the lowest, and it'll help you the most. You also contributed the most in the assessment."
Xiao Xiao nodded in agreement.
"Alright, then," Huo Yuhao said simply, putting the pouch away. Of course, he had no intention of fusing with it.
It wasn't particularly high-grade,likely between a thousand and ten thousand years. The Clear Bright Demon Leopard wasn't an especially strong beast.
Still, the soul bone's complex nature intrigued him. With Electrolux's expertise, perhaps he could find another use for it someday.
He tucked the pouch into his belt and walked back toward the dorms with Wang Dong and Xiao Xiao.
Unlike in the original story, Huo Yuhao didn't have any conflict with Zhou Yi, so she never became the "convenient benefactor" who gave him the crucial Ice Empress arm bone.
Not that he needed it anyway.
The Class Division Ends