Chapter 24

"Although the war ended in victory, the role of our Tang Sect's hidden weapons was greatly questioned. Since then, various countries have drastically reduced their purchases of our hidden weapons. While our Tang Sect has earned a considerable amount of money, according to the first sect leader's wishes, most of the income was donated to improve the lives of the poor and to build schools and other public facilities. Therefore, we don't have much left over."

"At that time, the Tang Sect had thousands of members. The decline from prosperity was too rapid; in just two hundred years, our Tang Sect quickly fell into decline. The once-great sect no longer had its former glory. By the time it was passed down to my generation, there were only my father, mother, and me left. During a conflict while hunting soul beasts, my father and mother also left me. The Tang Sect is now left with only me."

As she spoke, tears streamed down Tang Ya's smooth and delicate face, and her fists clenched tightly.

Huo Yuhao murmured, "Teacher Xiaoya, are our Tang Sect's hidden weapons really inferior to those soul conductors?"

Tang Ya sighed and said, "In some aspects, it can indeed be said so. The Sun Moon Continent not only brought soul conductors but also a large amount of rich mineral resources. These rare minerals are excellent soul power conductors, particularly suitable for making soul conductors. This led to the rapid development of soul conductors over the next few thousand years. Our Tang Sect's hidden weapons became even less in demand. However, in terms of precision and ingenious design, our Tang Sect's hidden weapons are absolutely superior to soul conductors. Especially the top-tier hidden weapons. However, the production of these hidden weapons is also very complex."

Beibei patted Tang Ya's head and said, "The development of soul conductors has indeed had a significant impact on our Tang Sect's hidden weapons. When I first met Xiaoya, she was stubbornly convinced that hidden weapons were stronger than soul conductors. However, the facts show that soul conductors could replace our Tang Sect's hidden weapons as weapons accepted by all parties, and there is a reason for this. First, they are very easy for the masses to accept. Especially for those device soul masters who cannot attack, with soul conductors, they can almost instantly become battle soul masters. All they need to do is provide soul power. Therefore, after discussing with Xiaoya, we decided that if our Tang Sect wants to develop, we must not be as closed-minded as before, just immersed in our own world. To make our Tang Sect shine again, we must not only understand soul conductors but also integrate the production of our Tang Sect's hidden weapons with soul conductors to create even more powerful soul conductors. Only then can our Tang Sect find a chance for development. Therefore, all disciples of our Tang Sect, in addition to cultivating their own soul beasts, must also study soul conductors."

Huo Yuhao said, "Teacher Xiaoya, Big Brother, if soul conductors are so strong, why did the Sun Moon Empire lose to our three-nation alliance back then?"

Beibei smiled faintly and said, "That's because, at the time, although soul conductors were not weak, the most powerful soul conductors could not match the combat power of a Sealed Douluo. However, over the past few thousand years, some particularly powerful soul conductors have begun to appear, even threatening Sealed Douluos. But soul conductors also have a problem: the more powerful the soul conductor, the more powerful the soul master needed to operate it. Without sufficient soul power, the power of the soul conductor is very limited. Therefore, after the two continents merged, an interesting phenomenon emerged. On our side, we try to learn the methods of making soul conductors, while on the Sun Moon Empire's side, they focus on cultivating powerful soul masters. Over the past few thousand years, it seems to have reached a balance."

With Beibei and Tang Ya's introduction, Huo Yuhao finally had a preliminary impression of Shrek Academy.

Tang Ya wiped the tears from her face with Beibei's sleeve and said to Huo Yuhao, "Xiaoyuhao, the most important thing for you now is to stay in Shrek Academy. Beibei and I are already third-year students. After I obtained the thousand-year soul ring, I should have no problem advancing to the fourth year with him. After entering the fourth year, the elimination rate is not as high. In a few years, we will all have the opportunity to enter the inner academy. But you are different. After you enter the academy as a first-year student, the competition is the most intense. The academy conducts a new student assessment every three months. Only by passing the assessment can you stay. Although our Tang Sect has a quota for admission through interviews, whether you can stay in the academy for further study depends on your own abilities. No one can help you with this, do you understand?"

Huo Yuhao nodded seriously and said, "Teacher Xiaoya, I will do my best. However, with your and Big Brother's abilities, you are not yet inner academy students?"

Tang Ya said, "To enter Shrek Academy's inner academy is no easy task. Shrek Academy's motto has never changed. The outer academy was only established later to meet the requirements of the three major empires, to cultivate more talents. However, only the students who enter the inner academy can be considered true Shrek Academy students. They are all geniuses, odd talents, or even monsters. After the outer academy students persist until the sixth year, they will have an exam. Passing the exam means graduation. Only the very few who perform the best in the exam have the chance to take the inner academy assessment again. After passing, they are allowed to enter the inner academy. The inner academy also requires six years of study. It is said that those who graduate from the inner academy are at least at the Soul Emperor level and will receive the best treatment from all countries, including the Sun Moon Empire."

"Wow, that's so impressive!" Huo Yuhao couldn't help but feel a sense of longing. He secretly thought, if one day he could become a graduate of Shrek Academy's inner academy and return to the Duke's mansion to retrieve his mother's remains, his mother could rest in peace. Thinking of this, his fists clenched tightly.

Beibei said seriously, "It's not just impressive. I once met an inner academy senior. That senior entered the Star Dou Great Forest alone and defeated three ten-thousand-year soul beasts with his bare hands without harming them, and brought them back to the academy. It is said that this was the task he drew for the tenth-year assessment of the inner academy."

Tang Ya said, "I also heard that a senior from the twelfth grade had already reached the Soul Saint level, above level seventy, and possessed a red ten-thousand-year soul ring when he graduated. That senior was later retained in the academy to be trained as the next headmaster."

Listening to their stories, Huo Yuhao was already eager. Over the past few days, interacting with Tang Ya and Beibei, he deeply understood how much a good teacher could help his cultivation. Without a doubt, Shrek Academy was the best choice. He secretly vowed that no matter how much effort it took, he would stay in the outer academy and strive to enter Shrek Academy's inner academy in the future.

---

A new week, I'm asking for favorites and recommendations. Shrek Academy is here! For the glory of the Tang Sect and Shrek. Let's push our Tang Sect to the top of both charts! Thank you.

{Piaotian Literature}