Chapter 42: From Four to Two

"You are an external guest of the Tang Sect?"

Wang Yan's expression completely contorted, the unspeakable awkwardness nearly solidifying across the two-meter distance between them.

"I apologize, student Huo Yuhao. It is simply because the Tang Sect shares a profound relationship with the academy that we had to inquire, just to prevent our supreme arts from leaking outside. Since you hold a recognized status within the Tang Sect, the academy can naturally rest easy..."

Even though everything the other party did was completely legal and compliant, being forced by your superiors to come and cross-examine someone creates a rather self-evident feeling.

"Right."

After struggling with his thoughts for a moment, Wang Yan added a reminder: "You must not casually pass these supreme arts on to outsiders. This is the foundational bedrock of the Tang Sect!"

"I understand."

Huo Yuhao nodded gently. He could draw a clear line on matters like this.

No matter what, the supreme arts of the Tang Sect had been brought by Xiao Xiao and Tang Ya as a token of gratitude, and the ultimate ownership did not rest with him. Naturally, he would not casually impart them to outsiders.

However, Wang Yan's behavior still left him somewhat confused: "Teacher, is the connection between Shrek and the Tang Sect truly that deep?"

"More than just deep!"

Wang Yan sighed with emotion: "The person who established the Tang Sect in the past was none other than the Thousand Hand Douro. His statue still stands proudly in the center of the square; you can see it every time you enter and leave the campus gates... And the rise of Shrek Academy is naturally inseparable from this Tang Sect ancestor."

"He connected Heaven Dou and Star Luo, united all the major sects in the world, and fought a world-changing decisive battle against the Spirit Hall. It was only after that victory that Shrek became the new soul master holy land of this world, prospering ever since."

As he listened, Huo Yuhao's eyelids involuntarily twitched.

That felt a bit strange...

If the Tang Sect had Shrek Academy backing it like a colossal mountain, why would it end up in its current state? It was blatantly obvious that it had nearly been exterminated...

Where was the academy back then? Where was Shrek back then?

Even at the very least, after the Tang Sect was destroyed, shouldn't they have helped Tang Ya revitalize the sect?

Why are they acting so indifferent and thoroughly uninterested now?

"The reasons behind this are rather complicated..."

Wang Yan sensed his doubts, but certain things were not suitable to be spoken by his own lips. He could only pat Huo Yuhao's head with a sigh: "Perhaps you will understand when you grow older."

All that talk about technological shifts, the decline of hidden weapons, or the Tang Sect's stubborn insistence on cultivating Blue Silver Grass was just superficial nonsense.

Could an institution with Shrek's immense resources and influence really fail to sustain a fallen sect? Could they fail to protect a sect that couldn't even defeat a Spirit Emperor?

Are you kidding me?

If they had truly become that useless, their reputation as a holy land of soul masters would be nothing more than a joke.

It simply boiled down to a lack of desire on their part.

Now, turning a blind eye to Tang Ya's persistent efforts to recruit people within the academy was purely out of respect for Elder Mu... Or rather, consider it a favor granted because she was Beibei's prospective wife.

'It's better not to let him come into contact with these dark undercurrents too early.'

Wang Yan glanced at the deep-in-thought Huo Yuhao, already mentally regarding him as a junior with whom he would work alongside for decades to come.

Before finally leaving, he offered words of encouragement and dropped a few nutritional platitudes about 'striving hard in cultivation.'

"Is the academy's indifference toward the Tang Sect driven purely by interests?"

Watching Wang Yan's retreating figure, Huo Yuhao's gaze suddenly turned profound.

Although he had harbored vague suspicions previously, it now appeared that the waters running through this premier soul master academy in the world were remarkably deep.

"Thinking of leaving?"

Tianmeng stretched his body lazily across the island in his mind: "If you ask me, going to any faction these days is all the same! Anyway, with me guiding your path of cultivation, it doesn't make much difference whether academy teachers exist or not—they certainly can't understand spiritual power better than Your Older Brother here, can they?"

All the same...

"Why would they all be the same?" Huo Yuhao muttered unconsciously.

"Sects, academies, aristocrats."

Tianmeng rummaged through the memories of that unfortunate soul in his mind, genuinely dredging up quite a bit of information: "You surely don't think these three entities exist independently of one another, do you?"

"The resources in this world are limited. The capable rise while the weak fall, and winner-takes-all domination over the distribution of resources is simply the norm. In this game, the Tang Sect has simply been abandoned by every academy, every noble house, and every sect."

The entirety of the Tang Sect's value to the outside world stemmed solely from its hidden weapons.

It was the world's first mass-producible military-grade armament capable of altering the outcome of a skirmish or even the conclusion of an entire war.

Now, soul tools that performed far better had simply emerged, kicking the foundation of their livelihood into utter ruins.

Hidden weapons were obsolete, and the sect itself was a foolish enterprise that stubbornly squandered resources on cultivating Blue Silver Grass, possessing zero future prospects. No academy was willing to engage with them, no nobles tried to draw close, and no sects bothered to offer mutual support to build a network of relationships.

What did the Tang Sect have left to contend with?

Were they supposed to rely on those bottom-tier commoners for whom even a martial soul awakening was a luxury?

Besides, what did killing and fighting have to do with those commoners anyway? Who would buy your Tang Sect hidden weapons? And what did the interest disputes of the soul master strata have to do with commoners? Why should they stand on your side when both factions were composed of soul masters?

"Understood."

Huo Yuhao narrowed his eyes in contemplation for a long moment before returning to his usual composure: "Time to go make some money."

Roast fish!

...

Top eight to top four.

Spiritual Storm!

Top four to top two.

Huo Yuhao finally crossed paths with Xiao Xiao. However, the latter's complexion could only be described as rather unsightly, her footsteps even somewhat unsteady—a single glance made it obvious that she had excessively overdrawn her soul power in her previous match.

"Ran into a tough opponent?"

Huo Yuhao offered a polite greeting.

"Not really... I suppose you could say I lowered my guard. I didn't expect the opponent to have two summoning-type soul skills, and I almost fell victim to their tactics."

Xiao Xiao shook her head weakly, her face pale.

In that previous match, she had unleashed two rounds of the Cauldron's Oscillation. Factor in all her other miscellaneous expenditures, and the soul power within her body had been thoroughly exhausted. For this current match, she could only manage a perfunctory appearance just to go through the motions.

"What a pity, I won't be able to give you a proper match."

"It's fine! Once you recover, we can head to the spirit fighting arena to settle things properly. You pick the time."

"..."

For the first time, Xiao Xiao discovered that Huo Yuhao was truly a prodigy when it came to killing conversations.

"First-year Class One Xiao Xiao team forfeits voluntarily, Huo Yuhao's team advances to the finals!"

The referee nodded toward both sides, then announced in a loud voice: "Just received word: the finals will be held this afternoon, and several deans will be attending together to observe the match."

"Second round, top four to top two, both participating teams please enter the arena!"

The personnel on the field rotated.

Huo Yuhao happened to walk face-to-face with some acquaintances and couldn't help but stop in his tracks.

Golden hair, those peculiar eyes, and the arrogance and disdain deeply concealed within his gaze.

"Hello~"

Huo Yuhao wore an inexplicable smile.

Dai Huabin walked straight past as if turning a blind eye, without a moment's pause, not even sparing him a single glance.

"Hmph~"

Instead, Zhu Lu, who was following closely behind, glanced coldly at him, brushing past with thick, concentrated hostility.