Chapter 25: Two Ten‑Thousand‑Year Soul Bones

Huo Yuhao appears calm on the surface, but inside he harbors a darkness that ordinary people lack. The darkness that had been building since childhood almost erupted when he saw Dai Huabin, but his reason suppressed it. And at this moment, he feels an urge he can no longer endure. Why, why must you treat me this way?

Du Weilen continued: "Given that in the freshman assessment some newcomers, though lacking talent and ability, still performed excellently, the academy has decided to let them temporarily enjoy core disciple treatment until the end of this academic year. If they make a breakthrough by next year's promotion exam, they will be considered for elevation to official core disciples. The list is as follows: Huo Yuhao, Cui Yajie, Huang Chutian, Long Xiangyue, Nan Men Er Er. Announcement concluded."

Huo Yuhao's gaze was slightly hollow, and the resentment in his heart gradually calmed. Indeed! I lack ability. Among the people Du Weilen announced, I am the only one below twenty‑level cultivation. Core disciple treatment—what a core disciple treatment! A trace of melancholy flashed in his eyes. Slowly lowering his head, Huo Yuhao buried that sorrow deep in his heart.

Perhaps, if it weren't for the martial soul fusion skill I have with Wang Dong, I wouldn't even have this core disciple treatment. But who can I blame? Only myself for insufficient strength. Only my first soul ring, which in their eyes is only a tenth‑grade ring, can be blamed. A hint of self‑mockery appeared at the corner of Huo Yuhao's mouth; when he lifted his head again, his gaze carried an extra chill.

"Yuhao, are you okay?" Wang Dong asked softly.

Huo Yuhao gently shook his head, forced a smile, and said: "I'm fine. I just don't have the qualification to become a core disciple; I'm only a seventeen‑level Soul Master."

Wang Dong hurriedly said: "It's just that they don't realize how important you are…"

Xiao Xiao also nodded repeatedly.

Huo Yuhao's smile became a little more natural, and he said: "I'm really fine. Didn't Director Du say I can also enjoy core disciple treatment? That's already good enough. I'll keep working hard. Maybe I can become an official core disciple in the promotion assessment."

………

Du Weilen said: "Alright, next I'll announce the rewards for the top three teams in the freshman assessment. Each of the top three teams will receive a unified reward from the academy; when they need a soul ring, they may request one from the academy, which will assist them in obtaining a soul ring they can bear, and that is the most suitable for them."

Upon hearing this, the first‑year students instantly burst into surprised applause. This reward is equivalent to an academy pledge: the next soul ring for each of the nine members, including Huo Yuhao, will inevitably be an extreme soul ring. For example, if Huo Yuhao's second soul ring can endure seven hundred years, the academy will find him a suitable seven‑hundred‑year soul ring. The same applies to everyone. This reward is indeed weighty.

Du Weilen continued: "In view of the champion Chen Qiye team and the Gu Yue team's outstanding performance and undefeated record throughout the competition, the academy has decided to grant them a special reward. This reward will be kept confidential by the academy. After the class‑division ends, the two of you may follow me to receive it together."

Next is class division: the entire first year is split into four classes—Class One for strong‑attack and control‑type battle Soul Masters, Class Two for defense‑type and agile‑attack‑type battle Soul Masters, Class Three for support‑type battle Soul Masters, and Class Four for various special‑attribute battle Soul Masters and weapon Soul Masters, including food‑type and healing‑type.

Undoubtedly, the overall strongest group is naturally Class One, where Chen Qiye, Gu Yue, Huo Yuhao, Wang Dong, and a few others were placed.

The strongest in Class Two is unquestionably the defense‑specialist Xie Huan Yue; his "Pi Pi"‑like martial soul truly stands out.

As for Class Three support, it does not mean all support; it refers to those battle Soul Masters and weapon Soul Masters who can directly provide support in combat, such as Ning Tian, the holder of the Seven‑Treasure Glazed Tower martial soul.

As for Class Four, those are some hybrid Soul Masters; comparatively, they lack combat power but often possess notable abilities in special fields. The two most important sub‑types are the food‑type and healing‑type. Each year level is divided similarly, but the higher the year, the fewer students per class. Shrek Academy's elimination rate has always been extremely high.

Even those who manage to graduate from the outer academy number no more than fifty each year. That means, among the current three‑hundred‑plus students, having twenty percent reach the end is already quite good.

Next is the introduction of the homeroom teachers for each class: Zhou Yi became one of the homeroom teachers for First‑Year Class One; each class has two teachers, the other being Wang Yan, who came because of Chen Qiye.

Even Zhou Yi didn't know that Wang Yan, originally teaching higher years, ended up in First‑Year Class One because of Chen Qiye, teaching alongside her.

"Alright, everyone, return to the teaching building under the guidance of your class teachers according to the latest division. Chen Qiye, Gu Yue, you come with me to receive the reward," Director Du Weilen announced.

The three followed Du Weilen to the teachers' office area behind the teaching building. Du Weilen's office is on the top floor, much larger than Zhou Yi's, and its décor is simple, though it contains many bookshelves—four in total, holding ten thousand volumes.

After Gu Yue and Chen Qiye entered, Du Weilen said nothing more.

He slid his right hand from a ruby ring, took out two yellow sacs; the sacs also emitted a faint soul power fluctuation and were soul conduits.

Du Weilen smiled: "Since you defeated so many powerful opponents this time, I applied to the academy for an exceptional reward—just one item, but unquestionably more precious than any previous reward. Open it and see!"

Chen Qiye and Gu Yue took the sacs, untied the rope, and a golden light rose, revealing a crystal‑clear bone before them—a right‑arm bone, golden‑yellow, slender, its origin unclear—perhaps metal, perhaps jade, exquisite and dazzling.

"Soul… soul bone?" Gu Yue whispered, and in an instant his eyes shifted from black to violet.

Du Weilen smiled lightly and said: "Exactly, a soul bone. Your outstanding performance earned you this soul bone. Let me introduce them: they are the Golden Power Right Arm Bone and the Swift Wind‑Chasing Left Leg Bone, sourced from a ten‑thousand‑year‑old soul beast Golden Giant Elephant and a ten‑thousand‑year‑old Gale Demon Wolf. These two soul bones can greatly amplify your strength and each contains an extremely powerful attack soul skill, perfectly suited to both of you!"

"Alright, I'll see you out. Find a time soon to fuse the soul bones; this soul conduit sac also masks the soul power aura, but to avoid prolonged rumors, this matter must remain secret, after all, an innocent man bears no guilt, but a gem in his possession does."

Saying that, Du Weilen escorted the two out of the teaching area.

(End of chapter)