Shrek Academy, Inner Courtyard
It's been half a month since a shadow clone of Huo Yuhao came. A lot of changes had occurred.
For one, after hearing the situation between Shrek Academy and the Great Star Dou Forest, many of Huo Yuhao's friends' fighting spirit was stimulated and they cultivated fiercer than ever.
Huo Yuhao, Tang Ya, Bei Bei, Xu Sanshi, Jiang Nannan, He Caitou, and Wang Dong'er had all officially became inner courtyard students.
While Ma Xiaotao had gotten her seventh soul ring and officially became a Soul Sage, before continuing her punishment. Ling Luochen and Xi Xi were also still facing their punishment so they haven't made much progress in their cultivation.
With the status as one of the last disciples of Mu En, he had also taken in Wang Dong'er due to reasons, (SC)Huo Yuhao was given the best training and numerous resources to help him. And considering he was just a shadow clone, resources like herbs and drugs that help increase his cultivation were of no use and he gave some of it to his friends while making use of the rest as rewards for his new sect members when completing their missions.
Operating an organization meant that you had to pour in an absurd amount of money and resources, mainly to keep the members loyal, motivated, and most importantly—dependence on the organization.
For what Huo Yuhao was planning in the future, he needed sacrifices that would do anything for their great organization.
That was the core part of any organization.
However, he still had many things to do.
Huo Yuhao had of course not sent just one shadow clone, but dozens in both the academy and his headquarters.
They were useful for two things: multitasking and "experience" farming. After he created his Spiritual-Illusion Core and contracted with Jianxin and officially became a Soul King, he could now create at least two hundred clones.
All hail the Shadow Clone Jutsu! All hail the soul core!
"Everyone's cultivating zealously, by my estimation, and from what Ning Tian told me that Wu Feng's training isn't any less than theirs, every Heavenly Demon is going to reach at least Soul King in just two years. Some would become Soul Emperor in five years." (SC)Huo Yuhao muttered.
He leaned against his chair, pondering about the situation between the school and the forest.
It might've sounded like it was a truce between the school and the forest, in truth, it was an alliance between Huo Yuhao and the Great Beasts.
Both the elders and the Great Beasts understood this, but none voiced it aloud—because doing so would mean acknowledging that the academy didn't mean anything to the forest.
Huo Yuhao however, needed the academy in order to back him up across the entire continent.
While the forest held numerous high level experts, they're still soul beasts and are extremely hostile towards humans. If he completely depended on them, it wouldn't take long before the whole world comes after him.
Or the Great Beasts would backstab him.
Moreover, they were primitive. They look down upon soul tools, not knowing that there were extremely dangerous ones that could even wipe almost half their entire population.
A few days ago, he learned that the detonator that Xuan Zi was holding in a last ditch effort against Di Tian and the others was connected to several class 8 fixed soul bombs that agility-type Titled Douluos placed in several locations in the core region of the forest.
A class 8 fixed soul bomb is extremely powerful that it can severely injure or even kill a Titled Douluo, but this particular soul tool's most devastating power is its wide area of effect. A single class 8 fixed soul bomb could reduce several square kilometers to scorched earth in an instant.
And there were multiple of them, placed strategically in the core region of the Great Star Dou Forest. It wouldn't do much against the Great Beasts, but it would annihilate several powerful soul beasts and devastate its ecosystem for centuries at best.
That was the trump card that Xuan Zi had, in case he and his group faced certain death.
As to how the academy got a hold of them?
They were a "gift" given by the Hallmaster of Illustrious Virtue Hall and Principal of Sun Moon Academy — Jing Hongchen.
He had visited the day that Huo Yuhao was kidnapped in order to smooth out things with Mu En about the student exchange program. He then caught wind of Huo Yuhao's being kidnapped and decided to give a hand.
Normally he wouldn't go so far as to hand out extremely expensive soul tools, but Huo Yuhao's kidnappers were the Great Beasts of the Great Star Dou Forest.
Since it was done by none of the Three Douluo Empires but by soul beasts, Jing Hongchen realized that he can benefit greatly with the situation. He wouldn't offend any of the three empires and Shrek Academy can annihilate several powerful soul beasts.
Like many others, Jing Hongchen felt that the hundred thousand year old soul beasts in the Great Star Dou Forest was a great thorn in humanity. But unlike the other empires, who were reluctant to annihilate them without getting their soul rings and soul bones, Jing Hongchen didn't give a shit about it.
He and others from Sun Moon Empire only valued soul tools, they didn't care for the quality of their soul rings and soul bones unless it helped their soul engineering skills.
Some would even go as far as absorb a purple soul ring for their ninth slot.
Xuan Zi and the others were reluctant to use such soul tools, as it meant they were siding with the Sun Moon Empire in the eyes of the three empires.
Almost all members of Shrek Academy were from the Three Douluo Empires, doing this felt like a betrayal to their motherland.
Fortunately, Xuan Zi hadn't used them at the time and gave them to the Soul Engineering Department for them to study.
Accepting such a helping gift was a small favor, but using them in the forest... the Three Douluo Empires would become wary.
How could any of the three empires know that the bombs that Shrek Academy used were from the Sun Moon Empire?
Because none of the three empires and Shrek Academy itself have the capability to create such powerful soul tools.
"I'm becoming more and more interested in the Sun Moon Empire's soul tool advancements," (SC)Huo Yuhao murmured, fingers drumming thoughtfully against the armrest of his chair.
He stared at the diagram of the Great Star Dou Forest, with red rings marking estimated blast radii from each class 8 fixed soul bomb that he deduced after analyzing the soul tool. The devastation they could unleash was not theoretical—it was real, brutal, and immediate.
He completely underestimated them.
(SC)Huo Yuhao's lips curled. "I wonder what I can learn from there... But unfortunately, the exchange program would begin two years later. I can't wait that long to create my prosthetic left arm."
"It can't be helped. I'll just have to make do with basic functions with the prosthetic and upgrade it when I get to the Sun Moon Empire. Di Tian should help me with the absorption process," He deeply sighed.
He paused.
"Actually, couldn't he also help provide me with a soul bone that's much better than what I currently have? Possibly with a much stronger Ultimate Fire attribute?"
(SC)Huo Yuhao widely grinned, the urge to laugh evilly almost overtook him.
"Hehehehe. That's right. I'm on good terms with the strongest soul beast in the world. Might as well milk that connection before things go south."
He stood from his chair, stretching slightly. He looked out of the window and hummed.
"I wonder how teacher Ya is doing, she looked kinda down for a while now. Well, it isn't surprising since she and brother Bei Bei had broken up. I hope they both don't do anything stupid..."
Inner Courtyard, Underworld.
"What are we doing here, elder Xuan?" Tang Ya asked, curiously looking around.
The underworld of the inner courtyard, or the roots of the Golden Tree, looked as majestic and mystical as ever.
However, unlike when Huo Yuhao and the others had gone here to cultivate, Tang Ya was being led into the deepest part of the underworld.
After she succeeded in her inner courtyard examination, Tang Ya was given the benefit of learning under one of the inner courtyard teachers.
Unlike those from the outer courtyard who were of lower cultivation and typically specialized in general education, those from the inner courtyard were at least Soul Douluo and extremely specialized in one field.
For example, a student that specializes in attack and explosive strength might choose an instructor who is a pure strength‑type Title Douluo, which are a lot in the academy; a control specialist would train under a control-type Titled Douluo who has honed battlefield manipulation to an art.
Their combat strength would increase by several folds compared to what they've been learning in the outer courtyard.
This was one of the many privileges a inner courtyard student would have, not to mention the top quality facilities and resources readily available.
Tang Ya focuses on control and attack, with her Devouring Silver Grass that devours the energies and blood of her opponents, while also using both Tang Sect Techniques and the jutsus of the Akatsuki.(1)
Typically, she should be under a control-type instructor instead of Xuan Zi who specializes in pure attack.
Xuan Zi rubbed his long white beard and said, "Apologies for the secrets, Tang Ya. I understand that you are confused, but trust me, it will all make sense soon.
But first, what do you know about your ancestor? The Thousand-Hand Douluo, Tang San? Also known as the Sea God to some."
Tang Ya raised an eyebrow and told him as much as she knew about her ancestor. About how he was the greatest genius of his generation, ridding the world of the evil Spirit Hall that wanted to take over the world, becoming the youngest Titled Douluo, ascending to become a God before leaving the mortal world.
"....I see. Even Tang Sect was kept in the dark about it," Xuan Zi muttered.
"Huh? Elder Xuan, what's going on? Does this have to do with Tang Sect's founder?"
"Hm. Tang Ya, what I am about to show you is Shrek Academy's greatest secret... something that Ancestor Tang San left behind. Something that many would say is a great evil."
Xuan Zi came to a stop, looking up.
Tang Ya paused as well and looked up, instantly she froze.
Before them was a large dark metal door, with human skulls and obsidian-like dragon bones fused into its surface, radiating a faint, eerie bloody chill. Blood crystals glittered like frozen rubies in the sockets of the skulls, and along the bone ridges, tiny inscriptions pulsed.
"W-What is this...?" Tang Ya muttered hoarsely, her eyes wide. She felt as though this door was a demonic entity, alive yet not.
This wasn't no mere door, it was a seal.
Unconsciously, she activated her martial soul and thick, dark vines sprouted around her protectively.
Xuan Zi subtly nodded and said, "Tang Ya. There were more secrets Tang San and his group had hidden away than what many had thought, mostly because it's better for it to be buried forever.
But secrets don't last, they never do. The Truth can never be concealed until everyone who knows about it are silenced eternally....or the secret disappears.
So Tang Ya, the last and former sect master of Tang Sect, I ask you...
Do you know who Asura is?"
#######
Short Canon-Omake: Bei Bei's lament.
Shrek City, in a inconspicuous bar.
"Sniff* I... I can't do it," Bei Bei sobbed, holding a mug half-filled with beer and chugged it once more. His face flushed red, tears trickling down his face. "I just can't forget about her! My Yaya! Aaahhhah...!"
He sobbed harder, hand on his face and shoulders trembling. He then downed the mug again.
"Another!"
The barkeep raised an eyebrow and said, "No. That's your seventh pint of the night. You only paid for the drinks, not for a bed to sleep in for the night. Also, I can't have you puking all over the floor as well. You didn't pay for the cleaning services."
Bei Bei grumbled, "O-Oh shut it! Egk! I-I can.... still handle a few more drinks!" He looked around and spotted the grand piano on the stage, his eyes brightened.
"T-That! I'll perform for you all, and you'll see that I can still handle a few more drinks."
The barkeep contemplated for a while.
On one hand, the guy would make a fool of himself and entertain everyone in the bar for free. On another—
'Actually, I don't really lose out much for entertainment. Well, unless he sucks at singing.'
"Fine. Play on the piano, and if you can sing for at least a minute coherently, I'll let you have more drinks."
Bei Bei smirked, "Deal!"
He then walked up to the stage, not noticing a pair of concerned eyes watching him.
"Oh, Bei Bei..." Zhang Lexuan stared at her crush, feeling deeply conflicted.
She wanted to comfort him, to stay by his side and help heal his wounds.
But at the same time, she doesn't want to take advantage of him at his lowest. That path leads to an unsteady relationship that would quickly crumble like sand to water.
She watched as Bei Bei stumbled onto the little stage, knuckles white against the glossy piano lid. The murmurs in the bar softened; even the darts match paused.
He sat, cracked his neck, and let his fingers hover. A single note landed—wobbly, but sure enough to hush the room.
Then another.
His voice joined—raw, frayed, a man trying to thread hope through a bottle's neck.
"🎵I'm going under and this time I fear there's no one to save me🎵"
Zhang Lexuan's breath caught, so did most of the patrons.
"🎵This all or nothing really got a way of driving me crazy🎵"
"🎵I need somebody to heal🎵"
They could feel it.
Everyone in the bar now turned towards Bei Bei, seeing the tears trickle down his cheeks as the lyrics spilled out like secrets he'd bottled far too long.
His sorrow.
"🎵 Somebody to know, somebody to have, somebody to hold 🎵"
Each word hit with the weight of a confession. The soft pedal sank beneath his bare foot; the piano answered with a mellow throb, mirroring the ache in his chest.
His depression.
Lexuan's fingers tightened around her glass. She felt like an intruder in his solitude, yet she stayed, afraid any motion might shatter him.
"🎵 It's easy to say, but it's never the same 🎵"
"🎵 I guess I kinda liked the way you numbed all the pain—! 🎵"
A rough inhale. He fought a sob halfway through the chorus, voice cracking on the climb to falsetto. That imperfection made the song land harder—no polish, no defense.
Just heartbreak.
"🎵Now the day bleeds~!🎵"
"🎵Into nightfall!🎵"
"🎵And you're not here...🎵"
"🎵To get me through it all!🎵"
Zhang Lexuan set her drink down. Do something, her heart urged. But what? Drag him offstage? Hug him in front of everyone?
None of it felt right.
"🎵I let my guard down~🎵"
"🎵And then you pulled the rug~🎵"
"🎵I was getting kinda used to being someone you loved!🎵"
The line echoed, dust settling on an unsaid name. Bei Bei's shoulders quivered; his hands, though trembling, never abandoned the keys.
By the final chorus his voice was no more than a whisper, yet somehow carried to every corner of the dim bar:
"🎵 And I~ tend to close my eyes when it hurts sometimes🎵"
"🎵 I fall into your arms!🎵"
"🎵I'll be safe in your sound 'til I come back around~🎵"
Bei Bei let out a sharp, deep breath, deciding to end it there.
Silence followed—heavy, respectful. Then a smattering of applause swelled into a genuine ovation.
Bei Bei rose too quickly; the room tilted.
'Ya...Ya?' Someone ran up to him.
Lexuan was at his side before he toppled, steadying him with a hand on his back.
"Okay. I think that's enough for tonight."
Bei Bei blinked, recognition flickering through the haze. "Lexuan... I—I'm fine. Just—"
"You're not," she said, voice gentle but firm. "Barkeep, he's going home now."
The barkeep laughed. "Alright, fine. But let him know when he's sober. After that wonderful performance? He's welcome to drink here again for a night, on the house."
Zhang Lexuan nodded and dragged Bei Bei down the stage, and out of the bar.
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AN(1): I changed the name of Tang Ya's martial soul into the Devouring Silver Grass.
AN: I've had the short omake idea for a while now when I listened to the song. Poor green hat Bei Bei. See y'all next time!