Douluo Continent: The Eye of Truth

Chapter 7 An Inescapable Fateful Encounter: The First Battle of the Entrance Examination

While on their journey, Bei Bei and Tang Ya also introduced Huo Yuhao to the relevant precautions of Shrek Academy, naturally focusing on praising Tang San with rainbow-colored flattery as the radius.

However, Huo Yuhao also roughly understood that the current Shrek Academy should not have changed because of the butterfly effect, quantum mechanics and other strange theories that he had come from.

This deviates from the original storyline; the current Shrek Academy is still the Shrek Academy from the original work.

"For now, things are alright. If something truly drastic changes happen, we'll need to rethink our direction. For now, this is enough. Let's build up our strength and get through this most difficult period of powerlessness."

Finally, Huo Yuhao and his group arrived at Shrek City. They entered through the east gate, and Shrek Academy was not far away.

Looking at this rather large city, Huo Yuhao didn't feel particularly excited, after all, he was different from the original owner who had never left the White Tiger Duke's mansion.

We're from another time, after all. As college students, we've traveled thousands of miles by high-speed rail and airplane to get to school before. Shrek City is at most a third-tier city.

Moreover, it was a rather underdeveloped city. Apart from the city walls used to defend against beast tides and protect the city, which were somewhat impressive, the so-called prosperity was really just so-so in Huo Yuhao's eyes.

"Finally arrived, but..." Huo Yuhao looked around. More interested in the people in the city than the unremarkable city buildings and vendors.

It's worth noting that it was rare to see so many people while traveling. With the opening of the Eye of Truth, Huo Yuhao was able to clearly see the flow of soul power within each person and the faintly formed martial soul image.

"If we want to study martial souls in the future, we should find places with many people to observe. It seems that different soul power levels have different effects on martial souls. Tang Ya and Bei Bei have similar soul power, which I hadn't noticed before."

"My own martial soul mutated due to the transmigration, making it unusable as a standard for measurement. There's a significant difference between these commoners with no soul power and first-ring soul masters with even a little soul power."

"Does a higher soul power result in a more solid and complex martial soul image? And what do the lines and patterns that outline and compose the martial soul represent? I don't have a chance to try now, but I can look into it later."

"Xiao Yuhao, what are you looking at? Are you dazzled by the prosperity of Shrek City? Come on, let's go report!" Tang Ya said with a smile.

"Um, Teacher Xiaoya, may I stay in the city a little longer? I want to master the Tang Clan's techniques before I register."

"In that case, we might be able to enter without using the special recruitment quota from the Tang Sect, and instead go through the route of being recommended by the Tang Sect."

"In that case, even if my soul power is relatively weak after enrollment, the other students should not gossip. And even if I fail, I will just be admitted according to the quota originally submitted by Tang Sect."

Upon hearing this, Tang Ya glanced at Bei Bei, who smiled and nodded, saying, "Junior Brother's mastery of our Tang Clan's unique skills has progressed by leaps and bounds during this period."

"And it's even better that Junior Brother has this intention; the growth of a strong person always requires going through trials and tribulations."

"Senior Brother, I have high hopes for you. Teacher Xiaoya, I'll take Yuhao to rent a hotel in the city first."

"Given Junior Brother's mastery of Tang Sect's unique skills, coupled with his Martial Soul's perception, he should be able to pass the assessment smoothly as long as he uses some hidden weapons."

Hearing this, Tang Ya nodded, patting her chest and promising, "Leave the hidden weapon matter to me. Xiao Yuhao, practice your hidden weapon techniques these few days, and then show off your skills in the entrance exam! Let everyone know how powerful the Tang Clan is!"

Bei Bei also had great confidence in Huo Yuhao. In any case, at the first and second ring stages, hidden weapons still had a significant advantage, and Huo Yuhao's insight was even more of a bonus.

Although Huo Yuhao's soul power is not strong, when combined with the hidden weapons that are allowed to be used in the assessment, his lethality is no less than that of an ordinary two-ring great soul master.

This is also why Bei Bei felt comfortable letting Huo Yuhao participate. Otherwise, if Huo Yuhao were really too weak and embarrassed himself, even if he could still join through the quota recommended by Tang Sect, it would only make people gossip more.

Huo Yuhao followed Bei Bei to the city and rented an inn. Bei Bei also gave Huo Yuhao some gold soul coins for living expenses.

"Junior brother, I need to go back to Shrek Academy first to report on my previous trip. I'll come find you after I've taken care of things at the academy."

"Take this money and use it to buy some daily necessities to prepare for school later," Beibei said with a smile.

After all, Huo Yuhao had already hinted at his junior brother's poverty when he asked them to collect the corpse of the Mandragora Snake. Now that he knew about his junior brother's poverty, as the senior brother, he naturally wouldn't mistreat him.

"Alright, Senior Brother, I'll go practice my hidden weapon techniques now," Huo Yuhao said after taking the money pouch.

After Bei Bei left and Huo Yuhao returned to his room, he finally breathed a sigh of relief after closing the door.

His decision to go through the proper procedures before joining Shrek Academy was not to protect the reputation of the Tang Sect, but rather to delay his enrollment as much as possible.

After all, he didn't want to be among the first batch of students to enroll through the Tang Sect's special channel and end up being the unlucky one assigned to Zhou Yi's class.

Although he was prepared to accept his fate, Huo Yuhao had no intention of experiencing the educational approach of the renowned teacher Zhou Yi. For him, at this most vulnerable time, it was naturally most important to avoid attracting attention and develop quietly.

"Even if I pass, I'll only be able to relax for the first academic year. After the freshman assessment and class assignments, Zhou Yi will still be in charge of the Control and Offensive departments. What a headache."

"It doesn't seem like a bad idea. Although the support class isn't ideal, if all else fails, I can just enroll in the agility-based class. Anyway, even though the original story says they divide students into classes, in reality, there's not much difference."

Thinking of this, Huo Yuhao calmed down a bit. As for the so-called cultivation of Tang Sect's secret techniques? With the Tianmeng brand fully automatic cultivation device, he naturally didn't need to cultivate by himself.

Huo Yuhao had already memorized all the techniques of the Hidden Weapon Hundred Solutions after he first acquired them. With the combination of his mental power and the Eye of Truth, although his physical strength was a bit lacking, he could still handle battles between Soul Masters and Great Soul Masters without any problems.

The entrance examination lasts for three days. Having a recommendation from the Tang Sect allows you to bypass the first stage (recommendation letter) and the second stage (soul power and age tests).

"The third test examines the ratio of martial spirit skills and the ability to control the martial spirit; with the Tang Sect as a guarantor, this shouldn't be a problem."

"All that's left is the fourth practical test. It shouldn't be too difficult, but it's best to prepare. Let's see if we can get some practice from Beibei when he gets back, a little sparring session."

"After all, although I've almost mastered my martial soul since arriving in this world, I haven't had a proper real battle with anyone yet."

Two days passed in the blink of an eye. On the second day, Bei Bei came to the hotel to find Huo Yuhao, and also brought a new gift from Tang Ya to Huo Yuhao: a batch of basic hidden weapons produced by the Tang Sect.

Furthermore, due to Tang San's connection with Shrek Academy, unlike soul tools, these mechanical hidden weapons can be used without restriction in all of Shrek Academy's assessments and competitions.

On the third day, which was also the last day of the entrance examination, Huo Yuhao was taken to Shrek Academy by Bei Bei. With the Tang Sect as his guarantor for the first three tests, there was no need to say more.

The fourth test is a real-world assessment, and it involves multi-person teamwork, with three people forming a group and each team being assessed individually.

Of course, defeating the test subjects isn't the only way to pass this level, since they'll be facing their seniors from Shrek Academy.

How could a group of small-time workers, with only one or at most two rings, possibly achieve this?

What they need to do is cooperate with each other, make the most of their martial spirit advantages, and persevere under the senior's attacks or ensure that their team can last longer.

While team formation is random, it's not entirely random, since it's impossible to assign three support-type Soul Masters together.

Those who last the longest or perform the best will naturally receive a higher score. Only those who achieve a high overall score across all four stages can become a member of Shrek Academy.

"His main spirit is just his eyes? And his spirit skills are more focused on support and agility-based attacks? I understand." A student in charge of registration nodded to Bei Bei, who had brought Huo Yuhao there: "Senior Brother Bei Bei, let this little brother come with me."

Bei Bei nodded, and Huo Yuhao followed her. When he saw the people waiting in the room with such distinctive features, Huo Yuhao vaguely realized that his previous plan might be in vain.

That is, Shrek Academy's admission process has four stages, and the first three stages can be taken as long as you arrive within the admission period.

However, the fourth level is different. Apart from some privileged forces, such as the Tang Sect, the White Tiger Duke's Mansion, the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile School, or the royal families of various empires, which have close ties with Shrek Academy.

The other trainees' participation in the fourth stage was postponed to the third day because it required team formation.

"That big fat guy must be Xie Huan Yue? I can't really recognize the others... wait, could that pink-haired guy be... never mind, I just hope God protects me from being assigned to Zhou Yi's class."

He activated his Eye of Truth, but only observed the soul power of those around him without conducting any in-depth observation. This was because, after several days of development, Huo Yuhao had a pretty good understanding of the energy required to activate his Eye of Truth at different levels.

Superficial observation requires almost no mental energy, while deep observation, the more detailed and subtle the observation, the more mental energy it requires. Next is the exam, so let's not get into any more trouble.

"Groups one, two, and three, meet up with your team members and have ten minutes to discuss tactics and prepare for the assessment."

"Number 31 Wang Dong, Number 32 Huo Yuhao, and Number 33 Zhao Haochen form a group. They will meet up with their team members and have ten minutes to discuss tactics and prepare for the assessment."

Hearing this, Huo Yuhao sighed helplessly in his heart. He could now be sure that Tang Buddha was arranging things for him at this moment, otherwise, no matter how coincidental it was, it couldn't be this coincidental.

Why did I have to team up with Wang Dong? And the fact that Wang Dong, this young lady, was able to get a recommendation letter must have been arranged by the Haotian Sect, otherwise she wouldn't have any connections on her own.

Moreover, given the relationship between the Clear Sky Sect and Shrek Academy, why would Wang Dong need to take an entrance exam? Of course, he'd be admitted without an exam; why would he want to team up with me?

"You guys are my teammates for this entrance exam? Don't drag me down!" The handsome young man, with his head held high, fair skin, big eyes, and short, neat hair in a light pinkish-blue hue, said this proudly.

"Wang Dong, Soul Power Level 21, Second Ring Power Attack Type Battle Soul Master."

Upon hearing this, the chubby boy named Zhao Haochen excitedly said, "My name is Zhao Haochen, my martial soul is a giant chicken leg, and I'm a level 15 support-type battle soul master. I'm counting on you for this assessment, big brother!"

"Huo Yuhao, Soul Power Level 12, currently classified as an Agility-type Battle Soul Master," Huo Yuhao said calmly.

"???" Upon hearing this, Wang Dong and Zhao Haochen both turned their heads in surprise: "Level 12? Isn't the admission standard level 15?"

The chubby boy asked in confusion, but Huo Yuhao just shrugged and didn't say anything more.

Huo Yuhao had only recently broken through to this level 12 soul power, and this was only because his cultivation speed was boosted by the Tianmeng brand cultivation aid that ran 24 hours a day.

This is much faster than what the original owner wanted, considering that the original owner was only level eleven at this time.

Hearing this, Wang Dong raised an eyebrow: "Hmph, no matter how you sneaked in, don't hold me back, or you'll regret it!"

"Ah, right, right, right." Huo Yuhao nodded, giving a perfunctory reply.

"You!" Although Wang Dong was somewhat arrogant, he could still understand good and bad words. Huo Yuhao was obviously just fobbing him off. He was about to lash out when he heard a voice.

"Number 31, Wang Dong; Number 32, Huo Yuhao; Number 33, Zhao Haochen, prepare to enter for the assessment!" The Shrek Academy senior, acting as the examiner, announced.

"Hmph, we'll see." Wang Dong led the way to the examination hall, and Huo Yuhao and Zhao Haochen followed closely behind. Without discussing any tactics, they stepped onto the battlefield for their first battle.

"He Heng'an, a level 45 defensive-type battle spirit master, martial spirit: Gold Rush Armor." The examiner for Huo Yuhao and his two companions was a tall, handsome man.

"Wang Dong, a level 21 offensive-type Soul Master, Martial Soul: Goddess of Light Butterfly!"

"Huo Yuhao, a level 12 agility-type battle spirit master, spirit spirit: Spirit Eye." Huo Yuhao finally gave up the name Spirit Eye. After all, no matter how cool the name of a spirit spirit is, it can't fill an empty stomach. It's better to keep it a secret if possible.

"Zhao Haochen, a level 15 support-type battle spirit master, martial spirit: Big Chicken Leg."

Then, another examiner responsible for scoring lit an incense stick, and the battle officially began!

(End of this chapter)