Chapter 176: The Water God Church Feeds No Idlers
Under Ye Guyi's guidance, the group finally stepped through the gates of Canaan Academy.
The sight before them made everyone unconsciously slow their steps.
Within the spacious campus, rows of neat, orderly buildings were arranged in a pleasing, staggered layout. Students in twos and threes moved among them, their faces alight with the youthful vigor and vitality unique to their age. Sunlight spilled onto the flagstone paths, casting a warm and brilliant halo.
Ye Guyi raised her hand and pointed toward the four tall buildings on the left, her voice carrying a hint of pride. "Those over there are the teaching buildings. Currently, there are four in total. Soul master students and ordinary students are separated, with two buildings each—one teaching building for lower grades, and one for upper grades."
She paused, then explained in detail: "Lower grades refer to students from six to twelve years old. Upper grades are students above twelve, up to eighteen years old."
Following that, she candidly added, "After all, we are not Shrek, and the academy has only just been established. So, for the time being, we don't have the time or energy to implement the inner and outer court system. Moreover, the number of students is also small—mainly on the soul master student side. Compared to other renowned advanced soul master academies, we really do fall far short."
Bei Bei nodded thoughtfully upon hearing this.
This was indeed the honest truth. The academy had been completed for less than a year. No matter how great the Water God Church's reputation was, trying to snatch excellent student sources from the jaws of so many long-established academies in such a short time was simply unrealistic.
Students of high talent were either pre-selected by the major advanced academies early on, or they sharpened their heads trying to test into Shrek. Those who remained were also more inclined to choose long-established academies they were familiar with.
Furthermore, Canaan Academy actually admitted ordinary students. In the eyes of some soul master families, this would likely provoke considerable antipathy. After all, the vast majority of soul masters considered themselves inherently superior and looked down on ordinary people without soul power from the bottom of their hearts.
Though, to a certain extent, this was indeed a fact.
Soul masters could fight; ordinary people could not. Soul masters had martial souls and soul skills; ordinary people could only rely on their fists and weapons. When faced with soul beasts, beast tides, or evil soul masters, ordinary people could only turn tail and run—and they might not even outrun them. In the end, death was the most likely outcome. Soul masters, at least, had the power to resist and could even bite off a chunk of the enemy's flesh before dying.
Also, ordinary people had no soul power and couldn't use high-grade soul tools—at most, they could only use hidden weapons. But compared to soul tools, hidden weapons were indeed far too outdated. Adding to that, the Tang Sect had long since fallen into decline, and nowadays, not many people even remembered hidden weapons anymore.
But then Bei Bei reconsidered. Furina had mentioned before that she was developing soul tools that could be used without soul power.
If that truly succeeded, it would completely overturn the current state of ordinary people and the entire continent. Especially if one day, even Class 9 soul tools could be driven without soul power, the status gap between ordinary people and soul masters would likely be drawn infinitely closer.
As he was deep in thought, his gaze was drawn to a scene not far away.
A group of students, who appeared to be ordinary people, were engaged in some kind of training in an open area. Some were lifting massive boulders, some were rapidly sprinting back and forth through a wooded area, some were sparring, and there were even some chopping at rocks with blades—and truly succeeding, with only a shallow nick left on the blade.
Their movements were agile and powerful, their breathing steady and rhythmic, completely unlike ordinary people without soul power.
Bei Bei furrowed his brow slightly, carefully sensing them for a moment, and confirmed: "There truly is no trace of soul power fluctuations on them... but this training doesn't seem like something ordinary people could do, either."
He turned a puzzled gaze toward Furina: "What are they doing?"
Furina followed his gaze and explained in a flat tone: "Cultivating. Just like soul masters, they learn specific techniques for cultivation. These are all supplementary exercises."
These students were all practicing the breathing techniques and internal energy cultivation martial arts she had previously drawn from her system.
Bei Bei froze, disbelief flashing in his eyes: "Techniques that allow ordinary people to cultivate... do they truly exist?"
Tang Ya, Wang Dong, and Xiao Xiao also pricked up their ears, their eyes filled with curiosity and shock.
This was no less staggering than the artificial soul bones and artificial soul rings. If ordinary people could truly cultivate and grow stronger, it meant that even without soul power, they now possessed the capital to contend against soul masters.
If one added soul tools that required no soul power to use on top of that, then what difference would remain between them and soul masters?
Furina placed a hand over her heart, her expression resolute as she answered: "Naturally. Is it not displayed right before your eyes?"
She paused, then meticulously elaborated: "However, unlike cultivating soul power, this only makes their bodies stronger and more agile—more akin to a physical tempering method. Of course, they will also cultivate internal energy, something similar to soul power."
"They must also constantly cultivate and break through just like soul masters, and similarly depend on innate talent and opportunity. Naturally, they must also learn some martial techniques and such on their own. Because no matter how strong the hardware, without the matching software, how could it possibly be deployed?"
Bei Bei was speechless. Looking at what was before him, it was indeed not something ordinary people could accomplish—and these were children twelve years old or even younger.
Wang Dong listened, understanding some but not all, and scratched his head: "Hardware and software... what are those?"
Furina casually offered an analogy: "Just a metaphor. Think of it as the relationship between a martial soul and a soul ring."
Wang Dong suddenly understood and nodded: "Oh—that, indeed."
The relationship between a martial soul and a soul ring was intimately close. Just as no matter how strong the martial soul, it still relied on soul rings to execute soul skills. The strength of the soul skills was also closely tied to the quality of the soul rings. Without soul rings, without soul skills, even a martial soul of the highest quality was useless.
Furina swept her gaze over the group and added, "If you all wish to train later, I can also give you a relatively universal technique. But I think it would be better for you to strengthen your spiritual power instead."
"After all, soul power itself inherently amplifies the body. Spiritual power, on the other hand, is very difficult to improve solely through raising soul power. And enhancing spiritual power is immensely helpful for absorbing soul rings, soul bones, and the like."
She admonished them with earnest gravity: "As the saying goes, biting off more than you can chew won't help. Weigh it carefully yourselves."
"Mm, understood." Everyone nodded in acknowledgment.
Seeing that everyone had absorbed the information well enough, Ye Guyi continued to lead the way forward.
She raised her hand and pointed toward a grand, imposing building in the distance, introducing: "Over there is the Spirit Arena district used for practical combat. It's free to use, with dedicated teachers responsible for management. When students take the stage to compete, the teacher will monitor the entire process closely and step in to stop the match at any sign of danger."
She paused and added, "However, the academy strictly prohibits setting up gambling and such—of course, private wagers between students don't count. Also, ordinary students can spar with soul masters, mainly those students who have trained in the cultivation techniques."
Xiao Xiao's eyes lit up, and she sighed with heartfelt admiration: "That's so wonderful... completely free. That way, even a commoner like me could freely participate in combat and hone my own combat skills."
Strictly speaking, among Furina's group, only Xiao Xiao and Tang Ya were of commoner origin. Huo Yuhao was also a commoner, but he had long since received help from the Water God Church and had also unearthed his talent in soul tools. Even without the Water God Church's support, he could easily support himself and even afford some luxury goods.
Tang Ya, however, furrowed her brow with some doubt: "Without gambling and placing bets, how do the students make money? Although the Spirit Arena being free is better than Shrek, some impoverished students back at our place relied entirely on competing in the Spirit Arena to earn a living."
She had deep personal experience with this. Although her own strength was limited and soul tools couldn't be used in the Spirit Arena, hidden weapons could be. Coupled with her Tang Sect secret arts, as long as she didn't run into opponents like Bei Bei or Xu Sanshi, she could still win quite a few matches relying on hidden weapons and her Bluesilver Grass martial soul, earning some income.
Ye Guyi smiled mysteriously and kept them in suspense: "I'll mention it shortly. Don't be impatient."
The group continued forward and soon arrived before another building. It was just past noon, and quite a few students were streaming into that building, chatting and laughing, creating a lively and cheerful atmosphere.
Ye Guyi introduced: "That over there is our Canaan Academy's cafeteria. Three floors in total, each floor offering different cuisines for students to choose from. There are also low-priced meals specifically prepared for impoverished students."
She paused, her voice carrying a note of shared pride: "The dishes inside were basically all developed by Huo Yuhao before he left. The vast majority of the chefs have received culinary guidance from Huo Yuhao."
Upon hearing this, Tang Ya immediately nodded like a pecking chick: "That sounds only logical! Little Yuhao's culinary skills, we've all witnessed them firsthand. They're absolutely top-notch!"
Bei Bei, Wang Dong, and Xiao Xiao also nodded in agreement, their faces filled with expressions that said "indeed so."
Furina nodded silently at the side, but inwardly grumbled: Huo Yuhao's culinary skills are indeed first-rate, but this also indirectly illustrates that the culinary level of the Douluo Continent's people is truly quite poor.
After all, this place had Food-type soul masters. A single rank 30 Food-type soul master could sustain an army of about a thousand people. With such convenience, who would be willing to spend time researching the culinary arts?
If not for this matter with Huo Yuhao in Douluo Dalu 2, combined with the influence of later developments, the Douluo Continent's culinary arts would probably still be just like this.
Wang Dong patted Huo Yuhao on the shoulder and said with exaggerated emphasis: "Exactly! If Furina is the reincarnation of the Water God, then Huo Yuhao must be the reincarnation of the Food God! Let alone beautiful girls, even I would be conquered by Huo Yuhao's cooking!"
Huo Yuhao was teased into embarrassment. He scratched his head, his cheeks reddening slightly: "You're all exaggerating far too much..."
"Don't be shy!" Wang Dong declared righteously, hands on his hips. "This is something everyone can clearly see!"
Bei Bei also chimed in to support, smiling gently: "Indeed, Yuhao, don't be so modest. This is what you deserve."
Tang Ya added with a sly grin, piling on: "That's right, that's right! In the future, when you become a god, the position of Food God will surely be waiting for you!"
Xiao Xiao also joined the excitement, her eyes sparkling: "Exactly! And there'll definitely be lots of pretty girls who will like you!"
Huo Yuhao, utterly overwhelmed by this barrage of praise, could only helplessly raise his hands in surrender, a mix of laughter and tears on his face: "Alright, alright... then I thank you all for your compliments."
Hearing Xiao Xiao's last sentence, Wang Dong, standing at the side, suddenly felt her heart lurch, alarm bells ringing loudly in her mind.
She secretly pondered: Should she reveal... that identity a little earlier?
After all, Xiao Xiao was right. Huo Yuhao's culinary skills, coupled with that gentle and considerate personality, would certainly attract the affection of many girls.
Tang Ya's side was nothing to worry about; she already had Bei Bei. No matter what, she wouldn't two-time. Besides, toward Huo Yuhao, it was at most just appreciation and fondness for his cooking—no real threat.
Xiao Xiao, well... there was some threat, but relatively minor. She seemed more like a fangirl of Furina's, and her feelings toward Huo Yuhao were likely just those of an ordinary friend.
Then the greatest threat was Furina.
Although Furina currently only regarded Huo Yuhao as a companion, with a hierarchical superior-subordinate relationship layered on top, the grace and kindness she had shown him were far too great. It might not even require Furina to like Huo Yuhao; Huo Yuhao might instead end up falling for her.
But from the current looks of things, Furina didn't seem to regard Huo Yuhao as a romantic interest, at most treating him as a younger brother or a friend.
Overall, the threat level was half-and-half, just a bit higher than Xiao Xiao's.
In any case... she had to seize an opportunity to take the initiative. Strive to win Huo Yuhao's favor first, laying the groundwork for the future.
Wang Dong secretly steeled her resolve in her heart. Her gaze unconsciously fell upon Huo Yuhao, carrying an additional hint of something unspoken and indefinable.
Ye Guyi, unaware of the winding, convoluted thoughts in Wang Dong's heart, continued to lead the way forward. Pointing toward the buildings on the other side, she introduced: "Over by the cafeteria, that's the dormitory area. Separated by gender, very spacious, each dorm room has its own bathroom. For now, there are temporarily only two buildings. That empty space over there is also planned for constructing more dormitories, but the student numbers aren't that high yet, and there are still plenty of empty rooms in the existing dorms, so it's just set aside for now."
Xiao Xiao listened and nodded inwardly. Gender-separated is very good, comfortable to live in. And the dorm buildings are large and spacious—at least there's no need to fight over bathrooms anymore.
Ye Guyi continued: "Apart from these, the academy also has a library, a sports field, a medical room, as well as small stalls set up by students or outside vendors, and so on. The medical room basically provides free treatment, but faking illness will result in punishment."
She paused, her tone growing a touch more serious: "Students from impoverished families can also find part-time jobs within the school, earning a living while studying. As long as they are willing to move and act, they won't end up starving or unable to pay tuition."
Furina added a timely remark, her voice ringing with resolute force: "Moreover, the Water God Church already has additional subsidies specifically for impoverished students. So it's practically impossible for a situation to arise where someone can't afford tuition and starves—unless they are lazy and greedy. That kind of person, however, is not worthy of sympathy."
She looked around at everyone, her gaze steady and bright:
"The Water God Church feeds no idlers!!!"
This sentence landed in everyone's ears with immense weight.
Bei Bei nodded thoughtfully; a flash of admiration passed through Tang Ya's eyes; Xiao Xiao's eyes shone even brighter, full of reverence.
As for Wang Dong, she didn't pay too much heed to this sentence. Instead, she secretly steeled her resolve: No matter what, she must work hard to improve herself, and strive to obtain Huo Yuhao's...
Ahem, her thoughts had wandered too far.
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I started a new translation and I would be very happy if you decided to check out my new translation for a rather rare fandom. It's a crossover based on Mondaiji (Problem Children Are Coming from Another World, Aren't They?)
Mondaiji: Am I A Dragon Species? https://www.webnovel.com/book/36661423108025005