Chapter 10 No Talent? Equal Opportunity? Shrek Academy's Bizarre Admission Rules!
The scene shifts, drawing everyone's attention.
As the words "Contrast begins" appeared, the image on the sky finally became clear.
Whether it was Xuanzi, who had just been making sarcastic remarks in the tavern, or the countless civilians and soul masters in the underworld who were filled with expectation or trepidation, they all subconsciously held their breath and stared intently at the gradually brightening screen.
They were eager to know what Shrek Academy had become under the new order established by the so-called "God King Xuanzi".
The scene slowly unfolds, revealing an initial white world storyline that is virtually identical to the dark world.
That was the oppressive and gloomy backyard of the White Tiger Duke's mansion. There stood young Huo Yuhao and his ailing mother, Huo Yun'er.
[The same bullying, the same neglect, the same rainy night, the same heart-wrenching separation.]
The hatred and determination in Huo Yuhao's eyes were exactly the same as his own in the underworld. Then, he resolutely left the Duke's mansion and embarked on the road to the Star Dou Great Forest.
Seeing this, the audience of The Dark World felt a little sad, but not too surprised.
"It seems everyone starts from the same point."
"Yes, this child's life is truly miserable. No matter which world you're in, the Duke's mansion is always that man-eating den of monsters."
"The plot hasn't changed at all, so what changes could there be in Shrek's world?"
However, just when the audience thought the plot would proceed as expected, a turning point quietly arrived in the Star Dou Great Forest.
Huo Yuhao teetered on the brink of death, but was fortunate enough to encounter the Heavenly Dream Ice Silkworm, becoming its host and obtaining his first spirit ring.
[Immediately afterwards, Beibei and Tang Ya appeared.]
The two remained as elegant and charming as ever; Bei Bei was gentle and refined, while Tang Ya was mischievous and clever. They rescued Huo Yuhao from a near-attack by a soul beast and became interested in his unique Spirit Eye Martial Soul.
After a brief conversation, the aroma of grilled fish filled the woods.
Everything looks familiar.
until--
Tang Ya finished the last bite of grilled fish, clapped her hands in satisfaction, and looked at Huo Yuhao with her bright eyes, saying with a grin, "Little Yuhao, your grilled fish skills are really good, and you're quite well-behaved too. Since you have nowhere to go and are all alone, why don't you..."
The audience in the dark world silently echoed in their hearts: "Why not join our Tang Clan?"
After all, in the underworld, this was a turning point in Huo Yuhao's fate.
Without a special recruitment quota from the Tang Sect, Huo Yuhao, with only a ten-year soul ring and extremely poor talent, would never even be able to get close to Shrek Academy in his lifetime.
However, what Tang Ya said next in the sky was completely different from what they had expected.
Tang Ya blinked, pointed to the western part of the forest, and said, "Why don't you come back to Shrek Academy with us? Going to school there might be your best way out."
"What?!"
"Go straight to Shrek Academy? Wait, did I hear that right?"
"Tang Ya didn't let him join the Tang Sect? Then why should Huo Yuhao get into Shrek Academy?"
The people in the underworld were completely dumbfounded.
In their minds, what kind of place is Shrek Academy?
That's the number one academy on the entire continent! That's the cradle of monsters!
The recruitment standards are extremely strict: applicants must be no older than twelve, have a soul power of at least level 20, and possess either two soul rings or exceptional talent!
And what about Huo Yuhao at this time?
His soul power was only level 10, and although his first soul ring was a million-year one, it was disguised as a ten-year white ring. His physical condition was also terrible.
Given these conditions, without the precious "exemption from examination special admission quota" from the Tang Sect, even if Huo Yuhao knelt down at the Shrek Academy gate and kowtowed ten thousand times, the gatekeeper wouldn't even give him a second glance!
"Are Beibei and Tang Ya from this parallel world trying to harm him?"
Someone said doubtfully, "With Huo Yuhao's qualifications, he'll just be rejected even if he goes. It's not only a waste of time, but it'll also hurt his self-esteem."
"Yes, does that mean Shrek Academy in that world lowered its admission standards?"
"If the standards are lowered, wouldn't just any Tom, Dick, or Harry be able to get in? What kind of Shrek would that be? It would just become a vegetable market!"
"If anyone can get in, can Shrek Academy teach them all? Will there be enough resources to distribute them all?"
Countless questions filled the minds of the people in the underworld.
They had absolutely no idea what was going on.
...
The story continues beneath the sky.
Not only were the viewers in the dark world confused, but even Huo Yuhao in the scene looked bewildered and inferior.
Huo Yuhao lowered his head, looking at his somewhat shabby clothes, and nervously clutched the hem of his shirt. He said softly, "But... Brother Beibei, Sister Xiaoya, I read in the book that Shrek Academy only accepts monsters. My talent is very poor, and my soul power is very low, only level ten... Can I really do it?"
Upon hearing Huo Yuhao's words, the audience in the Black World nodded in agreement.
That's right! This child knows what he's doing.
However, the next second, Beibei's answer was like a thunderbolt, striking the inherent concepts of the underworld!
[BeiBei smiled gently, reached out and ruffled Huo Yuhao's hair, her eyes filled with encouragement: "Yuhao, that old rule you mentioned about 'only accepting monsters' is from a long time ago."]
"Before?" Huo Yuhao looked up, his eyes filled with confusion.
"That's right." Beibei nodded, a hint of reverence in her eyes. "Everything has changed since Elder Xuan of our academy—the current head of the Sea God Pavilion—took over the academy's reforms."
"Elder Xuan often said that talent is important, but it's not the only measure of a person. Some people achieve great things later in life, some have mediocre martial spirits but amazing perseverance, and some... simply lack an opportunity."
At this point, Tang Ya interjected, "Yes, yes! Elder Xuan is amazing! The first thing he did after taking office was to expand Shrek City three times its original size! Then he ordered that the number of students admitted each term be increased from one thousand to ten thousand!"
boom--!!!
This sentence completely stunned the audience in the dark world.
"How much?! Ten thousand?!"
"Has Shrek Academy gone mad? Where did all these teachers come from? Where did all these dormitories come from? Is this still the Shrek Academy that follows the elite path?"
But that's not all.
Even more exciting content is yet to come.
[In the scene, Huo Yuhao was also startled by this number: "Ten thousand people... Well, then I might not be able to pass the exam, right? After all, there are so many people across the entire continent who want to go to Shrek Academy..."]
"This brings us to the most crucial point."
[Beibei raised a finger, her expression turning serious. "To prevent the powerful and wealthy from monopolizing resources and to give all children across the continent an absolutely fair opportunity, Elder Xuan abolished all 'recommendation letter' systems and also abolished the 'talent threshold'."]
"Whether it's the city lord's son or a beggar's child; whether it's innate full soul power or innate soul power of only half a level..."
"As long as you meet the age requirement and have a clean background, there's only one rule for getting into Shrek Academy—luck!"
Depends on luck?!
Everyone in the underworld, from high-ranking titled Douluo to ordinary farmers in the fields, felt their minds were not working properly at this moment.
What kind of bizarre rule is this?
The number one academy on the entire continent admits students based on... luck, not on the strength of their martial spirit or their spirit power level?
[In the scene, Tang Ya gestures, "He personally crafted a super soul tool that reached level nine—'Echo of Destiny'!"]
"Every year during enrollment, all the registered children gather at Shrek Square. That's when the 'Echo of Destiny' wheel starts spinning."
"It will be completely random, with no possibility of human manipulation, selecting 10,000 lucky winners from hundreds of thousands of applicants!"
"This is absolute fairness! When it comes to luck, everyone is equal!"
[Beibei smiled and added, "So, Yuhao, even if you have poor talent, as long as you're lucky enough to be chosen by the roulette wheel, you'll be a formal student of Shrek Academy. And once enrolled, the academy will treat everyone equally and will never discriminate against you because of your lack of talent."]
"How about it? Dare to take a gamble on your luck?"
(End of chapter)