"Dean, you're absolutely right. Teachers like Mr. Wang Yan, who excel in theoretical knowledge and have a strong sense of responsibility towards their students, should have gained access to the confidential library in the inner courtyard long ago," Huo Yuhao said with a squint in his eyes. "Isn't Mr. Wang Yan's performance good enough to warrant such access earlier?"
"Uh..."
Yan Shaozhe was momentarily stunned by Huo Yuhao's question. It was clearly an attempt to sow discord, yet he had no way to refute it.
Huo Yuhao's implication was simple: if you already knew about Wang Yan's outstanding abilities, why are you only granting him access now? Did his previous performance not qualify him for the confidential library?
While this was indeed the case, saying it in front of Wang Yan was another matter.
If Yan Shaozhe outright said that Wang Yan didn't qualify earlier and was only getting this opportunity because of Huo Yuhao, it would surely dishearten Wang Yan.
"This kid is really slippery, even more so than those old foxes," Yan Shaozhe thought with some headache as he glanced at Huo Yuhao.
"Alright, Mr. Wang Yan, I can make a decision here without needing to apply to the Sea God Pavilion. From now on, you have the qualification to enter the inner courtyard's confidential library. I hope you will continue to work hard and cultivate many more excellent students for Shrek Academy. As the Dean of the Martial Soul Department, I have great expectations for you!"
Upon hearing this, Wang Yan was overjoyed, barely able to contain his excitement to rush into the library immediately.
Meanwhile, Yan Shaozhe was left a bit at a loss. Without Wang Yan as leverage, it would be even harder to get Huo Yuhao to comply.
Pausing briefly, Yan Shaozhe put on a deliberately sincere smile.
He slowly walked up to Huo Yuhao and said with apparent regret, "Huo Yuhao, I came here specifically to find you. First and foremost, on behalf of Shrek Academy, I apologize to you."
As he spoke, this foremost figure at Shrek Academy, a highly esteemed Bright Phoenix Douluo in the soul master world of Douluo Continent, actually bowed slightly to Huo Yuhao.
Wang Yan was stunned, his mouth agape. He had never seen Dean Yan bow to anyone before.
Once, an emperor had visited Shrek Academy and respectfully saluted Dean Yan, as the emperor had once studied at Shrek Academy and had been expelled before graduating from the outer courtyard.
Despite this, the emperor held Shrek Academy in high regard, illustrating the academy's esteemed reputation.
It also hinted at who the emperor's class advisor was, explaining why Zhou Yi had never dared to leave Shrek City, lest she be turned into dog food by the emperor.
Back to the matter at hand, for Dean Yan Shaozhe to bow to a twelve-year-old second-year student was unprecedented and would shock the soul master world if it got out.
After bowing, Yan Shaozhe stood up straight, still smiling warmly and showing no embarrassment. He continued gently, "Huo Yuhao, due to our imprecise assessment, Shrek Academy nearly lost a talent like you. I sincerely apologize for this mistake on our part."
From Yan Shaozhe's perspective, Huo Yuhao seemed stunned into silence by his respectful gesture.
This was exactly what Yan Shaozhe intended—to use the shock and a bit of emotional appeal to bring Huo Yuhao back to Shrek Academy.
"Senior Yan, you're too courteous. My rank is much lower than yours; how could you bow to me? Since you've honored me this way, I can only return the courtesy."
Under Wang Yan's astonished gaze, Huo Yuhao gave a nonchalant bow, as if to an equal.
"No, this isn't right!"
Wang Yan was dumbfounded. Huo Yuhao was intelligent, though a bit unconventional, he usually wouldn't overstep.
Although Yan Shaozhe was nominally his teacher, his rank in the soul master world was terrifyingly high, being a Super Douluo over a hundred years old.
The name of Bright Phoenix Yan Shaozhe had been renowned in the soul master world for at least sixty years.
Yet Huo Yuhao dared to bow to Yan Shaozhe as an equal, which could be seen as a provocation.
Whose subordinate is this, daringly brave?
However, Yan Shaozhe's face was stiff. Only he understood that Huo Yuhao wasn't actually provoking him, and his gesture was appropriate.
Huo Yuhao was now the successor of the Body Sect, the heir to Du Busi, the next Body Douluo.
Du Bushi's rank was on par with Dragon God Douluo Mu En, both formidable figures in the soul master world.
Yan Shaozhe was Mu En's disciple, and Huo Yuhao was Du Busi's heir, making them equals.
In other words, their statuses were equal. Yan Shaozhe was the next Sea God Pavilion Master, and Huo Yuhao was the next Body Sect Master—equally matched!
Therefore, the idea of being respectful was moot! He couldn't win Huo Yuhao over with this gesture; it would make Huo Yuhao think he was a fool!
In the original story, Yan Shaozhe and Huo Yuhao had vastly different statuses, making Yan Shaozhe's bow deeply touching to the original protagonist.
But now, with no disparity in their statuses, Yan Shaozhe's bow seemed like a meaningless gesture. Huo Yuhao felt nothing.
Yan Shaozhe's face turned various shades, staring at Huo Yuhao as if a tiger eyeing a hedgehog—wanting to attack but not knowing where to start.
Finally, Yan Shaozhe sighed, dropping the pretenses and directly offering terms to Huo Yuhao.
"Huo Yuhao, I dare say, on our Douluo Continent, only Shrek Academy's Martial Soul Department can train a soul master with an Ultimate Martial Soul. If you agree, from now on, you will be an inner courtyard disciple of the Martial Soul Department."
This move was quite cunning. Du Bushi had forbidden Huo Yuhao from becoming a core disciple of Shrek Academy.
But Yan Shaozhe offered him a position as an inner courtyard disciple, which didn't violate Du Bushi's condition.
It showed Shrek Academy's knack for bending rules. After all, an academy that could cheat in a supposedly fair soul master tournament deserved its reputation as the continent's biggest trickster!
"If you agree, I will personally guide your cultivation. With your talent, even if cultivating an Ultimate Martial Soul is slow, I can ensure you become a Title Douluo before forty. Do you know what it means to be a Title Douluo with an Ultimate Martial Soul?"
Huo Yuhao shook his head.
Yan Shaozhe smiled slightly, tempting him like a devil, "It means invincibility, undefeated in the world!"
"If you join our Martial Soul Department, you'll receive all the resources of the inner courtyard. To compensate for our previous mistakes, I can also guarantee three things."
"First, your companions, Ning Tian and Wu Feng, will become inner courtyard disciples like you. Not every core disciple can enter the inner courtyard, and becoming an inner courtyard disciple early ensures more resources."
"Second, as the Dean of the Martial Soul Department, I promise the academy will provide you with a full set of soul bones of the highest quality, including at least one from a 100,000-year soul beast."
"Third, I guarantee at least one 100,000-year soul ring for you!"
Wang Yan was stunned. Though Shrek Academy was powerful, Yan Shaozhe's promises to Huo Yuhao were extraordinary.
A 100,000-year soul ring and bone meant Shrek's strongest would hunt a 100,000-year soul beast for Huo Yuhao, unprecedented in the academy's history, not to mention acquiring a full set of soul bones.
Moreover, Yan Shaozhe's cunning move included Ning Tian and Wu Feng, ensuring Huo Yuhao wouldn't outright refuse.
"So, Huo Yuhao, have you understood my conditions? You can take your time deciding; I won't rush you."
"There's an old saying, 'those who recognize the times are outstanding.' You're smart; I believe you'll make the right choice."
Huo Yuhao smiled and nodded, pleasing Yan Shaozhe. He thought Huo Yuhao would choose wisely given the benefits.
However, to Yan Shaozhe's surprise, Huo Yuhao pulled out a small metal box from behind him.
As the Dean, though not a soul engineer, Yan Shaozhe recognized the item.
It was a voice transmission soul tool, made in pairs, allowing communication within a hundred-mile radius.
"Dean, I have no issue with your offer. But someone else heard our conversation and wants to speak with you."
Yan Shaozhe hesitated but took the metal box.
"I'm Yan Shaozhe. Who are you?"
A furious roar came from the other side of the voice transmission soul tool.
"I am Du Busi! Yan Shaozhe, you little brat, I'll kill you!"
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