Huo Yuhao's curiosity shone through as he looked at Han Yu, a hint of respect in his demeanor. "Soul skills? Can I learn them?"
Han Yu nodded, but his tone was dismissive. "It's just a superficial use of mental power." He had no intention of explaining further. Even if he did, Huo Yuhao wouldn't be able to grasp it, and they weren't close enough for him to teach.
"Sorry, I…" Huo Yuhao began, then realized it was best not to inquire about someone else's soul skills. Asking about them was a taboo, especially since he was still trying to learn from others.
"It's okay. Even if I told you, you couldn't learn it. Though we both have eye martial souls, our characteristics differ. Your eyes aren't suited for illusions," Han Yu said, fixing his gaze on Huo Yuhao with his scarlet Sharingan.
Huo Yuhao felt a flicker of fear under Han Yu's intense gaze. In that moment, it was as if a ferocious beast was assessing him, causing him to stagger back a few steps.
Seeing Huo Yuhao's reaction, Han Yu's scarlet eyes softened back to black. He nodded at Huo Yuhao, then leaped onto a nearby tree, closing his eyes as he settled in.
Feeling a bit embarrassed, Huo Yuhao glanced at Han Yu perched in the tree before turning to Beibei, who was guarding Tang Ya. He whispered, "Brother, has Han Yu always been so indifferent?"
At that, Han Yu cracked one eye open briefly before shutting it again, leaving Beibei to reply, "Yeah, that's just how he is."
"Successful!" Tang Ya exclaimed, jumping up in excitement as three soul rings—two yellow and one purple—rose from beneath her feet. She had clearly reached the soul master level.
"Thank you, little brother Han Yu!" she called, glancing up at him with a bright smile.
"Just call me Han Yu—no need for titles," he replied, his expression slightly twitching as he looked down at her.
Tang Ya seemed to catch onto something and chuckled, a knowing smile crossing her face. She realized that Han Yu wasn't as unkind as she had first thought; in fact, he was a bit cute for caring about the little brother title.
Han Yu stepped closer to the group, his demeanor still cool. "Now that you've absorbed your soul ring, let's leave quickly. I want to see what the first college in the mainland is like."
Tang Ya nodded, casting a thoughtful glance at Han Yu before turning to Beibei and Huo Yuhao. "Let's go."
An hour later, Huo Yuhao was grilling fish while Beibei fished nearby. Han Yu sat eating the fish, and Tang Ya lay resting beside them after her meal. Han Yu practiced on a tree, while Beibei guided Huo Yuhao through the Xuantian Baolu.
Time passed swiftly, and before long, the next day dawned, with the sky showing the first hints of light. A faint purple aura appeared, catching the attention of the three as they stared at it intently.
At that moment, a flash of scarlet flickered in Han Yu's eyes. "The method of spiritual cultivation seems quite rough and needs improvement," he thought. "When I get to Shrek Academy, I'll use the shadow clone to study it."
Feeling the operation of the Purple Demon Eyes in his mind, Han Yu grinned to himself.
"Hey! Han Yu! What are you thinking about? You're smiling so strangely!" Tang Ya's clear voice broke through his thoughts as her curious eyes focused on him.
Han Yu's grin faded as he replied, "It's nothing; I just remembered something funny. If there's nothing else, let's keep moving."
He noticed Tang Ya about to ask more questions and quickly jumped down from the tree, heading toward the outskirts of the Star Dou Forest.
"What the hell?" Tang Ya kicked at the weeds in frustration. "He's so mysterious!"
"Okay, Xiaoya, Brother Han Yu obviously doesn't want to share. If you keep pressing, he'll just pull away," Beibei said, standing up with a sigh.
Tang Ya shot him a glare. "Beibei, Xiao Yuhao, let me tell you, I think Han Yu is not what he seems. There's more to him!"
As she spoke, Beibei and Huo Yuhao exchanged puzzled looks.
Beibei couldn't help but remark, "No way, Brother Han Yu is actually like that? A classic tsundere?"
His voice was quiet but still audible. Han Yu, walking ahead, paused for a moment, a slight twitch crossing his expressionless face. "I just don't want to talk. I can't believe you'd misinterpret that. How could I be a tsundere?"
Shrek Academy is located in the southeastern part of the Tianhun Empire. As they traveled, Tang Ya enthusiastically shared the academy's history, detailing the legendary figures it had produced and the reasons for its esteemed reputation.
"Anyone who graduates from Shrek is a genius," she said, her eyes shining with pride.
Han Yu remained silent, choosing to reserve his judgment. He thought to himself that if Shrek could elevate his level of innate soul power from five and a half to something greater, he might be convinced. If not, then it was just a place of hollow fame. He had seen enough to know that many places boast greatness while offering little substance.
Reflecting on his past experiences, he recalled a leader who promised promotions based solely on performance. Yet, he had witnessed someone with mediocre abilities secure a team leader position simply because of connections.
After several hours on the road, Shrek Academy finally came into view. To Han Yu, it resembled a fortified city more than a traditional academy, with thick walls that reminded him of Du Bu Si.
Under Tang Ya and Bei Bei's guidance, they arrived at the east gate.
"Brother Han Yu, Yuhao, you both just made it in time for the academy's new student recruitment. You'll be three years below Xiao Ya and me, so we'll be your seniors!" Bei Bei said with a grin.
Han Yu glanced at him, "I'm not necessarily committed to Shrek Academy. I'll enroll first and see how it goes. If it's not what I expected, I'll drop out."
Bei Bei's smile faltered for a moment before he quickly recovered, saying politely, "You'll like it here. Wait, I'll help you get the qualification for the assessment."
With that, he headed inside, clearly intending to fetch a recommendation letter for Han Yu.
At the east gate, a crowd of new students was already signing up. Several students in yellow school uniforms spotted Bei Bei and greeted him warmly.
"Brother Bei, you're back!"
It was evident that Bei Bei was well-liked and had a good reputation in the outer courtyard.