Although Huo Yu'er had secured a spot through the Tang Sect's recommendation and Bei Bei's guarantee, enrollment at Shrek Academy wasn't as simple as expected. She still had to pass a practical test to officially join.
After all, Shrek Academy was the number one institution on the Douluo Continent, and one of its admission requirements was the absurd rule of needing a letter of recommendation from a city lord. To prevent an influx of unqualified students from dragging down the overall teaching quality, this rule was unavoidable.
When Huo Yu'er revealed her first spirit ring—a white ten-year spirit ring—she was mocked by countless peers.
After all, most of them had at least hundred-year spirit rings as their starting point. Who would dare enroll in Shrek Academy with such a measly ten-year spirit ring?
Faced with these taunts, Huo Yu'er remained neither happy nor sad upon entering the academy. Her upbringing had already accustomed her to being ridiculed.
Though her time with Ye Wen had been brief, he had taught her many valuable lessons:
"Don't focus on what someone says; watch what they do.
A true gentleman keeps his abilities hidden, waiting for the right moment to act.
People will always talk, but you just need to focus on yourself.
When you're weak, don't reveal your trump cards carelessly."
And so on.
As a soul master with a million-year spirit ring, Huo Yu'er started with four spirit skills right from the beginning. Combined with the six techniques Ye Wen had taught her, she managed to complete the exam without much difficulty, despite not being particularly skilled in combat, and joined Class One of the freshman year.
However, Shrek Academy's trials were far from over.
For the first three months, the teachers subjected the new students to intensive training. If they failed the final evaluation during the interclass competition, they risked expulsion.
Unfortunately for Huo Yu'er, her homeroom teacher turned out to be Zhou Yi, infamous for her harshness.
Although Huo Yu'er had the backing of Ye Wen, a Titled Douluo, she remained diligent in her cultivation.
Zhou Yi, as those familiar with Douluo would know, loved targeting students with poor talent who might lower her promotion rate.
Huo Yu'er's lackluster aptitude naturally made her a prime target. However, with her resilience, Huo Yu'er proved that even with weak soul power, she was still the strongest freshman in her class.
Unlike in the original timeline, Huo Yu'er didn't have to struggle to obtain the Xuan Water Pill to improve her soul power and aptitude. Bei Bei, grateful for Ye Wen's guidance to Tang Ya, had specially procured one for her.
Huo Yu'er politely accepted it but chose not to consume it.
Though still very weak, Huo Yu'er had learned to think for herself under Ye Wen's tutelage.
She didn't fully grasp the value of the Xuan Water Pill yet, but knowing her master was a Titled Douluo, she trusted he could find even more potent medicines. There was no rush to boost her soul power by just one or two levels.
Moreover, Ye Wen had warned her: "Be cautious of others' intentions. Never eat anything given to you without careful consideration."
Aside from that, Huo Yu'er soon faced another pressing issue—she was running out of money.
Though Tang Ya and others offered to lend her some, Huo Yu'er's self-reliant nature refused to accept charity.
After all, nothing truly free came without strings attached. Accepting handouts now would only make her appear indebted, and how would her master view her then?
In the end, Huo Yu'er returned to her old trade, using the little money she had left to start her grilled fish business.
As a fragile-looking girl, Huo Yu'er naturally garnered more sympathy and support from those around her, allowing her to smoothly begin her street stall venture.
Tang Ya, one of the few acquaintances Huo Yu'er had in Shrek City, naturally came to show her support.
Finally, Xu Sanshi—the notorious lapdog—appeared.
But seeing Huo Yu'er, a young girl, Xu Sanshi couldn't muster the courage to disrupt her stall. In the end, he was chased away by his goddess, Jiang Nannan, along with Bei Bei.
Huo Yu'er undoubtedly possessed sharp business acumen.
Otherwise, she wouldn't have dared to price a single grilled fish at half a silver soul coin.
Jiang Nannan's beauty was undeniable; otherwise, she wouldn't have been chosen as the object of Xu Sanshi's awakening ritual.
Years had passed since then, and Jiang Nannan had grown into an elegant woman with striking charm.
Her tragic past hadn't broken her spirit but instead made her even more noble, cold, and self-reliant.
Though poor, she even haggled over the price of grilled fish costing five copper soul coins.
"Miss, do you have some time to chat privately?" Huo Yu'er extended an invitation.
If it had been a man asking, Jiang Nannan would have declined outright. But seeing Huo Yu'er's clear, earnest gaze, she agreed.
Through their exchange, the two women came to understand and respect each other.
Sharing the same gender and similarly tragic childhoods, these two resilient women quickly formed a partnership.
With Jiang Nannan providing funds and Huo Yu'er contributing her culinary skills, they soon upgraded their roadside stall into a small barbecue shop, earning a tidy profit every day.
But Huo Yu'er's ambitions didn't stop there. She wanted to grow bigger and stronger, hoping to make her master proud when he came to see her.
In less than two months, the small barbecue shop expanded fivefold. The two women hired three professional barbecue chefs, trained them specifically, and added Huo Yu'er's secret spice blends, making their business flourish.
"Mmm~ Nannan~"
Xu Sanshi lurked in the shadows, watching Jiang Nannan enthusiastically greet customers. His eyes brimmed with longing, but he lacked the courage to approach her, knowing full well that she truly despised him and would kick him out with her legs if he dared.
Over time, however, Xu Sanshi grew accustomed to this life of secretly guarding his goddess, even developing a strange sense of himself as her knight.
But soon, something happened that made his blood boil.
On the last day of the second month since Huo Yu'er's arrival in Shrek City—
It was nearing midnight, and the two women began winding down their operations.
Jiang Nannan noticed Huo Yu'er glancing repeatedly at the street, her expression cycling between hope and disappointment.
"What's wrong, Yu'er?" Jiang Nannan asked with concern.
Having sold herself to save her mother in the past, Jiang Nannan had come to regard Huo Yu'er as her younger sister after over a month of interaction.
Huo Yu'er shook her head dejectedly.
"It's nothing. My master said he'd visit me here at Shrek in two months, but today is the last day, and he hasn't come yet."
This was the first Jiang Nannan had heard about Ye Wen, but it didn't stop her from comforting Huo Yu'er.
"Perhaps your master was delayed by something, or maybe he got the date wrong. He'll come when he's supposed to. Don't worry too much."
Huo Yu'er could only nod resignedly and began tidying up with the staff.
Suddenly, a familiar, broad hand gently patted Huo Yu'er's head.
"Heh, my little Yu'er misses her master so much. I'm quite touched," Ye Wen chuckled warmly.
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