Douluo Continent, Huo Yuhao who returned from Sekiro

Chapter 8 Diary

Back in his room, Huo Yuhao excitedly went to the vegetable garden in the backyard, tended to the thriving herbs he had planted some time ago, and injected his soul power into a few soul lamps that were low on energy reserves. Only then did Huo Yuhao return to the house and begin to organize his achievements over the past period.

[I can no longer use the identity of the mole. I've grown another centimeter in height recently, and it seems like I'm almost at the point of my growth spurt. Fortunately, my soul power level has already broken through level ten. As long as I obtain my first soul ring, I can take my mother away from Star Luo City and settle down at Shrek Academy.]

Huo Yuhao paused as he wrote on the scrap paper, then looked up at the garden outside the window. The lush growth of the herbs in the garden calmed him down somewhat.

These spices were collected with the help of the owner of the Confused Treasure Pavilion. Many of these spices have very strict environmental requirements for their growing locations and are not crops found in Xingluo City.

Moreover, even among nobles, including those from the Sun and Moon Continent, the spices on their tables were limited to the three old ones: scallions, ginger, and garlic. Their cooking methods were also limited to simple stewing, boiling, and roasting. However, this left him with a way to make money.

Once he arrived in Shrek City, Huo Yuhao decided not to continue taking on those dangerous commissions. Although the days of living on the edge of a knife in the Sekiro world were worlds apart from the days of taking on commissions every now and then to make money, there were too many powerful people in this world. The most dangerous time was when Huo Yuhao was chased by a Soul Master and two Soul Venerables for more than two hundred miles before he managed to shake them off.

After that commission, for three consecutive days, Huo Yuhao felt that his mouth tasted blood every time he spoke, and he even felt that the blood in his lungs was being squeezed out.

Therefore, as long as he can earn money honestly, Huo Yuhao really doesn't want to take on those commissions anymore.

Thinking of this, Huo Yuhao stared at the row of first-level soul guide lamps hanging above the crops. The orange light shone down, emitting a pleasant light and heat. Under this temperature, even in Xingluo City, which is closer to the north, some crops that grow in tropical regions can still be grown.

Huo Yuhao was in a daze for a while, and then he vaguely heard a series of fine coughs. The wheezing after the coughs had a faint sound that was heartbreaking to hear, but soon the sound disappeared again, as if it had never been there at all.

The pills I brought back weren't particularly effective for my mother's illness, so I can only pin my hopes on Shrek City. Even the private physicians of the nobles in Shrek City couldn't cure her. I suppose if I get into Shrek Academy, perhaps I can use this connection to get a support-oriented professor to examine my mother's body.

Huo Yuhao's handwriting became somewhat messy with the coughing, but fortunately he quickly continued writing.

My mother's wheezing was probably caused by a cold she caught while pregnant with me, when the Duchess banished her to the woodshed. Although I left the White Tiger Duke's mansion with my mother less than six months after awakening my martial spirit, the illness lingered for many years, and by then treatment had been delayed.

Many doctors, after examining my mother, simply said that she needed rest and dietary supplements. I could see the meaning in their eyes: after dragging it out for so long, even if it was just a cold, it would be extremely difficult to remove it from her body now. Resting her to prevent the condition from worsening was already the best they could do.

[This isn't their fault. The medical skills in this world are even inferior to those in Ashina. After all, with healing-type Soul Masters around, many treatments are meaningless. While convenient, this also hinders the development of medical skills. If Emma were here, she would definitely be able to cure Mom's illness, wouldn't she?]

At this point, Huo Yuhao couldn't help but sigh, but he continued writing.

The identity of the mole is too sensitive; it absolutely cannot be used once we arrive in Shrek City. Therefore, to obtain a letter of recommendation for Shrek, we'll have to find another way.

[The minimum requirements for entering Shrek Academy, besides being no older than twelve and having a soul power level of at least fifteen, also include a letter of recommendation from someone at least at the city lord level. The first two aren't difficult, but the latter is truly troublesome.]

There are many ways to obtain a recommendation letter from someone at least at the city lord level. Joining a once-glorious but now fallen small family or sect is a good option. The Ansel Earl family is a decent choice, but since they couldn't even afford to send their own son to Shrek Academy for a "golden" experience, it's likely that the family has truly fallen apart and has no foundation left. They can only be considered as a backup option.

[Besides, the Tang Clan also seems like a good choice. According to the information I've gathered recently, the Tang Clan seems to only have one sect leader and one disciple left. This kind of once-powerful but now declining sect is really suitable for me.]

However, Huo Yuhao changed the subject and continued writing:

However, in the Douluo Continent, any Soul Master who joins a family or sect is forever bound to it and must become a member. Everything they do thereafter is subject to its constraints. Joining a good family or sect is fine, but this sect's reputation is truly daunting. Even if it's a perfect fit for me, it can only ever be a backup option.

Huo Yuhao closed his eyes and pondered for a moment before putting pen to paper:

[Rumor has it that Shrek Academy only accepts monsters, not ordinary people, but my martial soul is a rare eye-shaped martial soul, which might pique the curiosity of the Shrek teachers. Once I obtain my first soul ring, I might be able to try making a second-tier soul tool. Combining the two should be enough to attract a teacher to make an exception and apply for my admission.]

[But before that, I must find a way to establish myself in Shrek City, to open a restaurant, and to make a name for myself using the spices I've prepared. Only then will I have a chance to get to know the teachers at Shrek Academy.]

[I've heard there's an old man at Shrek Academy called Elder Xuan, who's always acting crazy and has a particular fondness for food, especially roasted chicken legs. If you could cater to his tastes, maybe your chances of getting into Shrek would increase a bit. I just wonder which teacher or school leader this Elder Xuan is related to, that he seems to be able to live such a carefree life at Shrek Academy.]

[In that case, let's prepare to head to the Star Dou Forest to hunt soul beasts, then find a way to settle down in Shrek City, and while we're at it, rebuild our intelligence network there.]

Relying on hearsay and rumors is too inaccurate; we can't even find out who's behind that crazy old man. This is far too passive a approach.

Huo Yuhao stopped writing at this point, put the entire diary into his storage soul tool, and took out a katana about ninety centimeters long from it.

(End of this chapter)