One Academy, Three Soul Saints

Early the next morning, Wang Xiaofeng found the manager Dai Mubai had introduced to him.

Wang Xiaofeng remained suspicious of this manager. After all, he and Dai Mubai had previously discussed poaching the lobby manager from the Rose Hotel.

Yet the very next day, Dai Mubai had said with a gloomy expression that his family would send someone to help him.

He, Wang Xiaofeng, was merely an ordinary support-type Soul Elder. What had he done to deserve someone being specially sent to assist him?

He had watched plenty of palace dramas, all right? For all he knew, this could be a spy planted by one of Dai Mubai's brothers.

The manager before him had no idea that Wang Xiaofeng had already imagined dozens of episodes' worth of grudges and intrigue. Smiling, he said, "Young Master, the winery has been renovated, and we've recruited most of the staff. When do you think we should officially open?"

Never mind whether he was a spy or not. Making money came first. There would be plenty of time later to settle scores.

Coming back to his senses, Wang Xiaofeng nodded and took out a ring Soul Tool. "This is the first batch of stock. You know more than I do about opening a business, so I won't interfere. Just remember that half of what's in there belongs to Dai Mubai."

The ring Soul Tool had been a friendly contribution from Dai Mubai and was counted as part of the startup funds.

After discussing a few matters, Wang Xiaofeng took his leave and prepared to return to Shrek Academy.

"Why are there even more people in line than last year?"

When Wang Xiaofeng returned to the academy entrance and saw the long queue, he could not help feeling puzzled. Had the headmaster found another free advertising channel?

"Xiaofeng, you're finally back! Come help out," Oscar said, appearing from nowhere and dragging Wang Xiaofeng into the academy.

Wang Xiaofeng followed Oscar to the Third Round Assessment and discovered that there was no teacher overseeing it. Confused, he asked, "Wasn't Teacher Shao always in charge of the third round in previous years? Where is he?"

"Teacher broke through to Rank 70 during the holiday. The headmaster and Teacher Zhao went with him to obtain his Seventh Soul Ring."

Oscar explained that he had pulled Wang Xiaofeng over to take Shao Xin's place. Since he was already a Soul Elder, he had enough strength to keep order if anyone tried to cause trouble.

"Then Shrek has a food-type Soul Saint now!" Wang Xiaofeng said happily.

Soul Saints were relatively common in the world of soul masters, but adding the prefix food-type made one extraordinarily rare.

"Hehe, then I'll head back to the first round now. You have no idea—there are so many applicants today that my sausages are almost sold out."

"Wait." Wang Xiaofeng grabbed Oscar and asked, "Why are there so many applicants this year?"

"It's all Big Boss Dai's fault." Oscar curled his lip and said enviously, "Hasn't Big Boss Dai been going to the Great Spirit Arena a lot lately? He loses more than he wins, but with that flashy appearance and his cool Third Soul Skill, he's still won over plenty of women."

"How could the headmaster let such a good business opportunity slip by? He put a bunch of ads on Big Boss Dai's clothes and made a killing. He even put our academy's enrollment ads on them."

Oscar waved his hand with an expression that said he knew exactly what that meant.

Wang Xiaofeng truly had not expected Flander to find a free advertising channel for enrollment promotion this way. He truly was the stingiest man on the Douluo Continent.

Afterward, Wang Xiaofeng sat at the table for the third round and assessed the students one by one.

The Third Round Assessment tested control over one's Martial Soul.

For Beast Martial Souls, the test was to run two laps while possessed, carrying a basin filled with water. If any water spilled by the time they finished, they were eliminated.

The assessment for Tool Martial Souls was the same as when Wang Xiaofeng had taken it: summon and maintain it for One Incense Stick's Time. Endure it, and they passed.

"Hm... no water spilled. You pass. The Fourth Trial is down this path."

"Hm, not bad. You can maintain it for One Incense Stick's Time. Go to the Fourth Trial with the person ahead of you."

"...A little water spilled. You're eliminated," Wang Xiaofeng said expressionlessly to Passerby A before him.

Passerby A struggled desperately. "It was only a little, brother. How about you show some mercy and pretend you didn't see it? I'll give you a hundred Gold Soul Coins."

"A hundred Gold Soul Coins? I can collect that from Spirit Hall every month." Wang Xiaofeng looked disdainful. "Hurry up and leave. Don't hold up the people behind you."

"You!" Passerby A clenched his fists as traces of Soul Power surged from his body.

Two yellow and one purple Soul Rings silently appeared around Wang Xiaofeng. He said carelessly, "What? Do you want to fight?"

"Hmph, don't look down on a poor young man!" Seeing Wang Xiaofeng's terrifying thousand-year Soul Ring, Passerby A left behind a harsh parting remark before slinking away.

"You think your surname is Xiao or something?" Wang Xiaofeng said dismissively, then continued assessing the others.

It was not until the afternoon that Wang Xiaofeng finished assessing everyone.

Wang Xiaofeng could not help sighing. "The quality is pretty good this time. At least ten people passed the third round. Together with the earlier ones, it looks like we'll recruit quite a few students this year."

"Stop dreaming. There isn't a single promising candidate this year."

Wang Xiaofeng looked toward the voice and found Dai Mubai there. He asked strangely, "Weren't you serving as the examiner for the Fourth Trial?"

"They can barely be called geniuses, but they don't meet our academy's standards for monsters." Dai Mubai waved his hand helplessly. "I thought assessing them one by one was too slow, so I had the remaining ones form teams. If they defeated me, they passed. In the end, I knocked them all down instead."

Wang Xiaofeng suddenly understood. No wonder Dai Mubai looked down on those people. A group of Great Soul Masters could not even defeat one Soul Elder. A lineup like that should have been enough to beat a Soul Ancestor.

Although Dai Mubai's extensive combat experience and his overly powerful Third Soul Skill were also factors, it could not be denied that the group truly was lacking.

"Fine. The headmaster made quite a bit off you anyway, so he probably won't blame you."

That night, Flander and the other two returned to the academy. Just as Wang Xiaofeng had guessed, Flander did not get angry when he heard that they had failed to recruit any students that year. He merely offered everyone a few words of encouragement before telling them to return and rest.

On the way back to the dorms, Oscar said happily, "I'm already Rank 27. Now that Teacher has broken through to Soul Saint, he can make four Multi-Flavored Beans every day. I'll be able to obtain my Third Soul Ring soon."

Ma Hongjun shouted helplessly, "Doesn't that mean I'll be stuck at the bottom forever?"

"Fatty, you need to work harder!" Dai Mubai laughed, patting Ma Hongjun on the shoulder.

The group joked and roughhoused before parting ways in front of the dormitories.

Wang Xiaofeng, meanwhile, returned to the Mimetic Cultivation Ground and quietly began cultivating.