Shrek Academy, Part One

Driven out of the Sea of Consciousness by the embarrassed and enraged Sky Dream Ice Silkworm, Ji Lin shook his head with a smile. Sky Dream Ice Silkworm was so pathetic, yet he would not even let anyone say so.

His goal had been achieved, so there was no need to remain in the Star Dou Great Forest. On the way back, Ji Lin spotted Bei Bei, Tang Ya, and the third person again from afar, hunting a hundred-year Purple Spirit Wolf.

To think they had encountered a rare spiritual-attribute soul beast on the outskirts of the Star Dou Great Forest. It seemed that although Huo Yuhao had lost the Sky Dream Ice Silkworm to him, he could still encounter a soul beast suited to him. As expected of the original world's most favored child.

When he arrived at the place where he had parted with Chi Yuan, she was resting against a tree. After reuniting, the two headed toward Shrek Academy.

They did not travel particularly quickly. Since they had to skirt around the Star Dou Great Forest, their journey would span nearly a thousand li.

Several hours later, Ji Lin and Chi Yuan finally caught sight of Shrek Academy.

Rather than calling it an academy, it would be more accurate to call it a city. Following the main road out of a forest, they saw towering city walls stretching left and right across the distant plains.

Shrek Academy was built upon the Limal Plains and occupied an extremely vast area. It was itself a city, known as Shrek City. On Douluo Continent, Shrek City was one of the largest cities, home to more than two million people. Shrek Academy held independent governing authority over the city and did not need to pay taxes to any nation. On this point alone, no other academy in any country, including the Sun Moon Empire, could compare.

Shrek Academy was not located in the center of Shrek City, but rather in its eastern district, facing the direction of the Star Dou Great Forest.

Shrek City had roads extending east, south, west, and north, making transportation accessible in every direction. Not only was it home to Shrek Academy, it was also the most important commercial city at the border between the three great empires of the original Douluo Continent. Thanks to Shrek Academy's presence, public security in Shrek City was excellent. Transactions here were not only fair but also reassuring. Thus, when merchants from the three great empires conducted cross-border trade, most chose to make their deals in Shrek City.

The south, west, and north gates of Shrek City were open for anyone to enter and exit, while the eastern gate belonged exclusively to Shrek Academy.

Ji Lin and Chi Yuan arrived outside the eastern gate.

Although this gate was reserved solely for Shrek Academy, it was exceptionally lively at the moment. At least five thousand people had gathered outside the eastern gate, creating a bustling scene. Countless vendors had already caught wind of it and rushed over. The area outside the city was probably even livelier than the city itself.

"Better to arrive at the right time than early. Looks like we happened to catch Shrek Academy's recruitment period for new students."

Ji Lin looked at the bustling city gate, a smile curling at the corner of his lips.

As for a Recommendation Letter at the level of a main city from the three great empires, Xu Jiujiu had already prepared one for him.

The two requirements for admission into Shrek Academy's Outer Court were simple: first, one had to be no older than twelve; second, one's Soul Power Level had to be no lower than level fifteen.

Neither was a problem for Ji Lin.

After escorting Ji Lin to the eastern gate, Chi Yuan left. She would stay within Shrek City but would not enter Shrek Academy itself. The academy would not permit a Titled Douluo who did not belong to the academy to reside within its grounds.

Thus, Chi Yuan could only stay in Shrek City. Fortunately, Xu Jiujiu, that wealthy princess, had already prepared a residence for her, so neither of them needed to trouble themselves with finding a place to stay.

After Chi Yuan left, Ji Lin circled around the crowd from the side and arrived outside the eastern gate.

From afar, Ji Lin spotted an unparalleled beauty in snow-white robes standing at the eastern gate, as though she were waiting for someone.

Passersby repeatedly cast glances her way. Beautiful women always drew attention.

"Sister Lexuan!?"

Ji Lin looked at the white-robed figure in delighted surprise. He had not expected to encounter Zhang Lexuan before even entering the city upon arriving at Shrek Academy.

Hearing the familiar voice, Zhang Lexuan looked over as well. She saw the familiar face, now much taller than it had been three years ago and even more handsome.

Zhang Lexuan revealed a delighted smile as well and waved Ji Lin over.

Ji Lin jogged over to Zhang Lexuan's side and asked, "Sister Lexuan, are you waiting for someone? Don't tell me you were waiting for me!?"

"That's right. I calculated the timing and figured you would probably enroll at Shrek Academy with this year's intake, so I came to wait for you on the day new students registered."

Zhang Lexuan smiled.

"Hehe, Sister Lexuan, it's been years since we last met. You've gotten even prettier."

Ji Lin said with a grin.

"You silver-tongued brat. From the first time we met, I knew you were no good. Who knows how many good girls you'll ruin in the future."

Zhang Lexuan tapped Ji Lin's forehead with her index finger in mock annoyance, but the corners of her mouth still rose unconsciously.

Clearly, despite what she said, she was quite pleased inside.

"Hehe, Sister Lexuan, let's go register quickly. This time, you have to show me around Shrek Academy properly."

Ji Lin chuckled foolishly and changed the subject. This was a deadly question.

Zhang Lexuan looked at Ji Lin with amusement. How could she fail to see that he was changing the subject? Still, she did not press him further and turned to take him to register.

At the eastern gate, more than a dozen young men and women about their age stood guard. Each wore fitted yellow uniforms with a green emblem on the chest. This was the uniform of second- and third-year students from Shrek Academy's Outer Court.

When they saw Zhang Lexuan arrive with Ji Lin, several Outer Court students hurriedly rose to their feet and respectfully said, "Senior Sister, what are your orders?"

They did not know Zhang Lexuan. They only knew that she was a senior sister from the Inner Court, so they treated her with respect.

At Shrek Academy, the status of an Inner Court disciple was even higher than that of an Outer Court teacher. It was only natural for these Outer Court students to behave this way.

Zhang Lexuan said gently, "I brought a younger brother to take the test. You needn't mind me."

"The younger brother of an Inner Court senior sister doesn't need to be tested. Just submit the Recommendation Letter, and he can enroll directly."

These Outer Court disciples were quite perceptive. Since he had been brought by an Inner Court senior sister, his age and Soul Power Level would certainly meet the requirements. All he needed was a Recommendation Letter.

Zhang Lexuan shook her head. "Let's follow the usual procedure. Test him."

She had great confidence in Ji Lin. There was no need to make an exception and invite gossip.

"Alright."

The student at the registration desk immediately handed Ji Lin a crystal ball for testing soul power.

Ji Lin submitted his Recommendation Letter and registered his information. Then, soul power gathered in his palm as he placed it against the crystal ball and injected his soul power into the blue crystal sphere.

The blue crystal ball glowed brilliantly, then suddenly exploded, scattering fragments all over the ground.

"Th-this-this... Soul power above level thirty? What kind of monster is this?!"

The new student entrance test only required proof that one's soul power exceeded level fifteen. Once that was confirmed, the test was complete.

This crystal ball for testing soul power could measure a maximum Soul Power Level of thirty. If the user's soul power exceeded level thirty, the crystal ball could not withstand it and would explode.

At that moment, both the new students registering and the returning students looked at Ji Lin in shock.

Ji Lin smiled. "Senior, I passed the test, right?"