Academy Assessment

Shrek Academy was located within the village, and the final testing site was there as well.

Along the way, they ran into Oscar, who was selling sausages.

Although Oscar's chant for summoning sausages was somewhat suggestive, the sausages themselves were actually of decent quality.

Before long, they arrived at the final testing grounds.

It was an open area of roughly several hundred square meters. A middle-aged man in his fifties was sitting in a chair, dozing off.

Dai Mubai stepped forward and said,

"Teacher Zhao, I've brought them for the fourth test."

Zhao Wuji opened his somewhat bleary eyes.

"Hm? We finally have people who made it to the fourth test this year—and there are five of them?"

Dai Mubai said, "Not only that, all of their Soul Power exceeds level twenty-five, so they were exempted from the second and third tests!"

Zhao Wuji's eyes lit up, and he rose from his chair.

He was not tall, but he was exceptionally burly. His massive muscles gave off an intense sense of pressure.

"All five of you have Soul Power above level twenty-five. Good, very good. The fourth test measures a student's actual combat ability. Pass this test, and you can become official students of Shrek Academy. It's rare to have so many this time, so I'll personally spar with you!"

Zhao Wuji swept his gaze over the group and said,

"My name is Zhao Wuji. I'll give you An Incense Stick's worth of time to get acquainted and formulate a strategy. The test will begin after An Incense Stick burns down. Your task is to last for An Incense Stick under my attacks. As long as even one of you holds out until the end, you succeed. Remember, teamwork is your only chance of success."

With that, Zhao Wuji somehow produced an incense stick, lit it, and planted it in the ground before lying back down in his chair.

"Teacher Zhao, isn't this a little inappropriate?" Dai Mubai said hesitantly.

"What's inappropriate about it? Stop talking nonsense. You can tell them about my abilities and characteristics so they can prepare themselves." With that, Zhao Wuji closed his eyes.

Seeing this, Dai Mubai had no choice but to gather everyone together and tell them that Zhao Wuji was a Soul Sage.

"He's actually a Soul Sage!" Everyone could not help but cry out in shock.

Ning Rongrong suddenly seemed to recall something and asked,

"Could he be the legendary Immovable Ming King, Zhao Wuji? The powerful expert who offended Spirit Hall and disappeared from the continent more than a decade ago?"

Dai Mubai silently nodded and said,

"That's right, it's him. I was originally supposed to be the one testing you, but now... you can only pray for yourselves. Cooperation is your only chance. Introduce yourselves first."

Tang San exchanged glances with the others, then spoke first.

"My name is Tang San. My Tool Martial Soul is Blue Silver Grass. I'm a level twenty-nine Control System Battle Soul Master."

Xiao Wu followed. "Xiao Wu. Beast Martial Soul: Soft Bone Rabbit. Level twenty-nine Assault System Battle Soul Master."

Ning Rongrong said,

"Ning Rongrong. Tool Martial Soul: Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda. Level twenty-six Support System Tool Soul Master."

Zhu Zhuqing said coolly,

"Zhu Zhuqing. Beast Martial Soul: Hell Spirit Cat. Level twenty-seven Agility System Battle Soul Master."

Only Mu Yuan remained.

Xiao Wu turned her gaze toward him. She was extremely curious about Mu Yuan.

When Dai Mubai had explained Zhao Wuji's strength and gathered everyone together, Mu Yuan had been standing closest to her. She could clearly sense the forest-like aura of life emanating from him.

Mu Yuan introduced himself.

"Mu Yuan. Tool Martial Soul: Tree. Level forty-nine Control System Battle Soul Master."

The others nodded...

"Wait!" Tang San abruptly raised his head. "Mu Yuan, what level did you just say you were?"

Mu Yuan said, "Forty-nine."

Everyone froze where they stood.

Even Zhao Wuji, who was pretending to doze off in the distance, nearly could not stop himself from rising from his chair.

Xiao Wu suddenly understood.

"No wonder we have to fight a Soul Sage. If Dai Mubai were still handling the assessment according to the original standards, his strength would be no match for you, Mu Yuan. That's why they changed it and had a Soul Sage assess us!"

The others nodded in understanding as well.

Given the situation, Xiao Wu's deduction seemed highly likely.

But in truth, this had nothing to do with Mu Yuan. Zhao Wuji had simply acted on a whim. Even without Mu Yuan, Tang San and the others would still have had to fight Zhao Wuji.

However, Mu Yuan did not explain. This was not the time to dwell on such matters.

Mu Yuan stepped forward and said,

"Perhaps it really is because I dragged everyone into this. My Soul Power is the highest here. Although I'm a Control System Soul Master, I'm not much weaker than an Assault Type Soul Master. I'll take responsibility for the main attack."

Hearing this, everyone immediately felt far more favorably toward Mu Yuan.

Facing a Soul Sage as the main attacker, the pressure involved was obvious. Mu Yuan had voluntarily taken on that role, and his actions earned everyone's approval.

Afterward, they briefly discussed a few more tactics.

Once the discussion ended, Xiao Wu moved a little closer to Mu Yuan for some reason and extended her fair hand.

"Mu Yuan, just as we discussed, the strategy is decided!"

Mu Yuan paused slightly, then extended his hand and high-fived Xiao Wu.

Tang San was a little surprised by the sight, but he did not pay it much mind.

Xiao Wu had always been very lively by nature.

Everyone began preparing for battle.

Taking advantage of a moment when no one was paying attention, Xiao Wu opened her hand and carefully sniffed the lingering scent in her palm. She even extended her small tongue and lightly licked it.

"That's right. A forest-like aura of life... it's unbelievable. This level of vitality is practically stronger than a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast..."

A flush of pink rose uncontrollably to Xiao Wu's cheeks.

Tang San was already the human with the strongest life aura she had ever seen, almost like half a plant-type soul beast. That was why she liked staying around Tang San.

But compared to Mu Yuan, the gap between the two was like that between a candle flame and the sun. They simply could not be mentioned in the same breath.

"Xiao Wu, what's wrong?" Tang San called out.

Xiao Wu came back to her senses. "Nothing. I'm coming!"

The group formed up. Mu Yuan stood at the front, with Xiao Wu and Zhu Zhuqing behind him, Tang San behind them, and Ning Rongrong at the rear.

Seeing that they were ready, Zhao Wuji stood up and rolled his shoulders. He paid particular attention to Mu Yuan at the very front, then took out an incense stick and planted it in the ground.

"The test begins!"

As soon as he spoke, Ning Rongrong swiftly unleashed her soul skill.

"Seven Treasures Manifesting Glazed Tile: First, Strength; Second, Speed!"

Three streams of colored light precisely landed upon Tang San, Xiao Wu, and Zhu Zhuqing, excluding Mu Yuan.

Zhao Wuji raised his head and gave Ning Rongrong a slightly surprised look, praising, "Not bad release speed. The Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda—are you a genius of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect?"

Bathed in the colored light, Tang San and the others all discovered that they had received tremendous enhancements. The Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda's support effects truly lived up to their reputation.

Only Mu Yuan received no support.

Mu Yuan silently activated his Martial Soul.

The phantom of an enormous tree appeared behind him. Four soul rings—Yellow, Purple, Black, Black—emerged in sequence, and a powerful aura filled the field.

Zhao Wuji's eyes instantly widened.