How Can This Place Even Be Called an Academy?

Suotuo City's gates were like the maw of a giant beast, swallowing and disgorging the crowds coming from north and south.

The air was thick with the smells of spices, dust, and livestock. Vendors' cries, hoofbeats, and the rumble of cart wheels intertwined into a symphony of prosperity.

Xiao Wu's eyes could barely keep up.

One moment, she was watching the street performers by the roadside; the next, she was captivated by the lifelike phoenixes at a sugar figurine stall.

"Wow! Tang San, look at that! It's so pretty!"

"Lin Xi, Lin Xi, can we go buy one to eat?"

A gentle smile hung on Tang San's face as he patiently followed Xiao Wu, though his gaze never strayed far from Lin Xi.

Lin Xi walked at the front, utterly indifferent to the bustle and splendor around her.

Her steps remained steady, as though she were strolling through her own courtyard rather than an unfamiliar, bustling city.

"Let's find somewhere to stay first, then ask around for Shrek Academy's location." Tang San took out a map and began planning their route.

"No need."

Lin Xi stopped and looked toward the western side of the city.

"I know where it is."

Tang San and Xiao Wu both froze.

"You know? How could you know?" Xiao Wu asked curiously.

Lin Xi did not answer. She simply started walking in that direction.

After passing through the bustling main streets and winding around several crowded alleys, the scenery before them gradually became desolate.

The tall buildings disappeared, replaced by low, shabby houses.

There were fewer and fewer pedestrians on the road, and the smell of poultry droppings even drifted through the air.

"Lin Xi, did we take a wrong turn?" Xiao Wu pinched her nose, her little face scrunching up.

"This... doesn't look like there'd be an academy here at all."

Tang San was doubtful as well, but he did not ask.

Every decision Lin Xi made had her reasons.

All he needed to do was follow.

After walking for roughly another quarter of an hour, they arrived at the western outskirts of Suotuo City.

This place looked more like a village.

A run-down village that had all but been forgotten.

At last, Lin Xi stopped at the entrance of a small village.

A crooked wooden sign stood at the entrance.

Four large characters had been painted on it in green.

Shrek Village.

There were only a few dozen scattered households inside the village. Most were wooden houses that looked as though they could collapse at any moment.

At the deepest end of the village was a fenced-off open area.

In the middle of it stood a lonely, enormous wooden building.

In front of the building was a huge archway, above which hung a plaque that looked even more worn-out than the sign at the village entrance.

The plaque also bore four large green characters.

Shrek Academy.

There was even a bird's nest in one corner of the plaque.

"..."

Xiao Wu stood with her mouth open for a long time, unable to say anything.

She rubbed her eyes, thinking she had seen wrong.

"This... this is... Shrek Academy?"

"The academy that only accepts monsters?"

Her voice was filled with shattered expectations.

What academy was this?

It was clearly some rural carpentry workshop on the verge of closing down!

Tang San fell silent as well.

The sight before him was far too different from the "Monster Academy" filled with challenges and opportunities that he had imagined.

Only Lin Xi remained calm.

She looked at that tattered plaque as though it were some priceless treasure.

"Let's go."

She stepped toward the archway.

A table had been set up at the academy entrance. An old man who looked to be in his sixties was slumped over it, half-asleep.

Only when he heard footsteps did he lazily raise his head.

"Enrolling?"

His voice was hoarse and weak.

"Yes." Lin Xi nodded.

The old man extended a finger and pointed at a wooden sign beside him.

"The enrollment fee is ten Gold Soul Coins."

"No refunds."

Xiao Wu cried out, "Ten Gold Soul Coins? Why don't you just rob us!"

The yearly tuition at Nuoding Academy was only one Gold Soul Coin.

Yet the enrollment fee here alone was ten!

The old man did not even lift his eyelids. "If it's too expensive, you can leave."

Tang San took out thirty Gold Soul Coins and placed them on the table.

"There are three of us."

Only then did the old man glance up and sweep his eyes over them before slowly putting the coins into a drawer.

"Go in."

"The second test is inside."

"Remember, the academy only accepts monsters. If you aren't monsters, it's best to turn back now."

"Save yourselves the humiliation."

After saying that, he slumped back down, as if those few words had drained all his strength.

The three passed through the archway and entered the academy.

Inside was a massive training ground.

Several young boys and girls were already standing in line there, waiting.

At the front of the line, a tall young man with short golden hair was lazily reclining against a chair.

He looked around fourteen or fifteen years old. His features were handsome, but there was a sinister air in his eyes.

His pupils were actually double pupils!

Double pupils in his left eye, double pupils in his right. Whenever his eyes opened and closed, a frightening glint seemed to flash through them.

Evil-Eyed White Tiger, Dai Mubai.

The name surfaced in Lin Xi's mind.

At that moment, a boy who had come to enroll was standing before Dai Mubai, undergoing the test.

"Martial Soul: long staff. Soul Power: level twenty-one. I've already obtained two Soul Rings."

The boy held his head high, his face full of pride.

A twelve-year-old Soul Grandmaster at level twenty-one.

No matter where he was, he could be considered a genius.

Yet Dai Mubai merely glanced at him.

"Age?"

"Twelve."

"Your Soul Power exceeds level twenty, and you have two Soul Rings. You meet the requirements."

Dai Mubai stood and stretched lazily.

"Now, take one move from me."

"As long as you can last a stick of incense's time against me, you pass."

The boy smiled confidently. "Please instruct me!"

Dai Mubai did not waste words. Two yellow Soul Rings abruptly lit up around him!

A powerful aura erupted from his body!

"Level thirty-seven! Heavens!"

A wave of shocked cries rose from the surrounding crowd.

The confidence on the enrolling boy's face instantly froze.

He was only level twenty-one, while the other was a level thirty-seven Soul Elder!

How was he supposed to fight this?

"First Soul Skill, White Tiger Body Protection Barrier!"

"Second Soul Skill, White Tiger Blazing Light Wave!"

Dai Mubai did not give him any time to react. He unleashed both Soul Skills instantly!

A milky-white wave of light, carrying an overwhelmingly domineering aura, blasted toward the boy!

The boy only had time to raise his long staff Martial Soul across his chest.

Boom!

The light wave struck him squarely.

The boy screamed and flew backward like a ragged sack, passing out on the spot.

"Next."

Dai Mubai clapped his hands, as though he had merely crushed an ant.

He sat back down in his chair, his gaze falling upon Lin Xi and the other two.

When he saw Xiao Wu, his eyes brightened slightly.

His sinister gaze roamed over Xiao Wu's body without restraint.

"Little girl, are you here to enroll too?"

There was a hint of amusement in his voice.

"You, come here."

Xiao Wu felt uncomfortable under his stare and hid behind Tang San.

Tang San stepped forward, blocking Dai Mubai's line of sight.

"We're together."

His voice was cold.

"Oh?"

Dai Mubai raised a brow and turned his gaze to Tang San.

"Kid, trying to play the hero and save the beauty?"

"Fine. Let me first see whether you have the qualifications."

He rose to his feet and crooked a finger at Tang San.

"Come here. Let me see what you can do."

Tang San was about to step forward.

But Lin Xi stopped him.

She walked out from behind Tang San and stood before Dai Mubai.

Her calm gaze met Dai Mubai's sinister double pupils.

"You want to see what I can do?"

Her voice was soft and faint.

Yet it made Dai Mubai's heart inexplicably tighten.

He felt as though he was not looking at a six-year-old girl.

He was looking up at a towering mountain that soared into the heavens.

"You?"

Dai Mubai frowned.

"Little girl, this isn't a place for you to play house."

"Get lost."

Lin Xi did not move.

She merely looked at him quietly.

"I'll give you one chance."

"Kneel."

"Apologize."

Lin Xi's words instantly plunged the entire training ground into deathly silence.

Everyone looked at her as though she were insane.

Dai Mubai himself was stunned.

He even wondered whether he had heard wrong.

A six-year-old little girl was telling him to kneel and apologize?

"Ha... hahaha... hahahaha!"

It was as if he had heard the funniest joke in the world, and he burst into wild laughter.

He laughed so hard that tears nearly came to his eyes.

"Little girl, do you know who you're talking to?"

After laughing enough, his expression instantly turned utterly grim.

"Looks like if I don't teach you a lesson, you won't know your place!"

Soul Power began to surge through his body.

The pressure of a Soul Elder bore down on Lin Xi!

He would make this reckless little girl understand what fear was!

Yet when that pressure came within three feet of Lin Xi, it vanished without a trace, like a clay ox sinking into the sea.

Lin Xi remained standing there.

Not even the corner of her clothes stirred.

Her gaze remained calm.

So calm that it resembled a pool of ice that had not melted for ten thousand years.

"It seems you don't want this opportunity."

She let out a soft sigh.

The next second.

Dai Mubai's pupils suddenly shrank to the size of pinpoints!

He felt as though the entire world had vanished.

Between heaven and earth, only a pair of eyes remained.

A pair of cold, indifferent eyes devoid of all emotion.

Those eyes seemed to come from above the nine heavens.

Looking down upon a lowly ant.

Boom!

An indescribably terrifying Mental Pressure crashed fiercely into his Sea of Consciousness like the heavens pouring down a river!

His mind went blank!

His prized Evil-Eyed White Tiger martial soul let out a terrified wail before that pressure!

He felt his very soul trembling, shuddering!

"Thud!"

Before everyone's horrified eyes.

That arrogant level-thirty-seven Soul Elder, Dai Mubai of the Evil-Eyed White Tiger.

His knees gave way.

And he dropped stiffly to his knees before Lin Xi!