First Trial

"Maybe he was just talking big?" Hermione said resentfully. She still remembered what Zhao Xuan had said earlier.

"Talking big? Hmm?... He's here. Watch carefully." Zhao Xuan looked at Hermione with amusement. Before he could explain, a powerful aura suddenly erupted from the seemingly ordinary old man.

A dense crimson glow burst from the old man's body. At the same time, a patterned martial staff appeared in his right hand, and the immense pressure made everyone present tremble.

There was an exception, however. Zhao Xuan stood as firm as a lighthouse amid raging wind and rain.

The old man let out a soft sound of surprise and gave Zhao Xuan several more looks. Then, six Soul Rings emerged from his body.

White, yellow, purple, purple, purple, black.

The six Soul Rings appeared one after another, slowly rising from beneath the old man's feet. The last black Soul Ring in particular was so deep and dark that it made hearts tremble.

A Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Ring!

"A... Soul Emperor?!" someone murmured tremulously as they stared at the old man.

Everyone present was shaken. This old man, who looked like nothing more than an old farmer, was actually a Soul Emperor in his sixties?! Even in the entire Balak Kingdom, such experts could be counted on one hand!

The old man's staff struck the ground, and a deep muffled boom spread outward. Nearly everyone staggered.

"Those who meet the requirements may continue registering." The old man's imposing aura abruptly vanished the next moment, and he returned to looking like a sleepy old farmer.

"He... he's actually a Soul Emperor-level expert?!" Hermione stared at the unremarkable old man in disbelief, stammering.

"Hehe, I told you this old man wasn't ordinary! With your family's old man's strength, he'd probably only qualify as a gatekeeper here." Zhao Xuan's eyes gleamed with excitement, but he still did not forget to mock Hermione.

As far as he knew, a Soul Emperor-level expert could serve as a special-grade teacher or vice principal even at some advanced Soul Master Academies. Yet at this shabby Shrek Academy, he could only be a teacher in charge of registration.

Just how powerful was Shrek Academy's teaching staff?!

This was not only the question troubling Zhao Xuan's group, but everyone present as well.

But no one was destined to answer them. The old man sat there like an ancient pine, quietly waiting for more people to register.

A large number of parents sighed and silently led their children away. Their earlier disdain and contempt had long since vanished.

As for the remaining parents, their faces lit up with joy. Shrek Academy was clearly hiding its true strength. Though its facade looked rundown, its power was astonishing. If their children could enter, it would naturally be tremendously beneficial for their development. As for why the academy appeared so impoverished, they had already cast that matter aside.

Even if the academy really was this dilapidated, what did a little hardship matter as long as it offered better prospects?

After some people left, the previously bustling village entrance immediately became much emptier, and the view opened up considerably. Dai Mubai, who had been standing to one side in boredom, naturally noticed Zhao Xuan's group.

"You really came." Dai Mubai walked toward them, wearing an expression that said he had expected it all along.

"What? Want to fight again?" Zhao Xuan raised an eyebrow and asked flatly.

"There'll naturally be a chance for that later. But you should register first." Dai Mubai neither confirmed nor denied it, motioning for them to register first.

By now, nearly ninety percent of the applicants had left. As they spoke, several more people completed registration, leaving only a lonely handful behind.

Ahead of them stood a girl. Even from behind, she gave off a graceful, alluring impression.

"She must be a beauty!" Zhao Xuan declared with certainty.

Hermione shot him a glare. "How do you know?"

"A feeling!"

"A feeling? You're not Dai Mubai. You've never even held a girl's hand before, so what good is your feeling?"

At Nuoding Academy, nothing could be hidden from Miss Hermione.

Zhao Xuan was instantly irritated. Had this girl ever held a boy's hand herself?

Just then, the girl's voice came from ahead.

"May I ask, have I passed the first trial?" The girl's voice was soft and pleasant. It lacked some heroic spirit, but it sounded gentle and tender, making people feel weak in the knees.

Zhao Xuan became even more convinced of his judgment. Turning his head, he saw that Dai Mubai, who had returned to the old man's side, had clearly gotten a good look at the girl. A wolfish gleam had already appeared in his evil eyes.

Now it's completely confirmed.

After the girl finished the first test, the old man had Dai Mubai take her to the second stage. Then it was Zhao Xuan's group's turn.

"Ten Gold Soul Coins. That hurts so much." Zhao Xuan placed the Gold Soul Coins into the wooden box with a pained expression.

"What's there to hurt over? Hurry up and hold out your hand." The old man sitting behind the table had been watching Zhao Xuan for quite some time. He had seen how calm Zhao Xuan remained under his pressure earlier.

With that, the old man glared and signaled for Zhao Xuan to extend his hand.

Zhao Xuan held out his hand. As usual, the old man began feeling his bones to check his age. But as he continued, his expression changed. He suddenly looked up at Zhao Xuan with a face full of shock.

"What is it?" Zhao Xuan looked at him in confusion. The old man was so shocked that he could have fit an egg in his mouth.

The old man said blankly, "Your bone age is suitable. As for Soul Rings, the rest of you can release them together later."

Then he called for the next person, Hermione, who stood behind Zhao Xuan. Strangely, however, the old man's gaze remained fixed on Zhao Xuan.

No one knew how turbulent the old man's thoughts were at that moment. This brat's physical strength is probably comparable to a strength-type Beast Soul master at level seventy after possession. How strange! How bizarre! A little monster has really come this year!

Hermione and Xiao Wu completed their tests in turn. When it came to Tang San, the old man seemed to finally come back to his senses. He asked in surprise, "Have you cultivated some kind of Soul Skill on your hands?"

Tang San nodded. He had never stopped cultivating Mysterious Jade Hand.

"Then raise your lower leg."

After feeling Tang San's lower leg, the old man nodded. "Your bone age is suitable. Now release your Martial Souls together."

They nodded and released their Martial Souls. Two yellow Soul Rings rose around everyone except Zhao Xuan, while three slowly rose from beneath Zhao Xuan's feet.

Yellow, yellow, purple!

"A Soul Elder? How is that possible?" An unregistered youth saw it and could not help crying out before falling into a daze.

How could that be possible?! They were all the same age, so how could a Soul Elder appear among them? He would not even consider the possibility that the old man had misjudged Zhao Xuan's bone age. After all, this was a Soul Emperor-level expert.

The old man was also quite surprised. Recalling his shock when he had checked Zhao Xuan's bone age, then looking at the young men and women before him, he actually smiled.

He stroked his grizzled beard. "Looks like the academy will be taking in quite a few little monsters this year."

"Looks like you've all finished testing, then..." Dai Mubai emerged from deeper within the academy just as they finished.

He was not at all surprised to see that they had passed, but he suddenly froze, his gaze fixed firmly behind them.

They turned around in confusion, only to be struck by a breathtaking sight.

Behind them stood a girl in black. She looked slightly younger than them. Her long black hair draped over her shoulders, and her face was slightly lowered. She was about the same height as the girl in the white dress from earlier, with similarly fair skin. Yet this girl gave off an entirely different feeling.

In stark contrast to her fiery figure, the expression on her face was cold and indifferent. It was a coldness that came from within, a pure coldness. Her black eyes did not even seem to contain a trace of life, clashing somewhat with her originally beautiful face.

Her limbs were slender and well-proportioned, and her hands hung naturally at her sides. The deathly chill radiating from her made people feel deeply uncomfortable.

"Beautiful," Zhao Xuan could not help praising.

But in the next moment, two gazes swept over Zhao Xuan's face.

"Scum." That was Hermione.

"Pervert." That was Xiao Wu.

Zhao Xuan's mouth twitched. What was going on? Was he not even allowed to appreciate beautiful women in this world?!

"Once you've registered, get moving! Don't block the way; there are still people behind you! And you, Mubai! Your eyes are practically popping out! Hurry up and take them to the next stage."

At that moment, the old man in charge of registration grew impatient and snapped fiercely at them.

Dai Mubai snapped out of it and led them inside. Yet he kept looking back every few steps, repeatedly glancing at the girl behind them.