Sun Moon Royal Academy

When Xue Xiao Ran stepped out of the dormitory again, night had already fallen.

Unexpectedly, the old man was still lying there. When he saw Xue Xiao Ran descend the stairs, his narrowed eyes opened slightly.

Xue Xiao Ran cupped his hands in greeting, then stepped out through the dormitory gates.

"You're not a student here?" The old man spoke for the first time. His voice was terrifyingly aged, like sandpaper scraping against something.

"This junior merely came to see a friend off. Nothing more."

Xue Xiao Ran did not think there was much to say to a dormitory manager, so he clasped his fists and left.

The old man opened his eyes and watched Xue Xiao Ran's departing back, slowly letting out a breath. He had thought this child would be able to study at Shrek Academy, but it seemed things rarely went as one wished.

Ignoring whatever the other man thought, Xue Xiao Ran left the campus and hurried toward the exit of Shrek City.

His task of seeing Wang Dong'er into Shrek was complete. There was no longer any need for him to remain here.

"Young Master."

After Xue Xiao Ran left Shrek City, Cang Xue appeared at his side. He gave off no aura whatsoever, as though he had been there all along.

"The task is complete. Let's go."

Xue Xiao Ran turned back to look at the city behind him once more, then took Cang Xue's large hand.

Cang Xue smiled faintly and took Xue Xiao Ran with him as they vanished from the spot in an instant.

No one noticed any of this. Not even the teachers of Shrek Academy sensed it.

Sun Moon Royal Academy began accepting students as it did every year. However, most of the students here were of noble birth and came from good backgrounds, somewhat similar to the former Heaven Dou Royal Academy.

It did not only recruit Soul Masters. Soul Engineers likewise held an extremely important position within Sun Moon Royal Academy.

As the times changed, Soul Tools, which had once been considered unimportant, were gradually researched and developed, eventually becoming weapons capable of massive destruction.

At their strongest, their attack power could rival that of a Titled Douluo.

That was why Sun Moon Royal Academy valued Soul Engineers so highly. The Sun Moon Empire was renowned because its Soul Tool research far surpassed that of any other empire.

Thus, an imbalance often appeared within Sun Moon Royal Academy. Most Soul Masters were descendants of prestigious noble families, while Soul Engineers were generally commoners. Friction between the two was inevitable within the academy.

The process of crafting Soul Tools could train one's Spiritual Power and thereby open up the Sea of Consciousness, so Xue Xiao Ran's goal was simple: pursue both paths.

Of course, quite a few students shared that dream, but reality was cruel. With so much practice and homework every day, they could barely even sleep properly.

"Young Master, I can only accompany you this far."

The two stood before a modern-style building. Students and parents streamed around them without end, clearly all here to register.

Naturally, there was no shortage of nobles among them, their expressions carrying a faint arrogance.

"Mm. Uncle Cang Xue, thank you for escorting me. I should be fine within the academy, so there's no need to worry."

Xue Xiao Ran spoke gently.

"Mm, it is an academy, after all." Cang Xue nodded, then lowered his voice. "If there's anyone you don't like, tell your uncles and aunts when you're on break. We can wipe out their whole family for you."

"Alright."

Holding back a laugh, Xue Xiao Ran nodded. He waved to Cang Xue, then followed the boys and girls around his age into the modern building.

"You really aren't afraid," the Ice Empress's cool voice sounded. "Without the Wolf King looking after you, you just walked into an unfamiliar place alone."

"I came here to study, not to fight."

Xue Xiao Ran silently replied in his heart.

"No matter what, you came here because of me. I... appreciate it."

"Are you saying thank you?"

"B-Bastard! Who's thanking you?"

Xue Xiao Ran fell silent. This was such standard tsundere behavior. He had experienced it every day over the past few years; it seemed he would have to keep dealing with a tsundere from now on...

The Ice Empress's voice seemed to fall silent, likely sulking. Instead, Xue Xiao Ran's heart calmed down.

The line moved quickly, and it was soon Xue Xiao Ran's turn.

"Name, age, martial soul, Soul Power Level."

The teacher seated there spoke in an even tone, pen in hand.

"Xue Xiao Ran, eleven years old, Extreme Poison, level twenty-five."

Xue Xiao Ran answered each item in turn. The teacher's eyes had already lit up. After receiving students all morning, this was the first time he had encountered someone with such an interesting martial soul and such high talent.

Extreme Poison—the word "extreme" was no joke.

"Release your martial soul."

"Alright."

Xue Xiao Ran nodded. A faint green mist immediately emerged, while one yellow and one purple soul ring appeared beside him.

Bang.

The teacher instantly rose to his feet, delight on his face as he nodded repeatedly and praised him.

"I never expected a thousand-year one. It seems Xiao Hong Chen has found himself a rival," he muttered softly, rapidly writing on the paper.

The boys and girls lined up behind Xue Xiao Ran all felt a wave of suffocation. Under the suppression of this top-tier elemental martial soul, many felt as though they could not even release their own martial souls.

The students closest to Xue Xiao Ran could not help retreating several steps. Merely standing a little too close made them feel faintly dizzy and nauseated.

Releasing Extreme Poison produced toxins, but they were merely the most basic kind.

They could not even be considered poison.

"Alright, withdraw your martial soul." The teacher smiled, then handed the paper to Xue Xiao Ran. Making a rare exception, he patted his shoulder and said, "Work hard."

Clearly, this teacher believed that Xue Xiao Ran's talent was exceptionally strong even within Sun Moon Royal Academy.

Xue Xiao Ran nodded, accepted the paper, and followed the directions toward the next room.

There had originally been a strength test, but anyone with a Soul Power Level above twenty-three could skip it automatically.

Following the signs, Xue Xiao Ran arrived at the final room.

However, it was not a room at all, but a vast open space resembling a Soul Fighting Arena. Many senior students sat in the stands around it. Several teachers sat together, quietly discussing something as they continuously wrote on paper. In the center of the Soul Fighting Arena, two people were locked in fierce combat.

The battle soon reached its conclusion. The boy wearing the academy uniform won, while the boy dressed in luxurious clothes was defeated.

"What's going on here?"

One of the newly enrolled boys who had arrived later could not help asking.

"This is the final assessment." The boy standing ahead said in a muffled voice, "The assessment is actual combat. You fight a senior student and display your strength. If the teachers think you meet the standard, you pass."

"Wow, this assessment..."

Several boys and girls huddled together behind them could not help complaining.

So that was how it was. Xue Xiao Ran nodded.

This assessment seemed a little more interesting than Shrek's.