Volume One

Su Xing offered no further explanation. "Where I go is my freedom. You'd better stay out of things that aren't your business," he replied coldly before turning and leaving the testing area. Yesterday, in the lobby of the Rose Hotel, Zhu Zhuqing had seen Tang San ready to fight Dai Mubai to the death over a room. She had been deeply impressed by Tang San, though it had not been a favorable impression. Not far from the second-round testing area, a bearded man was pushing a cart and hawking his wares. He wore a simple gray outfit, and his large, peach-blossom eyes wandered from time to time among the girls in the line of applicants. Dai Mubai instantly froze at the question, unable to come up with an explanation. Under everyone's contemptuous gazes, his face turned crimson. Clearly, Dai Mubai was afraid Zhu Zhuqing would eat Oscar's sausage. Hearing Dai Mubai's words, Xiao Wu could not help saying, "By your logic, doesn't this academy pick students more strictly than it picks wives? By the end, there probably won't be more than a handful of people who can pass the entrance examination." The second-round examiner also revealed undisguised surprise. "Looks like there are quite a few little monsters this year. Five arrived all at once. Good, good, very good. Mubai, take all five of them to the fourth round." "Th-this is also something I heard from the dean." "Mm." Dai Mubai nodded, though his evil eyes still occasionally drifted toward Zhu Zhuqing and Ning Rongrong. The bearded man was stunned as well. "You've heard of my story?" "Wait, I have a question. Shrek Academy only recruits students under thirteen, and the academy has been operating for just over twenty years. To become an elder of Spirit Hall, one must at least possess the cultivation of a Titled Douluo. Even if that student had been among the first graduates, they would only be in their thirties now. A Titled Douluo under forty doesn't seem to have existed anywhere on the continent, does it?" Su Xing suddenly asked. Then, a soft, gentle voice sounded. Dai Mubai's face darkened as he forced out an explanation. "Little Ao, what are you doing? I seem to have warned you more than once not to sell sausages in the academy. Are you trying to make everyone throw up?" "You know that Blue Silver Grass soul master?" Seeing Su Xing talking with Tang San, Zhu Zhuqing paused in slight surprise and asked curiously. Dai Mubai's expression carried a hint of pride. "The dean once said that it was better to have none than accept the unqualified. Even if Shrek Academy had to close down in the end, it would never admit trash. Since its founding over twenty years ago, the academy has admitted sixty-two students in total, yet only fourteen have truly graduated." Oscar wore a bitter expression. "Boss Dai, we've been classmates for years. You're damaging my image in the eyes of our younger brothers and sisters." In an instant, the white crystal in Xiao Wu's hand blazed with light, its powerful radiance filling every corner of the crystal. This was a sign that her Soul Power was about to reach level thirty. "..." Zhu Zhuqing fell silent. Dai Mubai laughed heartily. "The fourth round tests actual combat experience. Some students have decent martial souls and can control them quite skillfully, but because they grew up in aristocratic families, they know nothing at all about fighting in the outside world. The academy does not accept students raised in honey pots." Then Tang San stepped up to Su Xing, nodded slightly, and asked somewhat inexplicably, "I truly didn't expect you to come to Shrek Academy too. Teacher said you looked down on Shrek Academy, didn't he?" She walked up to the examiner, picked up a newly delivered white crystal ball, and a bright white light immediately appeared within it. Clearly, her Soul Power had also surpassed level twenty-five. "Oscar?" Su Xing was stunned for a moment, as if recalling something. During Tang San's years at Nuoding Academy, influenced by Yu Xiaogang's poor character, his relationship with Su Xing had long since ceased to be as harmonious as it had been back in Holy Soul Village. A red figure with a Scorpion Braid silently appeared beside her, and in the next second, the white crystal ball in her hand vanished. The next moment, Xiao Wu handed the white crystal ball to Tang San. Before long, the same intense white radiance flared again, leaving the applicants dumbfounded. "Hmph, Brother, why are you bothering with that little bastard? Come on, let's take the second-round test." Seeing this, Xiao Wu made a face at Su Xing, snorted, then turned and grabbed Tang San's hand, preparing to test their Soul Power. A crisp voice rang out. "Wait. I heard that anyone whose Soul Power reaches level twenty-five can skip the second and third rounds. I think I should qualify as well." "After leaving the academy, all fourteen became figures renowned throughout the soul master world. The most outstanding of them has now become the youngest elder in Spirit Hall, with authority second only to the Pope." Dai Mubai and the others were just about to leave. "Uh... no, but your face is filled with stories." Su Xing stared at Oscar's thick beard in surprise, thinking to himself, With that much facial hair, no one would doubt it if he said he was thirty. By the end, Dai Mubai had clearly become emotional. He obviously held that senior who had become a Spirit Hall elder in great respect. Dai Mubai snorted. "Watch yourself. If you want to sell sausages, go sell them outside the academy. Come on, I'll take you two straight to the fourth round." The speaker was a young girl with beautiful hair reaching her waist, a delicate and exceptionally fair face, and a figure that, while not as voluptuous as Zhu Zhuqing's, was perfectly harmonious. She gave off an otherworldly air. "Sausages for sale! Sausages for sale! Come take a look, don't miss out as you pass by! Oscar-brand big sausages—delicious and sweet, cheap and filling! Only five copper coins each!" As the group headed deeper into the academy, Tang San ran up to Dai Mubai and asked, "Hello, Senior. May I ask what the fourth round of the entrance examination tests?" She looked every bit like an aristocratic young lady who had received an excellent education. But in the next second, the bearded sausage seller suddenly leaned in and said warmly, "You two, want a sausage? Eat an Oscar-brand sausage, and I guarantee you'll have an easier time passing the entrance examination." Seeing Oscar trying to sell sausages to Su Xing and Zhu Zhuqing, Dai Mubai hurried over and glared at Oscar irritably. "Mm, we grew up in the same village. Come on, let's head straight for the fourth round." Su Xing waved a hand, signaling for Zhu Zhuqing to follow him.