Not Joining

All of this depended on Shrek Academy being able to stay open.

And before Shrek Academy became a prestigious school, the educational resources available to students who joined it were nowhere near comparable to those at top academies like Heaven Dou Royal Academy.

In short, it was a scam academy that talked talented monsters into enrolling, then used its monster geniuses who graduated to build its reputation.

What Flender said might possibly have been true.

But no matter what, it still could not compare to a truly top-tier academy.

Anything he mentioned, as long as someone was a monster-level genius, they could receive it at those top academies as well.

On the contrary, if a true monster genius really entered Shrek Academy, they might end up wasting their potential because its educational resources could not keep up.

Over more than twenty years since its founding, it had only enrolled forty-two students, and fourteen had successfully graduated.

It sounded impressive. It had only taken in so few students over twenty years, so anyone who could enter Shrek Academy had to be a genius among geniuses.

It gave people the impression that merely being able to join was already incredibly impressive.

But when one thought about it carefully, what was the truth?

The truth was that, apart from the fourteen who graduated, all those monster geniuses recruited by Shrek Academy had wasted away because the academy lacked sufficient teaching resources.

Let them try attending those top academies instead and see whether they would still waste away and fail to graduate.

So, after learning what kind of academy this was, Mo Bai no longer planned to join it.

Tang San had Master's connection, so he might receive decent guidance.

Mo Bai, on the other hand, might not.

But even though he did not plan to join, Mo Bai did not refuse outright.

After all, it was not time for school to begin yet.

Mo Bai was not worried that they would forcibly keep him; he was merely giving them face.

After all, Flender was a Spirit Saint. It would not be good to embarrass him to his face.

"Haha, good, well said! Our Shrek Academy will definitely become famous in the future!"

Hearing Mo Bai's words, Flender immediately burst into laughter.

Seeing Mo Bai praise it so highly, he thought Mo Bai had already been successfully talked into it!

"I already understand Shrek Academy's situation. It really is quite good. Simulated environmental combat truly cannot compare to real combat!"

"Dean Flender, we'll be leaving first. There's still more than a month until school starts, and we want to visit Suotuo City. We've never seen such a large city before!"

Mo Bai nodded and spoke to Flender.

"Haha, alright. Going to take a look is good too!"

Flender did not think much of it. It never occurred to him that Mo Bai had never personally said he wanted to join Shrek Academy.

Besides, Tang San was there, and he would definitely choose to join Shrek Academy.

"Mo Bai, are you not planning to join Shrek Academy?"

After leaving Shrek Academy, Tang San suddenly asked Mo Bai on the road back to Suotuo City.

Flender and the others might not have noticed, but Tang San, who had shared a dorm with Mo Bai for six years, could tell that Mo Bai seemed to have other plans.

"What? Mo Bai, you're not joining Shrek Academy?"

Xiao Wu was also startled when she heard that and hurriedly looked at Mo Bai.

"That's right. I don't plan to join Shrek Academy!"

Now that Flender, the Spirit Saint, was no longer around, Mo Bai had nothing to hide. He nodded and admitted it.

"Ah..." Xiao Wu cried out in surprise, then asked Mo Bai in a dejected tone, "Then which academy are you going to? Are you still planning to go to the Imperial Capital?"

If that was the case, she would not be able to attend the same academy as Mo Bai anymore.

She thought Mo Bai was a good friend and was reluctant to part with him.

But they were not close enough for her to be willing to risk going to a place like the Imperial Capital for Mo Bai's sake.

In the Imperial Capital, the chances of her identity being exposed would be far too high!

"Mm, I still think the academies in the Imperial Capital would be better!"

Mo Bai nodded decisively. With the best option available, why would he not choose it?

Then Mo Bai asked Xiao Wu, "Tang San will definitely stay at Shrek Academy. What about you, Xiao Wu? Are you staying too?"

He had long known about Xiao Wu's resistance to the Imperial Capital. Mo Bai guessed that she might be the illegitimate daughter of some great family there, which was why she did not want to return to the Imperial Capital.

A trope like running away from an arranged marriage and refusing to go back was almost impossible, since Xiao Wu had come to Nuoding Academy at the age of six.

Mo Bai could never have imagined that Xiao Wu resisted the Imperial Capital because she was actually a human transformed from a Ten Thousand Year Spirit Beast.

Hearing Mo Bai's words, Tang San could not help looking at Xiao Wu as well.

He wanted to know whether Xiao Wu would follow Mo Bai to the Imperial Capital too!

"...Mm, I don't want to go to the Imperial Capital. Shrek Academy seems pretty good!"

Xiao Wu fell silent for a moment before speaking in a somewhat subdued voice.

"Mo Bai, won't you reconsider? If you stay too, then the three of us can still be together. Wouldn't that be great?"

Xiao Wu could not help trying to persuade Mo Bai.

Hearing Xiao Wu reject Mo Bai's proposal and choose to stay, Tang San inexplicably felt overjoyed, as if he were about to burst with happiness.

However, Tang San forcefully suppressed the delight in his heart and joined in persuading him. "Yeah, Mo Bai. Shrek Academy was recommended by my teacher, so it must be good. Didn't you say the same thing before?"

"No, my mind is made up! Shrek Academy is good, but this place is too remote. I want to go somewhere bigger!"

Mo Bai shook his head firmly, without saying anything bad about Shrek Academy.

After all, Tang San was definitely going to join Shrek Academy!

"Ah..."

Xiao Wu was immediately disappointed upon hearing that.

"..."

Tang San was somewhat disappointed as well, yet a trace of secret delight rose in his heart.

Then would it be just him and Xiao Wu staying behind?

"Alright, it's still early. I heard Suotuo City's Great Soul Arena is extremely lively, with many Spirit Masters fighting soul battles there every day. Let's go take a look!"

"Once I've had enough fun, I'll set off for the Imperial Capital!"

Mo Bai smiled faintly, not feeling particularly sad.

As for Tang San, Mo Bai only regarded him as a classmate and roommate.

As for Xiao Wu, Mo Bai had previously found her annoying for disturbing his cultivation.

Still, now that they were truly about to part ways, Mo Bai felt somewhat reluctant.

Thanks to readers [Dragon Soul Shining Sun] and [RNA Polymerase] for their rewards!