The Place Where I Lost My First Time

After taking a shower, freshening up, and burning last night's clothes before flushing the ashes down the drain to destroy the evidence, Yun Chuan finally let out a sigh of relief. He took out a fresh set of clothes and changed into them. After tidying himself up, he looked completely renewed.

Today was the official enrollment day for Shrek Academy.

Yun Chuan had already spoken to Flander. He would serve as the examiner for the final test and assess these students. Therefore, he now had to set off for Shrek Academy.

As he walked out of the Rose Hotel, he turned back to look at the hotel where he had lost his first time. Remembering last night's dream, his feelings were too complicated to put into words. Shaking his head, he strode away.

He left Suotuo City through the South City Gate and headed toward his destination. Shrek was not located within the city, but outside it.

After leaving Suotuo City, Yun Chuan followed the road south. Vast fields stretched along both sides of the main road. Suotuo City's reputation as the granary of the Balak Kingdom was well deserved.

Yet aside from those sprawling farmlands, there was not a single building that looked remotely like an academy as far as the eye could see. If Flander had not brought him here before, and if he had not read the original story, he never would have guessed where Shrek Academy was.

Before long, two familiar figures appeared ahead of Yun Chuan.

Tang San was carrying Xiao Wu on his back as he slowly walked forward. The two looked just like a loving couple. Even from a distance, Yun Chuan, a single man, could practically smell the dog food coming at him.

"Hmph... Daring to flaunt your affection and sprinkle dog food in front of a bachelor like me! Tang San, you've got some nerve! Fine, I'll be sure to take good care of you two later!" Yun Chuan's brow twitched, but he showed no outward reaction. Instead, he quickly stepped forward and called out, "Hey, you two up ahead, are you going to register at Shrek Academy?"

Hearing the voice, Tang San, who was carrying Xiao Wu, stopped and turned around. When he saw a black-haired youth dressed in white approaching quickly, he was immediately startled. Recalling how badly Dai Mubai had been beaten yesterday, he instinctively did not want anything to do with this person.

But Yun Chuan acted as though they were already acquainted. He came alongside them and walked shoulder to shoulder with them, saying casually, "I happen to be going to Shrek Academy too, so let's walk together for a while."

Tang San was unwilling in his heart, but under the pressure, he ultimately remained silent and continued carrying Xiao Wu forward. Even Xiao Wu, who was usually so lively and active, had fallen silent and simply let him carry her onward.

Seeing that the two remained silent and clearly did not want to talk to him, Yun Chuan did not mind. He smiled and continued forward. I'll deal with you two later.

After some time.

"Brother, look. There's a small village over there."

Xiao Wu, who had been silent until now, suddenly pointed ahead. Tang San looked in the direction of her finger and saw a small village about half a mile away. With the enhanced vision of his Purple Demon Eyes, he could clearly make out that the village had around a hundred households, making it even smaller than Holy Soul Village. A wooden fence surrounded the village, apparently meant to keep out wild beasts.

There seemed to be quite a few people gathered at the village entrance, though it was unclear what was happening.

Tang San smiled. "Let's go ask. Perhaps the villagers know where Shrek Academy is. A Soul Master Academy should be quite famous."

"No need to ask. That place ahead is Shrek Academy." Yun Chuan, walking beside them, directly gave them the answer after hearing their conversation.

"What? You're saying that little village is Shrek Academy?" Xiao Wu could not help saying, "You're not lying to us, are you?" Even Tang San frowned, clearly doubtful as well.

Yun Chuan looked at their suspicious expressions and merely shrugged. "Don't believe me? Then let's go take a look together. You'll find out whether I lied to you."

"Fine, let's go!" Xiao Wu snorted, then patted Tang San's shoulder beneath her. "Brother, speed up!"

Am I a horse now?

Tang San smiled helplessly, but he still quickened his pace.

Soon, the three arrived closer. Tang San and Xiao Wu both realized something was off. There really were many people gathered at the village entrance, most of them youths around their age, with the majority accompanied by their parents.

A table had been placed at the village entrance, and behind it sat an old man in his sixties. What left Tang San and Xiao Wu dumbfounded was the somewhat shabby plaque hanging from the wooden archway at the entrance. Five simple words were carved upon it—Shrek Academy.

Before those five words was a green portrait that looked like the head of some humanoid monster. Green and somewhat cute. The old man behind the table also wore a similar round green badge on his chest. It was likely Shrek Academy's school emblem.

Yun Chuan recognized the old man. He was one of Shrek's teachers, a Soul Emperor.

Although Shrek Academy had plenty of flaws, there was one thing that could not be criticized: Shrek's teaching staff was indeed strong. Unfortunately, cultivation was not something that could be achieved with only the guidance of famous teachers. All kinds of resources were indispensable as well. Otherwise, if talented students could be trained without resources, academies would already be everywhere.

Did they think an academy only needed teachers?

Training grounds, resources, and all sorts of other things were indispensable. Those were the qualities a true academy should possess. A place like Shrek Academy was nothing more than half-baked. It would be strange if it could produce good students. If Tang San, the Child of Destiny, had not carried them in the original story, Shrek would have shut down after this class.

"No way." Xiao Wu jumped down from Tang San's back and stared at the plaque in shock. Then she turned back to look at Tang San. Both of them felt somewhat stunned. Even Notting Academy was far larger than this place. Moreover, this obviously looked like an ordinary little village. Not only was the entrance arch made of wood, it was not even a third as large as Notting Academy's. This could be called a Soul Master Academy?

"Brother, did Grandmaster get it wrong? No matter how I look at it, this doesn't seem like an academy. Could it be a scam?" Xiao Wu could not help saying. As she spoke, she subconsciously glanced at Yun Chuan, who was smiling faintly beside them. He was actually right.

Tang San gave a bitter smile. "We're already here. Let's take a look first."

At this moment, there were roughly a hundred applicants lined up before them. Quite a few wore frowns, clearly harboring the same thoughts as Xiao Wu.

The parents of a youth standing ahead of Tang San and Xiao Wu were both with him. They heard the youth's mother say, "Is this some kind of joke? This is the so-called Soul Master Academy? The academy that claims its graduates can become imperial viscounts?"

The youth's father said uncertainly, "The people from Spirit Hall said so. It shouldn't be wrong, should it? But this academy is really too shabby."

The youth said, "Dad, I don't want to study here. It's too embarrassing. I'd rather go to Soto Intermediate Soul Master Academy. After all, I was considered a genius back at the junior academy."

The youth's father frowned and said, "Since we're already here, let's wait a little longer. Perhaps this is some kind of test. The real academy may not be here."

There was certainly no shortage of similar conversations among the people waiting in line. Deep disappointment showed on the faces of most of the youths and their parents.

Tang San did not linger on these applicants for long. He looked toward the front of the line, where registration was taking place. Under the effects of the Mysterious Heaven Skill, his vision and hearing sharpened, allowing him to vaguely hear the conversation there.

The old man sitting behind the table and handling registrations looked lazy. His clothes could be politely described as simple, but no matter how one looked at him, he resembled an ordinary village elder. He did not even appear as spirited as Old Jack from Holy Soul Village.

At this moment, a youth stepped up to the table to register. The old man said lazily, "The registration fee is ten Gold Soul Coins. Put them in that box."

The youth's accompanying father hurriedly took out ten Gold Soul Coins and placed them into the box nailed together from several wooden planks beside the table. "Hold out your hand."

The youth obediently extended his hand before the old man. The old man pinched it twice, shook his head, and said, "You don't meet the age requirement. You can leave."

The youth froze, then turned to look at his father. There were not many children in their teens as mature as Tang San. His father hurriedly smiled ingratiatingly. "Teacher, my son only just turned thirteen. Could you perhaps make an exception?"

The old man said impatiently, "Don't hold up the people behind you. Don't you know the academy's rules? We only accept children under thirteen. Anyone over thirteen will not be admitted. You can leave."

The youth's father said, "Then our registration fee..."

The old man replied bluntly, "Once paid, it will not be refunded."

Even a clay figurine had some temper. The youth's father could not help angrily saying, "You're clearly scamming people out of their money. Return our registration fee, or we won't leave. If we had known this so-called Shrek Academy was such a dump, we never would have come."

The old man did not get angry. He merely glanced at him and said indifferently, "Mubai, someone wants their registration fee back. Handle it."

A figure suddenly sprang up from the ground nearby. "You want your registration fee back? Fine. Beat me, and you'll get every coin back."

This person was Dai Mubai. He had been sitting off to one side earlier and was blocked by the crowd, so Tang San had not seen him. Unlike the drained, indulgent appearance Tang San and Xiao Wu had seen the other day, Dai Mubai's complexion now looked considerably better.

After appearing, Dai Mubai did not waste any words. He directly activated his Soul Power and released all three of his soul rings—two hundred-year rings and one thousand-year ring. His surging Soul Power created an invisible pressure in the air as cold light flashed repeatedly in his evil eyes, fixed on that father and son!

Yun Chuan shook his head repeatedly at the sight, thinking, You're disgracing Soul Masters. What's the point of intimidating ordinary people? Is bullying the weak really that fun?