Poison Tongue Yun Chuan

Among Soul Masters, soul rings were always the best source of authority. Seeing the three soul rings around Dai Mubai, including one thousand-year soul ring, the boy's father's expression changed drastically. Throwing out a "Guess we're just unlucky," he grabbed his son and hurried away.

Dai Mubai returned to his seat at the side, his evil eyes sweeping coldly over the youths and parents waiting to register behind them. The threat in his gaze was obvious.

The pressure brought by three soul rings was not something ordinary people could endure. At that moment, he no longer resembled a spoiled young master, but more like a thug.

Once that scene ended, a third of the people waiting in line immediately left. No one wanted to waste money for nothing, especially when the appearance of Shrek Academy before them was truly hard to praise.

Another boy came up to register before the old man. Both his parents had accompanied him. His mother confidently placed ten gold coins into the wooden box, and the boy obediently held out his hand.

The old man squeezed his hand, glanced at the boy with his dim yellow eyes, and said, "Exactly twelve years old. Release your Martial Soul and let me see it."

The boy nodded. Pale green Soul Power emerged from his body, and a century-old yellow soul ring rhythmically rose and fell around him. The aura of the century-old soul ring was clearly not weak. As his Martial Soul appeared, a thick, long vine coiled around his body.

This Martial Soul was somewhat similar to Tang San's Blue Silver Grass, except it was not grass but directly a type of vine, similar to Tang San's second soul ring, Ghost Vine, though lacking Ghost Vine's poison.

The old man shook his head. "Unqualified. You may leave."

The boy's parents had both looked full of confidence, but upon hearing the old man say their child was unqualified, their expressions froze. His mother could not help asking, "Why? My son is one of the best students at his junior academy. Didn't you see that his soul ring is a century-old one? There aren't many Soul Masters with century-old soul rings."

The old man said flatly, "A first soul ring that is century-old is naturally good, but he is merely an ordinary person."

The boy's father frowned. "I don't understand what you mean."

Growing somewhat impatient, the old man rose from behind the table. He addressed not only the boy's parents before him, but also the people lined up behind them. "If you came to register at Shrek Academy, you should first understand the rules. Coming here without figuring them out is nothing more than throwing away your registration fee. It isn't too late to regret it now. Do you know what Shrek means in the name Shrek Academy?"

Most of the applicants wore blank expressions after hearing the old man's words. The old man said coldly, "Shrek is a kind of monster, an exceptionally strange existence even among Soul Beasts. The meaning of Shrek Academy is Monster Academy. In other words, we only accept monsters here, not ordinary people. If you are over thirteen years old, or your Soul Power has not reached level twenty-one or above, then don't waste your time here."

To demonstrate the academy's authority, the old man stood and released a formidable aura. One white, one yellow, three purple, and one black—six soul rings rose from beneath his feet. Although it did not even meet the optimal soul ring configuration, in a remote place like the Balak Kingdom, a Soul Emperor above level sixty was unquestionably an exceedingly rare super expert.

"So applicants must be under thirteen and have Soul Power at level twenty-one. Isn't that just accepting geniuses?" While everyone present was marveling at the old man's formidable strength, Yun Chuan finally could not hold back and voiced his complaint from the side.

"That's right. Another meaning of monster is genius. Shrek Academy is likewise an academy that only accepts geniuses," the old man admitted directly instead of refuting him.

"But if they're geniuses, wouldn't it be better to peacefully attend one of the Four Element Academies or a Royal Academy? Why come to this godforsaken backwater to suffer? Can this dump even be called a Soul Master academy?" he continued, asking in return.

Which of the Shrek Seven Devils from the original story was not a heaven-blessed talent? Several even possessed Innate Full Soul Power. They would be unquestioned prodigies in any faction. If so, what was the point of Shrek Academy? Teaching a group of geniuses to become geniuses? But they were geniuses already—did they need teaching? Most importantly, this place did not even have mimetic cultivation environments. If not for Tang San, the original story's protagonist, was this not simply ruining talented students?

"Damn it, you new brat. I've put up with you for long enough. Stop making those snide remarks." Soul Masters were naturally hot-tempered and easily angered. On top of constantly dealing with the youths and parents coming to register, the old man had long since become extremely impatient. His prior calm was merely an act. Now, hearing Yun Chuan stirring things up from the side, the Fire Qi in his heart immediately erupted.

Shrek Academy truly was shabby, and its teaching environment could not compare to other Soul Master academies. But it had the best teachers. As a teacher of Shrek Academy, he naturally would not allow outsiders to slander it—especially since Yun Chuan was also now a teacher at Shrek Academy.

"How am I being snide? Isn't what I said the truth?" Yun Chuan spread his hands and spoke with feigned innocence.

He admitted that Flander and Zhao Wuji were both excellent teachers, but even so, Shrek Academy remained an extremely poor academy. The lack of facilities could not be compensated for by merely a few powerful teachers.

"You..." The old man flew into a rage and looked ready to attack.

"Teachers, please don't act rashly. Please, don't." Dai Mubai immediately ran over from the side. By then, he already knew that Yun Chuan was the academy's new teacher. He hurriedly came to break up the conflict. After all, they were both academy teachers. If they started fighting in public, it would be the academy that lost face.

On a personal level, Dai Mubai naturally stood with the old man, but he could not deny that Yun Chuan was speaking the truth. Shrek Academy truly was terribly crude. Even he himself would not have ended up joining Shrek Academy by accident if he had not been unable to remain in his country and had simply sought some remote backwater where he could spend the rest of his life.

"Mubai, get out of my way. Today, I'll make this new brat learn what rules are." The old man remained utterly unyielding. He clearly loved the academy deeply.

At the side.

"Brother, that man is actually a teacher at Shrek Academy?!" Xiao Wu exclaimed softly. Then she asked strangely, "But if he's a teacher, why did he beat that lecherous tiger surnamed Dai so badly that day? And judging by how he acted then, it seemed he didn't know this man was a teacher either?"

"I don't know. Maybe there's some reason behind it that we aren't aware of." Tang San shook his head in confusion as well. There was too little information for him to figure out the reason.

"New brat, do you dare have a Soul Master duel with me?" The old man had already been blinded by anger. Even with Dai Mubai blocking him, he remained furious. He even took the initiative to challenge Yun Chuan.

"You want to fight me? Are you sure you want to fight me? Have you forgotten my level?" Yun Chuan extended his right hand, and a stalk of Blue Silver Grass appeared in his palm. At the same time, soul rings emerged around him—two yellow, two purple, and three black! The optimal soul ring configuration!

Of course, this was merely an illusion Yun Chuan had created through some method. He had simply changed the colors of his soul rings. After all, seven completely black rings were far too world-shattering. Aside from the initial shock upon seeing them, any normal person would assume they were an illusion, because seven Ten Thousand Year Soul Rings were simply too contrary to common sense.

Generally speaking, only the fifth ring could absorb a Ten Thousand Year Soul Ring. At most, people could accept a fourth ring absorbing one. But if one began absorbing Ten Thousand Year Soul Rings from the first, second, and third rings, that was simply excessive. It was so unreasonable that it seemed fake instead.

People would subconsciously choose not to believe it. In that case, entirely black soul rings would instead have little deterrent effect.

So under normal circumstances, whenever Yun Chuan displayed his soul rings, he changed their colors to the optimal configuration. As for when he faced Flander last time, he had simply been too lazy to put on an act. Later, when Flander asked about the entirely black soul rings, he fobbed him off by saying it was an illusion created by a soul skill.

"Hiss!"

The sound of people drawing sharp breaths echoed all around.

Yun Chuan's youthful face and the seven soul rings around him, each radiating an overwhelming presence, brought shock and intimidation far greater than the old man's.

Oh no! I forgot this brat is a Soul Saint! The old man, whose mind had been clouded by anger, looked at the seven soul rings beneath Yun Chuan and felt as though a basin of cold water had been dumped over his head. He immediately sobered up. Realizing he was provoking a young Soul Saint, he inwardly cried out in misery.

Where did this monster come from?

The old man had originally only wanted an excuse to teach him a lesson, but now he found himself in a difficult position. How was a six-ring Soul Emperor supposed to fight a seven-ring Soul Saint? Fight him with his head? Not to mention Yun Chuan was younger and had more abundant Soul Power. If they truly fought, this old man would probably be the one getting utterly thrashed.

This fight absolutely cannot happen! If I lose, won't this old man be utterly humiliated? As panic filled his heart, the corner of his eye suddenly caught sight of Dai Mubai beside him. Dai Mubai was equally stunned, clearly having only just learned that this new teacher was a Soul Saint. The old man immediately had an idea and hurriedly gave Dai Mubai a meaningful look.

Dai Mubai understood at once and immediately returned a look. The old man instantly relaxed, inwardly praising him. As expected, Mubai is the most reliable one in the academy.

But what Dai Mubai said the very next moment made his expression stiffen again.

"Rest assured, Teacher. Mubai will go arrange a venue right away." Dai Mubai looked excited. This was a battle between a Soul Saint and a Soul Emperor—how could he not want to witness it? As for a venue, there was nothing much to prepare. Shrek Academy might not have much else, but it certainly had plenty of open ground. After all, it was poor!

That was also why Yun Chuan called Shrek run-down. The place was already so small, yet it was mostly empty ground. The living quarters were so crude they could make one weep, and there was no need to even mention the food. In any case, after joining Shrek Academy, Yun Chuan had stayed for only one night before fleeing as though escaping for his life.

After Dai Mubai returned to the academy, he had only known that a new teacher had joined. Only now did he learn that this teacher was actually a seven-ring Soul Saint!

He remembered that Ma Hongjun, that damn fatso, had even wanted to test this new teacher, saying that only old monsters could teach little monsters. That guy should be thankful this teacher had not been at the academy then. Otherwise...

Dai Mubai recalled how a Wooden Man summoned by this teacher had beaten him until he was nearly unrecognizable, and he immediately shuddered. Fatty, you'd better behave yourself. Otherwise, you really are beyond saving.