Inner Court Assessment

Because Beibei and Tang Ya were wearing Third Year Uniforms, the four of them entered Shrek City directly through the East City Gate without anyone stopping them along the way.

However, Zhou Sichen attracted most of the attention. He was simply too good-looking, his skin even more delicate than a girl's.

Tang Ya could not help curling her lips. "They're obviously lusting after his looks. Fine, they're First Year freshmen, but why are even those Fifth and Sixth Year senior girls acting like this? So shallow!!"

Beibei could not help laughing. "How were you any different from them earlier?"

"How could I possibly be the same as them? I just thought Brother Zhou was handsome and appreciated his looks. I'm not like them, harboring bad intentions." Tang Ya huffed and puffed out her chest, then did not forget to say to Zhou Sichen:

"Brother Zhou, don't let those senior girls fool you. Beibei and I are three grades above you and will be entering Fourth Year this year. If there's anything about the academy you don't understand, you can come find me in the Fourth Year classroom."

Hearing that, Zhou Sichen raised his brows slightly and said to Beibei and Tang Ya, "Actually, I don't plan on staying with the freshmen."

Beibei and Tang Ya exchanged a glance and looked at him in disbelief. "You mean you want to skip the Freshman Assessment entirely?"

Zhou Sichen nodded. "With my current strength, staying with these freshmen would not bring me any particular gains. It would even feel a little like bullying."

Tang Ya, Beibei, and Huo Yuhao all thought of Zhou Sichen's Ah Da and Hellfire.

Those two rare, immensely powerful Soul Beasts, both close to the Ten Thousand Year Level, were enough to sweep through every freshman.

Even among the older Fifth and Sixth Year students, there were probably few who could defeat Ah Da and Hellfire.

Not to mention that Zhou Sichen still had a Third Contracted Beast he had stubbornly refused to tell them about.

Ah Da and Hellfire were already this powerful. Could the third one possibly be weak?

Beibei nodded. "That's true. There have been precedents for this before. As long as you display enough strength, you can skip grades directly."

After thinking for a moment, Beibei suggested, "Brother Zhou, although your actual combat strength is much greater than mine, you're only Level 38 after all. How about this? Go apply, and then come directly to our class. What do you think?"

Hearing Beibei's words, Tang Ya secretly gave him a thumbs-up. She also suggested from the side, "Brother Zhou, you've only just enrolled and don't know anyone yet. Coming to our class would let us look after each other!"

Listening to them, Huo Yuhao could not help clenching his fists.

He was still worrying about the Freshman Assessment three months from now, while Brother Zhou could skip grades and enter the academy directly.

Huo Yuhao silently encouraged himself. Xiao Yuhao, you can do it too. Keep going!

Zhou Sichen merely smiled. "I'm afraid I'll have to disappoint you. What I want is not merely to skip grades."

The moment he said that, Beibei and Tang Ya looked at Zhou Sichen in disbelief. "Brother Zhou, don't tell me... you want to enter the Inner Court directly?"

Beibei understood the Inner Court far too well and could not help reminding him, "Brother Zhou, I know you're strong and highly talented, but the Inner Court and Outer Court truly aren't on the same level."

"Most people who are top-tier geniuses in the Outer Court can only rank at the bottom once they enter the Inner Court. My suggestion is that you study in the Outer Court for two years first, then enter the Inner Court afterward."

Listening to Beibei's advice, Zhou Sichen felt warmth in his heart. At the very least, Beibei was speaking sincerely.

But Zhou Sichen was no ordinary genius. He was a true monster.

Zhou Sichen smiled faintly. "I understand what you mean, but I'm not an ordinary person."

"Besides, I like challenges. If there's no challenge at all and I just idly waste my days at Shrek, then I might as well go home and farm."

"Shrek Academy is a gathering place for geniuses. I came to Shrek Academy to compete on the same stage as these geniuses, then surpass them one by one."

After a brief pause, boundless confidence seemed to rise from Zhou Sichen. "The Inner Court is my goal."

Looking at the confidence radiating from Zhou Sichen from the inside out, Beibei, Tang Ya, and Huo Yuhao all felt as though they were under an illusion.

Brother Zhou, whom they had spent a month with, did not seem to be as gentle and amiable as they had thought. This confident yet composed appearance seemed to be his true self.

Had he been afraid of discouraging them before? Was that why he had always been gentle, easygoing, and agreeable?

At that moment, listening to Zhou Sichen's unquestionable words, Beibei and Tang Ya opened their mouths but could not say anything.

After a long while, Beibei finally said, "As expected of you, Brother Zhou. That's true. For a genius like you, only a place like the Inner Court can truly allow your talent to shine."

Zhou Sichen smiled in reply. "Am I being a little too arrogant?"

The three of them shook their heads. Beibei said, "Actually, we were worrying too much. Your three Contracted Soul Beasts are all close to the Ten Thousand Year Level. That alone is enough for you to enter the Inner Court."

"We were being overly worried earlier and forgot that you, Brother Zhou, are already a supreme genius. Once you enter the Inner Court, it probably won't take long for you to make a name for yourself."

Hearing such praise and flattery, Zhou Sichen smiled. "Then I'll borrow your good wishes."

Beibei then said to Tang Ya, "How about this? Xiao Ya, take Yuhao to complete his enrollment. I'll take Brother Zhou to the Inner Court. It happens to be the time for the Inner Court Assessment now. If Brother Zhou passes it, he can enter the Inner Court directly."

Tang Ya nodded. "Then I wish Brother Zhou every success. By then, you'll be our senior."

Huo Yuhao also said from the side, "Congratulations in advance, Brother Zhou. I hope you enter the Inner Court smoothly."

"Don't worry. I won't disappoint you. By the time all of you enter the Inner Court, I'll hold up the sky for you."

After exchanging a few pleasantries, the four went their separate ways. Zhou Sichen followed Beibei toward the Inner Court assessment.

Along the way, Beibei thoughtfully introduced Zhou Sichen to the Inner Court's assessment standards, as well as the many prominent figures within the Inner Court.

Zhou Sichen listened quietly. He felt that entering the Inner Court was practically a certainty for him.

Shrek Academy was divided into the Inner and Outer Courts. In truth, only by entering the Inner Court could one be considered to have truly entered Shrek, and only then could one truly enjoy the best treatment.

Moreover, students who could enter the Inner Court and graduate successfully would almost certainly become renowned across the continent in the future. That was the Inner Court's true value.

However, the Inner Court's assessment requirements were also extremely harsh. Fewer than one in ten could pass and endure to the end, so the number of Inner Court Disciples remained below one hundred year-round.

After entering Shrek Academy, the two followed the Lakeside Path southward. Nearly a quarter of an hour later, they turned west and walked for another quarter of an hour before a broad Rectangular Plaza appeared in their field of vision.

A sign for Shrek Plaza stood beside it. At the center of the Outer Court plaza were three grand statues—the founders of Shrek Academy, the Golden Iron Triangle who had been renowned across the continent ten thousand years ago.

Beibei did not even need to introduce them. Zhou Sichen was already quite familiar with the three.

After passing the three grand statues and Shrek Plaza, rows of tall teaching buildings came into view. These buildings were different colors, primarily white, yellow, purple, and black.

There was also a cluster of gray teaching buildings in the distance.

Beibei continued, "The colors of the teaching buildings represent different grades. They're distinguished according to Soul Ring colors.

"White is the freshman teaching building, like the lowest-tier Ten Year Soul Ring. Yellow is for the Outer Court's Second and Third Year students, purple is for Fourth and Fifth Year students, and black is for Sixth Year students."

"Once you walk out of the black teaching building, you can receive the Outer Court graduation certificate."

After a pause, Beibei looked at Zhou Sichen with some envy. "But you're special, Brother Zhou. With your talent, perhaps you'll never need to set foot in any of these teaching buildings."