Academy Life

The next day, Shrek's teachers and students had already left the Star Dou Great Forest. At last, it was time for the once-a-day check-in.

'Zhao Wuji detected. Would you like to check in...' the system's voice sounded in his mind.

'Check in...'

Soon, a semi-transparent panel that only Zhao Zilong could see appeared before him:

'Zhao Wuji, Vice Dean of Shrek Academy;

Age: 46;

Martial Soul: Great Vajra Bear (high-grade Martial Soul);

Innate Soul Power: Level 7;

Soul Power: Level 76;

Check in with Zhao Wuji. Strip Zhao Wuji of 0.5 levels of Innate Soul Power...'

'Stripping successful. The host's current Innate Soul Power is Level 3...'

When the system's voice in his mind fell silent, Zhao Zilong said disappointedly, 'That's it...'

Still, 0.5 levels of Innate Soul Power was better than Li Yusong's. Li Yusong had not merely been stripped of 0.5 levels of Soul Power.

Without sufficient Innate Soul Power, cultivating Soul Power was extremely difficult. Zhao Zilong was just like that now. Although he appeared to be Level 32, his Innate Soul Power was only a mere Level 3. If he could not strip away more Innate Soul Power, Tang San and the others would soon surpass him. After all, they were all geniuses.

After returning to the academy, Zhao Zilong went with Oscar and Xiao Wu to the Spirit Hall branch in Suotuo City to update their Soul Power records.

Since Zhao Zilong had never registered with Spirit Hall in the first place, he could only lie and say that he had lost his Martial Soul manual, then had a new one issued.

He also received a subsidy of twenty Gold Soul Coins. However, this subsidy was only available to Soul Masters under twenty-five. Those over twenty-five could no longer claim it.

Meanwhile, on the back mountain dozens of kilometers from Shrek Academy, the Eight Spider Lances emerged from Zhao Zilong's back. He immediately felt every aspect of his physical abilities improve.

'Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh...' Several slashes from the Eight Spider Lances shot out, instantly cutting down several large trees. Purple venom corroded the trunks, sending up wisps of purple smoke.

'As expected of something the system threw in for free. It has fused perfectly with my body, like my own limbs, and it's so sharp...' As he spoke, Zhao Zilong reached out and touched the tip of an Eight Spider Lance. It felt completely metallic.

He looked at the panel before him:

'External Soul Bone: Eight Spider Lances. Soul Skill: Enhance (enhances all attributes by 50%). Soul Skill: Devouring (devours the opponent's Soul Power, fully replenishes the user's Soul Power consumption, and carries potent poison).'

Its Soul Skills were exactly the same as Tang San's. With these Eight Spider Lances and the Tang Sect Hidden Weapon Techniques, he might not be able to defeat Soul Masters above Level 40, but Soul Masters at Level 30 should be no match for him.

Over the next few days, everyone cultivated freely. Aside from some running exercises every morning, they mostly trained on their own.

That was simply how Shrek Academy operated. From the very beginning, it only recruited students whose talent stood at the peak of the pyramid. People with such talent cultivated Soul Power very quickly even without teachers to guide them.

In his previous life, many Douluo Continent fans had mixed opinions about Shrek Academy. However, Zhao Zilong of his previous life had looked down on it somewhat.

In twenty years since its founding, it had accepted only forty-two students, and only fourteen had ultimately graduated. Those who failed to graduate had either died at the claws of soul beasts, dropped out midway, or left for other reasons. Due to the academy's lack of resources, it had never officially registered as an academy in any nation. Yet every graduate became a genius renowned across the Douluo Continent.

When students achieved success, it meant Shrek Academy had taught them well. When students died or dropped out, it meant they themselves were incapable. It sounded fine at first, but if those students who dropped out or died had gone to other academies and received better educational resources, such as a Simulated Training Environment, perhaps they would not have died—or perhaps they too would have achieved something on the Douluo Continent.

This reminded Zhao Zilong of the elite schools from his previous life. In those elite schools, teachers taught students as though teaching birds how to fly: first spread your wings, then do this and that. If you accidentally fell to your death, it was because you lacked ability; you deserved it. If you managed to fly, then it meant the school had taught you well.

But as long as someone was a genius, no matter who taught them, they were destined to shine in the future.

Of course, that had been Zhao Zilong's view in his previous life. To the current Zhao Zilong, Shrek Academy was still a good place. At the very least, its teachers were strong enough. If he needed to hunt soul beasts, even ten-thousand-year soul beasts in the future, they would be able to help. Besides, Zhao Zilong himself was now a member of Shrek.

Meanwhile, at the academy, Tang San had spent these past few days cooped up in his room cultivating Soul Power whenever he was not eating. Perhaps losing a level of Soul Power had made him even more eager to recover it quickly. As for the others, whenever they had free time, they ran off to Suotuo City to have fun.

Over the past few days, Zhao Zilong had also "checked in" with Flender, stripping 0.5 levels of Innate Soul Power from him. His Innate Soul Power was now at Level 3.5. He had also "checked in" with Lu Qibin, stripping 0.5 levels of Soul Power from him, bringing his own Soul Power to Level 32.5. Of Shrek Academy's five teachers, only Shao Xin remained.

A few days ago, however, Flender had sent Shao Xin and Li Yusong out to purchase supplies such as rice, vegetables, and flour. Flender was famously stingy; he wanted things both cheap and worthwhile. So he had the two buy directly from the vegetable farmers, cutting out the middlemen.

Previously, there had only been three students, and Dai Mubai often ate out, rarely dining at the academy. But this year there were eight students, and Meng Yiran would be coming soon, making nine students. Naturally, they needed to prepare a few more dishes. Then they could revise the academy rules and make them eat at the academy every day, earning another profit.

Zhao Zilong had returned from the Star Dou Great Forest several days ago, yet he had not seen Yu Xiaogang appear. At this point in the original story, Yu Xiaogang should already have arrived at Shrek Academy, but he had still not shown up.

Yu Xiaogang must have discovered that his Soul Power was regressing too. He was probably at a loss himself now.

Today, Shao Xin and Li Yusong finally returned. Zhao Zilong immediately went to find Shao Xin, who was currently reporting back to Flender.

"Teacher Shao Xin, Dean." Zhao Zilong greeted them upon arriving.

'Shao Xin detected. Would you like to check in...' Sure enough, the system's mature female voice sounded again.

Flender spoke as he looked at him. "Oh, Shao Xin, Zi Long has been looking for you these past few days. He says he wants to taste what your Martial Soul Sugar Beans are like. Make him a couple!"

Shao Xin readily agreed to such a request. "All right, Dean."