Passing the Second Test

In an instant, brilliant white light burst from Tang San's hand. The white crystal became as dazzling as a diamond, intense light filling every corner of it. This was clearly the sign of someone about to reach level thirty.

A hint of amusement appeared on the teacher in charge of the test's face. "Looks like Shrek Academy will be welcoming another promising little monster this year."

Tang San smiled. He had thoroughly silenced the other applicants, and the looks they gave him immediately turned strange. Level twenty-nine Soul Power at only twelve years old—was that even something a human could achieve?

However, the title of monster did not belong to Tang San alone.

A crisp voice rang out. "Teacher, I think I should be able to skip the second and third tests as well."

The one who spoke was the girl who had passed the registration test before Tang San and Xiao Wu, causing the first-test teacher to react with surprise. Only now did Tang San and Xiao Wu truly see her appearance. She had short hair that reached her ears, an exquisitely delicate and extremely fair face, and although her figure was not as voluptuous as the cold girl's, it was perfectly proportioned. She gave off an otherworldly air. No matter how one looked at her, she resembled a noble young lady who had received an excellent education.

If the last girl to arrive was an iceberg, then this girl was a warm spring breeze. Her gentle smile infected everyone around her.

Smiling, she walked over to Xiao Wu and nodded at her. Xiao Wu subconsciously handed her the crystal.

Bright white light appeared once more. Though it was not as intense as Tang San's or Xiao Wu's, it had definitely surpassed level twenty-five Soul Power, reaching roughly level twenty-six.

Just as she was about to ask the testing teacher whether she could proceed directly to the fourth test, she suddenly discovered that the crystal in her hand had vanished. Another figure had silently appeared beside her. Immediately afterward, bright white light shone again. The light was even stronger than when she had poured in her Soul Power, clearly at the level of twenty-seven Soul Power.

The one who had suddenly appeared was the cold girl who had arrived here last alongside Dai Mubai.

Another figure flashed forward and took the crystal ball the iceberg girl was about to place on the table. It was Lan Xue. To avoid drawing attention, Lan Xue had simply sealed her Soul Power at level twenty-nine.

Dazzling white light lit up again. It was also level twenty-nine, but this time no one was surprised, because they had all been captivated by Lan Xue. At a glance, entire groups of applicants had fainted. The male students lay on the ground with blood streaming from their noses, still muttering, "My life has been worth it." The girls' eyes were wide, stars gleaming within them as they all thought, Oh my god, she's so beautiful. It's worth it. Their brains had completely short-circuited.

Only the testing teacher remained calm, though the surprise on his face could not be concealed. "There are monsters every year, but this year has especially many. Four all at once. Good, good. Looks like I have hope of getting a raise. Mubai, take those four to the fourth test together."

Dai Mubai's group had already turned to stone—and they were all stuck together.

"Little Whiteeeeeee!"

"Yes." Dai Mubai hurriedly agreed. His evil eyes gave the cold girl a complicated look before he turned and headed deeper into the academy. This time, no students voiced any objections, because they had all fainted.

Among the four applicants, only Tang San had a fairly good relationship with Dai Mubai. As he followed him inward, he asked, "Brother Dai, are there only four tests in the entrance examination?"

Dai Mubai nodded. "There are four in total. You've already gone through the first test. It eliminates applicants whose Soul Power is below level twenty-one or who are over thirteen years old. This test filters out the most people. The second test evaluates Soul Power and identifies the martial soul. Powerful Soul Power alone is not enough to prove one's potential for future development. This test mainly examines the martial soul. Only Soul Masters whose martial souls have sufficient potential for development, and whose cultivation direction has been correct thus far, may enter the third test. Of course, those with exceptionally special or strange martial souls can also be selected. Xiao Ao got through that way back then."

Tang San found Dai Mubai's explanation easy to understand. After all, Master had already taught him a great deal about such matters. The same martial soul could lead to different future achievements depending on the direction of development chosen. The second test primarily screened for the strength of the applicants' martial souls, as well as whether their first two Soul Rings conflicted in ways that might affect future cultivation.

"Brother Dai, but my martial soul is Blue Silver Grass. It should be the martial soul with the least potential for development. Why—?"

Dai Mubai laughed heartily. "No need to be modest. Don't I know how strong you are? The academy has a rule: if an applicant's Soul Power exceeds level twenty-five, then regardless of what their martial soul is, they can directly pass the second and third tests. Just as strength can overcome ten techniques, even if the quality of your martial soul is somewhat lacking, your Soul Power is far above that of your peers. With that advantage in Soul Power, you can still become a powerful Soul Master."

Tang San could not help asking, "What is the third test?" Dai Mubai replied, "The third test examines how well applicants can use their own martial souls. Soul Power and potential for development alone are not enough. They must also possess control over their martial souls. The higher the level of a martial soul, the harder it is to control, and problems can easily arise. If one's control over a martial soul fails to reach a certain level, it proves that the Soul Master himself is not diligent enough. We do not accept such students either."

Tang San immediately understood what he meant. Dai Mubai was right. Some martial souls were difficult to control, like his second martial soul—the strange hammer. It was incredibly heavy, and as his Soul Power increased, the hammer's weight continued to rise. Tang San knew that even if he used the Disorder Splitting Wind Hammer, at his peak condition, he could only swing that hammer three times.

Before Tang San could ask anything else, Dai Mubai directly explained the fourth test. "The fourth test examines practical combat experience. Some students have decent martial souls and good control over them, but they have lived in noble households since childhood, growing up in sheltered luxury. They know nothing at all about the outside world, much less combat. The academy does not accept such students either. The headmaster has said that those who have been coddled from birth will never be accepted."