The Fourth Test

After hearing Dai Mubai's words, the four people following him fell silent for a moment. Lan Xue was the first to speak up. "Are you selecting students or wives? This is way too strict. No wonder the teacher at the entrance said you only accept monsters here. I'm afraid only monsters could pass all four tests. May I ask how many students Shrek Academy currently has, and how many students it recruits each year?"

This time, it was Dai Mubai's turn to show a bitter smile. "Since Shrek Academy was founded, we've admitted a total of forty-two students over twenty years. That averages a little more than two per year. If all four of you are admitted this year, it'll count as a record. Before this, the academy hadn't received any students for two years. At present, including me, there are only three students studying at the academy."

"Three?" Apart from the cold girl and Lan Xue, Tang San and the gentle-looking girl cried out almost simultaneously.

Dai Mubai smiled self-mockingly. "On the entire Douluo Continent, we can probably be considered the only academy with more teachers than students. Even after admitting you, the number of students at our academy still won't exceed the number of teachers."

Tang San said, "Then how can the academy survive? Without students, there should be no income, right?"

Dai Mubai said, "Otherwise, why do you think the academy is located in a little village like this? It's because we lack funds. If my family hadn't provided some support, the academy would probably have closed last year. If we still can't recruit students this year, then the three of us currently studying here will become Shrek Academy's final batch of students."

"Then why doesn't the academy relax its admission requirements? There seem to be quite a few people signing up," the gentle-looking girl asked in confusion.

A trace of respect appeared on Dai Mubai's face. "The dean once said that it is better to have none than to have the wrong ones. No matter what, even if Shrek Academy closes down, it will never accept trash. Only monsters. Do you know what the academy's graduation requirements are? We are neither an Intermediate Soul Master Academy nor an Advanced Soul Master Academy, because our requirements differ from theirs. We only accept students under thirteen, and they must possess extraordinary talent. As for graduation, one must surpass Rank 40 before the age of twenty and reach the level of a Soul Ancestor before being permitted to graduate."

"The academy has admitted a total of sixty-two students, but only fourteen truly graduated. After leaving the academy, every one of those fourteen became a figure who drew the world's attention. The most outstanding among them is now Spirit Hall's youngest elder, with authority second only to the Pope. The rest who failed to graduate either could not complete their Rank 40 cultivation before turning twenty or died while hunting Soul Beasts. The dean said that anyone below Rank 41 should not go out and disgrace him."

By the end, Dai Mubai's emotions had clearly become agitated. He was evidently deeply respectful toward Shrek Academy's dean.

Tang San smiled and said to Dai Mubai, "I'm very fortunate to have come here."

Dai Mubai sighed. "The Balak Kingdom royal family originally intended to sponsor the academy, but they demanded that our graduates swear loyalty to the royal family. The dean directly refused. Shrek Academy also stands apart from other academies and suffers heavy exclusion, which is why it has become what it is today."

Tang San suddenly realized that he desperately wanted to meet the dean Dai Mubai had spoken of. He wanted to see what kind of person could persist so steadfastly for twenty years in building such an academy.

"We're here." Dai Mubai stopped walking. They had arrived at another open space. It was much smaller than the area for the second test, only around two hundred square meters. A middle-aged man who looked to be in his fifties was dozing in a chair.

"Teacher Zhao, I've brought people for the fourth test."

"Hm? There are people taking the fourth test this year? And there are four of them?" The middle-aged man opened his bleary eyes and looked at the four young men and women before him in surprise, as though he had encountered something unbelievable.

Dai Mubai said, "Not only have the four of them reached the fourth test, but they were all exempted from the second and third tests."

Teacher Zhao's eyes lit up as he rose from his chair. He was not tall and had an ordinary appearance, but he looked exceptionally solid. Though he was even a little shorter than twelve-year-old Tang San, he somehow gave off an imposing, powerful impression.

His broad shoulders were like city walls. His coat could not conceal the magnificent muscles beneath it, as though his body had been forged from steel. Although his expression was amiable, his sturdy build naturally gave off an intense sense of pressure.

"All four are above Rank 25. Not bad, not bad. It seems there are quite a few little monsters this year. I oversee the final test. Pass my assessment, and you'll officially become members of Shrek Academy. However, my test isn't so easy to pass. Combat experience is something every Soul Master must possess. What I'm testing is your ability in that regard."

His smiling gaze swept across Tang San and the other three, and he looked at them gently. "My name is Zhao Wuji. Since all four of you passed the second and third tests without being tested, I'll personally play with you. I'll give you one incense stick's time to get to know each other and discuss things. Once the incense stick burns out, the test will begin. The test is for the four of you to join forces and withstand my attacks for one incense stick's time. As long as even one of you can hold on until the end, all of you will pass. I hope you understand that you should not try to take shortcuts. No one can use speed to escape this area. At the same time, I can remind you that none of you can withstand my attacks alone. Coordinating and cooperating with one another is your only chance of success."