Shrek Academy Admissions: The Threshold for Monsters, the First Gathering of Stars

On the forest path outside Suotuo City, dust swirled through the air. Following the directions Dai Mubai had given them, Tang San, Lin Zhixia, and Xiao Wu finally spotted a wooden sign reading "Shrek Academy" amid a patch of weeds. The sign hung crookedly, its paint peeling away, and even the wooden gate beside it was missing a plank. It was utterly at odds with the solemn word "academy."

More than a dozen people stood gathered beside the gate, most of them parents with their children, yet few dared step forward. As Tang San and the other two approached, they saw a line of smaller words carved beneath the sign: "We only accept monsters, not ordinary people. Those under thirteen who have not reached Level 21, do not bother."

"These requirements are way too harsh!" Xiao Wu clicked her tongue. At twelve years old and Level 28 in Soul Power, she had already been among the best at Nuoding Academy, yet here she was merely above the "passing line." Lin Zhixia touched the Void Breaking Feather Quiver slung across her shoulder. Her Level 29 Soul Power at thirteen gave her some reassurance, but it also made her even more curious about just how "monstrous" this academy was. Tang San, meanwhile, stared at the wooden table ahead of the crowd. An old man in a gray cloth shirt sat behind it, gripping a bronze Soul Power tester. He was the Unmovable Bright King, Zhao Wuji, whom Dai Mubai had mentioned before.

"Next!" Zhao Wuji's voice was rough as he pushed the tester before a boy. The boy looked to be around thirteen. When he placed his hand on it, the needle only wavered to Level 18. Zhao Wuji immediately waved him away. "Not enough. Go home. Don't waste time here." The boy's parents tried to argue, but Zhao Wuji's glare forced them back two steps. They left resentfully.

Half an hour passed, yet only two children among the dozen or so met the requirements. One was a girl in a long pink dress, with delicate features and a hairpin shaped like a Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda in her hand. During her test, the needle stopped firmly at Level 26. She gave a light smile and introduced herself. "Ning Rongrong, Support System, Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda Spirit." The other was a slender girl in black fitted clothes, her gaze cold and sharp. Her needle shot up to Level 27, and her voice carried the same chill. "Zhu Zhuqing, Agility Attack System, Nether Cat Spirit."

Zhao Wuji's expression eased slightly as he looked at them. "Level 26 Support System, Level 27 Agility Attack System. Somewhat interesting. Those above Level 21 don't need to take the earlier basic tests. Wait to the side for the final round of practical assessment."

Just then, Xiao Wu skipped forward and placed her hand on the tester. The needle rose rapidly, passing Level 25, then Level 27, before finally stopping at Level 28. Zhao Wuji raised a brow. "Twelve years old, Level 28 Agility Attack System? Interesting. What's your name?"

"Xiao Wu, Soft Bone Rabbit Spirit!" Xiao Wu raised her chin, her eyes brimming with pride.

Lin Zhixia stepped up next. Faint Soul Power curled around her fingertips, and when she placed her hand on the tester, the silver feathers in her Void Breaking Feather Quiver trembled slightly. The needle soared all the way to Level 29 and stopped steadily there. Even Zhao Wuji paused with his pipe. "Thirteen years old, Level 29, Assault System? What's your Spirit?"

"Lin Zhixia. My Spirit is the Starfall Bow, and it comes with Void Penetration." As she spoke, Lin Zhixia condensed a Starlight Arrow at her fingertips. Star patterns glimmered along the shaft, drawing gasps from the people around her.

Finally, it was Tang San's turn. He walked to the table, and as he placed his hand on the tester, the aura of Blue Silver Grass quietly spread out. The needle spun rapidly before settling at Level 29. Clear surprise finally appeared in Zhao Wuji's eyes. "Thirteen years old, Level 29, Control System? What's your Spirit?"

"Tang San. Blue Silver Grass Spirit. I specialize in Entanglement and Parasitize." As soon as he finished speaking, whispers suddenly rose from the crowd. Blue Silver Grass was clearly a useless Spirit, yet he had cultivated it to Level 29. This child's potential was truly astonishing.

Zhao Wuji stood and slapped the table. "All right, you five are the only ones who qualified today: Tang San, Lin Zhixia, Xiao Wu, Ning Rongrong, and Zhu Zhuqing. The final round is practical combat. The rules are simple: the five of you will form a team and face me alone. If you can last for an incense stick, you all pass."

"Face you alone?" Ning Rongrong was somewhat surprised. She could sense that Zhao Wuji's Spirit Power Fluctuation far exceeded her own. "Your Soul Power Level is...?"

"Just a Soul Sage." Zhao Wuji grinned, revealing a mouthful of yellow teeth. "Don't worry, I'll control my Soul Power. I won't hurt you. But if you can't hold out, then you can only blame yourselves for not being strong enough. You won't be qualified to enter Shrek."

The five exchanged glances and swiftly took up formation. Tang San stood in the middle, Blue Silver Grass flickering faintly around his fingertips as he handled control. Lin Zhixia and Zhu Zhuqing stood on the flanks. Lin Zhixia drew her Starfall Bow while Zhu Zhuqing assumed a close-combat stance, both responsible for attacking. Xiao Wu circled to the rear, her movements nimble as she prepared to strike by surprise. Ning Rongrong stood at the back as the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda Spirit quietly appeared. Two rays of light lit up from the pagoda and fell upon Tang San and Lin Zhixia. "My First Spirit Skill, Strength Boost, and Second Spirit Skill, Speed Boost, can increase your strength and speed by thirty percent!"

"Begin!" The instant Zhao Wuji spoke, his body abruptly swelled in size. His muscles bulged, black fur covered his bronze skin, and his hands transformed into enormous bear paws. The Great Strength Vajra Bear Spirit was unleashed, and the pressure of his Soul Power instantly blanketed the entire area.

He lunged fiercely at Tang San, his bear paw carrying a howling gust of wind. Tang San had long been prepared. Blue Silver Grass surged out like a tide and wrapped around Zhao Wuji's bear paw. Yet Zhao Wuji's strength far exceeded expectations. The Blue Silver Grass was pulled taut and seemed ready to snap.

"Zhi Xia!" Tang San shouted.

Lin Zhixia immediately released the bowstring, firing a Starlight Arrow infused with Void Penetration at Zhao Wuji's chest. The arrow ignored part of his defense, grazing past his bear paw and leaving a shallow mark on his shoulder armor. Zhao Wuji winced in pain, his movements slowing slightly. Zhu Zhuqing seized the chance to circle behind him, Soul Power gathering around her claw-like fingertips as she struck toward his lower back.

"Not bad teamwork!" Zhao Wuji remained unruffled. He turned and swung his bear paw, the blast of air forcing Zhu Zhuqing back. At that moment, Xiao Wu suddenly leaped up from the side, her long leg infused with Soul Power as she kicked toward his knee. Zhao Wuji instinctively lifted his leg to block, and Tang San seized the opening. Blue Silver Grass surged out again, binding Zhao Wuji's ankle as he simultaneously unleashed his Second Spirit Skill, Parasitize. Tiny seeds traveled along the Blue Silver Grass and burrowed into Zhao Wuji's body, temporarily restricting his movements.

"Not bad!" Approval flashed through Zhao Wuji's eyes. He circulated his Soul Power and shattered the parasitic seeds, then unleashed his Second Spirit Skill, Gravity Enhancement. A powerful force of gravity pressed down upon the five of them, instantly slowing their movements.

Ning Rongrong immediately shifted her boosts toward Zhu Zhuqing and Xiao Wu. "Double Speed Boost!" Two rays of light flared again, visibly increasing Zhu Zhuqing and Xiao Wu's speed. They barely evaded Zhao Wuji's bear paw. While Zhao Wuji was occupied, Lin Zhixia condensed three Starlight Arrows in succession. Their shafts split into nine smaller arrows, which shot toward his limbs in an attempt to limit his movement.

The time of an incense stick gradually passed. The five were consuming more and more Soul Power, cold sweat beading on their foreheads. Tang San's Blue Silver Grass had lost much of its toughness, Lin Zhixia's Starlight Arrows had weakened somewhat, and Xiao Wu and Zhu Zhuqing's movements were gradually slowing. Only Ning Rongrong's boosts remained steady.

Just as Zhao Wuji was preparing to unleash his Third Spirit Skill, Indestructible Diamond Body, to end the assessment, a voice suddenly rang out from the distance. "Old Zhao, that's enough. These children have already proven themselves worthy."

Everyone looked toward the voice and saw a middle-aged man in a blue robe approaching through the woods. He had an elegant bearing and held a scroll in his hand. It was Shrek Academy's dean, Flender. Upon hearing him, Zhao Wuji immediately withdrew his Spirit, and the gravity vanished. "Hmph. If Dean Flender hadn't pleaded for you, you would've had to hold out for another half hour!"

Flender walked up to the five with a smile. "Welcome to Shrek Academy. I am Dean Flender. Your teamwork just now was excellent. Tang San's control was steady, precise, and ruthless. Lin Zhixia's long-range attacks had powerful penetration. Xiao Wu and Zhu Zhuqing's Agility Attack styles complemented each other, and Rongrong's support was perfectly timed. From today onward, you are Shrek's 'monsters'!"

At that moment, a black figure emerged from the woods. It was Dai Mubai. He walked up to the five and said with a smile, "Looks like all of you passed the assessment. I'm Dai Mubai, fifteen years old, Level 37 Soul Power, an Assault System Battle Soul Master. From now on, I'll be your senior."

Tang San, Lin Zhixia, and Xiao Wu stared at him in surprise. So Dai Mubai had known all along that they were coming to Shrek. Their encounter at the Rose Hotel had actually been an advance "observation."

Sunlight filtered through the leaves and fell over the five of them. They looked at the shabby Shrek Academy, then at the companions they had just met, their eyes filled with anticipation. There were no magnificent buildings here, but there were harsh assessments and like-minded companions. This place did not accept ordinary people, only "monsters." And here, they would become true powerhouses and begin legends of their own.