Castrate Ma Hongjun to become a eunuch?

"Hey! Old geezer, don't pack up yet!"

Li Xiaoyao's face, as handsome as any reader's, was even more striking under the sunlight. His sword-like eyebrows and starry eyes, high nose bridge, and thin lips curved upwards slightly, carrying a hint of unrestrained laughter that seemed capable of melting the coldest heart in the world.

"This guy is so handsome!"

Ning Rongrong's heart trembled. She felt that Li Xiaoyao's unrestrained and carefree demeanor was completely different from the rule-abiding disciples of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. He was like a dazzling sun, firmly capturing her gaze.

She pursed her lips, pretending to be calm, but the tips of her ears quietly grew hot, and the blush on her cheeks lingered.

She had met many dignified young talents before, but none had ever made her heart flutter with just an unrestrained smile like Li Xiaoyao.

"I wonder what his name is?"

"Does he have a girlfriend?"

"And what kind of girls does he like?"

A series of thoughts popped into her head. Ning Rongrong's heartbeat inexplicably quickened by half a beat, and even Zhu Zhuqing beside her noticed her abnormality.

As Li Xiaoyao passed Ning Rongrong, he noticed the young girl blushing furiously as she looked at him.

In response, Li Xiaoyao smiled and nodded.

Then he walked directly to Li Yusong.

"Kid! Are you here to register too?"

"Registration fee, ten Gold Soul Coins."

Li Yusong's face darkened. He was clearly infuriated by Li Xiaoyao's "old geezer."

Even the tone with which he repeated "Registration fee, ten Gold Soul Coins" was stiff and impatient, urging, "If you can't afford it, don't waste my time packing up!"

He had been in an excellent mood today after Shrek Academy had accepted four Little Monsters, and he had been thinking about discussing these promising seedlings with Flender and the others that evening.

But Li Xiaoyao's appearance and his disrespectful "old geezer" had completely washed away his joy.

What's more, the kid had a cheeky grin on his face, showing no sign of disrespect, which instead made him a bit angry.

"Oh! Old geezer! What if I don't have money?"

Li Xiaoyao spread his hands, unconcerned by Li Yusong's dark expression. Instead, he tilted his head and smiled even more flamboyantly.

As expected, as soon as he said that.

Li Yusong's brows furrowed, and his face darkened further.

No money, yet you want to come to Shrek Academy?

"Are you f**king pushing your luck?"

Just as Li Yusong was about to teach Li Xiaoyao a lesson--

A graceful figure flashed by. Ning Rongrong appeared before Li Xiaoyao and declared haughtily, "A mere ten Gold Soul Coins, I'll pay for him!"

Zhu Zhuqing, standing nearby, glanced at Ning Rongrong and Li Xiaoyao with a strange look. Her slender eyelashes fluttered slightly.

She stood with her arms crossed not far away, her dark eyes holding a hint of imperceptible surprise, but more so a detached indifference as she observed the scene.

Ning Rongrong's intervention made Li Xiaoyao pause slightly.

But--

Li Xiaoyao still rejected Ning Rongrong's kind offer.

"Classmate Rongrong, thank you for your help."

"But I think there's no need to trouble you with the registration fee."

As Li Xiaoyao spoke, he put away his earlier flamboyant smile. His tone became a bit more serious, and he raised his hand, gesturing towards a tall figure in the crowd not far away.

"I'm not here to register at Shrek Academy. Brother Mubai specifically invited me to visit the academy. I probably don't need to abide by the registration fee rules."

As soon as he finished speaking, Dai Mubai happened to walk over quickly. He had just been taking Tang San and Xiao Wu to the Soul Power testing area and, after settling them down, turned and caught sight of the commotion at the registration desk, rushing back in a hurry.

His fitted attire outlined his tall figure, and a slight sheen of sweat from his haste dotted his forehead. Seeing the situation, he immediately smiled at Li Xiaoyao and then introduced him to the still tense Li Yusong.

"Teacher Li, this is the friend Li Xiaoyao I told you about three days ago. I specifically invited him to visit our Shrek Academy today, not to register. Please don't be angry with him."

As soon as Dai Mubai said this, Li Yusong's eyes widened. The tension on his face instantly vanished, replaced by disbelief.

He leaned in close to Li Xiaoyao, staring intently at his Soul Power fluctuations, his voice filled with astonishment. "Good heavens, you're the Li Xiaoyao that Mubai mentioned to us three days ago?"

Before Li Xiaoyao could respond--

Li Yusong continued to marvel to himself, "Mubai said you're about his age but a Four-Ring Soul Ancestor. Back then, we old guys thought he was exaggerating. Seeing you today, you truly live up to your reputation!"

As he spoke, the anger he had felt from being called "old geezer" and for "not having money to register" completely dissipated, and his tone became warm.

"It was my oversight earlier, I didn't recognize you. Please don't take it to heart! Since you're Mubai's friend and possess such talent, feel free to wander around Shrek as you please. If there's anything you want to see or ask, just tell me!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Li Yusong rubbed his hands together and said.

"Oh! Right!"

"Mubai mentioned--"

"Your Soul Ring configuration is Three Purple One Black?"

"Can you let this old man have a look and broaden my horizons!"

Ning Rongrong, standing nearby, heard "Three Purple One Black" and "Four-Ring Soul Ancestor," and her eyes instantly widened. The way she looked at Li Xiaoyao again was filled with amazement—

She came from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect and had seen many Soul Master geniuses. A Favored Child of Heaven as outstanding as Li Xiaoyao was countless times more exceptional than the Soul Master geniuses she had seen over the years.

A hint of surprise flashed in Zhu Zhuqing's eyes as well.

With Li Xiaoyao's astonishing talent and heaven-defying Soul Ring configuration, it was no wonder Dai Mubai, that coward, had specifically given him a heads-up and personally invited him.

"Oh! You want to see my Martial Soul and Soul Ring configuration?"

"For Rongrong's sake, since she helped just now, it's fine to let you all have a look."

Li Xiaoyao's lips curved slightly as he slowly raised his hand, his golden Soul Power gradually solidifying around him.

The next second, he softly called out.

"Come out! Chronos!"

—Clack-clack-clack—

The familiar sound of mechanical gears turning came from behind him. The moment Chronos appeared, a golden clock materialized in Li Xiaoyao's left eye, and a short Flintlock Pistol appeared in his right hand.

"Buzz—!"

Purple, purple, purple, black.

Four Soul Rings rose from beneath Li Xiaoyao's feet, and powerful Soul Power fluctuations rippled outwards.

"Hiss—"

"It really is a Three Purple One Black Soul Ring configuration?"

"And this black tenthousand-year fourth ring—

"It must be at least twenty thousand years old, right?"

Li Yusong leaned closer, his eyes wide as copper bells, his tone filled with excitement and amazement.

Even Ning Rongrong beside him couldn't help but step forward, her gaze locked onto that black Soul Ring.

She softly murmured, "Even the most top-tier Soul Master geniuses in our Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect wouldn't dare to absorb a ten-thousand-year Soul Ring until after level fifty. You've achieved it at such a young age, you're too amazing!"

Li Xiaoyao smiled, and then—