The next morning, south of Suotuo City.
The thin mist had yet to disperse, and the air carried the earthy scent of soil and crops.
A horse carriage made entirely of Black Gold Wood, embedded with a Soundproof Soul Tool Formation, traveled steadily along the uneven dirt road. Its wheels rolled over gravel without making the slightest jolting sound. Only the Purple Gold Bell hanging from the shafts chimed crisply in the wind, utterly out of place amid the quiet countryside.
Inside the carriage, a warm fragrance lingered.
Qian Mo reclined against a soft couch covered in Snow Fox Fur, flipping through a copy of the Continent Soul Beast Illustrated Guide. Zhu Zhuqing knelt beside him, resting her head on his thigh as she idly played with his long fingers.
Today, she had changed back into a black, form-fitting leather outfit convenient for movement. Yet a priceless Deep Sea Warm Jade Buckle was still pinned at her collar, making her cool elegance appear even more noble.
"We're here."
Qian Mo closed the book and lightly tapped the tip of her pert nose with his fingertip.
Zhu Zhuqing gave an unhappy hum. Like a cat disturbed from a pleasant dream, she rubbed against his palm before reluctantly sitting upright, resuming her aloof, unapproachable expression.
He lifted the carriage curtain.
Before them stood a rundown little village. Several rotten planks had been cobbled together into an archway at the Village Entrance, with the words "Shrek Academy" crookedly carved into it. The green paint had peeled away in patches, giving it an air of utter poverty.
Anyone unaware of the truth would probably have thought this was some beggar gang's gathering place.
Yet this shabby place had formed a long line at the moment.
Several hundred young men and maidens from all over stood with their parents, staring eagerly at the old wooden table by the Village Entrance.
An old man sat behind the table, dressed in a faded gray robe with a green monster emblem on his chest. He lazily picked his teeth, his eyes cloudy as though he might fall asleep at any moment.
"Unqualified. Next."
"Not enough Soul Power. Next."
"Too old. Get lost."
Li Yusong's voice was not loud, yet it carried an unquestionable arrogance. Every child who was rejected wore a mournful face, while their parents dared to be angry but dared not speak, leaving in disgrace.
Halfway through the line.
A youth carrying a worn travel pack was lowering his head and counting the Copper Soul Coins in his hand.
Tang San.
Today, he wore Blue Coarse Cloth Clothes, with two patches sewn onto his cuffs. Though they were clean, he looked exceptionally shabby beside the richly dressed children of wealthy families.
"Brother, I want to eat that."
Xiao Wu pointed at a roadside stall selling carrots and swallowed.
Tang San touched his flat money pouch, the Twenty-Four Bridges Moonlight Night, embarrassment flashing through his eyes. Still, he forced out a gentle smile. "Alright, I'll buy some."
He walked over and haggled with the vendor for a long time before finally buying two somewhat wilted carrots for three Copper Soul Coins.
"This academy looks so shabby," Xiao Wu said indistinctly while chewing on a carrot.
"You can't judge a person by appearances." Tang San carefully put away the remaining Copper Soul Coins, his gaze firm. "Teacher said that only true monsters were worthy of staying here. This harsh environment is perfect for tempering one's character."
Just then.
A disturbance came from behind them.
The crowded, noisy crowd seemed to be forcibly parted by an invisible giant hand.
Qian Mo strolled over while holding Zhu Zhuqing's hand.
The fabric of their clothes reflected flowing light beneath the sun, creating a brutal contrast with the dusty commoners around them. They did not line up. Instead, they walked directly toward the front.
That arrogant attitude instantly ignited the crowd's fury.
"Hey! Do you have any manners? Can't you see everyone's lining up?"
"What prodigal son is this? Does he think he can cut the line just because he has money?"
Tang San frowned tightly as he watched their backs, disgust flashing through his eyes.
"Throwing their weight around and breaking the rules." Tang San spoke softly to Xiao Wu, his fingers instinctively reaching for the Hidden Weapon Pouch at his waist. "People like them have poor character. They already have a death wish."
Xiao Wu blinked. "Brother, that woman is so pretty, but she looks really fierce."
A burly parent finally could not hold back any longer. Relying on his cultivation as a Soul Elder above Level 30, he took a large step forward and reached for Qian Mo's shoulder.
"Kid! Get to the back of the line!"
Qian Mo did not even turn his head.
He did not even stop walking.
Zhu Zhuqing, standing at his side, slightly turned her head.
Those heterochromatic cat pupils held no emotion whatsoever, only the pure chill of someone looking at a corpse.
An aura belonging to a top predator flashed by in an instant.
Creak.
The burly man's outstretched hand froze mid-air. Every hair on his body stood on end, and cold sweat instantly soaked his back. It felt as though an ancient Fierce Beast had locked onto his throat. If he dared move even a fraction more, he would be separated from his head the next second.
He swallowed, his legs going weak. He forcibly withdrew his hand, pretended to scratch his head, and slunk back into the crowd.
The surrounding shouts abruptly ceased.
Qian Mo walked up to the wooden table and lightly tapped the tabletop twice with his knuckles.
Tap, tap.
Li Yusong, who had been dozing off, was awakened by the noise and irritably lifted his eyelids.
What entered his eyes was a beautiful couple.
The man was handsome and demonic, while the woman was cool and ethereal.
Li Yusong froze for a moment before curling his lips. Having been at Shrek for so many years, he had seen plenty of noble young masters who came to gild their names. Most were all show and no substance.
"The registration fee is ten Gold Soul Coins." Li Yusong stretched out his hand and spoke lazily. "Put them in the box. No refunds."
Qian Mo rubbed his chin.
"Gold Soul Coins?" He turned to Zhu Zhuqing, sounding somewhat troubled. "It seems we didn't bring that kind of small change."
Zhu Zhuqing shook her head. "We only have that."
"Fine, we'll make do."
Qian Mo casually brushed a hand over his Soul Tool.
Clatter—
He casually tossed a handful of sparkling objects onto the table, where they collided with a crisp, pleasant sound.
They were not Gold Soul Coins.
They were seven or eight thumb-sized gemstones, entirely azure blue, with what seemed to be rippling water flowing within them.
Deep Sea Silver Diamonds.
Each one could fetch a sky-high price of over a thousand Gold Soul Coins at Suotuo City's auction house. They were top-tier Soul Tool materials, priceless and scarce.
Under the sunlight, the diamonds' radiance nearly blinded Li Yusong's old eyes.
The entire place fell silent.
The half-eaten carrot in Tang San's hand nearly fell to the ground. Though he had never seen such gemstones, the Purple Demon Eye allowed him to perceive the astonishing energy contained within them.
How was this a registration fee? This was practically throwing money at people!
"No need for change."
Qian Mo casually glanced at the dilapidated wooden box, his tone as calm as if he were tossing out trash. "Is this enough to buy your rundown village?"
Li Yusong's hand trembled.
His once-cloudy old eyes instantly burst with sharp light. With lightning speed, he swept every diamond from the table into his arms. The impatience on his face vanished at once, replaced by a smile blooming like an old chrysanthemum.
"Enough! More than enough!"
Li Yusong stood up, his attitude making a complete reversal. If not for the need to maintain his dignity as a teacher, he would have loved to carry a chair over for this God of Wealth.
"Young Master and young lady, please extend your hands. This old man will check your bone age."
Qian Mo and Zhu Zhuqing extended their hands.
Li Yusong first pinched Qian Mo's wrist.
His skin felt warm and smooth like jade, while his bones were unbelievably tough. There was even a faint rebounding force.
"Twelve years old... This bone density..." Li Yusong was secretly shocked.
He then pinched Zhu Zhuqing's hand.
"Also twelve years old."
Li Yusong drew a deep breath. Though he had accepted a huge sum, he was still a teacher of Shrek. He could not abandon his principles.
"Your bone ages qualify." Li Yusong sat back down, regaining some seriousness. "However, Shrek only accepts monsters. Money alone is useless. Your Soul Power must exceed Level 21, or you must possess exceptional talent."
"Monsters?"
A playful curve appeared at the corner of Qian Mo's mouth.
He turned around, his gaze passing over the crowd and meeting Tang San's eyes, which had been fixed on this side.
Tang San straightened his back, pride flashing through his eyes.
Level 21?
He had Innate Full Soul Power and was already Level 29! That was a true monster! What did money matter? In the Spirit Master World, strength ultimately did the talking.
Just then, a rapid and strange set of footsteps came from within the village.
The kind that went "limp, limp."
A "mummy" wrapped from head to toe in bandages, with only a pair of eyes and half a mouth exposed, emerged with the support of a student.
It was Dai Mubai.
He had come today to inspect the registration situation and, incidentally, see whether he could find a few beauties to soothe his wounded heart.
"Teacher Li, how is it? Any good prospects—"
Dai Mubai's voice abruptly stopped.
Because he saw that back.
The back that had made him experience "free fall" and "Mount Tai pressing down" in the hall last night.
And that maiden in black clothes, with her fiery figure and the power to make his very soul tremble.
"Wocao!"
Dai Mubai let out a shriek in a distorted voice. Instinctively clutching his still-aching kidney, he turned and tried to run.
"Young Master Dai? What's wrong?" The student beside him looked utterly bewildered.
Qian Mo seemed to hear the commotion. He slightly turned his head, waved at the fleeing "mummy," and smiled brilliantly.
"Since you only accept monsters..."
Qian Mo turned back to Li Yusong, his eyes filled with mockery.
"Then I hope your teachers... have strong enough hearts."
He stepped back half a pace, revealing Zhu Zhuqing at his side.
Zhu Zhuqing stepped forward expressionlessly.
No nonsense.
No charging up.
Buzz—!
The air suddenly grew heavy, as though it had been filled with lead.
A cold, deathly still, yet incomparably alluring terrifying Soul Power erupted explosively from her slender body like a volcanic eruption!
The smile on Li Yusong's face instantly froze.
Tang San, standing farther back in the line, had his pupils abruptly shrink to pinpoints as the Purple Demon Eye activated uncontrollably.
That was not Level 21...
That was...
Two yellows? No.
The rings rising beneath her feet were the wrong color!
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