Shrek's Registration Office, Tang San's Confidence, and Qian Mo's "Cutting In Line"

The next day, early in the morning, south of Suotuo City.

The thin mist had not yet dispersed, and the air was mixed with the smell of earth and crops.

A horse carriage, entirely made of Black Gold Wood and inlaid with a Soundproof Soul Tool Formation, traveled smoothly on the uneven dirt road. The wheels rolled over the gravel, yet not a single bump could be heard. Only the Purple Gold Bell hanging on the carriage shaft jingled crisply with the wind, a stark contrast to the silence of the countryside.

Inside the carriage, a warm fragrance wafted.

Qian Mo leaned on a soft couch covered with Snow Fox Fur, flipping through a Continent Soul Beast Illustrated Guide in his hand. Zhu Zhuqing knelt beside him, her head resting on his thigh, idly playing with his slender fingers.

She had changed into a black, form-fitting Leather Clothes today, which allowed for easy movement. However, a priceless Deep Sea Warm Jade Buckle was still pinned to her collar, making her cool demeanor even more noble.

"We're here."

Qian Mo closed the book and lightly tapped her perky nose with his fingertip.

Zhu Zhuqing let out a displeased hum, like a cat whose sweet dream had been disturbed. She rubbed against his palm before reluctantly sitting up straight, resuming her aloof demeanor that kept others at bay.

He lifted the curtain.

What met his eyes was a dilapidated small village. At the entrance, a few rotten wooden planks formed an archway, on which the words "Shrek Academy" were crookedly carved. The green paint was mottled and peeling, exuding an air of poverty.

If one didn't know the inside story, they might mistake it for the gathering place of some beggar gang.

Yet, in this run-down place, a long queue had formed.

Hundreds of youths from all over the continent, accompanied by their parents, gazed longingly at the worn-out Wooden Table at the village entrance.

Behind the table sat an old man, dressed in a faded gray robe, with a green Monster pattern printed on his chest. He was lazily picking his teeth, his eyes cloudy, as if he could fall asleep at any moment.

"Unqualified, next."

"Soul power insufficient, next."

"Age exceeded, scram."

The old man Li Yusong's voice was not loud, but it carried an undeniable arrogance. Every child who was eliminated had a crestfallen face, while their parents dared not speak out in anger and could only leave dejectedly.

In the middle of the queue.

A youth carrying a worn-out Luggage was counting the Copper Soul Coins in his hand.

Tang San.

He was wearing Blue Coarse Cloth Clothes today, with two patches on the cuffs. Although clean, they appeared particularly shabby compared to the well-dressed children of wealthy families around him.

"Brother, I want to eat that."

Xiao Wu pointed at a small stall selling Carrots by the roadside, swallowing her saliva.

Tang San touched his shriveled coin purse (Twenty-Four Bridges Moonlight Night), a trace of embarrassment flashing in his eyes, but he still forced out a gentle smile: "Okay, I'll buy it."

He walked over and haggled with the vendor for a long time before buying two slightly wilted carrots for three copper coins.

"This academy looks so run-down," Xiao Wu said vaguely, chewing on a carrot.

"You can't judge a book by its cover," Tang San carefully put away the remaining copper coins, his gaze firm. "Teacher said only true monsters are worthy of being here. This harsh environment is perfect for tempering one's will."

Just then.

A commotion came from behind.

The originally crowded and noisy crowd was as if forcefully pushed aside by an invisible hand.

Qian Mo, holding Zhu Zhuqing's hand, walked over leisurely.

The fabric of their clothes refracted light under the sun, forming a stark contrast with the dusty commoners around them. They didn't queue but walked directly to the front.

This arrogant attitude instantly ignited the crowd's anger.

"Hey! Have you no manners? Don't you see everyone queuing?"

"Where did these rich brats come from? Think money lets you cut in line?"

Tang San's brow furrowed. Looking at the two backs, a trace of disgust flashed in his eyes.

"Bullying others and breaking rules," Tang San whispered to Xiao Wu, his fingers subconsciously touching the Hidden Weapon Pouch at his waist. "People like this have poor character and are already on the path to death."

Xiao Wu blinked: "Brother, that girl is so beautiful, but she looks so fierce."

A burly parent finally couldn't take it anymore. Relying on his Level 30+ Soul Elder Cultivation, he stepped forward and reached out to grab Qian Mo's shoulder.

"Kid! Get to the back!"

Qian Mo didn't even turn his head.

He didn't even stop walking.

Zhu Zhuqing, standing beside him, turned her head slightly.

In her heterochromatic Cat Pupils, there was no emotion, only a pure, coldness like looking at a dead thing.

An aura from a top predator flashed and disappeared.

Creak.

The burly man's outstretched hand froze in mid-air. His hair stood on end, and cold sweat instantly soaked his back. It felt as if he were being stared at by an ancient ferocious beast with its throat in its sights; if he dared to move again, he would be decapitated the next second.

He swallowed, his legs went weak, and he forcefully retracted his hand, pretending to scratch his head and slinking back into the crowd.

The surrounding shouts abruptly stopped.

Qian Mo walked to the wooden table and gently tapped the tabletop twice with his knuckles.

"Knock, knock."

Li Yusong, who had been dozing off, was disturbed and raised his eyelids with extreme displeasure.

What met his eyes was a beautiful couple.

The man was handsome and bewitching, the woman cold and peerless.

Li Yusong was stunned for a moment, then curled his lips. He had been at Shrek for so many years and had seen many such noble young masters who came for a golden veneer, most of whom were rotten on the inside despite their fine exteriors.

"The registration fee is ten Gold Soul Coins." Li Yusong stretched out his hand and said lazily, "Put it in the box, no refunds."

Qian Mo rubbed his chin.

"Gold Soul Coins?" He turned to look at Zhu Zhuqing, his tone a little troubled, "It seems we didn't bring any small change of that kind."

Zhu Zhuqing shook her head: "We only have that."

"Alright, we'll make do."

Qian Mo casually swiped at his Soul Tool.

"Clatter—"

A pile of sparkling things was casually thrown onto the table by him, making a crisp and pleasant clinking sound.

They were not Gold Soul Coins.

They were seven or eight thumb-sized gems, entirely sapphire blue, with what looked like flowing water inside.

Deep Sea Silver Diamonds.

Each one could fetch a sky-high price of over a thousand Gold Soul Coins at the auction house in Suotuo City, being a top-tier Soul Tool material that was available in name but not in market.

In the sunlight, the brilliance of these diamonds almost blinded Li Yusong's old eyes.

The entire place fell silent.

Tang San, holding a half-eaten carrot, almost dropped it on the ground. Although he had never seen such gems, with the eyesight of his Purple Demon Eye, he could tell the astonishing energy contained within them.

This wasn't a registration fee; it was practically throwing money at them!

"No need for change."

Qian Mo glanced indifferently at the dilapidated wooden box, his tone as calm as if he were throwing away trash, "Is it enough to buy this broken village of yours?"

Li Yusong's hand trembled.

His originally cloudy old eyes instantly burst with two beams of sharp light. With lightning speed, he swept all the diamonds on the table into his embrace. The impatience on his face vanished instantly, replaced by a smile like a blooming old chrysanthemum.

"Enough! More than enough!"

Li Yusong stood up, his attitude doing a 180-degree turn. If it weren't for his status as a teacher, he would have loved to pull up a chair for this God of Wealth.

"Young sirs and madams, please extend your hands. This old man will measure your bone age."

Qian Mo and Zhu Zhuqing extended their hands.

Li Yusong first pinched Qian Mo's wrist.

It felt warm and smooth like jade, and his bones were incredibly tough. Faintly, a repulsive force could be felt.

"Twelve years old... this bone density..." Li Yusong was secretly shocked.

He then pinched Zhu Zhuqing's hand.

"Also twelve years old."

Li Yusong took a deep breath. Although he had received a large sum of money, he was still a teacher at Shrek after all, and his principles couldn't be abandoned.

"Bone age is qualified." Li Yusong sat down again, regaining some seriousness. "However, Shrek only accepts monsters. Money alone is useless. Your spirit power must exceed level twenty-one, or you must have some extraordinary talent."

"Monster?"

A playful curve appeared on Qian Mo's lips.

He turned around, his gaze sweeping over the crowd, and happened to meet Tang San's eyes, who was staring in this direction.

Tang San straightened his back, a hint of pride flashing in his eyes.

Level twenty-one?

He had Innate Full Soul Power and was already level twenty-nine! He was the real monster! What good was money? In the world of Spirit Masters, strength ultimately spoke louder than words.

Just then, a hurried and strange footsteps sound came from the village.

The kind that was "limping."

A "mummy" wrapped entirely in bandages, with only a pair of eyes and half a mouth exposed, was helped out by a student.

It was Dai Mubai.

He was here today to inspect the registration situation and, incidentally, see if he could find some 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 made him experience "Free Fall" and "Mount Tai Crushing Down" in the lobby last night.

And the Maiden in Black Clothes, with a fiery figure, who made his soul tremble.

"Wocao!"

Dai Mubai let out a sharp scream, instinctively clutching his still faintly aching kidneys, and turned to run.

"Young Master Dai? What's wrong?" The surrounding students looked bewildered.

Qian Mo seemed to hear the commotion, turned his head slightly, and waved at the fleeing "Mummy," with a brilliant smile.

"Since you only accept Monsters..."

Qian Mo turned back, looking at Li Yusong, a hint of playfulness in his eyes.

"Then I hope your Teacher... has a strong heart."

He took half a step back, revealing Zhu Zhuqing beside him.

Zhu Zhuqing stepped forward expressionlessly.

No nonsense.

No charging up.

"Weng--!"

The air suddenly became heavy, as if filled with lead.

A cold, deathly silent, yet extremely enchanting and terrifying soul power erupted from her slender body like a volcanic explosion!

The smile on Li Yusong's face instantly froze.

Tang San, standing at the back, his pupils suddenly contracted into needle points, Purple Demon Eye activated uncontrollably.

That wasn't level twenty-one...

That was...

Two Yellows? No.

The spirit rings rising from her feet were the wrong color!

If you find this book good, remember to add it to your bookshelf to avoid losing it next time.