He was feeling extremely pleased with himself. A Soul Saint's attacks were nothing special.
Lan Minghua's lips curled slightly. He could see that Tang San was getting careless.
"Confidence is a good thing in a young person, but too much confidence is arrogance. That's not good."
Tang San was about to argue when he suddenly sensed something flying toward the side of his face.
Before he could react, a slipper smacked him hard across the face.
With a slap, his face rippled like the surface of water, and saliva mixed with blood sprayed from his mouth.
The slipper hit with tremendous force. Tang San felt the world spin as his body whirled rapidly like a top.
He spun into an abandoned wooden hut nearby, kicking up a cloud of dust, and passed out.
The slipper bounced back neatly onto Lan Minghua's raised foot. He had done it all so casually.
At this point, one-fifth of the incense stick remained. In other words, Tang San and the others had failed the final test.
Zhu Zhuqing and Ning Rongrong looked troubled. They hadn't expected that, despite their exceptional talents, they would fail Shrek's entrance test.
Lan Minghua wanted to take Zhu Zhuqing as his disciple, so he certainly wasn't going to kick her out.
Besides, even if he had wanted to, Zhao Wuji wouldn't have agreed.
"Old Zhao, come explain this. Otherwise, they really won't be able to enter Shrek."
Zhao Wuji came out. He didn't think there was anything wrong with Lan Minghua hitting Tang San so hard.
On the contrary, he thought Lan Minghua had done a great job.
Tang San was clearly arrogant, and he struck without mercy. That last move of his had obviously been intended to kill.
Lan Minghua had knocked him unconscious without actually injuring his bones or muscles. That was already very generous.
If it had been Zhao Wuji, he would have hit him even harder.
He turned to Zhu Zhuqing and Ning Rongrong. "All right, you've both passed the test."
"Teacher Zhao, didn't we fail because we couldn't hold out for a full incense stick?" Ning Rongrong asked.
"The final test was only meant to temper the arrogance of talented young people like you. If we didn't do this, would you really accept instruction willingly?" Zhao Wuji said gravely.
Ning Rongrong pursed her lips. He was obviously talking about people like her.
As the young lady of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, she had always been taught by Titled Douluo. She really didn't think much of instruction from anyone else.
Zhu Zhuqing let out a breath of relief. If she couldn't join the academy, she truly wouldn't know where to go.
But after witnessing Lan Minghua's strength, she had found new hope in Shrek Academy.
Lan Minghua had been watching Zhu Zhuqing's emotions closely. Seeing the light return to her eyes, he walked up and asked her,
"Hey, beautiful, would you be willing to become my disciple?"
Zhu Zhuqing was a little surprised.
It had come rather suddenly, but for someone with no one to rely on, it was just what she needed.
Before Zhu Zhuqing could answer, Dai Mubai panicked.
He had recognized her identity as soon as he saw her Martial Soul.
He hurriedly spoke up, answering for her in a fluster. "Sorry, Zhuqing doesn't want you as her master."
Lan Minghua knew about Dai Mubai's relationship with Zhu Zhuqing. But with another woman in his arms, what gave him the right to answer for her?
Pretending not to know the reason, he asked Zhu Zhuqing, "Beautiful, does he get to answer for you?"
Zhu Zhuqing glanced at Dai Mubai, who was holding Xiao Wu. Her eyes brimmed with disgust. He was already eating what was in his bowl while eyeing what was in the pot.
Dai Mubai had disappointed her so much. She couldn't see any chance of him defeating Dai Weisi and her elder sister.
"My business is none of yours," Zhu Zhuqing said coolly, ignoring Dai Mubai's ashen face.
She turned to Lan Minghua and spoke softly. "As long as you can make me stronger, I'm willing to take you as my master."
Lan Minghua knew why Zhu Zhuqing had traveled thousands of miles to the Heaven Dou Empire to find Dai Mubai.
She wanted to grow stronger and escape an unjust fate. That was all.
But he still wanted to ask, to see if Zhu Zhuqing was being sincere.
"Why do you want to become stronger?"
Zhu Zhuqing replied, "The only reason I've kept cultivating all this time is that I want to escape my miserable fate. I don't want to be a loser's consolation prize. I just want to live."
The others didn't understand what she meant, but Dai Mubai was overwhelmed with shame.
The Star Luo Empire had a special system of succession: from the moment they were born, all the princes were destined to become one another's rivals.
Only the one who ultimately emerged victorious could become emperor. Those who lost would either be killed or turned into cripples.
Zhu Zhuqing wasn't of the Star Luo Imperial Family, but her clan's Martial Soul could naturally form a Martial Soul Fusion Skill with the Evil Eye White Tiger passed down by the Star Luo Imperial Family.
The women of her clan were betrothed at birth to Star Luo princes around their age, and they competed alongside them for the throne.
If they lost, they would naturally be killed, crippled, or made into someone else's plaything.
But several years ago, afraid that his elder brother would assassinate him, Dai Mubai had abandoned Zhu Zhuqing, who was not yet ten, and fled to the Heaven Dou Empire.
Unwilling to accept her fate, Zhu Zhuqing cultivated relentlessly and finally escaped the Star Luo Empire.
But after seeing how far Dai Mubai had fallen, her last hope was shattered once more.
Fortunately, after witnessing Shrek's excellent teaching staff, she had found the light in her eyes again.
She naturally wouldn't refuse an offer from someone who was at least a Soul Saint.
Lan Minghua wasn't surprised by her answer. Zhu Zhuqing had also explained why she had cultivated so desperately.
Someone who refused to accept her fate was worthy of becoming his disciple.
"That's a very good answer. From this moment on, you're my second disciple. Don't worry. I'll do everything I can to help you grow stronger and escape that unjust fate."
Zhu Zhuqing felt a kind of care from Lan Minghua that she had never experienced before. Her brows trembled above her beautiful eyes.
She dropped to her knees before Lan Minghua and pressed her forehead firmly to the ground.
"Zhu Zhuqing greets Master."
"You..."
Dai Mubai's entire face twisted. He wanted nothing more than to go over and slap Zhu Zhuqing twice.
Zhu Zhuqing acted as if she hadn't heard him.
Zhao Wuji knew what kind of person Dai Mubai was. Thinking Dai Mubai had taken a fancy to Zhu Zhuqing, he warned him,
"Mubai, Shrek has no right to decide who our students take as their master. Don't make a fool of yourself."
Ning Rongrong looked at Dai Mubai with disdain, thinking he regarded Zhu Zhuqing as his property. What an arrogant, shameless man.
Lan Minghua glanced at Dai Mubai without a word, but his gaze had turned unfriendly.
Dai Mubai felt his body sink. Yesterday's unpleasant memories flashed through his mind, and he immediately shrank back like a quail.
He looked every bit as cowardly as he was.
Everyone thought even less of Dai Mubai now. They hadn't expected him to be such a coward.
Lan Minghua helped Zhu Zhuqing to her feet and said, "You're my disciple now. If he ever bothers you, just tell me and I'll beat him up."
"Thank you, Master." It was Zhu Zhuqing's first time feeling cared for, and warmth filled her heart.
Seeing that everything was over, Zhao Wuji figured it was time to wake Tang San.
He raised his head and called out, "Xiao Ao, you've got another customer!"
Oscar, who had been sleeping, perked up and instinctively sprinted toward the sound.
"Customers? Where?!"
Oscar came flying over and looked around.
Zhao Wuji helplessly rubbed his forehead. If Oscar hadn't become Lan Minghua's disciple, Zhao Wuji would have given him a slap.
"Give some of your sausages to Xiao Wu, who's in Mubai's arms, and Tang San, who's lying in there."
Oscar's face fell. Another small-time sale.
But seeing Dai Mubai's gloomy expression, Oscar thought Dai Mubai still had a problem with him.
He didn't bother forcing a smile and tossed a Big Sausage over.
Then he went over to Tang San, pried open his mouth, and stuffed the sausage inside.
Oscar suddenly turned around and saw Ning Rongrong.
For some reason, it felt as if a little deer were bounding around in his heart.
Lan Minghua was stunned. He hadn't expected Oscar to fall in love with Ning Rongrong at first sight.
But he didn't interfere. Once Oscar saw the Little Demoness's true nature, he probably wouldn't like her quite so much.
Before you continue