Shrek Academy

South of Suotuo City, on a country road in the Balak Kingdom.

There was none of the city's clamor here, only vast stretches of farmland and a dilapidated little village in the distance.

A plaque carved from rotten wood hung crookedly from the archway at the village entrance.

Five barely legible characters were carved upon it—

[Shrek Academy].

Was this the legendary academy that accepted only monsters?

At that moment, the eyes of the entire continent were focused on that piece of rotten wood.

The Sky Curtain split into two scenes.

[Black World]

Under the sunlight, Hei Tang San stood at the back of a long queue, carrying a faded, washed-out bundle on his back and holding Xiao Wu's hand.

There were quite a few people ahead of them, most of them parents accompanying their children.

"This is a Soul Master Academy?"

Xiao Wu frowned as she looked at the shabby village entrance, a trace of disdain flashing through her eyes.

"This is way too run-down, isn't it? Even Nuoding Academy's gatekeeper looked more impressive than this."

Hei Tang San, however, looked utterly certain.

He recalled Teacher Yu Xiaogang's instructions.

"Xiao Wu, you can't judge people by appearances."

"Teacher said Shrek Academy is a true Monster Academy. The teachers here are all experts with the strength of Soul Emperors or above."

"Such reclusive masters often don't care about trivial appearances."

Hei Tang San looked at the plaque, and there was even a hint of reverence in his eyes.

To him, this was called returning to simplicity.

This was called hiding greatness in plain sight.

The line slowly moved forward.

The old man seated behind the table at the village entrance, who was in charge of registration, lazily collected the registration fees.

Ten Gold Soul Coins.

They were tossed into the box without even making a sound.

"Unqualified. Next."

"Mu Bai, someone's causing trouble!"

Seeing people ahead arguing because they felt cheated by the registration fee, Dai Mubai immediately unleashed his Martial Soul to suppress them.

Hei Tang San's blood surged as he watched.

"Truly domineering!"

"This is the academy I've always dreamed of!"

When it was his turn.

Hei Tang San respectfully handed over ten Gold Soul Coins, savings he had accumulated over a long time.

"Please assess me, Teacher."

The old man, Li Yusong, squeezed the bones in his hand, surprise flashing through his eyes.

"Your bone age is suitable."

"Release your Martial Soul and let me see."

Hei Tang San did as instructed.

Blue Silver Grass, two hundred-year Soul Rings.

Level twenty-nine.

Li Yusong nodded. Though he had some reservations about Blue Silver Grass, reaching that level at that age truly met the standard of a monster.

"Go in."

Hei Tang San felt as if he had found a priceless treasure and pulled Xiao Wu into the village.

His face was full of the joy of finally finding where he belonged.

It was as if, once he entered these gates, he would embark upon the path to godhood.

Yet he had no idea.

What he had entered was a Deep Pit called "poverty" and "free-range upbringing."

[White World]

The same village entrance.

The same rotten plaque.

But this time, there was none of that pilgrimage-like atmosphere.

There was only...

The disdain of someone inspecting a construction site.

A luxurious carriage pulled by four Chasing Wind Horses with Soul Beast bloodlines slowly came to a stop at the village entrance.

The carriage door opened.

The attendants laid out a red carpet.

Bai Tang San, dressed in an exquisite Black Robe embroidered with dark gold patterns, stepped down onto the carpet.

Xiao Wu followed behind him, holding a cup of iced fruit juice and sipping it as she complained.

"Third Brother, are you sure we came to the right place?"

"How is this an academy? It's clearly a refugee camp."

"Look at those walls—they're cracked. And look at the ground—it's all mud."

"Can people even live in a place like this?"

Bai Tang San stood at the village entrance.

His deep Dark Gold Eyes coldly swept over the scene before him.

Purple Demon Eye—Subtlety.

Within his field of vision, not a single corner of the place could escape his notice.

"The Soul Power in the air is thin. There is no Spirit Gathering Formation."

"The building structures are deteriorated and pose safety hazards."

"The smell coming from the cafeteria... is nothing but cheap coarse rice and leftovers."

"There is no Mimicry Training Environment."

"There are no professional Medical Facilities."

"There isn't even a basic security system. They rely on that old man dozing off?"

Bai Tang San withdrew his gaze, a cold, mocking curve appearing at the corner of his lips.

"This is the Monster Academy Yu Xiaogang boasted about?"

"This is the so-called... academy that accepts only monsters?"

"They lock a group of extraordinarily gifted geniuses in this broken village where they can't even eat their fill."

"They make them cultivate with the most primitive methods and exhaust their bodies."

"This isn't raising monsters."

"This is... ruining people without end."

Bai Tang San's voice was not loud.

Yet it clearly reached every corner.

The crowd standing in line instantly fell silent, all turning to look at the richly dressed youth spouting such wild words.

Li Yusong, who was in charge of registration, frowned.

He rose to his feet, the aura of his level sixty-three Soul Emperor faintly spreading from his body.

"Which rich young master are you?"

"If you think it's too shabby, then get lost."

"Shrek doesn't accept spoiled trash."

Li Yusong's words were blunt.

In his eyes, young masters from wealthy families had nothing but money.

Bai Tang San did not get angry.

He merely looked at Li Yusong as though he were looking at a stubborn old fool trapped in his ways.

"Trash?"

"Level sixty-three Power Attack Battle Soul Emperor."

"Martial Soul: Dragon Patterned Staff."

"You're past sixty, your vitality and blood have declined, and you suffered internal injuries in your early years, causing your Soul Power to stagnate."

"You?"

"Are you worthy of calling me trash?"

Li Yusong's expression changed drastically.

How had this brat seen through his background at a glance?!

"You're courting death!"

Li Yusong was furious.

The Dragon Patterned Staff in his hand slammed into the ground, and six Soul Rings rose beneath his feet.

No matter what, the dignity of a Soul Emperor could not be insulted!

"Get in line!"

"Or get lost!"

He pointed at the long queue, trying to use the rules to suppress him.

However.

Bai Tang San merely shook his head.

"Rules?"

"They are made for the weak."

"And I..."

"Came here to make the rules."

Before his words had even faded.

BOOM—!!!

A terrifying Soul Power Fluctuation, so oppressive it made people suffocate, erupted from Bai Tang San's body without warning.

There were no flashy opening moves.

It was merely the release of his aura.

Like a slumbering giant dragon suddenly opening its eyes!

A violent gale rose from the ground.

The youths and parents waiting in line nearby felt an immense force strike them, sending them staggering in every direction until they could barely remain standing.

Even Li Yusong was forced back half a step by the blast of air!

"What?!"

Li Yusong's eyes widened as he stared fixedly at the youth before him.

Beneath Bai Tang San's feet.

Three Soul Rings slowly rose.

Yellow.

Yellow.

Purple.

Those were colors Bai Tang San had disguised using a Tang Sect Secret Technique.

He did not want to reveal his shocking two-thousand-year second ring right away and scare these country bumpkins who had never seen the world to death.

But even so.

That Soul Power Fluctuation was completely real.

Level thirty-nine!

That was...

Pressure infinitely close to that of a Soul Ancestor!

"Twelve years old..."

"Level thirty-nine?!"

Li Yusong's voice changed pitch.

And he was not the only one.

Dai Mubai, who had been observing from the shadows, was so frightened that he nearly fell out of the tree.

Level thirty-nine?

He, Dai Mubai, was fifteen this year and only level thirty-seven!

This youth, three years younger than him, was actually two levels higher?!

This was the real monster!

The entire scene fell deathly silent.

Everyone had been stunned by such heaven-defying talent.

Bai Tang San reined in his aura and did not make a move.

He straightened his collar, his expression returning to a merchant's rationality and coldness.

He looked at the still-dazed Li Yusong.

Then he spoke indifferently.

"Now."

"Am I qualified to cut in line?"

Without waiting for Li Yusong's reply.

Bai Tang San continued, dropping a bombshell:

"Don't give me an application form."

"And don't test my bone age."

"Have Flender come out."

"Tell him."

"The President of Tang Sect Merchant Association, Tang San."

"Has come... to discuss an acquisition."