Journey to Shrek City

An hour later, Wu Xuan and the others finally left the bounds of the Star Dou Great Forest and continued onward for another thirty kilometers.

At this distance, they had completely left the Star Dou Great Forest's sphere of influence and no longer needed to worry about encountering soul beasts wandering out from the forest.

The gentle sound of flowing water came from nearby. Under the starlight, a clear stream reflecting the river of stars across the sky appeared before them.

Relying on the powerful vision granted by his Spirit Eyes, Huo Yuhao clearly saw the shadows of fish swimming along the streambed. He said in delight, "Teacher Xiaoya, the fish I used for grilled fish before were caught in this stream."

"Really?!" Tang Ya's bright eyes immediately lit up. "Quick, Little Yuhao. This time, Beibei will help you catch the fish. You just need to grill them. Tonight's dinner is in your hands."

"Yes, Teacher Xiaoya."

"Junior Wu Xuan! Yuhao's grilled fish is truly exceptional. You have to give it a proper taste tonight." Watching Tang Ya order Huo Yuhao and himself around, Beibei shook his head helplessly.

"Is it really that delicious?" Wu Xuan raised a brow.

"Of course. You'll find out soon enough." Beibei smiled, then stopped chatting and walked to the stream. He merely reached his right hand into the water, and a flash of blue-violet lightning flickered. More than a dozen green fish floated belly-up after being stunned, then were pulled directly to the bank with the Controlling Crane Capturing Dragon technique.

Wu Xuan did not remain idle either. With a wave of his hand, a wild gale swept around him, snapping the dead branches from several nearby trees.

The bonfire flickered in the wind as the four sat in a circle around it, adding a touch of warmth to the silent forest.

Huo Yuhao threaded several cleaned green fish onto thin branches and set them beside the fire, slowly turning them back and forth.

Before long, a unique, rich fragrance began to spread around the bonfire. The tender white fish gradually turned golden, and together with the strong aroma, it was especially enticing.

Huo Yuhao handed the first batch of grilled fish to Wu Xuan, Tang Ya, and Beibei, then continued preparing the next batch.

"It's so delicious! Why is it so different from when I grill it myself?" Tang Ya could not help sighing.

"Teacher Xiaoya! It may be related to my martial soul. Since my martial soul is the Spirit Eyes, I can judge the heat and timing for adding seasonings more precisely," Huo Yuhao explained.

Wu Xuan took a bite of the grilled fish in his hand, and his eyes immediately lit up. He had to admit that Huo Yuhao was truly skilled at grilling fish. If Wu Xuan had to replicate it exactly, he definitely could not do it.

Besides Huo Yuhao's grilled fish, the other three also took out some food they carried with them from their respective Storage Soul Tools. The four sat together and enjoyed a hearty dinner.

Tang Ya was in high spirits and ended up eating a little too much. Once she was full, she leaned against a tree beside the bonfire and fell asleep.

Meanwhile, Huo Yuhao endured the dual exhaustion of body and mind as he began cultivating the Mysterious Heaven Skill Beibei had taught him the previous day.

In the end, Wu Xuan and Beibei discussed it and decided that Wu Xuan would take the first watch while Beibei took the latter half of the night.

Early the next morning, after eating some food, the four set out westward.

Shrek Academy was located in the southeastern region of the Heaven Dou Empire. To its southeast lay the Star Dou Great Forest, to its east was the Dou Ling Empire, and to its south was the Star Luo Empire. It could be said that Shrek Academy stood at the core of the borderlands between the three great empires.

Two days later, Wu Xuan and the others finally caught sight of Shrek Academy.

Rather than calling Shrek a school, it was more fitting to call it a city. After following the main road out of a forest, they saw towering city walls stretching left and right across the distant plain.

Shrek Academy had been built upon the Lima Plain and occupied an extremely vast area.

On the Douluo Continent, Shrek City was one of the largest cities, home to more than two million people. Shrek Academy held independent governing authority over the city and did not need to pay taxes to any nation. This alone was something no other academy in any country, including the Sun Moon Empire, could compare with.

Shrek Academy was not located in the center of Shrek City, but in its eastern district, because that side faced the direction of the Star Dou Great Forest.

Great roads extended from Shrek City in all four directions, making transportation exceptionally convenient. Not only was this the location of Shrek Academy, but it was also the most important commercial city at the intersection of the three great empires originally belonging to the Douluo Continent. Because of Shrek Academy's presence, Shrek City had excellent public security. Trade here was not only fair but also more reassuring. Thus, merchants from the three great empires usually chose to conduct their cross-border trade in Shrek City.

The southern, western, and northern gates of Shrek City were open for anyone to enter and leave, while the eastern gate belonged exclusively to Shrek Academy.

Led by Beibei and Tang Ya, Wu Xuan and Huo Yuhao arrived outside the eastern gate.

Though this side of the city was reserved solely for Shrek Academy, it was exceptionally lively at the moment. At least five thousand people had gathered outside the eastern gate, creating a bustling scene. Large numbers of vendors had already caught wind of it and rushed over. The area outside the city was probably even livelier than inside.

"The academy's admissions last for half a month, and today happens to be the first day. If you came a few days later, the number of people outside the eastern gate would probably more than double. Every year, this is one of the busiest periods for our Shrek Academy." Seeing Wu Xuan looking around with great interest, Beibei explained at the right moment.

"Ordinary new students not only need to pass the academy's assessment, but they must also have a letter of recommendation from at least a main city of one of the three great empires. Yuhao is using one of our Tang Sect recommendation slots. As for you, Junior Wu Xuan, make sure you keep your recommendation letter safe so it doesn't delay your enrollment."

After facing a thousand-year Man Faced Demon Spider together in the Star Dou Great Forest, followed by spending every day and night together on the journey, the relationship among the four had clearly become much more familiar and natural.

"Thank you for the reminder, Senior Beibei. However, this is my first time in Shrek City. I'd like to take a look around first and experience the local customs and atmosphere." Wu Xuan smiled and nodded slightly. His bright, youthful laughter, paired with his fair and handsome features, drew frequent glances from many passersby.

There were quite a few newly enrolled female students among them.

Feeling the unusual gazes gathering around him, Wu Xuan immediately stopped smiling.

At that moment, Huo Yuhao asked uneasily, "Senior Disciple Brother, Teacher Xiaoya, is the New Student Assessment difficult?"

Beibei hesitated for a moment, his gaze instinctively turning toward Tang Ya.

Tang Ya said frankly, "He'll find out sooner or later. It will also motivate him to work harder in the future, so just tell him. Yuhao, there are two requirements for entering Shrek Academy's outer court. First, you must not be over twelve years old. Second, your Soul Power Level must not be below fifteen."

"However, you're using our Tang Sect's special admission slot, so you can skip the entrance test. But the New Student Assessment three months from now will depend entirely on you. Shrek Academy's assessments have always been based on actual combat."

Beibei patted Huo Yuhao's shoulder. "A teacher once said that all data is pale before actual combat. As long as you pass the practical combat assessment, it doesn't matter even if your Soul Power Level doesn't meet the requirements."

Huo Yuhao nodded firmly. "Teacher Xiaoya, Senior Disciple Brother, perhaps I don't meet the enrollment requirements right now, but in the New Student Assessment three months from now, I'll fight with my life on the line." His tone carried a calmness beyond his age, and his Spirit Eyes held a determination beyond his years.

"Haha! Then your senior brother and Teacher Xiaoya will wait and see."

"Senior Beibei! Senior Tang Ya! Yuhao! Let's part ways here. See you at Shrek Academy." Wu Xuan cupped his hands in farewell.

"Alright! Junior Wu Xuan, see you at the academy!"

Wu Xuan nodded and turned to leave.

"Alright, stop staring. Let's go! I'll take you to register." Beibei was a head taller than Huo Yuhao. He put an arm around Huo Yuhao's shoulders and headed toward Shrek Academy.