Return to the Academy

Early morning, Shrek City!

Wu Xuan took a deep breath and quietly gazed at the enormous city gate before him.

Based on the information he had gathered along the way, the three nations of the Douluo Continent were frantically preparing for war and expanding their armies in response to the Sun Moon Empire's increasingly powerful national strength. How could they possibly spare the attention to manage minor matters like Evil Soul Masters slaughtering villages and towns within their borders?

Perhaps this city before him was the safest place on the entire continent! Wu Xuan sighed.

Wu Xuan slowly entered Shrek City. Only around twenty days of the holiday had passed, yet a huge crowd had already gathered outside Shrek Academy. Aside from a small number of returning senior students, most were parents and relatives bringing their children to register for the New Student Assessment.

Those were Shrek Academy's rules. No matter one's background or where one had obtained a letter of recommendation, anyone who failed the entrance examination would be sent straight home.

Some upper-year students were assisting the Teachers with the assessments at the academy gates. Though they were only students, those who could represent Shrek Academy here possessed at least the cultivation of three-ring Soul Elders. At the Soul Elder level, one already held considerable status on the continent.

Meanwhile, the minimum graduation requirement for Shrek Academy's Outer Court was only four-ring Soul Ancestor.

Wu Xuan headed directly to the Teacher Office Area building behind the upper-year Teaching Building and found Wang Yan's office.

As the main homeroom teacher of Freshman Class One, now Second-Year Class One, Wang Yan needed to oversee the students' return registration over the next few days, so he had arrived at the academy early.

The door to Wang Yan's office stood open.

"Knock, knock, knock—"

Wu Xuan lightly knocked on the heavy wooden door a few times.

"Come in!"

Wang Yan's gentle voice soon sounded from within the office.

Wu Xuan strode inside. The spacious office happened to contain only Wang Yan at the moment. There were no other Teachers, nor were there any students reporting in.

When Wang Yan saw Wu Xuan, he smiled and beckoned him over. "Wu Xuan, you've come to register so early. How was it? Did you have an exciting holiday?"

As he spoke, Wang Yan handed Wu Xuan a form.

Wu Xuan accepted the form. Recalling all that had happened these past few days, he could not help but chuckle and nod. "Mm, it was fairly... exciting."

Registration simply involved filling out the information on the form. According to Shrek Academy's rules, this procedure still had to be followed, and it had to be completed personally.

Wu Xuan quickly finished filling out the form and asked Wang Yan, "By the way, Teacher Wang, is Director Du in his office right now? I have something to discuss with him."

"You have business with Director Du?" Wang Yan looked at Wu Xuan in surprise, but he did not press further. "The senior students will be returning in a few days, so unless something unexpected happens, Director Du should not leave his office. If you need him, just go there."

"Thank you, Teacher Wang." Wu Xuan bowed to Wang Yan, then headed up the stairs toward Du Weilun's office on the top floor.

The door to Du Weilun's office was also open. When Wu Xuan reached it, Du Weilun was leisurely drinking tea.

"Director Du!" Wu Xuan knocked on the door as he called out.

"Student Wu, what brings you here?" Du Weilun set down his teacup and looked at Wu Xuan with some surprise. His tone was far less stern than before, much more relaxed.

Outstanding students received preferential treatment anywhere, let alone when Yan Shaozhe had specifically instructed him beforehand.

Wu Xuan respectfully said, "Director Du, it's like this. Didn't the top three teams in the New Student Assessment have the right to apply for assistance in obtaining Soul Rings? May I apply to the academy now for the Fourth Soul Ring best suited to me?"

Du Weilun abruptly rose to his feet, instantly losing his composure. "Are you saying your Soul Power has broken through to Level 40?"

Wu Xuan nodded.

The moment Wu Xuan nodded, Du Weilun's broad hand tightly gripped his shoulder. After examining him, Du Weilun's deeply furrowed brow relaxed.

"It really is Level 40 Soul Power! Your Soul Power is solid and your foundation is deep. It doesn't look like you used an external aid to break through."

As he spoke, Du Weilun's gaze toward Wu Xuan grew fervent.

A Soul Ancestor at around twelve years old—this had already broken Shrek Academy's record of ten thousand years. Even with his temperament, waves stirred within his heart.

"Student Wu, wait here for a moment. I'll contact Dean Yan." As he spoke, Du Weilun picked up a sound-transmitting Soul Tool from his desk, pressed a button, and poured his Soul Power into it.

Yan Shaozhe's gentle voice soon came from the other end.

"Weilun?"

"Dean Yan, it's me." Du Weilun's tone was extremely respectful.

Du Weilun said excitedly, "Dean Yan, Wu Xuan, the top-ranked freshman, has now broken through to Level 40 Soul Power. He is formally applying to the academy for assistance in obtaining his Fourth Soul Ring."

Du Weilun finished in one breath, but after waiting a long while, Yan Shaozhe gave no response.

Just as he was about to say something else, Yan Shaozhe's voice came through the sound-transmitting Soul Tool again.

"Have that little fellow wait a while. I'll come over personally." Not long after the sound-transmitting Soul Tool disconnected, Yan Shaozhe, dressed in white, appeared out of thin air outside Du Weilun's office.

A moment earlier, he had actually been on Sea God Island, but with his Level 95 Soul Power, reaching this place took no more than an instant.

Yan Shaozhe waved a hand to stop the two from bowing, his blazing gaze studying Wu Xuan.

A moment later, a gentle smile appeared on his face again. "Student Wu, you are very impressive. I must tell you that you have broken Shrek Academy's record of ten thousand years. You are the first to reach Level 40 at the age of twelve. Your name will be recorded in the Sea God Pavilion Records."

Wu Xuan stood there blankly, not understanding what this records book Yan Shaozhe spoke of was.

"Little fellow, hurry and thank Dean Yan. The Sea God Pavilion Records only records the elders of Sea God Pavilion or geniuses who have broken some record." Du Weilun reminded him from the side, his face full of envy.

"Ah! Thank you, Dean Yan!" Wu Xuan bowed, though inwardly he did not care in the slightest.

"Alright, Student Wu, your timing is quite fortunate. Two Inner Court students whose cultivation has reached a bottleneck happen to be preparing to form a team and head to the Star Dou Great Forest today to obtain Soul Rings. You can go with them."

After saying that, Wu Xuan's body was enveloped by a powerful surge of Soul Power. In the next instant, the two of them appeared together in midair above the broad Sea God Lake, not far from the Teacher Office Area building.

The waters of Sea God Lake were a deep blue, wreathed in mist. From afar, Sea God Island did not appear flat; instead, it resembled a small mountain, with pavilions and towers built across it. Everything seemed so peaceful and tranquil, like an earthly paradise. The fresh air rich with the aura of life was exceptionally refreshing.

"So this is the Inner Court!" Wu Xuan's eyes lit up.

Yan Shaozhe nodded slightly, the smile on his face seeming to deepen. "Student Wu Xuan, I believe that before long, you will become one of them as well."

"Thank you for your confidence, Dean Yan. Actually, I think so too." Wu Xuan smiled.

"Haha! You really aren't modest, kid."

As the two spoke, Sea God Island was already right before them.

As Wu Xuan and Yan Shaozhe landed, three Inner Court students approached and respectfully said, "Dean Yan."

Yan Shaozhe patted Wu Xuan on the shoulder, then introduced him to the three. "His name is Wu Xuan, an Outer Court student. He will be accompanying you on this trip to the Star Dou Great Forest to obtain Soul Rings."

"Lexuan! Take good care of him along the way." Yan Shaozhe turned to a female student and instructed her.

"Yes!" The female student named Lexuan nodded.

Looking at the tranquil and gentle woman before him, Wu Xuan could not help but stare blankly for a moment.

"Kid, remember this: you must find the Soul Ring best suited to you. Even if you miss the advancement examination, it won't be a problem." Yan Shaozhe looked at Wu Xuan and reminded him again.

"Yes, Dean Yan!" Wu Xuan nodded heavily.

Yan Shaozhe smiled, then promptly left.