Shrek Academy? Is That Any Place for a Human Being?

The Ice Empress's delighted voice suddenly rang out beside the Snow Empress's ear, and a gleam of wonder surfaced in the Snow Empress's eyes as well.

Before receiving any rewards, they could only speculate.

Although the rewards listed in the group rules included overcoming a heavenly tribulation, the Snow Empress had not dared to be certain they could actually receive such a reward. Perhaps they would receive something utterly useless to them, like a soul bone. Or perhaps they would never appear in the diary at all and receive no rewards whatsoever.

But now...

Bing'er had truly broken through, becoming a ferocious beast with four hundred thousand years of cultivation!

They really could receive the rewards they needed...

The Snow Empress's breathing immediately quickened.

Just as Aoyao had written in his diary, she had absolutely no confidence in breaking through the seven-hundred-thousand-year threshold. If a hundred-thousand-year-old snow lotus really appeared before her, she might well choose the path of taking human form.

And that path would ultimately end with her becoming Huo Yuhao's soul spirit.

But now...

The Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Clan.

Aoyao stared in astonishment at the beautiful woman in a flowing silk dress before him. He had never imagined that the leader of the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Clan would suddenly pay him a visit.

Ever since he had awakened his mutated trash martial soul, he had gradually become invisible within the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Clan. There had been no belittling, no mockery, and no one making life difficult for him. None of the melodramatic plots found in novels had happened to him.

With its vast holdings and wealth, the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Clan did not begrudge supporting a single idler like him. His presence had steadily diminished until he had become utterly inconspicuous.

No one cared about things like his visits to the pleasure houses to listen to songs.

At most, he would encounter a few female Soul Masters from the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Clan, who would exclaim over how handsome he was.

While Aoyao wondered why the leader of the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Clan had appeared in his home, Ning Zhu was likewise studying the absurdly handsome young man before her.

She remembered Aoyao's family. Several centuries ago, his great-great-grandfather had been the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Clan's strongest fighter, a Level 98 Super Douluo. Unfortunately, the subsequent generations of that powerful clan-protecting Douluo's descendants had fallen short. Their once-powerful martial soul had undergone successive detrimental mutations, and by Aoyao's generation, his innate soul power had dwindled to a pitiful two and a half levels.

But...

She could detect no trace of dejection in Aoyao. His eyes, deep and dark as ink, actually brimmed with confidence.

Ning Zhu narrowed her eyes slightly, curiosity and a desire to investigate stirring within her.

As clan leader, she had naturally noticed the two beams of light that had appeared within the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Clan earlier. She had even ordered the clan-protecting Douluos to conduct a thorough investigation for some time.

Although they had found nothing, they had at least determined the general area where those two beams of light had appeared.

And Aoyao's home happened to stand at the edge of that area.

Was it a coincidence?

Something stirred in Ning Zhu's heart. A warm smile appeared on her face, gentle as a passing spring breeze. "Your ancestor was a clan-protecting Douluo who rendered great service to our Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Clan. As clan leader, of course I ought to come and see how you're doing."

That was a lie.

Over the past twelve years, I could count the number of times I've seen you on one hand. After my martial soul awakening, I haven't seen you even once.

Still, Aoyao was not foolish enough to expose her. Instead, he followed her lead with a smile. "Thanks to your care, Clan Leader, I'm doing quite well. At least I don't have to worry about food or clothing, and I can occasionally go out for a stroll."

Neither servile nor overbearing, polite and measured.

Ning Zhu's smile remained unchanged as she continued softly, "Have you... ever considered attending Shrek Academy?"

"My daughter Ning Tian will be going to Shrek Academy. If you're willing, I hope you can go with her. That way, the two of you can look out for each other."

Ning Tian raised her eyebrows slightly, her words full of probing intent.

Ning Tian was her most beloved daughter, and the heir best qualified to shoulder the burden of the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Clan. She had personally begged her mother to let Aoyao attend Shrek Academy with her. Naturally, as her mother, Ning Zhu had developed a keen interest in Aoyao.

She did not believe her daughter was unaware of Aoyao's innate soul power level, much less that Aoyao was truly so simple.

Perhaps those two beams of light had been caused by Aoyao?

Go to Shrek Academy?

The leader of the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Clan came to my home first thing in the morning just to get me to attend Shrek Academy?

Aoyao froze for a moment, and resistance quickly welled up within him.

Of course, that resistance was not directed at the clan leader before him, but at Shrek Academy.

He really had no fondness for the place.

It was not merely because traces of a certain Tang were everywhere in Shrek Academy. The main problem was that the academy genuinely could not be relied upon. From Zhou Yi, a teacher in the Outer Court, to Yan Shaozhe, dean of the Martial Soul Department, and Xuan Zi, an elder of the Poseidon Pavilion, none of them was particularly dependable.

Besides, with teaching that strict, it was no place for a human being.

At least, it was no place for a lazy person like him.

His greatest wish was to write in his diary every day, make progress while idling, visit pleasure houses to listen to songs, and lie low until he was strong enough to go to the Divine Realm and slap Tang San across the face.

"What's wrong? You don't want to go?"

Seemingly noticing Aoyao's hesitation, Ning Zhu chuckled. "Shrek Academy is a sacred place in the hearts of the continent's Soul Masters, the undisputed finest academy on the continent. Don't you want to study there?"

No.

Aoyao answered inwardly. Of course, what came out of his mouth was a more polished version. "Clan Leader, you should know that I'm just a Soul Master with a trash martial soul and only two and a half levels of innate soul power. With my current cultivation, I don't even meet Shrek Academy's admission requirements..."

"That doesn't matter."

Ning Zhu smiled gently, her eyes seeming to see straight through Aoyao. "Our Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Clan has close ties with Shrek Academy. Every year, we receive one admission slot exempt from the entrance examination. We've never had an opportunity to use it before, but this time, we can use it for you."

"After all, Ning Tian is only a girl. Although she has Wu Feng with her, it would still be better to have a boy around as well. Don't you agree?"

Wait... it's one thing for the Tang Sect to have an interview slot, but how does the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Clan have an exam-exempt slot too?

Thinking of Ning Rongrong, the Nine-Colored Goddess who had ascended to godhood ten thousand years ago, Aoyao instantly understood the reason.

Fiiine.

I get it.

"I think your house is due for some repairs, too. While you're accompanying Ning Tian to Shrek Academy, we can have the clan's craftsmen give it a proper renovation."

Ning Zhu rose with a smile and gave Aoyao a meaningful look. "Since that's the case, it's settled."

*?*

When did I settle anything with you?

Hey! Wait, don't go!

I never agreed to attend Shrek Academy!