Tang San: You haven't even finished one thing before starting another

"Senior, my second Soul Ring should last between 2,400 and 3,300 years," Luo Mo said, concealing the age of his Soul Ring.

That was already far beyond the limit for ordinary Soul Masters.

Now, all of his Soul Rings had reached 8,800 years.

"Damn!"

Everyone gasped.

He'd already surpassed most people's third and fourth Soul Rings.

Though they were all a little suspicious, they understood perfectly well that anyone with a Soul Ring over a thousand years old had to be either wealthy or influential.

There was no need to ask how he'd managed it.

Everyone looked at Luo Mo enviously. If only they had his talent, even a thousand-year Soul Ring would be within reach.

"What about you?" the old man asked Xiao Wu.

Xiao Wu had just completed her Soul Possession. She looked like a rabbit, with a pair of rabbit ears on her head.

The second Soul Ring around her waist was purple.

"You've got another thousand-year first Soul Ring, too?!"

Everyone was dumbfounded. What was this? They'd run into another person with a thousand-year first Soul Ring in the space of a single day. Were they living in some kind of fantasy?

And her companions were all incredible, too.

But the other one looked like she had an even more powerful background. Her first Soul Ring was only a hundred years old, and she had a Martial Soul that was an Immortal Herb.

Tang San: Your talent is incredible!

The old man's face lit up with delight. He patted Dai Mubai on the shoulder and said, "Take them in."

"Okay."

Dai Mubai nodded and led the three of them onward. His gaze lingered on Tang San, and he offered him a friendly smile.

Tang San felt a chill run down his spine, but he returned a faint smile.

Luo Mo wondered why Zhu Zhuqing and Ning Rongrong hadn't been mentioned. Just then, his mental perception picked up two women's figures.

The two were unaware that they'd arrived together. They were walking toward the Shrek Academy entrance.

Under Dai Mubai's guidance, Luo Mo and the others entered Shrek Academy.

It was that small village.

The entire village consisted of wooden houses. After walking for a while, the four of them reached a clearing about a hundred paces across, right in the middle of Shrek Academy.

The entrance for the first three tests was just ahead.

"Sorry, this is the second test. It mainly checks your Soul Power and Martial Soul attributes. I need to go greet the other examiners, so I can't keep you company."

Dai Mubai pointed to the examiners' area in the distance. After explaining things to the three of them, he turned and left.

The three of them followed the elderly examiner.

"Grilled sausages... grilled sausages..."

Just then, a crisp, youthful voice rang out.

"Take a look, have a taste. Don't miss your chance... Oscar's grilled sausages, delicious and nutritious, five copper coins each..."

Luo Mo and the other two looked over. A man was pushing a small cart and calling out to passersby.

The man wore a grey robe. He was short, with charming peach-blossom eyes and a moustache that curled upward. His voice was distinctly feminine, giving him an odd charm.

Luo Mo glanced over. Oscar had appeared.

Tang San looked at Luo Mo and Xiao Wu. "We're all hungry. How about we buy some grilled sausages?"

"Sure," Luo Mo said with a nod.

He suddenly remembered something about Tang San.

None of the others noticed. Tang San immediately walked over to the cart, and as he drew closer, he suddenly sensed Oscar's Martial Soul.

Tang San stopped short. "!!"

Damn!

Wasn't this unfinished business coming back to haunt him?

What was this supposed to be?

Was the Martial Soul Network manipulating Martial Soul fusion?

Oscar was also staring at Tang San in disbelief.

"Are those your grilled sausages?"

Tang San's smile stiffened. It took him a moment to recover before he walked forward and said, "Uncle, I'll have three grilled sausages."

Oscar grinned. "Call me Brother Oscar."

Tang San froze. "R-right... Brother Oscar?"

Oscar paused. "I mean, I turned fourteen this year."

"Huh? You're only fourteen?" Tang San was stunned.

Oscar nodded. "That's right. I'm Oscar. My facial hair's just a little more developed, but I'm fourteen this year, and I'm still a student at Shrek Academy."

Tang San: "..."

Heh, you say you're fourteen, and I believe you.

Oscar handed three grilled sausages to Tang San. As the latter was about to take them, he heard Dai Mubai's voice.

"Tang San, don't touch those!"

Dai Mubai hurried over with the last batch of students, including Zhu Zhuqing and Ning Rongrong. He'd happened to see Oscar handing the grilled sausages to Tang San and quickly called out.

Luo Mo glanced at Zhu Zhuqing and Ning Rongrong.

Zhu Zhuqing looked cold and distant. Her long black hair hung straight down her back, and she had an air of quiet menace about her.

Ning Rongrong, on the other hand, was wearing a simple white dress. Her small, delicate face, bright eyes, and fair skin made her look like a well-bred young lady. She was about 1.6 meters tall.

But Luo Mo knew that this little witch wasn't someone who judged people by their looks.

When Oscar saw Dai Mubai, he knew the grilled sausages weren't going to sell.

"Boss Dai, want one?"

"Enough! I told you not to sell grilled sausages inside the academy."

Dai Mubai glared at Oscar, then turned to Tang San. "You can eat the grilled sausages, but you'll regret it."

Tang San looked puzzled. "Are they poisonous?"

"Not exactly." Dai Mubai shrugged and glanced at Oscar. "He's got a new sausage."

Oscar's expression turned despondent. "Boss Dai, you might as well kill me."

Dai Mubai snorted. "Tang San's my brother. I can't let you take advantage of him. Besides, if you force me to step in, you'll be sorry."

Seeing that Dai Mubai was determined to expose him, Oscar reluctantly extended his right hand.

He circulated his Soul Power. A purple Soul Ring rose from beneath his feet, and just as he was about to call out his incantation, a grilled sausage appeared in his hand.

"Huh?"

Oscar was startled. What was going on?

He hadn't even used his Soul Incantation!

Dai Mubai was stunned, too. "You can use your Soul Skill without reciting the incantation?"

"Looks like it," Oscar said, staring at his own hand in shock.

Tang San suddenly cut in. "So... what exactly is the incantation for the grilled sausage?"

Dai Mubai: "..."

He'd meant to ask, but Oscar's prayerful, peach-blossom-eyed look had stopped him.

Under Oscar's pleading gaze, Dai Mubai coughed awkwardly and ultimately didn't reveal the incantation.

But he wasn't going to let Tang San be fooled into eating the sausage.

"Forget the sausages. Let's go. I'd rather you take the test than queue up here." Dai Mubai patted Tang San on the shoulder.

Tang San asked worriedly, "But won't that be unfair?"

Dai Mubai smiled. "Don't worry. They're not making you skip the line."

He led Tang San back to Luo Mo, Xiao Wu, and the others, then headed farther into the academy. Ning Rongrong gestured for Zhu Zhuqing to follow.

The second test was also administered by an older examiner.

Dai Mubai walked over to the examiner and pointed out Luo Mo and the others. He whispered a few words, and the old man immediately nodded.

"Fine, you can take the fourth test."

Dai Mubai returned to Tang San. Seeing him lead the three of them deeper into the academy, the student examining them immediately grew displeased.

"Why are you letting them skip straight to the fourth test? I'm not convinced!"