Monsters Are Supposed to Succeed, Aren't They?

Although he had expected it, Qin Ming still could not hide his surprise after receiving Dugu Yang's confirmation.

"Dugu, how old are you this year?"

"My twelfth birthday is in two months."

"Hiss!"

Qin Ming immediately sucked in a sharp breath.

"An eleven-year-old Four-ring Soul Ancestor!"

As Shrek Academy's most outstanding graduate, Qin Ming was naturally a genius Soul Master as well.

But compared to Dugu Yang, he was no different from a firefly beside the moon.

"Dugu, you really are a monster. Sorry, that isn't an insult. It is simply the highest praise I can give a student."

Seemingly afraid that Dugu Yang would misunderstand, Qin Ming hurriedly explained:

"I wonder if you've heard of Shrek Academy."

"Shrek Academy?"

Dugu Yang raised an eyebrow.

"That's right!"

Speaking of his alma mater, Qin Ming became animated, and a hint of pride entered his tone.

"It is an academy that only admits monsters. I was part of Shrek Academy's first graduating class."

"Though it may sound like I'm boasting, every student who graduates from Shrek Academy, without exception, becomes someone influential on the continent."

What Qin Ming said was indeed true. Take himself, for instance: as a teacher at Heaven Dou Royal Academy and a powerful Six-ring Spirit Emperor, he would receive courteous treatment from the royal family and high-ranking nobles even when entering the palace.

"In terms of success rate, even Heaven Dou Royal Academy, which has a far greater reputation, falls far short of Shrek Academy."

"Isn't that only natural?"

Dugu Yang's calm tone instantly brought Qin Ming back down to earth.

"What do you mean?"

"Teacher Qin, you said Shrek Academy only admits monsters. Does that mean it only accepts genius-level monsters?"

"If they are monster-level geniuses, then shouldn't succeeding be a given? On the contrary, failing to succeed is what would be abnormal."

Dugu Yang looked at Qin Ming and continued:

"If Shrek Academy cannot achieve a one hundred percent success rate, then it can only mean that the academy's teaching methods are flawed, turning geniuses into mediocrities."

"No, that's not it. How could Shrek Academy's teaching methods possibly be flawed..."

Qin Ming wanted to argue, but he found that he seemed unable to.

Just as Dugu Yang had said, geniuses should have become successful in the first place, whether at Shrek Academy or any other academy.

If they failed to succeed, then it could only mean that the academy's teaching methods were flawed.

At that thought, the shining image of Shrek Academy in Qin Ming's heart gradually shattered.

"Could my alma mater really..."

Seeing Qin Ming sink into deep doubt, Dugu Yang shook his head. It was better for Qin Ming to realize it sooner.

Dugu Yang had always held Shrek Academy in contempt. It clearly recruited monster-level geniuses, yet it insisted on claiming the students' achievements as the academy's own merit.

It was just like Yu Xiaogang claiming that he had taught a god. Both were equally shameless.

"Teacher Qin, I'll be leaving first."

Dugu Yang spoke.

But Qin Ming's mind was filled with thoughts of Shrek Academy at that moment, and he could not take in a word.

Seeing this, Dugu Yang did not disturb him and turned to leave.

After returning to the academy, Dugu Yang did not go to the classroom. Instead, he went to the library.

Previously, Dugu Yang had come to the library mainly to search for information on various Poison Soul Beasts and deadly poisons. This time, however, he found quite a few nautical charts and sailing logs.

After successfully absorbing the Jade Phosphor Snake King's Spirit Ring, not only had Dugu Yang's strength increased, but the Emerald Poison Dragon's memories in his mind had also become clearer.

Last time, through the Emerald Poison Dragon's perspective, Dugu Yang's vision had ultimately settled on a solitary island.

This time, however, "Dugu Yang" had directly descended onto that island, where many Poison Soul Beasts lived.

Yet for some unknown reason, most of those Poison Soul Beasts differed from the ones in Dugu Yang's memories. It seemed that they had been infected by some kind of power, causing them to mutate.

For example, Red Refining Pythons that had grown four legs, Twin-Winged Poison Dragon Butterflies whose Body Size had increased a hundredfold, Tri-Horned Poison Lizards whose black coloring had turned dazzlingly vibrant, and so on.

Not only that, these Poison Soul Beasts generally possessed cultivation levels of over ten thousand years, with some even reaching the Hundred Thousand Year level.

This further confirmed Dugu Yang's previous suspicion: the solitary island standing in the sea surely hid an enormous secret.

Unfortunately, the Emerald Poison Dragon's memories did not last long enough for him to fully uncover that secret. After arriving before a towering volcano, the memories abruptly ended.

That was why Dugu Yang had sought out nautical charts and a great number of sailing logs—to investigate the secrets of that island.

Unfortunately, no matter how thoroughly Dugu Yang searched through all the nautical charts, he could not find the location of that island inhabited by countless Poison Soul Beasts.

However, Dugu Yang did not give up because of this. He knew that the sea was vastly broader than the continent. The fact that the charts did not show the island only meant that no one had explored it, much like the Sun Moon Continent ten thousand years later. If not for crustal movement, the people of the two continents might never have known that another continent existed in this world.

"Once I have the strength to protect myself at sea, I will definitely set sail and find that island."

Dugu Yang closed a sailing log and silently swore to himself.

A faint intuition told him that the island hiding such an enormous secret might be a tremendous opportunity for him.

"I did it! I did it! Ayang, I've broken through to Level 30!"

Dugu Yan cried out excitedly and leaped straight into Dugu Yang's arms.

After months of arduous cultivation, Dugu Yan had finally broken through the Level 29 barrier before the first semester ended, becoming a Level 30 Quasi-Soul Elder.

As long as she obtained her Third Soul Ring, she would become a genuine Three-ring Soul Elder.

Dugu Yan was not even thirteen yet, but her Soul Power had already reached this realm. It was truly rare.

Throughout Heaven Dou Royal Academy, only Yu Tianheng, a direct descendant of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, could compare to her.

Of course, that freak Dugu Yang was excluded.

"Alright, alright, I know. Could you get down first?"

Dugu Yang felt somewhat helpless in the face of Dugu Yan's excitement. She had only broken through to Level 30—was there really a need to be this excited?

After setting her down, he said:

"Let's hurry and tell Second Grandfather the news. He's been waiting for this day for far too long."

"Alright, but do we need to ask for leave?"

Students of Heaven Dou Royal Academy needed to request leave to go out, especially when obtaining a Spirit Ring. A single trip could require leave for ten days or even half a month.

"Don't worry, I've already requested it."

When he had learned that Dugu Yan was about to break through, Dugu Yang had already filed a report with the academy.

"That's good."

Afterward, the two left the academy and hurried in the direction of Sunset Forest.

Several days earlier, Dugu Bo had already told Dugu Yang that once Dugu Yan broke through, he should bring her directly to the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Eye.