Spirit of Light

"Yuan Qin, don't be so strict. I doubt anyone's going to show up in the next five minutes." The teacher surnamed Jin wore a slightly helpless expression.

"Maybe." Yuan Qin replied coolly. "I remember that Teacher Jin didn't have much talent back then, and plenty of people doubted you. But you still became a Spirit Saint."

Teacher Jin could only spread his hands helplessly. Could the two situations really be compared?

It was only five minutes. He wasn't going to argue with a junior over that.

Shrek Academy naturally took new students seriously. Having a Spirit Saint-level teacher handle recruitment was also a precaution against trouble. There had been some unpleasant incidents in the past.

For example, Evil Soul Masters attacking recruitment teams.

The final minute of the five-minute wait passed.

"Yuan Qin, we can go now, right?" Teacher Jin asked.

"Teacher Jin, you can go," Yuan Qin replied.

As she spoke, she put away the crystal ball and reached for a book that looked like a notebook.

Just then, a voice rang out from nearby.

"Wait! Teachers, wait! There's still someone coming!"

Teacher Jin and Yuan Qin both paused in surprise, then looked toward the voice. Even the students guarding the entrance to Shrek Academy turned their attention that way.

In the two teachers' view, a streak of golden light darted through the crowd in the distance and raced toward them.

"A new student?" Teacher Jin asked, puzzled.

"Probably." Yuan Qin nodded.

"Recruitment hours are over. What do you say, Yuan Qin?" Teacher Jin teased. He didn't particularly mind either way.

Yuan Qin said nothing. She simply took out the crystal ball again before replying, "I'm strict, not inflexible. Besides, it won't take more than a few minutes."

Teacher Jin's mouth twitched. He felt he'd only managed to make a fool of himself.

The golden light drew closer, revealing the figure inside. It was none other than Zheng Li.

Zheng Li wasn't wearing his black robe now. Instead, he had on a gorgeous outfit: mostly white, with golden patterns running across it. It looked a lot like the white-and-gold dress Xiao Nai wore.

Matching outfits?

That wasn't all. A golden halo identical to Xiao Nai's floated behind Zheng Li's head.

Teacher Jin's eyes narrowed slightly. "That child's Martial Soul..."

Chapter Seven: Spirit of Light

"What's the matter?"

Yuan Qin asked. She was only a Spirit Emperor, and her eyesight wasn't as sharp as Teacher Jin's.

Teacher Jin shook his head. "Nothing. It just feels rather unusual."

"Mm." Hearing him say that, Yuan Qin didn't dwell on it.

There were plenty of unusual Martial Souls, and she'd seen more than a few. Even if Teacher Jin pointed one out, it was simply another oddity among many.

Zheng Li soon stopped in front of the table, breathing slightly hard.

He'd thought he wouldn't make it in time, but then Xiao Nai had suddenly appeared and told him a few things.

First, Xiao Nai could fight on her own, but she needed Zheng Li's permission to use her Soul Skills.

Naturally, his Soul Power was her source of strength.

When Xiao Nai fought on her own, he couldn't use Soul Skills himself. He could only use Soul Power.

The second method was for Xiao Nai to stay in his Sea of Consciousness. Then he could use her power to fight, which was what he was doing now. It was like a Beast Martial Soul possessing him, but fundamentally different.

The third method was Hand-in-Hand Combat. They could both use Soul Skills in battle, but their power would be halved.

Halved... Zheng Li's mouth twitched. That was a huge reduction.

Actually, even if Xiao Nai hadn't told him, Zheng Li would have figured it out by sensing things once he'd settled down.

But...

When he fought alone, light particles formed the outfit over his body. Once it appeared, his original clothes were destroyed.

So his black robe was gone.

Seriously... what a headache!

That meant he'd be completely naked every time he left combat mode!!

Completely naked!!

But while he was in combat mode, his body felt remarkably light, as if he'd shed some kind of shackles.

Mm, it felt like he could ascend to heaven.

Xiao Nai told him that this was one of her abilities.

The lightness wasn't an illusion. His speed had increased tremendously, which was just enough to help him make it.

But his Soul Power consumption had also increased, and by now he had very little left.

"Kid, you're pretty lucky. If you'd been a minute later, we'd have been gone." Teacher Jin stepped forward, patted Zheng Li on the shoulder, and said with a smile. The pat made Zheng Li stumble, nearly knocking him to the ground.

It wasn't that he was weak. Teacher Jin was just really strong.

"I think so too." Zheng Li replied with a slight smile.

"All right, kid. I won't beat around the bush. First, show me your recommendation letter. Then we'll test your Soul Power, and after that, you can fill out this information form," Teacher Jin said.

"Wait, Teacher. I have a question."

Zheng Li looked a little embarrassed. From what he remembered, there were two requirements for admission to the Shrek Outer Court: applicants had to be under twelve, and their Soul Power had to be at least level fifteen.

He was embarrassed because his Soul Power was below level fifteen—at the peak of level fourteen.

That was still thanks to his First Soul Ring being six hundred years old, which had raised him four levels at once!

"What is it? Go ahead," Teacher Jin said kindly.

New students deserved a little more patience...

"One of the requirements for entering the Shrek Outer Court is having Soul Power of at least level fifteen, right?"

"Yes," Yuan Qin answered from the side.

"Would it be all right if my Soul Power wasn't high enough?"

"Hmm?" Teacher Jin furrowed his brows. "You mean your Soul Power is below level fifteen? Do you have a recommendation letter?"

"I do." Zheng Li took out the recommendation certificate the system had given him and handed it over.

Teacher Jin and Yuan Qin exchanged a look, both of them puzzled.

Only people at the level of city lord in one of the three great empires could write recommendation letters. Surely one of them wouldn't make such a basic mistake!

The system's recommendation letter was fine. Zheng Li had checked it, and it bore the name of a city lord from the Star Luo Empire.

Apparently, that city lord had already died the day before Zheng Li arrived in the Douluo Continent...

But the recommendation letter was certainly valid.

As for proof that Zheng Li existed, that had already been taken care of by the "Douluo World Identity Certificate x1."

Apparently, a lot of people had been implanted with false memories.

Of course, the system hadn't killed the city lord. He'd really died on his own.

How had he died?

The system had given a three-word answer: old age!

Zheng Li had been rather speechless.

Teacher Jin and Yuan Qin had now finished reading the recommendation letter and understood the reason.

"Ten years old, level fourteen Soul Power..." Teacher Jin murmured. He understood now, but then a puzzled look crossed his eyes. "Kid, since you're only ten, you could come back for recruitment next year. There's no rush."

Indeed, Zheng Li would still meet the age requirement next year. And in Teacher Jin's view, by the time Zheng Li turned twelve, his Soul Power would have surpassed level twenty!

Zheng Li thought for a moment. "If I can come early, why wait?"

His answer left Teacher Jin and Yuan Qin speechless.

Yuan Qin shook her head. "The child's got a point, but your Soul Power still doesn't meet the requirement."

She wasn't trying to make things difficult for Zheng Li. In a direct comparison, his talent was better than hers.

"What if I can break through to level fifteen within three days?"

Actually, he wouldn't need three days. The system had told him that as soon as he started cultivating the Spirit Sutra and circulated his Soul Power once according to its method, he'd reach level fifteen.

The system had also told Zheng Li that his first attempt at cultivating the Spirit Sutra would take longer. He planned to wait until he entered Shrek before finding time to cultivate.

He wasn't saying he didn't trust the system by suggesting three days. He simply thought it was better to be cautious.

System: You're being a little too cautious...

Teacher Jin paused, then asked, "Kid, are you sure?"

"Yes! My Soul Power is at the peak of level fourteen." Zheng Li answered seriously.

"Oh?"

Teacher Jin placed his large hand on Zheng Li's shoulder. A massive wave of Soul Power surged into Zheng Li's body, coursed through him as if by chance, then withdrew.

But in the very next moment, Zheng Li's body trembled. His Soul Power surged, and he broke through to level fifteen on the spot.

The sudden rush of Teacher Jin's immense Soul Power had jolted him into it...

Of course, it wasn't that simple. Zheng Li had already been just one step away from a breakthrough.

Zheng Li blinked and thanked him. "Teacher, thank you. You don't have to make things difficult for me. I'm level fifteen now, so I meet the requirement."

Teacher Jin: "..."

Yuan Qin: "..."

They'd both sensed Zheng Li's Soul Power fluctuate.

Zheng Li had his Martial Soul activated. At the moment he broke through, the golden halo behind his head sent out a golden ripple, accompanied by a wave of Soul Power.

There was no way they could miss it!

The breakthrough restored the little Soul Power Zheng Li had left. His slightly pale face grew rosy again.

"Ahem!" Teacher Jin coughed twice, then smiled. "It's good that you broke through. Shrek has gained another little genius. Haha!"

As a peak Spirit Saint, he'd immediately figured out what had happened.

Yuan Qin shot Teacher Jin a look.

"Teacher Jin, don't you know that suddenly using Soul Power to examine someone's body is very rude?"

"Hmm?"

Teacher Jin looked a little stunned...

He'd just done a good deed, hadn't he? A good deed! So why was he being scolded?

"Teacher, it's fine! I should be thanking Teacher Jin. I was able to break through to level fifteen early because of him."

Hearing Zheng Li, Yuan Qin glanced at Teacher Jin and said, "Teacher Jin, don't do that again."

Then she turned to Zheng Li. "All right, child. Fill out the information form."

Zheng Li took the form and pen Yuan Qin handed him and began filling it out.

"Hmm? Martial Soul?"

Zheng Li was stumped. What was he supposed to write? Heart of Spirit was easy enough, but Xiao Nai... Should he write her name?

Yes, he planned to list both of his Martial Souls.

Was he flaunting his talent? Zheng Li didn't think so.

If he had Shrek Academy's attention, and considering his status as an "orphan," there was no way they'd leave his safety unprotected!