The Registration Fee First Issued

At the entrance of Shrek Academy, the line was not long.

But the atmosphere was strange.

A worn-out table.

A rickety chair.

An old man who looked lazy sat behind the table.

Beside him stood a wooden sign.

On it was written:

Registration fee: ten Gold Soul Coins, non-refundable.

Xiao Wu stared at those eight characters, looking at them again and again.

Then, she reached into her pocket and pulled out the Appeal Form given to her by the Martial Soul Hall Branch in Suotuo City.

Seeing this action, Tang San fell silent for a moment.

"Xiao Wu."

"Hmm?"

"Don't be hasty."

"I'm not being hasty."

Xiao Wu folded the Appeal Form back up and tucked it into the most accessible spot.

"I'm just preparing."

Tang San: "..."

Up ahead, a boy had just finished paying.

The old man squeezed the boy's hand bones, glanced at his soul power, and waved his hand.

"Unqualified."

The boy's father was stunned.

"Unqualified?"

"My son is a genius in our town; he has seventeen levels of soul power at twelve years old."

The old man said lazily, "We at Shrek only recruit monsters, not ordinary people."

The father's face flushed red.

"What about the registration fee?"

"Non-refundable."

The old man pointed to the wooden sign beside him.

"It's written clearly."

The father raged, "But you didn't explain beforehand what counts as a monster!"

The old man raised his eyes to look at him.

"Not inquiring clearly before entering the academy is your own business."

The people waiting in line nearby immediately began to whisper.

Some felt these rules were overbearing.

Others felt that if Shrek Academy dared to charge like this, they must truly have the ability.

The corner of Xiao Wu's mouth twitched.

"Tang San."

"Yes."

"This really looks like a scam."

Tang San did not speak.

But his brows furrowed slightly.

Tuition and registration fees could be charged.

But the standards must be stated clearly in advance.

If even the most basic admission requirements were not made public, and they simply swallowed the registration fee based on a single "we don't take ordinary people" on the spot, that was indeed unreasonable.

The Martial Soul Hall School in Notting City had taught this many times over the years.

Rules could be strict.

But they must be written down clearly first.

By the time it was the turn of the two children ahead of Tang San and Xiao Wu, they were also eliminated.

The registration fee was still not refunded.

Xiao Wu was already reaching her limit.

Finally, it was their turn.

Tang San stepped forward, but instead of paying, he asked:

"May I ask what the specific admission criteria for Shrek Academy are?"

The old man looked up at him.

"Under twelve years old, spirit power above level twenty."

Tang San nodded.

"Why aren't these written on the sign?"

The old man frowned.

"Are you here to register, or to pick a fight?"

Xiao Wu immediately spoke up: "We are here to register, but we can pick a fight while we're at it."

Tang San gently pulled her back.

Xiao Wu huffed, but didn't continue.

Tang San's expression remained calm.

"I just think that if there are clear standards, they should be announced in advance."

"That way, those who don't meet the requirements won't waste their registration fees."

The old man sneered.

"The rules of our Shrek Academy have always been this way."

Tang San replied: "Just because it has always been this way doesn't mean it's reasonable."

As soon as these words were spoken, many people nearby looked over.

The old man's eyes darkened slightly.

Before he could speak, a lazy voice drifted over from behind.

"Quite the stickler for rules, aren't you."

Dai Mubai walked out from inside the academy.

He glanced at Xiao Wu first, then looked at Tang San.

"You actually came."

Xiao Wu put her hands on her hips.

"Of course we came."

"But the registration rules of your academy really don't seem like those of a proper institution."

The corner of Dai Mubai's mouth twitched.

That was a direct jab.

The old man looked at Dai Mubai.

"You know them?"

Dai Mubai nodded.

"I saw them in Suotuo City yesterday."

The old man snorted.

"Since you are here to register, follow the rules."

Tang San took out twenty Gold Soul Coins and placed them on the table.

"We are registering."

Xiao Wu immediately added:

"But we want a receipt."

The old man was stunned.

"What?"

Xiao Wu took out an Appeal Form and waved it.

"The Martial Soul Hall Branch in Suotuo City said that academy fees must have proof of payment."

"If there is overcharging, we can file an appeal."

The old man: "..."

Dai Mubai: "..."

The line behind them also fell silent.

Many parents' eyes lit up.

Someone whispered:

"We can appeal?"

"Martial Soul Hall handles this now?"

"If I'd known, I should have asked."

The old man's expression turned somewhat ugly.

It wasn't that he feared Martial Soul Hall.

But if they were truly targeted by the Suotuo City branch, the Dean would certainly face a lot of trouble.

Shrek Academy might be poor, but it wasn't entirely fearless.

Especially in recent years, as Martial Soul Hall promoted schools and the Soul Master registration system everywhere, the trust low-rank soul masters and parents placed in Martial Soul Hall had grown ever higher.

Being caught for arbitrary fees was, indeed, a bad look.

Dai Mubai glanced at Tang San and said in a low voice:

"You two came quite well-prepared."

Tang San replied calmly:

"Doing more research before heading out is never a mistake."

Dai Mubai fell silent.

There was nothing wrong with that statement.

The old man finally pulled a crude receipt from his drawer with a dark face.

"Names."

"Tang San."

"Xiao Wu."

The old man wrote down their names and slapped the receipt onto the table.

"Test."

He first squeezed Tang San's hand bones, then had him release his soul power.

Blue Silver Grass sprouted from Tang San's palm.

Two yellow soul rings rose up.

The old man's originally impatient gaze changed in an instant.

"Blue Silver Grass?"

"Two rings?"

"Twelve years old?"

Tang San nodded.

"Twelve years old."

The old man frowned.

"Cultivated Blue Silver Grass to level twenty-nine?"

A low murmur rippled through the line.

Dai Mubai also straightened his expression.

He had known Tang San was no simple person back at the Rose Hotel yesterday.

Only now, seeing the two soul rings, did he realize this kid was even stranger than he had imagined.

The old man looked at Tang San's hand bones, then at his soul rings, and finally nodded.

"Qualified."

Next was Xiao Wu.

Soft Bone Rabbit martial soul.

Two yellow soul rings.

Her soul power also met the requirements.

The old man's expression finally softened a little.

"Also qualified."

Xiao Wu retracted her soul rings and held out her hand.

"Our receipt."

The old man handed the receipt to her.

Xiao Wu tucked it away carefully.

"This cannot be thrown away."

Dai Mubai clutched his forehead.

He suddenly felt that this girl might actually take the receipt to Martial Soul Hall to report them.

Another young girl arrived at the back of the line.

Her attire was ordinary, yet her temperament was clearly different from that of a commoner.

The girl walked up to the table, paid the fee, and underwent the test.

A phantom image of a seven-storied pagoda appeared in her hand.

The old man narrowed his eyes.

"Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda?"

Tang San also looked over.

Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.

The continent's number one support-type sect.

This girl was clearly no ordinary person.

Xiao Wu whispered:

"She doesn't look like she's short on money."

Tang San nodded.

"Mm."

The girl was none other than Ning Rongrong.

She looked at the receipt in Xiao Wu's hand and asked curiously:

"They give receipts for registration?"

Xiao Wu immediately replied:

"Of course they have to."

"Otherwise, what if we don't pass and they refuse to refund the money?"

Ning Rongrong blinked.

Then she looked at the old man behind the table.

"I want one too."

The old man: "..."

He felt that today's enrollment was not quite right.

In the past, students would arrive, pay the fee, have their bones tested, and if they didn't pass, they would get lost.

Since when did so many people ask for receipts?

After receiving her receipt, Ning Rongrong tucked it away with a smile.

"Quite interesting."

A while later, a girl in black walked to the back of the line.

She was tall with a cold expression, carrying herself like a quiet cat.

Far away in Martial Soul City, Meow Meow's tail paused slightly as he watched her through the Suotuo City Cat Net.

"Zhu Zhuqing."

The Hell Spirit Cat had finally arrived.

Bibi Dong looked at the screen.

"The Star Luo Zhu Family?"

"Mm."

Meow Meow nodded.

"Hell Spirit Cat martial soul."

"She has a marriage contract with Dai Mubai."

Bibi Dong looked at Dai Mubai, who was standing at the academy gate on the screen.

"He doesn't look like someone capable of taking responsibility."

"He didn't seem like it in the past, indeed."

Meow Meow said.

"But as for now, we can still observe."

"If he continues to act recklessly, Zhu Zhuqing might not necessarily follow the original path."

Bibi Dong did not ask what the "original path" was.

She looked at Zhu Zhuqing, her expression indifferent.

"There is a heavy sense of suppression upon her."

"Mm."

Meow Meow said.

"The competition among the royal family and nobility in Star Luo is too cutthroat."

"This girl was forced to grow up every step of the way."

Zhu Zhuqing finished the test quickly.

Age qualified.

Spirit Power qualified.

Martial Soul: Hell Spirit Cat.

When Dai Mubai saw her, his entire body stiffened.

"Zhuqing..."

Zhu Zhuqing merely shot him a cold glance.

She did not say a single word.

Dai Mubai's expression turned somewhat unsightly.

Xiao Wu watched this scene and whispered:

"Tang San, do they know each other?"

Tang San nodded.

"It certainly looks like it."

Ning Rongrong also blinked her eyes, as if watching a show.

After receiving her ticket, Zhu Zhuqing stood to the side.

Dai Mubai wanted to walk over, but was forced to stop by her icy gaze.

The atmosphere became somewhat awkward for a moment.

The old man coughed.

"Those who qualified, proceed to the next round."

Only then did Dai Mubai compose himself and lead the group into the academy.

Xiao Wu walked a few steps, then turned back to look at the children and parents who had just been eliminated.

She suddenly stopped.

"Wait a moment."

Everyone looked at her.

Xiao Wu said to the old man:

"They didn't meet the standards you wrote down, so shouldn't you be refunding their money now?"

The old man's face turned completely black.

"This is the academy's rule."

Xiao Wu took out an Appeal Form.

"Then I'll go ask Martial Soul Hall if this rule is reasonable."

Someone in the crowd immediately chimed in.

"That's right, the standards were only just clarified."

"If it wasn't written clearly, why shouldn't you refund us?"

"We accept that our children didn't qualify, but the money should at least be returned."

The old man looked at the crowd, his expression growing increasingly ugly.

Dai Mubai felt somewhat helpless as well.

He had never thought there was anything wrong with this rule before.

Shrek was poor.

The registration fee was one of the academy's sources of income.

But after the scene Xiao Wu made today, he suddenly realized that this rule really didn't hold much water.

Especially since Martial Soul Hall would actually intervene in such matters now.

If this escalated to the branch hall, the Dean would definitely scold them upon his return.

The old man darkened his face and pulled a money bag from under the table.

"Today is an exception."

"Those who don't qualify get half a refund."

Xiao Wu frowned.

"Why not a full refund?"

The old man glared at her.

Xiao Wu glared right back.

Tang San gently tugged at her.

"Let's leave it at that for now."

Xiao Wu huffed.

"Write the enrollment standards clearly in the future."

The old man replied irritably:

"Got it."

Ning Rongrong stood to the side, laughing happily.

Zhu Zhuqing remained expressionless, though a subtle change flickered in her eyes.

Dai Mubai watched Tang San and Xiao Wu, his mood somewhat complicated.

These two had just arrived at Shrek Academy and hadn't even officially enrolled yet, but they had already forced a change to half of the academy's registration fee rules.

What was this?

Martial Soul Hall-style students?

Far away in Martial Soul City, Meow Meow watched with satisfaction.

"Very good."

"Xiao Wu played that beautifully."

Bibi Dong watched the screen.

"Refund half?"

"Refunding half for now is fine."

Meow Meow said lazily.

"You eat a meal one bite at a time."

"Shrek's rules weren't formed in a single day."

"Making them realize that fees need to be clearly stated is already the first step."

Bibi Dong asked:

"Do you not intend to have the Suotuo Branch Hall intervene directly?"

"No rush."

Meow Meow said.

"Let Tang San and Xiao Wu see for themselves."

"Let Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing see it too."

"If some problems are pointed out only by Martial Soul Hall, they will think Martial Soul Hall is looking for trouble."

"But if they see it with their own eyes, it's different."

Bibi Dong nodded slightly.

This had always been Meow Meow's approach.

No rush to crush them.

Let people see first.

Once they see, then they make their choice.

Outside Suotuo City.

The Grey-White Cat crouched in a tree, transmitting this scene in its entirety back to the Cat Net.

Beside it, another Scrawny Yellow cat meowed in a low voice.

The meaning was simple.

"This rabbit is a bit fierce."

The Grey-White Cat nodded.

Indeed fierce.

But rightfully so.

Inside Shrek Academy.

Dai Mubai led the four of them toward the next stage.

On the way, Xiao Wu was still muttering.

"What kind of academy charges money like that?"

Ning Rongrong laughed.

"You were quite bold just now."

Xiao Wu replied:

"It was their fault to begin with."

Ning Rongrong nodded.

"Indeed."

Zhu Zhuqing did not speak.

Tang San looked at Dai Mubai in front and asked:

"Has Shrek Academy always been like this?"

Dai Mubai paused his steps.

He turned to look at Tang San.

Tang San's expression was calm, with no intention of mockery.

He was simply asking.

Dai Mubai was silent for a moment, then said:

"The academy is very poor."

"But poverty is no excuse for not stating the rules clearly."

Tang San said.

Dai Mubai had nothing to say.

He could not refute that statement.

In the end, he only said:

"Perhaps you are right."

Xiao Wu let out a huff.

"Of course we're right."

Ning Rongrong's smile deepened.

Zhu Zhuqing finally glanced at Dai Mubai.

That look was very cold.

Yet it still made Dai Mubai's heart stir.

At the very least, she had looked at him.

That was already better than being completely ignored.

The group continued forward.

Ahead, the teacher for the second round of testing was already sitting on a chair, waiting.

Not far away, a middle-aged man with a stubbly beard was leaning against a tree, dozing off.

Four-Eyed Cat Eagle martial soul.

Flender.

He did not yet know that his academy had just been forced by a few new students to refund half of their registration fees.

He knew even less.

Over at the Suotuo City Martial Soul Hall Branch, they had already begun to record the first entry against Shrek Academy in the ledger.

Meow Meow lay on a cushion in the Pope's Palace in Martial Soul City, flicking his tail gently.

"Ledger opened."

"First entry: Unclear enrollment standards, non-refundable registration fees."

"Pending observation."

Bibi Dong looked at him.

"Are you planning to record everything about Shrek?"

"Of course."

Meow Meow blinked.

"This Meow is the most law-abiding creature there is."

Bibi Dong: "..."

That sentence, no matter how she heard it, did not sound like he was praising himself.