The Immovable Bright King Also Needs to Follow the Rules

Dai Mubai led Tang San and the others toward the interior of the academy.

To call it an academy was a stretch; it looked more like an old village.

The buildings were low and squat.

The playground was not large.

Miscellaneous items were piled up along the edge of the training field.

Xiao Wu looked around, unable to help but whisper:

"Tang San, can this place really be called an academy?"

Tang San did not answer immediately.

He also found it strange.

Shrek Academy did indeed have several teachers with formidable strength; judging by Dai Mubai and the admissions teacher from earlier, it was clear this place was not a complete scam.

Yet, the environment for schooling really did not resemble a formal academy.

Ning Rongrong, however, was in high spirits.

"It's quite interesting."

Zhu Zhuqing did not speak, her gaze remaining cold throughout.

Especially when she looked at Dai Mubai, it was even colder.

Dai Mubai clearly felt it.

He wanted to offer an explanation, but he did not know where to begin.

The incident at the Rose Hotel had just passed.

The matter of the registration fee had been brought up on the spot by Xiao Wu.

Whatever he said now seemed inappropriate.

Walking halfway, Dai Mubai gave a light cough.

"Your spirit power levels are not low."

"There is no need to test the previous rounds; go directly to the final one."

Xiao Wu immediately looked up.

"If the previous rounds don't need testing, shouldn't the registration fee be reduced?"

Dai Mubai's footsteps faltered.

Tang San also glanced at Xiao Wu.

Xiao Wu was righteous and confident.

"I'm not wrong."

"Since the testing process is shorter, shouldn't the costs be lower?"

Ning Rongrong let out a snort of laughter.

Although Zhu Zhuqing did not laugh, her eyes flickered.

Dai Mubai only felt a headache coming on.

He had truly never encountered students like this before.

Especially this Xiao Wu, who was still clutching the Appeal Form from the Suotuo City Martial Soul Hall.

"Take this up with the Dean."

Dai Mubai said.

"I don't handle the money."

Xiao Wu narrowed her eyes.

"Then your Dean had better be reasonable."

Dai Mubai did not respond.

He felt the Dean probably would not enjoy this topic.

The group continued forward.

Just as they reached a wooden shed, they heard a series of shouts.

"Sausages for sale, sausages for sale!"

"Fragrant and soft big sausages!"

Xiao Wu stopped in her tracks.

Tang San also turned his head to look.

A youth with a face full of stubble, looking much older than his actual age, was pushing a small cart.

Several freshly made sausages were laid out on the cart.

The smell was actually not bad.

Xiao Wu looked at him, then looked at the sausages.

"Are you a student too?"

The man chuckled.

"Of course."

"My name is Oscar."

"Martial Soul Sausage, Food-system Soul Master."

Xiao Wu blinked.

"Food-system Soul Master?"

Ning Rongrong's eyes lit up.

Coming from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, she naturally knew how rare Food-system Soul Masters were.

Especially those capable of creating restorative food; they were of high value.

Dai Mubai was just about to stop Oscar from acting recklessly, but Oscar had already raised his hand with practiced ease.

"I have a big sausage!"

With a flash of soul power, a sausage appeared in his hand.

Xiao Wu's expression stiffened.

Ning Rongrong's smile froze as well.

Zhu Zhuqing took a half-step back.

Tang San fell silent.

Before Oscar could even retract his grin, he noticed that the four of them were looking at him with strange expressions.

Xiao Wu said slowly:

"This thing... is it really edible?"

Oscar immediately replied:

"It is! The effects are great!"

Tang San coughed.

"The textbooks at the Martial Soul Hall School mention that food created by Food-system Soul Masters has great value in battle."

"But they also state that if sold to others for consumption, it is best to explain the soul skill's effects, duration, and any contraindications."

Oscar was stunned.

"There's such a rule?"

Tang San nodded.

"There is."

Xiao Wu immediately added:

"And you have to explain the incantation, too."

Oscar: "..."

Dai Mubai covered his forehead.

What kind of mess was this?

In the past, when Oscar sold sausages, he would at most be mocked by a few new students.

Now, he actually had to explain effects, duration, contraindications, and even the incantation.

Did one have to follow Martial Soul Hall protocols just to eat a sausage these days?

Oscar felt a bit aggrieved.

"This is a soul skill; it won't manifest if I don't chant it."

Xiao Wu said:

"Then you can state it beforehand."

"For example, please confirm you can accept the soul skill incantation before consuming."

Ning Rongrong was already laughing until her eyes curved into crescents.

Zhu Zhuqing looked at Oscar and said coldly:

"Effects."

Oscar hurriedly replied:

"First Soul Skill, Recovery Big Sausage, restores soul power and physical strength."

"The effect is indeed quite good."

"It remains effective for about twelve hours."

"As for side effects... there shouldn't be any."

Tang San nodded.

"Then it has great value."

Oscar's eyes lit up.

"Are you going to buy some?"

Tang San paused.

"Not for now."

Oscar: "..."

Dai Mubai hurriedly ushered them forward.

"Let's test first."

"We can talk about sausages later."

Xiao Wu muttered quietly from behind:

"We might not even talk about them later."

Oscar looked visibly wounded upon hearing this.

When the group arrived at the final testing ground, a middle-aged man, not tall but exceptionally sturdy, was sitting there with his eyes closed, resting.

Dai Mubai stepped forward.

"Teacher Zhao."

"There are a few promising ones this year."

The middle-aged man opened his eyes.

His gaze swept over Tang San, Xiao Wu, Ning Rongrong, and Zhu Zhuqing one by one.

"Did they all pass the previous rounds?"

Dai Mubai replied:

"Their soul power and age are both within limits, so I brought them directly to the fourth round."

Zhao Wuji stood up and stretched his shoulders.

"In that case, I'll handle it myself."

Dai Mubai's expression shifted.

"Teacher Zhao, isn't that against the rules?"

Zhao Wuji grinned.

"Flender isn't here, so I make the calls."

"The rule is simple: hold out against me for the duration of one incense stick."

Xiao Wu immediately raised her hand.

Zhao Wuji looked at her.

"What is it?"

Xiao Wu asked very seriously:

"Are there any safety instructions before the test?"

Zhao Wuji: "?"

Tang San also spoke up:

"Teacher Zhao, we accept the test."

"But since this is an entrance examination, does the academy provide medical treatment?"

"If someone is severely injured, how is the responsibility divided?"

"Will the intensity of the test exceed the standard entrance requirements?"

Dai Mubai closed his eyes.

Here it comes.

It's happening again.

Zhao Wuji looked at Tang San and Xiao Wu with a very strange expression.

"Are you here to apply to the academy, or to audit it?"

Xiao Wu replied:

"The two things don't conflict."

Ning Rongrong laughed until her shoulders shook.

Zhu Zhuqing also glanced at Xiao Wu.

Zhao Wuji was so angry he laughed.

"Fine."

"I guarantee I won't use heavy hands."

"If you really get hurt, the academy will be responsible for the treatment."

"Is that satisfactory?"

Xiao Wu nodded.

"That works."

Tang San nodded as well.

"Many thanks for the clarification, Teacher Zhao."

Zhao Wuji let out a huff.

"These little monsters today certainly have plenty of rules."

High up in a tree in the distance, a gray-and-white cat lay amidst the foliage, watching the scene quietly.

It lowered its head to lick its paw.

Then, it transmitted the first entry through the Cat Net.

[Shrek's fourth trial, no proactive safety briefing provided before the test.]

[Supplemented only after inquiry by students.]

[Pending further observation.]

In Martial Soul City.

Meow Meow looked at this Cat Net record and nodded in satisfaction.

"Well written."

Bibi Dong glanced at him.

"You have the cats watching very closely."

"Of course," Meow Meow said.

"Accounts must be kept one by one."

"One cannot wrong the innocent, nor can one let bad debts slip through."

Bibi Dong did not object.

She had already grown accustomed to Meow Meow's logic regarding his ledger.

Over at Shrek, Zhao Wuji lit a stick of incense.

"Begin."

As soon as the words fell, Ning Rongrong was the first to release her Martial Soul.

The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda manifested.

"Seven Treasures Glazed Tile, first: Power."

"Seven Treasures Glazed Tile, second: Speed."

Two beams of light landed on Tang San and Xiao Wu.

Zhao Wuji's eyes flickered.

"Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect?"

No sooner had he spoken than Zhu Zhuqing vanished from her spot.

Hell Spirit Cat Martial Soul Possession.

Moving at extreme speed, she circled toward Zhao Wuji's flank.

Xiao Wu, meanwhile, charged from the front.

Tang San did not rush to strike, instead retreating two steps.

Blue Silver Grass spread out along the ground.

He remembered what Xie Yue had told him.

The first priority for a Control-type Soul Master is to control the distance.

Therefore, he did not aim all his Blue Silver Grass to entangle Zhao Wuji.

Instead, he first blocked off the routes.

Zhao Wuji had intended to charge straight in, only to find that the Blue Silver Grass beneath his feet had already formed three barriers.

Not strong.

But annoying.

He crushed a patch of Blue Silver Grass underfoot and was about to continue forward when Xiao Wu arrived before him, boosted by a speed enhancement.

Soft Skill activated.

Xiao Wu attempted to use his own momentum to throw Zhao Wuji.

Zhao Wuji stood his ground, as immovable as a boulder.

"Too little strength."

As he spoke, his soul power surged.

Xiao Wu was sent flying.

Tang San's Blue Silver Grass immediately caught her, pulling her back.

At the same time, Zhu Zhuqing cut in from the side, her claws slashing toward Zhao Wuji's neck.

Zhao Wuji raised a hand to block.

Zhu Zhuqing's attack failed to break his defense, but she retreated immediately, refusing to linger.

Zhao Wuji's expression shifted slightly.

These children had good coordination.

Especially Tang San.

The Blue Silver Grass wasn't just for binding; it was for crowd control.

Zhao Wuji took a step forward.

"Immovable Bright King Body!"

A tyrannical wave of soul power blasted the Blue Silver Grass away.

Tang San's expression changed.

The gap was too wide.

Zhao Wuji was a Soul Saint.

Even without using his full strength, he was far beyond what a few freshmen could withstand head-on.

But Tang San did not panic.

"Scatter!"

He let out a low shout.

Xiao Wu and Zhu Zhuqing immediately pulled away.

Ning Rongrong retreated to a safer position.

Zhao Wuji laughed.

"Quick reactions."

He raised his hand and slammed it into the ground.

The shockwave of his Vajra Palm rippled outward.

Tang San activated Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track beneath his feet, dodging the direct impact.

The Blue Silver Grass bypassed the cracks in the ground, emerging from the other side to coil around Zhao Wuji's arm.

Zhao Wuji snapped it with a single tug.

However, the severed Blue Silver Grass carried the venom of a Datura Serpent.

The poison had little effect on Zhao Wuji.

But there was a slight sensation of numbness.

Zhao Wuji raised an eyebrow.

"Poisonous?"

Tang San did not answer.

Seizing this moment of sluggishness, he immediately unleashed a second wave of Blue Silver Grass.

Xiao Wu took the opportunity to close in.

Zhu Zhuqing launched a surprise attack from behind.

Ning Rongrong's enhancements continued to rain down.

The four of them were coordinating with increasing fluidity.

Dai Mubai stood to the side, watching in surprise.

They were stronger than he had anticipated.

Not individually strong.

The overall rhythm was intense.

Tang San was constantly adjusting the distance.

Ning Rongrong was not just standing there providing buffs; she kept changing her position to avoid being easily grabbed by Zhao Wuji.

Zhu Zhuqing was the calmest.

She never grew greedy with any of her strikes.

Xiao Wu charged the most fiercely, but Tang San was always able to catch her right before or after she was sent flying by the impact.

This level of coordination did not look like something from people who had just met.

Yet in reality, they had only just met Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing today.

The interest in Zhao Wuji's eyes grew even stronger.

"Interesting."

The incense had already burned down by a third.

Zhao Wuji finally decided to exert a little more effort.

His figure shifted, and his speed suddenly increased.

His target was not Tang San.

It was Ning Rongrong.

Tang San's pupils constricted.

"Rongrong, retreat!"

Ning Rongrong's face turned pale.

Although she possessed the awareness of a support-type Soul Master, her practical combat experience was ultimately insufficient.

When Zhao Wuji closed in, she instinctively panicked for a split second.

Zhu Zhuqing immediately moved to block him.

Xiao Wu also lunged in from the side.

Tang San spread his Blue Silver Grass to its full extent.

But with a mere surge of his soul power, Zhao Wuji pushed all three of them away.

His palm was already about to touch Ning Rongrong's shoulder.

At that very instant, Tang San raised his hand.

The Blue Silver Grass did not bind Zhao Wuji.

Instead, it wrapped around Ning Rongrong's waist, yanking her violently backward.

Ning Rongrong was pulled away and tumbled to the ground, but she had successfully evaded Zhao Wuji's hand.

She landed in a somewhat disheveled state.

But she had not been caught.

Zhao Wuji was stunned for a moment.

Then, he laughed.

"Smart."

Ning Rongrong sat on the ground, her heart racing.

For the first time, she truly felt that if a support-type Soul Master had poor positioning, they would truly become the breakthrough point for the entire team.

"Thank you."

She whispered to Tang San.

Tang San did not turn his head.

"Continue."

The incense had burned halfway.

Zhao Wuji exerted force once again.

This time, the pressure on the four of them was even greater.

Xiao Wu was shaken until her face turned pale.

Zhu Zhuqing's arms were numb.

Ning Rongrong's soul power consumption was also significant.

Tang San, who had been maintaining crowd control with his Blue Silver Grass the entire time, already had sweat beading on his forehead.

Yet, they still held their ground.

When the incense burned down to the final third, Zhao Wuji suddenly paused.

"Not bad."

"To have held out until now, you have already passed."

Xiao Wu was stunned.

"Really?"

Zhao Wuji said:

"Of course."

"However..."

He grinned.

"Let's test your limits one last time."

Alarm bells rang in Tang San's heart.

Zhao Wuji took a sudden, heavy step forward.

This time, the pressure was even heavier than before.

Tang San judged the situation instantly.

They couldn't block it.

They had to retreat.

"Gather!"

He shouted in a low voice.

The four of them immediately converged in one direction.

Zhao Wuji charged toward them.

Tang San unleashed all of his Blue Silver Grass, layering it thick to block the path ahead.

Xiao Wu utilized the speed boost from Ning Rongrong to provide flanking interference.

Zhu Zhuqing dashed toward Zhao Wuji's blind spot.

Ning Rongrong cast her final buff onto Tang San.

Zhao Wuji shattered the Blue Silver Grass with a single palm strike.

But the next moment, his feet suddenly tightened.

The severed Blue Silver Grass had not completely dissipated; instead, Tang San had buried it in the ground beforehand to form a final tripwire.

It only tripped him for a split second.

But it was enough.

The incense burned out.

Zhao Wuji stopped in his tracks, looked at the stick of incense that had just finished burning, and remained silent for a moment.

Then, he laughed out loud.

"Good."

"You have passed."

The four of them let out a sigh of relief simultaneously.

Xiao Wu sat directly on the ground.

Ning Rongrong nearly collapsed as well.

Although Zhu Zhuqing was still standing, her breathing was visibly ragged.

Tang San retracted his Blue Silver Grass, his face somewhat pale.

Zhao Wuji looked at them, his eyes bright.

"This year's batch really are monsters."

Dai Mubai walked over, his mood complex.

"Congratulations."

Xiao Wu caught her breath, but her first words were:

"Since we passed, the registration fee won't be refunded, right?"

Zhao Wuji: "..."

Dai Mubai: "..."

Ning Rongrong burst into laughter.

Tang San couldn't help but smile as well.

Zhu Zhuqing's lips seemed to twitch, but she quickly suppressed it.

Zhao Wuji rubbed his head.

"You girl, how are you still thinking about money?"

Xiao Wu said earnestly:

"Money is very important."

"And rules are also very important."

Zhao Wuji looked at her, suddenly feeling that there was no way to refute these words.

In a tree in the distance, the Grey-White Cat continued to record.

[Fourth round test intensity is relatively high.]

[After students proactively requested safety instructions, the teacher made a commitment.]

[Four students passed.]

[Xiao Wu continues to focus on the registration fee issue.]

[Evaluation: Improvement shown, observation to continue.]

In Martial Soul City.

Meow Meow finished reading this record and was incredibly satisfied.

"This rabbit is not bad."

"She can fight, she follows the rules, and she keeps an eye on the accounts."

Bibi Dong looked at him indifferently.

"Are you starting to like her more and more?"

Meow Meow's body stiffened.

"This Cat is merely appreciative."

Bibi Dong did not speak.

Meow Meow hurriedly added:

"Of course, the one I like most is still Your Excellency the Pope."

Bibi Dong looked at him.

"Really?"

Meow Meow nodded.

"Really."

No sooner had the words left his mouth than a dissatisfied cry came from the window: Little Flame.

"Meow."

Meow Meow turned his head.

Oh no.

He had forgotten that cats also compete for favor.

A trace of a smile appeared in the depths of Bibi Dong's eyes.

Meanwhile, in the image, over at Shrek Academy, Zhao Wuji had already begun to arrange for the new students to enroll.

At the same time.

Outside Suotuo City, an understated carriage slowly came to a stop.

Hu Liena, Xie Yue, and Yan stepped down from the carriage.

Yan glanced toward the direction of Shrek Academy in the distance and flexed his wrists.

"Finally here."

Hu Liena said softly:

"Remember, Lord Holy Cat said: friendly exchange."

Yan nodded.

"I know."

Xie Yue glanced at him.

"You had better really know."

Yan snorted.

"Don't worry."

"I absolutely will not strike first this time."

He paused, then added another sentence.

"Unless they don't follow the rules first."