Shrek Academy

When he saw Su Ming hand over a letter, the middle-aged man looked puzzled, but reached out and took it.

After Flender took the letter, he didn't open it. He merely swept it with his Spiritual Power, and the moment he saw what was inside, he shot to his feet.

He opened the letter. There was hardly anything written on it—just eight characters. After reading them, Flender stared at Su Ming in shock.

"Kid, what's your name? Quick, tell me where Xiao Gang is!"

Su Ming smiled at the anxious Flender, then glanced at the Gold Soul Coins and answered unhurriedly.

"Dean Flender, a hundred Gold Soul Coins should be enough now, right?"

"Enough, enough! Hurry up and tell me where Xiao Gang is."

"Let me introduce myself first. My name is Su Ming. I'm from Saint Soul Village, my Martial Soul is Cloud, and my innate Soul Power is level six."

"I came here for no other reason than to join Shrek Academy. After all, you're the renowned Four-Eyed Cat Owl Flender, one of the Golden Iron Triangle on the continent."

When he heard "Golden Iron Triangle," Flender looked incredibly proud.

"Oh, you know about the Golden Iron Triangle? Looks like you're quite a diligent student, reading all those books. It's been nearly a dozen years, and people still remember the fame our Golden Iron Triangle made on Douluo Continent."

Su Ming looked at Flender's proud expression.

"Of course, of course. I've learned about a few Martial Soul Fusion Skills, but a Trinity Martial Soul Fusion Skill like yours, the Golden Iron Triangle's, is one of a kind across the whole continent."

"Enough, enough. Don't flatter me. Just hurry up and tell me where Xiao Gang is."

Flender was quite pleased by the praise.

"Master is in Nuoding City, Fasinuo Province. He teaches at Nuoding City's Primary Academy, where I study too. Otherwise, I wouldn't have known."

Hearing the address, Flender looked at Su Ming with a satisfied smile.

"You're Su Ming, right? Although Shrek Academy has always followed the principle of recruiting monsters—"

As he spoke, Flender lifted his chin, brimming with confidence.

"Your Cloud Martial Soul and innate Soul Power of level six wouldn't normally qualify you. But since you've told me exactly where Xiao Gang is, I'll make an exception and let you in."

After a long moment without hearing Su Ming respond, Flender lowered his head and looked at him.

Su Ming was looking at Flender as if he were an idiot. Seeing that look in his eyes made Flender flare up.

"Hey, kid, what's with that look? Don't you want to get into Shrek Academy?"

Seeing that Flender was genuinely getting angry, Su Ming answered seriously.

"Dean Flender, let's not make stuff up. I looked into Shrek's situation before I came. I'm definitely going to join, but could you at least tell me the truth?"

"By rights, as a Soul Sage and a renowned member of the Golden Iron Triangle, you should have enough prestige and money to develop the academy."

"But Shrek Academy is just a little village now, with only two or three students. What about it looks like a higher academy?"

Flender looked rather embarrassed.

"Well, let's not talk about that for now. I'll take you to meet the teachers and students first. We can talk about developing the school later."

Flender summoned his Martial Soul. The Four-Eyed Cat Owl grabbed Su Ming, and with a few words, took off toward Shrek Academy.

Flender's Four-Eyed Cat Owl Martial Soul truly lived up to its reputation as a bird of prey. With the strength of a Soul Sage, he flew at quite a speed, even while using Soul Power to shield Su Ming in his arms. At full speed, they arrived in less than twenty minutes.

The two arrived at the gates of Shrek Academy and walked inside. Su Ming looked around as they went. Though it was a rural academy, it had a lovely rustic charm.

They reached the platform in the center of the academy. Flender went up and struck the rather battered bell. Its chime rang out, and before long, three figures came running over.

When the three lined up and faced Flender, Su Ming joined them.

Seeing that the students had all arrived and were standing in a row, Flender nodded with satisfaction.

"Good, everyone's here. There's something I'd like to announce." Flender walked in front of the four students, his gaze sweeping sternly over them.

"This is our new classmate who arrived this year." As he spoke, Flender pointed at Su Ming.

Everyone turned to look at Su Ming, who gave a slight nod.

"Formal classes don't start for another three days. Use that time to get to know one another. I'll be off for now. Oh, Oscar, Su Ming will share your room."

"Yes, Dean."

As soon as he finished speaking, Flender summoned his wings and flew away, as if he had somewhere urgent to be.

After the dean had flown off, the four of them looked at one another. The atmosphere was a little awkward; they were all young kids, after all.

Seeing this, Su Ming took the initiative to break the ice and introduce himself, even though he already knew who they were from their appearances.

"My name is Su Ming. My Martial Soul is Cloud. I'm eight years old, and I'm a one-ring Soul Master at level sixteen."

The other three introduced themselves in turn. The golden-haired boy, who looked a little older, spoke first.

"My name is Dai Mubai. My Martial Soul is the Evil-Eyed White Tiger, and I'm a level nineteen Soul Master."

"I'm older than you, and my Soul Power is higher. You can call me Mu Bai or Boss Dai."

Next, a young boy with clear features, rosy lips, white teeth, and a clean, handsome little face spoke. Su Ming knew who he was at a glance. The original novel had mentioned that Oscar had been handsome since childhood.

"My name is Oscar. My Martial Soul is Sausage, and I'm a level seventeen Soul Master. You can call me Little Ao. Want a sausage?"

Su Ming thought he'd try a sausage from a Food-type Martial Soul. This Martial Soul had innate Full Soul Power, after all.

"Sure, I'll have one."

As if afraid Su Ming would change his mind, Oscar hurriedly released his first Soul Skill.

"I Have a Big Sausage!"

As soon as the words left his mouth, a sausage appeared in Oscar's hand.

"Pfft, hahaha!"

Dai Mubai and a chubby boy with red hair clutched their stomachs and burst out laughing.

"Little Ao, that Soul Skill incantation of yours is just too funny. I've heard it so many times, and the skill really is useful, but every time you use it, I still can't help laughing."

"Exactly, exactly!"

Hearing the two laugh, Oscar immediately wore a woebegone expression. He began to pull back the sausage he'd been about to hand to Su Ming.

How could Su Ming let him take it back? He snatched it and stuffed it into his mouth.

The two who had been laughing stopped at once, staring at Su Ming in disbelief.

Su Ming swallowed the sausage. As he channeled Soul Power into the Creation Furnace, he felt the rate at which the sausage restored his Soul Power. Not bad.

Then he turned to the red-haired chubby boy.

"Your turn."

"Ah, oh!"

"My name is Ma Hongjun. My Martial Soul is the Evil Fire Phoenix, and I'm a one-ring Soul Master at level sixteen. You can just call me Fatty."

"All right, now that we've introduced ourselves and gotten acquainted, let's head to the dormitory and chat. I should tidy up my living quarters, too."

"Sure. The dean just said you'd share a room with Oscar. Let's go."

The four soon reached the room. Su Ming put down his luggage, and they started chatting.

Su Ming looked curiously at Dai Mubai.

I know. If I don't help you sort out the imperial succession struggle and the Martial Soul Fusion Skill, how will you work like an ox for my sect?

"Brother Mu Bai, judging by your Evil-Eyed White Tiger Martial Soul, you must be a member of the Star Luo imperial family. Why did you come here?"

Seeing that Ma Hongjun and Oscar looked curious too, Dai Mubai explained with a bitter smile.

"There's no need to hide it. You'll find out sooner or later, so I might as well tell you now."

"It's related to the Star Luo Imperial Throne."