Passing the Assessment

"What are you looking at, Gu Yi?"

Zhu Zhuqing noticed something unusual about Gu Yi. As she asked, she followed his gaze.

Not far ahead of them stood a young girl in a light blue dress. Her skin was fair, and she wore a smile on her face. Even Zhu Zhuqing, as a girl herself, thought she was exceptionally beautiful.

"I saw someone I know. It's just that I'm not very interested in seeing her," Gu Yi replied with a slight frown.

"Hm? That girl in blue up ahead?" Zhu Zhuqing asked curiously.

Gu Yi nodded without explaining.

What had happened between the original owner of this body and Ning Rongrong was honestly rather embarrassing. There was no point in bringing it up.

Seeing Gu Yi nod, Zhu Zhuqing looked at Ning Rongrong once more. The favorable impression her appearance had inspired vanished in an instant.

After spending several days together, Zhu Zhuqing believed she already understood Gu Yi quite well. Anyone even he disliked was probably no good person.

If Gu Yi disliked her, then she disliked her too.

What neither of them knew was that, while they were quietly talking, Ning Rongrong ahead had already noticed them.

Because the original owner had pestered her every day, Ning Rongrong was extremely sensitive to Gu Yi's voice. Even from a distance, she could recognize it.

Though she could not make out what they were saying, in her eyes, the two seemed very close—far closer than ordinary acquaintances!

That little tail Gu Yi really is everywhere. Wherever I go, he manages to follow!

So annoying! I thought coming here would finally get rid of him. Should I switch academies?

No! If anyone switches, it should be him! Why should I, this young lady, accommodate him?

After a bout of mental struggle, Ning Rongrong decided to wait and see. If Gu Yi still pestered her, she would not mind cursing him unconscious again and making him lose all face!

Gu Yi had not expected Ning Rongrong to think all that. Seeing that she made no move, he assumed she simply had not noticed him.

Soon, admissions began. Everything was just as described in the original work: the requirements were extremely harsh, and Dai Mubai stood nearby.

Perhaps because of Zhu Zhuqing, he kept watching Gu Yi's group, his eyes filled with complicated emotions.

"Unqualified! Next!"

"Unqualified! Next!"

"Unqualified! Next!"

"If you've come to enroll at Shrek Academy, you'd better understand the rules. Otherwise, you're just wasting your time!"

"Applicants must not be over twelve years old, and their Soul Power must reach at least level twenty-one. Shrek only accepts monsters, not ordinary people!"

"Next!"

The teacher in charge of the examination was Li Yusong, a Soul Emperor in his sixties. After he made his declaration, those students who knew they did not meet the requirements could only leave dejectedly.

Only Gu Yi's group remained, with Tang San and Xiao Wu standing behind Gu Yi.

"What a coincidence. We meet again. Are you here to enroll at Shrek Academy too?" Tang San greeted Gu Yi after the crowd dispersed, asking with some delight.

"Yeah. Maybe we'll even become classmates," Gu Yi replied.

"Qualified! Next!"

Hearing that, Gu Yi quickly turned his head. It was already their turn.

Gu Yi placed the tuition fees for the two of them into the box beside them, then extended his right hand along with Zhu Zhuqing.

"Mm, both of you are the right age. You may release your Martial Souls now." Li Yusong nodded in satisfaction.

Gu Yi and Zhu Zhuqing exchanged a glance, then simultaneously activated the Soul Power within their bodies.

Gray and purple light rose at the same time, and Soul Rings appeared beneath their feet.

"This is the Hell Spirit Cat, and yours is actually the Bone Dragon Martial Soul, the number one defensive Martial Soul under heaven!"

"Then you and she must be..."

As Li Yusong spoke, he turned his gaze toward Ning Rongrong nearby, surprise filling his heart.

I never expected two geniuses from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect to come here. What a windfall!

"So, we've passed, right?" Gu Yi immediately asked before Li Yusong could say more.

"Of course." Li Yusong nodded and motioned for the two to stand aside.

Last were Tang San and Xiao Wu. Without any surprises, they also passed the examination.

"Good! Very good! Our academy may be getting five more little monsters this year."

"Mubai, take them inside."

Li Yusong was grinning happily. It had been a long time—far too long since their academy had received any new students.

"Yes. Follow me inside."

With that, Dai Mubai led the five of them into the academy.

Shrek Academy was a "village academy," so it did not occupy much land. After passing through a small square, they could see the site of the next examination.

"This is where we test Soul Power. As long as your Soul Power Level is above twenty-five, you can skip the second and third tests." Dai Mubai spoke.

To be precise, he was looking at Gu Yi as he said it.

In his memory, Gu Yi was the only one who had ever revealed his Soul Power Level.

"Then the two of us can both skip them." Gu Yi smiled at Zhu Zhuqing.

"So can we." Tang San and Xiao Wu spoke at the same time.

"And me." The proud Little Princess, Ning Rongrong, naturally refused to be left behind.

"Then let me see your Soul Power."

As soon as Dai Mubai finished speaking, a crystal ball used for testing was tossed into Gu Yi's hands.

Seeing this, Gu Yi smiled and fully mobilized the Soul Power within his body.

In an instant, the entire crystal ball emitted a dazzling radiance like diamonds.

"Level thirty-seven! You reached level thirty-seven too?" Dai Mubai exclaimed.

He stared in disbelief at the light shining from the crystal ball, his mind blank for a moment.

As for everyone else present, they were all thoroughly startled.

They were the same age, yet Gu Yi's Soul Power Level was so much higher than theirs—it was simply unbelievable!

But in truth, even Gu Yi himself was somewhat stunned. He did not remember when he had broken through to level thirty-seven.

"Could it be that increasing the Soul Ring Age also caused the Soul Power in my body to rise by a huge amount?" Gu Yi silently guessed.

"Hmph! Isn't it all thanks to me? If it weren't for me, would he have trained that desperately?" Ning Rongrong grumbled inwardly.

"My turn."

As she spoke, Zhu Zhuqing snatched the crystal ball from Gu Yi's hand and began mobilizing the Soul Power within her body.

"Level twenty-seven!"

"Level twenty-nine!"

"Level twenty-nine!"

"Level twenty-six!"

In the end, all five of them passed the second and third tests without taking them and arrived at the final test—the most difficult part of this assessment!

The fourth test, overseen by 'Immovable Bright King' Zhao Wuji!

It had to be said that in the original story, even Tang San, a fellow blessed by the protagonist's halo, had failed his first assessment.

And all because of the hulking, ridiculously muscular man standing before the six of them—Zhao Wuji!

"Oh! Not bad. Five little monsters actually made it to the fourth test this year."

"Not bad, not bad. Then today, I'll personally have some fun with you!"