Zhu Zhuqing instinctively looked toward the sound. Up ahead, inside the hall of a couples' tavern called the Rose Hotel, a Soul Grandmaster with a Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul was fighting fiercely against a Soul Elder with a White Tiger Martial Soul. A girl wearing a rabbit-ear headband and a pair of twin sisters stood behind the two men, watching.
The moment Zhu Zhuqing saw the Soul Elder with the White Tiger Martial Soul, her pupils contracted. She bit her red lip. "It's him."
She recognized him at first glance: her fiancé in name, Dai Mubai. The scoundrel who had once abandoned her, left her in extreme danger, and run off to carouse and revel among women.
The last time they had met had been over three years ago. She had been at a critical juncture in her breakthrough, secluded herself to reach level twenty, and become a Soul Grandmaster. Dai Mubai had already broken through to Soul Grandmaster and reached level twenty-eight.
When she emerged from seclusion, she learned from the servants that Dai Mubai had fled without a word.
Now, more than three years had passed. Her figure, appearance, and strength had all changed tremendously. Dai Mubai might no longer recognize her.
But she could recognize him—not only by his Martial Soul but also by his appearance. Compared with three years ago, Dai Mubai had only grown much taller; his looks had barely changed. His pair of double pupils, in particular, still drew the eye.
The fight between Dai Mubai and the Blue Silver Grass Soul Grandmaster began quickly and ended even faster.
From their conversation, Zhu Zhuqing learned that the Blue Silver Grass Soul Grandmaster was Tang San, the one Lan Si had mentioned, while the girl wearing the rabbit-ear headband was Old Rabbit, also mentioned by Lan Si. And the reason for their dispute was actually just a room.
"Hahaha! My White Tiger Vajra Transformation can last for half an hour. During that time, my resistance to abnormal conditions, attack power, defense, and strength all double. With my level-thirty-seven Soul Power boosted like this, your poison isn't enough to hurt me. Even though your Soul Skills are ingenious and your control-type Martial Soul is effective, you're still no match for me. That's the absolute difference in strength."
"But like I said, no matter who wins this fight, I'll let you have the room. I expect we'll meet again soon. If anyone gives you trouble at Shrek Academy, tell them you know Dai Mubai, the Evil-Eyed White Tiger."
As he spoke, Dai Mubai put an arm around each of the twins and turned to leave the hotel.
After exchanging a few words with Xiao Wu, Tang San also rented a large-bed room, and the two went inside.
Outside the Rose Hotel, Zhu Zhuqing watched the scene and frowned. She already despised Dai Mubai, and now she had no good feelings toward Tang San and Xiao Wu either. They were certainly shamelessly uninhibited.
"They're birds of a feather." Zhu Zhuqing gave a soft snort and turned to leave in the opposite direction. Shrek Academy would open tomorrow; before then, she needed to rest and recover.
Meanwhile, as Dai Mubai walked out of the Rose Hotel with the two beautiful twins in his arms, he noticed Zhu Zhuqing. He stopped where he was and watched her lovely figure recede into the distance.
"What's wrong, Young Master Dai?" One of the twins saw him staring at Zhu Zhuqing. She raised a slender hand and gently stroked his chest, asking in a sweet voice.
"That's right, Young Master Dai. You can't have your cake and eat it too. Otherwise, I won't talk to you anymore." The other beauty was even bolder. She reached out and pinched little Mu Bai.
Dai Mubai shuddered and gave a sudden shiver. The slight pain sent a burst of Evil Fire surging through him. He burst out laughing. "Hahaha, of course not! Come on, let's go to another hotel. Tonight, I'll make sure to treat you both right."
As he spoke, Dai Mubai led the twins toward the hotel next door, his Evil-Eyed White Tiger eyes gleaming. Before leaving, he glanced once more at Zhu Zhuqing as she disappeared into the distance. My White Tiger Martial Soul actually resonated with that girl. Was it just my imagination?
The night passed without incident.
The next morning, the sun blazed in a clear sky.
At a small village south of Suotuo City.
A table had been set up at the village entrance. Li Yusong, a teacher at Shrek Academy, sat leisurely behind it, humming a tune and sipping tea as he waited for students to sign up.
Perhaps because Lan Si had once mentioned Shrek Academy to Zhu Zhuqing, she arrived earlier than she had in the original story. She wanted to see for herself what the fraudulent academy Lan Si had spoken of was really like.
As soon as she reached Shrek Academy, Zhu Zhuqing found herself agreeing with most of Lan Si's suspicions.
One word: dilapidated. Extremely, unbelievably dilapidated.
Zhu Zhuqing didn't consider herself someone who judged people by appearances, but she had never seen an academy this run-down. It was even shabbier than the farmhouses of the Star Luo Empire.
Calling it an academy was a stretch. It was more like a rural village—an utterly decrepit one.
"Little girl, you're here to register, right? The registration fee is ten gold coins. Just put them in that box." When he saw Zhu Zhuqing approach, Li Yusong lazily set down his teapot and pointed.
Zhu Zhuqing's expression didn't change. She casually took ten gold coins from her Soul Tool and placed them in a box nailed together from a few wooden boards.
"Hold out your right hand."
Zhu Zhuqing knitted her brows slightly, but she did as instructed and held out her pale hand. Li Yusong pinched her wrist twice, then glanced at her with his cloudy old eyes. "Release your Martial Soul so I can have a look."
Zhu Zhuqing nodded and released her Nether Civet Martial Soul. Pale purple Soul Power surged from her body, while two Hundred-Year Soul Rings revolved up and down around her, shining with dazzling radiance.
The two Hundred-Year Soul Rings gave off a distinctly powerful aura. As soon as her Martial Soul possessed her, sharp, thorn-like cat claws extended from her fingertips.
"She's actually a Soul Grandmaster, with the optimal Soul Ring configuration. And judging by these Soul Power fluctuations, she's clearly above level twenty-five." Li Yusong's eyes lit up at once. His attitude did a complete about-face, and he smiled warmly. "Hehe, congratulations. You meet our admission requirements. Your Soul Power is above level twenty-five, so you can skip the second and third tests. It's still early; someone will take you straight to the fourth test later."
Zhu Zhuqing nodded without saying a word and stood to one side.
Seeing that Zhu Zhuqing hadn't spoken at all and remained cold as ice, Li Yusong couldn't help sighing inwardly. Looks like another problem child. But monsters always surprise you. Only Shrek Academy can teach someone like her.
Not long after Zhu Zhuqing, a large crowd was drawn in by Shrek Academy's "renown."
Dai Mubai arrived at the same time, serving as their enforcer.
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