Huang Yan: Why Turn Away Those Who Come to Our Door? Ning Rongrong: You're That Phoenix Soul Master!

Meng Chen nodded slightly, his gaze sweeping over the crowd before he pointed to a slender young man.

"Li Feng, step out.

Have a spar with our new junior sister."

The young man who'd been called leaped onto the Soul Fighting Arena and looked Zhu Zhuqing over curiously.

"Vice Dean, what's our junior sister's cultivation? How much strength should I use?"

"Her name is Zhu Zhuqing. She's twelve years old and a Level 27 Agility Attack System Soul Grandmaster."

Meng Chen replied calmly.

"Give it everything you've got.

The rules are the same as always. If she can hold out against you for the time it takes an incense stick to burn, she passes."

At the words "twelve years old, Level 27," the senior students around them sucked in sharp breaths. Their eyes on Zhu Zhuqing changed completely.

Li Feng immediately put aside his disdain and cupped his hands solemnly.

"Li Feng, fifteen years old, Level 29 Agility Attack System Battle Spirit Master. Martial Soul: Gale Falcon.

Junior sister, forgive me!"

Below the arena, Ning Rongrong immediately summoned her radiant Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda and shouted,

"Zhuqing, I'll boost you!

With my speed and strength enhancement, you'll definitely beat him!"

"Miss Ning, please wait."

Meng Chen raised a hand to stop Ning Rongrong and smiled.

"The core disciple assessment must be done one-on-one.

We're well aware of the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda's power, but what we need to see is her own maximum combat strength.

As for your assessment, we'll arrange it separately in a moment."

Ning Rongrong pouted, but she knew the rules. She could only put away her Martial Soul and call out encouragement.

"Then do your best, Zhuqing!

Show him what you can do!"

Zhu Zhuqing didn't look back. She simply walked onto the Soul Fighting Arena.

Her gaze fixed coldly on Li Feng ahead of her. Soul Power erupted from her body, and two bright yellow Hundred-Year Soul Rings rose into view.

"Zhu Zhuqing, twelve years old, Level 27 Agility Attack System Battle Spirit Master. Martial Soul: Hell Spirit Cat.

Please guide me."

Meng Chen went to the edge of the arena, casually lit an incense stick, and placed it in the burner.

"Get ready—"

Meng Chen swept his arm down.

"Begin!"

As soon as the words left his mouth, the two on the arena moved almost simultaneously.

Illusory wings appeared behind Li Feng. His First Soul Ring lit up,

and he became a green whirlwind, charging straight at Zhu Zhuqing's face.

"First Soul Skill: Wind Blade Array!"

Several sharp wind blades sealed off Zhu Zhuqing's escape routes.

Zhu Zhuqing's expression remained cold. Instead of retreating, she advanced.

"First Soul Skill: Hell Stab!"

Her body instantly became a black blur. At an unbelievable angle,

she slipped through the gaps between the wind blades, her sharp claws shooting straight for Li Feng's throat.

"What incredible speed!"

Li Feng was shocked. He hurriedly beat his wings and rose into the air, evading the blow by the narrowest margin.

Watching from below, Meng Chen couldn't help nodding slightly. He murmured to himself,

"Such keen combat instincts. This girl's a natural-born assassin.

Looks like the sect master has struck gold again."

On the Soul Fighting Arena, the two figures darted past each other at dizzying speed.

Zhu Zhuqing's attacks grew more and more fierce. Her Second Soul Ring suddenly lit up.

"Second Soul Skill: Hell Hundred Claws!"

A storm of black claw-shadows instantly enveloped Li Feng, forcing him to retreat again and again. He could only defend, with no chance to strike back.

Just then, a clear voice tinged with lazy surprise came from the viewing platform on the second floor of the Soul Fighting Arena.

"All right, stop.

Li Feng, you've already lost."

Everyone turned toward the voice.

A young man in white leaned against the railing. A faint, unusual medicinal scent clung to him, making it clear he had just come from the alchemy room.

The moment Meng Chen saw him, his expression turned solemn, and he bowed respectfully.

"Sect Master!

Have you finished refining pills?"

His words sent a commotion through the crowd.

Ning Rongrong's lovely eyes widened as she stared at the young man upstairs in disbelief.

"S-Sect Master?!

He's so young?!"

Zhu Zhuqing had stopped moving too. Breathing slightly hard, she fixed her cool gaze on the young man in white.

Her brows knit slightly. She felt as if she'd seen him somewhere before.

Huang Yan leaped down, landing lightly on the Soul Fighting Arena.

His gaze swept over Zhu Zhuqing and Ning Rongrong, and a playful smile tugged at his lips.

"The Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda. The Hell Spirit Cat.

Zhu Zhuqing, Ning Rongrong.

What a rare pair of guests."

Ning Rongrong froze, then asked without thinking,

"You know us?"

Huang Yan didn't answer directly. Instead, he raised an eyebrow, curiosity in his voice.

"If I remember correctly, you should be at Shrek Academy right now.

What happened? You left a perfectly good Shrek behind and came to my newly founded Divine Radiant Academy?"

Zhu Zhuqing put away her Martial Soul and looked Huang Yan in the eye, her voice cool and resolute.

"Shrek is nothing but a den of filth and self-deception.

Dai Mubai is a useless man. That place can't give me what I want."

"Oh?"

A flicker of surprise passed through Huang Yan's eyes, and then he chuckled.

"So you've seen through that lot's true colors.

But what makes you so sure my Divine Radiant Academy can give you what you want?"

Zhu Zhuqing drew a deep breath and didn't back down.

"The notice said that core disciples would receive secret medicines that could make their cultivation advance by leaps and bounds.

I need strength—absolute strength!

If you can give me that, I, Zhu Zhuqing, am willing to serve the Divine Radiant Sect!"

Ning Rongrong hurried onto the arena and took Zhu Zhuqing's hand. She lifted her chin at Huang Yan.

"And me!

I may not lack resources, but if this place really is as amazing as you say, I'll join too!

Hey, young Sect Master, Zhuqing's performance just now passed the assessment, right?"

Huang Yan couldn't help laughing.

"How interesting. Very interesting.

Since you've come knocking, there's no reason for the Divine Radiant Sect to turn you away."

Huang Yan turned to Meng Chen and instructed him,

"Vice Dean Meng, there's no need to test them.

Starting today, they're both core disciples of the Divine Radiant Sect."

Meng Chen accepted the order respectfully.

"Yes, Sect Master!"

Huang Yan gave a slight nod, then turned and walked toward the depths of the inner courtyard.

"You two, come with me."

Zhu Zhuqing and Ning Rongrong exchanged a glance, then hurried after him.

Along the way, Ning Rongrong kept her eyes fixed on Huang Yan's back, her wide eyes full of uncertainty.

She frowned, muttered to herself, and seemed to be desperately trying to remember something.

At last, as they walked through a corridor, Ning Rongrong abruptly stopped and pointed at Huang Yan's back, crying out in surprise,

"Ah!

I remember!

It's you!"

Huang Yan stopped and turned around, giving her an amused look.

"What did you remember?"

Ning Rongrong hurried over and looked him up and down, her voice full of disbelief.

"That restaurant in Suotuo City—the one before! It was you, wasn't it?

The mysterious Soul Master with the Phoenix Martial Soul who gave Oscar, Dai Mubai, and Zhao Wuji a thorough beating!"

At that, a look of dawning realization flashed through Zhu Zhuqing's eyes.

No wonder the young man in white had seemed so familiar when she saw him below the arena. It really was him.

His terrifying strength and those blazing flames at the restaurant that day had left a deep impression on her.

Ning Rongrong drew a deep breath and stared at Huang Yan as though he were a monster.

"My heavens... I never thought you'd be the Sect Master of the Divine Radiant Sect!

I thought you were just some young master from a hidden clan, out for a bit of experience!"

"What?

I don't look like a Sect Master?"

Huang Yan chuckled, his expression composed.

"That day, I was just dealing with a few fools who didn't know their place.

Now that you recognize me, what is it? Afraid I'll give you two a beating as well? Regretting joining the Divine Radiant Sect?"

"Who's regretting it!"

Ning Rongrong huffed proudly and rolled her eyes. To her surprise, she seemed even more excited.

"Even those arrogant people from Shrek suffered a major loss at your hands.

That proves my judgment was right after all!

Following you will definitely give me a brighter future than staying in that shabby village!"

Zhu Zhuqing stepped forward too, her cool gaze fixed on Huang Yan.

"I don't care who you are, or what grudge you have against Shrek.

I only care about one thing: when will you give me what you promised in your notice?"