By a small river in the outskirts of the Star Dou Forest.
"Little Yu Hao, join our Tang Sect."
A girl with long purple hair tied into a single ponytail leaned closer. A fresh, youthful scent washed over him, and her large eyes were filled with sincerity and urgency.
"Although the Tang Sect has declined, we have a recommendation slot for admission to Shrek Academy without an examination. As long as you join the Tang Sect, I can make the decision to let you enter the number one Soul Master Academy on the continent for further study!"
She was none other than the current Tang Sect Master, Tang Ya.
Standing beside her was Bei Bei, about the same age as her, handsome and refined in appearance.
Huo Yuhao's heart began to pound furiously.
Shrek Academy was the holy land in the hearts of all Soul Masters, the legendary cradle of monsters. If he could study at Shrek Academy... he could grow stronger and avenge his mother, right?
"I..."
Huo Yuhao took a deep breath, just about to agree.
At that moment, a cool voice suddenly rang out from the shadows of the forest behind them, without any warning.
"If you are students of Shrek Academy... then what are we?"
The voice was not loud, yet all three of them heard it clearly.
The three turned toward the source of the voice.
They saw a boy and a girl, around Huo Yuhao's age, slowly emerge from behind a nearby thicket.
The girl who had spoken walked in front. She wore a light yellow fitted outfit, with delicate features, beautiful azure eyes, and dazzling golden hair casually flowing down her back.
Following behind her was a round little boy. He looked adorably simple-minded, his fair and tender skin like a freshly steamed white bun. An innocent smile hung on his face, and he held half an unfinished bun in his hand.
These two were Ye Xinglan and Xu Lizhi, who had come from another point in time.
Bei Bei and Tang Ya exchanged a glance, each seeing confusion in the other's eyes. These two children possessed extraordinary bearing, especially the golden-haired girl in front. Though young, the pride she carried seemed to come from her very bones. That sort of pride was not something ordinary people could possess.
"Little sister, what did you mean by that?"
Bei Bei politely cupped his hands. Though her tone was unfriendly, his upbringing was excellent, and he did not lose his temper.
Ye Xinglan stopped walking and coldly swept her gaze over Bei Bei and Tang Ya before finally settling on Huo Yuhao. A faintly mocking curve appeared on her lips.
"Exactly what it sounds like. You say you are from Shrek Academy, and that you even have an examination-free admission slot? I have been at Shrek Academy for so long, yet I have never seen either of you, nor have I heard of any examination-free admission slot."
Hearing this, Huo Yuhao instinctively retreated half a step. He had thought he had met good people. Could these older brother and sister, who looked like good people, actually be deceiving him? His mother had been right after all. The outside world was truly dangerous.
Bei Bei keenly noticed Huo Yuhao's emotional shift and inwardly groaned.
He looked at Ye Xinglan, his brows slightly furrowed, equally filled with confusion.
How could this be possible?
Who was he, Bei Bei?
He was the great-grandson of Mu En, the Sea God Pavilion Master of Shrek Academy, and one of the Outer Court Twin Stars. While the name "Thunderbolt Bei Bei" might not have been known by everyone in the Outer Court, it was certainly renowned.
But... judging from their appearances, they should only be at the age to have just enrolled at Shrek Academy.
Could they be new students preparing to report to Shrek Academy?
Bei Bei still wore a smile, attempting to defuse the awkward situation as he introduced himself again.
"My name is Bei Bei, a fourth-year Outer Court student. This is my friend Tang Ya. We are indeed students of Shrek Academy; there is no doubt about that. You probably have not enrolled yet, so it is normal that you do not know us."
Bei Bei directly stated his name and identity. There should be no problem now. Once they went to report to the academy, they would naturally learn the truth.
After hearing this, Ye Xinglan did not immediately refute him. Instead, she fell silent for a moment.
Bei Bei thought the misunderstanding was about to be resolved. He had just begun to relax, intending to explain the matter of the Tang Sect's admission slot.
Who would have thought that Ye Xinglan's cool eyes would remain utterly undisturbed as she merely spoke calmly?
"I grew up at Shrek Academy. I have never heard of either of you. Don't even think of using Shrek Academy's name to swindle others."
"What did you say?!"
Tang Ya bristled beside him. They had actually been accused of swindling people?
"I have never seen the two of you either!"
Seeing this, Bei Bei helplessly tugged at Tang Ya's sleeve. They had come out this time mainly to help Tang Ya obtain her third soul ring. It should have been resolved quickly, so they had not brought any proof of identity.
Huo Yuhao was completely dumbfounded at this point.
Standing between them, he looked left at the furious Tang Ya and helpless Bei Bei, then right at the cold and proud Ye Xinglan and grinning Xu Lizhi.
Neither side looked like they were lying.
"Can people outside... make lies sound so real?"
"Brother Sky Dream, Brother Sky Dream, hurry and help me see! Who is lying?"
Huo Yuhao anxiously called out to his only source of support within his Sea of Consciousness.
Within the Sea of Consciousness, the Sky Dream Ice Silkworm, who had been lazily sleeping in, turned over. His immense spiritual power instantly spread outward, enveloping everyone present.
A moment later, the Sky Dream Ice Silkworm's voice, carrying traces of shock and confusion, rang out in Huo Yuhao's mind.
"Strange... truly strange, Yu Hao."
"According to this brother's million-year spiritual power detection, judging from their spiritual fluctuations, heart rates, and soul auras... none of them are lying."
"What?!"
Huo Yuhao's pupils suddenly contracted, and his mind became a complete mess. Even Brother Sky Dream, with his million-year cultivation, could not tell?
Just as Huo Yuhao was at a loss, the atmosphere in the clearing had already become tense.
Ye Xinglan seemed to have run out of patience. What she hated most were people who swindled others yet stubbornly refused to repent.
In her eyes, Shrek Academy's glory could not be defiled.
"Since words cannot settle this, then we will resolve it the Shrek way."
Ye Xinglan stepped forward. As that step fell, her entire aura abruptly changed.
"Buzz—"
A clear sword cry suddenly rang out. Immediately afterward, specks of starlight gathered around her.
"Since you claim to be Shrek students, let me see what you are made of!"
As her words fell, a longsword radiating brilliant starlight appeared from thin air in her hand.
Two yellow soul rings slowly rose beneath Ye Xinglan's feet.
With a flick of her wrist, the Stargod Sword pointed directly at Bei Bei and Tang Ya.
Bei Bei and Tang Ya's pupils instantly shrank. What powerful sword intent!
This was not merely the strength of her martial soul. It was also this girl's own comprehension of the sword, which had reached an astonishing level—the unity of person and sword!
Anyone who could reach such a level at this age was undoubtedly a genius among geniuses!
Since when had Shrek Academy possessed such a genius?
Before you continue