"L-Lost?!"
"Bright Phoenix Douluo, a dignified Rank 95 powerhouse and the dean of Shrek Academy's Spirit Department, Yan Shaozhe, actually lost?!"
"And he was one-shot?!"
Everyone's eyes were filled with shock and disbelief as they looked at the red-haired old man slowly withdrawing his fist from the deep crater, their gazes full of reverence.
This was Yan Shaozhe!
A supreme powerhouse standing at the peak of the Douluo Continent's pyramid!
And he had lost just like that?
And lost so cleanly and decisively!
"Isn't that... perfectly normal?"
Someone said in a trembling voice.
"Just look at that soul ring configuration..."
"Three purple, three black, three red!"
"With such a heaven-defying configuration, forget Dean Yan—even if a Limit Douluo came, they'd probably have to think twice, right?"
"Yeah... His first soul ring is already a thousand-year one, and after that there are three hundred-thousand-year soul rings. He's simply a monster among monsters!"
"Even looking across the entire history of the Douluo Continent, there probably isn't a second person with such a terrifying configuration, right?"
Just then, someone in the crowd suddenly remembered something and slapped their thigh.
"Wait!"
"That red-haired senior just said they were from Shrek Academy too?"
That cry of surprise instantly woke everyone present up.
That was right!
Before those two had started fighting, they had accused each other of being pirated, both claiming that they were the true Shrek Academy!
"Could there really be two Shrek Academies in this world?"
"The real and fake Monkey King?"
"This is way too exciting!"
Quite a few people looked at one another, gossip gleaming in their eyes.
Most of them had been called over by that student with the Loudspeaker Martial Soul.
That student had run through the surrounding towns and villages, carrying a huge loudspeaker everywhere to publicize that Shrek Academy was recruiting students here. Anyone who wanted to register could participate, and as long as they passed the assessment, they could enroll.
For those students who had originally been eliminated because their talent was slightly lacking or because they had missed Shrek Academy's enrollment period, this was practically a pie falling from the sky!
At first, they had thought Shrek Academy had specially opened a supplementary admissions assessment to give unsuccessful applicants another chance.
Or they had simply thought there might be something interesting to watch and followed along with a try-your-luck attitude.
Who could have expected to witness such an earth-shattering scene?
A true clash of immortals!
And judging by this, this so-called "Pirated Shrek Academy" was frighteningly powerful!
Even Dean Yan had been knocked down with a single punch. If they could join this academy, then wouldn't that mean...
At that thought, many people's minds began to stir.
Within the crowd.
A plainly dressed yet distinguished-looking couple stood in a corner, protectively sheltering a petite young girl.
The girl looked to be around eleven or twelve years old. She was small and delicate, with skin as fair as snow.
She had long dark-green hair, and her large eyes were clear and lively. Her whole appearance was exceptionally petite and adorable.
At that moment, the girl stared wide-eyed at Zhuo Shi in midair without blinking, her small mouth slightly open. Clearly, she too had been stunned by what had just happened.
"Dear..."
The woman gently tugged at the sleeve of the man beside her, her tone excited yet hesitant.
"Look... this..."
The man took a deep breath. His gaze locked tightly onto the three scarlet soul rings around Zhuo Shi, and a trace of resolve flashed through his eyes.
"Xiao Xiao."
The man turned to look at the girl beside him, speaking solemnly.
"How about... you join this Shrek Academy instead?"
"Huh?"
Xiao Xiao froze for a moment and looked up in confusion.
"Dad, but... weren't we planning to register at Shrek Academy in Shrek City...?"
"And didn't Dean Yan get defeated? If we join this academy, won't we offend the original Shrek Academy?"
Though Xiao Xiao was young, she knew that the man who had just been defeated was the dean of the continent's number one academy.
If she joined the faction of the person who had defeated him, would it still be easy to get by in the soul master world in the future?
"Silly child."
The man shook his head, wisdom gleaming in his eyes.
"In the soul master world, strength is what ultimately speaks."
"Look at that senior's soul ring configuration."
The man pointed at Zhuo Shi, who stood in the sky like a demon god.
"Three purple, three black, three red!"
"With such a configuration, even in today's Douluo Continent, I'm afraid no one could contend with him, right?"
"Even legendary Limit Douluo could never absorb a thousand-year soul ring as their first soul ring!"
"What does that mean?"
The man paused, his tone growing even more excited.
"It means this academy possesses some cultivation method beyond anything we could imagine! Or it has some heaven-defying resource!"
"If you, Xiao Xiao, can enter this academy to study, even if you only learn a little of the basics—even if you merely have a chance to possess a soul ring configuration like that senior's..."
The man's breathing grew hurried as he tightly grasped Xiao Xiao's shoulders.
"Then your future... will absolutely be brilliant!"
"You might even surpass every Title Douluo and stand at the peak of this world!"
"Compared with that, what does offending some so-called 'orthodox' Shrek Academy matter? Besides, it's still unclear who the pirated one really is."
Listening to her father, a strange glimmer gradually appeared in Xiao Xiao's lively eyes.
Surpass Title Douluo...
Stand at the peak of the world...
For a girl with Twin Martial Souls, that temptation was simply too great!
Besides...
Xiao Xiao secretly glanced at Zhuo Shi in the air, then at the gentle and beautiful Teacher Shen seated behind the table.
This academy really did seem incredibly impressive!
Especially the way that old grandpa had beaten someone up just now—it had been so cool!
He was nothing like that Dean Yan, who only knew how to put on airs before getting sent flying with one punch. How embarrassing.
"Xiao Xiao, what do you think?"
Seeing that his daughter remained silent, the man anxiously pressed her.
"This is an opportunity that only comes once in a thousand years. If you miss it, you may regret it for the rest of your life."
Xiao Xiao tilted her head and thought for a moment. Then, a sweet smile appeared on her face, two tiny dimples faintly visible, making her utterly adorable.
"Okay!"
Xiao Xiao nodded firmly, her voice crisp and pleasant.
"Then I'll listen to Dad and join this Shrek Academy!"
"Good! Good!"
Seeing his daughter agree, the man was overjoyed. He quickly took Xiao Xiao's hand, pushed through the crowd, and headed toward Shen Yi.
"Make way, please! Make way!"
"We want to register!"
With someone taking the lead, the crowd around them, which had still been hesitating and watching, immediately erupted into commotion.
"I want to register too!"
"Count me in!"
"I'm Xi Er, an unsuccessful applicant from that Pirated Shrek Academy. Can I register too?"
In an instant, a long line formed before the previously deserted enrollment booth, and the place became extraordinarily lively.
Watching this bustling scene, the smile on Shen Yi's face grew even gentler and more captivating.
"It seems... this enrollment mission should be completed beyond quota."
Meanwhile.
Bei Bei and Tang Ya watched the crowd scrambling to join the other Shrek Academy, then looked at the smoking crater in the distance...
Neither of them looked very happy.
It was over...
Not only had Dean Yan been beaten into a pig's head, even Shrek Academy's reputation was about to be stolen away!
Even their own academy was being called Pirated Shrek Academy.
How were they supposed to explain this afterward?
"Cough, cough..."
A faint bout of coughing came from within the deep crater.
A charred hand shakily reached up from the edge of the pit. Then emerged a soot-covered head, its hair still smoking.
Yan Shaozhe struggled to crawl out. Looking at the bustling enrollment scene before him, as well as that "pirated" academy receiving everyone's attention...
"Pfft—"
He spat out another mouthful of blood, his vision went dark, and he fainted once more.
Before you continue