Shocked Dai Mubai

Dai Mubai stood at the entrance of Shrek Academy, tilting his head up to look at the bluestone school gate.

Before coming here, he had heard many rumors about this academy.

Some said Shrek Academy was the poorest academy on the continent, without even a proper wall—just a few crumbling mud houses, a handful of impoverished teachers, no students, and on the verge of shutting down.

Some said Headmaster Flender was a down-and-out Soul Saint who could not recruit students and could only scrape by outside Suotuo City.

Others said the academy's admissions standards were absurdly ridiculous: "Only monsters accepted," yet they supposedly could not recruit even a single student.

Dai Mubai had originally believed most of those rumors. He had come to find Flender not because this academy was particularly good, but because he had no other choice. He could not return to the Star Luo Empire, could not go to Spirit Hall, and did not trust the other factions. Flender might be poor, but he at least had some reputation among Soul Masters. And though Shrek Academy was supposedly shabby, it was still somewhere to stay.

But now, as he looked at the gate before him, he suddenly felt that the rumors were not quite reliable.

The two ironwood gates were thick and sturdy, their panels studded with bronze rivets that gleamed beneath the sunlight. Two square stone pillars stood on either side, their tops carved with simple geometric patterns that were ancient and dignified. A bluestone plaque hung above the gate, bearing the four bold characters "Shrek Academy" in vigorous, masterful strokes. It was clearly the work of a renowned calligrapher.

This gate was more imposing than the entrances of many advanced academies he had seen.

Dai Mubai stepped over the threshold and entered the academy.

The main road, paved with bluestone slabs, ran straight toward the teaching building. Its surface was level and smooth, swept spotlessly clean. Freshly planted saplings lined both sides. Though they had not yet grown tall, they stood in neat rows, clearly laid out with care.

Training grounds lay to either side, paved with stone slabs polished flat and smooth. All kinds of equipment had been set out across them—climbing frames, balance beams, obstacle-course facilities—arranged neatly in rows, all of it brand-new.

Dark-blue flags stood around the training grounds at regular intervals, their poles straight as spears and their banners snapping sharply in the wind.

Dai Mubai's gaze fell upon one of those flags, and he paused slightly.

The banner was dark blue, embroidered with a golden emblem at its center. The main design was a Four-Eyed Owl with its wings spread wide, guarding a ball of golden flame between them. Within the flames, the outline of a Phoenix could vaguely be seen. Beneath the emblem were two crossed swords, and below the swords was an open book.

The entire design was cleanly lined, rigorously composed, and restrained in color. The gold stood out vividly against the dark-blue background without being harsh—bold, yet measured.

Dai Mubai had seen the flags of many academies. The Star Luo Royal Academy's flag had a gold background with red patterns. It was imposing enough, but it always felt somewhat gaudy. The flags of other academies were mostly a riot of colors and flamboyant designs, as if they wanted to cram every possible element onto them.

But Shrek Academy's flag was different.

It stood there silently, neither loud nor ostentatious, yet impossible to look away from. Its calmness carried an air of dominance, like a crouching beast that remained still until the moment it moved—and then shook the heavens and earth.

The corners of Dai Mubai's lips rose slightly.

"Damn, this flag and emblem are so cool?"

"Even the Star Luo Royal Academy's flag and emblem aren't this imposing!"

"Hopefully it isn't all for show."

He said those three things to himself, but did not speak them aloud.

After crossing the training grounds, he saw the teaching building and the dormitories.

They were not luxurious palace-like structures, but every building was sturdy, clean, and practical. The outer walls had been freshly painted, the roof tiles were neatly arranged, and the windows were bright and spotless. They were nothing like the "crumbling mud houses" described in the rumors.

Dai Mubai walked deeper into the academy. As he passed a laundry area, his footsteps suddenly halted.

Several sets of dark-blue clothing hung from the clotheslines.

Standing collars, double rows of brass buttons, shoulder straps, collar tabs, and cuff decorations—everything was there. The belts cinched at the waist, while the trouser creases were razor-straight.

Dai Mubai stared at those uniforms, his eyes gradually widening.

He had seen many school uniforms.

The Star Luo Royal Academy's uniforms used gold and red, made from luxurious velvet embroidered with intricate patterns. They looked good enough, but wearing them always felt like putting on a stage costume—uncomfortable, awkward, and restrictive in movement.

He had also seen the uniforms of Heaven Dou Royal Academy: white long robes with silver trim. They were elegant, certainly, but somehow they always seemed to be missing something.

But this set before him was different.

The dark-blue primary color was composed and refined. The standing collar gave it a crisp, clean-cut look, while the double rows of brass buttons created an exceptionally strong sense of symmetry. The cinched belt made the wearer's proportions look better as a whole. It was not some flashy design showing off needless tricks; it combined the simplest elements to create the most striking result.

Dai Mubai had never seen such good-looking school uniforms anywhere before.

He was even a little impatient to put one on and try it.

"What are you looking at?"

A voice came from behind him.

Dai Mubai turned around and saw two boys walking toward him. Both wore those dark-blue uniforms. One was tall and slender, with delicate features and eyes far steadier than those of a seven-year-old child. The other was fair-skinned and clean-looking, with a faint smile at the corner of his mouth.

When Ma Hongjun saw Dai Mubai staring at the uniforms on the clothesline, he immediately understood.

"Cool, right?"

"That's our school uniform. If you pass the test, you can get a set too."

Dai Mubai withdrew his gaze. His expression remained calm, but anticipation was already rising in his heart.

He quietly looked away without saying anything.

The corners of Ma Hongjun's lips lifted slightly. Of course he knew what Dai Mubai was thinking.

Flender's voice came from the office. "Dai Mubai, come fill out the form."

Registration had to be completed before the test.

That was the procedure.

The room was spacious and bright, completely unlike the "run-down office" from the rumors. The desks and chairs were brand-new, the walls were clean, and a teapot and several cups sat on the table. The tea was this year's new harvest, steam curling gently above it.

Flender sat behind the desk, holding a pen, with a form spread out before him.

"Name, age, Martial Soul, Soul Power Level, Soul Ring configuration. And family background."

Dai Mubai sat in the chair opposite Flender and answered each question in turn.

"Dai Mubai. Ten years old. Martial Soul: White Tiger. Level twenty-nine, two rings, both hundred-year."

Flender's pen moved swiftly over the paper, recording each piece of information.

"Family background."

Dai Mubai fell silent for a moment.

"Star Luo Empire. Imperial family."

The room fell quiet for an instant.

Zhao Wuji leaned against the doorframe. When he heard the words "imperial family," his brow furrowed slightly.

Flender's expression did not change at all. His pen paused briefly on the page before continuing downward.

"A prince of the Star Luo Empire, coming to this shabby place of mine to study?"

"Your place isn't shabby," Dai Mubai said.