This Was a Misunderstanding

Jiang Che drifted forward with the crowd, his gaze sweeping over the admissions assessment area ahead.

Several second- and third-year students from Shrek Academy sat at tables, checking applications with stern expressions. Nearby, Soul Masters handled the preliminary Soul Power tests, and the testing instruments flashed continuously. Quite a few children, unable to meet the Soul Power requirement, could only leave with their heads hanging, disappointment written all over their faces.

"Next. Put your hand on the instrument and circulate your Soul Power." A young student in a Shrek uniform spoke coldly, his tone carrying the distinctive arrogance of the academy.

A nervous-looking little boy stepped forward and pressed his palm firmly against the instrument. His face reddened as he strained to circulate his Soul Power, but the instrument only glowed faintly. His Soul Power Level was a mere level fourteen.

"Not qualified. Next." The examiner waved him away without hesitation. The boy's eyes instantly reddened, and he quietly left the line with his family comforting him.

Watching this familiar scene, Jiang Che's thoughts drifted back to when he was twelve.

Back then, Mu En had brought him here to take the entrance exam. At twelve, he had already reached level thirty-two, and the entire admissions area had erupted in excitement. Moreover, since Mu En himself had brought Jiang Che, he had never had to go through these layers of testing.

Returning to this place in such a role made for a rather peculiar experience.

Before long, it was Jiang Che's turn.

The student in charge of testing was a third-year. He looked up at Jiang Che and saw that he was clearly much older than the other applicants. His brow immediately furrowed, and his tone turned impatient. "Shrek only accepts Soul Masters under twelve. You're well past the age limit. Go home."

As far as he was concerned, Jiang Che was probably an older Soul Master trying his luck. He clearly didn't meet the admission requirements, so the student couldn't even be bothered to test him.

Jiang Che was prepared for this. His silver-blue eyes lifted slightly, and his voice was calm yet carried an unquestionable force. At the same time, a barely perceptible thread of Ultimate Ice Soul Power quietly slipped from his fingertips. It seemed weak, yet held a chill and pressure enough to make anyone below the Titled Douluo level shudder. "Classmate, I just turned twelve this year. I simply look a little mature. Could you please test me?"

That trace of Ultimate Ice Soul Power vanished in an instant, yet the student's whole body abruptly stiffened. The air around him seemed to freeze, and a chill from the depths of his soul raced through him. The look he gave Jiang Che changed at once, from impatience to shock and apprehension.

He had clearly sensed that the Soul Power held a terrifying foundation far beyond that of his Soul Emperor teacher, along with the overwhelming pressure of an Ultimate Attribute. This was no power an ordinary Soul Master could possess!

This young man before him was definitely a powerhouse hiding his true strength!

The student didn't dare neglect him in the slightest. He hurried to his feet, his tone turning utterly respectful as he pushed the Soul Power testing instrument forward. "I was mistaken. Please, go ahead and take the test."

The applicants and their families nearby stared in disbelief. No one understood why a Shrek student, usually so strict, had suddenly become so courteous to this older young man.

Without giving anything away, Jiang Che placed his palm on the instrument and deliberately suppressed his Soul Power, releasing only a fluctuation of around level twenty.

In an instant, the Soul Power testing instrument shone brightly.

"All right, you passed. Go prepare for the next assessment."

[ Ding! The host has completed the Soul Power test and meets the requirements for Shrek's freshman application. Beginner task progress updated: 50%. ]

[ Ding! The host has been detected as a Shrek Inner Court student. Beginner task progress updated: 100%. ]

[ The Second Martial Soul reward has been unlocked. Please claim it yourself. ]

Hm? What's with this system? Why does it keep working one moment and breaking the next? Jiang Che grumbled inwardly.

At that very moment, an aged yet awe-inspiring presence quietly enveloped the area within the eastern city gate. Mu En had appeared at the gate without anyone noticing. He still looked as frail as a candle in the wind, but his yellowed eyes settled precisely on Jiang Che, brimming with affection and satisfaction.

He had naturally sensed Jiang Che's presence and had come over to take a look. Watching his junior brother pretend to be a twelve-year-old boy taking the entrance exam, Mu En's lips curved into a faint smile. This child certainly knows how to amuse himself.

Yan Shaozhe followed close behind. Seeing Jiang Che's antics at the admissions area, he first froze, then couldn't help laughing. Still, he didn't dare interrupt. He simply stood beside Mu En, quietly watching the twenty-two-year-old Titled Douluo experience this unusual freshman application journey.

Jiang Che noticed Mu En and Yan Shaozhe watching him. Without drawing attention to himself, he gave them a slight nod, then withdrew his hand and looked at the still-stunned examiner. "Classmate, may I proceed past the preliminary test?"

Only then did the student come back to his senses. He quickly nodded and respectfully handed Jiang Che a freshman assessment number tag. "Of course! Take this tag and head to the next area for the Martial Soul attribute assessment. With your talent, you're certain to get into Shrek!"

Jiang Che took the tag. His fingertips were cool as his silver-blue eyes turned toward the assessment area in the distance. He had already made up his mind.

Although he had completed the task, Jiang Che still wanted to see the assessments he hadn't taken back then.

He started toward the next testing station, and the crowd automatically made way for him. Every gaze followed his figure—admiring, astonished, jealous—yet no one knew that he was already a Titled Douluo standing at the summit of the Douluo Continent.

Holding the freshman assessment tag, Jiang Che walked toward the Martial Soul attribute testing area.

The clamor around him continued, and the nervous chatter of the boys and girls echoed in his ears, yet he remained apart from it all.

The system task was already complete, and the reward of a Second Martial Soul waited quietly on the panel to be claimed. But he still had a mind to experience the entrance exam he'd missed at twelve, so he decided to follow his whim and treat it as a bit of unusual amusement.

After all, as a twenty-two-year-old Titled Douluo with Ultimate Ice, he might have been the only person on the entire Douluo Continent to mingle with the freshmen and go through the entrance assessment.

Not far away, the third-year student had already secretly sent word to a teacher on duty in the Outer Court.

Before long, a middle-aged figure swept through the air. His aura was steady and imposing. The newcomer was an Outer Court teacher around fifty, a Soul Saint surnamed Zhou. His expression was stern, and his Soul Power pulsed with calm strength. When he landed, a gust of wind stirred, and the crowd fell silent at once, hastily retreating.

He immediately fixed his eyes on Jiang Che, whose bearing was unusual and whose age was clearly beyond the limit. His expression darkened, and his Soul Rings lit up. "Stop! Who are you? How dare you trespass on Shrek's admissions grounds? Why are you pretending to be a freshman?"

Teacher Zhou's voice rang out, carrying the pressure of a Soul Saint. The boys and girls nearby turned pale with fright and backed away, and the atmosphere instantly grew tense.

Jiang Che stopped and turned to face Teacher Zhou. His silver-blue eyes showed no trace of panic, remaining as calm as ever.

Just as Jiang Che was about to reveal his identity, a warm voice suddenly came from the edge of the crowd.

"Wait, Teacher Zhou. I'm sure this is just a misunderstanding."