Joining Shrek Academy

The sun was setting.

The day-long awakening ceremony had finally reached its end.

Even Wang Yan, a Soul King, could not avoid showing a trace of fatigue between his brows after such intense Soul Power output and mental concentration.

Yet when his gaze swept over the black-haired boy waiting quietly nearby, that weariness was instantly replaced by heartfelt satisfaction.

This child was not only extraordinarily gifted; his composure, far beyond his age, was even rarer.

"Xia Ming, come with me." Wang Yan's voice was gentle, yet carried a hint of solemnity.

Xia Ming took a deep breath, suppressing the anticipation surging within him, and silently followed.

This was his first time crossing the threshold of this legendary academy.

Shrek Academy.

As a reader in his previous life, Xia Ming might have had quite a few criticisms about some of its entrenched rules and favoritism.

But now that he stood in this world himself, he truly felt the weight represented by this academy that had stood firm for ten thousand years.

It was the absolute pinnacle of soul master education on the Douluo Continent, the starting point and stage of countless geniuses and ambitious individuals.

For a transmigrator like him, with no roots and no backing,

unless he was willing to travel far to the Sun Moon Empire, whose relationship with Shrek was delicate and whose internal environment was even more complicated,

this was indeed the best, perhaps even the only, choice.

Besides, Xia Ming had no favorable impression of the Sun Moon Empire.

Setting aside the fact that he had been born and raised in Shrek City, the Sun Moon Empire's countless ties to Evil Soul Masters in the original work alone

—along with the darkness that could even coerce members of its Royal Academy representative team—was enough to make him keep his distance.

"Knock, knock—"

Outside an office on the top floor of the teachers' administrative area, Wang Yan stopped and knocked lightly.

"Come in."

After pushing the door open, they found the office simply yet grandly furnished. Bookcases lined all four walls, their collections vast as the sea.

Behind the desk sat a tall, middle-aged man with a dark complexion and an imposing presence.

He was Du Weilun, the director of instruction for the Outer Court's Martial Soul Department.

"Director Du," Wang Yan said without preamble, unable to suppress the excitement in his voice,

"during today's awakening ceremony, I encountered a truly exceptional prospect!"

"Oh?" Du Weilun set down the file in his hands and looked up.

He understood Wang Yan.

The man possessed solid theoretical knowledge and a steady temperament. He was not someone who made careless claims.

For him to use the term "exceptional prospect," this was certainly no ordinary genius.

Wang Yan did not keep them in suspense and directly dropped the bombshell:

"His Martial Soul is the legendary top-tier soul beast—the Golden-Haired Lion Mastiff. And he possesses Innate Full Soul Power."

"What?!" Du Weilun shot to his feet, the shock on his face undisguised.

The Golden-Haired Lion Mastiff Martial Soul was certainly mysterious and powerful, revered as the progenitor of canine and lion-type soul beasts.

Yet there were very few records of it in the current era, and most of its specific abilities existed only in legend.

However, the weight of those five words, "Innate Full Soul Power," was absolutely real in the soul master world!

Even in this era, those with Innate Full Soul Power remained as rare as phoenix feathers and qilin horns.

In fact, most of the original protagonist group likely did not possess Innate Full Soul Power.

The original second Douluo novel explicitly mentioned only two people with Innate Full Soul Power: the Inner Court's senior disciple Zhang Lexuan and the Star Luo Empire's Star-Shattering Douluo.

Possessing Innate Full Soul Power meant a soul master began from an exceptionally high starting point.

As long as their Martial Soul was not too poor and they did not stray down the wrong path during cultivation,

such as carrying out suicidal acts like attaching deadly poison to Blue Silver Grass,

becoming a Title Douluo in the future was practically guaranteed. They might even have great hope of reaching the realm of a Super Douluo!

This was no longer merely an "exceptional prospect." This was a future pillar destined to bring glory to the academy!

Seeing Du Weilun's reaction, Wang Yan smiled faintly and stepped aside.

"Director Du, I have already brought him here. He's outside. What do you think...?"

"Bring him in at once!" Du Weilun immediately said, then added,

"No, I'll personally contact Dean Yan! This matter must be decided by the dean!"

Xia Ming was called into the office.

His calm gaze swept across the room. He was slightly amazed by the massive collection of books, which suited the identity of a director of instruction.

Du Weilun briefly asked about his background and basic circumstances.

When he learned that Xia Ming was an orphan, Xia Ming keenly noticed that the satisfaction in the other man's scrutinizing gaze deepened another layer.

A clean background meant strong potential for shaping, as well as an easier time developing a sense of belonging toward the academy.

A moment later, a gentle voice that seemed to come from everywhere leisurely sounded within the room, carrying a power that calmed the heart.

"Child, I am Yan Shaozhe, dean of the Martial Soul Department. Are you willing to enter Shrek Academy?"

Before the words had even faded, light and shadow rippled softly through the office. An old man in white had silently appeared before them.

His hair and beard were completely white, his face lean and refined, while his gentle eyes were as deep as the sea.

He was the Bright Phoenix Douluo, renowned across the continent: a level 95 Super Douluo and the dean of Shrek Academy's Martial Soul Department, Yan Shaozhe.

"I am willing." Xia Ming bowed respectfully, his expression composed.

"Good." A gentle smile appeared on Yan Shaozhe's face, though his gaze settled on Xia Ming as tangibly as substance.

"Since you possess a top-tier beast Martial Soul focused on direct offense, let me test the foundation of your strength.

There is no need to hold back. Strike me with your full strength."

Xia Ming understood immediately. This was the crucial moment to display his value.

"Martial Soul, possess me!"

With a low shout, a fierce and majestic aura abruptly erupted from Xia Ming's body!

His physique swelled slightly, pale golden patterns faintly flowing beneath his skin. Behind him, the imposing phantom of a golden lion mastiff flashed into existence before vanishing.

A black-and-gold halo, seemingly containing endless strength and majesty, emerged beneath his feet and slowly rose.

Within the halo, vague beastly phantoms filled with pressure seemed to roar.

Threads of black-gold energy flowed into Xia Ming's body like rivers returning to the sea.

A domain! And an innate domain at that!

Yan Shaozhe, Du Weilun, and Wang Yan's pupils abruptly contracted as stormy waves surged through their hearts.

He had awakened with a domain without needing a single soul ring to grant it?

This had already far exceeded the scope of a top-tier Martial Soul. This was a characteristic only a Super Martial Soul could possess!

This point alone made Xia Ming's value immeasurable!

"Domination Domain, activate!"

Xia Ming silently said in his heart.

As he fully activated this domain originating from the essence of his Martial Soul for the first time, he instantly felt explosive strength flooding every limb and bone!

His attack and defense surged geometrically, while his five senses became sharper than ever before.

The Soul Power coursing through his body seemed to have been infused with a wild will. The fundamental effects of all his abilities rose madly, increasing by more than fifty percent!

Moreover, there was no discomfort whatsoever—only pure control over power and the desire to fight.

Now!

Golden light flashed in Xia Ming's eyes. He twisted his waist, stepped forward, and threw a punch!

The movement was simple and fluid, without the slightest flourish.

Gathering all the force in his body, empowered by the domain, into a single point, he unleashed it without reservation toward Yan Shaozhe's outstretched palm.

He was not worried in the slightest about hurting the other man.

A level 95 Super Douluo possessed physical strength far beyond the ordinary.

Even without using his Martial Soul, he could easily contend with Soul Saints and Soul Douluos through his body alone.

What threat could Xia Ming, a Soul Scholar who had not even obtained his first soul ring, possibly pose?

"Boom—!"

When fist and palm collided, a muffled burst of air erupted!

Yan Shaozhe steadily received the punch, his body completely unmoving.

Yet an incredulous gleam instantly burst from his gentle eyes!

He could feel with absolute clarity the power transmitted from that still-youthful fist—dense, tyrannical, and filled with penetrating force!

This was absolutely not strength that a child who had only just awakened could possess. It even far surpassed many direct-offense Soul Grandmasters who had already obtained their first or second soul rings!

Yan Shaozhe carefully savored the quality and quantity of that force. Only after several breaths did he slowly withdraw his hand.

His face was already filled with undisguised admiration and astonishment.

"Good! What a Golden-Haired Lion Mastiff! What Innate Full Soul Power!"

His eyes blazed as he looked at Xia Ming, and his voice rose slightly with excitement.

"Without even attaching a first soul ring, relying solely on your Martial Soul itself and your innate domain,

the power of that punch already rivals that of a high-level direct-offense Soul Elder, perhaps even touching the threshold of a Soul Ancestor!

Child, you have made history! This completely overturns the soul master world's understanding of initial Martial Soul combat strength!"

"What?!"

Wang Yan and Du Weilun cried out in shock. The two looked at each other, seeing overwhelming astonishment and confusion in one another's eyes.

They had seen people fight above their level before. A soul master with an ultimate attribute might perhaps fight across two rings.

But a six-year-old child who had only just awakened, with no soul rings at all, relying purely on the power of his body to approach the level of a Soul Ancestor?

It was simply a fantasy!

Had those words not come from Dean Yan Shaozhe himself, they would have considered them utter nonsense.

Even now, the shocking realization left them half doubtful, yet unable to disbelieve.

At that moment, Yan Shaozhe had no time to care about the shock of his two subordinates.

All his attention was focused on Xia Ming, as though he were examining an unrivaled treasure.

Without the slightest hesitation, Yan Shaozhe made his decision.

He stepped forward, his tone solemn and irresistibly persuasive.

"Xia Ming, the standard new student process is no longer suitable for you.

Come directly with me to Sea God Island.

The academy will activate the highest level of training program for you. Resources, teachers, environment—everything will be the very best.

Shrek will spare no effort in helping you grow!"

Sea God Island, the true core of Shrek Academy and the location of the Inner Court.

Xia Ming's heart pounded violently as his blood rushed faster through his veins.

He forcefully suppressed the excitement in his heart, took a deep breath, met Yan Shaozhe's expectant gaze, and nodded firmly.

"Yes! Student Xia Ming will follow the dean's arrangements!"