Kenpachi Zaraki's Back Was Absolutely Safe

The old man in charge of the second round had no choice but to bring out a spare testing crystal.

When Aizen and the others who remained wanted to take the test, the old man immediately stopped them.

"No, no, don't test! You're definitely here to cause trouble. Hurry up and go to the fourth round!"

Especially when he saw Xiao Wu's three Soul Rings, the old man was so frightened that he clutched the testing crystal and refused to let her touch it no matter what.

Even Ning Rongrong, Zhu Zhuqing, and Kenpachi Zaraki were exempted from testing.

Soon, the group of fourteen arrived at the final test: actual combat.

As they walked, Dai Mubai introduced Shrek Academy.

"So far, this academy has five students: me, Retsu Unohana, whom you just saw outside..."

Before he could finish, a burly man with a face full of whiskers and large peach-blossom eyes came running out.

"And me, Oscar, plus Grimmjow, who doesn't like the sight of anyone, and finally a fat guy named Ma Hongjun."

"You're a student of this academy?" Tang San looked at Oscar in disbelief.

"Of course I am! I'm only fourteen this year!"

His words drew a glance from Yamamoto Shigekuni, whose sharp eyes fixed on Oscar's beard.

"Eek... What a scary look. Brother, could you not look at me like that?" Oscar shuddered.

Ning Rongrong, however, looked at Yamamoto Shigekuni with great curiosity. This boy was far too composed, and she could not even gauge his strength.

"Kenpachi, can you cut this man down?"

Kenpachi glanced at Ning Rongrong, then at Yamamoto Shigekuni, and replied flatly.

"I'll only know after I cut him."

Soon, the group arrived at the site of the final assessment.

"Teacher Zhao, I've brought people for the fourth-round assessment." Dai Mubai woke the middle-aged man who was dozing on a chair.

"Hm? People made it to the fourth round this year? Damn, there are fourteen of them!" The middle-aged man opened his bleary eyes. When he saw the group before him, he was utterly shocked. This was a once-in-a-century—no, once-in-a-millennium phenomenon!

Dai Mubai grinned and pointed at Aizen and the others. "They blew up the testing crystal, so they didn't need to take the second or third-round tests. They're very talented!"

Zhao Wuji's eyes lit up. He sprang from his chair and carefully examined everyone.

"Tsk, tsk, tsk. All fourteen of you have Soul Power at level thirty? Not bad, not bad. Looks like there are especially many monsters this year. This is the final round. Pass my test, and you'll become students of Shrek Academy. Your talent may be good, but whether your combat ability is any good is for me to decide!"

Dai Mubai quietly reminded Zhao Wuji, "Not all of them are level thirty. There should only be ten at level thirty; the other four are above level twenty-five."

Even so, Zhao Wuji did not mind. He looked at them warmly and said, "My name is Zhao Wuji. Since you've all passed the second and third rounds, let me play with you. I'll give you one incense stick's worth of time to get acquainted and discuss things. After that, you'll work together to withstand my attacks for one incense stick's worth of time—no, three incense sticks. As long as one person holds out until the end, you pass!"

When it came to the time limit, Zhao Wuji hesitated. After all, there were fourteen of them. Holding out for one incense stick's worth of time would be more than easy.

"Three incense sticks? How about Ning Rongrong and I, just the two of us, hold out against you for three incense sticks?"

A dissatisfied voice rang out.

Everyone looked over. It was Kenpachi Zaraki, who had been inseparable from Ning Rongrong.

When Zhao Wuji saw Kenpachi, his eyes lit up. He raised a thumb and praised him.

"Bold indeed. Come on, you don't need to last three incense sticks. One will be enough!"

Kenpachi neither agreed nor disagreed. When fighting a strong opponent, he did not care how long it lasted. As long as he enjoyed himself, that was enough.

"Kenpachi, can you do it?" Ning Rongrong asked worriedly.

"No problem!" Kenpachi said boldly.

Kenpachi's heroic spirit affected Dai Mubai as well, so he kindly stepped forward to warn him.

"Teacher Zhao is a level seventy-six Soul Sage, a beast martial soul Battle Soul Sage. Be careful!"

Kenpachi gave Dai Mubai a flat look. "No need for your concern. I know what I'm doing."

"Tch, kindness taken for stupidity!" Dai Mubai said angrily, thoroughly annoyed.

"Hehe, that's just how he is. Don't take it to heart!" Ning Rongrong stuck out her little tongue cutely and apologized to Dai Mubai.

"It's fine, it's fine. Only those with strength have the right to be individualistic, hahaha." The moment he saw the young girl apologizing to him, Dai Mubai's eyes went wide.

"Hmph, womanizer!" Zhu Zhuqing snorted coldly from the side.

"Uh..." Dai Mubai wanted to explain, but in the end, he said nothing.

Kenpachi and Ning Rongrong stepped forward and arrived opposite Zhao Wuji.

With his broad body, Kenpachi perfectly shielded Ning Rongrong behind him.

From the back, Dai Mubai shouted, "One final reminder: Teacher Zhao's martial soul is the Vajra Bear, an extremely powerful martial soul with terrifying defense. His nickname is the Immovable Bright King!"

Ning Rongrong was slightly startled. "So he's the Immovable Bright King. I didn't expect to meet him here."

"Hmph, I don't care whether he's the Immovable Bright King or the Moving Dark King. Just don't disappoint me!"

Kenpachi drew out his martial soul: a Zanpakuto covered in notches. At first glance, it looked like some broken martial soul, but three Soul Rings rose beneath his feet—yellow, purple, purple.

Dai Mubai and the others could not help swallowing.

"There's actually someone my age who has obtained three Soul Rings too?" Xiao Wu said with a slight furrow in her delicate brows.

"Uh, I should mention that Retsu Unohana, whom you just met, is only twelve," Dai Mubai quietly reminded her.

"Wow, she's only twelve? I thought she was already an adult." Xiao Wu covered her mouth in surprise.

Tang San's expression darkened somewhat. That girl who had once been evenly matched with him had now pulled so far ahead.

Clang!

A piercing scraping sound entered everyone's ears, causing their heads to ache.

The battle had already begun. Kenpachi's blade was striking Zhao Wuji, whose body radiated golden light and was covered in thick brown fur.

Two yellow, two purple, and three black—seven Soul Rings were exceptionally dazzling.

Immovable Wisdom King Body!

With such powerful defense, Kenpachi's blade could not break through no matter how he attacked.

Seeing that Kenpachi had yet to cut through, Ning Rongrong made her move.

"Seven Treasures have a name: first, strength."

"Seven Treasures have a name: second, speed."

Ning Rongrong's first and second Soul Rings rose and enveloped the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda. With a gentle point of her left hand, a colorful light enveloped Kenpachi.

Feeling the strength in that blade suddenly increase, Zhao Wuji looked at Ning Rongrong in surprise. "Well, well, someone from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect!"

"Don't look elsewhere!" Kenpachi roared.

He raised his blade, and his first Soul Ring lit up. The blade in Kenpachi's hand shone with golden light as he brought it down fiercely!

Vajra Palm! Zhao Wuji did not dare take the strike head-on. His Soul Rings merged into his hands, transforming them into bear paws that doubled in size as they slammed toward Kenpachi.

The golden blade collided with the bear paw, kicking up a violent gust. Wind and sand blew into everyone's eyes, and for a moment, they could not clearly see the battlefield.

They could only hear Kenpachi's shouts and the repeated clangs of his blade striking Zhao Wuji.

When the battlefield became clear again, Kenpachi was frantically hacking at Zhao Wuji.

His second purple Soul Ring lit up, and the muscles in his arms suddenly swelled.

His blade fell, but Zhao Wuji pressed down with gravity. Kenpachi lost control of his strength for a moment, and his strike went wide before Zhao Wuji sent him flying.

Kenpachi dragged across the ground. Just as he was about to crash into Ning Rongrong, his third purple Soul Ring lit up, and the muscles in his legs explosively swelled.

He shot forward in an instant and leaped into a slash!

Gravity Squeeze! Zhao Wuji's fifth Soul Ring Skill caused Kenpachi to lose his balance in midair once more.

But this strike was too heavy. Even though it went off course, it still landed on Zhao Wuji's shoulder, leaving a wound before Zhao Wuji sent him flying.

Kenpachi refused to yield even in death and continued attacking.

After growing familiar with Zhao Wuji's skills, Kenpachi got closer and closer to him. But his stamina was draining rapidly, and he was running out of strength. He could no longer injure Zhao Wuji.

Soon, one incense stick's worth of time had passed.

Kenpachi was still standing, but not a single spot on his front was clean. His right leg limped, his left arm was broken, yet his right hand still gripped his long blade tightly, wanting to continue the attack.

After taking one more step, he finally fell straight down. Compared to his front, his back was exceptionally clean.

Behind him, Ning Rongrong's eyes glistened with tears. It was impossible to tell whether she was happy or heartbroken.

Oscar took the opportunity to step forward and comfort Ning Rongrong.

"It's all right now."

Ning Rongrong pushed Oscar away and shook her head. "I'm fine. As long as I stand behind Kenpachi's back, I'm absolutely safe!"

"Hiss!" Zhao Wuji touched his wound and cried out in pain.

"Tsk, I didn't expect this year's new students to be so fierce. You're very good. You passed. Go find Retsu Unohana for treatment. This is a piece of cake for her!"

"Teacher Zhao, then let us learn from you next."

Aizen stepped forward. Behind him stood Kurosaki Ichigo, Ichimaru Gin, Yamamoto Shigekuni, Aizen Sousuke, Urahara Kisuke, Ulquiorra, Inoue Orihime, and Matsumoto Rangiku.

Aizen looked at the people behind him, frowned, and said.

"There are so many of us challenging a teacher. Just holding out for three incense sticks is too boring. How about we only qualify if we defeat the teacher?"

Zhao Wuji narrowed his eyes at Aizen for a moment, then smiled.

"So arrogant. Do they agree?"

Aizen turned back to ask them. Everyone nodded in agreement.

"They agree."

Zhao Wuji burst into laughter and thumped his chest twice.

"Then come on!"