Heading to Shrek Pre-Academy

Six people?

When Li Changsheng stood up and confirmed the number of people remaining, his expression was somewhat surprised.

Including himself and Li Zishuo, there were eight people still standing there.

This number was indeed higher than he had imagined.

"So, you eight little ones are all prepared to participate in the assessment?"

The middle-aged man had already stood up, his gaze sweeping over Li Changsheng and the others one by one.

Eight people.

It was not within his expectations; he had originally thought that one or two remaining would be the maximum.

Yet, eight were standing there at this moment.

The children did not speak, their small eyes flickering with determination.

They might not understand much, but they all wanted to change something to some extent.

Li Changsheng, like the middle-aged man, observed the children present.

Compared to the children who had left, the soul power of those remaining seemed uneven, with most having innate soul power at level eight.

When there were more than ten people earlier, there were two children with innate soul power at level nine, but they had already left with their families.

The middle-aged man laughed heartily and quickly walked down.

"Not bad at all. Spirit Soul Village, what a Spirit Soul Village. Since you little brats don't know the immensity of heaven and earth, then let's go. Also, have the life-and-death agreements been signed? For the entrance assessment, life and death are not guaranteed."

Swish, swish.

Almost instantly, the six children over there all took out a piece of paper.

Li Changsheng was stunned.

Are they crazy?

Are they playing for real?

Are this group of children and their parents truly not afraid of death? Are they not their biological children?

Or did they think the Pre-Education Academy was just testing their resolve?

Li Zishuo clearly did not need an agreement; he was an exemption student to begin with, and all he had to do was graduate alive.

The others handed in their so-called life-and-death agreements one after another.

Li Changsheng had not written one; he had truly thought the middle-aged man was just joking around.

However, the man was standing right there, seriously comparing each life-and-death agreement handed to him.

It seemed that a seal had to be stamped on them.

Everyone had a seal at home, which was used for identity verification.

Once stamped, it was considered legally binding.

Li Changsheng raised his hand.

The middle-aged man's sharp gaze fell on him instantly.

Li Changsheng said rather calmly:

"I have no parents, just a worthless life, so I don't need any agreement. If I die, it's on me."

Li Changsheng could only say it like that.

Was he supposed to go to the land of the dead to have his parents stamp it?

The middle-aged man nodded, accepting this.

Li Zishuo, standing beside Li Changsheng, asked him timidly: "You're an orphan?"

Li Changsheng: "I'll be damned..."

Fine, don't get angry; this is a descendant of his.

Soon, the agreements were handed in.

After the middle-aged man looked over them one by one, he nodded for the first time.

He beckoned to the five prodigies behind him.

At the same time, six carriages were already parked on the other side of the street.

"Well, that's it for this year's enrollment. Brother Su, we shall be off."

The middle-aged man nodded to Su Xinhe, who was completely bewildered.

Su Xinhe nodded in surprise, several times, looking at Li Changsheng and the others, a trace of reluctance flashing in his sharp eyes.

Eight geniuses, just being sent to their deaths like this?

The key was that their parents actually agreed to it...

"Brother Gu is too polite. In that case, I wish you all a safe journey and a smooth return to the Pre-Education Academy..." Su Xinhe replied hurriedly after a moment of stunned silence.

Li Changsheng and the others stood in line one by one.

Every child's face still bore traces of excitement.

Were they truly such fools that they didn't understand the danger the middle-aged man had spoken of?

Li Changsheng pinched his own cheek.

Could it be that I've lived a fake ten thousand years? Are children these days no longer afraid of death?

By the time he walked over to the carriages, his head was filled with this question.

However, as if finding him too conflicted, the cold God of Wisdom provided him with an answer.

<Notification: Life is not just about the drudgery before your eyes; there is also poetry and the distance.>

Bullshit, you're quite good at spouting literary nonsense.

Though he said this in his mind, Li Changsheng still ruminated on the words of the God of Wisdom.

Indeed, while dangerous, once one successfully graduated, it would truly be like a carp leaping over the dragon's gate.

In the relatively comfortable environment of the present day, soul masters remained the reserve forces recruited by empires and sects; the more powerful the soul master, the greater the benefits.

The middle-aged man stopped in front of the first, more luxurious carriage.

The five people following him naturally gathered around him in a cluster.

"Let's start with self-introductions. My name is Gu Feibai, a senior instructor at the Shrek Pre-Academy and the chief examiner for the freshman assessment."

He didn't seem to have any "eccentricities."

What kind of eccentricities?

Naturally, the kind where one brags about their own martial soul or soul power.

Gu Feibai pointed to the five people behind him, including the Seven Absolute Zither Master, and said, "As for them, they are geniuses."

Just like that?

Yes, just like that.

Gu Feibai looked languid, then called out, "You there, Centrifugal Killing Mirror, make the arrangements, and then we set off."

As the captain of the "genius" team, Centrifugal Killing Mirror stepped forward after receiving the instructions.

Gu Feibai himself ducked into the most luxurious carriage.

Li Changsheng happened to be standing in a position where he could see the scene inside the carriage when the curtain was lifted.

Li Changsheng froze. He rubbed his eyes, his pale purple gaze burning like a torch.

Inside the carriage Gu Feibai had entered, he actually saw two... noble ladies dressed in opulent, extravagant clothing?

"What the..." Li Changsheng swallowed hard.

"The eight of you, two to a carriage. We five will split into four teams to explain the series of rules for the Pre-Academy following this year's reforms along the way..."

Centrifugal Killing Mirror was relatively more talkative. After making the arrangements, he returned to the group and left Li Changsheng and the others to form their own teams.

Li Changsheng successfully paired up with Li Zishuo, walked to the last carriage, and climbed aboard.

The carriage was spacious, but the furnishings were very crude. Compared to Gu Feibai's, Li Changsheng felt the massive gap in status...

"Finally leaving this place..." Lifting the curtain, Li Changsheng looked at the sun already high in the sky, casting its warm light over the earth.

Li Zishuo sat beside Li Changsheng.

He was actually meditating, but his mind was completely unsettled; his calves were even trembling.

Li Changsheng smiled, patted his shoulder gently, and said, "Don't let your heart be chaotic when meditating. If your heart is chaotic, it's better not to meditate at all."

Li Zishuo opened his eyes and nodded subconsciously, but seeing Li Changsheng still looking so calm and composed, he couldn't help but shrink his neck. "You, aren't you afraid?"

Li Changsheng grinned.

That's right, this is what a child's expression should look like.

What was up with those other kids? They just pulled out their life-and-death agreements and handed them over as if they were just delivering themselves on a platter.

Li Changsheng then flicked his somewhat loose sleeves and said in an old-fashioned tone, "Child, life is not just about the drudgery before your eyes; you must also yearn for poetry and the distance. Your perspective is too narrow."

Li Zishuo looked blank. What drudgery? What poetry and distance?

But as he looked at the expression on Li Changsheng's face, his admiration grew even deeper.

"C-can I acknowledge you as my big brother?" He grabbed the sleeve Li Changsheng had flicked and said sincerely.

Li Changsheng's jaw nearly dislocated.

You little brat... He almost blurted out the insult.

But looking at Li Zishuo's earnest expression, he felt that, well, he couldn't blame the child; his own personal charisma was just too high.

He patted Li Zishuo's small hand and said in a relaxed manner, "Why do you want to acknowledge me as your big brother?"

It must be because of my charisma!

Li Zishuo hurriedly said with great seriousness, "My dad said that if you meet someone stronger than you who also has the surname Li, you must acknowledge him as your big brother. That way, if you get beaten up or bullied later, you can just go to your big brother. Besides, Dad said that as long as you share the same surname, you won't lose out, even if they're younger than you—calling them 'brother' is perfectly fine!"

Damn it.

Damn it.

Damn it.

Li Changsheng collapsed against the railing.

His expression flickered between light and shadow.

The corners of his mouth trembled incessantly.

His other hand couldn't help but cover his chest, tapping it lightly.

Only then did he look at Li Zishuo, who still wore an earnest and naive expression, and sighed, "From now on, just consider yourself my little brother."

"Little brother? Then you'll be my big brother?" Li Zishuo asked instinctively.

Li Changsheng: "..."

Just then, two sets of footsteps sounded from outside the carriage.

Li Changsheng's gaze followed the sound.

Soon, two figures stepped into the carriage together.

Li Changsheng's eyes lit up.

The newcomers were none other than the Seven Absolute Zither Master and the support soul master from that day, Exquisite Dice.

The two women were arm in arm, like close friends.

After entering, they glanced at Li Changsheng and Li Zishuo.

A hint of strangeness flashed in the eyes behind their masks.

They then sat on the opposite side.

Only then did Li Changsheng notice that Li Zishuo was still clutching his arm and leaning very close to him; a flash of embarrassment crossed his face, and he hurriedly shifted to the other side.

Once the two of them had entered the carriage, it began to move...