After Zhu Zhuqing finished introducing herself, the conversation naturally veered off course.
"Are you really twelve?"
Ning Rongrong was still quite relaxed. She wanted to get into a Soul Master Academy, and she didn't believe anyone would turn her away.
"Of course. I'm not doubting your age or anything. It's just that you're all so..."
Ning Rongrong put her hand on top of her head and gestured to compare their heights.
At one meter sixty, Ning Rongrong was actually quite tall for a girl. Zhu Zhuqing beside her was about the same height, while the others were utterly dwarfed by the three across from them.
All three of them were over one meter seventy. Xiao Wu was especially tall; Ning Rongrong barely reached her chin.
"Oh, that? Xiao Jiu says eating well, sleeping well, and exercising a lot are what help you grow. That's all." Xiao Wu wasn't trying to show off. As soon as she finished speaking, she looked at Jiang Jiu, hoping for some praise.
"You have to exercise a lot? Forget it." Ning Rongrong didn't even bother pretending she wasn't lazy.
When it came to cultivation, Ning Rongrong and the Xiao Wu of old were practically cut from the same cloth: if they could slack off, they would. The only difference was that Xiao Wu still liked exercising, while Ning Rongrong never worked out at all unless she was playing tricks on someone.
"It mostly comes down to heredity, including the influence of your Martial Soul." Jiang Jiu patted Xiao Wu's head. There was nothing wrong with what she'd said.
"Ah, I forgot about that. Hehe."
"Is that so? By the way, you all seem to be really close."
"Mm, we came from the same junior Soul Master Academy and spent six years together."
"Which junior Soul Master Academy is that impressive?"
But no one paid any attention to Ning Rongrong, who was staring wide-eyed. Xiao Wu had been swept up in memories by the words "six years." A sweet smile played on her lips as she leaned against Jiang Jiu's shoulder.
Ning Rongrong felt that something was off, but she couldn't say what.
"Ahem. I think you should take this seriously. Teacher Zhao is a level seventy-six Battle Soul Saint with a Beast Martial Soul."
Seizing the opportunity, Oscar cleared his throat and joined the conversation.
That explosive bit of news immediately drew everyone's attention.
"Level seventy-six? You're making us fight a Soul Master of that level? You're kidding, right?" Ning Rongrong lost her composure at once.
She had expected the five of them to fight a Soul Emperor. With her boosts and Xiao Wu as a Soul Elder, and their opponent going easy on them, it wouldn't have been too ugly.
But against a Battle Soul Saint with a Beast Martial Soul, even if he went easy on them, they'd still get beaten black and blue.
Sure, she'd still be able to enter the academy, but Ning Rongrong wanted to be accepted with grace!
"I heard that he's the vice dean. Does that mean the dean is a Soul Douluo?" Xiao Wu's attention was on something else.
"You'll find out when the incense burns down. Teacher Zhao isn't one to joke around." Oscar first dismissed Ning Rongrong's astonished exclamation, then answered Xiao Wu's question.
"Dean Flender is currently level seventy-eight. Given his age, there's a good chance he'll become a Soul Douluo in a few years. Teacher Zhao is about the same."
In front of these future junior schoolmates, Oscar still liked to brag about Shrek Academy. There were so many pretty junior schoolmates; it'd be a shame to lose any of them.
Xiao Wu relaxed.
By the time that Shrek dean became a Soul Douluo, she and Xiao Jiu would probably have graduated already. Even if he got lucky and became a Soul Douluo within six years, they could just run off with Xiao Jiu as soon as they heard he'd reached level eighty.
"By the way, I'm not some middle-aged uncle!"
"I'm Oscar, a level twenty-nine Tool Soul Master. My Martial Soul is Sausage, and I'm fourteen. If you pass Teacher Zhao's test, I'll be your senior here."
Oscar gave what he thought was a very cool introduction, but it didn't have much effect.
"You're really not thirty-four? Your Martial Soul does sound pretty good, though."
Oscar inexplicably felt Ning Rongrong's disdain.
"Hey, I'm giving you useful information here!"
"Then thanks, Senior." Ning Rongrong didn't seem to care.
Jiang Jiu glanced at Tang San. Understanding her meaning, Tang San began consoling Oscar's wounded feelings while slipping in a few questions for information.
Tang San didn't usually say much, but when he needed to, he could communicate quite well.
"His Martial Soul is the Vajra Bear?" Tang San frowned.
He knew about this Martial Soul. Its defense was terrifying, and its attack power was no weakness either. Especially with the enormous gap between their Soul Power and Zhao Wuji's, none of them could withstand a single palm strike from him.
Their smallest gap was probably in speed. They'd have to use their numbers and speed to keep him occupied and put on a decent showing.
Thanks to Yu Xiaogang's long years of teaching, Tang San instinctively assumed the role of a control-type Soul Master and analyzed the coming battle as a team fight.
Besides, Jiang Jiu had just given him a hint.
"Xiao San, how should we fight? You tell us."
Ning Rongrong blinked. They were actually leaving the tactical arrangements to this Blue Silver Grass Soul Master named Tang San?
But when she remembered he seemed to be the only control-type Soul Master among them, she understood.
"It's our first time fighting together. How about we each do our own part?" Tang San's words were brief and clear.
"Sure." Ning Rongrong agreed.
Doing their own part meant each of them would do what their role called for.
As a Seven Treasures Glazed Pagoda Soul Master, what could she do besides stand in place and maintain her boosting Soul Skill? It wasn't as if she could make any tactical moves.
If danger came, it was the job of the Soul Masters protecting her to deal with it.
Zhu Zhuqing silently nodded. This was the first time she'd offered her opinion.
She was a person of few words. Unless someone specifically spoke to her, she could stay silent indefinitely.
"So Xiao Jiu and I are the main attackers?"
"Mm, now that I think about it, Xiao Jiu and I have always sparred together. This might be our first time facing an enemy together!"
Xiao Wu immediately grew excited.
With the possible threat of a Soul Douluo off her mind, Xiao Wu treated the upcoming test as an experience to enjoy, as if the Soul Saint rank she'd just heard about were a lie.
Tang San was no less excited. Even his usually composed eyes lit up.
Watching the newcomers look ready to ignite their fighting spirit, Oscar could only call them monsters in his heart.
No, you're about to fight a Soul Saint—and not just any Soul Saint, but Teacher Zhao, who once fought more than a dozen opponents of the same rank by himself. How could you even muster the courage?
"Those are good eyes."
At some point, Zhao Wuji had also turned to look at them. He held a stick of incense in his hand to keep track of the test's time.
"You've finished discussing, right?"
At Zhao Wuji's words, Oscar sensibly backed away, then trotted over to Teacher Li Yusong and the others.
He was still very much afraid of Zhao Wuji. He only felt safe beside the two Soul Emperor teachers.
"We're ready." Xiao Wu and Tang San were both looking at Jiang Jiu. Jiang Jiu nodded.
Ning Rongrong flashed a sly smile and activated her Martial Soul before Zhao Wuji could formally light the incense.
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