Enrolling in School

Tang Ya's eyes lit up when she heard this. "Yu'er, would you like to join our Tang Sect? We have a cultivation technique that is particularly suited for you. Furthermore, if you join the Tang Sect, you can enroll directly into Shrek Academy."

Upon hearing this, Huo Yu'er wanted to agree immediately. Shrek Academy was the number one Spirit Master academy in the world, and she had listened to her mother tell stories about the Tang Sect since she was a child. However, the words caught in her throat, and she hesitated for a moment before turning to look at Lin Shuo. "Big Brother Lin, are you going to join?"

Lin Shuo shook his head, his expression calm and earnest. "Joining a sect is a very serious matter; most people only join one in their entire lives. You don't need to consider others; just follow your own heart." Lin Shuo thought for a moment and added, "One of the requirements for Shrek is having a spirit power of level 15 or higher. If the Tang Sect can grant you direct entry, they must have their own special admission quotas."

Huo Yu'er was slightly startled, and a trace of imperceptible disappointment flashed through her deep blue eyes. Although she had only known Lin Shuo for a day, she could truly feel the care he had shown her. If Big Brother Lin also joined the Tang Sect, they would be able to see each other often in the future.

But Big Brother Lin was right; joining a sect was her own business. She could not let others decide her future; that would not only be irresponsible to herself, but it would also place an unnecessary burden on Big Brother Lin.

"Sister Xiaoya, I am willing to join the Tang Sect."

Although Tang Ya was very happy that Huo Yu'er had agreed to join, she did not want to deceive her. A rare look of solemnity appeared on Tang Ya's youthful, vibrant face as she looked at Huo Yu'er earnestly and informed her of the Tang Sect's current state. The Tang Sect, once the number one sect in the world, was now reduced to only two members.

Although Huo Yu'er was shocked by the state of the Tang Sect, she said with a firm expression, "Sister Xiaoya, I am willing to join."

Tang Ya hugged Huo Yu'er in excitement. Bei Bei, watching this scene from the side, felt a sincere smile appear on his refined and easygoing face. "Welcome to the Tang Sect, Junior Sister. From now on, we are a family."

The initiation ceremony was held on the spot. After the ceremony concluded, Bei Bei cupped his hands toward Lin Shuo and asked, "Brother Lin Shuo, have you also come to join Shrek?"

Seeing Lin Shuo nod, Bei Bei took the opportunity to invite him to travel together. "Brother Lin, we came to the Star Dou Great Forest to help Teacher Xiaoya obtain her third spirit ring. If you don't mind, why don't we travel together? Once we obtain the ring, we can take you and our Junior Sister to register together. What do you think?"

Lin Shuo pondered for a moment before nodding in agreement. "Then I shall trouble Brother Bei to lead the way."

While searching for a suitable spirit beast, Lin Shuo saw Tang Ya teaching Huo Yu'er Tang Sect techniques. To avoid any awkwardness, he took the initiative to scout the path ahead.

Upon sensing movement ahead, Lin Shuo stopped and signaled for the three of them to halt. The four of them moved forward quietly, discovering a thousand-year-old Datura Snake.

Tang Ya's expression was excited; she signaled to Bei Bei with her eyes that this was the one.

Just as Bei Bei and Tang Ya were preparing to strike, they saw Lin Shuo reach out to stop them. Lin Shuo summoned his martial soul, condensed several ice spears, and flicked them out. The thousand-year-old Datura Snake was instantly severely wounded and slammed heavily onto the ground.

"Go finish it off quickly; if you wait any longer, you'll miss the chance. The three of us will guard you."

Hearing Lin Shuo's words, Tang Ya suppressed the shock in her heart, hurriedly took out a hidden weapon to finish off the beast, and then sat cross-legged on the ground to absorb the spirit ring.

Bei Bei had not yet recovered from the instant kill, his pupils slightly constricted. The moment Lin Shuo summoned his martial soul, his own Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon had felt a pressure several times stronger than before.

Moreover, that was a thousand-year-old Datura Snake. Even with Bei Bei's strength, he could not guarantee a victory against it, yet Lin Shuo, who was a few years younger than him, had killed it instantly.

What did this mean? Bei Bei knew clearly that he would be nothing more than a speed bump in front of Lin Shuo. And Bei Bei was already one of the strongest students in the outer courtyard.

However, what truly left his mind blank was the glimpse he had caught of three ten-thousand-year spirit rings.

How could this be? This completely defied all spirit master theory.

"Brother Lin, thank you. With such powerful strength, it seems a true monster has arrived at Shrek Academy," Bei Bei remarked sincerely.

"You flatter me," Lin Shuo said, putting away his martial soul with a flat tone.

After a while, Tang Ya opened her eyes and jumped up from the ground in excitement.

"I succeeded." Accompanied by the surge of her spirit power, two yellow and one purple spirit ring appeared beneath her feet.

"Xiaoya, congratulations," Bei Bei said with a smile.

"Thank you, Lin Shuo. If it weren't for you, I wouldn't have obtained this spirit ring so smoothly."

Tang Ya did not forget who had discovered and killed the thousand-year-old Datura Snake, so she thanked Lin Shuo first, then stuck her tongue out at Bei Bei.

Bei Bei coughed to ease his own embarrassment.

"Alright, since we've all obtained our spirit rings, let's return to the academy."

Huo Yuhao also took the opportunity on the road to test the spirit skills he had acquired: Spirit Detection and Spirit Sharing. This left Tang Ya and Bei Bei clicking their tongues in wonder.

"Junior Sister, your spirit skill really doesn't look like something a ten-year Wind Baboon could produce. This is simply a divine skill, and it can even expand its range as your spiritual power grows."

Huo Yu'er scratched her head, feeling a bit shy.

The next day, the four of them finally arrived at the east gate of Shrek Academy. A dozen Shrek students were guarding the entrance, and Bei Bei simply used his reputation to bring the three of them in for registration. No letters of recommendation were needed at all.

As the four walked into Shrek Academy, Bei Bei and Tang Ya introduced the buildings along the way to Huo Yu'er and Lin Shuo. Huo Yu'er listened with great interest, but Lin Shuo, aside from glancing at the statues of the "Grandmaster" Yu Xiaogang—who had broken through to level 29 at age 50—and Tang San, was not particularly interested in anything else.

When they reached the teaching building, Huo Yu'er did not need to be tested because she was using the Tang Sect's special admission. However, Lin Shuo still needed to have his spirit power tested. At the testing station, Lin Shuo's level 35 spirit power caused everyone present to widen their eyes. One had to know that the three level 31 freshmen this year had already been a surprise, and now another one had arrived at level 35. Furthermore, although no one present had heard of the Seven-Colored Dragon King martial soul, they could tell just by sensing its aura that it was an incredibly powerful martial soul.

After Lin Shuo left, the staff on-site immediately went to report to the Dean of the Martial Soul Department, Yan Shaozhe.

After Lin Shuo and Huo Yu'er received their dormitory keys, uniforms, and badges, they headed toward the dorms. Before leaving, Lin Shuo checked his and Huo Yu'er's class: both were in Freshman Class One, and their homeroom teacher was none other than Zhou Yi.

Lin Shuo rubbed his forehead; why was someone so eager to get beaten up? He then cast the matter to the back of his mind. If Zhou Yi wanted to stir up trouble, he wouldn't mind showing her the power of the Seven-Colored Dragon King martial soul.

For Shrek, if it truly came to that point, it would be hard to guess how the academy would choose.