The First Day of School

[ps: Martial Soul Hypnosis... an alternative path of evil cultivation. Upon reaching the later stages, nine white spirit rings will be unlocked, granting the ability to stop time... As for what comes after, those who know, know.]

Outside Soto City, the scorching sun hung high in the sky.

The entrance to Shrek Academy was packed with young spirit masters who had come to enroll.

Everyone harbored dreams of entering this top-tier academy, yet no one knew that today's ordinary entrance examination would completely overturn the original trajectory of the Douluo Continent.

Within the crowd, Qin Chuan slowly opened his eyes, a deep, chilling glint flashing across his pupils.

I've been transmigrated to Douluo for over ten years, and finally, this day has arrived. My mutated martial soul, [Illusion Bell], is at spirit power level 29, and I've even obtained a [Heavenly Dao System].

As Qin Chuan was thinking, he saw two familiar faces approaching—Tang San and Xiao Wu.

Hm, they're here. The target has appeared. The first task given by the [Heavenly Dao System] is to make me intercept Xiao Wu!

Thinking this, Qin Chuan quietly cast his first spirit skill on Xiao Wu—Shadow Hypnosis!

In the blink of an eye, Xiao Wu was dragged into a different dimension.

Inside the space.

Peach blossoms drifted through the air as Xiao Wu and Qin Chuan stood face-to-face in a peach grove. Pink and white petals landed on her scorpion braid, and a few red radishes hung from the branches above her head.

"Xiao Wu. Tell me, who is the person you love most?"

"It is... Tang San," Xiao Wu replied mechanically.

"Good. Now, from this moment on, forget him. The person you love most is me."

"No, don't... I don't want to forget Third Brother." Xiao Wu trembled with agitation, and immediately, a strong sense of resistance surged from the depths of her spirit, breaking free from the hypnosis.

Qin Chuan curled his lips into a slight smile; it seemed he would have to pick a more perfect moment to try again.

"Third Brother... look at this student. His smile is so warm, and he's quite handsome, too." Xiao Wu was completely unaware of what had just happened.

Qin Chuan chuckled inwardly; it seemed the hypnosis had still managed to disturb Xiao Wu's mind.

Ten minutes later, Qin Chuan easily passed the spirit power test, and Dai Mubai led him toward the location for the combat test.

At the test site.

Tang San and Xiao Wu had arrived early, sitting on a long bench at the edge of the field.

Dai Mubai looked at Qin Chuan, "Wait here for a moment; I'm going to fetch the others."

Qin Chuan nodded in agreement.

After Dai Mubai left, Xiao Wu whispered, "Third Brother, look, that handsome boy is here too."

"Xiao Wu, can we please not talk about him?"

At that moment, a trace of resentment toward Tang San actually sprouted in the depths of Xiao Wu's heart.

A few minutes later, Dai Mubai led Zhu Zhuqing and Ning Rongrong to the combat test site.

At the same time, the scruffy, broad-shouldered Teacher Zhao Wuji appeared on the scene.

Dai Mubai reported, "Teacher Zhao, these five people (Tang San, Xiao Wu, Qin Chuan, Zhu Zhuqing, and Ning Rongrong) all have spirit power exceeding level 25 and have come to participate in the combat test."

"Hm, not bad. There are quite a few little monsters this year." He then introduced himself, "Greetings, everyone. My name is Zhao Wuji, and I am in charge of the final assessment. As long as you survive my trial, you can join Shrek Academy. However, this test is unusual; the content is straightforward and simple: it is a real combat engagement. You will all attack me together, and as long as you hold out for the duration of one incense stick, you will pass."

As Zhao Wuji spoke, a smug smile appeared on his face.

"You have one minute to discuss your strategy. Once the time is up, the battle begins immediately. No further discussion."

"Come on, quickly, let's hurry and discuss our formation!" Tang San shouted aloud.

Everyone quickly exchanged names and spirit power levels, instantly entering a state of preparation.

The minute passed in a flash, and the assessment began abruptly.

Ning Rongrong's two spirit rings shone brilliantly as she took the lead on the battlefield: "Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda, First: Power! Second: Speed!"

The moment Ning Rongrong finished speaking, Zhu Zhuqing and Xiao Wu felt as light as swallows. Their spirit power surged, and their movements became as swift as the wind. They took the initiative to act as the vanguard, launching the first attack with agile, forceful strikes and setting the pace for the entire battle.

On the other side, Tang San activated his Blue Silver Grass, winding it directly toward Zhao Wuji.

Facing the group's surprise attack, Zhao Wuji smiled indifferently, clicking his tongue in wonder: Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda, interesting. And what the hell is this Blue Silver Grass?

Before he could finish, he waved his large hand, flicking all the incoming Blue Silver Grass into the mud.

He then crouched slightly, his figure suddenly launching into the air.

Second spirit skill, Vajra Palm!

Zhao Wuji gathered his strength and leaped, his massive palm, condensed with violent spirit power, slamming toward Xiao Wu on the left flank.

Boom!

A muffled sound of colliding spirit power erupted.

Even though Zhao Wuji had held back, Xiao Wu was still sent flying by the immense force.

At that moment, Tang San was focused on channeling his Blue Silver Grass and had never expected that Teacher Zhao would show no mercy to a young girl.

Just at this critical moment, Qin Chuan leaped forward and caught the flying Xiao Wu steadily. Suspended in the air, her warm, soft body fell into his arms.

A faint, delicate fragrance drifted into Qin Chuan's nose.

Tang San, standing to the side, could only watch helplessly as Xiao Wu, who should have belonged to him, lay in another man's arms. His heart was filled with bitterness and frustration.

Qin Chuan landed steadily, a subtle, imperceptible smile appearing on his face: It's my turn to perform.

A wisp of pale golden light flowed from his martial soul, the Illusion Bell, and submerged entirely into Xiao Wu's body.

This was the power of the Heavenly Dao inherent to his martial soul, which possessed its own healing properties.

Xiao Wu's body trembled slightly, and the minor wounds on her skin began to heal at a speed visible to the naked eye.

The opportunity is here. Shadow Hypnosis! Qin Chuan quietly activated his soul skill once more.

Xiao Wu fell into the different dimension for the second time.

Inside the different dimension.

Peach blossoms filled the sky as Xiao Wu and Qin Chuan stood face-to-face in a peach grove. Pink and white petals landed on her scorpion braid, and several red carrots hung from the branches above her head.

"Listen, imagine a vase in your mind." Qin Chuan's voice was not loud, yet it carried a strange, penetrating power.

This was a passive effect attached to the Illusion Bell; within the mental dreamscape, every word spoken by the caster was judged by the target's subconscious as a command that must be executed.

With the foundation laid by the first hypnosis, Xiao Wu could not resist the second.

"There is a vase in my mind," Xiao Wu said, her eyes vacant.

"That vase represents your love for Tang San."

"Vase... Tang San... love..."

"How big is the vase?"

"Very... very big."

It seemed Xiao Wu's feelings for Tang San were incredibly deep, but that didn't matter. No matter how big a vase was, it was still just a vase, and it was meant to be shattered.

"Now, lift it up with both hands," Qin Chuan continued to issue commands.

"Lift it up with both hands."

Qin Chuan suddenly clapped his hands loudly: "Bang! You've smashed the vase, and your love for Tang San has dissipated along with it."

Xiao Wu looked at the shattered vase on the ground, her body trembling uncontrollably.

The sudden dissipation of her feelings for Tang San, cultivated over many years, brought a violent shock to her mind and spirit.

Several minutes later, once Xiao Wu's emotions had completely settled, Qin Chuan asked softly, "Do you like Tang San?"

"I do not."

"Very good. From this moment on, the person you like the most is Qin Chuan."

"The person I like the most is... Qin Chuan..."

Hehehe, successful interception!

At the same time, the notification sound of the Heavenly Dao System rang out right on cue: "Congratulations to the host for successfully intercepting Xiao Wu. Obtained Heavenly Dao Power +2. Current Heavenly Dao Power: 2/10 (When full, you can obtain the Six Paths Reincarnation Eye). Unlocked next mission: Intercept Ning Rongrong."

This was the Heavenly Dao System that Qin Chuan was bound to. Although he did not know the specific abilities of the Six Paths Reincarnation Eye, the name alone told him it was a heaven-defying divine skill.

His thoughts returned to the battlefield.

"For now, remain undercover by Tang San's side and report his every move to me."

"Understood."

Xiao Wu returned completely to her normal state; what had just occurred seemed long, but in reality, it had happened in the blink of an eye.

At this moment, Qin Chuan's first martial soul, the Illusion Bell, quietly manifested.

Zhao Wuji, who was locked in combat with Tang San and Zhu Zhuqing, caught a glimpse of this out of the corner of his eye and whispered in shock: What? Is this a mutated martial soul?

Xiao Wu's cheeks flushed slightly, and she looked at Qin Chuan with shy affection, calling out softly, "Brother Qin Chuan."

Qin Chuan gently stroked her cheek: There is still half an incense stick of time left; I must hold on.

As he spoke, two soul rings rose slowly from beneath his feet—white, white.

Watching those two ten-year white rings, a strong sense of unease suddenly rose in the depths of Zhao Wuji's heart—Impossible, this kind of evil art should not exist in this world!

"Second soul skill, Sinful Haze!"

Zhao Wuji's cultivation far exceeded everyone else's, which was why the first soul skill, Shadow Hypnosis, had already become ineffective against him.

However, this second soul skill was not suppressed by soul power levels.