Shrek's Admissions Pitch Was Supposed to Fool Others, So How Did They Fall for It Themselves?

On the screen in the sky.

Dai Mubai was introducing Shrek Academy to the four newcomers.

"In the twenty years since Shrek was founded, we've admitted a total of forty-two students..."

"Across the entire Douluo Continent, we may be the only academy with more teachers than students. Even after admitting you four, we'll still have more teachers..."

As Dai Mubai went on, Tang Si couldn't help grumbling to himself: It sounds ridiculous, but the truth is... it's even worse than it sounds! Does nobody on the Douluo Continent have a brain? Forget it, forget it. None of my business... I can't worry about everything. I didn't come to this third-rate academy to study anyway. Better keep my head down. Say less, do less, stay out of it. Picking up girls is what I'm here for.

Ning Rongrong asked, "Why did the academy relax some of its entrance requirements? I saw plenty of applicants."

Dai Mubai immediately looked deeply respectful and said solemnly, "The headmaster once said he'd rather go without than settle for less! No matter what, even if Shrek Academy has to shut down, we'll never accept trash. Shrek only wants monsters! Do you know what it takes to graduate from Shrek Academy? We..."

He rattled on at length. The requirement to reach level forty by age twenty was indeed astonishing—and out of reach for most.

In the Different World, even Dugu Yan's mouth fell open in surprise.

By those graduation standards, she wouldn't even qualify to graduate!

Comments: [Yu Tianheng: As expected of the academy my uncle helped found. I only barely reached level forty at twenty.]

That was normal across the Douluo Continent. Reaching level forty by twenty was hard. Not everyone belonged to the Spirit Hall Golden Generation, and not everyone had immortal herbs to eat.

On the livestream.

Dai Mubai continued, "Since the academy was founded, we've admitted forty-two students. Only fourteen actually met the graduation requirements. Every one of those fourteen became renowned after leaving the academy. The most outstanding among them is now Spirit Hall's youngest elder, with authority second only to the Pope..."

Comments: [Qiao Da: Whoa~~ Shrek is that impressive?]

[Wen Shuineng: Damn~~ Shrek's graduation requirements are harsh, but those achievements are amazing!]

[Feng Xiaotian: No way?]

[Yan: Impossible!]

[Meng Shenji: Shrek's graduates are that accomplished? Most graduates of our Heaven Dou Royal Academy only receive noble status from the empire...]

[Dai Mubai: Heh~~ Now you know what Shrek is capable of, right?]

[Tang San: Being able to study at Shrek is the greatest honor of my life. I've never regretted going there!]

[Ma Hongjun: Shrek is mighty!]

[Qin Ming: That's my Shrek!]

While everyone else marveled and the Shrek students cheered.

Tang Si finally couldn't hold back. He interrupted Dai Mubai.

"Wait. What's the name of this youngest Spirit Hall elder whose authority is second only to the Pope? I heard you have to be a Titled Douluo to become a Spirit Hall elder."

"And another thing!"

"Shrek was founded just over twenty years ago, and applicants can't be older than thirteen. That means even the earliest graduates can't be over forty, right? He became a Titled Douluo by forty? Someone that talented must be famous everywhere, surely?"

Tang Si narrowed his eyes and smiled at Dai Mubai. "So who is this extraordinarily gifted Titled Douluo?"

Dai Mubai froze and opened his mouth. "Well... he..."

Dai Mubai fell silent, panic spreading across his face. He didn't know who that former student was. He hadn't even heard his name.

The atmosphere turned strange. Ning Rongrong, Zhu Zhuqing, and Xiao Wu exchanged glances. They could all tell something was wrong.

Comments: [Hu Liena: Exactly. Why haven't I heard of this Spirit Hall elder? And he's so young, yet his authority supposedly rivals my teacher's?]

[Yue Guan: Hahaha~~ Old Gui and I are His Holiness the Pope's trusted aides. I can confirm that no such person exists in Spirit Hall.]

[Spirit Hall Grand Elder: Correct. Our Elder Council has only seven members, all over fifty-five. There is no elder around forty years old.]

Spirit City, inside the Papal Hall.

Golden Crocodile Douluo addressed her respectfully rather than by name. "Your Holiness, please clarify for everyone watching whether Spirit Hall has an elder whose authority is second only to yours."

Bibi Dong harbored resentment toward everything to do with the Worship Hall. She considered the matter. Shrek's lies are going too far. It won't hurt to set the record straight. Besides, Shrek's headmaster is Flender, not Yu Xiaogang.

And so.

Comments: [Bibi Dong: The identity and background of every Spirit Hall elder are rigorously vetted. None of our elders came from Shrek, much less an elder whose authority is second only to mine.]

[Spirit Hall Seventh Consecrator: Gwahahaha~~~ Shrek, come out and explain yourselves. You dare use Spirit Hall's reputation to swindle people? Tired of living?]

[Dugu Yan: Well, well~~ So they're frauds! Shrek, have you no shame?]

[Su Daqiang: What? They're frauds? We only signed up because we heard a graduate had become a Spirit Hall elder, and they took ten Gold Soul Coins from us! Damn it!]

[Liang Qi: Damn you, Shrek! You had me completely fooled! Give us our money back!]

[Osler: Now I've seen everything. Their qualifications to run an academy are questionable, and even their admissions pitch is made up. They'll do anything for those ten Gold Soul Coins! Tsk, tsk, tsk~~~]

[Huo Wu: So all the Shrek Seven Monsters were lured in by a lie? Unbelievable.]

Everyone understood now: Shrek Academy was a proven scam.

Bibi Dong herself had confirmed it. How could such an elder exist?

The livestream continued.

Tang Si gave Dai Mubai plenty of time before pressing him again. "You don't know that former student's name? He's Shrek's pride, and you don't even know his name? How can you call yourself worthy of Shrek's glory?"

"I... I... I don't... know!"

Dai Mubai's face flushed crimson as he forced the words through clenched teeth.

His eyes were bloodshot. He cried out inwardly: Shrek's glory! How could I not know the name of Shrek's pride?! No!

"Heh~~"

Tang Si chuckled and didn't press further. Heh. You can tell a lie like that to fool other people, but how did you end up believing it yourself?

His thoughts continued: Come to think of it, Shrek really does have someone with authority second only to Pope Bibi Dong. Of course, if you look closely, the whole thing is a joke!

That useless Yu Xiaogang got himself made an honorary elder just by being Bibi Dong's first love. Even Yue Guan and Gui Mei have to wait on him respectfully. Disrespect Yu Xiaogang? They'd better ask themselves whether Bibi Dong would beat them for it.

For a moment, the entire Different World fell silent.

Why did Yu Xiaogang keep turning up everywhere?

Comments: [Li Yuan: Why is it Bibi Dong and her obsession with love again?]

[Yue Guan: Insolence! You dare disrespect Her Holiness? Do you have a death wish?]

[Wei Lishi: Spirit Hall has embarrassed itself again! They'd be better off without this Pope.]