Limit Douluo, Shrek Descends

Early the next morning, outside the main gates of Shrek Academy.

Morning light spilled across the academy's ancient stone walls, gilding the millennium-old institution in a layer of golden radiance.

Two lifelike dragons were carved into the stone pillars on either side of the main gate, their heads raised high in magnificent grandeur. Above the entrance, the five gilded characters—"Shrek Academy"—shone brilliantly beneath the morning sun.

It was currently admissions season, and several hundred youths from all across the continent had already gathered outside the academy gates, along with the parents and teachers accompanying them. The crowd buzzed with activity, discussions rising and falling without end.

"I heard Shrek's admission requirements have gone up again this year. They won't accept anyone below Rank 15 soul power."

"That's not all. You also have to pass three assessments: a soul power test, practical combat, and an overall aptitude evaluation. I heard the elimination rate last year was as high as eighty percent!"

"My boy cultivated to Rank 16 at home, and I thought he was a shoo-in. But I heard quite a few Rank 18 and Rank 19 geniuses have come to apply this year..."

Standing amid the crowd and listening to the discussions around him, Huo Yuhao felt both nervous and expectant.

He wore a neat, moon-white fitted outfit today, looking clean and sharp, brimming with energy.

After a year of recovery and cultivation, he was no longer the frail, humble boy he had once been. There was now a touch more confidence and composure between his brows.

"Nervous?" Huo Chen asked with a smile, standing beside him.

"A little," Huo Yuhao admitted honestly. "But I'm more excited than anything."

"That's good." Huo Chen ruffled his hair. "Remember, no matter what happens, your uncle is here."

Huo Yuhao nodded firmly.

Ice Empress and Snow Empress stood a little farther away. Both wore cloaks Huo Chen had prepared, concealing their overly eye-catching appearances.

Though they had restrained their auras well, their innate noble bearing still caused those around them to glance their way more than once.

"So many people." Ice Empress looked around and curled her lip. "Humans really do have terrifying reproductive capabilities."

"You'll get used to it," Snow Empress said indifferently. "We'll be living in the human world for a long time."

At that moment, the academy gates slowly opened.

An elderly man in a black robe walked out, followed by several middle-aged teachers. His beard and hair were entirely white, his face lean, his eyes bright and piercing. An imposing aura radiated from him without the need for anger.

"Candidates, parents, this old man is Li Zhengyang, director of Shrek Academy's Admissions Office." The old man's booming voice carried across the entire square. "This year's admissions assessments now officially begin. All candidates, please line up and enter in order for the first round of soul power testing."

The crowd began moving into the academy in an orderly fashion.

Huo Yuhao stood in line and slowly advanced with the flow of people. Huo Chen remained beside him, while Ice Empress and Snow Empress followed at an unhurried pace behind them.

When it was Huo Yuhao's turn, the teacher handling registration did not even look up as he asked, "Name, age, soul power rank, martial soul."

"Huo Yuhao. Eleven years old. Rank 28. Martial soul: Spiritual Eyes."

The moment he spoke, the registration teacher abruptly looked up.

The nearby candidates and parents all turned toward him in unison, their eyes filled with shock and disbelief.

"R-Rank 28?!" Even the teacher's voice cracked. "Eleven years old, Rank 28?!"

"Yes." Huo Yuhao calmly repeated himself. "Eleven years old, Rank 28."

The entire registration area fell into dead silence.

Rank 28 at eleven years old—what kind of concept was that? For an ordinary soul master, reaching Rank 15 at that age was already impressive. Anyone who surpassed Rank 20 was undoubtedly a genius raised with the full support of a major power.

But Rank 28... even in Shrek Academy's nearly century-long admissions history, such a person was exceedingly rare!

"Young man, are you sure you didn't report that incorrectly?" The teacher swallowed, his tone turning cautious. "We'll need to verify it with an on-site test."

"No problem." Huo Yuhao nodded.

The teacher took out a transparent soul power testing crystal and placed it on the table. "Please put your hand on the crystal and release your soul power."

Huo Yuhao did as instructed, pressing his right hand to the crystal and circulating his soul power.

In an instant, the crystal erupted with dazzling light. It began as white, then turned yellow, then purple, finally settling on a deep violet!

"Rank 28! It really is Rank 28!" the teacher cried out in shock.

An even greater commotion erupted from the crowd.

"Heavens! Rank 28 at eleven years old! What kind of monster is that?!"

"Spiritual Eyes martial soul? Isn't that a spiritual-type body martial soul? Since when could spiritual-types cultivate this quickly?"

"Which great clan is he from? How come I've never heard of him?"

Amid the crowd's astonished cries, Huo Yuhao withdrew his hand, his expression calm.

But it was not over yet.

The instant he pulled back his hand, two golden halos involuntarily appeared beneath his feet. They were a natural martial soul resonance triggered by the circulation of his soul power.

Two soul rings.

Both were golden.

The entire venue fell silent once more.

This time, the silence was even more absolute than before.

"G-Golden soul rings?!" An elderly man who appeared quite knowledgeable cried out in disbelief. "Those are million-year soul rings! The legendary million-year soul rings!!"

Boom!

The crowd exploded into an uproar.

Million-year soul rings! Those were things that existed only in ancient legends! In the entire history of the Douluo Continent, only Sea God Tang San had ever possessed million-year soul rings!

And today, an eleven-year-old boy had appeared at Shrek Academy's admissions grounds with two million-year soul rings!

This was no longer mere talent. This was monstrous!

The teacher in charge of registration was trembling so badly that he turned and shouted to his colleagues behind him, "Quick! Go inform the Sea God Pavilion! Tell them... tell them an extraordinary student has come to the academy!"

A young teacher immediately sprinted away.

Just then, a gentle yet powerful voice rang out.

"Everyone, please remain calm."

Huo Chen stepped out of the crowd and came to stand beside Huo Yuhao.

He did not release his soul power or display his soul rings. He merely stood there quietly.

Yet everyone fell silent without realizing it.

Because the young man gave off an invisible aura—not oppressive, but a natural sense of presence, as though he was meant to be the center of everyone's attention.

"I am Huo Yuhao's guardian, and also his uncle." Huo Chen swept his gaze around, his tone calm. "My nephew has come to Shrek to study so that he can receive a better education, not to show off. I hope everyone can regard this with a level head."

His words were courteous, but there was an unquestionable force in his tone.

The teacher in charge of registration steadied himself and cupped his hands. "May I ask who you are, sir...?"

"My name is Huo Chen." Huo Chen smiled faintly. "As for my identity..."

He thought for a moment, then made a move that caught everyone completely off guard.

He released his soul rings.

Nine soul rings slowly rose from beneath his feet.

One.

Two.

Three.

Nine.

Every one of them was a deep crimson—a hundred-thousand-year soul ring!

Nine red!

Rank ninety-nine!

Limit Douluo!

The entire square fell deathly silent.

A pin could have been heard dropping.

Those who had just been discussing Huo Yuhao now stood with their mouths agape, unable to utter a single word. Even the seasoned soul masters who believed they had seen it all were frozen stiff, as though they had witnessed the most unbelievable sight in the world.

A Rank 99 Limit Douluo was an existence standing at the very peak of the Douluo Continent's pyramid!

The known Limit Douluo on the entire continent could be counted on one hand!

And today, such a legendary existence stood so unassumingly at the gates of Shrek Academy, accompanying a child to enroll like an ordinary parent!

"This... this..." The teacher in charge of registration had completely lost the ability to speak.

At that moment, an aged and imposing voice came from deep within the academy.

"A distinguished guest has arrived, yet Shrek has failed to welcome you properly. Please forgive us."

Before the voice faded, a figure strode through the air from the depths of the academy.

He was an old man who appeared to be at least ninety years old. His body was stooped, his face withered, and he leaned on a dragon-headed cane. Yet his eyes were exceptionally bright, as though they contained a sea of stars.

Seven or eight others followed behind him, each with a profound aura. They were clearly all formidable figures at the level of Titled Douluo.

The old man landed at the academy gates. His gaze settled on Huo Chen, and a trace of gravity flashed through his eyes.

"Rank ninety-nine... a Limit Douluo?" His voice was somewhat hoarse, yet it carried a force that seemed to pierce the soul. "I am Mu En, Master of Shrek Academy's Sea God Pavilion. May I ask your name, sir, and what brings you to Shrek?"

Huo Chen withdrew his soul rings and cupped his hands in greeting. "This junior is Huo Chen. Greetings, Elder Mu. I came today to send my nephew to enroll."

"Your nephew?" Mu En's gaze fell on Huo Yuhao, surprise flashing through his eyes. "Eleven years old, Rank 28, with two million-year soul rings... This child is your nephew?"

"That is correct."

Mu En fell silent for a moment before slowly nodding. "Heroes emerge in their youth. At such a young age, you have already reached the realm of a Limit Douluo, while your nephew is likewise a heaven-blessed prodigy. It is Shrek's honor to receive the favor of you both."

He paused, then added, "Would you be interested in taking up a teaching post at Shrek? With your strength and insight, you would be more than qualified to stand alongside the senior members of our Sea God Pavilion."

The moment those words were spoken, everyone present drew a sharp breath.

The senior members of the Sea God Pavilion were Shrek Academy's highest authority. Every one of them was a powerhouse at the Titled Douluo level and held immense prestige across the continent. Yet Elder Mu had directly invited this young man to join the Sea God Pavilion!

Huo Chen pondered for a moment, then smiled faintly. "I'm honored by Elder Mu's favor. However, I've only just arrived and am still unfamiliar with the academy's affairs. How about this: I'll teach at the academy as an ordinary instructor for a while first. Once I've become familiar with the academy, we can discuss the rest. What do you think?"

(PS: Mainly for the heroines. Xiaoxiao, Wang Dong'er, Wang Qiu'er, and the others are all going to be taken in—every single one. Multiple heroines.)

A hint of approval flashed through Mu En's eyes. "For the sake of prudence, that would be best. Then it's settled."

He turned and instructed the teachers behind him, "Pass down the order. From this day onward, Mr. Huo Chen is a specially appointed instructor of Shrek Academy and shall receive the same privileges as an elder of the Sea God Pavilion. Student Huo Yuhao is admitted without examination and will enter the first-year advanced class directly."

Once the order was issued, no one dared object.

Huo Yuhao looked up at his uncle, his eyes filled with admiration and gratitude.

He knew that everything his uncle had done today was for him—for him to receive the best treatment at this academy, to ensure he would not suffer any injustice, and to let him grow up in peace.

"Uncle..." he called softly.

"Hm?" Huo Chen lowered his head to look at him.

"I'll work hard," Huo Yuhao said earnestly. "I won't disgrace you."

Huo Chen smiled, his expression warm and gratified.

"I believe in you."

Ice Empress and Snow Empress stood amid the crowd, watching the scene as the corners of their lips rose slightly in unison.

"This guy really knows how to pave the way for his nephew," Ice Empress said quietly.

"Mm." Snow Empress responded softly. Her gaze fell on Huo Chen's back, and a trace of gentleness flickered in her eyes. "But that's also what makes him reassuring."