When Will He Take the Exam? (Please Follow!!!)

Xu Shengqun wanted to send his nephew to Shrek to study and cultivate. Though he did not intend for Shrek to raise an ungrateful wretch, he absolutely did not want his nephew to be brainwashed by Shrek and truly become a Soul Master in Shrek's style.

What was Shrek's style?

Unreasonable and bizarre above all else.

Sometimes, just to emphasize the word "bizarre," they could even let their examinations affect the Federation's normal operations. Xu Shengqun clearly did not want his nephew to become that kind of Soul Master.

Even though Xu Yuan was mature for his age, Xu Shengqun worried that his values had not yet fully taken shape. He did not intend to send him to Shrek at this stage.

"Next time around, Uncle plans to have you take Shrek's entrance examination three years from now," Xu Shengqun said.

Xu Yuan was somewhat puzzled.

Wasn't he going to take Shrek's entrance examination?

"Uncle called you here this time because of your enrollment three years from now."

Although he planned to have Xu Yuan take the entrance examination in three years, Xu Shengqun did not intend to let him idle away that time.

"Recently, an Inner Courtyard Disciple from Shrek has been staying around Eastsea City. His teacher is a member of Shrek's Sea God Island. Though he was unable to graduate normally because of certain changes, he was still one of the best of his generation. He is currently teaching at Eastsea Academy, and I intend to have you study under him for three years first."

Understanding dawned on Xu Yuan. He knew whom his uncle meant.

Heaven Ice Wu Zhangkong, who had left Shrek because of his girlfriend, had now come to Eastsea City.

"Uncle, are you asking him to teach me?" Xu Yuan asked.

Xu Shengqun shook his head.

"You already have Mu Ye as your teacher, but he mainly imparts the Body Sect's secret arts and helps you cultivate your Body Martial Soul. As for cultivating your Weapon Soul, the Heaven Origin Brush, Uncle can teach you that as well. You do not actually need his guidance."

Xu Yuan nodded, but that only made him more curious about why his uncle wanted him to go to Eastsea Academy and seek out Wu Zhangkong.

"Uncle has some ties with his teacher. I only learned that he had come here through his teacher's contact. After looking into it, I confirmed that he was at Eastsea Academy."

His uncle was acquainted with Zhuo Shi?

Xu Yuan found that rather surprising.

It seemed Uncle's lack of presence in the later parts of the original story had not been without reason.

"I'm sending you there this time so he can see your talent. Three years from now, he can recommend you to his teacher."

Xu Yuan frowned, unable to understand his uncle's plan.

"Uncle, with my talent, shouldn't I already be qualified to enter Shrek's Inner Courtyard as an exception?"

Xu Yuan was not exaggerating; it was simply the truth. He was now flourishing in every aspect. Only one year after awakening his Martial Soul, he had already cultivated to Level 18. This meant that he could break through Level 20 before turning eight. After that, let alone two years, breaking through Level 30 within three years would not be a problem. An eleven-year-old Soul Elder, along with Twin Martial Souls, a Body Martial Soul, and considerable talent in a Sub-Profession.

That was already more than enough for Xu Yuan to pass this year's entrance examination.

Three years later, it would only be even more certain.

Why did he need Wu Zhangkong to recommend him?

Xu Shengqun looked at Xu Yuan and sighed.

"Xiao Yuan, entering Shrek does not mean everything will be settled. Your most fundamental purpose in entering Shrek is still to gain Shrek's protection and avoid being targeted by Qian Gu Dongfeng. Entering the Inner Courtyard is one aspect, while gaining the Sea God Pavilion's attention is another."

He did not need to pull strings, but he needed to appear as though he had, in order to draw Zhuo Shi's attention.

When the time came, he would ask Zhuo Shi for another favor. There would be heavyweight figures overseeing the examination three years later, and Xu Yuan could then draw the attention of even more Sea God Pavilion Elders.

Perhaps even catch that person's attention.

It might have been wishful thinking, but was it not still a possibility worth hoping for?

If that person could take Xu Yuan as a disciple, then entering Shrek would be perfect.

"Over these three years, I will focus on teaching you spear techniques. You need to develop the Spear Intent within your Martial Soul and form your own distinctive style. Only then can you achieve the best results in the examination three years from now."

Xu Yuan did not entirely agree with Xu Shengqun's reasoning.

But it was all for his own good, so Xu Yuan had no reason to object.

He knew his own situation best.

Xu Yuan was very confident in his talent, but not so confident that he believed it could draw Yun Ming himself into taking him as a disciple—at least, not before he had begun to build momentum.

But—

"Uncle, why do I have to become his disciple?" Xu Yuan felt that his uncle might have missed the point.

"You were the one who analyzed it for me back then. I needed to seek protection, and it was because of that that I chose Shrek among so many options."

"But the answer was never that only Shrek could provide that. Didn't you bring me to take Mu Ye as my teacher for the same reason? Continuing to plan around Shrek now is merely an additional safeguard."

"Now, I am going to Shrek partly to seek protection, but more importantly, because I need an environment for learning and a stage where outstanding Soul Masters can compete."

"Teacher Mu Ye is enough to keep me safe. I have no doubt about that."

"I cannot betray Teacher Mu Ye for the sake of so-called insurance, persuading him to let me take another person as my teacher, even if that teacher specializes in a different field."

Even if he were to take Yun Ming as his teacher, it should be because Yun Ming recognized his talent, spoke with Mu Ye, and reached an agreement—not because Xu Yuan plotted for it himself.

Xu Yuan knew that his talent was not heaven-defying, but he still possessed the pride of a transmigrator.

To bow and scrape, doing everything possible to curry favor with Yun Ming?

Sorry, he could not do it.

What Xu Yuan thought of instead was how unimaginably painful that process would be for Mu Ye.

"Teacher Mu Ye has taught me wholeheartedly this past year. Whether it is cultivating my Body Martial Soul or Mecha Design, he has been a good teacher." Xu Yuan looked at his uncle and spoke earnestly.

Xu Shengqun was awakened by Xu Yuan's words and stood frozen for a moment.

After a long while, he gave a bitter laugh. "Uncle failed to change his way of thinking. That's right, you have Mu Ye as your teacher, so your safety is no longer a concern."

Not only Mu Ye, but Xu Yuan's relationship with Zhen Hua was also quite close now. With those two behind him, as long as no earth-shaking accident occurred, Xu Yuan no longer needed to make seeking protection his highest priority.

At the same time, Xu Shengqun realized from Xu Yuan's remarks that his nephew's temperament was even more mature than he had imagined. He considered matters more comprehensively than Xu Shengqun had expected, and even his beliefs had nearly formed a stable framework.

"Xiao Yuan, if Uncle were to have you take Shrek's entrance examination now, what would you think?"

"I can give it a try." Xu Yuan's expression remained calm.

If he entered Shrek now, he would have six years to focus on cultivation. If he entered three years later, he would have only three years.

Because he remembered that after Tang Wulin's class enrolled, even those students who had been internally designated for the Inner Courtyard would have to study in the Outer Courtyard.

Setting everything else aside, studying in the Outer Courtyard truly came with far too many bothersome matters.