Super Genius! Crushing Shrek? Is This Still East Sea?

"Mu Xi?"

"What are you thinking about again?"

Seeing Mu Xi's somewhat distracted expression, Zhen Hua immediately realized she had something on her mind and asked.

"Cough, it's nothing, Uncle."

"I was just thinking about when I'll be able to catch up to Jiang Yan and become an amazing blacksmith."

Mu Xi froze for a moment, then smiled and shook her head. Her gaze swept over Jiang Yan before she gripped her forging hammer again and began hammering away.

It seemed she did not need to think so far ahead.

The future was built upon the present. If she wanted extraordinary achievements in the future, she still needed to keep working hard and moving forward!

"Not bad. Mu Xi really is a diligent and hardworking child. Well done. Little Yan, you should have that kind of perseverance too."

Zhen Hua nodded approvingly and said with a smile, unable to resist glancing at Jiang Yan beside him.

What incredible talent.

A blacksmithing god born by nature itself. If heaven had not given rise to blacksmithing, Jiang Yan would have been the eternal night. If he truly devoted himself wholeheartedly to blacksmithing, he would surely become a Divine Artisan before turning twenty.

If I had that kind of talent too...

Then I'd spend twenty-three hours a day forging and just make a token effort for the remaining hour!

"And then become like you, Uncle Zhen?"

"Having unmatched forging abilities, yet being seen as a thorn in the eyes of even more people throughout the world?"

Jiang Yan glanced at him helplessly and muttered.

As he thought that, Zhen Hua's information card instantly appeared in his mind—

[Character Information Card · Zhen Hua]

[Martial Soul: Earthshaking Hammer. Innate Soul Power: Rank 8. Rank 94 Titled Douluo. Four-Word Battle Armor Master. Black Mecha Master. Rank 9 Blacksmithing Divine Artisan. The only Divine Artisan in the world today. Four-Word Battle Armor creator.]

[Life Traits: Above-Average Talent (Purple), Peak of Profession (Black), Immense Strength (Purple), Passionate (Purple), Diligent (Purple), Love-Struck Fool (White)]

Setting aside that ever-present love-struck fool trait, Uncle Zhen was quite an interesting person.

His cultivation was not actually that poor, but he had been especially devoted to blacksmithing in his early years. It had affected his best years of cultivation, leaving him unable to advance beyond Rank 95.

"Hey, you brat—"

Hearing that, Zhen Hua's old face immediately reddened.

Clearly, he knew it well himself. Even as a Four-Word Battle Armor Master, his cultivation had been raised purely through resources, so among true top-tier powerhouses, he really was a freeloader.

Didn't every evil Soul Master treat assassinating him as a target? If not for the chef being around, he would have died a hundred times already.

"Little Yan is right. Zhen Hua, don't lead such a good seed astray. Haven't the lessons from the two of us been enough?"

"If you really lead the kid off course and the Spirit Pagoda finds out, I won't take your side."

At that moment, Mu Ye, who had been silently watching, spoke up as well.

As close brothers, the two had plenty in common—for example, their underwhelming cultivation.

Zhen Hua's talent was not exceptionally monstrous, so it was understandable that he would never break through to Super Douluo. But Mu Ye was different.

Innate Full Soul Power and a completely awakened Body Martial Soul.

With such talent, backed by the Body Sect, a first-rate force that had declined but was once glorious, becoming an Ultimate Douluo had not been impossible. Yet the things he loved had affected his cultivation instead.

Even though he was known as the strongest mecha master in the world, and could still rank among the continent's top twenty with his Four-Word Battle Armor and mecha, he was ultimately not even a Super Douluo. There would always be regret in this life.

"Chef, I know what I'm doing."

"I was only saying it casually."

Seeing his old friend's reproachful expression, Zhen Hua hurriedly laughed it off.

"But Little Yan, it seemed Miss Na'er has already awakened her Martial Soul. What kind of talent does the little girl have?"

Zhen Hua suddenly thought of something. Gu Yuena had failed to awaken her Martial Soul at six, but after being specially awakened by her family, just how talented was she?

"Na'er also has Innate Full Soul Power, and her Martial Soul is a dragon."

"She has also absorbed the inherited Soul Spirit brought by her family. Her future cultivation will be smooth sailing."

Jiang Yan smiled and did not conceal anything.

Na'er awakening her Martial Soul could not be hidden anyway. Besides, there was even less need to hide it from someone close to him like Zhen Hua.

"An inherited Soul Spirit..."

"It seems Na'er's family truly is an ancient clan that has lived in seclusion."

Mu Ye's face held a trace of shock. A top-tier dragon Martial Soul combined with an inherited Soul Spirit spoke volumes about her background. But when he recalled the little girl's extraordinary bearing, he felt relieved.

Little Yan and Na'er...

No matter how outrageous their backgrounds were, he would not find it surprising.

"Na'er truly has the bearing of a powerhouse. I still remember when she accompanied Little Yan here to forge before and easily picked up the Thousand-Forged Heavy Silver Hammer. If you ask me..."

"Perhaps Na'er could learn blacksmithing too."

A gleam flashed through Zhen Hua's eyes as he finally revealed his true intention.

"?"

"Letting Na'er forge?"

"Uncle Zhen, don't even think about it."

Jiang Yan was stunned, then stared seriously at Zhen Hua, his tone leaving no room for doubt.

Old man, what do you mean by this? Na'er was such a cute little girl, and he wanted to trick her into becoming a blacksmith too!

He only forged because he was putting his peerless talent to use. But if it involved his Na'er, he was unwilling.

"Hahaha..."

"I was only asking casually."

Zhen Hua had expected that response. He smiled and shook his head without saying anything more.

After all, she was the child bride Jiang Yan had supposedly brought home.

He could not bear to let her suffer or tire herself out, could he?

Little Yan, this kid...

"..."

Beside Jiang Yan, Mu Xi, who had been secretly listening the entire time, remained silent. Images of Na'er and Jiang Yan together kept surfacing in her mind, and she sighed inwardly once more.

They truly were childhood sweethearts who had grown up together.

With such heaven-defying potential, they would likely become a celebrated couple in the future!

As for her, this so-called blacksmithing genius, perhaps reaching the top had always been nothing more than wishful thinking.

She inadvertently glanced at Jiang Yan beside her. While her emotions were complicated, an inexplicable sourness welled up in her heart before quietly fading away.

"..."

In the blink of an eye, several days passed.

The day before school started, Jiang Yan and Gu Yuena went to Eastsea Academy. They were there for no other reason than to collect their uniforms.

As for everything else...

Neither of them had chosen to live on campus, so the only things they needed to collect were their new uniforms and student cards.

Before long, inside the principal's office of Eastsea Academy.

Jiang Yan and Gu Yuena knocked and entered. Besides Principal Yu Lian, there was also a middle-aged man in his forties in the room.

Both men wore smiles. Clearly, they had been eagerly awaiting Jiang Yan and Gu Yuena's arrival.

"Congratulations on awakening your Martial Soul, Miss Gu. From today onward, welcome to Eastsea Soul Master Academy as well."

Yu Lian spoke kindly. Looking at the two before him, his tone was as respectful as ever—or rather... loyal.

Jiang Yan naturally deserved such treatment, and Na'er, a top genius with Innate Full Soul Power, deserved it as well.

The former was a super genius, and the latter was also a genius.

They were both Eastsea's future!

"You're too kind, Principal."

Gu Yuena responded quietly. Her exquisite, peerlessly beautiful face carried a faint aura that kept strangers at a distance as she spoke indifferently.

"Young Master Jiang, Miss Gu, this man beside me is Director Long Hengxu, the dean of the intermediate division."

"If either of you have any issues in the intermediate academy later on, whether in life or studies, you may seek him out."

At that moment, Yu Lian pointed at Long Hengxu beside him. The smile on his face did not fade as he continued.

"Greetings, Young Master Jiang. Greetings, Miss Gu. Starting today, I will be the academic dean for you both."

Long Hengxu was equally courteous. The respect on his face was impossible to conceal. As he handed over the uniforms, he gave a slight bow.

"Then thank you in advance, Director Long."

Jiang Yan and Gu Yuena exchanged a glance. The former accepted two sets of intermediate division uniforms and student cards, then said with a smile.

During his three years at Eastsea Academy, he actually quite liked this place. If there was anything he disliked, perhaps...

It was only the teachers' attitudes.

Why did their excessive respect make him feel as if he could do whatever he wanted?

"..."

"Young Master Jiang, Miss Na'er, Xie Xie, Wang Jinxi, Zhang Yangzi, and, hmm, Wei Xiaofeng."

"Three with Innate Full Soul Power and three with Innate Rank 9 Soul Power. Every one of their futures is incomparably bright."

"I never thought that one day, Eastsea Academy would possess even a hint of Shrek Academy's grandeur."

Watching Jiang Yan and Gu Yuena leave, Yu Lian lowered his head emotionally and looked at the student list for this year's first class of intermediate division freshmen, his gaze somewhat distant.

Five of them had come from the junior division. Over three years, he had witnessed these geniuses work hard and shine.

He had also seen the future that was drawing near!

"Yes, Principal. They always said Eastsea Academy lacked talent and had remained at the bottom of the Skysea Alliance Grand Tournament for years. But after this, our Eastsea will surely become the foremost academy in the alliance!"

Long Hengxu was equally stirred. He could already envision them slaughtering gods if gods stood in their way and killing Buddhas if Buddhas blocked their path at the Skysea Grand Tournament.

The principal said they had the grandeur of Shrek Academy, but he did not think so. First, Eastsea's foundation was far inferior, and second...

Shrek Academy itself!

It also did not have a genius like Young Master Jiang!

Having him study here was the greatest honor Eastsea Academy had received since its founding!

"Director Long is right. The Skysea Alliance championship will surely belong to Young Master Jiang."

"Speaking of which, Teacher Wu, the instructor for Class One, came from that place. I wonder what he will think when he sees these students' files?"

Yu Lian's lips curled up as he chuckled.

Would he...

Also have his scalp go numb from being shown up?

"..."

Meanwhile, in a quiet office not far away.

A blue-haired man stared at the form in his hand, his gaze solemn and astonished. His icy face displayed an expression of disbelief.

"Eastsea Academy's new students...?"

"Where the hell did I end up?"

"Is this still Eastsea Academy?"

He could not help muttering as he looked at the information on the list.

His name was Wu Changkong. His Martial Soul was the Skyfrost Sword. He was twenty-seven years old, a Rank 69 assault-type battle Soul Emperor, and the disciple of Red Dragon Douluo Zhuo Shi. He had grown up at Shrek Academy and seen countless geniuses from childhood to adulthood.

But precisely because of that, he knew even better how unreasonable it was for these geniuses to appear in Eastsea City.

Especially...

That child named Jiang Yan!

"A graduate of East Sea Junior Academy, nine years old, a Rank 33 Soul Elder—that would be one thing. But he defeated a Soul King while a Soul Grandmaster, his first Soul Skill is a semi-domain, and his spiritual power is enough to bear a thousand-year Soul Spirit."

"Is this even fair?"

Wu Changkong's expression was solemn.

He had long heard of Eastsea's greatest genius.

Only today did he learn...

This was far more than merely Eastsea's greatest!

"Countless talented people exist beneath the heavens, but before Jiang Yan..."

"Who would dare call themselves a genius?"

"..."

PS: This chapter is 3,300 words!

Jiang Yan: I will become a supremely benevolent and virtuous king. Seriously.