Dai Linger

After exchanging pleasantries with Dai Yueyan, En Zuo went on to meet the remaining five Heavenly Kings of Monster Academy.

Fox King Su Mu, Wolf King Hua Lantang, Tower King Ye Zhi, Wind King Lin San, and Shadow King Teng Teng.

Together with Huo Yuhao and Tang San, whom En Zuo had personally introduced, these ten people could be said to be Monster Academy's hope for the future.

They bore the heavy responsibility of defeating Shrek.

En Zuo teased:

"Next year's Continental Advanced Soul Master Elite Tournament, I hope you will show off Monster Academy's style and let the other soul master academies know what a true monster is. Don't capsize in a ditch."

The Heavenly Kings laughed. On the Star Luo Continent, there was not a single academy that truly warranted their attention. Even Star Luo Royal Academy was merely an opponent worth taking a little more seriously.

How could they possibly capsize in a ditch?

Monster Academy held the same lofty position on the Star Luo Continent that Shrek Academy held on the Douluo Continent. It was a colossal force that had claimed championship after championship.

Fox King Su Mu spoke with refined grace. Compared to Dai Yueyan, he lacked some of a leader's presence. Smiling, he said, "Junior En Zuo, with Brother Long and the rest of us here, this tournament will be nothing more than a formality."

Then his tone shifted as he asked curiously:

"But are you really not going to compete in this tournament with us? It is a perfect opportunity to make a name for yourself. Whether it is Dean En Ci or Brother Long, both have high hopes for you becoming the Eighth Heavenly King."

Ordinary students might not have known much about En Zuo's withdrawal from the Eight Heavenly Kings. As official Heavenly Kings, however, they believed they had a fairly comprehensive understanding of the matter.

Long Yue had already crushed three challengers who dared set their sights on the position of the Eighth Heavenly King, and had even openly declared that the position was reserved for En Zuo.

Even if En Zuo stepped down, no one else would be allowed to touch it.

En Zuo shook his head. Su Mu's words did not change his mind. "I have my own plans."

"After this tournament is over, I will lead the soul master team I have assembled to challenge Monster Academy's Heavenly Kings and determine the team that will compete in the next tournament."

Even though En Zuo had said it himself, those present found his words somewhat arrogant.

Only one person believed him.

Long Yue.

He firmly believed that the team his junior brother assembled would be able to stand before the Heavenly Kings openly and honorably, then issue a ranking challenge.

Long Yue walked over to En Zuo, patted him on the shoulder, and revealed a hearty smile. "I look forward to that day. I look forward to seeing you defeat me fair and square, Junior Brother."

"Maybe by then, I'll have to become one of your reserve members and take part in the next tournament."

"Hahaha."

The other five Heavenly Kings did not take those joking words to heart. No matter how monstrous En Zuo's talent was, he was only one person. Their side still had Long Yue. Could he really gather an entire team of monsters?

En Zuo merely smiled without speaking.

Heavenly Kings immersed in the hollow glory and prestige before them were simply not opponents worth fighting in his eyes.

Watching the fierce clashes between soul masters on the Soul Fighting Platform, En Zuo lost interest after only a few glances. Not everyone possessed the talent to become a Titled Douluo, nor could everyone far surpass theory in their soul ring configurations and become a genius who broke convention.

Those soul masters could only become the backbone of the Star Luo soul master world.

One month later.

Monster Academy, located in Star Luo City, welcomed another grand occasion: its new student entrance examinations.

Countless young soul masters, their eyes brimming with anticipation, crossed Monster Academy's gates after passing the soul power tests.

"Monster Academy, here I come! I will become the greatest soul master and one of the Eight Heavenly Kings!" Someone could not suppress his excitement. He raised a fist and swung it, drawing sidelong looks from those around him.

Gentle sunlight spilled down the entrance steps toward the academy gates. En Zuo, already dressed in Monster Academy's crimson combat uniform, stood at the top of the stairs with his hands casually tucked into his pockets.

Tang San and Huo Yuhao, dressed in the same Monster Academy uniforms, stood beside him.

En Zuo leaned forward slightly. The dark-red hood draped over his uniform cast his entire face into shadow, while a few loose strands of hair obscured most of his vision.

Yet his scrutinizing gaze still swept across every student who entered the academy gates.

En Zuo lowered his brim to block the direct sunlight. He was here to wait for someone.

Dai Yueyan had entrusted Dai Linger to his care, so En Zuo had not directly participated in the new student entrance examinations. Instead, he had brought Tang San and Huo Yuhao to wait at the academy gates.

Before long.

A young girl in palace attire, smiling sweetly as she linked her arm through Dai Yueyan's, walked gracefully toward the academy.

The moment she saw the three waiting for her, Dai Linger's eyes lit up. She abandoned Dai Yueyan and jogged over to En Zuo, wanting to lift his hood for a closer look, but En Zuo raised a hand to stop her.

Dai Linger pursed her lips and clapped her hands. "What's with that? You're too embarrassed to show your face. How boring."

"Father even said you were a once-in-a-millennium genius at Monster Academy. Who would have thought you were some freak who would not even show his real face?"

Dai Yueyan pulled Dai Linger back behind him, his expression turning stern as he rebuked her. "Linger, do not be rude. En Zuo is Dean En Ci's prized disciple. By seniority, he is Father's junior brother."

"Fourth Brother, even you're bullying me." Mist welled in Dai Linger's eyes, and there was a faint sob in her voice.

How could Dai Yueyan not know Dai Linger's true nature? If even three parts out of ten of her words were true, that would already be impressive. This display was probably an act as well.

"My little princess, stop making trouble, ouch..."

"Brother Dai, it is fine."

Dai Linger's verbal provocation did not stir the slightest ripple in En Zuo's heart. Her talent as a soul master was decent, but that was all.

The gap between them in the future was destined to be a chasm, one that could never be bridged.

Showing his true face was not anything embarrassing. He still had to be polite to the employer providing Monster Academy's resources.

Brushing aside the pale strands of hair before his eyes, En Zuo lifted his hood. His skin was a sickly white, so pale that the veins beneath its surface could almost be seen. He revealed the practiced smile he wore before ordinary people.

"I am En Zuo. If nothing unexpected happens, we will form a team together for the upcoming new student examinations and face the trials."

Tang San was quite polite. "Tang San. You can call me Little San."

"Huo Yuhao."

Huo Yuhao coldly spat out three words, then turned his head away, unwilling to look at the Dai royal family before him any longer.

"Hello, I'm Dai Linger." Dai Linger clasped her hands behind her back and skipped in a circle around the three of them, her gaze lingering more often on En Zuo and Huo Yuhao.

Tang San's features were too ordinary. Aside from being slightly more approachable than most people, he was far less handsome than Huo Yuhao and En Zuo.

Dai Linger raised her delicate fist and waved it with a grin. "My goal is to become one of Monster Academy's Heavenly Kings within two years of enrolling, just like Fourth Brother. Please take care of me from now on."