Shrek Academy: Yan Shaozhe

Besides those two major questions, Xiao Tuo had a third, smaller doubt of his own.

That was, he had originally wanted to use his Martial Soul to investigate his origins.

In this world, Martial Souls were passed down through bloodlines before awakening and controlled by the soul after awakening.

Yet Xiao Tuo's Noble Carriage Sword and Fire Elephant Power had been born directly from his soul. Then what about the Martial Soul inherited through his bloodline? What was it?

Since he had been reborn into this world, he must have had a father and mother. Though he had never met his father and his mother had abandoned him, they could not possibly have lacked Martial Souls. People in this world might lack Innate Soul Power at most, but no one had ever been born without a Martial Soul altogether.

But Xiao Tuo had examined himself from head to toe and indeed found no third Martial Soul.

Still, compared to the first two questions, this doubt was utterly insignificant. So what if he did not have a third Martial Soul? With the Noble Carriage Sword and Fire Elephant Power already in hand, was he really afraid they would not be enough?

The Martial Soul in his bloodline had most likely been cut away by the Noble Carriage Sword.

Besides, since those so-called parents had not wanted him, why should he obsess over who they were? In Xiao Tuo's heart, only his master from his previous life, Yuwen Tuo, and the elders from the village that had taken him in during this life were his family.

Now that those elders had been killed by Evil Soul Masters, then even if it took every last ounce of his strength for the rest of his life, he would wipe out the Evil Soul Masters and avenge them!

Several days later, the City Lord received an order from the Shrek Academy Sea God Pavilion, telling him to bring Xiao Tuo to Shrek Academy.

The City Lord was overjoyed. He immediately wrote a letter of recommendation for Xiao Tuo's admission and brought him there.

Like Su Yunlang, he also wanted to receive a reward from the academy. This letter was practically a letter claiming credit.

Though Xiao Tuo did not want to go, his little arms could not twist a big thigh. He did not yet possess the strength to resist them, so he could only obediently follow them to Shrek City.

Shrek City was a massive city near Shrek Academy. It was called Shrek City because of its direct connection to Shrek Academy. With Shrek's influence there, Shrek City's prosperity rivaled that of a nation's capital. All manner of shops could be found here, while Soul Tools and soul power training institutions were everywhere. It was a multifunctional supercity that combined trade, daily life, and cultivation.

The City Lord brought Xiao Tuo directly to the Inner Academy. Ordinarily, that would have violated the rules, but Innate Level 20 allowed Xiao Tuo to ignore them.

Inside an Inner Academy office, a man and a woman had already been waiting.

The man wore white robes and was a handsome middle-aged gentleman. The woman was tall and exceptionally beautiful.

The City Lord led Xiao Tuo inside, cupped his hands, and bowed. "This student, Ma Sino, pays respects to the Dean and Vice Dean."

So this City Lord was named Ma Sino. Xiao Tuo felt like making another sarcastic remark. Well then, after Su Yunlang, even that Ma Xiunuo's descendant had shown up.

As for the Dean and Vice Dean he had addressed, if Xiao Tuo's guess was right, they should be Yan Shaozhe and Cai Meier, the Dean and Vice Dean of Shrek Academy's Martial Soul Department.

The two were husband and wife, and both were Titled Douluo-level powerhouses. They had studied under the Dragon God Douluo Mu En.

"Mm, A'Nuo, you've worked hard. Is this child the one with Innate Level 20?" Yan Shaozhe asked.

"Yes, Dean. On the day of his awakening, this student tested his soul power several times. There can be no mistake," Ma Sino answered respectfully.

"Xiao Tuo, hurry over and greet the Dean. He is the Dean of Shrek Academy, with a status no lower than a ruler of a nation."

"Greetings, Dean!" Though Xiao Tuo was unwilling in his heart, he did not reveal it on the surface. His manners were impeccable.

"Dean, City Lord, may I leave now? Thank you to the City Lord's Mansion for taking care of me these past few days. The Dean has seen me now, so you can let me go, right?"

"Yuwen Tuo, don't speak nonsense!" Ma Sino shouted sternly. He had never imagined that this child would be so stubborn, still thinking of leaving Shrek even now.

That was simply a foolish act of throwing away a bright future. More importantly, if he left, the reward the academy was to give him would surely be gone as well.

This was the first time Ma Sino had spoken so harshly to Xiao Tuo in the past few days, and also the first time he had called him by his full name.

Yan Shaozhe, however, was not angry. As an elder and a Titled Douluo, he would not lose his temper at a six-year-old child over a single remark.

He waved Ma Sino aside, then looked at Xiao Tuo and said, "Xiao Tuo, your full name is Yuwen Tuo, correct? It sounds like you do not wish to join Shrek. Is there something about us you find lacking?"

"Of course not. If I looked down on the number one academy on the continent, I would be far too arrogant and conceited." Xiao Tuo cupped his hands. "It is simply that everyone has their own aspirations. I was born in the Heaven Dou Empire, so I wish to attend the Heaven Dou Empire's Royal Academy. My greatest wish in life is to serve my country."

Xiao Tuo casually came up with an excuse. Serving his country was at least an upright and legitimate reason, wasn't it?

Yan Shaozhe laughed. "Hehe, serving your country—you do have ambition. But joining Shrek does not conflict with that. Look at my student Ma Sino. Wasn't he also born into a noble family of the Heaven Dou Empire? After graduating from our academy, he returned home and inherited the position of City Lord. Our academy never forced him to remain here after graduation, did we? Our academy has the finest educational resources on the entire continent. If you achieve success in your studies here, won't you be even more capable of serving your country in the future?"

"This..." Xiao Tuo was left speechless. Mainly because this was the only legitimate excuse he could come up with. He could not exactly say that he looked down on Shrek—that would be far too provocative.

"Hehe, you are still young and do not understand Shrek's strength and greatness. Stay here for a while longer, and I believe you will soon take pride in Shrek." Yan Shaozhe did not force Xiao Tuo to make a decision immediately. His thoughts were quite similar to City Lord Ma Sino's. He merely believed that Xiao Tuo was being immature. After all, he was a six-year-old child without parents to teach him.

"Alright, can you first show me your Martial Soul? I am quite curious about a fire that can reach Innate Level 20."

"Please take a look, Senior!" Xiao Tuo did not try to be stubborn. If Yan Shaozhe wanted to see the Fire Elephant Power, he could see it. It had already been exposed anyway; the Noble Carriage Sword was his true trump card.

Yan Shaozhe stared at the flames in Xiao Tuo's hand, and his eyes sharpened.

"There is an ultimate power within this fire. Could it be Ultimate Fire? But it seems different from a conventional ultimate attribute." Yan Shaozhe curiously reached out and touched Xiao Tuo's flames.

He was a Titled Douluo. Even genuine Ultimate Fire could never injure him while Xiao Tuo did not even possess a single soul ring.

"The temperature is wrong. It is nowhere near the level of Ultimate Fire, yet I can truly feel an ultimate power. What exactly is going on?" Yan Shaozhe withdrew his hand in confusion. "Alright, child. Your Martial Soul is quite good. Cultivate diligently from now on, and you will surely achieve something."

Though he could not understand Xiao Tuo's Martial Soul, he could not lose face in front of a child, so he could only put on an inscrutable air.

"Ma Sino, take this child to the dormitory first. Then you may return. Since you have discovered such talent for our academy, the academy's reward for you will be sent to the City Lord's Mansion."

Ma Sino was overjoyed. "Yes, thank you, Dean!"

With that, he took Xiao Tuo by the hand and left.

Two figures suddenly appeared in the shadows. One was standing while holding a large chicken leg, while the other was seated in a reclining chair.

They had been there all along, yet no one present had noticed them. This showed just how profound their cultivation was.

Upon seeing them, Yan Shaozhe hurried forward and bowed. "Teacher, Xuan Zi, why have you come?"