Shrek? A Pig Farm?

"This person... has already surpassed the category of 'genius'... He is an anomaly, one capable of overturning all existing understanding in the entire soul master world..."

And this was already Yu Chen's tenth match.

When his opponent saw that it was him, he did not even dare step onto the Soul Fighting Platform and directly forfeited.

"Ten consecutive victories! Iron Soul Fighter 'Thunder Dragon' has set the fastest record for advancing through the Iron Soul Fighter rank since the Soto Great Soul Arena was founded, with a terrifying record of total victory and one-hit kills in every match!"

The host roared with all his strength, driving the atmosphere in the arena to its peak.

Yet Yu Chen, the center of attention throughout the arena, showed no joy at all. Instead, a trace of impatience appeared on his face.

He interrupted the host's impassioned speech. His voice was not loud, yet it clearly carried throughout the noisy soul arena.

"Too slow."

The cheers throughout the arena came to an abrupt halt.

Everyone stared at him blankly.

Yu Chen raised his eyes, his pitch-black gaze sweeping over the stunned host as he said indifferently:

"Arrange a Copper Soul Fighter opponent for me, or... call up all the remaining Iron Soul Fighter opponents today at once."

Yu Chen's words, "call them up at once," were like a scoop of cold water poured into a boiling pot of oil.

The entire Soto Great Soul Arena fell utterly silent in an instant.

Everyone seemed to have been frozen in place. Whether they were the frenzied spectators or the terrified arena staff, all of them stared fixedly at the peerless white-clad figure in the center of the Soul Fighting Platform as if he were insane.

All at once?

Did he know what he was saying?

There were more than a dozen groups of remaining Iron Soul Fighter contestants—nearly thirty people!

Among them were quite a few powerful Soul Elders above level thirty!

No matter how monstrous he was, even if he could one-shot a Soul Elder, his soul power had to be limited, right? Did he want to clear out every remaining opponent by himself?

"He's crazy... This guy is definitely crazy..."

"Too arrogant! Who does he think he is? A Soul King or a Soul Emperor?"

After the brief dead silence came an even greater uproar and commotion.

The host stood there with his mouth open, cold sweat streaming down his forehead. Even the hand holding the microphone was trembling as he had no idea how to respond.

This was already beyond the scope of his duties, and beyond the Great Soul Arena's contingency plans.

Just as the situation was about to spiral out of control, several men who looked like supervisors hurried onto the stage. They bowed and clasped their hands repeatedly toward Yu Chen.

"Lord Thunder Dragon, please calm your anger! This matter is of great importance. Could we ask you to come backstage so we can discuss it in detail? Discuss it in detail..."

The supervisor's waist was nearly bent at a ninety-degree angle, his tone filled with pleading.

What a joke. If they really let thirty people gang up on him, then regardless of whether he won or lost, the Soto Great Soul Arena's reputation would be utterly ruined! Either they would be accused of allowing contestants to undertake suicidal challenges, or an entire Iron Soul Fighter division would be overturned by one person. Either way, it would be a scandal!

Yu Chen's dark eyes swept over them. That indifferent gaze made the supervisors' hearts skip a beat, and they feared that this lord would fly into a rage on the spot at the slightest disagreement.

Fortunately, Yu Chen merely gave a quiet "Mm," apparently too lazy to waste time in a place like this. He rose and followed the supervisors backstage.

Inside a VIP box in the audience stands, Wang Yan's colleague stared at the scene in astonishment and muttered, "Teacher Wang, this kid... isn't he a little too arrogant? He simply doesn't take anyone seriously!"

But Wang Yan said nothing. He merely adjusted his glasses, while an unprecedented fiery light gleamed in his eyes beneath the lenses.

Arrogant?

A genius ought to possess a genius's arrogance!

This defiance of worldly rules, this imposing air of treating all heroes under heaven as if they were nothing—wasn't that exactly the trait Shrek Academy admired most!

"Let's go! We're heading backstage!"

Wang Yan could no longer sit still. He threw open the door to the VIP box and, with the young man beside him watching him with a face full of admiration, hurried toward the backstage area.

The backstage lounge of the Great Soul Arena was nowhere near as glamorous as the front.

The air was filled with a strange mixture of sweat, rust, and cheap medicinal ointment. Damaged protective gear was piled in the corners, and the lighting was dim.

Yu Chen had just been led by the supervisors into a relatively clean private lounge when the door was pushed open from outside.

Wang Yan entered directly with Huo Yuhao.

He first waved to indicate that the arena supervisors could leave, then turned his gaze toward Yu Chen with a restrained yet confident smile on his face.

It was the look of appreciation and self-satisfaction that a superior could not suppress upon discovering an unpolished jade.

"Greetings, Lord Thunder Dragon." Wang Yan took the initiative to extend his hand, carrying himself with lofty bearing. "I am Wang Yan, a teacher of Shrek Academy."

Behind him, Huo Yuhao was sizing Yu Chen up with an incomparably excited and curious gaze.

So this was the "Thunder Dragon" who had one-shot a Soul Elder? He looked about the same age as Huo Yuhao, perhaps even younger. Yet the aloofness and nobility that seemed innate to him made Huo Yuhao feel an inexplicable pressure.

Yet Yu Chen merely glanced at Wang Yan's outstretched hand and did not shake it.

He did not even stand. Still lounging against the sofa, he casually raised a hand and wiped his fair, slender fingers, which did not have a speck of dust on them.

Wang Yan's hand stiffened in midair, and the smile on his face faltered slightly. But he quickly concealed it, withdrew his hand on his own, and adjusted his glasses. A trace of unquestionable pride entered his voice.

"Lord Thunder Dragon, your talent is unlike anything I have ever seen in my life—one in ten thousand."

He paused, then slowly said as if granting the other party an enormous favor, "Therefore, on behalf of Shrek Academy, I formally invite you to enroll without an examination and... enter directly into the inner academy, a place only monsters among monsters can enter!"

Having said that, he looked at Yu Chen with composed ease, waiting for him to reveal an ecstatic, grateful expression.

Shrek Academy!

The continent's number one academy!

An inner academy disciple!

This was the supreme honor that every young soul master dreamed of, enough to bring glory to one's ancestors!

He believed no one could refuse such an offer.

Huo Yuhao, standing behind Wang Yan, was so excited that his face had turned a little red.

Admission without an examination, directly into the inner academy! What an honor that was! Teacher Wang truly cherished talent. In order to recruit such a genius, he had actually offered conditions this exceptional!

For a moment, even a trace of envy appeared in Huo Yuhao's gaze toward Yu Chen.

Yet Yu Chen's reaction once again exceeded everyone's expectations.

He finally finished wiping his hands and lifted his head. There was not the slightest hint of excitement in his deep black eyes. Instead, they held the amused look of someone who had heard a joke.

He gave a soft laugh, and it sounded especially clear in the quiet lounge.

"Shrek?"