Harsh Conditions

After swallowing the sausages, Xiaoxiao and Ning Rongrong also experienced just how remarkable Oscar's Sausage Martial Soul was.

Ning Rongrong looked at Oscar in surprise. "Oscar, what level are you now?"

"I'm level 29." Seeing the goddess take the initiative to speak to him, Oscar immediately became bashful. Seeing that the three beautiful girls did not disdain his Martial Soul, he was so moved that he nearly cried.

"Food-type? Level 29? Fourteen years old?" Ning Rongrong was utterly astonished, and she could not help but regard Oscar more highly.

Youquan handed Oscar several gold coins. "These gold coins should be enough to buy all your grilled sausages, right?"

Oscar blankly accepted the coins Youquan handed over. "It's enough, it's enough. There's even extra. If you want to eat more, I can make some for you."

"Then save the rest for when we eat later and give us an extra dish. I want mine grilled a little more charred. It tastes better that way." Youquan spoke to Oscar amicably.

Youquan's attitude toward Oscar was fairly good. He was practically a Medicinal Pill storehouse that could automatically produce pills without needing medicinal ingredients or fire.

Compared to the three of them, Dai Mubai and Tang San's attitudes seemed rather awkward.

Dai Mubai could only pretend to be nonchalant as he walked over to the teacher overseeing the second round and whispered, "Teacher, all of them are Soul Grand Masters with Soul Power above level 25."

The teacher looked at them and nodded in satisfaction. "Fine. Take them straight to the fourth test. If they pass, they'll be admitted."

Dai Mubai nodded and prepared to lead them to the fourth test site.

A male examinee watching from the sidelines immediately became dissatisfied. "Teacher, what is this? Why can they skip the tests and go straight to the fourth round, while we have to clear them one by one?"

The teacher answered calmly, "If your Soul Power is also above level 25, then you may skip the tests and proceed directly to the fourth round."

The boy asked doubtfully, "Their Soul Power has reached level 25? But they clearly look the same age as us."

Dai Mubai snorted. "Just because you can't do it doesn't mean others can't. When I entered the academy, my Soul Power was already level 25. Tang San, let them see your strength."

As he spoke, Dai Mubai picked up a white crystal ball from the table and tossed it to Tang San.

Tang San said nothing. After catching the crystal ball, he poured Soul Power into it. In an instant, brilliant white light burst from Tang San's hand, and the white crystal became as dazzling as a diamond. The intense radiance showed that Tang San's Soul Power was nearing level 30.

A teasing smile appeared on the testing teacher's face. "It seems our academy will be welcoming a rather impressive little monster this year."

Smiling, Tang San passed the crystal ball to Xiaowu. The same light shone again, and the other examinees stared at the two in shock.

Level 29—this was a level that could be reached at twelve years old. It had clearly overturned these children's understanding.

"For fairness' sake, you should test as well." Dai Mubai gestured for Xiaowu to pass the crystal ball to Ning Rongrong and Xiaoxiao.

After the two had tested their Soul Power, a black shadow flashed past and took the crystal ball from Ning Rongrong's hand. A tall girl dressed in black silently appeared beside Ning Rongrong.

Immediately afterward, the crystal ball emitted an even more powerful radiance than when Ning Rongrong had infused it with Soul Power.

"Level 27? It looks like our academy will be getting several little monsters this year." The teacher sighed again, then said to Dai Mubai, "Mu Bai, take them to the fourth test site."

The boy pointed at Youquan unwillingly. "What about her? She hasn't tested yet!"

Youquan smiled and slightly raised her right hand. Three Spirit Rings circled around her, and the purple Spirit Rings drew the eyes of everyone present except Ning Rongrong and the others.

"Can I go to the fourth round with them now?" Youquan asked with a smile.

"Y-yes." The boy answered awkwardly.

Youquan nodded and followed Dai Mubai and the others toward the fourth test site.

As they walked, Tang San asked Dai Mubai, "Brother Dai, how many rounds are there in the entrance examination?"

"Four." As Dai Mubai answered, he scrutinized the tall girl in black who had suddenly appeared earlier. "There are four rounds in total. The first tests age. The second tests Soul Power and Martial Souls. A powerful Martial Soul alone is not enough. Only Spirit Masters whose Martial Souls have sufficient potential and whose cultivation direction is correct can enter the third round. Of course, if a Spirit Master's Martial Soul is special enough, they can also be selected. That was how Xiao Ao qualified back then."

"But if someone has high Soul Power and an outstanding Martial Soul, why not attend a better academy? Like Heaven Dou Royal Academy, the Five Great Element Academies, or Spirit Hall Academy?" Ning Rongrong asked bluntly.

"Didn't Tang San's teacher say that there are no useless Martial Souls, only useless Spirit Masters? Didn't the teacher at the entrance say that your Shrek Academy believes the same thing? Then isn't judging whether a Martial Soul has potential somewhat unnecessary?" Xiaoxiao asked directly. She knew very well about the relationship between the master and Dean Flender, so she was even more curious about how this contradictory theory worked.

She remembered that in her previous life, their captain, Huo Yuhao, had not possessed a sufficiently strong Martial Soul or Innate Soul Power. If not for the Tang Sect's influence, Huo Yuhao would never have had the chance to join Shrek Academy.

Dai Mubai glanced at Ning Rongrong indifferently and replied irritably, "If they all had strength like Tang San's, then exceptions could naturally be made."

"Is your Martial Soul really just Blue Silver Grass?" Youquan asked Tang San curiously. After all, this situation truly differed completely from the knowledge she had learned at Heaven Dou Royal Academy and Spirit Hall.

Tang San froze for a moment. What he had always relied on seemed to be the Mysterious Heaven Skill, while his Innate Full Soul Power seemed to have come from the Clear Sky Hammer. For the moment, he could not clearly explain those contradictory words either.

Dai Mubai promptly changed the subject. "The fourth test examines actual combat experience. Some students have decent Martial Souls and good control over them, but they grew up in noble families. Even when hunting Soul Beasts, they rely on their elders and know nothing about fighting. The Dean says we absolutely cannot accept such students. We don't want pampered trash."

As he spoke, Dai Mubai glanced at Ning Rongrong.

Xiaowu could not help saying, "Are you selecting students or picking wives? That's far too strict. There probably aren't many people who can pass all your tests. Can you even recruit any students?"

Dai Mubai shook his head, then revealed a bitter smile. "In the twenty years since Shrek Academy was founded, we have admitted a total of forty-two students—an average of one or two every year or two. If all of you join this year, Shrek will be setting a record."

Dai Mubai continued helplessly, "Our academy hasn't recruited any students in the past few years. At present, including me, there are only three students studying at the academy."