My Man Is Always Right!

After passing through the village path, the group had barely taken a few steps toward Shrek Academy when hurried footsteps sounded behind them.

Dai Mubai quickly caught up with Tang San.

He swallowed the anger from earlier, putting on the air of an upperclassman leading the way again. As for being punched away and then publicly ignored by his fiancée—he pretended none of it had happened.

"As long as I'm not embarrassed, the embarrassed one is someone else!"

Dai Mubai gave himself a mental pep talk, strode to the front of the group, and cleared his throat.

"Students, although all of you successfully passed the first test at the village entrance and displayed truly astonishing talent."

"To become official students of Shrek Academy, you must still pass every test!"

"According to the usual rules, those whose Soul Power exceeds rank twenty-five may skip the second and third tests and proceed directly to the final—the fourth test!"

Ning Ze knew the original plot, so he said nothing.

Ning Rongrong was not nearly so patient.

She swept her gaze over the short mud-brick houses, the rutted dirt road, and the smell drifting over from the chicken coop. Her delicate brows immediately furrowed.

"Hmph! This rundown, godforsaken little village has so many rules? Do you really think this young lady cares about coming to your lousy academy?"

Zhu Zhuqing said nothing, but as her gaze passed over the surroundings, the disappointment in her eyes could not be hidden.

She had fled all the way from the Star Luo Empire, thinking this "Monster Academy" would be some hidden holy land. Instead, it was just such a poor place.

Even easygoing Xiao Wu curled her lips, while Tang San's mouth twitched.

They had come because Yu Xiaogang had strongly recommended it, yet this place was ten times shabbier than Nuoding Junior Soul Master Academy. There was not the slightest sign of a "high-level Soul Master Academy."

Dai Mubai looked at his nose and focused on his heart, pretending not to see their disdainful expressions as he awkwardly tried to smooth things over.

"Ahem... Shrek Academy has always emphasized cultivating inner strength. External material conditions are nothing but passing clouds!"

"Please follow me. The fourth test is in the open ground ahead."

After saying that, he quickly turned and led the way, afraid Ning Rongrong would say something else that cut straight to the bone.

They passed through a patch of scrubby woods and arrived at a relatively level clearing.

An old recliner stood in the middle of the clearing. A middle-aged man in his fifties was sprawled across it, a tattered straw hat covering his face as he snored loudly.

Dai Mubai stepped forward, gave two dry coughs, and bowed as he called out.

"Teacher Zhao, wake up. I've brought this year's new students who passed the first three tests for the fourth test's combat assessment."

"Hm? Snort..."

The middle-aged man smacked his lips twice, lifted his straw hat, and rubbed his eyes as he looked over the people before him, still not fully awake.

But when he saw the five people standing behind Dai Mubai, he instantly became alert.

"Huh? Mubai, did the sun rise in the west today? So many little monsters actually passed the earlier tests and made it to the fourth test this year?"

Dai Mubai leaned in and told him everything, from Ning Ze's pair of thousand-year soul rings to Ning Rongrong's Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda, Zhu Zhuqing's Hell Spirit Cat, and Tang San and Xiao Wu's circumstances.

"What?!"

The middle-aged man had been sprawled out lazily, but after hearing that, he flipped upright in one motion. The cloudiness in his eyes vanished, replaced by a frighteningly bright gleam.

He rose to his feet. He was not particularly tall, but he was built like a bull.

His short shirt stretched tightly over his body, muscles bulging beneath it. Simply standing there made it hard to breathe.

He was none other than Shrek Academy's vice principal—the Immovable Bright King, Zhao Wuji.

Zhao Wuji rolled his neck, and his joints crackled in rapid succession.

He licked his lips, his gaze sweeping over all five of them before finally settling on Ning Ze.

"All five of you are above rank twenty-five? And there's even an unparalleled freak who has two thousand-year soul rings at twelve years old and broke through the White Tiger Vajra Transformation's defense with one punch?!"

"Hahahaha! Interesting! Damn, this is too interesting! I've been so bored my bones were about to rust, and I never expected to catch so many top-tier little monsters this year!"

Zhao Wuji folded his arms, took out a stick of incense from his storage Soul Tool, lit it with a swipe of his finger, and flicked it out. It landed steadily in the mud dozens of meters away.

"Little ones, combat experience is the only standard for measuring a Soul Master's strength!"

Zhao Wuji grinned, revealing a mouthful of white teeth as he announced in a booming voice.

"The rules are simple! I'll give you one stick of incense's time to get acquainted and discuss your strategy. Once the incense burns, the test officially begins. The assessment is—you five will join forces and withstand my attacks!"

"As long as you last for one stick of incense's time, even if only one person remains conscious and standing at the end, I'll count all of you as having passed!"

The moment Tang San heard the rules, the mind of a control-system Soul Master began working first.

He stepped forward and looked at Ning Ze and the others.

"Everyone, since this is a team assessment, I suggest we first explain our martial soul characteristics and soul skill effects. Then we can discuss a strategy together, assign roles, and coordinate."

Zhu Zhuqing was about to explain her Hell Spirit Cat and agility-attack attributes when Ning Ze waved his hand first, his tone relaxed.

"Hey, no need to make it so complicated. We can just go up and fight him."

"???"

The moment those words came out, the surroundings fell silent for a moment.

Tang San froze. Xiao Wu blinked her pink eyes in stunned disbelief, while Zhu Zhuqing raised her eyelids slightly, surprise flickering in her gaze.

Only Ning Rongrong wore an expression that said, "My man is always right." She lifted her chin and nodded repeatedly.

"Exactly, exactly! My Ning Ze is invincible under heaven. We just need to go up there and beat him up!"

This was exactly the opportunity Dai Mubai had been waiting for. He put on a stern expression, strode over, and assumed the posture of an upperclassman captain.

"Ning Ze! You're far too arrogant! Do you know who stands before you?!"

He paused, slowing his speech and enunciating every word.

"Teacher Zhao is a renowned rank seventy-six assault-system battle Soul Saint! He is absolutely not comparable to ordinary Soul Masters! I know your combat strength is astonishing, but personal bravado is no excuse for underestimating an opponent!"

"Being this arbitrary and reckless, refusing to follow tactical arrangements, is not only suicidal arrogance—it is also treating the futures of the other four students as a joke!"

"Listen to Tang San. Honestly reveal your martial soul abilities. Working together and coordinating with everyone is the only way to survive!"

The speech was perfectly reasonable on the surface. Clearly, he intended to win back some face in front of Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing.

"Rank seventy-six... a Soul Saint?!"

The moment the words "Soul Saint" were spoken, everyone drew a sharp breath.

Zhu Zhuqing's expression darkened. Xiao Wu unconsciously gripped Tang San's sleeve, and even Ning Rongrong fell silent.

Between a Soul Saint and a Soul Grandmaster lay four major realms.

Seeing that the atmosphere was about right, Tang San took over, speaking earnestly.

"Brother Mubai is absolutely right!"

"Brother Ning Ze, Teacher Zhao is a genuine Soul Saint powerhouse. His strength is unfathomable. If we cooperate as a team and share our skills, our chances of winning will be greater, and we'll pass the assessment more easily."

Ning Ze chuckled. "When I said we should go straight up and fight, I didn't mean we should charge in blindly."