Fake University

At Yang Xiong's current stage, neither Tang San, Dai Mubai, nor even Xiao Wu could stir his interest. Rather than pay attention to them, he might as well cultivate in peace.

Early the next morning, Yang Xiong and Ning Rongrong followed the directions to Shrek Academy.

However, as they went farther along, Ning Rongrong's expression grew increasingly unpleasant.

After leaving Suotuo City, the two followed the main road south. The farther they went, the fewer people and houses there were. Soon, nothing remained but vast stretches of farmland. There was no sign of any Advanced Soul Master Academy in sight, though they did come across a small village.

After confirming it, they indeed saw a table set up at the village entrance. Above the wooden archway at the entrance hung a somewhat dilapidated plaque bearing the words: Shrek Academy.

Ning Rongrong seemed a little angry. "Dad said Shrek Academy was pretty good. With this trashy environment, how does it look anything like an Advanced Soul Master Academy? He even said its faculty was formidable, far superior to ordinary Advanced Soul Master Academies. Was Dad scammed too?"

Although Yang Xiong had long known that Shrek Academy was poor and rundown, he had not expected it to be this poor. His face was equally full of disappointment.

"Rongrong, I think we should go to Heaven Dou Royal Academy instead. The environment there is excellent in every respect, and they have quite a few Simulated Environments. It should suit your cultivation better."

Ning Rongrong looked thoroughly unwilling. "I made a bet with Dad. He said I wouldn't be able to endure the hardships of cultivating at Shrek Academy. I have to prove him wrong. No matter how bad this Shrek Academy is, I have to take a look. Otherwise, Dad will really look down on me."

"Besides, Heaven Dou Royal Academy is way too close to our Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. It's no fun at all, and I wouldn't have any freedom either. I might as well cultivate in the sect."

Yang Xiong was speechless at the sight of Ning Rongrong like this. She really did look like a child who had been tricked.

At that moment, a group of people happened to be lined up outside Shrek Academy, apparently students preparing to enroll. An old man in his sixties sat at the table at the front. From the looks of it, he was a Soul Master—or rather, one of Shrek Academy's recruiters.

There were truly a lot of people lined up outside Shrek Academy. More than a hundred people had actually fallen for the scam, and most of them were Soul Masters. There were even quite a few Soul Grand Masters above Level 20.

In particular, many people near the front were discussing Shrek Academy's lousy environment, offering all sorts of opinions.

One young man looked utterly disappointed. "Father, I don't want to study here. This environment is far too bad. I want to go to Suotuo City Intermediate Soul Master Academy. I'm a Level 21 genius, after all."

The young man's parents both tried to comfort him. "Since we're here, let's take a look first. We heard that Shrek Academy has a formidable faculty, and that students can become Imperial Viscounts after graduation. Perhaps this environment is merely a test for all of you?"

As the discussions rose and fell around him, Yang Xiong could not help rubbing his forehead. Could more than half of these hundred-plus people in line be paid shills? With Shrek's image, it really does resemble those Fake Universities from my previous life. Their advertisements were deafening, endlessly boasting about their faculty and even their future prospects, while in reality they didn't even have basic facilities. The buildings might even be rented. Maybe once they collect the tuition fees, the school itself will be nowhere to be found.

The old man handling admissions was especially lazy in manner, carrying himself with extreme arrogance and showing blatant disdain for the students. Yet this very attitude instead spurred many people to line up.

Just then, after a young man stepped forward and was checked, the old man spoke with casual indifference. "You're already over twelve years old. You don't meet the admission requirements. The registration fee will not be refunded."

The young man and his parents still wanted to say something when a young man appeared nearby. It was Dai Mubai, whom they had seen yesterday.

"You can get the registration fee back if you want. Just defeat me."

Dai Mubai revealed his fierce White Tiger Martial Soul, along with two yellow and one purple soul rings. The expressions of the people in line changed drastically. They had not expected such a young man to already be a Soul Elder. One after another, they praised Shrek's students for indeed being exceptional. After all, many Advanced Soul Master Academies only required their graduates to reach Level 30.

Yang Xiong: ...

Then the old man released an incomparably formidable aura. A staff covered in countless fine patterns appeared in his hand, while six soul rings—one white, one yellow, three purple, and one black—appeared beneath his feet.

The crowd was astonished once more. A Soul Emperor expert! They had not expected a dignified Soul Emperor to be a teacher at Shrek Academy. It seemed Shrek Academy's faculty really was formidable. Coming to Shrek Academy to study was absolutely the best choice.

Yang Xiong: ...

However, once the old man stated Shrek Academy's admission requirements and displayed the strength of a Soul Emperor, more than half the people in line immediately left. Still, several dozen remained, clearly all meeting the admission requirements.

Shrek Academy's admission requirement was to be over Level 20 by the age of twelve and possess two soul rings. Such a standard was definitely not low; it could rival even the most elite Advanced Soul Master Academies.

Yang Xiong could not help sighing. Suotuo City truly deserves its reputation as a famous city of the Balak Kingdom. The overall quality of its students isn't bad. There are quite a few twelve-year-olds above Level 20. It's just a pity that these people weren't born into sects. Their path as Soul Masters will be much harder than they imagine.

Yet the Shrek Academy before them was also a massive pitfall. Not only did it have four rounds of assessment, but especially in the final combat assessment, not a single one below Level 25 could pass. Seriously, how many twelve-year-old children had actual combat experience?

Ning Rongrong's face revealed disdain. "Isn't he just a Soul Emperor? And that Soul Ring Configuration is far too poor."

Soon, it was Tang San and Xiao Wu's turn. With their Soul Power Levels, they quickly passed the first admission assessment and advanced directly to the final combat assessment.

Yang Xiong seemed to think of something and swept his gaze through the crowd. Sure enough, he spotted a cold-faced, voluptuous girl. She appeared to be Zhu Zhuqing from the Original Work.

Zhu Zhuqing was indeed exceptionally beautiful. Her figure was even more exaggerated than Yang Xiong had imagined, and her skin was as white as snow. She did not look like she was only twelve at all.

Yang Xiong suddenly felt a sharp pain at his waist. Ning Rongrong looked at him with utter contempt. "Little Xiongzi, I thought you only knew how to cultivate. I didn't expect you to be so improper too. The moment you see a pretty girl, you can't take your eyes off her."

Yang Xiong was exceptionally speechless. "Rongrong, have you misunderstood something? I'm a normal person too."

Ning Rongrong's grip only grew stronger. "You don't look like a normal person to me. This young lady is beautiful as a flower and so dazzling at school, so why don't I see you looking at me the way you looked at her just now?"

Yang Xiong hurriedly broke free from Ning Rongrong's hand, inwardly grumbling. The difference between people really is huge, whether it's their figures or their personalities.

But Yang Xiong spoke with perfect seriousness. "Rongrong, it's precisely because you're too dazzling at school that I don't dare get close. Registration is more important now. Don't focus on these trivial matters."

Ning Rongrong's eyes filled with suspicion at his words, but her attention was quickly drawn to the old man at the front.