The Old Man Toys with the Young

On the dirt road outside Suotuo City, four people walked together. Xiao Wu had half a soup dumpling in her mouth.

Shrek Academy called itself an academy, but it was really just a village. A few wooden houses, an open field, a fence around it all. A crooked sign hung at the entrance.

The line was short. Most of those waiting were twelve or thirteen, with Soul Power between levels fifteen and twenty. A few could not even meet the minimum requirement, and the teacher waved them away.

"Next."

Lin Yuan stepped forward. A crystal ball sat on the table.

"Put your hand on it and channel your Soul Power."

Lin Yuan placed his hand on it. The crystal ball lit up, its glow climbing before stopping steadily at level twenty-nine.

The teacher nodded. "Pass."

Xiao Wu pursed her lips. One more Soul Ring meant one more Guga, and he already had five. He had to be at least a Soul Ancestor. She exchanged a glance with Zhu Zhuqing—there he went, pretending again.

"You're pretty convincing."

"Of course I am." Lin Yuan pushed the crystal ball back.

Xiao Wu rolled her eyes.

"Xiao Wu, level twenty-nine."

Xiao Wu walked over to Lin Yuan.

"Zhu Zhuqing, level twenty-seven."

Zhu Zhuqing withdrew her hand and stood on Lin Yuan's other side.

The last girl stepped forward. She had chin-length hair, a pale blue dress, fair skin, and delicate features like a porcelain doll. She placed her hand on the ball without much interest.

Light flashed in her palm, and a seven-colored pagoda over a foot tall appeared. Colors shimmered across it as two Yellow Soul Rings slowly revolved.

"The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda?!" The teacher shot to his feet.

A stir ran through the line. The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect was one of the Upper Three Sects, and its Martial Soul was the finest support Martial Soul on the continent.

The teacher stared at Ning Rongrong, his expression turning solemn. "Girl, you're from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. Does your family know you came here?"

Ning Rongrong smiled sweetly. "Don't worry, teacher. My father knows."

The teacher watched her for a few seconds, then asked no more. He waved a hand. "Level twenty-six. You pass. Go on in."

Ning Rongrong gave a soft huff and walked over to the other three. Her gaze swept across Zhu Zhuqing and Xiao Wu, then lingered on Lin Yuan for an instant.

"Tang San, level twenty-nine."

A familiar voice came from behind them. Tang San stepped forward and placed his hand on the crystal ball. Its glow stopped steadily at level twenty-nine. He withdrew his hand, scanned the people in line, and spotted Xiao Wu.

"Xiao Wu."

Xiao Wu turned her head.

"Oh, Tang San. You're here too."

Then she turned back and continued talking to Lin Yuan.

"Lin Yuan, how did they make the filling in that soup dumpling? It was so good!"

Tang San's lips moved. His expression froze. He stood where he was, his gaze shifting to Lin Yuan with a trace of hostility.

They were exempted from the second and third tests. Everything went smoothly.

Dai Mubai waited at the entrance to the fourth test.

He leaned against a crooked tree with his arms crossed. The moment he saw Lin Yuan, his face changed.

"...You."

Lin Yuan walked straight past him without so much as a glance.

Dai Mubai snorted and turned to lead them inside. His steps were heavier than before.

"Follow me."

In the middle of the open field, a battered rocking chair creaked.

A middle-aged man lay in it. He was not tall, but his jacket could not hide his muscles. They looked cast from steel, stacked piece by piece over his bones. His eyes were closed as he basked in the sun. Each time the chair rocked, the ground trembled with it.

"Teacher Zhao, I brought them."

Zhao Wuji opened one eye and looked them over.

"Five?"

He rolled up into a sitting position, drawing a shriek from the rocking chair. As he loosened his limbs, his knuckles crackled.

"Not bad. Five Little Monsters this year."

He stood, his shadow spreading across a broad patch of ground.

"The rules are simple. One incense stick. Work together and withstand my attacks. If even one of you is still standing at the end, you all pass."

He took an incense stick from his coat and rubbed its tip between his fingers. A spark flared. He planted the incense in the ground.

Xiao Wu tilted her head. "Teacher Zhao, what level of Soul Master are you?"

Dai Mubai spoke from the side, plainly enjoying their predicament.

"Teacher Zhao is a level seventy-six Soul Saint. His Martial Soul is the Great Strength Vajra Bear. His nickname is—the Immovable King of Wisdom."

Silence held for a moment. Level seventy-six. A Soul Saint.

"I'll go first."

Tang San took a step forward. Blue Silver Grass surged from his palm, thick vines winding around his arm. Two Yellow Soul Rings lit up.

"Blue Silver Grass. Level twenty-nine Control-Type Battle Spirit Master."

Zhao Wuji raised an eyebrow. "Alone?"

"Yes."

More than a dozen Blue Silver Grass vines burst from the ground and wrapped around Zhao Wuji's legs. They tightened, biting into his trouser legs with a creak.

Zhao Wuji glanced down and gave his legs a slight shake. The vines shattered, scattering fragments.

Tang San flipped his right hand. Three cold glints shot from his sleeve toward Zhao Wuji's chest, throat, and face.

Zhao Wuji raised a hand to block them. Two sharp clangs rang out as he knocked two aside. The third sliced through the fabric over his arm.

Zhao Wuji looked down at the tear in his sleeve, then back up at Tang San. He grinned.

"Not bad, kid."

He struck with a palm. The force of it hit Tang San in the face, compressing the air into a thunderous crack. Tang San tried to dodge, but he was too late. He flew backward, landed face-first, and slid seven or eight meters along the dirt road with his backside in the air. His legs kicked up once. Then he lay still, unconscious.

Xiao Wu glanced at him and burst out laughing.

Ning Rongrong covered her mouth, her shoulders shaking.

Zhao Wuji dusted off his hands and turned to the remaining four.

"You four, come at me together."

Ning Rongrong bit her lip and stopped smiling. She raised both hands, and seven-colored light shone in her palms. The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda appeared, its two Yellow Soul Rings revolving.

"Seven Treasures Have Names, First: Strength." Her First Soul Ring lit up. Two rays of seven-colored light shot out and entered Xiao Wu and Zhu Zhuqing.

"Seven Treasures Have Names, Second: Speed." Her Second Soul Ring lit up. Two more rays followed.

Xiao Wu charged, moving more than twice as fast as usual. She pushed off the ground, flipped, and landed beside Zhao Wuji. Waist Bow. She wrapped herself around his arm, trying to lock the joint.

Zhu Zhuqing moved at the same time. She darted in from Xiao Wu's side, the Hell Spirit Cat's speed leaving an afterimage. Her fingertips cut toward Zhao Wuji's throat like knives.

Zhao Wuji grunted. His Third Soul Skill, Gravity Enhancement, took hold. Within five meters, the air seemed to turn to mercury.

Xiao Wu's legs felt filled with lead, and she could not complete the joint lock. Zhu Zhuqing's step slowed for a beat, and her afterimage vanished.

Zhao Wuji struck at Zhu Zhuqing with a palm. Its force rushed toward her face.

A silver-white figure flashed past. Zhu Zhuqing disappeared.

An instant later, she appeared three meters away. A small silver-white creature crouched on her shoulder and tilted its head to look at her.

"Thank you," Zhu Zhuqing said quietly.

"You're welcome, Guga." Little Moon narrowed its eyes and Teleported back to Lin Yuan's side.

Zhao Wuji turned his head.

He saw the little creatures beside Lin Yuan. One by one, they tipped their small heads back to look at him.

"What are those things?"

"Guga is Guga!"

Guga charged straight in. Its short legs pushed off the ground, and its fist slammed into Zhao Wuji's shin. Zhao Wuji flew backward and struck a tree at the edge of the field. The trunk split with a crack. He slid down it and sat on the ground, staring at his shin.

Dark Gold Guga rushed in from the side and drove a fist into Zhao Wuji's shoulder. He had only just stood up when the blow smashed him down onto one knee.

"How is this possible—"

Dai Mubai's voice went shrill. He had fought Lin Yuan at the hotel, but back then he had only sensed that Lin Yuan's strength was unfathomable. Now, watching a few little creatures send a Soul Saint flying, a chill ran down his back. Just who had he offended?

Starlight shone in Starry Guga's eyes. Pale blue-green glazed vines surged from the ground and bound Zhao Wuji's feet. He strained against them, but they did not budge. Gritting his teeth, he unleashed his Soul Power. Golden light burst out, and only then did the vines break apart. He rose panting, sweat already beading on his forehead.

Little Moon Teleported behind his head and patted his ear.

"Over here, Guga."

Zhao Wuji reached back to grab it, but Little Moon had already Teleported to the other side and patted him again.

"Over here, Guga."

Zhao Wuji snatched at the air several times without touching it once. He panted, eyes bulging wide.

His Third Soul Skill, Gravity Enhancement, expanded to cover the entire field. The Gugas' feet sank into the ground, slowing their movements for a beat.

Zhao Wuji seized the chance to strike at Guga with his palm. The force howled through the air.

Lin Yuan appeared in front of Guga and raised a hand to deflect Zhao Wuji's palm. The force of the blow numbed his arm and drove him back a step. His heel plowed a shallow furrow through the ground.

Zhao Wuji's pupils contracted slightly, but he did not stop. His Second Soul Skill, Great Strength Vajra Palm, unleashed a rapid barrage. Each strike carried Soul Power on the rushing air. Lin Yuan blocked several palms in a row, retreating with every step. Cracks spread through the ground beneath his feet.

"He's... actually blocking them?" Dai Mubai's voice rose sharply, and he took half a step back without thinking.

Ning Rongrong held the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda aloft. The light of her enhancement circled her fingertips twice, but she had no idea where to send it. Her eyes widened, her lips parting slightly.

"He... he isn't using a Soul Skill?"

Xiao Wu's mouth hung open.

"Lin Yuan's gotten this strong now..."

Zhu Zhuqing kept her eyes fixed on Lin Yuan.

Zhao Wuji's fourth Soul Ring lit up. Position Tracking—a ring of light flew out and settled around Lin Yuan. Then came his fifth Soul Skill, Gravity Crush. Pressure bore down from every direction, squeezing a piercing shriek from the air.

Lin Yuan's body sank.

Zhao Wuji seized the opening and struck with his palm.

Lin Yuan turned his right hand, and the Black Iron Hammer flew from his Soul Tool into his palm. He swung it backhanded into the strike. Palm met hammer, and a shock wave exploded outward. Zhao Wuji's force broke apart, and he stumbled back two steps.

Lin Yuan glanced down at Guga, then took another hammer from his Soul Tool. It was smaller but identical in shape. He tossed it over.

Guga caught it in both short hands and nearly toppled under its weight. It steadied itself, lifted the hammer, and gave it two swings. Its eyes lit up.

"A hammer, Guga!"