Facing the Seven Treasure Spirit Cat

Qin Muchu rubbed his nose awkwardly. He really didn't seem to know how to comfort girls, so he simply kept his eyes down and focused on leading the way without saying another word.

Zhu Zhuqing, meanwhile, thought of Dai Mubai. Of all the princes in the Star Luo Imperial Family, he had the greatest talent. Unfortunately, he was quite a bit younger than Dai Weisi. She still felt deeply hurt and angry that Dai Mubai had abandoned her without a word back then. It was the kind of anger born from watching someone fail to live up to his potential—iron that refused to become steel.

I wonder where Dai Mubai would rank in this academy full of monsters?

Before long, Qin Muchu brought the two girls to an open space.

This was the site of Shrek Academy's final entrance test. In truth, anyone who made it this far was unlikely to be eliminated. The test was only meant to gauge their practical combat ability so their training could be arranged later.

Zhao Wuji, who oversaw the fourth test, was sitting in a chair with his eyes closed, resting.

Qin Muchu looked at the unresponsive Zhao Wuji and felt a little speechless. With the strength of a Seven-Ring Soul Sage, how could he possibly fail to notice them arriving? He had to be putting on an act again.

So Qin Muchu waved a hand in front of his face, leaned close to his ear, and shouted, "Teacher Zhao, wake up! Your students are here."

"You little brat! Why are you shouting so loud? I'm not deaf."

Zhao Wuji dug at his ear, thoroughly displeased by Qin Muchu's assault on his dignity.

He looked at Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing, then nodded in satisfaction. "I didn't expect two more to reach the fourth test this year. Girls, too."

Qin Muchu smiled. "Teacher Zhao, this is Ning Rongrong, and this is Zhu Zhuqing. Don't underestimate them. They both skipped the second and third tests and came straight here."

Qin Muchu had always thought the academy's second and third tests were rather pointless. As far as he knew, every student whose name anyone remembered had come straight to the fourth test. He had barely heard of any students who'd needed to take the other two.

"Mm, not bad. Making it here means you have good talent. Muchu, go ahead and test their combat ability."

Ning Rongrong looked at Zhao Wuji, then at Qin Muchu. "What do you mean, he's testing us? Aren't you in charge of the test, Teacher?"

"That's right. I'm only the referee. Muchu is your opponent for this test. Give it everything you've got, girls. Let me see what you can really do."

Qin Muchu grinned. "Well, my two junior schoolmates? Want a little time to discuss tactics?"

"Tactics? What tactics are two people supposed to discuss? Zhu Zhuqing, my Martial Soul is the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda. My two Soul Skills can boost your strength and speed by thirty percent each. Once I boost you, just get in there and fight."

Zhu Zhuqing nodded, fierce fighting spirit rising in her eyes. Among the Shrek Seven Devils in the original story, she was undoubtedly the toughest and the least willing to admit defeat.

Zhao Wuji gave Ning Rongrong a slightly surprised look.

"Oh? There's someone from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect among this year's students? Flender's going to be overjoyed."

Qin Muchu watched Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing take their positions. "Ready?"

"Ready."

"Then let's begin. Qin Muchu, Tool Martial Soul: Dancing Shadow Sword. Level fifty-five, Power Attack System Battle Soul King."

"What? Level fifty-five?!"

The two girls cried out in shock. Even the motions of summoning their Martial Souls came to an abrupt halt.

"No, that's impossible. How could you be a Soul King?" Disbelief filled Ning Rongrong's face. A twelve-year-old Soul King—who would believe something so outrageous?

Zhu Zhuqing was just as incredulous. No wonder he had dared to say his talent surpassed Oscar's Innate Full Soul Power as a Food-System Soul Master. If anything, he had been modest. Their talents were as far apart as clouds and mud; there was no comparing them.

"We're done for, Zhu Zhuqing. He's a Soul King! How are the two of us supposed to fight him?" Ning Rongrong finally began to panic.

Zhu Zhuqing had a steadier temperament. Though she was shocked too, she did her best to remain calm. "Whatever happens, it's an honor to fight someone this talented. Winning or losing doesn't matter. We just have to give it our all."

Giving up had never been part of her life. No matter how great the hardship, she could only work harder and harder. She would never allow herself to retreat.

"Fine. I'll support you as best I can. The rest is up to you." Ning Rongrong pouted, deflated. Having enjoyed smooth sailing since childhood, she did not share Zhu Zhuqing's resolve. She had already decided that if Zhu Zhuqing lost, she would surrender. And if Qin Muchu dared hit her, she would go home and ask her Grandpa Sword and Grandpa Bone to teach him a lesson.

"Seven Treasures turn forth with glazed light."

Ning Rongrong raised her hands slightly, and an exquisite little glazed pagoda appeared in them. Zhu Zhuqing took a deep breath and immediately activated Martial Soul Possession, launching the first attack at Qin Muchu.

"Seven Treasures Have Names: First, Strength! Second: Speed!"

With only one Battle Soul Master to support, Ning Rongrong had no need to worry about Heart Separation Control. She simply poured every buff she had onto Zhu Zhuqing.

Of course, worrying about it would have done no good anyway. Her Heart Separation Control was still stuck at the first stage.

Bolstered by the buffs, Zhu Zhuqing's speed and attack power surged. She crossed the distance to Qin Muchu in a few strides. "Hell Stab!"

Her hands became sharp claws, long nails extending from her fingertips. A cold edge gleamed along them as she struck straight for Qin Muchu's throat.

"Good speed." Qin Muchu nodded and turned slightly to evade her, while the tip of his sword thrust diagonally toward her wrist.

Zhu Zhuqing twisted her wrist and struck the flat of his blade with her palm. Qin Muchu let the blow push his sword back, drawing it in to bleed off the force. Then he turned the edge, changing his thrust into a slash at her forearm. Zhu Zhuqing reacted instantly. She twisted at the waist and flipped sideways like a spirit cat, narrowly slipping past the blade. Using the motion to launch her second attack, she cried, "Netherworld Hundred Claws!"

Her claws flew, conjuring a dense blur of claw shadows that swept toward Qin Muchu.

Qin Muchu smiled faintly. He withdrew his move, reversed his grip on the sword, and struck her palm with it before her attack could land. Startled, Zhu Zhuqing hurriedly retreated to open some distance. Her chest rose and fell slightly as she regarded him with a grave expression.

Qin Muchu did not pursue her. Inwardly, he praised her. As expected of someone who had fought her way here from the Star Luo Empire, her combat ability was excellent. She had made full use of an Agility Attack System Battle Spirit Master's speed to evade two of his attacks in a row. On that showing alone, few Soul Grandmasters could match her.

"Again," Qin Muchu said to the two of them.

By now, Ning Rongrong's spirit had nearly collapsed. The little pagoda in her hands vanished. "We're two Soul Grandmasters against a Soul King. How are we supposed to fight?"

The buffs on her faded. Zhu Zhuqing's fine brows drew together, but she said nothing. She charged at Qin Muchu again. After all these years, she was used to being alone and relying on herself for everything. She did not resent Ning Rongrong for giving up; the entrance test was each applicant's own affair. She herself would never surrender. And after seeing Qin Muchu's strength, she wanted more than ever to become a classmate of such a genius—and to become as strong as he was.

Qin Muchu sighed inwardly. Ning Rongrong really had been spoiled. Her temperament needed a great deal of tempering. And the stubborn refusal to yield that Zhu Zhuqing carried within her was enough to make his heart ache.