The Tang Sect's New Master! Shrek? Just a Social Club for Nobles.

"Since you've invited me so sincerely, I'll be merciful and accept."

"Yay!"

Tang Ya cheered, waving both hands in the air, so excited she nearly jumped on the spot.

"But I'm going to be the Tang Sect Master," Tang Qi said solemnly.

"Huh?"

Tang Ya froze and tilted her head. "Fair enough... You're so much stronger than me. You really should be Sect Master. All right, I'll step down and make way for someone more worthy!"

Tang Qi smiled faintly and turned to Huo Yutong. "Heh, little Huo, I can tell from your remarkable bones that you're a one-in-ten-thousand prodigy of the Mysterious Heaven Skill. Why not join my All-Under-Heaven-Is-One-Family Great-Love Tang Sect today?"

"Oh? Oh, okay, Brother Sect Master."

Huo Yutong nodded obediently and accepted the Mysterious Heaven Skill Tang Qi handed her with both hands.

Bei Bei stood to one side with a gentle smile, his heart full of emotion.

The Tang Sect had gained two more geniuses. Xiaoya was another step closer to reviving it. He was truly happy for her.

He collected himself and cleared his throat twice. "Tang Qi, you two aren't so young anymore. Isn't it about time you applied to an academy?"

When everyone looked his way, Bei Bei smiled. "I'm Bei Bei, a fourth-year student in the Shrek Outer Court. If you haven't settled on an academy yet, I sincerely recommend Shrek Academy."

"Shrek Academy..."

Huo Yutong repeated the name softly, then turned to Tang Ya. "Is Sister Xiaoya a Shrek student too?"

Tang Ya nodded and winked playfully. "Of course! I'm a third-year Shrek student. Once I obtain my third Soul Ring, I should be able to advance to the fourth year."

That sparked her curiosity, and she leaned forward with a grin. "Come to think of it, I still don't know your exact ages or Soul Power levels."

Tang Qi smiled faintly. "Eleven years old. Level thirty-seven. Omni-Type Battle Soul Elder."

"Hiss—"

Tang Ya drew in a sharp breath, her beautiful eyes wide as she stared at Tang Qi in disbelief.

The tiny bit of confidence Huo Yutong had just gathered vanished like smoke.

She lowered her head, her voice barely louder than a mosquito's. "I'm eleven too... but my Soul Power is only level fourteen."

In her Sea of Consciousness, the girl looked tearfully at Tian Meng and pouted. "Sister Tian Meng, am I useless...?"

"Do you feel inferior because Tang Qi's too outstanding?" Tian Meng saw through her at once.

She sighed helplessly, floated over to Huo Yutong, and reached out with both little hands to knead the girl's soft cheeks all over again.

"Haki Tong, you really are weak right now, but with my help, that million years' worth of energy will gradually unlock. Haven't you noticed? You were only level eleven when I sacrificed myself. After Tang Qi worked you over and left something inside you, you're already level fourteen!"

"And with that strange Second Martial Soul, you'll definitely surpass Tang Qi one day. Then you can grind that bastard under your heel!"

"Sister Tian Meng..."

Tian Meng planted her hands on her hips, looking proud. "No need to be moved by what I said. I'm just that amazing~"

"That's not it, Sister Tian Meng." Huo Yutong shook her head, her expression earnest. "I won't let you call Brother Tang Qi a bastard."

The two girls stared at each other.

Huo Yutong blinked her large, watery eyes, then gave her an ingratiating smile.

"..."

"Haki Tong, are you asking for a beating?!" Tian Meng flew at her, claws out.

Outside, Bei Bei sensed the awkward atmosphere and hurriedly smoothed things over with a smile. "I'm sure Brother Tang Qi has put in more sweat and effort than most people could imagine to get where he is today."

Tang Qi raised an eyebrow and nodded in deep agreement. "That's right. I owe everything I've achieved to 'perseverance and hard work.'"

Haki Qi, so you're this modest?

Tang Ya nodded thoughtfully.

"But... with my talent, won't it be hard for me to apply to Shrek Academy?" Huo Yutong suddenly asked in a small voice, unable to hide her dejection.

"It's all right, Yutong."

Tang Ya hurried to reassure her. "Shrek's application requirements are actually quite low. You can't be older than twelve, and your Soul Power has to be at least level fifteen. You're only one level short, so that's no problem at all."

"But... doesn't Shrek require a recommendation letter from at least a major city? I don't have one..."

"A recommendation letter?"

Tang Ya paused, then broke into a smile. "That's no problem either. Aren't you a member of the Tang Sect now? Shrek reserves special admission slots for the Tang Sect."

"You'll have to pass the entrance assessment in three months on your own, though."

Tang Qi had been listening from the side, and his expression turned a little strange.

Aside from its inner court, Shrek's outer court was basically a social platform built for the empire's great noble families.

Twelve years old and level fifteen—the entry threshold really was low.

But that "recommendation letter from at least a major city" shut out most commoner children.

A major city was nothing like a little frontier town such as Nuoding City in the Douluo I era.

The result was that nearly every student in the Shrek Outer Court had some sort of backing.

Of course, talented commoners could apply too, but they would have to pay a price.

At best, they would owe someone a favor. At worst... heh, who could say?

Then again, commoners without backing had little reason to go. Never mind the poor accommodations; the main problem was the high cost of living. The empire still distributed Soul Master stipends through the academy, but that was a drop in the bucket.

A few years ago, when Jiang Nannan went to Shrek Academy, she had considered applying on her own. Tang Qi had shot the idea down on the spot.

Why ignore the connections and resources she already had just to go in as a commoner and get bullied? What kind of joke was that?

It was the unruly villagers of Konoha made flesh.

"One level short? That's no problem."

Tang Qi took two entirely water-blue pills from his Storage Ring.

Bei Bei's gaze sharpened. "Mystic Water Pills?"

Tang Qi ignored his surprise and turned to Tang Ya, his tone casual. "Did you bring a change of clothes?"

"What?!"

Huo Yutong's beautiful eyes flew wide.

Raise my Innate Soul Power by one level? She shook her head repeatedly and hurriedly tried to push the pill back. "No, no. This is too precious. I can't accept it..."

But Tang Qi suddenly caught the little hand clutching the pill.

The girl trembled. Her heart pounded, and a blush rose to her cheeks.

"Take it."

He bent toward her slightly, a faint smile on his lips. "You already owe me plenty. Instead of refusing, think about how you'll repay me someday."

Huo Yutong stared dazedly at his face, so close to hers, and felt her mind go blank with a buzz.

Blushing, she nodded obediently.

"Ahem~"

Tang Ya clasped her hands together, her bright eyes sparkling as she sidled up to Tang Qi. "Little Sect Master Qi~ Could you give Xiaoya a chance to repay you too?"

Tang Qi glanced at her and tossed her a Mystic Water Pill.

Tang Ya's eyes lit up. Like a greedy little cat, she sprang forward with a whoosh and caught the pill neatly in her palm.

"Thank you, Lord Sect Master~"

She pulled a cute face at Tang Qi, then turned and grabbed Huo Yutong, who was still standing there in a daze, and eagerly dragged her toward a small pond in the forest.

"Come on, come on! Let's take our pills!"

"Hey, Sister Xiaoya, slow down..."