A mysterious future

Still, it was hard to say that Ning Fengzhi, that old fox, hadn't deliberately let Ning Rongrong see it.

A Black Academy wouldn't have too many powers behind it causing conflicts of interest, making it easier for him to keep under his thumb.

The name of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect could make the fellow wary, while Flender's reputation offered his daughter some protection.

His intentions were clear enough from the letter he had written to Flender.

Once Ning Rongrong finished showing them, she put the flyer away.

"But this academy is called Shrek... What a strange name. It doesn't tell you anything about the academy," Ning Rongrong said, puzzled.

Ye Fan chuckled at her words.

"Since he chose such an obscure name, the dean must be someone who talks in riddles. Maybe its distinguishing features are buried pretty deep."

Ye Fan then explained to them through his inner voice.

[Shrek... According to them, it's the name of a soul beast, a monster among soul beasts.]

[Shrek Academy means Monster Academy. They only want monsters, not ordinary people. Anyone who hasn't reached above rank twenty by twelve doesn't count as a monster.]

"!!!"

Hearing that explanation, they were all taken aback by Shrek's admission requirements.

But Zhu Zhuqing was puzzled.

How did this man know everything?

It was the same with Dai Mubai earlier, and just now, too. He seemed to keep thinking about the future... Could he see the future?

Then... could she learn from him what her efforts would ultimately achieve?

Zhu Zhuqing lowered her head, her thoughts unreadable.

"Shrek, huh... I've never heard of any soul beast like that."

Xiao Wu muttered quietly to herself.

Ye Fan smiled and wiped Xiao Wu's mouth for her.

The name was probably just a gimmick devised to catch people's eyes.

Only that fellow Flender knew whether such a soul beast really existed.

Tang San sat quietly to one side, taking only a couple of bites before putting down his chopsticks.

Yesterday, he had given all his money to a crooked merchant... in exchange for a peerless hidden weapon.

Now he could only make himself as inconspicuous as possible to avoid attracting anyone's attention.

Fortunately, no one at the table mentioned him...

After finishing their meal, they headed straight out of the city toward Shrek.

When they left, Zhu Zhuqing followed them as well.

At first, Ning Rongrong didn't think much of it. Only after Zhu Zhuqing followed them out of the city did she realize...

Could this girl be heading to Shrek Academy too?

With that thought, Ning Rongrong decided to give Zhu Zhuqing another chance!

She slowed her pace under the puzzled gazes of Ye Fan and the others.

Ning Rongrong gradually fell back until she reached Zhu Zhuqing and walked beside her, talking about something the others couldn't hear.

By the time their conversation ended, Ning Rongrong had brought Zhu Zhuqing back with her.

"Everyone, Zhu Zhuqing is going to sign up at Shrek too. Let's go together."

Naturally, Ye Fan was the first to clap his hands in agreement.

"Welcome, welcome. The more people, the livelier it is... But do you two know each other?"

Was Ning Rongrong just naturally friendly, or was it simply that easy for girls to hit it off?

"We've met," Zhu Zhuqing said, sparing her words as though they were gold.

At that, Ning Rongrong took Xiao Wu's hand with her left and Zhu Zhuqing's with her right, looking at Ye Fan with sparkling eyes.

"That doesn't matter. What matters is that our team has another member. That's a good thing!"

Even if this academy wasn't much to speak of, these people looked like geniuses. If she could haul them back to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect...

That would be wonderful!

"Team?"

Ye Fan looked at them, unsure whether to laugh or cry.

They had already stuck together so quickly.

When had they become a team?

Still... a team it was, then.

It would make packing them all up together easier later.

Looking at the three girls before him, Tang San felt something strange stir in his heart.

Why?

These girls should all belong to the Dragon King Hall Ye Fan had mentioned.

They had actually met this early...

Then what about him?

What exactly did his future look like?

He had never heard anything in Ye Fan's inner voice about what his own future would be like.

After spending these past few years with him, Tang San had found Ye Fan utterly mysterious.

In soul power cultivation alone, this man progressed even faster than he did with his Mysterious Heaven Skill.

But whenever he secretly watched Ye Fan cultivate, there were no special effects at all... He simply squeezed himself relentlessly, circulating his soul power.

That was something Tang San truly couldn't match.

Now the gap in their soul power kept widening, and Tang San was almost numb to it.

Ye Fan never sought out any fortuitous opportunities. He relied purely on burying his head in bitter cultivation... There was nothing for Tang San to snatch!

As a result, Tang San was currently in a state of giving up and coasting.

Ye Fan's importance to him had already fallen below Xiao Wu's.

As for fortuitous opportunities... he would encounter them sooner or later if he followed Ye Fan.

While each of them was occupied with different thoughts...

They had already arrived at Shrek Academy's registration area.

A long queue had already formed there.

When they appeared outside Shrek Academy, this group of handsome men, beautiful women, and one ordinary-looking person instantly caught the eyes of some passersby.

"There are so many people here. Who knows how long we'll have to wait?"

Xiao Wu looked up at the sun and raised a hand to shade her forehead.

With the sun this strong, they would melt before long.

"Don't worry. It'll be our turn soon."

Ye Fan smiled slightly and took a parasol out of his soul tool.

Its shade immediately covered all three girls.

Zhu Zhuqing felt a little awkward when the parasol suddenly sheltered her.

But seeing that neither Xiao Wu nor Ning Rongrong reacted, she could only accept this kindness extended to her "in passing."

Just then, an argument erupted up ahead.

A plainly dressed middle-aged man stood there, his face full of anger, pounding the table with loud bangs.

"Fuck you! Give me my money back!!"

His spittle nearly sprayed the face of the old man handling registration.

Li Yusong leaned back in his chair, having long anticipated this sort of thing.

"Hongjun, someone wants his registration fee refunded. Come deal with it."

As Li Yusong's words fell, a fat boy wreathed in fiery heat swaggered out of the academy.

"Who wants a refund? Come fight me!"

Ma Hongjun's face was full of arrogance as he spoke.

With Li Yusong beside him, he wasn't afraid even if someone he couldn't beat showed up.

If he did this job well, there would be chicken drumsticks for dinner!

At that thought, the flames around him grew even hotter and wilder.

The rising flames and waves of heat frightened the shouting man so badly that he collapsed onto the ground.

"You... You're rob..."

"Hmm?"

The man tried to say more, but a single look from Ma Hongjun frightened the words back down his throat.