"All right, then Dong'er and I will leave right now." Lin Xuanchen chuckled. "We'll go straight to the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy."
With that, Lin Xuanchen moved to lead Wang Dong'er out of Shrek Academy.
"No! You can't leave! You can't go to the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy!"
Seeing that Lin Xuanchen did not seem to be joking, Yan Shaozhe's heart gave an involuntary lurch. He darted in front of Lin Xuanchen and Wang Dong'er, blocking their path.
"Oh?" Lin Xuanchen raised an eyebrow and chuckled. "Weren't you just shouting about expelling Dong'er and me, Dean Yan? What's this about now?"
You little brat! Watching Lin Xuanchen feign ignorance, Yan Shaozhe secretly gritted his teeth in fury.
When Yan Shaozhe had first received the letter from the Clear Sky Sect, he had been delighted, knowing it was a perfect opportunity to win Lin Xuanchen and Wang Dong'er back and bring them into Shrek Academy.
He had deeply regretted it when Lin Xuanchen ran off with Wang Dong'er last time. Now that another opportunity had appeared before him, how could he possibly let it slip away?
"Students Lin Xuanchen and Wang Dong'er, whatever the issue is, we can discuss it. Young people shouldn't act so impulsively!" Yan Shaozhe forced a false smile onto his face.
"Discuss it? What is there for us to discuss? Aren't you expelling Dong'er and me? Then I'll leave right now. If there's no room for me here, there's room for me elsewhere."
Rather than accept the face-saving way out Yan Shaozhe offered, Lin Xuanchen gave him a thoroughly disdainful look and spoke coolly.
"I was a little rash just now and didn't express myself accurately." Yan Shaozhe gave a false smile. "In truth, we at Shrek warmly welcome you both back."
Looking at the smile on Yan Shaozhe's face, which could not possibly have been any faker, Lin Xuanchen sneered inwardly. This old bastard really knows how to put on a fucking act.
"Sure." Lin Xuanchen smiled broadly. "In that case, Dean Yan, arrange a double room for me in the Inner Academy, with its own bathroom and toilet. I'm not in the habit of fighting over toilets in the Outer Academy."
"You want to live in the Inner Academy?" Yan Shaozhe froze for a moment and blurted out the question.
"Is that not allowed? Then I'll leave." Lin Xuanchen waved a hand and once again moved to lead Wang Dong'er out of Shrek Academy.
"Wait, wait! That's not what I meant!" Yan Shaozhe hurriedly stopped them again, putting on a troubled expression as he said:
"Everyone entering our Inner Academy has to pass a rigorous assessment. We must set the rules firmly so that students won't feel burned when they enter the Inner Academy."
"Oh?" Lin Xuanchen asked with interest. "Then how do you intend to assess Dong'er and me, Dean Yan?"
"It's actually quite simple." The corners of Yan Shaozhe's mouth slowly curled upward, and a calculating gleam flashed through his eyes.
"I have a disciple whose current soul power level has already reached Soul Emperor. When you left Shrek Academy, you were only rank thirty-nine. From what I can tell, you should still be no stronger than a Soul Ancestor."
Yan Shaozhe smiled slyly. "My plan is to have you spar with my disciple. If you can last the time it takes an incense stick to burn against her, both you and Student Wang Dong'er will pass the assessment. How does that sound?"
The beads of Yan Shaozhe's little abacus clicked merrily away. First, he would have his disciple Ma Xiaotao thoroughly overpower Lin Xuanchen and blunt his edge.
He would make Lin Xuanchen understand that beyond every master stood a greater master, and beyond every heaven lay another heaven. That would make it easier to brainwash him and bring him into Shrek Academy.
"Pfft!"
At Yan Shaozhe's words, Wang Dong'er, whose hand Lin Xuanchen was holding, was the first to burst into a derisive laugh.
Wang Dong'er knew what trump cards Lin Xuanchen held. Never mind a Soul Emperor like Ma Xiaotao-even if Yan Shaozhe took him on himself, he might not come away with anything sweet to show for it.
"Student Wang Dong'er, is this so funny? Having Student Lin Xuanchen fight my disciple is already a very lenient assessment. Other students have never had an assessment this easy."
Watching Wang Dong'er suddenly laugh, Yan Shaozhe's expression darkened a little as he questioned her in confusion.
"It's nothing, it's nothing." Wang Dong'er waved her hand with a smile. "Dean Yan, I'm honestly afraid my A-Chen might slap your disciple to death with two blows."
"Isn't that right, A-Chen?" Wang Dong'er turned to Lin Xuanchen as she asked, still holding back her laughter.
"That's right." Lin Xuanchen nodded. "Two slaps would do it."
"What do you two mean by that? Is my disciple's Soul Emperor strength not even worth your notice?"
Hearing Lin Xuanchen and Wang Dong'er speak as though Ma Xiaotao were beneath their notice, Yan Shaozhe's expression turned thoroughly grim.
"I'm afraid she really isn't enough." Lin Xuanchen smiled indifferently. "You might be more like it."
With that, Lin Xuanchen released his terrifying soul ring configuration: two purple, one black, and two red.
"Hundred Thousand Year Soul Rings!!!" Seeing the five soul rings pulsing around Lin Xuanchen, Yan Shaozhe practically jumped in shock and cried out in horror.
"This... this aura is real! They're real Hundred Thousand Year Soul Rings! Even I don't have a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring!" Yan Shaozhe's chest heaved violently, his eyes filled with profound shock.
"Lin Xuanchen! Where did you get your Hundred Thousand Year Soul Rings?" His eyes bloodshot, Yan Shaozhe grabbed Lin Xuanchen's shoulders and demanded an answer, panting like an ox.
"That should have nothing to do with you, Dean Yan. That's my private business," Lin Xuanchen refused.
I must keep Lin Xuanchen at Shrek Academy! By any means necessary!
At that moment, this was the only thought left in Yan Shaozhe's mind.
A twelve-year-old, rank-sixty Soul Emperor was utterly unprecedented in the entire history of Soul Masters. Even Sea God Tang San had not reached rank sixty at twelve.
"Neither of you needs an assessment! You can enter the Inner Academy directly! I'll arrange your accommodations!" Yan Shaozhe declared excitedly.
"Oh, right. My Dong'er's current soul power level is rank sixty-eight, and her attribute has already transformed into ultimate light." Lin Xuanchen glanced at Wang Dong'er and added this detail.
"What!? An ultimate attribute!!!"
Yan Shaozhe had only just calmed his excitement, but the words coming from Lin Xuanchen's mouth instantly sent it surging again.
"Lin Xuanchen, is what you're saying true? Ultimate light! Student Wang Dong'er's attribute has actually transformed into ultimate light!"
In his excitement, Yan Shaozhe reached out to touch Wang Dong'er, intending to probe her with his soul power and see whether Lin Xuanchen's claim was true.
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