Soul Ascension Pill

Shrek Academy's reputation as the continent's finest academy was no empty rumor. It had an exceptionally strict elimination system and advancement assessments.

On the way back to Shrek Academy, Bei Bei explained its rules to Huo Yuhao as they walked.

"New students don't fully count as students of Shrek Academy upon enrollment. They still have to pass the Freshman Assessment three months later. That assessment also evaluates each student's potential. Those who perform exceptionally well and have outstanding talent can become core disciples, receiving more resources and training."

"As for advancement assessments, moving from first year to second year requires soul power above rank 20 and a passing grade in practical combat. Moving from third year to fourth year requires soul power of at least rank 30, along with a passing grade in the practical combat assessment. Xiaoya, Tianyuan, and I are all at that stage."

Huo Yuhao listened attentively, inwardly cheering himself on. He had to pass the Freshman Assessment and stay.

At the East City Gate, both sides of the broad road bustled with activity. Vendors shouted their wares, and plenty of students streamed out of the academy. When it came to spending power, Shrek's students certainly ranked high. After all, the Outer Court's cafeteria was truly bizarre.

A dozen or so third- and fourth-year students still stood at the academy gates. When they saw Chen Tianyuan, Bei Bei, and the others, they took the initiative to greet them. Several of the female students were especially enthusiastic upon seeing Chen Tianyuan.

Chen Tianyuan waved and nodded in response, making their hearts blossom with delight.

Bei Bei chuckled at the sight, draping an arm over his shoulders. "So many girls in the Outer Court like you. Hasn't even one caught your eye?"

Chen Tianyuan looked toward the Sea God Pavilion and said evenly, "I don't live for romantic attachments."

He had once sworn to sever the Heavenly Dragon Sect's legacy. Until he had taken his revenge, he would not think about such things.

Chen Tianyuan's expression was as still as water, yet fury burned in his eyes. His entire bearing stood at odds with his surroundings.

Shrek Academy's enrollment procedures were not complicated. Registration took only a few minutes, followed by paying tuition and collecting uniforms. Naturally, Bei Bei covered Huo Yuhao's tuition.

Afterward, the three of them took Huo Yuhao for a stroll around campus. As they passed a noticeboard, Tang Ya glanced at it, then said with some concern, "Oh dear, Yuhao, your luck isn't very good. You've actually been assigned to Teacher Zhou Yi's class."

Huo Yuhao was puzzled. "Is there something wrong with this Teacher Zhou Yi?"

Chen Tianyuan sneered. "Something wrong with her? She's a complete lunatic."

He still clearly remembered being placed in Zhou Yi's class when he first arrived in the Outer Court. Back then, Director Du Weilun had told Zhou Yi to take extra care of him, yet that madwoman had come up with all sorts of ways to make his life difficult...

Bei Bei nodded. "Teacher Zhou Yi is a senior teacher at the academy. She's famously strict and will expel students at the slightest displeasure..."

Huo Yuhao let out a startled cry, suddenly feeling as though everything had gone wrong.

Bei Bei patted his shoulder. "Don't worry, Yuhao. Teacher Zhou Yi may be strict, but her teaching ability is still quite good."

The corner of Chen Tianyuan's mouth twitched. Good, my ass. What kind of teacher makes students run a hundred laps around the field on their very first day?

The buildings in the Shrek Outer Court followed a single color scheme: the colors of soul rings. The freshman dormitories, classroom buildings, and uniforms were all white, representing a ten-year soul ring. Second and third years used yellow, fourth and fifth years purple, and sixth years black, while the Inner Court uniforms were red.

An old man in plain clothes lay outside the white freshman dormitory building, his face crisscrossed with deep creases. He was Mu En, the current master of the Sea God Pavilion, Shrek Academy's towering pillar of support, a rank-99 Limit Douluo, and the great ancestor of both Chen Tianyuan and Bei Bei.

Chen Tianyuan was not remotely surprised to see Mu En. He waved and called, "Great Ancestor."

Bei Bei, on the other hand, was somewhat surprised. He had not expected Mu En to appear here, much less for Chen Tianyuan to go over and greet him. But on second thought, it made sense. None of the Outer Court students knew Mu En's identity anyway; they all thought he was merely an old man who watched over the dormitories.

Bei Bei also stepped forward to greet him.

Huo Yuhao took Mu En for the elderly gatekeeper. He went over to greet him, handing over his Student ID and Key Tag for inspection.

Mu En accepted them and took a glance before saying, "Your room is the third one on the left on the first floor. The girls' dormitories start on the fourth floor. You mustn't go up there, or you'll be expelled."

With that, he returned the Key Tag and Student ID to Huo Yuhao. After bowing respectfully, Huo Yuhao turned toward Chen Tianyuan and the others.

"Brother Chen, Eldest Senior Brother, Teacher Xiaoya, I'll head to my room now."

"Wait." Chen Tianyuan stopped him. "Take this."

As he spoke, he tossed over a small, heavy pouch.

Huo Yuhao scrambled to catch it. The pouch landed in his hands with a crisp metallic clink. He opened it to find a bag of gold soul coins-at a rough glance, at least a hundred.

Huo Yuhao had never seen so much money and immediately tried to return it. Soul masters still received a stipend these days. Though it was not much, it was enough if he spent carefully.

Chen Tianyuan was adamant. "Just take it. You can consider it a loan if you like. I'm not short of money."

He was not merely saying that to ease Huo Yuhao's discomfort. He really was not short of money. The academy gave him several thousand gold soul coins every month, a privilege even Bei Bei did not enjoy.

Once Huo Yuhao's affairs were settled, Bei Bei and Tang Ya went off to spend some time alone together, leaving Chen Tianyuan by himself.

Chen Tianyuan did not idle around either. He headed straight to the Outer Court's Academic Affairs Office.

Inside the Academic Affairs Office, Du Weilun was looking through the list of this year's freshmen. Chen Tianyuan knocked on the door and walked straight in.

Seeing him, Du Weilun set down the documents in his hands and asked, "Tianyuan, what brings you here?"

Chen Tianyuan got straight to the point. "Director Du, my cultivation has hit a bottleneck. Get me a Soul Ascension Pill."

Du Weilun tapped his fingers on the desk and said earnestly, "Tianyuan, cultivation bottlenecks are perfectly normal. Give yourself some time to consolidate your foundation, and you'll eventually break through. Besides, a Soul Ascension Pill only works the first time you take one."

"Huh?" Chen Tianyuan looked puzzled. "Director Du, I've never taken a Soul Ascension Pill..."

Du Weilun was dumbfounded. He gave two light coughs. "Sorry, I remembered incorrectly. I'll get you one right away."

As he spoke, a thumb-sized white jade porcelain vial appeared in Du Weilun's hand. Inside it was a Soul Ascension Pill.

The Soul Ascension Pill was hardly a top-grade medicinal pill, and its effect was straightforward. A soul master below rank 40 could take one to raise their soul power by one rank, but it only worked the first time.

Chen Tianyuan had refrained from taking one before precisely because he had been waiting until now. The closer his soul power level was to rank 40, the greater the benefit of the Soul Ascension Pill.