"I remember there being more than one entrance exam, right?"
Qin Xiao asked Li Yusong.
"Yes, normally, Shrek Academy's entrance exam consists of four tests."
"The remaining ones are the Soul Power Test, the Martial Soul Control Test, and finally, the Combat Test."
Li Yusong hurriedly explained.
Qin Xiao nodded slightly in understanding, then heard Li Yusong add, "However, for Your Holiness, all these tests can be waived."
"Waived?"
Qin Xiao shook his head. "I don't need special privileges. Everyone must be treated equally."
"Then waive the second and third tests. I must take the Combat Assessment."
Well, that...
After hearing the first half of Qin Xiao's statement, Li Yusong had breathed a sigh of relief for all the teachers.
But after hearing the second half of Qin Xiao's words, he had already begun praying for Zhao Wuji.
Hopefully, Old Zhao won't get hammered to death...
"Mubai, hurry and take Your Holiness to the test."
Li Yusong looked at Dai Mubai and gave him a meaningful glance.
Dai Mubai immediately understood. "Your Holiness, please follow me."
Qin Xiao, however, shook his head. "Let's all go together."
He remembered that the quest had explicitly required him to face Zhao Wuji alongside his companions and last an incense stick's worth of time against him. Without these people present, who knew whether the system would declare his quest a failure?
What now? Dai Mubai dared not make the decision himself and looked to Li Yusong for help.
"All right, we'll go together. These youngsters are all very talented anyway. They've already exceeded the academy's standards. I'll speak to the others afterward."
Li Yusong spoke without hesitation. Then he looked at Qin Xiao, seemingly seeking his opinion.
"That's fine. Let's go now." Qin Xiao nodded slightly.
As long as he could complete the quest, he did not particularly care about anything else.
But Qin Xiao noticed that Li Yusong looked as though he wanted to say something but was holding back.
"Is there something you want to ask?" Qin Xiao asked.
"May I dare to ask Your Holiness's name and title?" Li Yusong asked, mustering his courage.
"Qin Xiao. My title is Thunder Emperor."
As he spoke, Qin Xiao took the lead and walked into the academy.
"Thunder Emperor Douluo, Qin Xiao!"
Everyone present fell into a daze.
They all knew that before long, this name would resound throughout the Douluo Continent.
"What are you all standing around for? Hurry and follow Your Holiness, the Thunder Emperor, inside!"
At that moment, Li Yusong was the first to shake off his shock and hurriedly urged them on.
Dai Mubai belatedly came to his senses as well and hurried after Qin Xiao's retreating figure.
After everyone left, Li Yusong gradually knitted his brows, his expression turning grave.
Why had Your Holiness come to Shrek Academy?
And why did he want to become a Shrek student?
Don't tell me he came to study. Who in all of Shrek had the ability to teach a Titled Douluo?
Li Yusong felt that reversing their roles and having Your Holiness, the Thunder Emperor, teach them would make far more sense.
I'll go find the dean right now. Something this serious can't be left to give me alone a headache.
With that thought, Li Yusong left the entrance and headed into the academy as well.
"Here we are."
Before long, Dai Mubai led everyone to another clearing, roughly two hundred square meters in size.
Qin Xiao also saw a middle-aged man who appeared to be in his fifties dozing in a chair not far away.
Unless I'm mistaken, that should be Zhao Wuji, the Immovable Wisdom King? He understood at once.
"Teacher Zhao."
Dai Mubai called out.
Yet inwardly, he felt anxious.
Normally, you can show off all you like, old man, but not today. I've got a Titled Douluo-level big shot in this group.
"Oh, it's Mubai."
Awakened from his sleep by Dai Mubai's voice, Zhao Wuji swept his gaze over everyone with a frown. He immediately looked surprised, as though he had encountered something unbelievable.
"Five people actually passed the exams? What a miracle!"
Shrek had not admitted any new students for several years.
That was only natural. Those with great talent chose the Heaven Dou Royal Academy, while those without enough talent could not get in.
Their annual recruitment was merely a way to fleece people for a little pocket money. Thus, throughout Shrek's history, they had only recruited a few dozen students in total.
At that moment, Zhao Wuji slowly rose from his chair.
He was not tall, and his looks were ordinary, but he appeared exceptionally sturdy. He also exuded an intangible sense of pressure.
"My name is Zhao Wuji, and I'm the teacher overseeing your final assessment. Pass my test, and you will become proud members of Shrek."
"But my test isn't that easy to pass."
"Of course, the assessment itself is very simple: combat. Work together and last an incense stick's worth of time against me, and you pass. If I beat you all into the dirt before that incense stick burns out, then you can all get lost!"
As Zhao Wuji spoke, a chilling smile spread across his face.
"Teacher Zhao..." Dai Mubai's heart trembled at those words. He wanted to persuade Zhao Wuji to take them back.
At least don't talk so ruthlessly. Leave yourself a little dignity.
However.
Zhao Wuji waved a hand, cutting Dai Mubai off. "You think I can't see what you're up to, brat? Seen some pretty girls and decided to cherish the flowers and protect the jade again? Normally, I might do you a favor, but today is the entrance exam. There are rules, and my hands are tied."
Zhao Wuji felt that he had already seen right through Dai Mubai's intentions.
"No..."
Dai Mubai opened his mouth, wanting to say more, but the words would not come out. A pair of icy eyes had already fixed upon him.
Even without turning around, he knew they belonged to the girl named Zhu Zhuqing.
Forget it.
Teacher Zhao, since you tripped me up first and exposed my secrets, don't blame me for digging a pit for you too.
After considering it, he said nothing more and obediently stepped aside.
Seeing Dai Mubai move away, Zhao Wuji turned his gaze back to the others. "All right, stop dreaming of taking shortcuts. It won't happen. I'll give you an incense stick's worth of time to discuss your plan. Once it burns out, the battle officially begins."
But then.
Something strange happened.
The discussion he had imagined never materialized. Instead, the boys and girls all focused their gazes on a single person.
What's going on?
Other than being a little older, is there something special about this young man?
Instinctively, Zhao Wuji widened his eyes, trying to get a better look.
There doesn't seem to be anything special about this fellow except that he's a bit handsome.
"Your Holiness, tell us what to do. I'll follow your lead."
A sly gleam flashed in Ning Rongrong's eyes as she spoke first.
"Your Eminence? Is his surname 'Your' and his name 'Eminence'? What an arrogant name."
For a moment, Zhao Wuji was a little dazed.
Calling myself Zhao Your Holiness might be pretty nice too.
"Just stay where you are."
"Leave the rest to me."
Qin Xiao felt that as long as they had entered the clearing, these people should count as his teammates.
If I give Zhao Wuji a savage beating for an incense stick's worth of time next, shouldn't that complete the quest?
Mm.
He felt there was nothing wrong with that reasoning.
Before you continue