"What! Set up an arena outside Shrek's gates! Isn't that challenging them on their own doorstep?"
Lu Yu's words gave Xiao Clan Chief a tremendous fright. If Lu Yu hadn't already proved his expertise through his recommendations for the clan members' Soul Rings, Xiao Clan Chief really would have suspected the man was a clown who spouted whatever came into his head!
That was Shrek Academy, the finest academy on the continent. Setting up an arena outside its gates was nothing short of a provocation.
Besides, Xiao Xiao was only a One-Ring Soul Master. How could she possibly beat those Two-Ring Soul Grandmasters?
She would also have to withdraw from Shrek if she lost. The risk was far too great.
Shrek Academy's standard of education was the highest on the Douluo Continent. Just getting into Shrek Academy brought glory to one's ancestors. Xiao Clan Chief truly couldn't bear to give that up.
"I'm sorry, Grandmaster Lu. We merchants value caution. Xiao Xiao's current cultivation progress is quite good enough."
"Besides, you said yourself that she could add her subsequent Soul Rings once her level was higher. Becoming a Soul Douluo or a Titled Douluo is enough for us."
Xiao Xiao also breathed a sigh of relief.
Setting up an arena outside Shrek's gates? That's way too scary. Thank goodness Dad didn't listen to him.
But deep down, she also felt a trace of disappointment.
Honestly, for a moment just now, she really had imagined herself sweeping through Shrek Academy undefeated.
What if? What if she really was a one-in-ten-thousand Soul Master genius?
Lu Yu wasn't disappointed by Xiao Clan Chief's refusal. If this was Xiao Xiao's true nature, then she was destined to fall behind him.
When the time came, he would only need to seize an opportunity to absorb her Martial Soul Fragments.
Huo Yutong had twin martial souls anyway, so the second martial soul slots for his higher-ranked Soul Rings were already assured.
It was just a pity that those two top-tier martial souls, the Three-Life Soul-Suppressing Cauldron and the Nine-Phoenix Ceremonial Flute, could only serve as stopgaps during his first two rings.
Seeing Xiao Xiao's lowered head, Xiao Clan Chief stepped forward and stroked it.
"Xiao Xiao, don't take this to heart. Even if you're not a genius, you're still my daughter."
Not a genius?
Xiao Xiao's thoughts suddenly returned to the clan's Soul Power test four years earlier.
"Soul Master, third level!"
Xiao Xiao rested her hand on the Soul Power Testing Stele. The Soul Power level displayed on it was thirteen.
"Didn't she have innate full soul power? How did she only gain two levels in a year?"
"You calculated it wrong. Count the level granted by her Soul Ring, and she only gained one level in a year."
"Only one level in a year? That puts her at the bottom of the clan, doesn't it?"
"Maybe the patriarch helped her fake her innate soul power."
On the Douluo Continent, strength reigned supreme, and Little Scumbag was the one who revealed his talent. Even the patriarch's daughter suffered verbal bullying from her peers for a time.
Xiao Xiao had gritted her teeth and cultivated diligently for a while. In the end, however, although her rate of Soul Power growth caught up with that of ordinary clan members, the gap between their levels gradually shrank.
Gradually, she accepted the fact that she was ordinary. All at once, the seas broadened and the skies opened up. The pent-up frustration vanished, and she felt comfortable again.
Thinking it over, heaven had given her five extra levels of Soul Power. She needed to cultivate five fewer levels than those clan members. A win!
This lack of courage had been hidden beneath the patriarch's lively, clever daughter, until the rosy future Lu Yu painted today lured it out again.
Could I really be a martial soul prodigy?
Xiao Xiao believed it. An arena battle it was, then. If she lost, she would return to the clan and be its young lady.
What if she won? Wouldn't that prove she really was a genius who had merely been biding her time? Now that the wait was over, she could slap those people hard in the face!
"No, Dad. I think Grandmaster Lu has a point."
Xiao Xiao spoke to Lu Yu.
"Will I win?"
"You will."
Lu Yu delivered his confident declaration.
"Sorry, Dad. I want to give it a try."
Xiao Xiao stuck her tongue out at the dumbstruck old man.
Then she raised her hand.
"I swear a Martial Soul Oath: if I lose the pre-enrollment arena battle, I will never enter Shrek for the rest of my life."
After saying this, Xiao Xiao suddenly felt her thoughts flow freely.
Her entire aura changed.
Soul Power level up!
"Sh-she broke through!" Xiao Clan Chief exclaimed beside her, both shocked and delighted.
"Grandmaster Lu, you truly are a man of great talent. To think Xiao Xiao's situation was exactly as you said."
"Now that Xiao Xiao has broken through to Soul Grandmaster, shouldn't we go Soul Hunting to be on the safe side?"
Lu Yu smiled. Just now, when Xiao Xiao broke through-
Not only had the Martial Soul Fragments of the Three-Life Soul-Suppressing Cauldron and Nine-Phoenix Ceremonial Flute automatically flown over to him, but his Second Soul Ring's second martial soul slot had also unlocked.
"Shrek's freshmen are mere Soul Elders at most. One ring is enough."
He looked at Xiao Xiao beside him.
"What do you think? Is one ring enough?"
Xiao Xiao pointed at herself. Me, fight Soul Elders?
Lu Yu nodded. Exactly.
Forget it. At worst, I'll go home!
"I'll go for it!" Xiao Xiao shut her eyes and jumped up, pumping her fist to encourage herself.
At the peak of her jump, her fist slammed hard into Xiao Clan Chief's chin.
"Ow!"
"Huh? Dad, I'm sorry!"
Practice proved that when pushed far enough, Xiao Xiao could hit not only people's knees, but their chins as well.
Two days later, Shrek City.
Shrek City was one of the foremost cities on the Douluo Continent, with a large population and flourishing commerce. Its greatest claim to fame was still Shrek Academy, the number one academy that had stood at the continent's pinnacle for over ten thousand years.
It was currently Shrek Academy's enrollment period, and the academy entrance was already packed.
Today, the crowds were three times larger than on the previous two days.
In front of Shrek's admissions office, where there had been open space just two days earlier, an arena had appeared out of nowhere, blocking the office.
Standing in the center of the arena was a cute little shorty with a green ponytail, but her lines were the complete opposite of cute.
"Shrek Academy only accepts monsters, not ordinary people. Rather than muddling along inside for three months before crawling home in disgrace, you're better off being eliminated right at the start."
"I, Xiao Xiao, a Shrek Academy newcomer, am blocking the entrance! Anyone who can't beat me can forget about enrolling today!"
"Of course, if I'm defeated, that proves I'm nothing but trash too. I'll swear never to set foot in Shrek."
"Holy shit, what an arrogant little shorty."
The senior students at Shrek's admissions office were dumbstruck by Xiao Xiao's actions. This year's students really knew how to put on a show.
"What do we do, buddy? Should we chase her away?"
"Chase her away? Open the betting! Hurry to the dorms and spread the word. I'm taking bets!"
Soon, Shrek's senior students rushed over after hearing that someone had set up an arena outside the gates.
Even a few teachers came.
Weren't the teachers going to do anything?
Do anything about what? Only the freshmen were being provoked. By convention, anyone who hadn't passed the three-month freshman assessment wasn't considered a Shrek student. At most, they were paying to attend temporarily.
Besides, according to Shrek's motto, those who dared not stir up trouble were mediocrities! The academy encouraged infighting among its students.
Moreover, the teachers had all checked. The challenger was just a one-ring small fry. Did they need to lift a finger against a one-ring small fry?
Anyone who couldn't even beat trash like that wouldn't graduate even if they joined Shrek.
Besides Shrek's students and teachers, residents of Shrek City also hurried over at the news. A spectacle like this came once in a century. Even if they had to put down their work, they had to watch it.
Below the arena, Lu Yu watched the group of teachers and students from Shrek enjoying the spectacle.
Naturally, he had investigated Shrek before coming here to study. As soon as he learned that Shrek still kept its motto, "Those who dare not stir up trouble are mediocrities," Lu Yu knew.
Shrek hadn't changed. It still had that same flavor.
In his previous life, the Shrek route had been quite popular. Unlike other academies and sects with their strict rules, players at Shrek Academy...
Could get up to all sorts of antics!
Watching the scene, Tang Ya looked worried.
"Are you sure Xiao Xiao can hold out?"
Lu Yu said, "If I say she can, she can. What about you, though? Why not set up an arena and find some senior students to test your Third Soul Ring skill?"
"Hahaha, there are two freaks among the senior students who can use Martial Soul Evolution. They're probably Soul Ancestors by now. I'll stay out of it."
Tang Ya laughed it off. The Split Nine-Headed Snake's Third Soul Skill was indeed powerful. She had tested it on the road, and even thousand-year Soul Beasts couldn't break free. But if she set up an arena here and ran into those two Soul Ancestors with top-tier martial souls, she would probably take a savage beating.
By now, a crowd of freshmen who had yet to enroll had gathered around the arena. After a dozen or so minutes, a few of them couldn't stand it anymore.
"Fellow student, isn't this a bit inappropriate?"
"Exactly. If you anger everyone, it'll be hard to bring things to a close."
"Fellow student, you'd better get down while there aren't many people here. Otherwise, things will get ugly later."
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