Tang Feng and Zhu Zhuqing stood at the very back. Just then, a commotion rose up ahead.
"I advise all of you to ask around about our Shrek Academy before you come. Don't keep coming here to apply without knowing anything about us. You'll only waste your application fees!"
The old man stood up, looking somewhat impatiently at the long line behind them.
"Shrek is a kind of monster, an extremely peculiar existence even among Soul Beasts, so we only accept monsters!"
"Ordinary Soul Masters, those with poor aptitude, and anyone under twelve who hasn't reached level twenty-one can leave now. Don't waste my time, your time, or your money!"
"Then our application fee..." one father asked.
The old man answered bluntly, "Once you've applied, there are no refunds."
Even a clay figure had a temper. The boy's father could not hold back his anger. "You're clearly swindling us! Refund our application fee, or we're not leaving."
The old man glanced at him and said mildly, "Dai Mubai, someone wants his application fee back. Handle it."
A figure suddenly sprang up from the ground nearby. "You can have your application fee back. Beat me, and you'll get a full refund."
This was precisely the blond young man who had had his arms around the twins yesterday. So his name was Dai Mubai. Was he also one of the Shrek Seven Monsters? Just what kind of people were these?
The more Tang Feng thought about it, the more unbelievable it seemed. In his mind, he had already ruled out this monster.
Dai Mubai wasted no words. He directly stirred his Soul Power and released all three of his Soul Rings: two hundred-year rings and one thousand-year ring.
His surging Soul Power exerted an invisible pressure on the air. Cold light flashed repeatedly in his sinister eyes as he looked at the father and son.
Between Soul Masters, Soul Rings always spoke loudest. Seeing Dai Mubai's three Soul Rings, including a Thousand-Year Soul Ring, the boy's father paled. Instantly deflated, he left with his son.
Tang Feng watched it all. If he had not wanted to avoid extra complications, he would really have liked to go up and let Dai Mubai test how hard his Ruyi Jingu Bang was.
The application process continued. The old man could not even be bothered to lift his eyelids, and his line never changed: "Unqualified. Next."
Dai Mubai stood to one side, maintaining order, his blond hair flying freely in the wind and his sinister eyes full of amusement.
Then it was Tang San and Xiao Wu's turn.
"The application fee is ten Gold Soul Coins." The old man lazily held out his hand.
Tang San handed over a money pouch. The old man hefted it before looking him over, his gaze pausing on Tang San. "Hold out a hand."
Tang San complied. The old man squeezed his wrist and muttered, "Bone age is suitable... release your Martial Soul."
Two Yellow Soul Rings rose beneath Tang San's feet, while Blue Silver Grass had already wound around the fingertips of his right hand.
The old man's eyes lit up. "To cultivate Blue Silver Grass to this level-you're a monster. Test your Soul Power Level."
Tang San placed his hand on the crystal ball.
The old man nodded. "Level twenty-nine Soul Power. Pass. Next!"
Xiao Wu also released her Soft Bone Rabbit Martial Soul with a proud expression. She likewise had two Yellow Soul Rings, then tested her Soul Power Level.
The old man nodded. "Level twenty-nine Soul Power. Pass. Next!"
Before his words had faded, a clear female voice rang out. "Excuse me, can I apply here?"
Everyone turned to see a graceful girl in white standing there, her features exquisite and her bearing elegant and unworldly.
The girl handed over a money pouch. Two Yellow Soul Rings rose beneath her feet, and a seven-colored glazed tower appeared in her palm.
The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect! An uproar swept through the crowd.
Someone from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect had actually come here? Tang Feng was shocked. Then this girl should also be one of the Shrek Seven Monsters.
The old man did not even blink. "The little princess of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect? What are you doing in our shabby little place?"
The girl smiled. "I heard Shrek only accepts monsters. I'd like to try."
With that, the girl placed her hand on the crystal ball.
The old man smiled and said, "Level twenty-six Soul Power. Pass. Next!"
A quarter of an hour later, only three of the twenty-odd applicants had passed. At last, it was Zhu Zhuqing's turn.
Zhu Zhuqing wore a mask, her voice as cold as ice. "I'm here to apply."
She handed over her money pouch and released her Martial Soul. Two Yellow Soul Rings rose, and the phantom of a Hell Spirit Cat appeared behind her, its claw tips gleaming with a biting chill.
Dai Mubai seemed to sense something too. He looked over, perhaps having thought of something.
After displaying her Martial Soul, Zhu Zhuqing immediately withdrew it and placed her hand on the crystal ball.
The old man raised an eyebrow. "Masks are not permitted inside the academy. Please take yours off!"
Zhu Zhuqing complied, removing her mask to reveal her impassive expression.
"Level twenty-seven Soul Power. Pass!"
Zhu Zhuqing headed inside. Tang Feng was about to follow when the old man stopped him. "You cannot enter the academy without applying!"
Tang Feng pointed at Zhu Zhuqing. "I'm her friend. Once she passes the assessments and enrolls successfully, I'll leave."
The old man looked questioningly at Zhu Zhuqing, who nodded in confirmation.
Perhaps because he had recruited four monster students that day, the old man was in an excellent mood and readily let him through. Tang Feng entered the academy without trouble.
Soon, under Dai Mubai's guidance, they skipped the second and third assessments and went straight to the fourth.
Dai Mubai led them to an open space, where a rich, meaty aroma greeted their noses.
"Sausages! Sausages for sale! Oscar's secret-recipe sausages, delicious and healthy! Cheap too, just five copper coins each!"
A young man with a full beard and peach-blossom eyes approached, pushing a wooden cart. A grill stood on the cart, with seven or eight sausages neatly arranged on it, glistening with grease and giving off an enticing aroma.
The young man grinned so broadly that his eyes disappeared. "Handsome fellows, lovely ladies, how about a sausage to replenish your strength?"
Xiao Wu's eyes lit up, and her stomach gave an uncooperative growl.
"Two, please!" Seeing this, Tang San took out ten copper coins.
"You can't eat those sausages!" Just as the two accepted the sausages and were about to eat, Dai Mubai immediately stopped them.
Dai Mubai glared at him. "Oscar, I've warned you more than once not to sell sausages inside the academy!"
Seeing everyone's curious looks, Dai Mubai continued, "Oscar, make a fresh sausage."
"Boss Dai, for the sake of all our years as classmates, can't we skip that?"
"Hurry up. Stop dawdling."
"I Have a Big Sausage." Oscar helplessly recited the incantation and made a sausage.
After hearing Oscar's soul incantation, everyone felt a wave of disgust rise within them.
Xiao Wu did not understand. After Tang San whispered a few words in her ear, she immediately looked repulsed, and the sausage in her hand no longer seemed appetizing.
"Junior sister, do you still want the sausage?" Oscar asked Xiao Wu.
Xiao Wu snapped, "Keep this sausage for yourself!"
With that, she tossed the sausage in her hand to Oscar.
Tang Feng, however, thought nothing of it. A food Martial Soul, and a highly nutritious meat food at that-this kind of Martial Soul was extremely rare and of exceptionally high quality. This student's talent had to be extraordinarily high.
"Oscar, right? I'll buy two sausages." Tang Feng took out a Silver Soul Coin and handed it to Oscar.
Seeing that someone did not disdain his Martial Soul incantation, Oscar grinned and handed Tang Feng the sausage he had just made.
Tang Feng ate the sausage without another word. Instantly, a warm current swept through his entire body. All his fatigue vanished, and his Soul Power and stamina were fully restored.
"Mm, an excellent food Martial Soul. These sausages are of exceptionally high quality. Your Innate Soul Power must be very high. With enough resources to support your cultivation, your future achievements will certainly be considerable!"
Hearing Tang Feng's praise, Oscar immediately regained his confidence.
In fact, Tang Feng had not meant to praise him. He was simply telling the truth.
Filled with gratitude, Oscar tilted his head up to look at Tang Feng, who stood a full head taller than him. "Thank you, junior... brother. What should I call you?"
"My name is Tang Feng. I'm not a student here to apply. I'm only bringing a friend here to enroll!" Tang Feng glanced at Zhu Zhuqing, then answered Oscar.
The interlude soon passed, and everyone continued toward the assessment site. When they reached the fourth assessment area, Tang Feng did not follow them over, but watched from a distance.
An extremely sturdy-looking middle-aged man sat there. He was only about 1.7 meters tall, but his entire body was packed with solid muscle, brimming with explosive power.
Dai Mubai was somewhat afraid of the middle-aged man and spoke respectfully. "Teacher Zhao, these four are here for the fourth assessment, and they came straight to the fourth round. I'll assess them next, and you'll supervise."
The middle-aged teacher stood right up. "My name is Zhao Wuji, and I'm the academy's vice dean. Things are lively this year. Four Little Monsters have actually come straight here."