On the way to the fourth trial, Xiao Yan and the others learned the whole story.
Although graduating from Shrek Academy would earn one the title of viscount in the empire,
In the academy's twenty years, very few students had actually graduated.
Of the sixty-two students admitted in total, only a little over ten had met the graduation requirements, and every one of them had achieved dazzling success.
After all, Shrek Academy required its students to surpass level forty and reach the Soul Ancestor realm before turning twenty.
Even with the caliber of Shrek Academy's students, that monstrous requirement was exceptionally difficult to meet.
"All right, the fourth trial grounds are just ahead."
As they talked, the group arrived at the grounds for the fourth entrance trial.
"Teacher Zhao, I've brought the students."
The fourth trial grounds covered about two hundred square meters. A middle-aged man who looked to be in his fifties was dozing in a chair to one side. Hearing Dai Mubai's greeting, he immediately opened his eyes.
"So many people actually passed the second and third trials?"
The middle-aged man stood up. He was rather sturdy and, despite being a little shorter than Xiao Yan and the others, looked immensely burly.
"Hehe, Teacher Zhao, they were all exempted from the second and third trials."
"Hahaha, there are so many Little Monsters this year?"
Hearing Dai Mubai, Teacher Zhao burst out laughing. His gaze swept over Xiao Yan and the others as he said,
"But the most important thing for a Soul Master is actual combat ability. I'll give you one incense stick's worth of time to discuss. No matter what methods you use, as long as you can last against me for one incense stick's worth of time, you'll pass."
"Uh... Teacher Zhao, isn't that a little too difficult?" A trace of astonishment appeared on Dai Mubai's face. The fourth trial wasn't supposed to be like this, was it?
"What's so difficult about it?" Teacher Zhao shot Dai Mubai a glare and said,
"The dean isn't here right now, so what I say goes."
With that, Teacher Zhao flicked out an incense stick, which landed at the edge of the grounds and burned quietly. Then he sat cross-legged in the middle of the grounds and said no more.
At the other edge of the grounds, Xiao Yan and the others had yet to realize how serious the situation was.
Hearing that they only needed to last against this teacher for one incense stick's worth of time to pass the test, they all relaxed considerably.
After all, their Soul Power Levels were outstanding among their peers. With talent like theirs, working together, all they had to do was last against this teacher for one incense stick's worth of time. It shouldn't be difficult, right?
"What is it, Brother Dai? Could this teacher also be a Soul Emperor, like the teacher at the registration desk?"
Seeing Dai Mubai's grave expression, Tang San frowned and couldn't help asking.
If this teacher really was a Soul Emperor, then lasting even one minute would indeed be rather difficult for them.
"No."
Dai Mubai shook his head, and Xiao Yan, Tang San, and the others breathed a sigh of relief.
"It's good that he isn't a Soul Emperor," Tang San said to Dai Mubai.
"Don't worry. Since he isn't a Soul Emperor, we should have no problem lasting one incense stick's worth of time."
"Teacher Zhao's Soul Power realm isn't Soul Emperor. He's a level seventy-six expert at the Soul Saint level!"
Dai Mubai's words left the group, who had just breathed a sigh of relief, frozen in place.
"A Soul... Soul Saint?"
"That's right, and he has a Beast Martial Soul-a Battle Soul Saint! He's also our academy's vice dean, second only to the dean in strength."
Dai Mubai glanced over the group before continuing,
"Time is limited. Although Teacher Zhao won't be serious, it'll still be extremely difficult for you to last against him for one incense stick's worth of time. I can only give you a general idea."
"Teacher Zhao's Martial Soul is the Great Strength Vajra Bear, an extremely powerful Beast Martial Soul. He doesn't have a single opening, and his defense is terrifying. Even a Soul Master of the same level would have great difficulty breaking through it."
"Neither attack nor defense is a weakness for Teacher Zhao. He holds the title of Immovable Wisdom King. Although speed isn't his specialty, given the gap in your Soul Power, there's no way you can be faster than him."
Dai Mubai quickly explained the characteristics of Teacher Zhao's Martial Soul. As the girl in the white dress listened, she suddenly spoke up.
"So he's the Immovable Wisdom King, Zhao Wuji. Ten years ago, the Immovable Wisdom King Zhao Wuji had a grudge with Spirit Hall. He was only level sixty-something at the time, and Spirit Hall sent sixteen bishops to surround and attack him,
"But he forced his way out of the encirclement of more than a dozen bishops. The matter was later dropped, and he disappeared. I never expected him to have become a teacher at Shrek Academy!"
Dai Mubai nodded at her words and said to the group,
"In any case, I've never seen Teacher Zhao fight at full strength. His first and second Soul Rings are both Hundred-Year Soul Rings, his Third Soul Ring and fourth are thousand-year Soul Rings, and his last three are all ten-thousand-year Soul Rings."
"Besides, all seven of Teacher Zhao's Soul Rings boost his attack and defense. You can imagine how strong he is."
"For now, you should get to know one another first. Give your names and tell each other about your strength, then see how you can work together to last against Teacher Zhao for one incense stick's worth of time."
When Dai Mubai finished, Xiao Yan and the others exchanged glances. Xiao Yan took the initiative and spoke first.
"My name is Xiao Yan. My Tool Martial Soul is Bone Spirit Cold Flame. I'm a level twenty-nine Power Attack System Battle Soul Master."
When Xiao Yan finished, Tang San and Xiao Wu spoke up as well.
"Tang San. My Tool Martial Soul is Blue Silver Grass. I'm a level twenty-nine Control-Type Battle Spirit Master."
"Xiao Wu. My Beast Martial Soul is a rabbit. I'm a level twenty-nine Power Attack System Battle Soul Master."
After the three finished introducing themselves, the short-haired girl in the white dress hesitated briefly before speaking.
"My name is Ning Rongrong. My Tool Martial Soul is the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda. I'm a level twenty-six Auxiliary System Tool Soul Master."
The cold woman who remained spoke in an equally calm, indifferent tone.
"Zhu Zhuqing. My Beast Martial Soul is the Hell Spirit Cat. I'm a level twenty-seven Agility Attack System Battle Spirit Master."
Once everyone had introduced themselves, all their attention was drawn to Ning Rongrong.
That was because her Tool Martial Soul, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda, was inherited by direct-line disciples of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, one of the Upper Three Sects on Douluo Continent.
"You're from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect?"
Tang San spoke in surprise. The pagoda on the Spirit Hall token Grandmaster had held represented the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.
"I'm no different from an ordinary person, and I sneaked away from home. Let's get through the trial in front of us first."
Seeing everyone's attention on her, Ning Rongrong felt a flash of secret delight. Pretending to be calm, she said,
"My Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda has two Soul Rings. They can increase everyone's speed and strength respectively, by about thirty percent each."
Xiao Yan and the others nodded.
The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda was renowned as the most powerful support Martial Soul. Ning Rongrong was currently only level twenty-something, so she could only increase those attributes by thirty percent.
For every major realm her Soul Power rose, the boost to each attribute would increase by ten percent, and she would be able to boost one additional attribute.
If she reached the Soul Saint realm, her boost could nearly double those attributes. It was no wonder the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda was hailed as the continent's number one support Martial Soul.
"In that case, Senior Brother, I'll take responsibility for controlling Teacher Zhao. You and Xiao Wu will lead the attack, Zhu Zhuqing will use her speed to harass him from the flanks and provide support, and Ning Rongrong will support and boost us from the rear. How does that sound?"
Tang San nodded and spoke to the group. None of them objected.
After all, aside from Xiao Yan and the other two, this was also the first time Zhu Zhuqing and Ning Rongrong had met them. They had no experience working together at all, so they could only rely on a conventional arrangement.