Six-Winged Angel vs. Lightning Maniac Panther (Part 1)

"Director Du, Xiao Ya and I have brought the new students to register," Bei Bei said with a smile.

"Hello, Director Du."

Ling Bai and the other three gave a slight bow, the most basic courtesy toward teachers and elders.

"Mm."

Du Weilun nodded and proceeded with the new student registration in a businesslike manner. "State your names."

The four exchanged glances. Then Ling Bai spoke first. "Ling Bai. Ling as in Ling Xiao, Bai as in white."

Du Weilun neatly wrote down the two characters for Ling Bai on the student registration form. He glanced up at Ling Bai, a trace of surprise and confusion flickering imperceptibly in his eyes.

"Gender?"

"...Male."

"Pfft!"

Seeing Ling Bai's suddenly stiff expression, Tang Ya and Wu Feng burst out laughing without giving him any face. A faint smile also appeared on Ning Tian's face. For the first time in more than ten years, Ling Bai felt embarrassed.

"You're quite pretty," Du Weilun said casually, even complimenting Ling Bai.

Ling Bai could not help correcting him. "Director Du, handsome is actually a more appropriate description for a man."

"I mean you're prettier than most girls."

"Thank you so much, Director Du."

Ling Bai gritted his teeth as he said it. Wu Feng laughed even louder beside him, secretly deciding to give Ling Bai a nickname later—sissy.

Ning Tian and the other two stated their names in turn. Once Du Weilun got a clear look at them, he suddenly felt that this year's new students seemed exceptionally good-looking.

"Let's do a small test. Give me your hand."

Ling Bai extended his hand. His long, fair fingers made Tang Ya feel a burst of envy. The joke just now had caused her to start noticing the details of Ling Bai's appearance. A boy's skin was actually much fairer than hers—was the Six-Winged Angel really so blessed by heaven?

Du Weilun reached for Ling Bai and grasped his palm. There were three requirements for entering Shrek Academy's Outer Court: first, one had to be under twelve; second, one's Soul Power could not be below Rank 15; and finally, one needed a recommendation letter from a main city of one of the three great empires.

"Eleven years old. Your bone age is suitable."

Du Weilun confirmed Ling Bai's true age through the bones in his hand. He picked up a blue crystal ball from the table and handed it to Ling Bai for the second Soul Power test.

Golden Soul Power poured into the crystal ball. In an instant, brilliant light erupted from Ling Bai's hand, and the crystal ball became as dazzling as a diamond.

The crystal ball's testing limit was Rank 30. The intense light now filled every corner of it, meaning Ling Bai possessed at least Rank 30 Soul Power.

"The third Rank 30 this year already." Du Weilun's expression suddenly turned strange. "There are monsters every year, but there are especially many today!"

"Director Du, there's actually a fourth."

The same dazzling radiance flashed once again. The girl's smile was sly and radiant, as though she was more than happy to give Shrek Academy's Outer Court Dean of Instruction a little more shock.

Sure enough, Du Weilun froze. Once he recovered, he immediately laughed and scolded, "Good, good, good! Once school starts, I'll definitely have your homeroom teacher put you two through your paces! Come, next."

Du Weilun raised his voice a little. With Ling Bai and Ning Tian setting such a high standard, he had developed greater expectations for Wu Feng and Huo Yuhao as well.

However, the result left Du Weilun slightly disappointed. The crystal ball in Wu Feng's hand shone, but it was clearly still some distance from Rank 30. Her Soul Power was probably between Rank 25 and Rank 26.

I'm being too greedy...

Du Weilun sighed inwardly. For a moment, he had thought all four of them were monster students at Rank 30.

"Next," Director Du said listlessly.

"Pas... Hm!?"

Du Weilun almost reflexively said "pass," but swallowed the word abruptly. He shot to his feet and stared intently at the crystal ball in Huo Yuhao's hand, which emitted only a faint glow. His brow furrowed deeply.

"Rank 11 Soul Power?"

Two monsters, one genius—why had they brought along an idiot?!

Just as Du Weilun was fuming and nearly ready to swallow Huo Yuhao whole, Tang Ya stepped forward to bail Huo Yuhao out.

"Director Du, the academy gives our Tang Sect one exemption slot every year. As the current Tang Sect Master, I used this year's slot on Little Yuhao."

"Oh, right, I nearly forgot that you're the Tang Sect Master, you little girl."

Du Weilun stroked his chin and teased, "I remember you went through the academy's regular process when you enrolled. You're willing to use the slot this year?"

"Hehe, Little Yuhao is the disciple I just took in. Of course, as his teacher, I have to look after him!" Tang Ya said with a grin.

"Fine."

Du Weilun looked toward Huo Yuhao. "You're entering the academy without an exam, but let me make this clear first. Even students recommended by the Tang Sect will be eliminated if they fail the freshman assessment three months from now. I hope you can make up the gap in Soul Power between yourself and your classmates as quickly as possible."

Huo Yuhao clenched his fists tightly and said firmly, "I definitely won't disappoint Teacher Xiao Ya or you!"

"It's good for young people to have spirit." Du Weilun praised him, then said to Ling Bai and the other two, "Let me see your recommendation letters."

Ning Tian took out three letters from her Storage Soul Tool. At the center of each pristine white envelope was an exquisite, luxurious Nine-Colored Seal.

"You're from the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect?"

Du Weilun recognized the origin of the Nine-Colored Seal.

The Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect had been the second greatest sect in the world ten thousand years ago. Though it no longer possessed its former glory, it remained one of the great super sects.

"Yes, Director Du," Ning Tian replied with a light smile.

Du Weilun's attitude became friendly. "Just like the Tang Sect, Shrek Academy gives the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect one Outer Court exemption slot each year. Yet you little ones insisted on taking the test!"

The friendly relationship between Shrek Academy and the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect had lasted for ten thousand years. Every generation, the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect sent a direct descendant to Shrek Academy for further study.

Thanks to the formidable abilities of the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda, the continent's number one support-type tool martial soul, they would all become members of the Shrek Seven Monsters and represent the academy in the Soul Master Competition. Naturally, Du Weilun was willing to say a few extra words to disciples from such an ancient sect with outstanding abilities.

"Oh, right, your name is Ning Tian, isn't it..."

Du Weilun suddenly fell into a dilemma. Under Ning Tian's puzzled gaze, he hesitantly asked, "How has Sect Master Ning been these past few years?"

Before Ning Tian could answer, he hurriedly added, "Sect Master Ning and I were classmates at Shrek Academy. We haven't seen each other in so many years, so I... I was just asking, that's all..."

"Uh..."

Ning Tian leaned back slightly, while everyone else looked like eager gossip-hunters waiting to watch a show. Even an idiot could tell that Director Du's relationship with the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect Master was far from ordinary.

"My mother is doing quite well."

Ning Tian did her best to maintain her manners, though she strongly suspected Du Weilun was the simp her mother had mentioned, who had pestered her for nearly ten years.

"That's good... that's good..." Du Weilun rubbed his hands together, his face turning red. "If you have any difficulties with your studies in the future, come find the dean. The dean will help you solve them!"

"Mm, thank you, Director."

"All of you have passed the entrance test. Bei Bei and Tang Ya will take you to collect your uniforms and school badges. The soul tool screen at the entrance to the dormitory building will show your randomly assigned classes. It's getting late, so hurry back and rest!"

Du Weilun turned his head away and waved them off, looking rather like he had lost face and was rushing them out.

"Wait, Director Du!"

Just as Du Weilun was inwardly berating himself for being so spineless, a clear voice suddenly interrupted him.

"What is it now?" Du Weilun asked with displeasure.

"I heard that the assessment standard for Shrek Inner Academy is to be under eighteen years old and possess Rank 40 Soul Power."

"That's right. Why?"

Du Weilun turned around, just in time to see the soul rings slowly rise beneath Ling Bai's feet.

Yellow, purple, purple, black!

In Du Weilun's eyes, the youth who was far prettier than a girl underwent a sudden transformation in aura. The gleam sweeping through his brilliant golden eyes was as sharp as blades.

"Director Du, may I ask whether I qualify to participate in Shrek Academy's Inner Academy assessment?"