Chapter 45: Entrance Examination

The line moved quickly, and soon it arrived at Yang Xiong and Ning Rongrong.

When Yang Xiong extended his hand, the elder groped Yang Xiong's hand and a hint of doubt appeared in his eyes.

"Huh, your hand feels a bit off; it's somewhat similar to the one that passed earlier, yet somehow different."

Yang Xiong guessed the elder was talking about Tang San, who because he has been cultivating Mysterious Jade Hand since childhood differs from ordinary people, but Yang Xiong was unusually casual: "Maybe it's because I've liked exercising my body since I was young."

The elder carefully examined Yang Xiong for a while, especially a few joints, then sighed: "Your age matches, but your physical quality far exceeds what your current age should allow. I really don't know how you trained it. What is your martial soul?"

Yang Xiong replied: "My martial soul is rather special; it is my own body."

The elder expressed surprise again: "Now that's truly strange. I've roamed the Soul Master World for many years and have never seen a martial soul like yours."

Yang Xiong smiled: "Sir, martial souls in the Soul Master World are myriad and strange; having various martial souls is quite normal, just as your martial soul, the Dragon‑Pattern Staff, is also rare in the Soul Master World."

The elder finally nodded: "Indeed. You have passed the first assessment; next, Dai Mubai will take you to the subsequent test."

Yang Xiong, hearing this, stood to the side, planning to go together after Ning Rongrong's assessment.

The elder, after testing Ning Rongrong's martial soul and soul power, was similarly surprised: "Little girl, do your family know that you are coming to study here?"

Ning Rongrong pursed her lips: "What does it matter to them? Isn't this a Soul Master Academy? As long as I meet the standards, I can enroll."

The elder couldn't help but sigh, lamenting that this year's admissions were especially strange, and everyone coming to Shrek is such a bizarre lot?

Quickly, under Dai Mubai's leadership, the group bypassed the second assessment; of course, besides Yang Xiong and Ning Rongrong, there was also Zhu Zhuqing.

Seeing Tang San and Xiao Wu actually pass the assessment directly, and even skip the second and third assessments, they could proceed straight to the fourth assessment.

The people around seemed a bit dissatisfied, claiming that the academy makes distinctions in treating all students.

Dai Mubai's face turned cold: "If you can reach Level 25 at twelve years old, you may also proceed directly to the final assessment."

A student, clearly angry, said: "How is that possible? I'm already among the top in our academy, and the highest is only Level 22. How could a twelve‑year‑old reach Level 25?"

Dai Mubai, without further words, produced a Crystal Ball for soul power testing.

Tang San and Xiao Wu each underwent the test, their soul power reaching Level 29. Everyone present gasped in amazement; even the whole Suotuo City might not have a twelve‑year‑old at Level 29—what a prodigy!

Yang Xiong felt a pang inside, but then couldn't help smiling. Tang San and Xiao Wu's talents are indeed outstanding; he had also checked the records of the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect, and in the past hundred years only one person in the sect reached Level 29 at twelve—the Sword Douluo. Even the Bone Douluo fell short, and others were even farther behind.

However, Yang Xiong believes that although his Innate Soul Power is not as strong as theirs, he will soon surpass them.

Soon, Yang Xiong and Ning Rongrong took the soul power test together; one reached Level 26, the other Level 28, and they proceeded straight to the fourth assessment site, where Zhu Zhuqing beside them already had Level 27 soul power.

Along the way they met a middle‑aged man selling sausages, none other than Oscar, the specialist sausage vendor, who in theory should be the most gifted among the Shrek Seven Monsters.

However, when everyone heard Oscar's incantation to summon the sausage, each felt a bit nauseated.

Yang Xiong didn't mind; having spent several months in Sunset Forest, he had tried everything. He bought a sausage and ate it on the spot, noting that it tasted good and even restored soul power, which was quite effective.

However, Yang Xiong's action drew a wave of contempt from the girls, and he couldn't help shaking his head: these girls have never seen much of the world, they're so inexperienced. For ordinary people, even having a sausage to eat is good enough, let alone a sausage that restores better than Divine Medicine.

Moreover, Yang Xiong has always suspected that if Tang San hadn't undergone Ice Fire Tempering Body, then purely in terms of physical quality, Oscar might be the best among the Shrek Seven Monsters. Especially since the Food System on Douluo Continent is practically a cheat, theoretically this even seems to violate the law of conservation of energy.

……

Dai Mubai also gave everyone an overview of Shrek's situation: the Shrek school now has only three students, while the number of teachers exceeds the students, drawing sideways glances from the crowd.

Especially, Shrek Academy's admissions are extremely strict, and graduation is even stricter, requiring one to reach Level 40 before twenty years old. By this standard, one is essentially at the highest level of the Advanced Soul Master Academy, and many Advanced Soul Master Academies may not even produce a twenty‑year‑old Soul Ancestor.

Yang Xiong was also speechless; he personally highly acknowledges Shrek Academy's teaching staff, yet it seems not applied to the students. In the original work, aside from Zhao Wuji, the other teachers rarely appear.

Especially regarding Shrek's casualty rate, it completely mismatches the teaching strength; even in later generations, student deaths have become a tradition.

If these talents recruited by Shrek were cultivated within the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect, although not all might meet graduation standards, the casualty rate would be virtually zero, and most would eventually become sect elders.

Unfortunately, this is also the sorrow of the Soul Master World: sects can provide students with the most comprehensive training, yet they also demand absolute loyalty.

Ordinary civilian soul masters, unless they join a sect, mostly fall during their growth; only a few can cultivate to the Advanced Soul Master realm. Moreover, upon reaching the Advanced Soul Master realm, Soul Rings become increasingly difficult to obtain, and the risk multiplies.

Take the elder whose martial soul is the Dragon‑Pattern Staff: with such a Soul Ring configuration, one can cultivate to the Soul Emperor Realm. If a sect provides cultivation and suitable Soul Ring acquisition, becoming a top Soul Saint would be no problem.

When the group arrived at the fourth assessment point, a very muscular middle‑aged man about 1.7 meters tall sat there, his muscles dense as if brimming with Explosion power; this man was Zhao Wuji.

Dai Mubai seemed somewhat intimidated by Zhao Wuji: "Teacher Zhao, those five are here to take the fourth assessment, and they've arrived directly at the fourth stage. I will assess them; you supervise the exam."

Zhao Wuji stood up directly: "This year is rather interesting; five Little Monsters showed up directly. Your ability to reach here shows good talent. I will personally assess you, and hope you pass my assessment."

The several freshmen all appeared casual, but Dai Mubai's complexion changed abruptly.

(End of chapter)