Among Spirit Masters, the Spirit Ring is the ultimate authority. Witnessing the thousand-year purple ring among the three circling Dai Mubai's body, the man who had just complained about "bad luck" turned pale. He grabbed his son and vanished into the crowd without another word.
Dai Mubai returned to his seat, his "Evil Eyes" sweeping over the remaining applicants with a clear, threatening intent. The oppressive weight produced by three Spirit Rings was more than ordinary people could endure. In an instant, he shifted from a wealthy playboy to a formidable enforcer.
The queue thinned immediately, losing a third of its length. Most weren't willing to throw away registration fees on a school that looked like a rundown village, especially when the gatekeeper was so terrifying.
A new youth stepped forward, flanked by confident parents. His mother proudly placed ten gold coins into the wooden chest. The boy reached out his hand. The old man behind the desk squeezed the boy's wrist, then shook his head.
"Twelve years old. But unqualified. Move along."
The mother's confidence shattered. "Why? My son was a top student at his primary academy! He even has a hundred-year Spirit Ring. You don't find many Spirit Masters with those!"
"A hundred-year first ring is decent," the old man said with cold indifference. "But he is still just an ordinary person."
"I don't follow," the father frowned.
Exasperated, the old man stood up. He addressed not just the parents, but the entire line. "If you come to Shrek, you must know the rules. If you didn't do your homework, you're just donating coins. Do any of you even know what 'Shrek' means?"
The crowd stared back, blank-faced.
"Shrek is a monster," the old man hissed. "An existence so strange it stands apart even from spirit beasts. Our creed is simple: We only accept monsters. We do not accept ordinary people. If you are over thirteen, or if your Spirit Power is below Rank 20, don't waste my time here."
As he spoke, a titan-like pressure erupted from his body. Red light flared as a long staff, etched with intricate patterns, materialized in his hand. But it was his feet that drew every scream: six Spirit Rings one white, one yellow, three purple, and one black rose in a dazzling display of power.
The "peasant" old man was a Rank 60+ Spirit Emperor. In the entire Balak Kingdom, masters of this caliber could be counted on one hand. He slammed his staff into the ground, the shockwave making the earth groan.
"Next," he muttered, the light vanishing as he slumped back into his lazy posture. In the blink of an eye, a hundred applicants became ten. Those who remained were the true elites.
"This place is fascinating," Xiao Wu whispered, her eyes bright. "A school for monsters... that's the coolest thing I've ever heard."
Kyle added, "That is why you should never doubt the Grandmaster."
Tang San smiled. "Indeed. Shrek is anything but ordinary."
As they moved up, they saw Dai Mubai leading the qualified students inside. He caught Tang San's and Kyle's eye and offered a faint smirk, shrugging as if to say, 'You're on your own for this test.'
Suddenly, the old man at the desk gasped. A young woman stood before him, alone and dressed in a simple white gown that gave her an air of pristine elegance. Her short, ear-length hair framed a neck of delicate skin.
"May I ask," her voice was soft and pleasant, "have I passed the preliminary?"
Dai Mubai's gaze shifted. The coldness in his eyes didn't just melt; it turned into a predatory gleam the look of a wolf.
"Did your family even know you were coming here?" the old man asked, his brow furrowed.
She didn't answer directly. Instead, she offered a serene smile. "Education shouldn't be limited by background. If I meet the requirements, you have no reason to reject me, right?"
The old man hesitated, then waved to Dai Mubai. "Take her in."
Finally, it was the turn of Tang San, Kyle, and Xiao Wu. Tang San deposited the gold coins for the group. The old man checked Xiao Wu first, nodding. "Age fits."
When he moved to Tang San, he paused. He squeezed Tang San's hand again, his expression shifting to confusion. "Is your hand trained with a specific spirit ability?"
He was checking "bone age" through the palm, but Tang San's hands were reinforced by his internal techniques, making them as hard as iron.
"Yes," Tang San admitted.
"Lift your pant leg." The old man squeezed Tang San's calf. "Muscle development is excellent. Bone age fits."
He moved to Kyle and was struck by the same surprise. "Your physical strength is monstrous for your age. Bone age fits. Good... release your spirits."
In unison, the three channeled their power. Blue, yellow, and red light flooded the clearing as their hundred-year Spirit Rings spiraled upward.
Xiao Wu's rabbit ears sprouted, her body becoming lithe and agile. From Tang San's palm grew a humble sprig of Blue Silver Grass, but it quickly thickened into a tough, lightning-fast vine. In Kyle's hand, a heavy, brilliant white spear appeared, etched with unique patterns.
The old man's eyes lingered on Tang San. "Blue Silver Grass... cultivated to this level?"
Tang San gave a thin smile. "Teacher, didn't you say you only take monsters? Don't I qualify?"
A rare grin broke across the old man's face. "You certainly are a little monster. Mubai, take them through."
"Understood," Dai Mubai said, approaching the group with a nod. He offered Tang San a fleeting smile, yet his gaze kept drifting back toward the academy gates, lingering on the path they had just walked.
With Dai Mubai leading the way, Tang San, Kyle, and Xiao Wu followed him into the heart of Shrek Academy which, for all intents and purposes, was just a secluded village.
"I knew you'd breeze through the first round," Dai Mubai said, though his focus remained divided. "The next tests shouldn't give you much trouble either."
Xiao Wu noticed his constant backward glances and huffed, a hint of annoyance in her voice. "What are you looking at? Still got that girl on your mind? You look like you've seen a ghost or a disaster."
Dai Mubai's brow furrowed, his expression uncharacteristically serious. "It's not that. I felt an aura… something incredibly familiar. More than that, it reacted with my own Martial Soul. In our world, finding a soul that complements your own is incredibly rare. If two such masters join hands, their power doesn't just add up it doubles. It's a phenomenon called Spirit Harmonization."
Xiao Wu couldn't help but giggle. "Spirit Harmonization? So what are you saying? Is that girl's spirit a tigress to match your white tiger?"
A flash of genuine embarrassment crossed Dai Mubai's face. "It's… a possibility."
As they moved deeper into the village, the sheer simplicity of the place became apparent. Every structure was made of weathered wood; "rustic" would have been a generous description. "Dilapidated" felt more accurate. Before long, they reached a wide, open clearing at the academy's center, spanning roughly five hundred square meters.
The air here felt different. It was heavy, vibrating with the erratic fluctuations of spirit power from the students who had already passed the preliminary round. The atmosphere was thick with nervous energy.
Dai Mubai gestured toward the line of applicants waiting ahead. "This is where you'll face the second trial. Wait here; the instructor will explain the requirements shortly."
As they walked through the village, a soft, voice called out: "Sausages! Get your Oscar Brand Sausages! Guaranteed to help you pass the exam!"
A man with a thick, full beard and "peach blossom" eyes was pushing a cart. Despite his rugged look, his voice was unnervingly high and silky.
"Want some?" Tang San asked Xiao Wu. "You skipped breakfast."
They approached the cart. "Paman (Uncle)," Tang San said politely, "three sausages, please."
The vendor froze. "What did you call me? I'm fourteen! I'm Oscar, a student here. Don't call me uncle just because I have a bit of a beard!"
As Tang San and Kyle stared in disbelief, Dai Mubai returned, leading a new girl a striking ice beauty with long black hair and a chilling gaze.
"Don't eat those," Dai Mubai warned. "Little Ao, make a fresh one. Right now."
Oscar turned red. "Boss Dai, come on... don't do this to me in front of the new juniors."
"Do it," Dai Mubai growled.
Oscar sighed and held out his hand, chanting the spirit mantra: "I, your father, have a big sausage!"
Yellow light pulsed, and a sausage materialized. Tang San's hand froze. He immediately dropped the sausages back onto the grill. "Keep them. Boss Dai, thanks for the warning."
Dai Mubai glared at Oscar, his voice dropping an octave. "Watch yourself. If you want to sell those sausages, do it outside the Academy grounds. Tang San, Kyle come with me. I'm taking you to pass the trials."
As they stepped back toward the queue, Xiao Wu looked at Tang San and Kyle's empty hands, her brow arching in confusion. "Where are the sausages?"
Tang San traded a quick, knowing look with Kyle and Dai Mubai. Neither could hold it back; they burst into laughter.
Standing right behind Xiao Wu, the ice-cold young woman watched them, a flicker of a mocking smile crossing her eyes. "Idiots," she muttered under her breath.
Xiao Wu, unable to make head or tail of their laughter, huffed, "What? Don't tell me they tasted that bad?"
Tang San quickly covered Xiao Wu's mouth and pulled her aside, whispering the details of Oscar's... unique spirit incantation into her ear. As she listened, her face flushed a deep, embarrassed crimson.
"You that's absolutely disgraceful!" she exclaimed. "How can someone have such a bizarre Martial Soul?"
Dai Mubai chuckled. "This is Shrek. Spirits here are bound to be strange. But don't underestimate Oscar; in the world of Food-System spirits, he's top-tier. He can actually manifest real meat, which is incredibly rare. You'll understand his value later. That's why he's nicknamed the 'Big Sausage Uncle' around here. He even calls his little business the Sausage Monopoly."
Even Xiao Wu couldn't maintain her indignation at that, letting out a giggle. "Big Sausage Uncle? Now that's a spirit worth remembering."
Dai Mubai clapped a hand on Tang San's shoulder. "Come on, let's go. I'm taking you straight through. No need to wait in this line."
Tang San hesitated. "That doesn't seem right. We should follow the rules."
"Relax," Dai Mubai assured him. "I'm not playing favorites. This is the treatment you've earned."
He led them to the front of the line and leaned over to the proctoring teacher, whispering a few words while gesturing toward Tang San and Kyle. The teacher's eyes sharpened as he nodded.
"Very well. Take them directly to the fourth trial. They've passed registration."
As Dai Mubai turned to lead them further into the Academy, the air was suddenly pierced by an indignant shout from the other applicants.
"Hey! No fair!" a rejected applicant shouted as Dai Mubai led the group toward the inner academy. "Why do they get to skip the lines?"
The old man at the desk looked up. "If your Spirit Power is over Rank 25, you can skip to the fourth trial too."
"Rank 25? They're twelve! That's impossible!"
Dai Mubai tossed a white crystal to Tang San. Tang San channeled his power, and the crystal blazed like a diamond signifying he was at the doorstep of Rank 30.
One by one, they passed the crystal. Kyle and Xiao Wu produced similar brilliant flashes.
A melodious voice rose above the grumbling crowd.
"Teacher, I believe I should also be exempt from the second and third trials."
The speaker was the same young woman whose appearance had earlier left the first proctor in a state of bewilderment. Now that they were closer, Tang San, Kyle, and Xiao Wu could truly take her in. Her hair was cropped short, level with her ears, and her skin was exceptionally fair and delicate. While she lacked the fiery, provocative curves of the icy girl from before, her proportions were perfectly harmonious, radiating a grounded, elegant grace. There was an unmistakable air of a high-born lady about her someone clearly raised with the finest education.
If the girl who arrived last was a jagged iceberg, this girl was a warm spring breeze; her gentle, beautiful smile seemed to brighten the mood of everyone around her.
With a soft smile, she stepped up to Xiao Wu and offered a polite nod. Xiao Wu, acting almost on instinct, handed her the testing crystal. A bright white light surged once more. While it didn't quite match the blinding intensity produced by Tang San, Kyle, or Xiao Wu, it undeniably surpassed the Rank 25 threshold, appearing to settle around Rank 26.
Just as she was about to ask the teacher if she, too, could proceed to the fourth trial, she felt the crystal vanish from her hand. Another figure had appeared silently at her side. Almost instantly, a new radiance erupted from the stone. This light was even sharper and more potent than the last, pushing into the territory of Rank 27.
The newcomer was the cold, silent girl who had followed Dai Mubai into the clearing.
The testing teacher's face shifted through several layers of shock. "One monster after another... the harvest is rich this year. Five of them in a single day! Marvelous. It looks like I'll finally have the leverage to ask the Dean for a raise. Mubai, take all five of them together to the fourth trial."
"Understood," Dai Mubai replied.
The crowd fell into a stunned silence. Five monsters in one day.
As they walked, Dai Mubai's voice grew somber. "Shrek has only had 42 students in 20 years. We have more teachers than students. To graduate, you must hit Rank 40 before you turn twenty. Only 14 people have ever done it. Our Dean says: We would rather close the doors of Shrek forever than accept a single piece of mediocrity."
Kyle looked at the strange village around them and smiled. "I think I'm going to like it here."
"We have arrived."
Dai Mubai halted his steps. They had reached another open clearing, significantly smaller than the previous testing grounds barely two hundred square meters. A middle-aged man, appearing to be over fifty years old, sat dozing in a chair.
"Teacher Zhao, I have brought the candidates for the fourth trial."
"Eh? Five people for the fourth trial this year?" The man opened his sleepy eyes, visibly startled by the five youths before him. Dai Mubai explained that they were all exempt from the second and third tests.
Teacher Zhao's eyes gleamed as he rose to his feet. Though he stood no taller than the twelve-year-old Tang San, the man radiated a suffocating, almost gravitational majesty. His shoulders were as broad as fortress walls, and his physique appeared forged from tempered steel. A deceptively friendly smile played on his lips, yet the sheer physical presence he commanded bore down on the young Spirit Masters like an anchor.
"All five of you above Rank 25? Not bad at all," he rumbled, his voice carrying the deep resonance of a waking beast. "It seems we've caught quite a few little monsters this year. I am Zhao Wuji. Since you've bypassed the intermediate trials, I've decided to personally entertain you."
He held up a single finger. "I will grant you the time it takes for one stick of incense to burn down to devise your strategy."
"Once the ash falls, all five of you must survive my assault for the duration of a second incense stick. If even a single one of you remains standing by the end, the entire group passes. But a word of warning abandon any thoughts of cheap tricks. Speed alone will not carry you beyond my reach. Flawless coordination is your only prayer."
Would you like me to continue the story from this exact moment and describe the group's frantic strategy session, or did you have a different direction in mind for this passage?
"Teacher Zhao, this isn't quite right," Dai Mubai said hesitantly.
Zhao Wuji glared. "What isn't right? The Dean is away, so I am the law here. Mubai, tell them about my power." He lit a stick of incense with his fingers and drove it into the ground so firmly it didn't even tremble.
After saying this, he throw a stick of incense from somewhere, pinched the tip with his fingers, and suddenly lit it instantly. In a flash, the incense was stuck firmly in the ground, without even a hint of a tremor. Having finished this, Zhao Wuji sat back in his chair and closed his eyes to continue sleeping.
Dai Mubai said with a serious expression, "I didn't expect Teacher Zhao to suddenly do this personally."
Xiao Wu smiled. "This Teacher Zhao can't possibly be like the old man at the gate a Spirit Emperor level power."
Dai Mubai shook his head. "No."
Xiao Wu grinned. "Then don't worry. How should I put it? The five of us have power nearly reaching Rank 30. With five against one, as long as the gap in power isn't too wide, don't tell me we can't last for the time of one incense stick?"
Dai Mubai looked at her as if he were staring at an idiot. "Don't be so happy; I haven't finished speaking. Teacher Zhao is not a Spirit Emperor. He is a Rank 76 Spirit Sage. A Beast Battle Spirit. He is second only to the Dean."
Rank 76? In their minds, a Spirit Sage level master could easily move unhindered even against an army of ten thousand men.
Xiao Wu said in disbelief, "He's Rank 76? But compared to the old man at the gate, he looks much younger."
Dai Mubai calmly replied, "Age can never represent strength. There isn't much time. I'll tell you about Teacher Zhao's expert abilities, and after that, you must immediately design a strategy to counter him. Otherwise, forget one incense stick you won't even withstand his first attack."
The expressions of the five became grave. Facing a Rank 76 Spirit Sage was no laughing matter.
Dai Mubai offered a bitter, sympathetic smile. "Normally, Teacher Zhao merely supervises the fourth trial. I was supposed to be your opponent. Surviving my attacks for the duration of one incense stick would have guaranteed your admission."
"But no one expected him to step in personally today," he continued, his tone darkening. "Teacher Zhao's Martial Soul is the Vigorous Vajra Bear, an apex beast spirit. He is a fortress of flesh and bone with virtually no blind spots; his defensive power is absolutely terrifying. Even Spirit Masters of his exact rank struggle to leave a scratch on him."
"Speed might be his one shortcoming, but with a gap in Spirit Power this massive, it won't even matter. Within these walls, he is known as the Motionless Bright King."
The elegant, short-haired girl gasped, her eyes widening in realization. "The Motionless Bright King! I've heard the stories. He once crossed the Spirit Hall, and in retaliation, they dispatched sixteen bishops to encircle and execute him. Not only did their siege fail, but he slaughtered his way out and vanished! I never imagined a man with that kind of infamy would be hiding as a teacher at Shrek Academy."
Dai Mubai nodded silently. "At least, I've never seen Teacher Zhao use his full strength. Therefore, I wish you the best. First, get to know each other. Announce your names and abilities, and see how you can best match your skills to withstand Zhao Wuji's test."
Tang San was the first to speak. "I am Tang San. Tool Spirit: Blue Silver Grass. Rank 29 Control-System Battle Master."
Xiao Wu followed. "Xiao Wu. Beast Spirit: Rabbit. Rank 29 Power-Attack System."
Then Kyle spoke up. "Kyle. Tool Spirit: Spear of Yang. Rank 29 Power-Attack System."
The short-haired young woman hesitated for a moment, then spoke: "Ning Rongrong. Tool Spirit: Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda. Rank 26 Support-System."
Finally, the icy young woman said indifferently, "Zhu Zhuqing. Beast Spirit: Hell Civet. Rank 27 Agility-System."
Tang San was shocked. "Your martial soul is the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda? That means you come from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan?"
Ning Rongrong stuck out her cute little tongue. "Don't stare; I'm no different from an ordinary person. I secretly ran away from home. Let's talk about our test again. My spirit is the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda with two spirit rings. I can increase everyone's strength and speed attributes is about thirty percent. Maintaining it until one stick of incense burns out is no problem."
A thirty percent amplification was already a remarkable figure. Tang San knew that the reason the Grandmaster named the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda as the most powerful auxiliary support spirit was because for every spirit ring increase, it didn't just add a new type of attribute buff it also increased the effectiveness of all previous attribute buffs by another ten percent.
Dai Mubai took a deep breath. "I see your martial souls are not bad. Quickly discuss the plan."
Tang San considered this. "Ning Rongrong will be in charge of supporting us three. Xiao Wu will handle the primary assault. I will be in charge of controlling Teacher Zhao's movements, restricting him as much as possible while simultaneously supporting Xiao Wu's frontal attacks. Zhu Zhuqing, I'll trouble you with the flanks; rely on your speed to wear him down. Then Kyle will withstand Teacher Zhao's direct attacks."
Xiao Wu and Ning Rongrong nodded. Zhu Zhuqing looked at Tang San and finally gave a slight nod, agreeing to the proposal. In this short time, they could only use this kind of simple tactic. As for the results, they would have to find out through actual combat. None of them had ever faced such a formidable opponent before.
"The discussion is over."
Zhao Wuji's resonant voice echoed. The group turned to see that the incense in the ground had burned out.
"Teacher, we can begin."
Dai Mubai nodded toward Zhao Wuji and quickly stepped back to watch from the sidelines. Although this was an abnormal fight, he didn't want to miss the chance to see Zhao Wuji display his skills as a power-dominance type master.
Zhao Wuji stood up once more, clasping his hands together. He pulled out another stick of incense, but before he could even light it, Ning Rongrong took the lead.
"Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda!"
Floating in the air as her body spun, an exquisite seven-colored light was released from within her. Seven colored lights condensed into a seven-story pagoda in her right palm. The treasure's light flickered with a noble air. Ning Rongrong smiled faintly, looking like an immortal floating in the sky. Two yellow spirit rings hovered around her.
"Seven Treasures named: First, Strength!"
The first spirit ring rose, wrapping around the seven-colored pagoda. From Ning Rongrong's left hand, four bright lights shot out simultaneously, enveloping the bodies of the other four.
Zhao Wuji was somewhat startled as he stared at Ning Rongrong. "Good! Among this year's examinees, there is one from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan. Quite good, quite good indeed. That old ghost Flender must be excited this time."
As he spoke, he easily tossed the lit incense into the ground.
"Seven Treasures named: Second, Speed!"
Once again, bright light drifted as Ning Rongrong's second spirit ring took effect.
"Twin Spear of Light!"
A pair of dazzling spears appeared in Kyle's hands. They formed a 1-2-1-1 formation: Kyle at the very front, followed by Xiao Wu and Zhu Zhuqing, then Tang San, with Ning Rongrong at the very back.
Right at that moment, Zhao Wuji moved. He didn't rush toward the five of them; instead, he dropped into a half-squat and slammed both fists into the ground.
"Not good!" Tang San shouted. The moment Zhao Wuji started his attack, he understood his opponent's intent. Zhao Wuji's attack wasn't just directed at Ning Rongrong; it was an area-of-effect strike meant to disrupt the support buffs of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda.
Blue Silver Grass suddenly coiled like lightning around Ning Rongrong's waist. Tang San jumped, carrying her into the air. With a dull roar, the earth shook violently as a wave of yellow earth was released across the ground toward the five of them.
Xiao Wu and Zhu Zhuqing responded quickly; Xiao Wu leaped forward while Zhu Zhuqing leaped to the side, both clearing the tremors. Tang San and Kyle jumped almost simultaneously with Xiao Wu.
Seeing his fists fail to connect, Zhao Wuji smiled broadly. In an instant, Xiao Wu delivered a kick with her right leg. He didn't dodge, instead keeping his hands behind his back.
Xiao Wu didn't miss the chance. She curled her body in the air, rolling forward, and as she reached Zhao Wuji, her lithe body stretched out. She accurately stepped on both sides of Zhao Wuji's neck. With two muffled thuds, her feet landed on his shoulders. But Zhao Wuji didn't even sway. He grinned.
"So weak, little girl."
Xiao Wu snorted coldly. "Then let me show you strength!" Her feet seemed glued to his shoulders. Her legs suddenly twisted, her body spinning with all its might in the air. Physically, she wouldn't have been able to move Zhao Wuji, but she wasn't fighting alone.
Under the momentum of Xiao Wu's legs, Zhao Wuji's body was actually forced to spin. Xiao Wu flipped back, forcefully pushing against him. With her hands supported on the ground, she made a scissor motion with her legs. If this were an ordinary person, their neck would have been snapped or they would have fallen on their head. Relying on this backflip, Xiao Wu was using her full power.
"Still not strong enough," Zhao Wuji's muffled voice echoed.
But at that moment, Zhao Wuji's expression changed slightly. With a low roar, his body suddenly expanded. His originally muscular frame practically doubled in size, and even his height increased by a meter in a split second, making him look incredibly formidable.
"Up!"
Tang San shouted loudly. His hands moved, and suddenly a structure rose from the ground, then Zhu Zhuqing launched her attack. She showed her true speed as an Agility-System master. she was so fast that even Dai Mubai was shocked. Most terrifyingly, her movements were silent. She leaped and attacked without wasting any energy or making a sound.
After Dai Mubai's spirit enhancement, his fingers became tiger claws, but Zhu Zhuqing's claws were shaped like spikes. Using the momentum from her aerial flip while holding the structure, she slammed it toward Zhao Wuji.
Immediately after, she attacked with her claws. Her strikes were so fast they were hard to track, but Zhao Wuji parried them. At the same time, two white spears flew toward Zhao Wuji. Right in front of him, the spears suddenly doubled in size the effect of Kyle's second ring, "Expansion" pushing Zhao Wuji back.