But!
Twelve years old!
Level 58!
Soul King!
These words combined were like a thunderbolt from the heavens, striking directly at the foundation of Ning Rongrong's proud understanding of the world!
The sense of superiority she had built up as a prodigy since childhood was instantly shattered!
The color drained from Ning Rongrong's delicate, fair face in an instant.
Her pink lips parted slightly, and her usually lively eyes, which always carried a hint of arrogance and impatience, were now opened wide. Deep within her pupils was the calm figure of Lin Xia, as well as the violent storm brought about by the terrifying information that was enough to overturn everything she knew about Soul Masters.
She knew exactly what a Soul King meant!
It was a massive dividing line on the path of a Soul Master!
How many exceptionally talented Soul Masters spent their entire lives stuck at the peak of the Soul Ancestor level?
Yet the person standing before her was only twelve years old and had already reached a height that countless people could only look up to!
This had already surpassed the realm of a "genius." It was simply a miracle!
After the enormous shock, an unprecedented and uncontrollable curiosity and desire to investigate surged through Ning Rongrong like a volcanic eruption, completely overwhelming her!
Who was this mysterious young man?
How could he possibly have achieved this?
What meditation technique did he cultivate?
What terrifying power stood behind him?
Or was he not even human?
Countless questions raced through her clever little mind.
Driven almost entirely by instinct, Ning Rongrong forgot the restraint and manners befitting the little princess of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan. She even forgot about the noisy surroundings.
Her heart, filled with shock and then instantly ignited by curiosity, prompted her to do something completely out of character.
Ning Rongrong took a deep breath and forcibly suppressed the storm raging within her heart. Her slender figure moved like a butterfly weaving through flowers as she skillfully squeezed past several stunned youths in front of her. Taking three steps in two, she went straight to Lin Xia.
She slightly raised her head, her clear, beautiful eyes fixed unblinkingly on Lin Xia's calm and handsome face. They were filled with undisguised curiosity, shock, and intense interest.
Ning Rongrong's voice was crisp and pleasant, its pitch slightly raised by her excitement.
"Hello! My name is Ning Rongrong! You what's your name?"
Her eyes burned with curiosity, as though she wanted to see straight through Lin Xia.
This was the first time Ning Rongrong had ever felt such a powerful desire to understand someone!
Lin Xia lowered his head slightly, his gaze falling upon the delicate and extraordinary short-haired girl before him. The corners of his lips slowly curved into a faint yet meaningful smile.
"Lin Xia."
His answer was concise. His voice was not loud, yet it clearly reached Ning Rongrong's ears, as well as those of the people around them who were secretly listening.
"Lin Xia..."
Ning Rongrong subconsciously repeated the name, her pink lips silently moving twice.
Lin Xia... Lin Xia, this name.
An inexplicable sense of familiarity suddenly surged into her heart! It was like a gentle breeze passing over a calm lake, creating a faint ripple.
Where had she heard it before?
She had definitely heard this name somewhere!
Ning Rongrong slightly furrowed her delicate brows, desperately searching through the depths of her memory.
Had it been a name casually mentioned during a discussion among the clan elders?
Or perhaps it had been the name of some legendary figure mentioned during a conversation between her father, Sword Grandpa, and Bone Grandpa?
This sense of familiarity was not without reason, yet it was like looking at flowers through a mist. The clues were hazy and indistinct, and for the moment, she simply could not grasp them.
Was it simply someone with the same name?
Or...
Ning Rongrong's heartbeat involuntarily quickened slightly, and her gaze toward Lin Xia became even more profound and curious.
Just as Ning Rongrong fell into brief contemplation and Lin Xia calmly accepted her gaze, Li Yusong, who had finally recovered somewhat from the terrifying shock caused by Lin Xia's Soul Power, suddenly jolted!
When he saw Ning Rongrong approaching Lin Xia and noticed that Lin Xia appeared so calm and composed, as though he could leave at any moment, an overwhelming sense of panic instantly seized him!
Leave?!
No!
Absolutely not!
These two monsters!
No, not monsters!
They were freaks!
Especially this twelve-year-old Soul King, Lin Xia!
He was simply an unparalleled genius the likes of which Shrek Academy had never seen before!
No, not even Shrek Academy!
He was an unprecedented prodigy throughout the entire Douluo Continent!
If they were allowed to leave, Flender would definitely tear him apart for letting such talents slip away!
"Wait!!"
Li Yusong practically shouted the words, his voice cracking once again from his desperation.
He rushed forward and spread his arms wide, as though he were afraid Lin Xia and Zhu Zhuqing might suddenly grow wings and fly away, blocking the path between them and Ning Rongrong.
Li Yusong's bloodshot old eyes stared fixedly at Lin Xia and Zhu Zhuqing. His face was filled with an unprecedented, almost fawning smile of desperation as he hurriedly said to Lin Xia,
"Lin Xia, my young friend! Zhu Zhuqing, my young friend! Congratulations! Congratulations to both of you on possessing such unparalleled talent! A-All the remaining tests are waived!"
"You two, along with Miss Ning Rongrong, can go straight to the fourth test! Yes! Go directly to the fourth test and find Vice Dean Zhao Wuji!"
"He's waiting inside! Mu Bai! That boy, Dai Mubai, just took some people inside! Quick! Hurry and catch up with him and have him lead the way! No! I'll personally take you inside!"
Li Yusong was completely flustered, his words tumbling over one another as he frantically pointed toward the depths of the village. The mixture of excitement, fear, and desperation on his face made his expression look almost comical.
At this moment, he had only one thought.
At all costs, immediately and without delay, he had to get these two precious treasures safely into Shrek Academy!
Get them in front of Zhao Wuji!
Let the academy's strongest teacher personally keep an eye on them!
There absolutely could not be any mishaps at the entrance!
He did not even have time to maintain the dignity of an examiner, nor did he care that so many students and parents waiting in line were staring at his disheveled appearance in stunned silence.
The entire scene fell into an eerie silence.
The only sounds were Li Yusong's heavy breathing and the extremely faint clicking sound produced when the small, steel-armored head of Tyranitar, perched on Lin Xia's shoulder, shifted slightly.
Its little eyes swept over Li Yusong, who was so excited that his face and neck had turned red, before looking at its calm master. It seemed to find the old human's reaction even more amusing than the street performers of Soto City. The sharp barb at the end of its tail reflected a faint, cold glint under the sunlight.
A faint smile finally flashed across Zhu Zhuqing's cold, beautiful features, so subtle that it was almost impossible to notice.
Ning Rongrong was somewhat bewildered by Li Yusong's sudden attempt to recruit them, but when she thought about Lin Xia's talent, she immediately felt that it was only natural.
After all, with talent of this level, even her father would surely react the same way upon seeing it!
As for Lin Xia, he met Li Yusong's desperate, almost burning gaze before glancing at Ning Rongrong beside him, whose eyes were filled with keen interest.
The faint smile at the corners of his lips deepened.
"Then we'll trouble you to show us the way, sir."
Lin Xia finally looked toward Li Yusong. His tone remained calm, yet those simple words made Li Yusong feel as though he had just been granted a pardon.
He hurriedly nodded and agreed repeatedly, almost wishing he could transform into a vanguard and lead the way immediately.
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