Chapter 10: The Monster Assembly and the Golden Test
The gates of Shrek Academy were... underwhelming.
"San, tell me I'm hallucinating," Ye Chen said, squinting at the broken wooden archway and the muddy path. "Tell me this is a prank. We walked for days, passed up high-tier city academies, and we ended up at a farm? A farm that looks like it's failing its health inspection?"
Tang San adjusted his belt, his eyes scanning the area. "The Grandmaster said they only take monsters, Ye Chen. Maybe they spent the budget on the teachers instead of the paint."
"Or maybe the Principal spent it on snacks," Ye Chen muttered, his 40% Kevin Hart energy starting to simmer. "If I'm paying tuition to sleep in a barn, I'm gonna need a significant tax write-off. Ling-Ling, check the Spatial Ring. Do we have any 'Emergency Luxury Tents' in the Fortress?"
Xiao Ling laughed, her violet eyes bright with amusement. "We have gold, Ye Chen. We don't have a portable hotel. Just stand in line and be a 'monster' for five minutes."
The Crystal Test
The line was filled with "geniuses" from wealthy families, most of whom were being rejected by a grumpy old man sitting behind a desk.
"Too old." Next.
"Too weak." Next.
"Your soul is a radish? Get out."
Finally, a girl stepped up. She was cold, dressed in black leather that seemed to swallow the light, and moved with a feline grace that even made Ye Chen pause. Zhu Zhuqing. She placed her hand on the testing crystal, and it glowed with a sharp, piercing light. Level 27.
"Whoa," Ye Chen whispered. "Look at her, San. She's got that 'I-will-end-your-entire-bloodline-if-you-touch-my-lunch' energy. I like it. She's on brand. We need a 'Goth Specialist' for the company."
Then came a girl in a teal dress, looking every bit the pampered princess. Ning Rongrong. Level 26.
When it was finally the "Shrek Four's" turn, the atmosphere changed. Tang San stepped up first. Level 29. The old man's eyebrows shot up.
Then Ye Chen stepped forward. He didn't just place his hand on the crystal; he leaned against the desk with a casual smirk.
"Alright, Old Timer. I'm gonna be gentle with this one. I've had a bad history with crystals," Ye Chen said. He touched the glass.
The crystal didn't just glow; it hummed. A deep, resonant gold filled the transparent sphere, vibrating so hard the pens on the desk started to dance. Level 29 Peak.
The old man looked at Ye Chen, then at the "Superman" figure floating in his palm. "Humanoid soul? And this density... Go in. All of you. You're the monsters we've been waiting for."
Meeting the "Eagle"
As they bypassed the other tests and headed toward the final stage, they spotted a man standing on a roof, watching them through a pair of crystal glasses. He had a sharp, hawk-like nose and a vibe that screamed 'I know exactly how much change is in your pocket.'
This was Flender.
Ye Chen stopped, looking up at the man. His "Super-Hearing" (even at Level 29) picked up the faint clinking of coins in the man's pouch.
"San, look at that guy," Ye Chen whispered. "He's got the 'Manager of a Mid-Tier Bank' energy. I like him already. He looks like he calculates interest in his sleep."
Ye Chen cupped his hands around his mouth and shouted up. "Hey! Boss! Nice glasses! Are those custom-made, or do you just like seeing the world in high-definition greed?"
Flender adjusted his spectacles, a sharp glint appearing behind the glass. He jumped down, landing silently in front of them. "You're the one who shattered the testing crystal back in Nuoding, aren't you? Ye Chen."
"CEO Ye Chen, actually. I'm a brand," Ye Chen corrected, flashing a 40% Kevin Hart grin. "And you must be the Principal. I've heard you're a man who appreciates the finer things—like gold coins and high-profit margins. I think we're gonna get along just fine. In fact, why don't you join my business? 'Superman's Spirit Solutions' needs a CFO with your... eagle-eyed perspective."
Flender paused, his sharp eyes scanning Ye Chen, then the Spatial Ring on his finger. He could feel the sheer space within that ring—it was like looking into a vacuum.
"A student trying to hire the Principal?" Flender chuckled, a dry, rasping sound. "You've got guts, kid. But Shrek isn't a business. It's a struggle. If you want me to take you seriously, show me you can survive Zhao Wuji first."
"Survive him?" Ye Chen laughed, turning to Tang San, Xiao Wu, and Xiao Ling. "Boss, by the time we're done with him, the Vice-Principal is gonna be asking for a discount on our 'Post-Trauma Counseling' package!"
The Final Trial
They reached the open square where Zhao Wuji, the Motionless Bright King, stood waiting.
"I'm the Vice-Principal," the burly man growled, cracking his knuckles. "Your last test is simple: survive one incense stick's time against me."
Ye Chen looked at the 76th-level Spirit Saint, then back at Flender, who was watching from the sidelines.
"San, Wu, Ling... and you, Zhu Zhuqing, Ning Rongrong," Ye Chen shouted, his eyes turning a faint, glowing blue. "Let's show them why Shrek is lucky to have us. We're not here to be 'monsters.' We're here to be the board of directors!"
The incense was lit. The ground began to tremble as Zhao Wuji released his spirit.
Ye Chen stepped forward, his body already humming with stored solar energy. Level 30 is right there, he thought. I just need a big enough hammer to break the door down. And Zhao? You're the perfect hammer.