I took out fifty gold soul coins and placed them in Xiao Wu's hand, saying softly, "Xiao Wu, I'm going out to hunt for a third soul ring. Stay at the hotel for two days, I'll be back soon."
Xiao Wu hugged the gold soul coin, nodded, but still seemed a little reluctant. I ruffled her hair, turned and left the hotel, heading straight for the outskirts of the Star Dou Great Forest.
Just as they reached the edge of the forest, they heard a fierce fight and shouts. Several black-clad soul masters were besieging a slender, aloof girl—Zhu Zhuqing. She was already slightly injured, her soul power was about to be exhausted, and she was on the verge of death.
My eyes turned cold, and I instantly rushed out. Before my soul rings could even light up, I activated my soul power and sent two soul masters flying with a single wave of my hand. Zhu Zhuyun was deliberately holding back, only wanting Zhu Zhuqing to escape. I understood her intentions and acted ruthlessly, directly killing several loyal pursuers and sparing Zhu Zhuyun's life.
With the crisis averted, Zhu Zhuqing, panting, looked at me with gratitude mixed with a hint of something else. I said calmly, "I just happened to be here hunting for a third spirit ring and happened to save you."
The hero saving the damsel in distress is timeless. Zhu Zhuqing's cheeks flushed slightly, and she clearly felt a surge of affection for me. She whispered, "I'm going to Shrek Academy. I'll repay you later."
I nodded: "Perfect match, we're in the same boat."
We rushed back to Soto City, and it was already dark. All the hotels in the city were fully booked, except for the Rose Hotel. As soon as I walked in with Zhu Zhuqing, I saw Dai Mubai in the lobby, with one woman on each arm and a flirtatious look on his face.
Zhu Zhuqing's face instantly turned icy cold.
Dai Mubai's expression changed drastically when he suddenly saw Zhu Zhuqing. He immediately pushed away the woman beside him and was about to explain when Zhu Zhuqing looked directly at me and said in a cold voice, "See you at Shrek Academy."
As soon as she finished speaking, she turned and left without pausing.
Dai Mubai hurriedly chased after her, but Zhu Zhuqing was already gone. He turned around angrily, his gaze fixed on me, his soul power surging, about to unleash his martial soul to question me.
My gaze turned slightly cold, neither flinching nor dodging. Dai Mubai, possessing his martial spirit, launched a fierce attack, but I didn't even reveal my spirit rings. Relying solely on my physical strength and pure soul power, I raised my hand and with a single palm strike, knocked him directly to the ground, slamming him hard onto the floor, where he couldn't get up for a long time.
I couldn't be bothered to look at his disheveled appearance, so I turned around and left the Rose Hotel directly.
Two days passed perfectly, and I returned to my hotel room. Xiao Wu immediately threw herself into my arms, looking aggrieved: "Next time you hunt for spirit rings, you have to take me with you!"
I smiled and ruffled her hair, then softly agreed, "Okay, I'll definitely bring you next time."
After resting, I took Xiao Wu's hand and headed towards Shrek Academy, about to embark on a brand new journey.
Upon arriving at the Shrek Academy registration office, I bumped into Dai Mubai, whose face was as gloomy as water, as soon as I entered.
When he saw me, he remembered the humiliation he felt the day before at the Rose Hotel when I, without any spirit rings, casually slapped him to the ground, but he didn't dare to go forward. In the end, he angrily flicked his sleeves, turned around, and quickly left.
Holding Xiao Wu's hand, I calmly passed the simple preliminary test and was then led by the staff to the final testing area at the back—the final test personally overseen by Immovable King Zhao Wuji.
I had barely stood still when a slender, cold figure walked up to my side—it was Zhu Zhuqing. Her gaze softened slightly as she looked at me and took the initiative to sit beside me and chat, showing none of her usual aloofness.
Xiao Wu looked up, tugged at my sleeve, and asked curiously, "You two know each other?"
He patted Xiao Wu's head and explained softly, "I met her by chance when I went to the Star Dou Great Forest to hunt for my third spirit ring."
Zhu Zhuqing also glanced sideways at Xiao Wu, her tone softening slightly: "And who is this?"
"My younger sister, Xiao Wu."
As soon as I finished speaking, Xiao Wu pouted, her cheeks puffed out, and she looked a little unhappy. I chuckled inwardly, thinking to myself, "Sorry, Xiao Wu, I'll definitely take you to eat the best snacks after the assessment to make it up to you."
Not far away, under a tree, Dai Mubai leaned against the trunk with a gloomy face, staring intently at me and Zhu Zhuqing chatting happily. He clenched his fists in anger, but when he thought of my unfathomable strength, he could only dare to be angry but not speak out.
I caught a glimpse of his extremely frustrated expression out of the corner of my eye, and I almost burst out laughing.
Before long, the characters from the original story also passed the preliminary test and arrived at the venue: Tang San, Ning Rongrong, and Oscar, all of them present.
Before formally challenging Zhao Wuji, Tang San subconsciously stepped forward, adopting the posture of a control-type Soul Master. He immediately tried to command everyone, speaking as if it were his right and everyone should listen to him.
But no one paid any attention to him.
All eyes turned to me, the strongest person present.
Tang San's hand, which was outstretched in mid-air, froze. His expression instantly turned extremely awkward. He sheepishly withdrew his hand, his face turning pale and then red.
Dai Mubai coughed lightly, breaking the silence, and said in a deep voice, "The rules are very simple: if you are not eliminated by Teacher Zhao Wuji within one incense stick's time, you pass."
I nodded slightly, and without any hesitation, began to assign tactics, my tone calm and unquestionable:
"Xiao Wu, you are agile. Use your high mobility to harass and dodge, and attract attention; Zhu Zhuqing, use your speed to launch a flank attack and fight a guerrilla war."
Ning Rongrong, focus all your efforts on boosting everyone's attack and defense; Dai Mubai, you're in charge of a frontal assault, drawing Zhao Wuji's main firepower; Tang San, use your Blue Silver Grass to restrain and limit his movements; as for me, I'm responsible for finding his weakness and delivering the final, fatal blow.
Once the arrangements were made, no one objected; even Dai Mubai nodded silently.
Zhao Wuji casually stuck a burning incense stick into the ground and coldly shouted, "Ready? Let's begin!"
Before the words were even finished, a chaotic battle erupted instantly!
Dai Mubai immediately activated his Martial Soul, unleashing the power of the Netherworld Cat and charging fiercely towards Zhao Wuji; Tang San's Blue Silver Grass surged out wildly, wrapping around Zhao Wuji's limbs; Xiao Wu and Zhu Zhuqing, one on the left and one on the right, harassed him like two ghosts; Ning Rongrong's Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda hovered in front of her, its amplifying light falling continuously.
As for me, I remained calm and composed throughout.
My martial soul quality, soul ring age, and soul power level far surpassed everyone else present. Every strike I made was incredibly powerful, causing Zhao Wuji to wince in pain and secretly tremble with fear.
Zhao Wuji was already poorly mobile, and was tightly restrained by everyone. In addition, my unpredictable evasion and precise strikes made him feel extremely frustrated and helpless.
After a fierce battle, Zhao Wuji was thoroughly enraged. With a fierce look in his eyes, he decided to first capture Ning Rongrong, a support character who had no combat ability, in order to break the deadlock.
Everyone was shocked to see this and rushed forward to stop him, but Zhao Wuji pushed them away with a burst of brute force.
End of chapter___