458. Test

When Qian Renxue was undergoing the sacrificial ritual, far away in Soto City, inside Shrek Academy, Xiao Wu and her group, led by Dai Mubai, continued heading towards the fourth test.

Among the five of them, Ning Rongrong and the other two girls walked at the back, while Tang San and Dai Mubai walked side by side, chatting about the situation at Shrek Academy.

According to Dai Mubai, the founding principle of Shrek Academy was to only recruit "monster spirit masters." Anyone who hadn't reached the Spirit Elder level before the age of twenty couldn't graduate.

In its twenty years of operation, the academy had enrolled only 62 students, and only 14 had graduated. Those who graduated had all become world-renowned figures.

“The most outstanding even took a position in Spirit Hall, with a status second only to the Pope!”

Hearing this, Tang San couldn’t contain his excitement.

Teacher wasn’t lying; he had indeed come to the right place!

However, Zhu Zhuqing and the other girls frowned.

Ning Rongrong withdrew her gaze from the large cats beside her, her eyes full of doubt.

“Second only to the Pope? Isn't that just like my Holy Son brother?”

“How could my Holy Son brother possibly study at a shabby academy like this?”

Ning Rongrong pursed her lips and muttered, “If it were really so amazing, the academy wouldn’t be so rundown.”

“Exactly! They don’t even have a proper front gate!” Xiao Wu nodded repeatedly.

Her opinion differed from Ning Rongrong’s, though. The person Dai Mubai described seemed more like the terrifying Miss Xue. How could someone like her come to such a broken place?

“Indeed, old, shabby, and small,” Zhu Zhuqing said with a cold tone, nodding in agreement.

It seemed like a scam academy. An academy that hadn’t even seen an over-aged spirit ring configuration dared to claim its alumni ranked just below the Pope? Ridiculous!

“Uh—well, there’s a reason for the shabbiness,” Dai Mubai said, feeling awkward. He explained weakly, “Our dean is as stingy as they come.”

“A stingy dean? Perhaps that’s just Shrek Academy’s unique charm,” Tang San remarked thoughtfully. He believed that great masters were often eccentric.

“Haha…” Dai Mubai laughed dryly, throwing an arm over Tang San’s shoulders. “You’re right. Everyone at this academy is a bit peculiar.”

Ning Rongrong rolled her eyes. Truly peculiar—peculiarly remote, peculiar in being rundown, and peculiar in poverty.

Ning Rongrong and Xiao Wu said no more, instead continuing to eye Zhu Zhuqing curiously. Their gazes carried speculation about Zhu Zhuqing’s connection to Qian Renjue, followed by amazement they couldn’t suppress.

Zhu Zhuqing’s cheeks reddened slightly. She lifted her arms to adjust her figure, avoiding the gaze of those two “rogue” girls. This wasn’t for them to see.

Up ahead, Tang San asked about the details of the fourth test, drawing the girls’ attention back to the conversation.

When it came to actual combat, Dai Mubai hesitated. Normally, he was responsible for overseeing the fourth test. But this time, there was a Spirit Elder among the candidates—he couldn’t handle that!

He sighed inwardly and decided they would first head to the location and consult Teacher Zhao.

Soon after, Dai Mubai stopped walking.

They arrived at an open area roughly 200 square meters in size, with a rocking lounge chair in the middle.

Stretching his neck, Dai Mubai called softly, “Teacher Zhao, I’ve brought candidates for the fourth test!”

“Hm?”

Hearing Dai Mubai’s voice, Zhao Wuji opened his drowsy eyes. Upon seeing the group of young men and women, surprise filled his gaze.

In a booming voice that echoed in everyone’s ears, Zhao Wuji exclaimed, “Four candidates for the fourth test this year?!”

“That’s right! And they all skipped the second and third tests,” Dai Mubai replied with a smile.

During their walk here, Tang San and the others had learned that Shrek Academy hadn’t enrolled any new students in two years.

Having four candidates for the fourth test at once was likely unprecedented.

Hearing this, Zhao Wuji’s eyes lit up. His interest piqued, he sprang up from his chair, eager to see what these new recruits were capable of.



His appearance was ordinary.

Standing at less than 1.7 meters, he had a sturdy build. His broad shoulders were like city walls, exuding an intense sense of pressure.

As he observed the group before him, Zhao Wuji stroked his chin, nodding slightly with satisfaction in his eyes.

This academy truly was peculiar! After so many years, he finally had the chance to gain some valuable information.

Having freeloaded for so long, he felt a bit embarrassed.

“Haha,” Zhao Wuji laughed heartily as his thoughts turned. No matter what, it was time to stretch his muscles a bit.

“Not bad, not bad! This year’s little monsters aren’t just plentiful; their quality is excellent too.”

With a smile, Zhao Wuji quickly volunteered himself to serve as the examiner for the fourth test.

The rules were simple: if even one of them remained standing by the end of a single stick of incense, they would pass.

This arrangement didn’t raise any objections from Dai Mubai, who was well aware of his own limitations. With someone as formidable as Zhu Zhuqing around, he wasn’t about to embarrass himself—especially in front of her.

Soon, Zhu Zhuqing and the others were given time to strategize during the single stick of incense.

Seeing the dismissive expression on Ning Rongrong’s face, Dai Mubai spoke gravely to Tang San and the rest:
“Don’t take this lightly. Teacher Zhao is far from being as simple as he looks.”

“Is he a Spirit Emperor?” Xiao Wu asked, recalling Li Yusong, the Spirit Emperor who had handled their registration at the gate.

“If he’s only a Spirit Emperor, it shouldn’t be too difficult,” Zhu Zhuqing said confidently, ignoring the surprised looks from Tang San and the others.

“Since you’re so confident, and with me here, there’s even less to worry about,” Ning Rongrong said with a grin.

Tang San and Xiao Wu looked at her in confusion. They could understand Zhu Zhuqing’s confidence—after all, she was a monster spirit master with a ten-thousand-year spirit ring. But Ning Rongrong? She was merely a Spirit Elder.

“…”

Faced with their doubt, Ning Rongrong merely smiled politely.

Dai Mubai shook his head helplessly and said, “You’re completely mistaken!”

“Teacher Zhao, as the vice principal of the academy, is a Level 77 Spirit Sage specializing in assault-type battle spirits!”

“A Spirit Sage?!”

Tang San’s pupils contracted. This was his first encounter with such a powerful individual!

This academy was indeed extraordinary!

However, his excitement quickly turned into a frown. How were they supposed to defeat a Spirit Sage?

Unless…

He could use a concealed weapon capable of piercing defensive spirit power—a Dragon Beard Needle!

This seemed like the perfect opportunity! Tang San glanced at Zhu Zhuqing, his thoughts racing as he began formulating a plan.

Meanwhile, Zhu Zhuqing ignored the gazes of those around her, feeling similarly eager. It wasn’t every day she had the chance to test a new weapon on a fearless Spirit Sage.

“Originally, I was supposed to be the examiner for the fourth test, but this time I’m obviously not qualified,” Dai Mubai said, his tone slightly embarrassed.

“We understand~” Xiao Wu teased with a playful grin, her eyes full of mischief.

“Ahem.”

Seeing Xiao Wu’s smug expression, Dai Mubai’s face darkened slightly as he coughed twice and began introducing Zhao Wuji.

“Teacher Zhao is nicknamed ‘The Immovable King.’ His spirit is the Mighty Vajra Bear, excelling in both defense and strength.”

“…”

To put it simply, when the spirit power gap is significant, higher-level spirit masters are essentially invincible to those below them.

Zhu Zhuqing’s cold eyes glinted as she glanced at Dai Mubai. Her voice was calm, without any emotion:
“I think the gap won’t be as wide as you say, especially if he doesn’t go all out.”

Dai Mubai’s expression turned serious as he replied, “Overconfidence is not a good thing!”

“Just stating facts,” Zhu Zhuqing said calmly, looking away.

As expected, this guy still liked to belittle himself while exaggerating others.

“You!”

Dai Mubai frowned, clearly displeased with Zhu Zhuqing’s arrogance. But then he thought: if she got hurt later, it might give him a chance to shine—a way to build a connection with her.

“Hehe, I think this big-breasted lady makes a good point,” Ning Rongrong chimed in cheerfully, her suspicion growing that this “Immovable King” had something to do with her Holy Son brother.

Zhu Zhuqing shot Ning Rongrong an annoyed glare.