The morning sun painted the sky in gold as Kazuki, Tang San, and Xiao Wu made their way to Suotuo City. Their destination lay on the outskirts—an odd place for a so-called academy.
The village they approached didn't resemble an academy at all. It looked like something out of a fantasy novel—rustic wooden buildings with red-tiled roofs nestled among lush greenery. A large waterwheel turned slowly in the village square, creaking under its own rhythm. A wooden platform and a tall pole stood prominently, hinting at strange traditions. The structures bore colorful banners and graffiti, giving the place a wild, rebellious charm.
"It looks... old," Xiao Wu muttered, scrunching her nose.
"No, not old. Lived in," Kazuki replied. "This place has seen things. It just doesn't advertise itself the way other academies do."
Soon, they reached the entrance. A long line of children—mostly around ten to thirteen—stood waiting nervously. In front, a tall man stood holding a staff carved with dragon patterns. He observed the applicants with a sharp gaze.
"That's Li Yusong," Kazuki murmured. "Spirit Elder. One of the teachers here. He's the gatekeeper."
As they waited, a boy stepped forward eagerly, confidence oozing from his posture.
"I'm here to apply! My soul power is already level 21!" he declared proudly.
Li Yusong looked at the scroll in his hands and then back at the boy. "You're fourteen."
"So what? I'm already at level 21—"
"You're too old. Shrek Academy only accepts students under thirteen. No exceptions. Next."
"Wait! I paid the fifty gold for registration. I want my money back!" he demanded, voice trembling with anger.
Li Yusong's cold eyes met his. "Registration fees are non-refundable. The rules are clear—no exceptions. If you don't meet the age or power requirements, you forfeit the fee. To enter Shrek Academy, you must meet these requirements:
* Age: 12 years old or younger.
* Soul Power: At least Rank 20.
* Tuition Fee: 50 gold coins."
Murmurs rippled through the crowd. Many applicants exchanged uneasy glances, shocked by the high fee and strict limits. One by one, the hopefuls began to quietly leave, unwilling or unable to meet the academy's standards.
The boy's shoulders slumped as he realized there was no going back.
The boy clenched his fists, desperation creeping into his voice. "But I'm strong! My soul power is already level 21. That should count for something!"
Li Yusong raised his Dragon Patterned Staff, the intimidating aura of his Martial Soul radiating strongly. "Strength alone isn't enough. Shrek Academy trains only the best, the young monsters with true potential. You don't fit our standards."
The boy's protests died in his throat as the oppressive pressure from Li Yusong's Spirit Power swept over the crowd. The murmurs fell silent, and even the boldest challengers backed away.
"No refunds. No exceptions. That is the law here," Li Yusong stated firmly, turning his gaze to the next applicant.
Kazuki's eyes narrowed slightly. Just enough power to suppress the weak. A proper gatekeeper.
When Tang San stepped up, he stood straight and calm.
"Name?" Li Yusong asked.
"Tang San."
"Martial Soul?"
Tang San activated his Blue Silver Grass. Two yellow soul rings rose at his feet.
Li Yusong nodded. "Rank 29. Age: 12. Qualified."
Xiao Wu followed, summoning her Soft Boned Rabbit. She too revealed two yellow rings.
"Rank 29. Age: 12. Qualified."
Then it was Kazuki's turn. He stepped forward, hands behind his back.
"Name?"
"Kazuki."
Li Yusong's gaze sharpened. "Your Martial Soul?"
No weapon appeared. No glow lit his palms.
Li Yusong frowned. "Why aren't you activating it?"
Kazuki slowly raised a hand and pointed to his grey eyes. "It's already active."
A subtle silver shimmer flickered across his irises.
Li Yusong stared, then activated his spirit detection tool.
"Age: 12… Soul Power: Rank 36?!"
A ripple of shock spread through the crowd.
Tang San's brows furrowed. "Rank 36…?"
Xiao Wu blinked. "That's higher than us. And we've never even seen his soul rings…"
Kazuki said nothing. He stepped back to join them, calm as still water.
Li Yusong watched him go, muttering, "Three monsters in one batch… this year's class is going to be chaos."
They proceeded deeper into the village. Dai Mubai was waiting near the training square, arms folded behind his head, looking relaxed as ever.
"Heh, didn't think I'd see you again so soon," he grinned. "Glad you three passed. Especially you, Kazuki—Rank 36? You've been hiding."
Kazuki didn't reply.
Soon, a cheerful voice rang out from behind them.
"Fresh sausage! Only one copper each!"
A boy with a food cart rushed over, his grin goofy and voice unusually high-pitched.
Kazuki casually handed over a coin and took one. Tang San followed suit and bought two—one for himself, one for Xiao Wu.
Just as Xiao Wu was about to take a bite, Dai Mubai raised a shouted. "Wait!"
They turned to him, confused.
"Don't eat it yet," he said. "Oscar, do it."
The sausage vendor froze. "You're serious?"
Dai Mubai smirked. "Do it."
Oscar sighed and muttered something under his breath before raising his hand.
"I… I have a big sausage!"
Everyone froze.
Tang San looked stunned. Xiao Wu blinked in disbelief. Even Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing, who had arrived behind them, wore complicated expressions.
Kazuki chewed his sausage slowly. Same as in the past. No avoiding it, huh?
Oscar laughed awkwardly. "It's… part of the activation chant. I need to say it for my Martial Soul to work…"
"No need to explain," Kazuki replied. "It works. That's enough."
The group was brought to the testing area. Each of them would now have their soul power officially measured.
Tang San: Rank 29.
Xiao Wu: Rank 29.
Zhu Zhuqing, with her Hell Civet Martial Soul: Rank 26.
Ning Rongrong, the heiress of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan: Rank 27.
When Kazuki placed his hand on the device, the reading jumped almost immediately.
"Rank 36," the examiner announced.
Another wave of murmurs spread. Everyone stared at him again.
Tang San remained quiet, though his gaze sharpened. He's been hiding his strength this whole time.
Even Xiao Wu was speechless.
Ning Rongrong glanced at him and then away with a slight scoff, but even she couldn't hide her surprise.
Dai Mubai cleared his throat and stepped forward. "You've all passed the requirements, so there's only one test left—the final one."
Tang San tilted his head. "What kind of test?"
"A combat trial," Dai Mubai explained. "Originally, I was supposed to be the one testing all of you."
He gestured toward the center of the training field. "But Teacher Zhao Wuji decided to step in instead. Said something about wanting to see for himself how 'monstrous' this batch really is."
Oscar, standing nearby, sucked in a sharp breath. "Zhao Wuji? He's a Spirit King…"
Dai Mubai nodded solemnly. "Exactly. Rank 76. Battle-type Spirit Master. His title—'Fudo Ming Wang.' He's not someone to take lightly."
Xiao Wu frowned. "Why would he fight new applicants?"
"He has his reasons," Dai Mubai replied. "But don't get the wrong idea. He won't go all-out. He just wants to see how far you can push yourselves."
Ning Rongrong folded her arms. "And what if we fail?"
"You don't," Kazuki said calmly. "You either survive… or you leave."
Dai Mubai chuckled, though there was a trace of tension in his voice. "Don't worry, we'll all be watching. If anything goes wrong, we'll step in."
Oscar looked at Kazuki, eyes uncertain. "And you? Aren't you nervous?"
Kazuki's expression didn't change. "No."
Dai Mubai smirked. "Don't get me wrong," he said, glancing at Kazuki. "It's not because I want to go easy on you."
Kazuki's grey eyes lingered on him—unblinking, unreadable.
No… Zhao Wuji is just to measure of how far I've come so far.
But Dai Mubai… you're still not enough to gauge my true strength.