"Okay!" Xiao Wu nodded obediently.
They arrived at the entrance of the village, and Xiao Wu spotted a familiar face in the line.
"Isn't that Tang San?"
"Oh yeah, what's he doing at Shrek too?" Xiao Wu asked, puzzled.
"His godmother—Yu Xiao Gang—is friends with Flander. She recommended him to Shrek!"
Zhang Fan noticed Xiao Wu's face resting on his shoulder, her cheeks puffed cutely.
He was speechless for a moment.
"Oh, I see!"
Xiao Wu nodded.
"So this is a soul master academy? The one that claims graduates become viscounts in the Empire? Is this a scam or what?"
"The Spirit Hall people said it, so it should be true."
"Dad, this academy is trash. I don't wanna study here. Let's just go to Soto Intermediate Academy!"
"We're already here. Consider it training."
Xiao Wu overheard the conversation in front and was speechless.
Behind the registration table sat a lazy old man, dressed simply, puffing on an old cigarette. He looked like a regular village elder as he lazily said:
"Registration fee: ten gold soul coins. Put it in the basin."
As he spoke, he revealed yellowed smoker's teeth.
A young boy and his father came forward and placed ten gold soul coins into the basin.
"Hold out your hand."
The old man said lazily.
The boy held out his hand, and the old man felt it briefly.
"Age doesn't match. Next!"
"What? My son just turned thirteen! How does he not qualify?" the father quickly protested.
"Our academy only accepts students under thirteen, with soul power above level twenty-one. Move along, don't waste my time!"
"Give us the registration fee back!" the father demanded, face turning cold.
"No refunds," the old man replied indifferently.
"This is a scam! If you don't give us our money back, we'll smash this dump of an academy!"
The father was furious.
"Dai Mubai!" the old man called coldly.
From the side, a bald Dai Mubai stood up, no longer hiding in the shade.
"Whoosh..."
In a flash, he appeared in front of the father and son.
"Beat me, and I'll give you ten more gold soul coins!"
"Buzz..."
As he spoke, soul rings appeared at his feet—two hundred-year rings and one thousand-year ring.
A powerful aura burst forth, sweeping the surroundings.
"Ugh..."
The father and son were terrified, their faces pale. They turned and ran without a second thought.
Silence fell over the crowd.
The line moved on.
"Uhh... isn't that bald guy the cocky little blond from the Rose Hotel? He shaved his head?"
Xiao Wu was stunned for a moment seeing Dai Mubai.
"Hmm, this guy's actually a little clever," Zhang Fan smirked. Dai Mubai, once proud of his golden hair, had shaved it all off after going bald—it was surprisingly satisfying to see.
"Yeah!"
Xiao Wu nodded, unaware of why Dai Mubai had suddenly gone bald.
Next up was someone with a vine-type martial spirit—not suitable either—but the group caused a ruckus.
"Buzz..."
A dazzling light flared beneath the old man's feet. Six soul rings rose slowly—he was a Soul Emperor!
The intense pressure turned the three troublemakers pale with fear. None of them dared say another word.
This seemingly simple Shrek Academy hid deep power.
Then it was Tang San's turn.
Tang San paid the ten gold soul coins.
"Ding! Modification quest triggered."
[Tang San stretches out his left hand.]
Zhang Fan willed it—he changed "hand" to "foot."
[Ding! Dialogue modification successful. Plot quality: average. Reward: 10 modification points.]
Tang San took off his shoe and placed his left foot on the table.
"Why the hell are you putting your foot up?"
The old man stared blankly at Tang San.
"Are you blind? Didn't you see I've been checking hands all along? Who wants to touch your stinky foot? Put it down! It reeks!"
The old man looked utterly disgusted.
"This guy's brain-dead or what? Didn't he see everyone else holding out their hands?"
"This is kinda hilarious though!"
People in line were baffled.
Tang San was confused too. He clearly meant to raise his left hand, but some weird force made him lift his left foot instead. He was speechless.
He quickly pulled his foot back... but the next second, he lifted it again.
"You little sh*t, you trying to cause trouble?"
The old man was getting pissed.
"What, got a cucumber strapped to your waist? Can't use your hands, only feet? You think this is funny?"
"I..."
Tang San was at a loss, overwhelmed by the scolding.
"Stand up!"
The old man reached out his hand.
"Ding! Modification quest triggered."
[The old man reaches out and pinches Tang San's thigh.]
Zhang Fan waved his hand, changing "thigh" to "groin."
[The old man reaches out and pinches Tang San's groin.]
"Ding! Plot modification successful. Slight chaos caused. Reward: 20 modification points."
The old man reached out and pinched Tang San's groin.
Tang San froze, face pale. Why did it feel like his "little brother" kept getting bullied?
It had already suffered a few times before...
And now this disrespect from an old man—he was beyond speechless.
"Uhh..."
Everyone was stunned. No one expected the old man to grab that.
"Does this old guy have... certain preferences?"
"Or is he just plain nuts?"
"Ugh..."
Dai Mubai was confused—why the heck did he grab that? Everyone else was speechless too.
Tang San's face flushed slightly.
"Why is yours different from the others?"
The old man asked, completely baffled.
"There was... an accident before. It got a little bent."
Tang San said this almost wanting to dig a hole and disappear.
"If this gets out... Tang San is bent..."
Xiao Wu was surprised to hear that.
"..."
No one expected this boy to be so thick-skinned—to even say something like that aloud.
"Uhh..."
Dai Mubai was still stunned. Was the teacher going nuts?
"Release your martial spirit!"
The old man blushed slightly but carried on with the examination.
"Buzz..."
Tang San focused, and blue light burst from his left hand.
The Blue Silver Chicken appeared, clucking loudly.
"Cluck cluck cluck..."
"A chicken?"
The old man was baffled. A level twenty-nine spirit power... and a plant-type chicken martial spirit?
He had never heard of something so weird. But to cultivate it to level twenty-nine was impressive.
"Hmm... Little weirdo, go in!"
"Alright!" Tang San nodded and walked into the academy.
Just as Dai Mubai was about to lead him inside, he spotted a cool, aloof beauty with a stunning figure, perfect curves, fair skin, and a transcendent aura.
He felt an odd sense of familiarity and couldn't help but glance again.
But behind the icy beauty stood two familiar figures...
It was those two guys from the Rose Hotel!
His expression darkened. That man was both handsome and powerful—he had injured him with one palm.
And after being told he was going bald... he actually went bald and had to shave his head!
He gritted his teeth just thinking about it.
Zhang Fan saw the hatred in Dai Mubai's eyes and raised his hand with a wave:
"Nice look, cueball!"
"Yeah, this little blond guy looks pretty good bald too... but something just feels off..."
Xiao Wu tilted her head, unable to pinpoint the weirdness.