Because the number of applicants had suddenly dropped, it was soon Tang San and Xiao Wu's turn.
The two of them signed up together. When Li Yusong saw that Tang San's martial soul was actually Blue Silver Grass, he was stunned on the spot.
Just like in the original story, Li Yusong found it hard to believe that even Blue Silver Grass could cultivate so quickly.
And Tang San said something similar to the original as well: even a "trash martial soul" being cultivated this fast was proof of true genius.
Hearing this, Li Yusong smiled and let the two follow Ma Hongjun inside.
However, this time, the scene from the original where Tang San used the crystal ball to show off his spirit power did not happen. This was because, during Shrek's entrance exam, Ma Hongjun had already explained to every candidate: anyone with spirit power above level 25 could skip the second and third tests and proceed directly to the fourth and final trial.
So when Ma Hongjun learned that Tang San and Xiao Wu were both at level 29, he took them straight to the site of the fourth test.
Xiao Wu, being a chatterbox, was delighted when she heard she could directly enter the fourth test. After all, she had been the "Big Sister" of Notting Academy for six consecutive years it really showed her talent!
On the way, Xiao Wu couldn't help but ask:
"Senior, why are our Shrek Academy's admission requirements so strict? If it's like this, won't we end up enrolling only a few students every year?"
Ma Hongjun smiled and replied:
"The requirements are strict, yes, but everyone who gets in is a true genius among geniuses."
Then, as if remembering something, he added:
"There's another benefit too this way, those with poor talent get weeded out, and only geniuses remain. As classmates, you'll be able to support one another in the future."
Tang San nodded in agreement but raised another question:
"But if there are so few students, how does the academy sustain itself financially?"
Ma Hongjun explained:
"Our academy doesn't rely on tuition anymore. We follow an elite route only geniuses can enter. Each year, the fee is just 100 gold soul coins, but the benefits we gain from the academy far exceed that. You'll understand in time."
Hearing this, Tang San felt even more that Shrek Academy was extraordinary. This wasn't a school that ran like a normal academy at all it focused entirely on cultivating geniuses, sparing no expense in manpower or resources.
What shocked him even more was that, even at such close range, he couldn't sense Ma Hongjun's spirit power level. That could only mean one thing Ma Hongjun's spirit power was far above his own!
Although Ma Hongjun looked mature and handsome, he couldn't be much older than Tang San himself. Tang San guessed he was at most fifteen. Yet he couldn't even gauge the other's power? That was terrifying.
Tang San thought to himself:
"So this is Shrek Academy? Is this the true reason Teacher sent me here? To compete alongside such prodigies… I'm actually looking forward to it."
What Tang San didn't know was that Yu Xiaogang had indeed recommended Shrek because of its strict standards, but he was unaware of how much Shrek Academy had changed by now.
Tang San's thoughts, therefore, were merely a fortunate coincidence.
Because of these changes, there was no sausage vendor incident like in the original story. Instead, Ma Hongjun directly led Tang San and Xiao Wu to the central arena.
In the rest area below the stage sat the beautiful girl who had entered earlier it was Ning Rongrong, who, just like in the original, had also come to Shrek Academy.
On a raised platform at the side of the plaza, four young people sat around a table, drinking juice and playing chess.
There were two men and two women. The most striking was a handsome youth with silver-white hair; his aura and demeanor inspired natural respect. Opposite him sat a golden-haired youth with hetero chromatic eyes, who was currently losing badly in chess and about to be checkmated.
Suddenly, spotting Ma Hongjun leading two newcomers in, the golden-haired youth jumped up and said:
"Brother Oscar, I'm done playing. I've got work to do."
He flipped the chessboard in the process, scattering the pieces everywhere.
The silver-haired youth twitched his mouth in exasperation, while the two girls smiled as they watched.
These four were none other than Oscar, Dugu Yan, Dai Mubai, and Zhu Zhuqing.
Now fourteen, Oscar looked more mature, while eighteen-year-old Dugu Yan already carried herself with the air of a "sister-in-law." She and Zhu Zhuqing were quietly whispering while glancing at their respective partners.
Hearing Dai Mubai speak, Zhu Zhuqing and Dugu Yan also stood and looked toward Ma Hongjun's group.
Tang San and Xiao Wu likewise noticed the four on the platform. Xiao Wu was stunned not because of their power, but because the students here were all so good-looking!
Tang San, who usually didn't care about appearances, also felt a little shaken. He had always believed looks were something one was born with and couldn't be changed. But after seeing his seniors, he suddenly felt that appearance did matter after all.
Xiao Wu herself was already pretty, just still young and delicate. But Tang San looked truly ordinary, with short black hair cut neatly but otherwise unremarkable.
Noticing their gazes, Ma Hongjun explained with a grin:
"The silver-haired one is our boss, Oscar. The green-haired girl is Sister-in-law Dugu Yan. The golden-haired four-eyed tiger is Dai Mubai, and the well-endowed little sister is Zhu Zhuqing. Mubai and Zhuqing are also a couple."
His introduction was casual, even joking about Zhu Zhuqing, which she didn't mind she was much more cheerful now than in the original, thanks to a smoother relationship with Dai Mubai.
Tang San and Xiao Wu quickly got a sense of who was who. Xiao Wu even sneaked a glance at her own chest when Zhu Zhuqing was introduced only to end up staring at her toes.
At this moment, Ning Rongrong, glad to finally have company, waved and said:
"Hi, I'm Ning Rongrong!"
Tang San and Xiao Wu smiled and introduced themselves too.
Meanwhile, Ma Hongjun returned to the gate to help Li Yusong again.
As Tang San and Xiao Wu turned back toward the platform, Ning Rongrong whispered to them:
"Don't bother staring. I've been here for a while, and nobody's paid me any attention."
Xiao Wu asked:
"Didn't you try calling out to them?"
Ning Rongrong pouted:
"I did, but Senior Oscar told me to wait."
Tang San frowned inwardly:
"Wait? Didn't Senior Ma say the fourth test was actual combat? How can waiting be part of it?"
Ning Rongrong was just about to explain that she was a support-type spirit master, unable to fight, when Dai Mubai suddenly leapt down in front of them.
Startling them, he said:
"I'm Dai Mubai, your examiner for the fourth test. Hongjun should have explained already, right?"
The three nodded:
"Senior Ma said the fourth test is actual combat. If we pass, we can enter Shrek Academy."
Dai Mubai nodded:
"Correct. Combat best reveals a soul master's true ability. You have one stick of incense to discuss tactics. Your test is simple last one stick of incense against me."
"Of course, there are no restrictions. Use whatever you like."
Tang San raised a brow:
"No restrictions?"
Just then, Oscar spoke from the platform:
"Mubai, how about letting me handle it? I just broke through, and I could use a warm-up with you and Zhuqing later anyway."
Dai Mubai turned in surprise:
"What?"
He hadn't expected Oscar to volunteer for once. Normally, it was he or Ma Hongjun who tested candidates.
But Oscar didn't bother explaining he simply wanted to personally gauge Tang San's current strength.
Dai Mubai hesitated:
"Brother Oscar, isn't this a bit much? If you're the one fighting, how can they last a stick of incense?"
Oscar glared at him like Zhao Wuji in the original:
"What's wrong with it? The dean isn't here, so I'm in charge. I say it's fine."
He turned to Tang San's group:
"Enough talking. I'll light the incense now. Make your preparations. Mubai, you can brief them on my abilities if you like."
Oscar lit the incense with a snap of his fingers, planted it upright in the ground, and then calmly observed Tang San who, to his eyes, seemed rather plain.
Half a year earlier, Oscar had already secretly observed Tang San and Xiao Wu in Notting City, so he knew a lot more than he let on.
The three new candidates then shared their spirit levels: Tang San and Xiao Wu were both level 29, while Ning Rongrong was level 26.
When Tang San learned Ning Rongrong's spirit was the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda, he was astonished it meant she was from the upper Three Sects.
After hearing this, Dai Mubai sighed and said:
"You'd better pray for yourselves. With Brother Ao taking the field, your test just got a whole lot harder."
Ning Rongrong asked in confusion:
"Wait, is Senior Oscar also a Spirit Emperor, like that teacher who signed us up? But how is that possible? He doesn't look much older than us how could such a monster exist?"
Dai Mubai shook his head, exasperated at her imagination:
"Not quite. He's not a Spirit Emperor, but his spirit power is already level 47. His overall strength is the strongest in the academy. Even if Hongjun, Zhuqing, and I joined forces, we still wouldn't be his match!"
He added:
"For reference, my spirit power is level 39, Zhuqing's is 29, and together we can use a Martial Soul Fusion skill strong enough to rival a high-level Spirit Elder. Hongjun, though younger than me, is already level 45. But even with us combined, we can't beat Brother Oscar"
"So tell me do you really think the three of you, who don't even have third spirit rings yet, can last a stick of incense against him? Even with the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda's support, he could probably defeat you with a single strike… Of course, he won't go all-out since this is only an exam."
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