"Is this the place His Highness wants me to stay?"
Zhu Zhuqing stood not far from Shrek Academy, looking at the dilapidated gate ahead, momentarily doubting if she had taken the wrong path.
"Could there be more to this place than meets the eye?" Zhu Zhuqing didn't know what Xu Tianyang was planning; what was so noteworthy about such a rundown academy?
"What's going on? Is this really the academy that can train monsters?" A sweet voice of complaint came from beside her. It was a beautiful young girl with ear-length short hair, her delicate face showing a gloomy expression.
Seeing Zhu Zhuqing look over, Ning Rongrong's eyes immediately lit up. Years of training told her that Zhu Zhuqing was no ordinary person. A sweet smile appeared on her face. "My name is Ning Rongrong. Are you also here to register for Shrek Academy?"
Zhu Zhuqing looked at Ning Rongrong hesitantly. She also saw that the other party was not an ordinary person, likely a scion from a prominent family. Such a person shouldn't appear in this remote place.
Could this mission be related to her?
"Zhu Zhuqing!"
Out of a desire to probe, Zhu Zhuqing took the initiative to converse with Ning Rongrong.
As they talked, the line in front of them gradually shortened. Many students, whose talents were deemed unqualified, left the registration area looking dejected.
Occasionally, someone met the registration requirements and was arranged for the subsequent test.
Then came a classic scene: a chubby boy, over twelve years old, was identified by Li Yusong and immediately rejected. The child's father pleaded bitterly but received no leniency. When it came to the registration fee, Li Yusong waved his hand.
Dai Mubai stepped forward, displaying his three-ring Soul Elder strength, and said arrogantly, "If you can defeat me, the registration fee will be fully refunded."
In the end, due to insufficient strength, the father and son could only accept their fate and left dejectedly.
Watching this, Ning Rongrong couldn't help but complain, "This Shrek Academy is a bit too overbearing, isn't it?"
Is this an academy or a criminal gang? They should just state that the registration fee is non-refundable. Isn't this pure fraud?"
Zhu Zhuqing's gaze also turned cold, and she said disdainfully in a low voice, "Trash!"
If it weren't for Xu Tianyang's mission, she would have turned and left long ago.
Soon, it was their turn for the test.
"I'll go first." Ning Rongrong stepped forward and extended her right hand.
"Age is suitable. Display your Spirit." Li Yusong smiled, stroking his beard.
Seeing that Ning Rongrong's Spirit was the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda Spirit, his gaze sharpened. He looked at Zhu Zhuqing, who also possessed an extraordinary demeanor, and instinctively sat up straight, solemnly saying, "Do your families not object to you coming here?"
Ning Rongrong said with a cheerful smile, "We're out for experience. Our families don't object at all."
"Since that's the case, wait aside for now and see if anyone else passes the test."
Zhu Zhuqing also successfully passed the first test and came to Dai Mubai's side with Ning Rongrong.
Dai Mubai looked at the familiar girl in front of him, frantically searching his memories.
Dormant memories awakened wildly... Zhu Zhuqing!
Although Zhu Zhuqing had grown up, he had seen Zhu Zhuyun at the same age. He wouldn't mistake that face, which bore a six or seven-tenths resemblance to Zhu Zhuyun's.
Coupled with the Zhu family's unique talent, he almost instantly guessed the identity of the girl before him.
His partner in the struggle for the throne, his fiancée whom he had abandoned.
The moment he realized, panic and helplessness, along with an indescribable guilt, surged in his heart, causing his gaze towards Zhu Zhuqing to be somewhat evasive.
Zhu Zhuqing keenly noticed Dai Mubai's gaze. She disdained him in her heart, not even sparing him a glance.
As the little princess of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School, Ning Rongrong's ability to read expressions was naturally not bad. She vaguely felt that there was some entanglement between her new friend and this four-eyed boy. A hint of excited gossip showed in her eyes.
"Can the Blue Silver Grass Spirit also cultivate so quickly?"
Li Yusong's shocked voice came from the entrance. The three looked over and saw that Tang San and Xiao Wu had also passed the test and were being led over.
"Let's go, little monsters. It seems no one else will pass today. Your spirit power has all exceeded level twenty-five. I'll take you directly to the fourth stage." Li Yusong's face wore an excited smile. This year's little monsters were more numerous than all previous years combined. Shrek was destined for greatness!
Flender would have to treat him to a good meal, otherwise, where would all these little monsters come from?
"Hello everyone, my name is Ning Rongrong. Is your Spirit Blue Silver Grass?" Following behind Li Yusong, Ning Rongrong looked at Tang San curiously and asked, "Can Blue Silver Grass really cultivate so quickly?"
"There are no useless Spirits, only useless Spirit Masters!" Faced with Ning Rongrong's question, Tang San merely uttered a 'profound truth' lightly.
Dai Mubai and Li Yusong looked at Tang San with admiration, deeply agreeing with his words.
Ning Rongrong, however, looked at Tang San and the others suspiciously. Zhu Zhuqing also glanced at Tang San, noncommittally.
She had seen Yang Yiyi and knew that the Blue Silver Grass Spirit also had special cases. In her opinion, Tang San might just be one of those cases.
"There are no useless Spirits, only useless Spirit Masters." Didn't this statement negate ninety-nine percent of the Spirit Masters on the Douluo Continent? Are all Spirit Masters who haven't become a Titled Douluo useless?
Soon, the four, led by Li Yusong, arrived at the fourth stage, which was guarded by Zhao Wuji.
"Old Zhao, I've brought people for the fourth stage assessment."
"Hmm? Someone for the fourth stage again this year? And four of them?"
In the open space, Zhao Wuji, who was dozing, opened his hazy sleepy eyes, looking at the four young men and women in front of him with some surprise, as if he had encountered something incredible.
Dai Mubai smiled and said, "Not only have these four reached the fourth stage, but they have also been exempted from the second and third stage tests."
Zhao Wuji's eyes lit up. He stood up and said excitedly, "Good, very good! Then let Old Zhao personally test your level. As long as the four of you can work together and last for the time it takes an incense stick to burn against me, you will pass."
Dai Mubai wanted to say something, but under Zhao Wuji's threatening gaze, he could only retreat.
After revealing Zhao Wuji's information to the four, Zhu Zhuqing looked at Zhao Wuji and asked, "Can we use spirit tools?"
As soon as she spoke, everyone's attention immediately fell on Zhu Zhuqing, revealing expressions of bewilderment, surprise, and doubt.
"Naturally, you can." Zhao Wuji's eyes lit up, and he immediately said with a smile.
It should be known that although spirit tools had already entered the market of the Douluo Continent, at this stage, they were basically procured by various forces, and only a small number had flowed to common Spirit Masters.
Those who could arm themselves with spirit tools were, in Zhao Wuji's eyes, wealthy people.
He wasn't worried that Zhu Zhuqing using spirit tools would overturn his assessment. As far as he knew, the use of spirit tools also required matching the Spirit Master's level.
What level of spirit tool could Zhu Zhuqing use? The gap in spirit power level couldn't be compensated by a few spirit tools.
Seeing Zhao Wuji agree, Zhu Zhuqing nodded and stood aside, no longer speaking. Ning Rongrong's eyes, however, rarely showed a flicker of excitement.
"Can spirit tools also be used in combat?" Tang San and Xiao Wu looked at Zhu Zhuqing in confusion. Nuoding City was a small city, and the changes in the continental landscape had not yet affected it.
As soon as they spoke, everyone looked at Tang San and Xiao Wu with strange expressions, as if they were looking at some rare old antiques.