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"Why didn't you test his soul power level?" A parent behind Ning Tianchen couldn't help but shout.
"That's right! This is clearly favoritism. I strongly suspect he's a plant you brought in."
Once these words were spoken, many parents chimed in with agreement.
After being scolded by Li Yusong, the parents who had stayed to register were already prepared to lose ten gold spirit coins. But if someone was cutting corners, wouldn't their coins be wasted for nothing?
Who could tolerate that?
Ning Tianchen's expression remained calm as the Seven Kill Sword martial soul appeared in his hand. The sharp blade gleamed brilliantly under the sunlight.
Three soul rings—yellow, yellow, purple—emerged beneath his feet, radiating an eye-catching brilliance.
"Is this enough now?"
"Three-ring Soul Elder!" Xiao Wu covered her mouth, her face filled with astonishment.
Tang San furrowed his brows. He had assumed Ning Tianchen's strength was similar to his own, never expecting him to have already broken through to the Soul Elder level.
Ning Rongrong crossed her arms over her chest, sweeping a proud gaze over the crowd.
It was as if she was saying, "See? This is my big brother Tianchen."
"Only the weak cling to trifles," Dai Mubai snorted, leading the four of them toward the academy.
On the way, Tang San felt that the Seven Kill Sword martial soul seemed somewhat familiar.
The Seven Treasures Glazed Pagoda martial soul—Yu Xiaogang had told him it was the inherited martial soul of the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect.
As for the Seven Kill Sword…
Tang San's eyebrows suddenly shot up, and he said enviously, "His martial soul is engraved on the Pope's Token. If only my martial soul were the hammer on the Pope's Token, how great that would be."
Truly, comparing oneself to others could drive one mad.
Of course, Yu Xiaogang had never told him that his second martial soul was related to the hammer pattern on the Pope's Token.
As for matters concerning the Hao Tian Sect, given Tang San's current strength, knowing too much wouldn't benefit him.
…
Entering the academy.
Xiao Wu couldn't contain her impatience any longer and asked, "Is this really the campus of Shrek Academy?"
Dai Mubai guessed their thoughts and chuckled. "Don't bother guessing—the academy's campus has always been here. By the way, you still have one more trial ahead. Only by passing it can you officially join the academy."
As they walked and talked, the group soon arrived at two lines of people.
These two groups were undergoing tests for soul power levels and martial soul quality. Only those who passed both tests would qualify for the final trial.
Ning Rongrong instinctively went to line up, but Dai Mubai stopped her. "You don't need to take these two tests. Just follow me to the final trial."
After Dai Mubai's explanation, the group finally understood the rigorous nature of Shrek Academy's admissions.
Only geniuses with soul power levels above twenty-five had the chance to bypass the preliminary tests and proceed directly to the final trial. Those below level twenty-five almost never passed the first two assessments.
Being thirteen or younger with soul power above level twenty-five—this required at least an innate soul power of seven to achieve.
Earlier, Ning Rongrong had mentally calculated that fewer than forty people from the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect each year qualified to pass Shrek Academy's registration tests.
Among them, those with innate soul power seven or higher would dwindle to around ten individuals.
By this logic, even a powerhouse like the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect only managed to send about ten students to successfully enroll in Shrek Academy each year.
Thinking about this, Ning Rongrong felt a twinge of dissatisfaction.
Why should the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect hand over its top talents for Shrek Academy to cultivate? Moreover, the academy's campus looked utterly dilapidated.
If not for the fact that they had run away, Ning Rongrong probably would have turned back already.
…
Dai Mubai led the four to the testing site, then quickly ran out of the academy.
"Big brother Tianchen, I'm a little hungry," Ning Rongrong said, rubbing her stomach.
The four had set out early in the morning, and there hadn't been any breakfast stalls along the way. As a result, they were all on empty stomachs.
Just then, a voice called out, "Come take a look! Don't miss out—freshly made sausages, hot off the grill! Affordable prices, just five copper spirit coins per sausage!"
"Third Brother, how about we try one?" Xiao Wu suggested tentatively.
Tang San nodded and asked Ning Tianchen and Ning Rongrong for their opinions.
Not long after, he returned with four sausages, handing one to each person.
"This sausage vendor doesn't seem trustworthy," Ning Rongrong said warily, hesitating to eat the sausage in her hand.
Seeing Tang San and Xiao Wu eating theirs with relish, Ning Tianchen felt a mischievous urge rise within him.
Walking up to the stall, he asked, "Boss, how do you make these sausages?"
At this moment, Oscar, with a scruffy beard covering his face, didn't look like a fourteen-year-old boy at all.
"Isn't this a bit inappropriate?" Oscar hesitated.
Xiao Wu, munching on her sausage, laughed. "What's inappropriate about it? I'm still hungry—give me another fresh sausage."
Seeing no way to refuse such enthusiasm, Oscar proceeded to make a new sausage right in front of the four.
Tang San and Xiao Wu, who were halfway through their sausages, immediately gagged and spat everything out.
"Damn you, old man! I knew you weren't up to any good," Ning Rongrong angrily threw her sausage to the ground and stomped on it several times.
"I think it's fine. Food-based soul masters' creations not only satisfy hunger but also replenish energy and stamina." With that, Ning Tianchen began eating his sausage.
"What the hell! How can you eat that? This guy is so creepy—I feel…" Xiao Wu couldn't finish her sentence before she gagged again.
"I'm not an old man—I'm only fourteen!" Oscar snapped angrily.
Tang San calmed himself and quickly asked, "You're really only fourteen?"
Oscar proudly replied, "Do you doubt it? I'm a student here—you can ask anyone."
As he spoke, his eyes occasionally glanced toward Ning Rongrong.
Ning Rongrong snorted coldly and promptly hid behind Ning Tianchen.
Seeing Ning Tianchen, Oscar knew he didn't stand a chance. He was just an auxiliary soul master—how could he compete with a battle soul master?
For some inexplicable reason, a wave of disappointment welled up in his heart. It was as if something that should have belonged to him had suddenly vanished.
Not long after, Dai Mubai returned, accompanied by a curvaceous black-clad young woman.
Seeing Ning Tianchen eating his sausage with gusto, Dai Mubai hurriedly stepped forward to stop him. "This sausage can't be eaten."
"Boss Dai, you're just jealous that I got a sale. Good bro, for your performance, I'll hook you up with unlimited sausages in the future," Oscar said slyly, slapping his arm around Dai Mubai's shoulder.
Dai Mubai still wanted to dissuade him, but Ning Tianchen interjected, "Food-based soul masters' sausages have many benefits when consumed. Besides, we still have tests ahead—it's a good opportunity to replenish our energy."
The Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect specialized in auxiliary soul masters, and they had extensive knowledge of food-based soul masters.
If possible, Ning Tianchen wanted to recruit someone like Oscar back to their sect.
After hesitating for a moment, Ning Rongrong still asked Oscar for another sausage.
After all, she was extremely hungry. Without filling her stomach, she might falter during the upcoming tests.
"Xiao Wu, let's—" Tang San also wanted to replenish his energy.
Unfortunately, Xiao Wu still felt nauseous and couldn't bring herself to eat, leaving Tang San to go hungry as well.
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