A week passed in the blink of an eye.
At the main gate of the Shrek Academy's outer division, ten carriages stood lined up in neat formation. Each one was adorned with academy emblems, clearly marked for official transfer duty.
They were here to take the selected students from the Outer Division to the Main Academy in Tian Dou City—where the Inner Sect and Monster Division were stationed.
Many students from the Outer Sect stood nearby, watching with barely hidden envy. But no one was bitter. Everyone knew the rules: each month, the top five performers in the Outer Sect were eligible to be transferred to the Inner Sect, provided they met certain standards.
So, while they were left behind this time, hope still burned in their eyes. This wasn't the end—just another stepping stone. They whispered among themselves, silently vowing to train harder this month, to climb the ranks, and to someday ride those carriages too.
Dean Flander stood tall at the front, overlooking the 31 students selected for transfer—including those from the Inner Sect and the few special cases who were close to qualifying for the Monster Division, but had fallen just short in the final stage.
Still, their talent was undeniable. With the right growth, even those few might eventually earn a place among the elite.
Flander clapped his hands once, drawing everyone's attention.
"Alright, listen up! My name is Flander, and I am the Dean of Shrek Academy."
He paused, letting the gravity of that title settle in before continuing.
"Our main academy is located in Tian Dou City, and that's where you all are headed. What you've seen here in the outer division was just the beginning."
He swept his gaze over the gathered students.
"From now on, you're going to be standing among the best—competing, growing, and proving yourselves every day. Some of you will stay in the Inner Sect, and maybe… just maybe… a few of you will one day step into the Monster Division."
A ripple of excitement and nervousness passed through the group.
"Now, board the carriages in order," he said, stepping aside.
One by one, the students began loading into the vehicles—bags packed, eyes gleaming with anticipation.
The journey to Tian Dou City had officially begun.
The carriages rumbled out from the academy gates, their wheels kicking up soft dust as the convoy of ten steadily made its way toward Tian Dou City. Inside the lead carriage sat the more prominent members of the group—Dave, Meilin, Steve, Tony, Bucky, Shuri, Bruce, Natasha, and the ever-cheerful Oscar.
While Ma Honjung and Dai Mubai have already left long ago, they might even be at the Shrek Academy in the Tian Dou City.
Soon, with the journey going smoothly, they reached Tian Dou City on time and arrived at the new Shrek Academy.
This place was formerly the Blue Tyrant Academy, but ever since Flander and Liu Erlong got married, it had been officially rebranded as the new base for Shrek Academy. However, this campus served only for the Inner and Monster Divisions, while the Outer Division remained at the previous location.
As the carriages came to a stop at the academy gates, a little girl with black hair tied in short pigtails ran forward and jumped up, yelling, "Mama!"
Liu Erlong smiled gently and caught her in her arms. "Did you enjoy the trip?" she asked.
The little girl nodded enthusiastically.
Meanwhile, the other carriages were unloading as well. As soon as Dave stepped out and took a step toward the academy, he was immediately greeted by several students and elders with respectful nods. He simply waved back casually and continued walking toward the inner compound.
Flander, leading the newly admitted inner sect students, stepped forward and clapped his hands to get everyone's attention.
"You've all arrived safely," he began, his voice loud and clear. "Now, to determine your standing within the Inner Division, we will be holding a ranking tournament among the 31 of you. The top five students will receive core resources and special training privileges."
He paused before adding, "The auxiliary spirit masters will be excluded from this test."
"The rest of you will be evaluated based on your performance in these matches. Your ranking will determine your dormitory, class placement, and initial privileges."
He then pointed toward the courtyard beyond the gate, where a leaderboard had already been set up. Several names were etched in gold, sorted beneath dormitory numbers.
"There are five class divisions in the Inner Sect," Flander continued clearly, his voice echoing through the courtyard.
"As for the Monster Division—the one you've all heard whispers about—it is unlike any other. It consists of only one class, but getting in is extremely difficult."
He paused, letting the weight of his words settle on the students.
"To enter the Monster Division, you must have power beyond your current rank. It's not just about being strong for your level—you must be able to defeat those above your rank. For example, a Spirit King would need to prove they can suppress or defeat a Spirit Emperor."
Murmurs passed through the crowd. Flander raised a hand, silencing them.
"But that's not all. You must also master the basic Spirit Arts of our academy. It's a unique set of techniques passed down only here—self-created styles that must be bonded with your spiritual energy and body movement. Mastery depends entirely on your comprehension."
He turned back to the students, his expression more serious now.
"Finally, you must also demonstrate that your cultivation path is stable and harmonized. If your spirit foundation is shaky, you can't handle the intensity. Only after clearing all three requirements will one be qualified to enter the Monster Division."
A long pause followed.
"That is why only a handful make it in," Flander said at last, walking toward the end of the platform. "Each of them is a monster in their own right."
The students stood still—some stunned, others wide-eyed with excitement.
The Monster Division… truly lived up to its name.
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