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"What?! Twin Martial Souls?!"
Zhao Wuji and Dai Mubai cried out in shock, their eyes wide with disbelief as they stared at the Clear Sky Hammer in Tang San's hand.
Zhu Zhuqing and Ning Rongrong, who had just fainted, woke up upon hearing the commotion.
In their dazed state, they caught the words "Twin Martial Souls" and opened their eyes to look at Tang San.
In the shadows, Tang Hao clenched his fists, murderous intent surging from his body.
Damn it! I never expected Little San's twin martial soul secret to be exposed! What should I do? Should I kill everyone present?!
Tang San had yet to mature. If people from the Spirit Hall found out, it could cost him his life.
But that thought was quickly suppressed. Wiping out an academy guarded by several Spirit Saints without reason would only lead the Spirit Hall to his location sooner.
Since that was out of the question, the only option left was to use force to threaten Shrek's people, ensuring they wouldn't reveal Tang San's secret.
Even so, the killing intent in his eyes toward Lan Minghua was nearly tangible.
Lan Minghua, sensitive to such intent, noticed it instantly. A faint, imperceptible smirk curved at the corner of his lips.
Tang San's face was as dark as storm clouds, practically dripping with rage.
You exposed my twin martial souls. You're courting death!
He had intended to break through Lan Minghua's defense with the full force of the Clear Sky Hammer, then continue the fight using hidden weapons.
Unexpectedly, Lan Minghua had withdrawn his defense and blocked the attack with his bare hand.
Hearing the shocked exclamations behind him, Tang San realized his secret had been revealed and quickly put his martial soul away.
His eyes narrowed as the poisoned blade on his shoe extended. Without hesitation, he kicked at Lan Minghua's neck—clearly aiming to kill.
Lan Minghua smirked coldly. He had expected this enraged attack.
With a slight sidestep, he avoided Tang San's kick and countered with one of his own.
Tang San's Purple Demon Eye focused, a sneer appeared on his lips, and he used Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track to step back and dodge the strike.
At that moment, he felt pleased with himself. So this is all a Spirit Saint's attack amounts to?
Lan Minghua's lip curled slightly, seeing his carelessness.
"Confidence in young people is a good thing, but overconfidence becomes arrogance—and that's not good at all."
Tang San was about to retort when he suddenly felt something flying toward his cheek.
Before he could react, a slipper smacked him hard across the face.
Smack! His face rippled like water, and blood mixed with saliva sprayed from his mouth.
The force of the blow was immense. Tang San felt the world spinning as his body whirled like a top, crashing into a nearby abandoned wooden hut and stirring up a cloud of dust before passing out.
The slipper ricocheted cleanly back to Lan Minghua's raised foot, as casual as if nothing had happened.
At that moment, only one-fifth of the incense stick remained unburnt—meaning Tang San and the others had failed the final test.
Zhu Zhuqing and Ning Rongrong looked disheartened. Despite their exceptional talents, they hadn't passed Shrek Academy's entrance exam.
But since Lan Minghua had intended to take Zhu Zhuqing as a disciple, he naturally wouldn't expel her.
And even if he wanted to, Zhao Wuji wouldn't allow it.
"Old Zhao, come out and explain, or these kids really won't be able to enter Shrek."
Zhao Wuji stepped forward, not at all bothered by Lan Minghua's heavy-handedness with Tang San.
On the contrary, he thought Lan Minghua had done the right thing.
Tang San clearly had an arrogant temperament and struck with deadly intent. That last move was clearly a killing blow.
Lan Minghua had only knocked him out without causing serious injury—he was being generous.
If it had been Zhao Wuji, he would've hit even harder.
He turned to Zhu Zhuqing and Ning Rongrong. "Alright, both of you have passed the test."
"But Teacher Zhao, didn't we fail to last for the entire incense stick?" Ning Rongrong asked.
"The final trial is meant to polish the arrogance off geniuses like you. Without that, would you truly accept our teachings with humility?" Zhao Wuji said solemnly.
Ning Rongrong pouted. Clearly, he was referring to someone like her.
As the heiress of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan, she had always been taught by Title Douluo. Naturally, she didn't care much for instruction from anyone else.
Zhu Zhuqing let out a sigh of relief. If she hadn't been admitted to the academy, she wouldn't have known where else to go.
But after witnessing Lan Minghua's strength, her hope in Shrek Academy reignited.
Lan Minghua had been quietly observing her emotional shifts. Seeing the light return to her eyes, he stepped forward and asked:
"Hey, beautiful—wanna be my disciple?"
Zhu Zhuqing was caught off guard.
It was sudden, but for someone like her with no support, it was a timely lifeline.
Before she could respond, Dai Mubai, who had recognized her identity the moment he saw her martial soul, began to panic.
Flustered, he blurted out, "Sorry, but Zhuqing doesn't want to take you as her master!"
Lan Minghua knew about their connection, but right now Dai Mubai was holding another woman. What right did he have to speak for Zhu Zhuqing?
Feigning ignorance, he looked at Zhu Zhuqing and asked, "Can he speak for you, beautiful?"
Zhu Zhuqing glanced at Dai Mubai, who was holding Xiao Wu, her eyes full of disgust. Eating from one bowl while eyeing another.
She had completely lost faith in Dai Mubai. He didn't seem capable of defeating his brother Davis and her sister.
"My affairs are none of your business," she said coldly, ignoring the furious look on Dai Mubai's face.
Then she turned to Lan Minghua and said softly, "As long as you can help me grow stronger, I'm willing to be your disciple."
Lan Minghua already knew why Zhu Zhuqing had traveled all the way to the Heaven Dou Empire to find Dai Mubai.
To grow stronger. To escape an unjust fate.
Still, he asked, testing her sincerity.
"Why do you want to become stronger?"
Zhu Zhuqing replied, "The only reason I've cultivated this long is to escape my miserable fate. I don't want to be a foil for a loser's failure. I just want to live."
The others didn't understand her words, but Dai Mubai felt deeply ashamed.
In the Star Luo Empire, the succession system was brutal. All princes were born as rivals.
Only the final victor would become emperor. The losers would either be eliminated or crippled.
Although Zhu Zhuqing wasn't of royal blood, her clan's martial soul had a natural fusion compatibility with the Evil-Eyed White Tiger, the imperial family's martial soul.
Girls from her clan were betrothed at birth to princes of a similar age to compete for the throne alongside them.
Failure meant death, dismemberment, or becoming someone's plaything.
Years ago, Dai Mubai, fearing assassination by his elder brother, abandoned Zhu Zhuqing—who wasn't even ten years old—and fled to the Heaven Dou Empire.
Unwilling to submit to her fate, Zhu Zhuqing trained relentlessly and finally escaped the Star Luo Empire.
But upon seeing the degenerate Dai Mubai again, her last hope was shattered.
Fortunately, seeing Shrek's capable instructors had rekindled that lost spark in her eyes.
An expert who was at least a Spirit Saint wanted her as a disciple. How could she refuse?
Lan Minghua wasn't surprised by her answer. She had clearly stated her reason for pushing herself so hard.
Someone so unwilling to surrender to fate was worthy of being his disciple.
"A very good answer. From this moment on, you are my second disciple. Don't worry—I'll do everything I can to help you grow stronger and break free from your unjust destiny."
Zhu Zhuqing, moved by a sense of warmth she'd never felt before, trembled slightly, her eyebrows fluttering.
With a thud, she knelt before Lan Minghua and bowed deeply, touching her forehead to the ground.
"Zhu Zhuqing greets Master."
(End of Chapter)