Shrek Academy's entrance exam had four stages.
The first stage was the most basic requirement: before the age of twelve, a candidate must have reached the twentieth rank of spirit power. In other words, anyone under rank twenty-one or above the age of thirteen was immediately disqualified. The bar was set extremely high.
The second stage tested spirit power and identified the candidate's martial spirit. Even with the same spirit, different development paths could lead to vastly different achievements. Raw spirit power alone could not determine future potential — martial spirit type and the chosen technique path were just as important.
The third stage evaluated the candidate's mastery over their own martial spirit. Even with the results from stage two, control was a separate skill, and true Soul Masters needed it.
However, if anyone came in with spirit power above rank twenty-five, it didn't matter if their martial spirit was considered "useless" — they could skip stages two and three entirely. After all, reaching rank twenty-five at twelve years old was proof enough of genius.
Because of this rule, Tang San, Xiao Wu, Zhu Zhuqing, and Ning Rongrong passed the second and third tests with ease.
Under Dai Mubai's lead, they arrived at the fourth and final stage — a test of real combat experience.
Theory meant nothing without practical skill; a candidate needed genuine battle experience to pass. Still, in most cases, anyone who reached the fourth stage was almost guaranteed to be admitted — unless their performance was abysmal. Combat experience could be trained after admission; surviving the first three rounds meant you were already worth investing in.
"We're here." Dai Mubai stopped, and the group looked ahead.
An open space stretched before them, far smaller than the second-stage arena — only about two hundred square meters. A young man in white, his black hair falling loosely around him, was already there waiting.
"Tang-laoshi, these are the candidates for the fourth test," Dai Mubai said.
"It's you? You're the examiner for stage four?" Ning Rongrong exclaimed when she saw the smiling youth — Yun Chuan.
"What? Surprised?" Yun Chuan grinned, then turned to sweep his gaze over the four young faces. "My name is Tang Chuan. I'll be your examiner for this stage — you can call me Teacher Tang."
"This is the last stage. Pass my test, and you'll officially be members of Shrek Academy. But my test won't be easy. Combat ability is a core part of every Soul Master's strength, and that's exactly what I'm here to assess.
"I'll give you one stick of incense to get acquainted and plan your tactics. When time's up, the test begins. The task is simple — the four of you must together endure my attacks for the duration of one incense stick. If even one of you lasts until the end, you all pass. Don't waste your time trying to run; no one's fast enough to leave this area. And let me warn you — none of you can block me alone. Coordination is the only chance you have." His voice was calm, but the weight behind it was undeniable.
"Teacher Tang, isn't that… a bit much?" Dai Mubai said uncertainly.
Yun Chuan gave him a single bored glance. "What's wrong? You think I'm going to go all-out against a few little fish and shrimp? Don't waste time."
He took an incense stick from his soul tool. With a flick of his fingers, he lit it effortlessly and planted it upright in the ground without the slightest tremor.
Tang San and the others instantly grew solemn. They had seen Yun Chuan clash at the academy gates and knew that this Blue Silver Grass user was actually at the Soul Sage level. Against an ordinary army of ten thousand, a Soul Sage could still move freely without fear — his power was that overwhelming.
And now, they were expected to survive under such strength for an entire incense stick. For four juniors not yet even Soul Emperors, this was nothing short of impossible.
Dai Mubai's expression hardened. "Come here," he called the four together.
His tone was grave. "Teacher Tang hasn't been at the academy long, so I don't know him well. All I know is — he's twenty-five years old, and already a seventy-first-rank Soul Sage."
Twenty-five!
Tang San and the others all felt their pupils contract. Such a young Soul Sage… they'd thought his boyish looks were due to natural preservation or some martial spirit effect, imagining he might actually be over forty. Learning his real age stunned them — he was only about eight or nine years older than he looked.
This kind of gift… this Teacher Tang was the real monster here.
Xiao Wu couldn't believe it. "He's really only twenty-five? No way — how could anyone reach Soul Sage that young? I'd bet he's at least in his forties, no matter how young he looks."
Dai Mubai gave a wry smile. "Age doesn't matter — talent is utterly unreasonable. Sometimes, the gap between people is greater than between a human and a soul beast. Enough talk — work out a plan. If you can survive even his first assault, you'll have done well."
They all grew grim. Tang San had grown up hearing of the legendary Soul Sage who once came from his Holy Soul Village — but that was a folktale. Now, here was one standing right in front of him, and he'd be their examiner.
Dai Mubai went on. "Originally, Teacher Tang was only here to supervise this stage — your opponent was supposed to be me. If you could hold out for one incense against me, you'd pass. But today, for some reason, he decided to handle it himself.
"His martial spirit is Blue Silver Grass — but don't ever think of it the way you would ordinary Blue Silver Grass. I don't know the details — just… be careful." Mubai sighed, remembering how badly he'd been beaten at the hotel not long ago. He knew now that back then, Tang Chuan hadn't even been serious.
The four fell silent.
Tang San was the first to recover. "Alright. Let's introduce ourselves and our abilities so we can plan how to work together."
"I'm Tang San, Tool Spirit Blue Silver Grass, twenty-ninth-rank Control System Battle Spirit Master."
"Xiao Wu," she said next. "Beast Spirit Rabbit, twenty-ninth-rank Assault System Battle Spirit Master."
After a hesitation, Ning Rongrong said, "Ning Rongrong, Tool Spirit Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda, twenty-sixth-rank Support System Spirit Master."
Zhu Zhuqing's tone was as cold as ever. "Zhu Zhuqing, Beast Spirit Nether Civet, twenty-seventh-rank Agility Attack System Battle Spirit Master."
When they'd all introduced themselves, including Dai Mubai, four pairs of eyes turned inexorably toward one person — Ning Rongrong.
Tang San's eyes widened. "Your martial spirit is the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda? Then… you're from the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Clan?"
That spirit was passed strictly through bloodline — only direct descendants of the clan had it. Its reputation could be summed up in one phrase: The strongest auxiliary spirit in the entire continent. The best possible partner for any combat-type Soul Master.
One of the six emblems on the Spirit Hall's order token was the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda — a symbol of the clan's immense prestige.
Flustered under their gazes, Ning Rongrong stuck out her tongue playfully. "Don't look at me like that — I'm no different from anyone else. I ran away from home. We can talk later; right now, let's focus on passing this test. My Pagoda has two rings — I can boost speed and strength by thirty percent, all at once, for the entire incense stick."
Thirty percent was already a strong buff, but Tang San knew why this martial spirit was considered the apex of auxiliary types. Every additional spirit ring not only added a new attribute boost but also increased the percentage boost of all previous ones by ten.
Which meant that if Ning Rongrong reached rank thirty, she could add a third attribute boost, and all boosts would rise to forty percent. By rank seventy, she'd be able to enhance seven attributes by a staggering eighty percent instantly.
With a Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda user, a Soul Master's combat strength could nearly double on the spot — and the stronger the assisted Soul Master, the bigger the benefit.
Anywhere in the two great empires, the appearance of a Seven Treasures Glazed Tile soul master would make them the center of attention, sought after by every major force. And despite their lack of offensive power, they were never in danger — countless warriors would willingly serve as their protectors.
Among those protectors, there were said to be at least two of the strongest kinds of Soul Masters — Title Douluo.