Tang San and Xiao Wu only knew the general location of Shrek Academy, so the two of them spent quite a while before finally finding the village where the Academy was located.
"Brother, look, there's a village over there." Xiao Wu pointed ahead at a small settlement, speaking to Tang San at her side.
Tang San followed her finger. About a li away, he saw a small village. With his Purple Demon Eye, he could clearly distinguish that the place had around a hundred households.
Compared to Holy Spirit Village, it was even smaller. A simple wooden fence encircled it, probably to keep out wild beasts. At the village entrance, a crowd had gathered. Something seemed to be going on.
Tang San smiled. "Let's go ask. Maybe the people here will know where Shrek Academy is. After all, a Soul Master Academy should be famous."
Before long, the two arrived at the village entrance. There, a simple pavilion had been set up with fruits and pastries for refreshments. The villagers themselves had prepared these things to help Shrek Academy receive Soul Masters coming to enroll.
In recent years, Shrek Academy had grown wealthier and often helped the village—repairing homes, providing food—so the relationship was close.
The villagers also wanted to greet the students. After all, seeing young Soul Master geniuses was something to be proud of.
As soon as Tang San and Xiao Wu approached, before they could even ask, a simple and kind-looking woman walked up and said with a smile:
"You must be here to apply to Shrek Academy, right? You must be tired from your journey. Have some food first. It's crowded inside right now; you'll probably need to wait for your turn."
Tang San and Xiao Wu both paused in surprise. It almost felt like arriving at a high-class restaurant, not a rustic village.
Tang San himself never casually accepted strangers' kindness. He was about to politely refuse, but before he could open his mouth, Xiao Wu's eyes suddenly sparkled—she had spotted a carrot-shaped pastry on the table.
"Thank you, Auntie!" Xiao Wu chimed happily, darting forward to grab the carrot pastry.
Tang San frowned slightly. This was a strange place, and Xiao Wu was far too unguarded around strangers.
But the woman and the other villagers only laughed kindly. "Girl, there's fruit and juice too. Take your time."
Xiao Wu nodded excitedly. "Thank you, you're all so nice!"
Tang San, seeing Xiao Wu already eating, had no choice but to smile and step forward as well.
He casually asked, "Excuse me, how did you know we were here to apply to Shrek Academy?"
The woman replied warmly, "Look at you two—you're young, but you have a special bearing. Only noble Soul Masters could have such a presence. And since your age matches those who come here to enroll, we could guess right away."
Tang San's brows lifted slightly. So these villagers have a very good relationship with Shrek Academy…
He asked a few more questions, and from their answers began to understand why his teacher recommended this place.
Since its founding here, Shrek Academy has constantly supported the village—repairing homes, providing food. To the villagers, it was practically a benevolent institution.
But most importantly, the Academy had another reputation: it was called the Monster Academy.
Shrek Academy's enrollment requirements were extremely strict. They only accepted geniuses—the so-called "monsters."
Every year, many applied. Only a handful ever made it through.
After resting for a while, Tang San and Xiao Wu thanked the villagers and set off toward the Academy itself.
Inside the village, signs pointed the way. Soon, they reached the Academy's gate, where a crowd had gathered—mostly youths their age, many accompanied by parents.
Though the Academy was in a small village, the entrance was anything but ordinary. The gate was simple, not lavish, but carried a scholarly air.
Above the arch, built from fine timber, hung a plaque inscribed with five bold characters: Shrek Academy.
Above the words, a green monster-like head served as an emblem—designed personally by Flender, the school's founder.
At the gate, another pavilion had been set up, with a desk inside. Behind it sat an elderly man around sixty, while beside him stood a handsome young man with short red hair.
The old man was Li Yusong.
The red-haired youth was Ma Hongjun, dragged here today to help with enrollment.
At that moment, a boy stepped forward to register. Li Yusong said lazily, "Registration fee is ten gold soul coins. Put them in the box."
The boy's father quickly complied, placing the coins in the box.
"Hold out your hand," Li Yusong continued.
The boy did so. Li Yusong felt his hand briefly, then shook his head. "You're too old. You don't qualify. Leave."
The boy froze, turning helplessly toward his father.
His father forced a smile. "Teacher, my son just turned thirteen. Couldn't you make an exception?"
Li Yusong glanced up and sighed slightly. "The rules are the rules. We only accept those under thirteen. Anyone older, or whose soul power and spirit rings don't meet the requirement, is rejected. You may leave."
The father sighed. "Then… the registration fee?"
Li Yusong pointed at the box. "Take it back yourself."
Nowadays, Shrek Academy wasn't short on money. Unlike in the original history, they didn't scam applicants for their fees.
As the disappointed pair left, Li Yusong looked at the crowd and raised his voice:
"Listen well, all of you! Before applying here, you should at least know the rules. Otherwise, you're wasting everyone's time. Do you even know what the name 'Shrek' means?"
Most of the crowd looked blank.
Li Yusong went on, "Shrek is a monster—an oddity even among soul beasts. Our Academy's meaning is simple: we are the Monster Academy. That is to say, we only accept monsters—not ordinary people. Anyone over thirteen, or with soul power below rank twenty-one, shouldn't even bother."
At the back of the line, Tang San and Xiao Wu both perked up with interest. Only monsters accepted? Isn't that just another word for genius?
The crowd erupted in complaints.
Many parents scoffed. "Ridiculous! It's just a school in a tiny village, yet its standards are stricter than advanced Soul Master Academies?"
But Li Yusong was unmoved. Suddenly, a surge of terrifying spirit power burst from him.
A staff appeared in his hand, etched with countless fine patterns. Six spirit rings rose beneath his feet—white, yellow, purple, purple, purple, black.
Ten-year, hundred-year, three thousand-year, one ten-thousand-year.
He was a Soul Emperor.
The staff struck the ground with a muffled boom. The entire crowd staggered.
"Next," Li Yusong said calmly.
The aura vanished, as though it had never been. He returned to his lazy posture.
The crowd fell silent. Moments ago, they might have mocked. But who dared offend a Soul Emperor? And this was just the one handling registration!
The implications were chilling.
The children here had graduated from junior academies, where registration teachers were usually weak. Yet here, the examiner was a Soul Emperor.
How terrifying must Shrek's true faculty be?
Tang San and Xiao Wu were equally shaken. In Nording Academy, the principal had only been a Soul Elder. But here, even a "registration teacher" was a Soul Emperor.
Tang San suddenly felt his teacher's wisdom. Sending him here opened the door to a whole new level.
Parents who had scoffed now wore regretful expressions. Quietly, many left with their children. The line of over a hundred dwindled to barely a dozen.
After all, reaching rank twenty-one before twelve years old was indeed monstrous.
Those who stayed clearly had confidence. Several students stepped forward, showing two spirit rings each. After paying the fee, Li Yusong confirmed they had passed the first test and instructed them to follow Ma Hongjun inside for the second. Parents were not allowed beyond the gate.
At the back, Xiao Wu's eyes shone with excitement. She whispered, "This place is fun. And that line—'only monsters, no ordinary people'—that's so cool!"
Tang San smiled. "Now you see why the Teacher recommended it. Shrek Academy is extraordinary."
As their turn approached, they could clearly see Ma Hongjun leading groups of successful candidates inside.
When Xiao Wu got a closer look at Ma Hongjun, she blurted out, "He's so handsome—and even better built than you, Brother!"
Tang San frowned instinctively. Strangely, hearing Xiao Wu praise another boy made him uncomfortable.
But with his sharper perception, Tang San noticed something deeper. Unlike other peers, Ma Hongjun's aura, composure, and bearing all felt different—far above ordinary youths.
For the first time, Tang San felt his talent overshadowed. At only twelve, he had already reached rank twenty-nine—enough to pass any advanced academy exam. Yet before this red-haired youth, he sensed he might not measure up.
While Tang San was studying him, a sudden exclamation drew everyone's attention back to Li Yusong.
The old man was staring at a young girl before him, his face showing rare surprise.
The girl had come alone, without parents.
She wore a simple white dress, clean and pure. Long, smooth hair framed delicate features, skin pale and soft, giving her an almost storybook princess aura. She was slightly shorter than Xiao Wu.
"May I pass the first test?" Her voice was soft and sweet, carrying a gentleness that melted into the ears.
Li Yusong frowned. "Do your family know you're here?"
The girl only smiled. "It is said teaching should exclude no one. Since I meet the requirements, you have no reason to refuse me, right?"
Li Yusong hesitated, then waved to Ma Hongjun. "Hongjun, take her inside."
Ma Hongjun's eyes brightened slightly at her beauty. In terms of looks and temperament, she was the only one he had seen who could rival Dugu Yan or Zhu Zhuqing.
But Ma Hongjun was no longer the lecherous boy of the original tale. He only gave her a glance before saying calmly, Follow me.