When they heard Dai Mubai's words, the expressions of Tang San, Xiao Wu, and Ning Rongrong instantly turned to shock.
"Level forty-seven?"
That kind of cultivation level was enough to graduate from any advanced soul master academy!
Even many teachers in top academies weren't that strong!
Ning Rongrong gasped in disbelief.
"He's level forty-seven? But… he doesn't look much older than us! How could anyone cultivate that fast?"
Tang San and Xiao Wu nodded silently in agreement.
After all, both of them were considered top-tier prodigies — yet they were only at rank twenty-nine.
And Oscar? He didn't even seem much older than them, yet he'd already reached a terrifying rank of forty-seven?
Of course, it wasn't just Oscar who stunned them — but also Ma Hongjun, Dai Mubai, and Zhu Zhuqing.
Tang San's gaze swept over each of them carefully, still unable to believe it even after several glances.
Zhu Zhuqing was the only one who seemed "normal," about the same level as Tang San and Xiao Wu — around rank twenty-nine.
But Dai Mubai… rank thirty-nine?
And that young-looking senior Ma Hongjun — he was already rank forty-five?
At that moment, Tang San, Xiao Wu, and Ning Rongrong finally understood what it meant when Shrek Academy said it only accepted monsters.
To study among classmates like these — if you didn't have real talent, how could you even survive in such a den of geniuses?
Dai Mubai said calmly,
"Age has never meant anything. Oscar's only fourteen this year."
That sentence hit the three like a thunderbolt.
Fourteen years old. Rank forty-seven.
Even Tang San and Xiao Wu, who came from small towns and had never seen the grand scale of the world, were completely stunned.
This level of talent was beyond comprehension — it was inhuman.
As for Ning Rongrong, born into one of the Three Great Sects, she understood even better what that truly meant.
Fourteen years old, rank forty-seven?
Even her Sword Grandfather and Bone Grandfather, when they were young, had never achieved such monstrous cultivation speed.
At that moment, Ning Rongrong's usual arrogance was shattered completely.
Who could've imagined that this small academy, hidden in a remote village near Soto City, harbored such heaven-defying geniuses?
Even in the Heaven Dou Imperial Academy, she had never seen talents like Oscar and Ma Hongjun.
But Dai Mubai didn't dwell on their shock. He continued,
"Time's short, so I'll give you a quick rundown of Senior Oscar's abilities.
You'll need to come up with a strategy fast — otherwise, lasting even a single breath will be impossible."
The trio's expressions grew solemn.
Even if they ignored Oscar's terrifying talent, just facing a rank forty-seven Soul Sect with their current strength would be no joke.
They had to give it their all.
And more importantly, anyone who could reach such a level at fourteen definitely wasn't ordinary.
Dai Mubai explained,
Originally, Oscar was just supposed to oversee the fourth test.
Your actual opponents were supposed to be Zhu Zhuqing and me.
As long as you lasted one stick of incense against the two of us, you'd pass.
But who knows what's gotten into Oscar today — he suddenly decided to fight personally."
That last line was something Dai Mubai muttered to himself.
He didn't dare say it too loudly — because if Oscar heard it, he might actually hit him.
He added seriously,
"Oscar's Martial Soul is... complicated. Hard to explain quickly.
But just remember one thing: whether it's attack, defense, speed, control — any aspect you can think of — he excels at all of them.
When you face him, you must go all out. Don't hold back, or he'll end it with a single sword strike."
"This time, since he's your examiner, he'll probably fight with a sword, and his attribute is ice.
So be especially careful."
"But honestly…" Dai Mubai sighed.
"There's not much to prepare for. Oscar doesn't really have weaknesses. He's good at everything."
His words left Tang San, Xiao Wu, and Ning Rongrong completely speechless.
Good at everything? No weaknesses?
Those simple words not only conveyed Oscar's power but gave him an almost godlike mystique.
Especially for Tang San — he couldn't believe such a thing was possible.
Every Soul Master specialized in something:
Power-attack types focused on strength,
Defense types on endurance,
Agility types on speed,
Control types on technique.
Some Martial Souls were special enough to allow dual specialization — but "being good at everything"? That wasn't a Soul Master anymore… that was practically a god.
Tang San couldn't help but ask,
"Can someone like that really exist in this world?"
Xiao Wu pouted, agreeing,
"Exactly! Even if Senior Oscar is a genius, you don't need to exaggerate that much, right?"
Dai Mubai gave a helpless laugh.
"I'm not exaggerating. You'll see for yourselves soon enough."
He sighed again.
"Honestly, even if we added me, Zhuqing, and Hongjun to your team — the five of us together might still not last one stick of incense against him."
Then he looked at the trio with a faint note of pity.
"Truthfully, all three of you are very talented. I just hope Oscar goes easy on you.
It's been a while since Shrek got new students."
He clapped his hands once.
"Alright, that's all the advice I can give.
You three should talk among yourselves, decide your strategy quickly, and — hopefully — avoid being one-shotted."
"Oh, right. The testing area is the Soul Battle Platform, a circular arena about a hundred meters in diameter.
You've all seen Soul Duels before, right? The rules are similar — no restrictions at all.
Use whatever you like, any method you prefer.
Victory is all that matters."
Tang San nodded.
They hadn't yet officially fought in the Great Spirit Arena, but they knew the format.
The three of them began discussing tactics, introducing their Martial Souls and soul skills to each other.
After a quick exchange, Tang San — being the control type — naturally took charge of forming a plan.
Dai Mubai offered occasional advice, acting the part of a responsible senior — though in truth, he was simply worried they'd get wiped out instantly.
After all, losing talents like these before they even enrolled would be a real shame.
Especially Ning Rongrong — the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda was the strongest support-type Martial Soul in the world.
Adding her to the team would raise Shrek's overall strength significantly.
Meanwhile, on the viewing platform above, Dugu Yan sipped her fruit juice gracefully and moved to stand beside Oscar.
"What's this? Feeling itchy today? You're actually going to fight personally?"
Oscar turned to her with a small smile.
"My hands are just a little itchy.
Besides… I think I just heard that one named Tang San's Martial Soul is Blue Silver Grass."
"I don't think it's that simple.
If it were just ordinary Blue Silver Grass, he couldn't possibly cultivate that fast.
I'd like to see for myself."
Dugu Yan nodded, understanding.
She didn't believe for a second that Oscar was doing this "just because he felt like it."
Zhu Zhuqing came over as well.
"Big Sister Yan, can Blue Silver Grass really grow that powerful?"
Dugu Yan replied,
"Oscar's right — there's no way it's ordinary.
Blue Silver Grass is recognized as one of the weakest Martial Souls, after all."
Zhu Zhuqing nodded thoughtfully.
Watching Dai Mubai coaching Tang San's group, she couldn't help recalling her own experience fighting Oscar with Dai Mubai and Ma Hongjun.
Ever since Oscar obtained his fourth spirit ring, the three of them had basically no way to defeat him.
No matter what strategy they used, he always found the perfect counter.
Zhao Wuji, Flender, Gai Yue, Li Yusong, Lu Qibin — Oscar had copied all their Martial Souls countless times.
And after using his clones to collect blood samples in the Great Spirit Arena, his stockpile of copy sausages had become truly terrifying.
The most horrifying part?
His fourth spirit ring had upgraded the storage duration of his copied abilities —
from one month to half a year.
Meaning any sausage he created using that ring would last for six months without losing its effect.
And given Oscar's infamous "hoarder" tendencies…
Who knew how many he'd stored up by now?
Soon, the stick of incense Dai Mubai had lit earlier burned to its end.
Oscar stepped onto the Soul Battle Platform, his tone calm but firm.
"Time's up."
Tang San, Xiao Wu, and Ning Rongrong exchanged glances — and nodded in unison.
They climbed onto the arena.
Dai Mubai, acting as referee, took out another stick of incense from his soul guide, lit it, and planted it firmly into the ground.
"Assessment… begin!"
As his words fell, the three's soul rings flared to life —
two yellow rings, each rising beneath their feet.
Tang San stepped forward.
"Tang San — Martial Soul: Blue Silver Grass, Rank 29 Control-type Battle Soul Master. Please advise."
"Xiao Wu — Martial Soul: Soft Bone Charming Rabbit, Rank 29 Power-attack Battle Soul Master. Please advise."
"Ning Rongrong — Martial Soul: Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda, Rank 26 Support-type Grand Soul Master. Please advise."
As their spirits were released, Blue Silver Grass unfurled gently from Tang San's right hand,
Xiao Wu transformed slightly, her rabbit ears twitching — cute, yet emanating faint killing intent.
Ning Rongrong's Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda shone radiantly in her hand, her whole being exuding noble grace.
Oscar's expression remained utterly calm as he looked at them.
Soul power flared from his body — and in an instant, a crystalline Frostmoon Sword materialized in his hand,
four spirit rings rising beneath his feet — two yellow, two purple.
Oscar had already eaten one of the Copy Sausages made from Gai Yue's blood, ensuring his true fourth ten-thousand-year spirit ring wouldn't be exposed.
After all, caution was survival.
"Oscar — Martial Soul: Frostmoon Sword, Rank 47 Power-attack Battle Soul Sect."
As soon as his Martial Soul appeared, an overwhelming pressure burst forth,
sharp and cold as winter steel, flooding the entire arena.
Even before he moved, the razor-edged sword intent radiating from him made Tang San's trio feel like their breathing had frozen.
Ning Rongrong was the most shaken of all —
because she recognized that aura.
It was sword intent — the same kind she had only ever felt from her Sword Grandfather, Chen Xin!
Her eyes widened.
His Martial Soul was a sword too…
So not only was Oscar a genius in cultivation — he was a sword genius as well.
No wonder his very presence felt suffocating.
But she didn't let herself freeze up.
Lifting her delicate hand, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda floated slightly upward,
And both of her yellow spirit rings lit up in sequence.
Four beams of radiance shot out — two each landing upon Tang San and Xiao Wu, instantly boosting their strength and agility.