This was Li Chang'an's first time visiting the Blue Tyrant Advanced Spirit Master Academy, so naturally, he was quite curious—especially since this academy would one day become the famed Shrek Academy. And yes, he was also rather intrigued by what kind of woman Liu Erlong really was.
As he stepped into the Blue Tyrant Academy, Li Chang'an immediately felt a distinct difference from the Heaven Dou Imperial Academy he had visited before. While the scenery here couldn't compare to the mountain vistas of the Imperial Academy, the entire atmosphere exuded an imposing grandeur.
A broad path led straight into the heart of the campus. On either side were dense groves of trees. At the end of the path lay a massive training ground, over 200 meters in diameter, surrounded by a ring of three-story buildings.
Zhao Wuji gave them a brief tour, pointing out that the buildings housed various facilities—mimicry training grounds, dormitories, and classrooms.
If the Heaven Dou Imperial Academy was built upon a mountain, then the Blue Tyrant Academy was planted right in the heart of a forest.
In fact, apart from the main teaching complex, the rest of the academy grounds were entirely enveloped by woods. It was said this was the largest stretch of greenery in all of Heaven Dou City. For such a prime plot to exist within the capital, it spoke volumes of Liu Erlong's status and power.
Zhao Wuji eventually led the two into a tall spired building—the sturdiest-looking structure in the entire academy. Inside was a vast, open hall. There were no internal partitions; sunlight streamed through the tall windows, bathing the interior in bright, natural light.
The granite-tiled floor and unadorned whitewashed walls gave the space a sense of understated strength.
This was the Assessment Hall. Though Li Chang'an and Zhu Zhuqing were more than qualified to join the academy, they still had to undergo a test. It wasn't really necessary, but it was a formality—partly to maintain fairness, and partly to silence any dissent from the academy's existing staff. Li Chang'an would take the teacher's exam, while Zhu Zhuqing would take the student's.
Soon after, several people entered the hall. Aside from Flender, two other examiners and a strikingly beautiful woman followed.
Li Chang'an appeared to be watching Flender, but his gaze was secretly trained on the woman—that was a skill he had long since mastered.
She looked to be in her thirties, dressed simply in a green cotton gown, yet her natural charm was impossible to conceal. Her hair was tied up in a cloth wrap of the same shade, and though her face carried a trace of paleness, her features were stunning—delicate and refined, like a painting come to life.
Her large, dark eyes, though slightly vacant, still gleamed with inner brilliance. Beneath her modest robe, her curves were... considerable. From every angle, her mature allure was something no ordinary girl could hope to match.
This woman was none other than the "Killing Horn" of the Golden Iron Triangle—the powerful senior spirit master from the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, and in Li Chang'an's eyes, a true bombshell: Liu Erlong!
Alright, fine—Li Chang'an admitted it. He felt a flutter of attraction upon seeing Liu Erlong. It wasn't just because of her looks, but more because of her mature, peach-like aura and her... assets, that left him feeling slightly restless.
Should he go against his original plans for her?
"Erlong, this is the one I told you about—his theories rival that of Xiaogang, his tactical skills surpass him, and he's only fourteen but already at the Spirit Emperor: Teacher Li Changsheng!"
Flender wasted no time introducing Li Chang'an to the woman, which made the latter a bit embarrassed.
Liu Erlong's eyes now shimmered with curiosity. She gave Li Chang'an a once-over, clearly intrigued. After all, her initial interest in Yu Xiaogang had come from his deep knowledge. Now, Flender was claiming this young man's intellect was on par with, or even better than, Yu Xiaogang's—and at only fourteen years of age, he had already reached the level of Spirit Emperor?
No wonder she was curious.
Li Chang'an offered her a gentle smile and reached out his hand. "Nice to meet you, Dean Liu. I hope you'll look after me."
"No need to be so polite. You're the young genius Flender's always talking about. Welcome to our academy," Liu Erlong replied with a soft smile, briefly shaking his hand.
He then turned to the two examiners.
"May I ask, how will the entrance test be conducted for students?"
"It's very simple. Just release your Martial soul and soul rings and attack us with full power. Of course, if you're at the Spirit Elder rank with three rings, you qualify for automatic admission," one of the examiners said with a friendly smile.
Everyone knew this test was just a formality—they wouldn't dare make things difficult for them.
Li Chang'an nodded at Zhu Zhuqing, who then took a few steps back. Behind her, two yellow rings and one deep purple ring slowly emerged. A solid, stable aura spread out from her body.
"That qualifies me for exemption, doesn't it?" she asked coolly, her demeanor unchanged even in front of strangers.
"Of course! No problem at all!" the examiner nodded rapidly. This student is even stronger than the batch that came in a few days ago. Just what kind of academy is Shrek Academy becoming?
As that examiner was still reeling from shock, Li Chang'an quietly released his Martial soul. It was the same one he had always used to conceal his identity: the Golden staff. Behind him, six soul rings appeared—purple, purple, black, black, black-red, and red.
"This… this…!"
Even Zhao Wuji and Flender, who had already seen it before, were once again stunned by the oppressive aura. The shock was still just as overwhelming!
Liu Erlong was equally astonished. Looking at Li Chang'an's youthful face and terrifying strength, even someone as withdrawn from the world as she was had to admit—he was truly a prodigy.
Perhaps the only one who could compare with him… was that Holy Son?
Liu Erlong couldn't help but recall the recent chaos that had shaken all of Heaven Dou City. The one responsible was also an exceptional figure—a true dragon among men.
Ever since that event, she had begun questioning everything Yu Xiaogang had researched and believed. Was he… wrong all along?
"May I proceed now?" Li Chang'an asked, snapping the stunned examiners back to reality.
"Yes, of course! Please proceed, Honored Spirit Emperor!"
If someone like him didn't qualify for a teaching position, what level of power would be acceptable? Not to mention… a ten-thousand-year ring at such a young age? Was this guy even human?
"Alright, since you've both passed, let's call over the rest of the little monsters and have a meal. From now on, this will be our new home," Flender said, looking at Li Chang'an and Zhu Zhuqing with satisfaction.
He was a man of few desires. Aside from his lingering feelings for Liu Erlong, his only passions were money and the academy.
In the end, settling down here to live out his days wasn't such a bad fate.
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