Chapter 1 Xiao Xiao: "My older brother is even more amazing! A four-ring Spirit Ancestor!"The wide, smooth bluestone path extended toward the end of the line of sight, and the buildings on both sides of the road gradually transitioning from low bungalows to towering, bustling shops.The streets were bustling with a heavy stream of traffic and pedestrians, the sounds of peddling, the roaring of operating spirit tools, and the conversations of passersby intertwining to declare the prosperity of this area.This was the core of the entire continent, Shrek City.A luxurious carriage pulled by two tall and sturdy horses was unhurriedly traveling along the main thoroughfare.The carriage was entirely crafted from dark agarwood, and the outer walls of the carriage compartment lacked overly complex carvings, featuring only a few minimalist and smooth lines that exuded a touch of low-key and restrained elegance.The middle-aged man driving the carriage gripped the reins in his hands, skillfully maneuvering the horses to avoid the crowded stream of people.He turned his head back, his weather-beaten face full of smiles, and called out toward the inside of the carriage."Young Master Xiao Yan, Young Miss Xiao Xiao, we have entered Shrek City."The interior of the carriage was spacious and bright, and the air was filled with a calming incense that focused the mind and quieted the Spirit."Is that so? We have finally arrived."A clear and resonant youth's voice came from inside the carriage.The voice was clean and limpid, carrying a unique composure within his words.Immediately afterward, the brocade curtain on the side of the carriage was lifted by a hand.That was a hand with distinct joints, slender and well-proportioned, with thin calluses left from years of playing the zither on the pads of the fingers and the web of the thumb.As the curtain was lifted, the daylight from outside poured in, illuminating the face behind the carriage window that made one unable to help but be astounded.That was a youth of about eleven years old.He was dressed in a moon-white long gown without extra adornments, the lapels edged with silver thread, and the tailoring was neat and form-fitting.His posture was upright like a pine, casually leaning against the window, yet he naturally possessed an innate demeanor.His facial features were exceptionally handsome and peerless, his brows concealing a depth far surpassing that of his peers.Outside the carriage, several young female students walking in company toward Shrek Academy accidentally looked up, their gazes touching that side profile at the carriage window, and their footsteps unconsciously paused, their eyes filled with amazement until the carriage drove far away, still standing dazedly in place and looking back."Brother, let me take a look too."A cute, soft, and glutinous loli voice broke the tranquility inside the carriage.A small head with twin braided pigtails leaned over, forcibly squeezing into the field of vision of the carriage window.Xiao Yan yielded half the position of the window, casually pressing the girl's fluffy crown, the corners of his mouth curving into a natural arc."Xiao Xiao, once we enter Shrek Academy, there will be plenty of time for you to look."He turned his head to look forward, "Uncle Fu, speed up a bit more.""Alright, Young Master, sit tight!"Uncle Fu driving the carriage loudly responded, his whip cracking crisply in mid-air.The two steeds strode out with long legs, the rolling speed of the wheels abruptly accelerating, quickly throwing the scenery on both sides of the street backward.Before long, the carriage steadily stopped at the edge of the huge plaza outside the East Gate of Shrek Academy.At this time, the plaza was already a sea of people.It happened to be Shrek Academy's annual freshman recruitment season, and eligible youths from all corners of Douluo Continent gathered here accompanied by their parents.A huge white jade arch stood directly ahead in the line of sight, and the carved characters on the sign exuded an ancient and heavy charm.The early summer sun was somewhat vicious, and irritable complaints occasionally came from the queuing crowd.The air was mixed with the smell of sweat and anxiety, and parents gathered in groups of three to five, nervously discussing whether their children could pass the recruitment assessment.Xiao Yan pushed open the carriage door and was the first to leap off the carriage shaft.His movements were light and smooth, his moon-white hem sweeping a neat arc in the air, and he landed silently.Afterward, he turned around and extended his hand toward the inside of the carriage.Xiao Xiao rested her hand on her older brother's hand and nimbly jumped down from the carriage.As soon as the two stood firm, a brief silence unexpectedly appeared at the edge of the originally noisy and crowded queue.The gazes of the surrounding people were uncontrollably attracted by this pair of siblings.Look first at that girl; her stature was petite and somewhat short, yet she exuded a dainty cuteness that made people feel tender affection for her.She wore a head of cyan-green long hair, which was meticulously braided into two double pigtails hanging in front of her chest.Most eye-catching was her pair of eyes, possessing an emerald-like green color, lively and translucent.She looked around at the huge academy gates, utterly like a delicate, exquisite, shy yet somewhat curious neighbor's young girl.As for the youth standing beside her, he was completely an existence on another level.Xiao Yan was situated in the crowded, sweat-dampened crowd, yet it was as if he stood beside an orchid in an empty valley.The moon-white long gown shimmered with a soft luster under the sunlight, and that Heaven-Defying handsome visage paired with his unrestrained and bold temperament doubled his lethality.The two quietly walked to the end of the queue to line up.The surrounding people unconsciously retreated to both sides, making way for a spacious passage for them.Low exclamations and sounds of gasping for breath rose and fell one after another in the crowd."What a handsome youth... Which Sect's Young Master is this?""That kind of temperament is simply not something an ordinary family can cultivate."The commotion rapidly spread forward along the long queue, quickly catching the attention of the student in front responsible for recruitment registration.That was a senior female student wearing the Shrek Academy uniform, with a pretty appearance.Originally, she was frequently frowning due to the heavy, boring registration work and the scorching weather.She looked along everyone's gazes, and the moment her sight fell upon Xiao Yan, the pen in her hand directly paused in mid-air.She had stayed in Shrek Academy for so many years and had seen countless monsters and geniuses from the Inner Court and Outer Courtyard, yet she had rarely seen anyone interpret the four characters "Peerless in Grace and Elegance" so perfectly.Seeing that the queuing crowd around them was faintly chaotic in order due to paying too much attention to this pair of siblings, and even a few parents had a verbal dispute because they were fighting for the best viewing position, the senior student stood up, tidied her slightly messy hem, and walked quickly toward the back of the queue."You two, follow me over here to register and sign up first. There are too many people queuing here; do not get squeezed."She walked up to Xiao Yan, and with a gentle tone, pointed to a registration desk nearby that was relatively quiet and used for handling special circumstances.Xiao Yan did not decline.After nodding to the senior student in greeting, he held Xiao Xiao's hand and followed over.Arriving in front of the registration desk, the senior student picked up her pen again and pulled over a brand-new registration form.Facing Xiao Yan's handsome face close at hand, she suddenly felt her breathing somewhat obstructed, and the beating speed of her heart also uncontrollably accelerated.To cover up her inner embarrassment and nervousness, she deliberately avoided Xiao Yan's deep gaze and turned her head to look at Xiao Xiao, who was half a head shorter beside her."Little sister, let us register your basic information first. Name, age, Spirit, and current spirit power Rank."The senior student's voice tried to maintain a business-like calmness.Xiao Xiao blinked those large emerald eyes, her voice crisp."Xiao Xiao, eleven years old. Spirits are the nine-phoenix flute and three-life soul-suppressing cauldron, spirit power Rank thirty-five.""Clack."The pen in the senior student's hand directly dropped onto the desktop, the ink blooming into a black smudge on the white paper.She could not care about wiping it, abruptly lifting her head, her eyes wide as saucers, her face full of disbelief.Several freshmen and parents who happened to hear these words were even directly petrified in place, opening their mouths wide and unable to make a sound."Twin... twin spirits? Rank thirty-five?!"The senior student's voice uncontrollably rose by several degrees, her tone filled with shock.Eleven years old, Rank thirty-five!This was, so far, the freshman with the highest Rank in this recruitment station she was responsible for.Even looking across the entire history of Shrek Academy, being able to reach the Spirit Elder level before enrollment was also not many.This was definitely an Inner Court seedling among the Inner Court seedlings.Facing the senior student's shocked gaze, Xiao Xiao playfully stuck out her tongue, then grabbed Xiao Yan's arm, her small chin proudly lifting."What is so great about this? My older brother is even more amazing.""Oh?"Hearing these words, the senior student took a deep breath, with difficulty calming her violently beating heart.She finally shifted her gaze to Xiao Yan, who was standing quietly to the side.Rank thirty-five twin spirits were not enough, and the older brother was even more amazing?How could this be possible?According to the pattern of Shrek Academy, being able to break through level thirty at eleven years old was already as rare as phoenix feathers and unicorn horns; could it be that he could still be a level forty Spirit Ancestor?Xiao Yan met the senior student's probing gaze, a modest and gentle smile floating on his face.He did not deliberately raise his volume, his clear and resonant voice steadily transmitting out."Xiao Yan, eleven years old. Spirit Fuxi Qin, spirit power, Rank forty-six."The air seemed to fall into stagnation at this moment.The chirping of cicadas on the tree seemed to disappear the instant those four words were spoken.The senior student only felt her brain go "buzz" with a sound, turning completely blank.She blankly looked at the half-written handwriting just written on the roster, her throat rolling up and down, yet unable to make any sound.Rank forty-six? Eleven years old? High-level Spirit Ancestor?!Those romantic thoughts she gave birth to because of the youth's stunning appearance instantly vanished into thin air in front of such terrifying spirit power.Immediately following, an uncontrollable wave of sadness surged up from the bottom of her heart.She cried silently in her heart; she was a sixth-year senior student of Shrek Academy, having experienced countless cruel elimination assessments in Shrek to reach today, but her current spirit power wasn't even as high as this eleven-year-old junior who had just come to enroll right before her eyes.The monsters of Shrek Academy were truly less and less human with each passing generation, truly making one weep tears of emotion.
