The entrance to Shrek Academy was, to put it mildly, a disappointment. It was less of an academy and more of a rundown village gate, with a crude, hand-painted sign that looked like it might fall over in a strong wind. Before it, a long, snaking line of hopeful twelve-year-olds and their anxious parents baked under the morning sun. At a rickety wooden table sat an old man, his eyes half-closed with boredom, collecting the exorbitant entrance fee of fifty gold coins.
"Next!" the old man, Teacher Li Yusong, called out, his voice raspy.
A nervous boy stepped forward with his father. "Sir, my son is twelve, Level 21 Spirit Grandmaster!" the father announced proudly.
"Spirit, hand," Teacher Li grunted.
The boy summoned his spirit, a fairly decent Iron Spear. Teacher Li nodded slowly, then pointed to a crystal. "Test your power." The boy placed his hand on it, and it glowed, confirming his rank.
"Hmph. A standard weapon spirit. Barely passable. Go to the second test," he said dismissively.
The scene repeated. Most applicants were turned away, their spirit power too low, their age slightly too high. The fifty gold coins were, of course, non-refundable.
Zhang Tian and Zhu Zhuqing stood near the back of the line, observing with detached calm.
"Everything you said about this place seems to be true," Zhu Zhuqing murmured, her beautiful face set in a cold, unimpressed mask.
"I rarely speak without being certain," Zhang Tian replied simply.
His gaze drifted to two figures further up the line who had just paid their fee. The plain-faced boy and the vibrant girl with the scorpion braid. Tang San and Xiao Wu. He noted that neither of them gave him a second glance. His current appearance—the ethereal blue hair, the refined features—was a world away from the handsome but dark-haired boy they had known at Nuoding. He was a stranger to them.
'Good,' he thought. 'Anonymity is an asset.'
Finally, it was their turn. Tang San and Xiao Wu were first.
"Names?" Teacher Li asked, barely opening his eyes.
"Tang San."
"Xiao Wu."
"Spirit?"
Tang San extended his hand, and a single, ordinary blade of Blue Silver Grass appeared.
The crowd behind them murmured. Teacher Li sighed, a look of profound disappointment on his face. "Another piece of trash Blue Silver Grass. Do you think this is a place you can enter just because you have money? If your spirit power isn't over level 25, don't even bother testing."
'The eternal prejudice,' Zhang Tian noted silently.
In his Spiritual Sea, Ah Yin let out a soft, indignant huff. 'Trash? How dare he!'
Tang San, unperturbed, said calmly, "Teacher, please, let me test." He placed his hand on the crystal. It didn't just glow; it erupted in a dazzling light, causing Teacher Li's eyes to snap wide open.
"Level 29?!" he yelped, jolting upright. "A Level 29 with Blue Silver Grass? Are you kidding me?"
He then turned to Xiao Wu. "And you?"
Xiao Wu giggled, summoning her spirit. A cute, fluffy white rabbit appeared in her palm. "Soft Boned Rabbit," she declared.
"Another useless spirit," Teacher Li muttered, but after the shock from Tang San, he motioned for her to test. She placed her hand on the crystal. It exploded with the exact same brilliance.
"Also Level 29?!" Teacher Li looked like he was about to have a heart attack. Standing nearby, Dai Mubai, who was overseeing the process, frowned, his expression unreadable.
Now it was Zhu Zhuqing's turn. She stepped forward, her cool, aloof aura a stark contrast to Xiao Wu's bubbly energy.
"Zhu Zhuqing," she said, her voice like ice chips. She summoned her spirit. Two spectral black cat claws appeared over her hands, and her pupils sharpened into vertical slits. A cold, sharp aura radiated from her.
"Hell Civet!" Dai Mubai exclaimed, his jaw tightening as he stared at her. He knew that name, and that spirit.
"Test," Teacher Li urged, intrigued.
Zhu Zhuqing placed her hand on the crystal. A strong, steady light shone forth. "Level 27," Li Yusong announced, his eyes wide. "Another monster!"
Finally, Zhang Tian stepped forward. All eyes were on him, drawn by his stunning appearance.
"Zhang Tian," he stated calmly. "Spirit."
He extended his hand. A single blade of grass materialized. It was a deep, vibrant blood-red, with delicate golden veins pulsing with a strange, predatory light. It looked both beautiful and terrifying.
"What... what is that?" Teacher Li stammered, leaning in. He had never seen such a martial spirit. It resembled Blue Silver Grass in shape, but its color and aura were completely alien.
Tang San stared intently, his mind racing. 'Blood Silver Grass? It looks like a mutation of Blue Silver Grass, but I've never heard of such a thing. Grandmaster's records have no mention of it. Its aura... it feels dangerous.'
"It's a mutation," Zhang Tian explained simply. "From Blue Silver Grass."
Hearing its origin, the awe from the crowd turned to knowing pity. 'Ah, so it's just a fancy-looking piece of trash grass.' Teacher Li seemed to lose interest as well.
"A mutation, huh? Probably just a cosmetic one. Test your power, boy," he said dismissively.
Zhang Tian placed his hand on the crystal. A brilliant light, equal to Zhu Zhuqing's, flared to life.
"Level 27!" Teacher Li shouted, his voice cracking. He looked from the 'trash' grass to the brilliant light, his brain struggling to reconcile the two.
Before he could recover, a crisp, arrogant voice cut through the air. "Hmph, making me wait in line. Do you know who I am?"
A girl pushed her way to the front. She was exquisitely beautiful, dressed in fine silks, with an air of nobility that seemed out of place in this shabby environment. It was Ning Rongrong.
After a brief, arrogant display, she summoned her spirit. A beautiful, seven-storied pagoda, sparkling with jewels, appeared in her hand.
"Seven... Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda!" Teacher Li and Dai Mubai gasped in unison.
Her test confirmed her rank: Level 26.
Teacher Li looked at the five of them—Tang San, Xiao Wu, Zhu Zhuqing, Zhang Tian, and Ning Rongrong—and felt a wave of dizziness. "Monsters," he breathed. "All of you are absolute monsters. The first three tests are waived. Follow Dai Mubai."
Dai Mubai led the five of them into the dilapidated academy grounds.
"Congratulations on passing the initial screening," he said, his eyes lingering on Zhu Zhuqing. "I'm Dai Mubai, your senior. Now for the fourth test. To pass, you must demonstrate your combat ability."
He looked at Tang San. "You, I fought you yesterday. Your control and skills are more than adequate. You pass."
He then turned to the remaining four. "The rest of you will face me one by one..."
"No need for that, Mubai," a deep, booming voice interrupted them. A mountain of a man strode out from one of the wooden huts. He was incredibly tall and broad, with a grizzled face and an aura of untamed power. It was Zhao Wuji.
"Let me stretch my old bones a bit," Zhao Wuji grinned, cracking his massive knuckles. "The fourth test will be conducted by me. All four of you," he gestured to Zhang Tian, Zhu Zhuqing, Xiao Wu, and Ning Rongrong, then paused and looked at Tang San. "No, you too. All five of you will fight me at once. If you can last until this stick of incense burns out, you all pass."
Dai Mubai's face went pale. "Teacher Zhao, isn't that a bit much?"
"Nonsense," Zhao Wuji boomed. "They're monsters, aren't they? Let's see what kind." He then added, "Don't worry, kids. I'll only use my first four spirit rings. I won't bully you too much."
As Zhao Wuji planted the incense stick in the ground, Dai Mubai quickly spoke to the group in a low, urgent whisper. "Listen carefully. That is Teacher Zhao Wuji, the Immovable Bright King. He is a Level 76 Spirit Saint. His martial spirit is the Vigorous Vajra Bear. Its strength and defensive power are absolutely terrifying. Even spirit masters of the same level have trouble breaking his defense. His speed is his only weakness, but his sheer power makes up for it. His first four abilities are: Motionless Bright King Body, a defensive skill that makes him nearly invulnerable; Vigorous Vajra Palm, a powerful attack; Gravity Increase, which controls gravity in an area; and Position Trace, which allows him to teleport short distances to a target."
The faces of Xiao Wu and Ning Rongrong paled. A Spirit Saint. This wasn't a test; it was a suicide mission.
Only Tang San, Zhu Zhuqing, and Zhang Tian remained calm.
"I have a plan," Tang San said immediately, taking charge. "Ning Rongrong, you're support. Stay in the back and buff us. Xiao Wu, Zhuqing, you are agility and power attackers. You will be the main assault. Zhang Tian, your spirit is a control type like mine. We will work together to restrict his movements. I will be the main controller. Everyone, listen to my commands."
Zhang Tian gave a slight nod. 'He's a natural leader. Let's see how his Tang Sect strategies fare against a Spirit Saint.'
In his mind, Ah Yin was practically vibrating with excitement. 'My son is so clever! He's taking command!'
Zhao Wuji lit the incense stick. The fragrant smoke began to curl into the air. "Come on, little monsters! Your time starts now!"
"Rongrong!" Tang San yelled.
"Seven Treasures are glazed, first spoken, Strength!" Ning Rongrong called out, her pagoda glowing. A ray of light shot out, splitting into four and landing on Tang San, Xiao Wu, Zhu Zhuqing, and Zhang Tian. They all felt a surge of power, their muscles tightening.
"Second spoken, Agility!" Another ray of light buffed their speed.
"Now!" Tang San commanded.
The plan went into motion. Tang San stomped his foot, and thick Blue Silver Grass vines shot from the ground, wrapping around Zhao Wuji's legs. Simultaneously, Xiao Wu and Zhu Zhuqing, now moving with enhanced speed, shot forward like cannonballs from two different angles.
Xiao Wu leaped high, aiming a powerful kick at Zhao Wuji's head, her body surrounded by the glow of her first spirit ring, Waist Bow. Zhu Zhuqing was a black phantom, her Hell's Hundred Claws ability activated, a flurry of sharp, spectral claws aimed at Zhao Wuji's throat and eyes.
Zhao Wuji just grinned. "Not bad."
He activated his first spirit ring. A powerful golden light enveloped him. Motionless Bright King Body.
Tang San's vines snapped like dry twigs against the golden aura. Xiao Wu's kick and Zhu Zhuqing's claws struck the barrier and bounced off harmlessly, sending them both reeling back.
"My turn!" Zhao Wuji roared. He ignored the two girls and activated his second ability, Vigorous Vajra Palm. A massive, golden bear palm materialized in the air and shot towards Xiao Wu, who was still off-balance.
"Xiao Wu!" Tang San cried out in alarm.
But before the palm could hit, several blood-red vines, thicker and tougher-looking than Tang San's, shot out from the side. They wrapped around Xiao Wu's waist and yanked her out of the way with incredible speed. At the same time, a dense wall of the same red vines erupted from the ground in front of her, forming a shield.
The Vigorous Vajra Palm slammed into Zhang Tian's Crimson Shield. The shield buckled and cracked, but it held for a crucial second before shattering, dissipating most of the attack's force.
Zhang Tian had moved, his expression still perfectly calm. 'His power is immense. Direct confrontation is foolish.'
Every time his vines had touched Zhao Wuji's golden aura, he had felt the subtle, satisfying trickle of his 'Devour' ability, siphoning a minuscule amount of spirit power. It wasn't enough to hurt him, but it was a constant, parasitic drain.
"Interesting grass," Zhao Wuji grunted, looking at Zhang Tian. "Tougher than the other kid's."
Tang San frowned. He had seen it clearly. Zhang Tian's vines were qualitatively superior. They were faster, stronger, and more durable. A feeling of frustration, an emotion he rarely felt, pricked at him.
"Don't let up!" Zhang Tian called out, taking a more active role. "Harass him! Spores!"
He flicked his wrist, and an invisible cloud of spores washed over Zhao Wuji. Then, he stomped his foot. Instantly, blood-red grass erupted not just from the ground, but from Zhao Wuji's own body, sprouting from his clothes and hair, trying to bind him.
"What?!" Zhao Wuji was shocked by this strange ability. He flexed his muscles, and the golden aura of his first ability shredded the new vines.
While he was distracted, Tang San seized the opportunity. His second spirit ring lit up. Parasite. He had subtly attached seeds to Zhao Wuji during the first exchange. Now, vines erupted again, this time carrying a faint purple tinge, aiming to paralyze him.
At the same time, Zhu Zhuqing, recovering from the recoil, activated her second ability, Hell Decapitation, becoming a black blur that shot towards Zhao Wuji's neck.
"You kids are full of tricks!" Zhao Wuji laughed, genuinely impressed. His third spirit ring lit up. Gravity Increase!
An immense weight slammed down on all of them. Xiao Wu and Zhu Zhuqing stumbled, their incredible speed suddenly reduced. Ning Rongrong cried out as she felt the pressure. Even Tang San and Zhang Tian felt their movements become sluggish.
Zhao Wuji ignored the attacks, his defense still holding strong, and activated his fourth ability. Position Trace. He locked onto the most vulnerable target: Ning Rongrong.
In a flash of light, he vanished from his spot and reappeared directly in front of the terrified support master, his massive hand reaching out to grab her.
"Not a chance!" Zhang Tian and Tang San acted in unison.
Tang San's Blue Silver Grass shot out, forming a net to intercept his hand. Zhang Tian's reaction was even faster. He didn't target Zhao Wuji. He sent a single, swift vine to wrap around Ning Rongrong's waist and yanked her backwards, out of reach, while simultaneously forming a Bloodvine Cage around Zhao Wuji's new position.
The Spirit Saint was trapped again, if only for a moment. He was starting to get genuinely annoyed. These kids were like persistent, venomous insects. Their attacks couldn't hurt him, but their teamwork and endless tricks were frustrating. He could feel his spirit power being slowly but surely drained, though he couldn't figure out how.
The incense stick was more than halfway gone.
"Alright, playtime's over!" Zhao Wuji roared, his patience finally snapping. "You forced my hand!"
He shattered the cage with a single punch. And then, his fifth spirit ring, a brilliant, deep purple, lit up with terrifying intensity. He had broken his word.
Gravity Crush!
The pressure didn't just increase; it multiplied tenfold. It was like the sky itself was falling.
Ning Rongrong screamed as she was slammed flat against the ground. Xiao Wu and Tang San crumpled, their bones groaning. Zhu Zhuqing managed to stay on one knee for a second before collapsing.
Only Zhang Tian remained standing, though his legs were trembling violently, and his Blood Silver Emperor spirit was glowing furiously to resist the crushing force.
He looked at Zhao Wuji, and the calm neutrality on his face finally broke, replaced by a cold, sharp anger.
"Teacher Zhao," he said, his voice dangerously level. "You went back on your word. You used your fifth spirit ability."
Zhao Wuji grinned, enjoying their helplessness. "So what? In a real fight, no one cares about rules."
"An excellent point," Zhang Tian said, a chillingly calm smile spreading across his face. "In that case... you shouldn't blame me for being ruthless either."
With a flick of his wrist, a small, intricate pouch appeared in his hand. It was a storage spirit tool. He tipped it over.
One, five, ten, twenty, thirty.
More than thirty small, ceramic spheres, the grenades he had painstakingly crafted, clattered onto the ground at his feet.
Zhao Wuji had no idea what they were. "What are you going to do, throw rocks at me?" he mocked.
Ning Rongrong stared at the balls with wide, curious eyes. Tang San's pupils contracted as he analyzed the unfamiliar objects. Xiao Wu and Zhu Zhuqing could only watch in stunned silence.
"I tried to play by the rules," Zhang Tian said softly. Then, with a speed that defied the crushing gravity, he kicked the grenades, sending them scattering through the air towards Zhao Wuji. He activated the fuses with a whisper of spirit power.
"Goodbye," he said.
At the same instant, dozens of thick Blood Silver Vines erupted from the ground. They didn't attack. They snatched his teammates. One vine wrapped around Tang San, another around Xiao Wu, a third around Ning Rongrong, and a fourth around Zhu Zhuqing. With a powerful heave, he yanked them all towards him and then flung them far away from the entrance area, even as he used his flight ability to shoot backwards himself.
For a split second, Zhao Wuji felt a profound sense of danger, an instinct honed over decades of battle screaming at him. He didn't know what the spheres were, but he didn't wait to find out.
"SEVENTH SPIRIT ABILITY! VIGOROUS VAJRA BEAR AVATAR!" he roared. His body swelled, covered in golden fur, transforming into a giant, terrifying bear just as the first grenade went off.
The result was not an explosion. It was a cataclysm.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
Thirty explosions went off in a deafening, rolling thunder that shook the entire academy. A massive, churning ball of fire and shrapnel engulfed the spot where Zhao Wuji stood. The ground ripped apart. The shabby entrance gate was vaporized. The front walls of the academy crumbled into dust. The shockwave was a physical fist that flattened every tree and bush in a fifty-meter radius.
Far away, Zhang Tian landed gracefully, setting his stunned companions down. They all stared, horrified and awestruck, at the destruction.
As the dust began to settle, they could see a figure in the center of the crater. The giant golden bear avatar flickered and then vanished, revealing Zhao Wuji. He was standing, but barely. His clothes were shredded, his skin was blackened and bleeding from dozens of shrapnel wounds. He was panting heavily, his face a mask of disbelief and fury.
"You... you little monster!" he bellowed, his voice hoarse. "Were you trying to kill me?!"
Zhang Tian simply rolled his eyes. "It's not my fault you went back on your word, Teacher. I was just trying my best to last until the incense burned out. Which, by the way, it has." He pointed to the smoldering stump of the incense stick, which had been knocked over and extinguished by the shockwave.
Ning Rongrong was no longer scared. Her eyes were shining with an avaricious light, fixed on Zhang Tian. "What are those things?! Can you make more?! I want to buy some!"
Tang San looked at Zhang Tian with a new, deeply serious expression. The hidden weapons of his Tang Sect were nothing compared to the sheer destructive power he had just witnessed. This person was not just a rival; he was a legitimate threat.
Xiao Wu was simply curious. "How did you make those tiny things go boom like that?"
Zhu Zhuqing just stared, her mind struggling to process the fact that the calm, gentle boy who had saved her was also capable of this level of terrifying, calculated destruction.
The dust completely cleared, revealing another casualty. Dai Mubai, who had been standing a safe distance away, had not been far enough. The shockwave had caught him, throwing him against a wall. He now lay unconscious on the ground, bruised and bleeding. The trial was over. And the grounds of Shrek Academy were in ruins.
~~
A/N: Check out my other novels like "Harem Master: Seduction System" and the "Villain: Manipulating the Heroines into hating the Protagonist" and I hope you like this story and those stories as well.
Check out more chapters on my P.atreon. The P.atreon will have 20+ Chapters ahead for this story. I hope you like it.
The link of p.atreon is: bit.ly/evildragon