Chapter 35: A Woman's Intuition.
At this moment, at the "entrance" of Shrek Academy, around a hundred applicants had gathered, and Zhu Zhuqing and Ning Rongrong were among them.
It was worth noting that although the two girls had appeared prominently in the Q&A video, they hadn't attracted too much attention. Or rather, the people around them didn't recognize them as the individuals who had appeared in the video.
This was because reality wasn't like an anime, where a character always has only one hairstyle and one set of clothes. Thus, with just a slight change in hairstyle and a different outfit, unless it was an acquaintance or someone with extremely distinctive features, the difference between the video and reality was quite significant.
Furthermore, there were many people in the world with similar facial features. Because of this, Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing hadn't faced the problem of being recognized everywhere they went in recent days. After all, most ordinary people just watched the video for fun, then forgot about it when it was over.
There was no situation where appearing in a video instantly turned someone into a world-renowned celebrity, drawing crowds wherever they went.
...
"Zhuqing, do you feel like something's off about this Shrek Academy?" Ning Rongrong whispered from behind Zhu Zhuqing. "The difference from what was advertised is too great, isn't it?"
"Mmm, it definitely feels off," Zhu Zhuqing said, furrowing her pretty brows. She wondered if this academy was a scam, just putting on a facade.
Many people around them also frowned, starting to whisper among themselves.
"Are they kidding me? Is this the so-called Soul Master Academy? The one claiming graduates can become an imperial viscount?"
"The Spirit Hall said so, so it shouldn't be wrong, right? But this academy is really too rundown."
"Dad, I don't want to study here. It's too embarrassing. I'd rather go to Soto Intermediate Soul Master Academy. After all, I was considered a genius back in my junior academy."
"Son, since we're already here, let's wait a bit longer. Maybe this is a type of test. The real academy isn't actually here."
Similar conversations were certainly abundant among the queuing crowd. Most of the young people and their parents showed deep disappointment on their faces.
Zhu Zhuqing's gaze swept to the front, toward the registration area. Thanks to her Cat Martial Soul, her hearing was far more sensitive than an ordinary person's, and she could faintly hear the conversations there.
The old man sitting behind the table, in charge of accepting applications, looked lethargic. His clothes, to put it nicely, were plain; to put it bluntly, he looked like a rural old man.
A young boy was currently registering at the table.
The old man said lazily, "The application fee is ten gold soul coins. Just put it in that box."
The boy's accompanying father quickly pulled out ten gold soul coins and placed them into a box made of a few nailed-together wooden planks, which produced a jingling sound.
"Extend one hand."
The boy obediently extended his hand to the old man. The old man squeezed it twice, then shook his head and said, "Your age doesn't meet the requirements. You can leave."
The boy froze for a moment, then helplessly turned to look at his father. His father quickly smiled apologetically and said, "Teacher, my son just turned thirteen. Can't you make an exception?"
The old man said somewhat impatiently, "Don't hold up the people behind you. We only accept children under thirteen years old. We don't accept anyone over thirteen. You can leave."
Seeing that the matter was unresolvable, the boy's father could only say, "Then our application fee..."
The old man said unceremoniously, "Once paid, the fee is non-refundable."
Upon hearing this, the boy's father couldn't help but say angrily, "You're clearly scamming people! Refund our application fee, or we're not leaving! If we had known this so-called Shrek Academy was so dilapidated, we never would have come!"
One gold soul coin, mind you, was enough for a family of three to live comfortably with good food and drink for several months.
It was easy to imagine that ten gold soul coins was no small sum. To be suddenly scammed out of it like this, no one would let the matter rest.
The old man glanced at him and said indifferently, "Mubai, someone wants their application fee back. You handle it."
As soon as his voice fell, a figure suddenly leaped out from the side, cracking his knuckles while threatening, "You want your application fee back? Fine. Defeat me, and I'll refund it in full!"
Simultaneously, accompanied by a tiger's roar, three soul rings appeared around his body.
This person was none other than Dai Mubai. Previously, because he was sitting to the side and blocked by the crowd, Zhu Zhuqing hadn't seen him. Now, seeing her fiancé act like a thug, intimidating ordinary people for just ten gold soul coins, she found the sight unbearable.
Especially for a so-called academy to actually pocket applicants' application fees and then deny them enrollment—such a bizarrely shameless tactic was truly eye-opening!
"Studying" in an academy like this... wouldn't that just be messing around and wasting time?
Zhu Zhuqing suddenly felt her future was utterly dark.
*Sigh*, oh well, since she was already here.
She might as well apply and enroll for a while to see how it goes.
Perhaps this academy was just shabby on the outside but splendid on the inside? Perhaps the seemingly dilapidated exterior was just an illusion, and the actual school environment was excellent?
Zhu Zhuqing could only comfort herself this way because she truly had no choice. Their destinies had long been bound together. If she didn't join forces with Dai Mubai, she wouldn't be able to survive either.
What could she do? She was desperate, too!
Among Soul Masters, soul rings were always the ultimate form of authority. Seeing the three soul rings on Dai Mubai, one of which was a thousand-year ring, the boy's father's expression changed drastically. He muttered, "Just our bad luck," and quickly pulled his son away.
Dai Mubai returned to his seat. His double pupils coldly scanned the youths and parents lining up behind them, his threat abundantly clear.
The oppressive force of three soul rings was something no ordinary person could bear. At this moment, he didn't resemble a royal descendant; he looked more like a hired thug.
After this scene concluded, the line of applicants immediately thinned by a third. No one wanted to waste money, and besides, the appearance of this Shrek Academy was truly nothing to write home about.
Another registering boy came before the old man.
This boy had come alone. He had blue hair and eyes, with a handsome face. His entire demeanor was gentle, making it easy for people to take a liking to him and find him pleasing to the eye.
Zhu Zhuqing stared at this boy. Why did he seem so familiar?
A woman's sixth sense is truly terrifying!
Because this boy was none other than Tang San, whose appearance had undergone a tremendous change after awakening his Blue Silver Emperor martial soul. Following his teacher's recommendation, he had come to enroll at Shrek Academy as originally planned.
As for why he didn't simply cultivate alongside his father, Tang Hao, but instead chose to study here, it was mainly because Tang San was too young and his soul power level wasn't high. Tang Hao couldn't teach him what he needed to learn at this stage because it was too basic. Besides, being powerful didn't necessarily mean one knew how to teach.
Therefore, after considering all this, Tang San finally decided to come here and study as he had originally planned.
(end of chapter)