Chapter 19: Conflict
The next morning.
Shi Yi habitually awoke from his cultivation. His first act wasn't to wash or eat, but to pull out a small notebook from his soul guide to record his cultivation time. The notebook was densely packed with records of Shi Yi's daily cultivation time, and he would also keep a record with each level he advanced.
This had become a habit for Shi Yi, as it provided essential data for analyzing his cultivation speed. This data allowed him to understand the changing curve of his cultivation speed, and based on these changes, he would constantly make new adjustments to his practice, striving to achieve a continuous upward trend.
After years of conditioning and unblocking, according to Shi Yi's records, Shi Yi's cultivation speed had long since reached a stable threshold. If Shi Yi's speculation was correct, this was the so-called threshold for cultivation at full innate soul power.
This conclusion is also consistent with reality. Tang San, a prime example of someone born with full soul power and possessing advanced cultivation techniques, had reached level 29 through years of continuous practice by the time he entered Shrek Academy. Shi Yi's soul power level had also reached level 27, just two levels lower than Tang San's. Of course, he was two years older.
"It seems cultivation speed won't improve much until the Eight Extraordinary Meridians are opened," Shi Yi muttered. He then prepared his own breakfast: a simple rice porridge with some river shrimp and a few simple seasonings. As Shi Yi was enjoying the porridge, a familiar, unassuming face appeared before him.
Shi Yi pretended to be surprised when he saw someone coming and said, "Senior? Why are you here?"
Flanders was not polite either. He took out a stool from his soul guide and sat next to Shi Yi. He did not answer Shi Yi's question, but asked Shi Yi, "Why didn't you sign up?"
Shi Yi was surprised and said, "Senior, who are you?"
Flanders' sharp eyes fell on Shi Yi. He looked at Shi Yi suspiciously and said, "You kid really don't know who I am?"
"Now I can probably guess. It turns out that you are the old friend that the teacher mentioned." Shi Yi said to Flanders.
After that, Shi Yi also took out the bowl and chopsticks from his soul guide, filled a bowl with porridge and handed it to Flanders, chuckled and said, "You probably haven't eaten yet, try it?"
Flanders was not polite either. He took the bowl and chopsticks and started eating with Shi Yi. By the way, he explained, "The admission requirements of your academy are too high. Although I have reached level 27, I am two years older. Going to school or not is not a big problem for me. Whatever the teacher knows, I know, and what the teacher doesn't know, I also know a little."
Flanders took a sip of the hot porridge and snorted, "What a big tone. Can you improve or even solve the negative effects brought about by the martial soul mutation?"
"I don't know if I can solve this problem, but I believe that this problem will not be more difficult than letting myself, who has the innate level one soul power, practice until now." Shi Yi took a sip of the hot porridge happily and said calmly.
Upon hearing this, a smile broke across Flanders's shrewd face. He then whispered, "It tastes delicious. Come to the academy grounds when you hear the bell. You've enrolled."
With that, Flanders, before Shi Yi could even agree, gulped down his bowl of hot porridge, casually set his bowl and chopsticks aside, and disappeared.
Shi Yi smiled and continued to sip his porridge with relish.
A long while later, a clanging sound suddenly rang out from outside. Shi Yi calmly cleared the bowl and chopsticks and headed towards the bell.
When Shi Yi arrived at the Shrek playground, the Shrek Seven Devils had already arrived.
Shi Yi smiled, stepping forward and saying to Tang San and Xiao Wu, "Good morning, Junior Brother, Xiao Wu."
Xiao Wu snorted and ignored Shi Yi, while Tang San politely greeted Shi Yi, "Good morning, Senior Brother."
The other five people's eyes were fixed on Shi Yi, a mixture of curiosity and questioning.
"Brother, what's wrong with you?" Tang San hesitated.
"Junior brother, naturally your senior brother has great magical powers, so he was exempted from the entrance exam," Shi Yi chuckled.
Tang San nodded in realization, while Xiao Wu whispered, "Shameless."
Dai Mubai then stepped forward and said, "Boy, you can eat whatever you want, but you can't say anything you want. The dean said it's better to have nothing than nothing. No matter what, even if Shrek Academy closes, we will never accept trash. Only monsters. At fourteen, you're already overage."
Ma Hongjun also stepped forward, looking at Shi Yi's face with a flicker of jealousy. "That's right, the teacher has run Shrek for so many years, and no one has ever gotten in through the back door under his watch. Whoever didn't tie their belt tightly let you show up."
Another boy with peach blossom eyes and a girl in elegant clothes looked at Shi Yi, their eyes also full of amusement. The cold girl not far away wore a calm expression, as if nothing had to do with her.
After hearing what the two said, Xiao Wu looked at Shi Yi with suspicion. She wanted to chime in, but Tang San held her back. Others didn't understand Shi Yi, but Tang San knew that with his senior brother's theoretical research prowess and vast knowledge base, he didn't even need to attend a so-called academy.
"We'll know when the dean arrives," Tang San said at the right time.
Tang San's words calmed Dai Mubai and Ma Hongjun. While they still felt it was impossible, what if?
"Fatty, even if you give Xiao San this favor," Dai Mubai said arrogantly.
Shi Yi, seeing this, looked helpless. He felt that the profiteer Flanders must be watching from the shadows.
As they were talking, Flanders approached from the other side of the playground.
Xiao Wu exclaimed in surprise, "Isn't this the shop owner?"
Oscar introduced them to the crowd, "What shop owner? This is our dean, the founder of Shrek Academy, Four-Eyed Cat Owl Flanders. A level 78 Soul Sage, even more powerful than Teacher Zhao. He also possesses a flying beast spirit, quite rare among combat soul masters. Fatty is his direct disciple."
Flanders walked in front of the seven students and stopped. His characteristic, husky, and somewhat magnetic voice rang out as he slowly said, "This year is great. We have five more little monsters. I, Shrek Academy dean Flanders, welcome you on behalf of the academy. Later, each of you will hand over 100 gold coins to Teacher Li, who is in charge of finances. Mubai."
Dai Mubai and Ma Hongjun were both incredulous. Even when Flanders called out Dai Mubai's name, Dai Mubai didn't notice.
Flanders coughed and repeated, "Mubai?"
Dai Mubai came back to his senses slightly, still maintaining an expression of disbelief on his face, and pointed at Shi Yi and said, "Dean, why is he exempted from the entrance examination? He is over the age limit."
"At the first level of innateness, he cultivated to the twenty-seventh level at the age of fourteen. Doesn't such a person meet Shrek's admission standards? Doesn't such a person deserve to be called a monster?" Flanders looked at Dai Mubai and said lightly.
Upon hearing this, everyone looked at Shi Yi in disbelief, then their gazes fell on Tang San.
"I can prove this. Senior Brother's innate spirit power is indeed at the first level," Tang San said calmly.
"Dean, I don't believe it! A first-level spirit master might not even reach the level of Soul Master in their lifetime. Just relying on him?" Dai Mubai looked at Shi Yi with some excitement.
Shi Yi smiled slightly and whispered, "A slave to fate, how pathetic."
Shi Yi's words seemed to hit a sore spot for Dai Mubai. A sinister glint flashed in Dai Mubai's eyes, and he suddenly raised his right fist, charging forward with a swift thrust, straight for Shi Yi's chest.
In a split second, Flanders appeared before Shi Yi, swiftly and accurately catching Dai Mubai's fist.
"Mubai, are you questioning me?" Flanders clasped Dai Mubai's fist and looked at him calmly. His sharp gaze instantly sobered Dai Mubai from his anger.
Dai Mubai glanced at Shi Yi, who was not far away. A hint of unwillingness flashed in his eyes, and he whispered, "I dare not, Dean."
Hearing this, Flanders slowly released Dai Mubai's hand, and Dai Mubai bowed slightly to Flanders.
Flanders sighed slightly at this. Honestly, if he hadn't been his old friend's disciple, he would have found it hard to believe Shi Yi's achievements.
"Alright, five more junior students have arrived. Go back and rest, and try your best to get back to peak condition. Today's first class will begin in the evening. Oscar, you and Ning Rongrong are exceptions. You two, follow me."
Flender waved his hand, saying, "Everyone else may go and rest. Remember, get yourself into peak condition before dark. Don't blame me for not reminding you. The teaching at this academy is different from other places. You may even be in danger."
Zhu Zhuqing slowly left, glancing at Shi Yi and Dai Mubai. Dai Mubai glared at Shi Yi, as if trying to find a flaw and expose his "lies." Ma Hongjun also quickly slipped away. Although he didn't believe Shi Yi could have cultivated to this level with his innate first-level spirit power, the words coming from his teacher made them likely true.
Tang San wasn't in a hurry to leave; he wanted to see how the dean taught. Oscar and Ning Rongrong's spirits were both auxiliary, which was probably why they didn't attend the evening classes. But Tang San was puzzled by why the classes were held at night. Since
Tang San didn't leave, Xiao Wu naturally wasn't in a hurry to leave, standing beside him, watching quietly.
Shi Yi, bored, wasn't in a hurry to leave either. He had no interest in Flanders's methods of disciplining the little girl, but he was interested in Ning Rongrong.
Ning Rongrong's wealth, the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect, and the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda's spirit masters' uncanny ability to identify special metals were both crucial to his research on spirit guides.
As expected, after Flanders's lengthy speech, Flanders gave Oscar and Ning Rongrong a task.
"Your lesson today is physical training. From now on, run twenty laps around the village. If you haven't returned by lunchtime, you won't have lunch. You may use your spirits to assist. Now, let's go. Oscar will lead the way."
"Yes," Ning Rongrong agreed, and ran out without hesitation. Oscar glanced at Tang San and the others standing nearby with a hint of resentment before following.
Watching Oscar and Ning Rongrong run off, Flanders looked at Tang San and Shi Yi with some resignation and said, "Follow me."
Tang San nodded, waving to Xiao Wu, who was trying to follow, before following Shi Yi and Flanders into the academy.
Flanders' office, which also served as his residence, was located not far from the field where Tang San and Zhao Wuji had fought yesterday. The room was simply furnished, with only the essentials.
Flanders sat down at his desk and looked at the two, his eyes suddenly showing a complex light. "How is your teacher?"
Tang San said nothing, instead fixing his gaze on Shi Yi.
Shi Yi nodded and smiled, "He's fine, eating and sleeping well."
Flanders watched the two nod, then fixed his gaze on Shi Yi and said, "You're quite the prick. You should be able to see where Mu Bai comes from."
Shi Yi smiled and nodded.
"Don't blame me for not warning you. Mu Bai is now fifteen years old, a thirty-seventh-level Battle Soul Master. While your achievements are high, they're also truly unbelievable. You shouldn't have provoked him," Flender whispered to Shi Yi.
"If you hadn't taken action just now, given his careless state, without his spirit possessing any other spirits, I might have chopped his hand off." Shi Yi chuckled.
Tang San nodded slightly. Dai Mu Bai's state just now, even with three spirit rings, was still mortal. Shi Yi's sword, fueled by his spirit power, could slice through even the same iron with ease.
Upon hearing this, Flender's face darkened. Thinking of Shi Yi yesterday, a flicker of surprise crossed his eyes. "Soul Guidance Device?"
"Yes, thanks to you, we've made some progress in soul guidance device research," Shi Yi said with a smile.
Flanders nodded and said, "Alright, Shrek encourages fighting, but it absolutely forbids causing injury. Also, don't use your soul guides on students."
"I'm not one to cause trouble. I've always made weapons for self-defense," Shi Yi said with a smile.
Flanders felt a bit of a headache looking at Shi Yi. It was obvious that Shi Yi was a troublemaker. On the surface, he seemed to be inoffensive, but once someone touched him, he would most likely explode.
At this moment, Flanders suddenly found the taciturn Tang San much more pleasing to the eye.
Shi Yi, thinking that he still had to make friends with Ning Rongrong, said to Flanders, "Dean, I have some things to do, so I'll go first. Xiao San has a letter from the teacher for you."
Hearing this, Flanders nodded and let Shi Yi go. Tang San also took out a letter from his storage bracelet and handed it to Flanders.
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(End of this chapter)