The next morning, after eating a bit of food, the four of them set out westward.
Most of the Star Dou Forest lay within the Star Luo Empire, with only a small part in the Heavenly Soul Empire. Shrek Academy was located to the northwest of the forest, not too far away.
Tang Ya and Bei Bei had chosen to enter the Star Dou Forest from the south, on the Star Luo side, because there were relatively fewer powerful soul beasts in that direction, making it somewhat safer. In contrast, the area facing Shrek Academy was where the strongest soul beasts lived.
Since Shrek Academy students often entered the forest to hunt soul beasts, they were deeply resented by the powerful soul beasts there. There had even been incidents where large numbers of soul beasts swarmed out of the forest to attack Shrek Academy.
Thus, within the academy, any soul master below the Soul King level was forbidden from entering the Star Dou Forest head-on. Even those at the Soul King level or above could only enter if led by a teacher.
Xu Zihuang's group of four made their way toward Shrek Academy, but since they had to account for Huo Yuhao, who only had rank-eleven soul power, their pace was not fast. Still, to circle around the Star Dou Forest would cover nearly a thousand li.
As they drew closer to Shrek Academy, Xu Zihuang grew less and less hopeful of encountering the remnants of Electrolux's divine sense. With his appearance, the story had already shifted dramatically.
Anything was possible now.
Ten days later, the four finally saw Shrek Academy.
Rather than calling it an academy, it was more accurate to call it a city. Emerging from the forest along a wide avenue, they saw towering city walls stretching across the plain.
Shrek Academy was built upon the Lima Plain, covering a vast area. It was itself a city, known as Shrek City.
On the Douluo Continent, Shrek City was one of the largest cities, home to over two million people. Shrek Academy had independent governance over the city, exempt from paying taxes to any nation. This alone made it unparalleled, unmatched even by the Sun Moon Empire's institutions.
Shrek Academy was not located at the center of Shrek City but rather in its east, facing the Star Dou Forest.
Shrek City was connected in all four directions, making it a hub of trade. Not only was it home to Shrek Academy, it was also the most important commercial city at the intersection of the three great empires of the former Douluo Continent. Thanks to Shrek Academy's presence, the city's security was excellent, trade was fair, and trust was high. Thus, merchants from all three empires preferred to conduct cross-border trade here.
The southern, western, and northern gates of Shrek City were open to all. Only the eastern gate was reserved for Shrek Academy.
Led by Bei Bei and Tang Ya, Xu Zihuang and Huo Yuhao arrived outside the eastern gate.
Though reserved for the academy, the area was lively, with at least five thousand people gathered outside. Countless vendors had already swarmed in, making the scene even more bustling than inside the city itself.
"The academy's enrollment lasts half a month, and today happens to be the first day. In a few days, the number of people here will probably double. Every year at this time is when our Shrek Academy is most lively."
Seeing Xu Zihuang and Huo Yuhao looking around with interest, Bei Bei explained.
"For ordinary new students, not only must they pass the academy's assessment, but they also need a recommendation letter from at least a main city of one of the three empires. Yuhao used Tang Sect's recommendation quota. As for Tianhuang, you must keep your recommendation letter safe to avoid any delay in enrollment."
Having faced the Thousand-Year Crypt Demon Spider together in the Star Dou Forest, and after traveling side by side for more than ten days, the four of them had grown much closer. At some point, Bei Bei and Tang Ya had stopped calling Xu Zihuang "Little Brother Yu" and instead addressed him as "Tianhuang."
"Thank you for the reminder, Senior Brother Bei." Xu Zihuang smiled gently and nodded. His warm smile, paired with his strikingly handsome looks, drew frequent glances from many of the girls.
Among them were not only incoming students but also older female students.
Noticing the many stares directed their way, Tang Ya pouted.
"These people are too shallow. I can understand the new students, but why are those fifth- and sixth-year senior sisters acting the same way? Tianhuang is only eleven years old—are they trying to rob the cradle?"
"Weren't you the same before?" Bei Bei rapped her lightly on the head, making her glare in annoyance.
"I am not the same. I just thought Tianhuang looked good, purely from an aesthetic point of view. Not like those others with bad intentions." Tang Ya huffed, puffing her chest, and then turned to warn Xu Zihuang.
"Tianhuang, don't let those senior sisters trick you. Bei Bei and I are three years ahead of you, now entering the fourth year. If there's anything about the academy you don't understand, just come to the fourth-year classrooms to find me."
"If I need help, I won't be shy about asking you, Senior Sister."
Xu Zihuang replied calmly. He had already experienced the same thing when he first entered Moon Pivot City, so he was long used to it.
Huo Yuhao, however, lowered his head uncomfortably. Only after Tang Ya finished speaking with Xu Zihuang did he ask softly:
"Senior Brother, Teacher Xiao Ya, is the freshman assessment very difficult?"
Bei Bei hesitated, his eyes flicking instinctively toward Tang Ya.
Tang Ya answered readily: "He'll find out sooner or later. It'll also motivate him. Yuhao, there are two requirements to enter Shrek Academy's outer court: you must be under twelve years old, and your soul power cannot be below rank fifteen."
"But since you're using Tang Sect's special quota, you can skip the entrance exam. However, three months from now will be the freshman assessment, and then it'll be up to you. Our Shrek Academy's assessments are always actual combat. A teacher once said: 'Any data is meaningless before actual combat.' As long as you pass the combat assessment, it doesn't matter if your soul power rank doesn't meet the requirement."
Huo Yuhao nodded firmly. "Teacher Xiao Ya, Senior Brother, I may not measure up to most of the new students now, but one day, I'll surpass the vast majority of them."
His tone was calm and determined, beyond his years.
He believed hard work could make up for shortcomings. With the confidence brought by cultivating Xuantian Skill, he couldn't help but declare such bold words.
Xu Zihuang looked at him in surprise. Without the Skydream Iceworm, he couldn't understand where Huo Yuhao's confidence came from.
Put simply: You're so ordinary, so why are you so confident?
Bei Bei slung an arm over Huo Yuhao's shoulders.
"Let's go. If you can make it through the next three months, this senior brother believes you can go all the way."
If Xu Tianhuang had said this, there would've been no doubt—he had the qualifications. But Huo Yuhao, with only innate rank-one soul power, was aiming far too high.
After all, among those who entered Shrek Academy, which of them wasn't a prodigy?
"Senior Brother Bei, Senior Sister Tang, you two go on ahead. I hunted a Flame Lion King in the Star Dou Forest earlier and want to have its pelt made into bedding." At that, Xu Zihuang spoke up.
Bei Bei and Tang Ya exchanged glances but said nothing more. After all, they were already at Shrek Academy's gates—there was no worry Xu Tianhuang wouldn't find his way.
Before parting, though, Tang Ya once again reminded Xu Zihuang not to get too close to those senior sisters.