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Zhu Zhuqing looked at the cloth strip over Shi Quan's eyes and the stick in his hand, and her cold expression softened a little. "Alright, give me the stick. I'll lead the way."
Shi Quan chuckled and shook his head. "Thank you, but you can just walk. I can keep up, don't worry."
After a moment of silence, Zhu Zhuqing nodded and said, "Okay, you can call me if you have any problems."
"Mhm."
Shi Quan walked beside Zhu Zhuqing, and the two headed towards Shrek Academy together.
Because of Shi Quan, Zhu Zhuqing's walking speed was noticeably much slower than before.
As they walked towards the academy, they saw many parents on the road taking their children back to Soto City.
These people had clearly left on their own after hearing Shrek's exaggerated conditions.
Zhu Zhuqing had obviously researched Shrek Academy beforehand. Without asking anyone along the way, she went against the flow of people and quickly led Shi Quan to the village entrance of Shrek Academy.
At this time, there were only five or six people left in the front queue. The last two were Tang San and Xiao Wu. Besides them, Ning Rongrong and Dai Mubai were nowhere to be seen.
"Was she brought in by Dai Mubai, or did she not come?" Shi Quan wondered.
Zhu Zhuqing's cool voice rang out, "That's Shrek Academy ahead. There are still four people registering in front. Just stand next to me."
"Much appreciated," Shi Quan said with a smile, nodding.
"It's nothing." Zhu Zhuqing looked into Shi Quan's eyes, her voice much softer than before.
The remaining people were all Spirit Masters whose spirit power exceeded twenty-one and were no older than twelve.
The inspection process was also very quick: pinching bones to determine age, releasing Martial Spirit, and checking spirit ring and Martial Spirit. The entire process took only a minute or two.
Soon, it was Tang San's turn. Just then, Dai Mubai walked out from inside the academy. As soon as Dai Mubai came out, his Evil Eyes went straight to Zhu Zhuqing.
Tang San's gaze also fell on Zhu Zhuqing, and his heart trembled. This tremor, however, caused Xiao Wu, the jealous one, to immediately flip her lid, and her fierce gaze looked as if she wanted to devour Tang San.
If it weren't for Teacher Li Yuesong's reminder, Tang San might not have had a good time.
Li Yuesong quickly helped Tang San and Xiao Wu complete the inspection. Upon seeing Tang San's Blue Silver Grass, Li Yuesong clearly showed more curiosity and directly instructed Dai Mubai to take the six people, including Tang San, to the next stage.
Dai Mubai's Evil Eyes seemed to want to stay on Zhu Zhuqing. Hearing Li Yuesong's words, he could only reluctantly lead Tang San and the others towards the second stage.
Only Shi Quan and Zhu Zhuqing were left at the registration site.
"The registration fee is ten gold coins," Li Yuesong said to Zhu Zhuqing, completely ignoring Shi Quan beside her.
Shi Quan was the first to take out twenty gold coins from inside his clothes and put them into the wooden box. "We're registering together."
Li Yuesong frowned, looked at Shi Quan, and asked, "You want to register too?"
"Can't I?" Shi Quan retorted.
"You can. Give me your hand."
Shi Quan extended his hand, his Internal Energy gathering in his palm. Because of the Indestructible Divine Skill, if Shi Quan didn't use Internal Energy to push away his muscle protection, Li Yuesong would not be able to determine Shi Quan's exact age by pinching his bones.
"Bone age is suitable."
Li Yuesong then checked Zhu Zhuqing's bone age and nodded. "Release your Martial Spirits."
Shi Quan and Zhu Zhuqing almost simultaneously activated the Internal Energy and spirit power within their bodies.
Under the flickering light, Zhu Zhuqing's long hair naturally lay flat on her back, both her eyes changed color—her left eye emerald green and her right eye clear blue—and she was surrounded by a faint phantom. Below her, two yellow spirit rings spiraled upwards.
On the other side, Shi Quan's figure remained standing still, without any change, only three spirit rings—yellow, yellow, and purple—slowly rising below him!
"Spirit Elder?" Li Yuesong's breathing suddenly quickened. His gaze, which had been on Zhu Zhuqing, immediately focused on Shi Quan. "A twelve-year-old Spirit Elder."
Zhu Zhuqing's gaze towards Shi Quan also changed. She had never expected Shi Quan's strength to be so high.
Shi Quan smiled faintly. "Teacher, do I meet the academy's requirements?"
"You do, you do." Li Yuesong's face was full of smiles. After a thorough look, he still couldn't help but ask in confusion, "But what is your Martial Spirit?"
"My Martial Spirit is myself," Shi Quan said with a smile, pointing to himself.
"Yourself?" Li Yuesong was stunned for a moment. He had heard of a Martial Spirit being oneself, but he didn't think much of it and nodded, saying, "Both of you have passed the first stage of the assessment. Please wait here for a moment. Mubai will take you to the second stage later."
"Understood, Teacher." Shi Quan nodded.
The two then walked behind the table, and Li Yuesong also closed his eyes to rest.
"Here's the registration fee." Zhu Zhuqing took out ten gold coins from her embrace and handed them to Shi Quan.
Shi Quan shook his head and said, "No need. Consider it a thank-you for bringing me here."
Zhu Zhuqing said, "You're quite generous with your thank-you fee."
"Money is external to oneself. It's a pleasure to meet you. By the way, I still don't know your name. I'm Zhuang Zhou," Shi Quan said with a smile.
"Zhu Zhuqing."
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Zhu Zhuqing. So, can I call you Zhuqing?" Shi Quan raised his hand towards Zhu Zhuqing.
Zhu Zhuqing looked at Shi Quan's hand for a moment, and a faint smile still appeared at the corner of her mouth. "You can. It's also a pleasure to meet you, Zhuang Zhou."
She extended her hand and shook Shi Quan's.
Zhu Zhuqing's hand was very slender, and its touch was as cold as she was, yet stiff, but very soft.
"What are you two doing?" Dai Mubai's hurried voice and footsteps came from not far away.
The two couldn't help but look at Dai Mubai. When Zhu Zhuqing saw Dai Mubai, her expression clearly became even colder. Shi Quan could feel Zhu Zhuqing's hand tighten a bit.
Li Yuesong heard Dai Mubai's voice and then opened his eyes, looking at Dai Mubai with some confusion. "What's wrong, Mubai?"
Dai Mubai's expression froze. He looked at Shi Quan and Zhu Zhuqing's still-clasped hands, realizing he had been a bit too eager and lost his composure. He quickly said, "Nothing."
Li Yuesong looked thoughtfully at Zhu Zhuqing and then at Dai Mubai, shaking his head. He said, "Both of them have passed the first stage. Take them to the second stage, especially this young man. You can take him directly to the fourth stage."
Upon hearing Li Yuesong's words, Shi Quan and Zhu Zhuqing finally released their hands.
"Yes." Seeing this, Dai Mubai quickly walked over, puffing out his chest, and showing what he believed to be a dashing and handsome smile, he said to Zhu Zhuqing, "Follow me."
Dai Mubai walked beside Zhu Zhuqing, looked at Zhu Zhuqing, and then at Shi Quan. Although Shi Quan's current appearance was handsome, his blind demeanor immediately made Dai Mubai feel confident. As he walked, he asked, "Are you two together?"
Zhu Zhuqing's expression was cold, and she clearly didn't want to bother with Dai Mubai.
Seeing that Zhu Zhuqing didn't speak, Shi Quan smiled faintly and said, "We came together."
Seeing that Zhu Zhuqing wasn't speaking, and to avoid awkwardness, Dai Mubai asked, "Your eyes are…?"
"I just can't see temporarily. One day I will," Shi Quan's voice was calm, yet it gave a feeling of self-reliance.
"You're Dai Mubai, right?" Shi Quan said with a light chuckle.
Dai Mubai was stunned for a moment and said, "How do you know my surname is Dai?"
Shi Quan smiled and explained, "I've been staying at the Rose Hotel these past few days. The day before yesterday at noon, I happened to see you, your two girlfriends, and Tang San sparring in the Rose Hotel lobby. I was in a corner at the time, so you probably didn't see me."
"Rose Hotel?!" Dai Mubai's expression stiffened, and his gaze towards Shi Quan and Zhu Zhuqing immediately changed.
Zhu Zhuqing's expression also grew colder upon hearing Shi Quan's words.
Dai Mubai's focus was that Shi Quan was staying at the Rose Hotel, and since Zhu Zhuqing came with Shi Quan, didn't that mean they were staying at the Rose Hotel together?
Zhu Zhuqing's focus was naturally on noon, when Dai Mubai brought two women to a room!
However, to save face in front of Zhu Zhuqing, Dai Mubai still asked with a stiff face, "Aren't you blind? How could you be sure it was me?"
"Although I can't see, I can determine things from sounds, smells, and various other aspects. Just now, that Blue Silver Grass Spirit Master named Tang San was standing in front of Zhuqing and me. At that time, you even told Tang San that once he arrived at Shrek Academy, he just needed to mention your name, Evil Eyes White Tiger Dai Mubai." Shi Quan looked at Dai Mubai with a faint smile and said, "So don't think that just because I can't see, I don't know anything, okay?"
"Alright." Dai Mubai looked embarrassed and could only change the subject. "Ahead is the assessment location for the second stage."
"Tang San, what are you doing?" Dai Mubai shifted his gaze forward and noticed Tang San not far away, who was about to buy Oscar's Sausage.
As soon as Oscar saw Dai Mubai, he immediately put on a bitter face. "Boss Dai, would you like a Sausage?"
"Go to hell." Dai Mubai glared at him irritably, then made Oscar demonstrate his Spirit Ability.
Under Dai Mubai's coercion, Oscar could only softly call out with a somewhat lewd voice, "I have a big Sausage."
Upon hearing Oscar's Martial Spirit Incantation, Tang San's expression clearly showed more anger, and Zhu Zhuqing's expression also showed more disdain.
Even with Oscar's explanation, their expressions remained unchanged, and they seemed to avoid Oscar's Sausage as if it were plague.
Oscar also looked heartbroken and indignant at this sight.
"Give me one."
Shi Quan's voice was like a stone falling into a calm pond, creating ripples.
Tang San and Dai Mubai looked at Shi Quan with somewhat strange expressions. Zhu Zhuqing also looked confused. Only Oscar seemed to have met a kindred Martial Spirit, stepping forward in one stride, grasping Shi Quan's hand, and saying with surprise, "Brother, did you just say you want a Sausage…?"