[After guiding Tang San, Xiao Wu, and the others to the location for the second round of assessment, Dai Mubai quickly excused himself and left in a hurry.]
[At that moment, the sound of a vendor calling out echoed nearby.]
[A burly man dressed in gray, with neatly trimmed short hair and a full beard, yet possessing a pair of peach blossom eyes and a surprisingly gentle voice, slowly approached while pushing a small cart filled with roasted sausages.]
[Feeling slightly hungry, Tang San asked Xiao Wu to remain in line while he walked over to the cart.]
[However, after a brief conversation with the vendor, Tang San discovered that the man was named Oscar and was not the middle-aged figure he appeared to be, but rather a fourteen-year-old youth.]
White World, Heaven Water Academy.
"What? That's supposed to be a fourteen-year-old?"
Seeing Oscar's heavily bearded appearance in the comparison video, Shui Yue'er was completely stunned.
With a beard like that, it would be hard to believe even for someone in their thirties or forties, let alone a teenager.
At this moment, Gu Qingbo pondered briefly before offering a more measured observation.
"But judging by his voice, he does sound quite young."
The comparison video continued.
[Just as Tang San was about to purchase a few sausages to bring back to Xiao Wu,]
[a loud voice suddenly rang out, "Tang San, what are you doing?"]
[Seeing Dai Mubai approach, Oscar immediately put on a bitter expression and asked, "Boss Dai, would you like a sausage?"]
[However, Dai Mubai showed clear disdain and refused outright, insisting that these sausages were not suitable to eat, and even demanded that Oscar demonstrate how they were made.]
[Under everyone's gaze, Oscar had no choice but to awkwardly recite his somewhat suggestive Soul Incantation, "I have a big sausage!" before producing one.]
White World, Heaven Dou Royal Academy.
"How can there be such an indecent Soul Incantation?"
Hearing Oscar's chant in the comparison video, Dugu Yan couldn't help but complain.
Beside her, her companion scratched his head and responded thoughtfully.
"Yan Zi, it's not really that bad, is it?"
"Although Oscar's Soul Incantation is a bit awkward, this is still spirit power food created by a Food System Soul Master. If someone could consume these sausages regularly, it would be highly beneficial for cultivation."
"It seems that Oscar should also be a student of Shrek Academy."
"But Dai Mubai refusing to eat them out of disgust really feels like wasting a valuable resource."
Hearing this explanation, those around them quickly came to a realization.
That did make sense.
If even such practical abilities weren't being properly valued or utilized within Shrek Academy, then perhaps the academy wasn't as remarkable as it claimed to be.
And it wasn't only the people of Heaven Dou Royal Academy who thought this way.
Within Shrek Academy itself,
as Zhu Zhuqing watched the comparison video showing how Dai Mubai in the Black World treated Oscar's sausages with disdain, she silently crossed her arms over her chest. Her expression remained cold and composed, yet there was an unmistakable trace of disappointment in her eyes.
Although the exact events had not occurred in the White World,
during her own registration, Dai Mubai had behaved in a similar manner.
This left her deeply dissatisfied.
In her view, both she and Dai Mubai were burdened with a life-and-death struggle due to the cruel inheritance system of their clan.
Dai Mubai clearly had access to something that could improve his cultivation efficiency, yet he rejected it purely out of distaste.
To her, this was utterly absurd.
Later, after learning that Dai Mubai had spent his time at Shrek Academy indulging in pleasure rather than cultivating diligently, her disappointment only deepened.
[After returning and warning Tang San about the issue with Oscar's sausages, Dai Mubai formally introduced himself.]
[Immediately afterward, upon discovering that both Tang San and Xiao Wu had cultivation levels exceeding Rank 25, Dai Mubai decided to take them directly to the final round of assessment.]
[According to Shrek Academy's rules, applicants below Rank 25 must pass multiple additional stages, which test the optimal configuration of spirit rings, the correctness of the Spirit's development path, and the level of mastery over their abilities.]
[However, those who reach Rank 25 or above before the age of thirteen are considered exceptional geniuses and are permitted to proceed directly to the final combat assessment.]
[Upon hearing this rule, the girl from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School and the girl dressed in black leather also stepped forward, stating that their cultivation levels had likewise surpassed Rank 25 and that they should be allowed to advance directly.]
[After testing, their claims were confirmed. The former was a Rank 26 Spirit Grandmaster, while the latter had reached Rank 27.]
[Dai Mubai then led the group deeper into the academy grounds.]
[Along the way, they asked him about the specific contents of the second, third, and fourth assessment rounds.]
[After hearing his explanation, they found it difficult to believe, questioning whether only a very small number of people could ever meet such standards.]
[At this point, a trace of reverence appeared in Dai Mubai's eyes as he spoke solemnly, "The Dean has always said that Shrek Academy would rather have nothing than accept mediocrity. No matter the circumstances, even if the academy were to shut down, we would never admit trash."]
[He then went on to explain that not only were the admission requirements strict, but the graduation criteria were equally demanding. Students must surpass Rank 40 before the age of twenty and personally hunt their fourth spirit ring without assistance.]
[Dai Mubai proudly recited the academy's statistics, stating that Shrek Academy had enrolled sixty-two students in total, yet only fourteen had successfully graduated.]
[Every one of those fourteen graduates had gone on to achieve great fame, with the most outstanding among them becoming the youngest elder of Spirit Hall.]
[As for those who failed to graduate, they either could not break through to Rank 40 before turning twenty or perished while attempting to hunt Spirit Beasts on their own.]
[Regarding this, Dai Mubai declared with pride, "The Dean once said that if you cannot reach Rank 41, lack real combat ability, and are incapable of hunting your fourth spirit ring alone, then you might as well die in the Star Dou Great Forest instead of leaving and disgracing Shrek Academy."]
As Dai Mubai's explanation of Shrek Academy's recruitment and graduation requirements unfolded in the comparison video,
a heavy silence descended upon both the Black World and the White World.
While some were captivated by his bold and imposing words,
those with clearer judgment could no longer remain silent.
Wait a moment.
Shrek Academy sets such extraordinarily high standards for admission, yet requires its students to risk their lives by hunting their fourth spirit ring alone just to graduate?
Across both worlds, numerous Spirit Grandmaster families and sects were left on the verge of outrage.
Students capable of meeting Shrek Academy's entry requirements were considered rare prodigies, individuals any major power would eagerly recruit and carefully nurture.
Yet Shrek Academy not only failed to cherish such talent, but also imposed life-threatening trials without regard for their safety.
What kind of absurd, heaven-defying academy operated in such a manner?