Chapter 40 Returning to the Academy.
Early morning, Shrek City!
Wu Xuan took a deep breath, quietly gazing at the massive city gate before him.
Analyzing the information he'd gathered along the way, he knew that the three kingdoms of the Douluo Continent were frantically preparing for war and expanding their military to counter the growing power of the Sun Moon Empire. They had no time to deal with the petty matter of evil spirit masters slaughtering villages and towns.
This city was probably the safest place on the entire continent! Wu Xuan sighed.
Wu Xuan slowly walked into Shrek City. Only about twenty days of vacation had passed, but a large influx of people had already gathered outside Shrek Academy. Apart from a very few returning students, the vast majority were parents and relatives bringing their children to register for the new student entrance exam.
Shrek Academy's rules were like this: no matter your background or where you got your recommendation letter, if you failed the entrance exam, you had to go home.
Some senior students were assisting the teachers with the exams at the school gate. Don't underestimate them just because they were students; those representing Shrek Academy here were at least at the level of a three-ring Soul Master. Reaching the Soul Master level signifies considerable status on the continent.
The minimum graduation standard for the outer academy of Shrek Academy is only a four-ring Soul Master.
Wu Xuan went straight to the teachers' office building behind the senior teaching building and found Wang Yan's office.
As the head teacher of Class 1 of the freshmen (now Class 1 of the second year), Wang Yan needed to oversee the students' return to school for the next few days, so he arrived at the academy very early.
Wang Yan's office door was open.
"Knock knock knock—"
Wu Xuan gently knocked a few times on the heavy wooden door.
"Come in!"
Wang Yan's gentle voice quickly rang out from inside the office.
Wu Xuan strode in. At this moment, the large office was empty except for Wang Yan; there were no other teachers or students reporting for duty.
Seeing Wu Xuan, Wang Yan smiled and waved. "Wu Xuan, you're here so early! How was your holiday? Did you have a great time?"
Saying this, Wang Yan handed Wu Xuan a form.
Wu Xuan took the form, recalling the various experiences of the past few days, and couldn't help but chuckle and nod: "Hmm, not bad, right?"
Registration was just filling out a form. According to Shrek Academy's rules, this process had to be followed, and it had to be filled out personally.
Wu Xuan quickly finished the form and asked Wang Yan, "By the way, Teacher Wang, is Director Du in his office right now? I need to talk to him about something."
"You need to see Director Du?" Wang Yan looked at Wu Xuan in surprise, but he didn't press the matter further, saying, "The returning students will be returning to school in a few days, so Director Du shouldn't be leaving his office unless something unexpected happens. Go to his office if you need to see him."
"Thank you, Teacher Wang." Wu Xuan bowed to Wang Yan and then went up the stairs to Du Weiren's office on the top floor.
Du Weiren's office door was also open. When Wu Xuan arrived, Du Weiren was leisurely drinking tea.
"Director Du!" Wu Xuan knocked on the door.
"Wu, what brings you here?" Du Weilun put down his teacup, looking at Wu Xuan with some surprise. His tone softened considerably, a departure from his usual seriousness.
Excellent students always receive preferential treatment, especially since Yan Shaozhe had specifically instructed him beforehand.
Wu Xuan respectfully replied, "Director Du, it's like this. Didn't the top three teams in the freshman assessment get to apply for a spirit ring? I wonder if I can now apply to the academy for a fourth spirit ring that best suits me?"
Du Weilun abruptly stood up, instantly losing his composure. "You mean your spirit power has broken through to level forty?"
Wu Xuan nodded.
Seeing Wu Xuan nod, Du Weilun's large, warm hand gripped Wu Xuan's shoulder tightly. After examining him, Du Weilun's furrowed brows relaxed.
"Indeed, level forty spirit power! Solid spirit power, deep foundation, not like someone who broke through using external aids."
At this point, Du Weilun's gaze towards Wu Xuan became intense.
A Soul Master at around twelve years old—this had already broken Shrek Academy's record of ten thousand years. Even with his composure, he was deeply moved.
"Wu, wait a moment, I'll contact Dean Yan." As he spoke, Du Weilun picked up a communication device from the table, pressed a button, and channeled his soul power into it.
Yan Shaozhe's gentle voice quickly responded.
"Weilun?"
"Dean Yan, it's me." Du Weilun's tone was extremely respectful.
Du Weilun said excitedly, "Dean Yan, Wu Xuan, the top freshman, has now broken through to level 40 in soul power. He's officially applying to the academy for assistance in obtaining his fourth soul ring."
Du Weilun finished speaking in one breath, but Yan Shaozhe didn't respond for a long time.
Just as he was about to say something more, Yan Shaozhe's voice came again from the communication device.
"Tell that little guy to wait a moment, I'll come personally." Not long after the communication device connection was interrupted, Yan Shaozhe, dressed in white, appeared out of thin air outside Du Weilun's office door.
He had actually been on Seagod Island a moment ago, but with his level 95 soul power, arriving here was only a matter of moments.
Yan Shaozhe waved his hand to stop the two who were about to bow, his gaze fixed intently on Wu Xuan.
After a moment, a gentle smile returned to his face as he said, "Wu Xuan, you're quite good. I want to tell you that you've broken the record that Shrek Academy has held for ten thousand years. You're the first person to break through to level forty at the age of twelve. Your name will be recorded in the Sea God Pavilion's register."
Wu Xuan stood there, stunned, not understanding what the register Yan Shaozhe was referring to was.
"Little guy, hurry up and thank Dean Yan. The Sea God Pavilion's register only records the names of the Sea God Pavilion's elders or geniuses who have broken records," Du Weilun reminded him enviously from the side.
"Ah! Thank you, Dean Yan!" Wu Xuan bowed, but inwardly he didn't care.
"Alright, Wu Xuan, you've got a lucky break this time. Today, two students from the Inner Court who have reached their cultivation bottlenecks are preparing to team up to hunt for spirit rings in the Star Dou Great Forest. Why don't you go with them?"
After saying that, Wu Xuan's body was enveloped by a powerful spirit force. The next instant, the two appeared simultaneously above the expansive Poseidon Lake, not far from the faculty office building.
The lake's waters were a deep blue, shrouded in mist. From a distance, Poseidon Island appeared not flat, but rather like a small mountain, dotted with various pavilions and towers. Everything seemed so peaceful and tranquil, like a paradise on earth. The fresh air, brimming with the vitality of life, was incredibly invigorating.
"Is this the inner courtyard?!" Wu Xuan exclaimed, his eyes shining.
Yan Shaozhe nodded slightly, his smile seemingly deepening. "Wu Xuan, I believe that soon you will be one of them."
"Thank you for your affirmation, Dean Yan. Actually, I think so too," Wu Xuan laughed.
"Haha! You're really not modest, kid."
As they talked, Poseidon Island came into view.
As Wu Xuan and his companion landed, three inner court students approached respectfully, saying, "Dean Yan."
Yan Shaozhe patted Wu Xuan on the shoulder and then introduced him to the three, "His name is Wu Xuan, an outer court student. He's going to the Star Dou Great Forest to hunt for spirit rings, and he's going with you."
"Le Xuan! Take good care of him on the journey," Yan Shaozhe instructed a female student.
"Yes!" The female student named Le Xuan nodded.
Wu Xuan looked at the serene and gentle woman before him, momentarily stunned.
"Kid, remember, you must find the most suitable spirit ring for yourself. Even if you miss the entrance exam, it's not a problem," Yan Shaozhe instructed Wu Xuan again.
"Yes, Dean Yan!" Wu Xuan nodded emphatically.
Yan Shaozhe smiled and then left.
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(End of Chapter)