NOVEL NEXT Chapter 18: Talents!
Wang Dong's expression calmed instantly. She had never really thought about it before.
Who were her parents? Why did she have to hide her true identity to enter Shrek Academy, and why disguise herself as a man? She didn't know—and, in truth, she had subconsciously avoided thinking about it.
Watching Jiang Bai leave, Wang Dong burst out in anger, "You scoundrel! Let me down, right now!"
"You pervert! You're dead!"
Ignoring her struggles, Jiang Bai returned to Huo Yuhao's side, casually signaling the Blue Silver Emperor to retract its vines.
This should have her full attention focused on him now, Jiang Bai thought, using himself as bait to draw away Tang God-King's influence from Huo Yuhao.
"Huo Yuhao, the lengths I'm going to for you are truly tough! One day, you'd better repay me well!"
Yet a thought crossed Jiang Bai's mind—if he pushed Wang Dong too far, would Tang God-King actually intervene?
A father's wrath can be overwhelming. All Jiang Bai could hope for then was that the God of Destruction would take on Tang God-King if it came to it!
Huo Yuhao looked on as Jiang Bai casually grabbed the freshly grilled fish he'd just finished preparing, momentarily at a loss for words.
"What's the problem?" Jiang Bai shot a sharp look at Huo Yuhao. "I've sacrificed so much for you; you won't even let me eat a grilled fish?"
Huo Yuhao hesitated. "Brother Jiang Bai, you… you didn't wash your hands."
Jiang Bai: …
—
With enrollment closing on the last day, the two of them finally arrived at the admissions office, just in time.
"Hey, old man! We're here to register!"
Behind the counter, a scruffy, lethargic old man slowly opened his bleary eyes.
"One hundred gold soul coins!"
Jiang Bai couldn't help but twitch his mouth in frustration. An entrance fee of one hundred gold soul coins, with no refund even if they failed to pass.
Now that's the typical Shrek Academy behavior.
They obediently placed a hundred coins on the table in front of the old man.
"Huh? Why are there only a hundred for two of you?" the old man grumbled, his eyebrows furrowing.
"I said it's a hundred per person!"
Jiang Bai stepped up with a grin, explaining, "Old man, see, we're here for Shrek Academy's Soul Engineering division. It's only half the academy, right? So we're paying half the fee!"
The scruffy old man blinked, clearly baffled. What was he talking about?
For a moment, his brain seemed to freeze.
"Are you here to cause trouble?" The old man's eyes sharpened, and a wave of overwhelming pressure radiated from around him.
Oh no, he's a Soul Douluo!
Jiang Bai's brows furrowed slightly as he took a step forward, positioning himself in front of Huo Yuhao to shield him.
Seeing this, Huo Yuhao felt deeply moved. It was the first time he had ever been protected by someone.
But he couldn't let Brother Jiang Bai face this alone. Ignoring the advice of Daydream Ice Silkworm, he boldly stepped in front of Jiang Bai.
"Brother Jiang Bai, let me handle this!"
He activated his martial soul, and the Spirit Eyes ignited. A soft golden glow shimmered in his deep blue eyes as a white soul ring emerged, rising from his feet.
"A spirit-based martial soul?" The old man's eyes lit up briefly, only to let out a sigh. "Too bad it's a mere ten-year soul skill."
"Yuhao, show him your soul skill," Jiang Bai encouraged.
Huo Yuhao nodded. "Senior, please don't resist."
"First soul skill, Spirit Detection!"
The aura expanded as he initiated Spirit Sharing as well.
At first glance, there was no visible effect, but a moment later, the old man's body trembled, and a look of astonishment appeared in his eyes.
Under the old man's gaze, time seemed to slow down. Everything around them became incredibly clear, with details sharper than ever.
Wherever they looked, information flooded their minds instantly.
It was as if they had unlocked a god's perspective, observing a three-dimensional, omniscient view within a 30-meter radius.
They didn't even need to use their eyes—any subtle change within that space was immediately registered in their minds.
This is…
An otherworldly god-like skill!
For a mere ten-year soul ring to provide such a powerful, unparalleled support skill was astonishing.
This ability was truly suited for battlefield scenarios, especially when combined with a soul tool, creating an almost cheat-like, auto-aiming view.
"A rare spiritual mutation attribute indeed!" the old man murmured, still processing the sheer potential of such a skill.
Though he didn't fully understand soul tools, he knew the Soul Tool Branch was about to gain a prodigious student.
"And what about you?" The old man's eyes shifted to Jiang Bai. "Shrek Academy doesn't play favorites."
He wouldn't make an exception just because Jiang Bai was a friend of a genius.
At that moment, a soft green glow emanated from Jiang Bai's body. Out of a dazzling cloud of rainbow-colored light, a graceful, seven-colored deer emerged.
Instantly, a surge of vibrant life energy filled the air, and the surrounding flowers and grass began to flourish, their fragrance filling the space.
"The Ultimate Wood attribute!"
Both the old man and Huo Yuhao were taken aback.
Huo Yuhao was surprised because he could feel the surprise from the Sky Dream Iceworm in his mind. He sensed the intense life force emanating from Jiang Bai.
No wonder Yuhao felt an instinctive liking for him.
"Good, good, good!" The old man exclaimed three times in quick succession, clearly delighted.
It was such a pleasant surprise to receive this on the last day.
As for the gold soul coins, Shrek Academy wasn't lacking in money. For a talent like this, they could be more than accommodating.
And if the entrance fee seemed negligible, that meant he was a natural-born Shrek student!
They'd check on his background later.
If he turned out to be from a commoner background, they could offer him even more attention.
After all, this was a person they could truly cultivate for themselves.
Shrek Academy, though an institution, was also a powerful organization.
The students they nurtured, particularly those from noble or family backgrounds, would leave after graduation, and Shrek would only gain a teacher-student bond.
But a commoner? That would be someone Shrek could train and keep, someone who could stay in the academy even after graduation!
"Good, good, good!" The old man's excitement grew even more intense.
Jiang Bai originally planned to join Shrek Academy as usual, thinking that if Huo Yuhao were bullied, he could step in and gain his loyalty.
However, with Huo Yuhao's aptitude—level ten at the age of eleven—it would be very difficult to pass Shrek Academy's entrance test.
So, Jiang Bai resorted to this tactic. As for himself, he had some interest in soul guidance devices.
He was confident he could achieve godhood and dabble with soul guidance devices without much hassle.
If he could create things like smartphones or computers, that would be even better.
"You two are joining the Soul Guidance Department? One with the Ultimate Wood and the other a top-tier auxiliary soul master? Going to the Soul Guidance Academy would be a waste!"
The Ultimate Wood, to study soul guidance devices? That was such a waste of talent.
The first soul skill of the spiritual attribute martial soul was also extraordinary. It could open up a god's perspective, allowing one to observe enemies from 360 degrees—an absolute battlefield killer.
No, he had to dissuade them from going to the Soul Guidance Department.
Shrek Academy had a significant resistance to soul guidance devices.
The development of soul guidance devices had indeed been slow for this very reason.
As the most powerful organization on the entire continent, Shrek Academy didn't care about being labeled as engaging in unorthodox practices with soul guidance devices.
Could soul guidance devices harm a Limit Douluo?
Of course not!
Moreover, learning about soul guidance devices wouldn't extend one's lifespan either.
A true soul master should return to the essence of their craft!
The old man couldn't help but speak up: "The Soul Guidance Department requires at least passing the freshman's first assessment before gaining eligibility to register."