Chapter 21: Chapter 21
Chapter 21: Shrek Academy
When Dai Mubai heard Qi Ling's words, his legs nearly buckled beneath him, and he almost collapsed to the ground.
Another punch? He couldn't afford to go through that again.
"Please, no more! Just let me off!" Dai Mubai pleaded for mercy.
"I admit defeat you'll be the boss of Shrek Academy from now on!"
Supported by the two twins, Dai Mubai staggered away. Given his physical resilience, he would likely recover in less than a day.
Before leaving, Dai Mubai handed Qi Ling a card.
"Qi Ling, take this card and use it, I'll cover all your expenses for the next few days! It's my way of thanking you for showing mercy."
"Oh? I didn't expect you to be so generous, Four-Eyed Boy!" Qi Ling said as he took the card.
Dai Mubai almost tripped over his own feet at Qi Ling's words and responded with embarrassment, "Qi Ling, can you please stop calling me that? It's humiliating."
"Alright, let's change it up," Qi Ling said, turning to Tang San.
"How about we call him 'Xiaobai' instead?"
Dai Mubai wanted to cry but had no tears left. Xiaobai it was, though a name so cute might actually attract some attention from the girls, he thought.
After Dai Mubai left, Xiao Wu immediately hugged Qi Ling and jumped up excitedly.
"Brother Qi, you're amazing! You knocked down that tiger with just one punch!"
"I always thought that guy was all talk and no substance. He's nothing compared to you, Brother Qi!"
Qi Ling gently put her down and said, "Dai Mubai isn't weak. If you and Xiao San fought him seriously, you probably wouldn't win.
But that's only if you fight him head-on."
Tang San nodded lightly.
"Indeed, without using hidden weapons, I'd have less than a 30% chance of defeating him."
"So what? He still lost!" Xiao Wu said confidently.
"Come on, Brother Qi, Third Brother, let's check out that room."
The room at the Love Hotel was, as expected, full of a suggestive atmosphere that made one blush just by walking in.
Xiao Wu finally understood why Qi Ling had shown a strange expression when she said she wanted to stay there.
It was still too early for her to be in such a place.
"Little San, I don't think the ventilation here is very good," Qi Ling suddenly remarked with a chuckle.
"How about we go find another hotel?"
"Ah, right, yeah," Tang San responded, as if waking from a dream.
Obsessed with hidden weapons, he had never encountered such a scene before.
"Brother, I think you're right!"
After finally finding a more suitable place to stay, the three of them went their separate ways in the afternoon.
The next morning, they officially headed to Shrek Academy to attend the academy's registration ceremony.
Leaving the city, the trio walked southward, only to find the surroundings becoming increasingly desolate, as if they had wandered onto a farm, with vast farmlands stretching out on both sides of the road.
"What's going on? It feels like we're heading into the middle of nowhere," Xiao Wu said, puzzled.
"Could it be that the master sold us off to the mountains?"
"Haha, who would dare to buy you, Xiao Wu? You'd be bouncing all over the place!" Qi Ling joked with a smile.
"Brother Qi, you're bullying me again!" Xiao Wu complained, jumping onto Qi Ling's back.
"To punish you, I'm making you carry me!"
Qi Ling caught her with both hands and said helplessly, "You could have just asked me to carry you,why beat around the bush?"
After a while, Tang San, who had sharp eyes, spotted a small village in the distance.
It seemed to have a population of about a hundred households.
"Brother, Xiao Wu, there's a village up ahead.
Let's go ask for directions," Tang San suggested.
As they approached, they realised something was amiss. The people at the village entrance were all teenagers their age, accompanied by their parents and lined up.
The three looked at each other, and Qi Ling cautiously said, "Could this be the place?"
Sure enough, when they reached the entrance, they saw a table with an old man in his sixties or seventies sitting behind it.
Behind the old man was a shabby sign with the words "Shrek Academy" barely visible, and next to it was a strange-looking monster drawn in faded colours.
At that moment, the old man seemed to be arguing with the people there.
A middle-aged man was shouting angrily, "This academy is a scam! Give us back our registration fee!"
"My son is a top student, a twelfth-level Tool Soul Master with a century-old soul ring.
How could you say he doesn't meet your registration requirements? You're clearly lying!"
The old man stood up impatiently and replied, "I've already told you, Shrek Academy's admissions standards are very specific.
We don't just accept anyone!"
"Shrek is the most peculiar of all soul beasts, and our Shrek Academy only accepts monsters!"
"Anyone over thirteen years old or whose spirit power hasn't reached the 21st level shouldn't waste everyone's time! And once the registration fee is paid, it's non-refundable.
You've been warned!"
As he spoke, the old man unleashed a wave of powerful spirit energy.
Six spirit rings appeared around him, and a long staff materialised in his hand.
This seemingly ordinary old man was actually a Soul Emperor, a powerhouse with spirit power over level 60!
Seeing such a formidable figure, the students dared not cause any more trouble and left dejectedly. About a third of the crowd remained, clearly believing they met the requirements.
The old man then glanced at the remaining candidates and said to a young man sitting behind him, "Mubai, handle the rest.
If they meet the qualifications, let them in."
"Yes, Teacher!" It was none other than Dai Mubai, whom Qi Ling and the others had met the day before.
Despite the severe beating he had taken, Dai Mubai had almost fully recovered overnight.
Seeing Dai Mubai, Qi Ling couldn't help but laugh. While everyone else was still hesitating, he was the first to approach Dai Mubai, saying, "Hey, Xiaobai! We're here to see you! Ready to take care of us?"
Dai Mubai's facial muscles twitched, and he responded helplessly, "Brother Qi, please don't tease me.
It's more like you took care of me yesterday.
The three of you don't need to be tested.
Just go on in."
Hearing Dai Mubai's words, the old man glanced at Qi Ling with interest.
After all, if Dai Mubai was willing to say such a thing, this kid must be something special.
"Is there anyone else? If not, I'll take them inside!" Dai Mubai called out, though he was feeling a bit anxious.
The person he had been waiting for still hadn't shown up.
At that moment, a very attractive girl walked over.
She was shorter than Xiao Wu, but her figure was far more developed than her peers.
She had black hair and black eyes, fair skin, and a proud, elegant posture.
Her beautiful face, however, was devoid of any expression, radiating a cold and distant aura.
She was the quintessential ice queen.
When Dai Mubai saw her, his eyes immediately lit up.
This was the person he had been waiting for.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone