Douluo Continent, my martial soul is a mushroom.

Chapter 27 Two years later, four students

Time is the most valuable thing, and also the least valuable thing; it is the most enduring thing, and also the most fleeting thing. When you focus on a goal, you will find that even an hour is so long, and you can do so many things. But you will also find that time cannot be held back. In the blink of an eye, two years have passed.

Shrek Academy, at the school gate.

"Teacher Li, how many students do you think our college will be able to enroll this year?" Dai Mubai asked Li Yusong, stroking his chin.

"It would be good if we could recruit even one. We didn't recruit a single one last year," Li Yusong said weakly.

Dai Mubai gave a mysterious smile. "Teacher Li, how about we make a bet?"

"What are we betting on?"

"I'll bet on how many new students we can recruit this year. I bet at least two!"

"Hmm?" Li Yusong glanced at Dai Mubai. "Do you have inside information?"

"So, tell me, are you going to bet or not!"

Dai Mubai maintained his smile, preventing Li Yusong from discerning any additional information.

"Let's bet!" Li Yusong said decisively. "Tell me, what do you want?"

"Our cultivation funds for this month..."

Li Yusong clicked his tongue and hesitated for a moment.

The combined monthly cultivation funds of Chi Ping, Dai Mubai, Oscar, and Ma Hongjun are not a small amount, approaching one thousand gold soul coins. He needs to go to the Star Dou Great Forest to take on missions and lead teams to hunt for thousand-year soul rings at least twice!

But compared to good students, this is nothing!

"Alright, if it's really like you say, and there are two new students this year, I'll cover all your cultivation expenses for this month!"

Dai Mubai was overjoyed. "It's settled then!"

……

There were quite a few people who signed up this year, and they gathered in a huge crowd. Dai Mubai didn't see Tang San and Xiao Wu until noon.

—We've finally arrived!

Two years ago, when Dai Mubai went to Notting City with Chi Ping, he met Tang San and Xiao Wu. At that time, the two of them were already Great Soul Masters.

Two years later, Dai Mubai was certain that Tang San and the other person had definitely reached level 25 or higher!

Judging from Chi Ping's long journey to Shrek Academy to register and his deliberate visit to the mysterious person at Notting Academy (Chi Ping didn't mention Yu Xiaogang to Dai Mubai, only saying he was visiting an elder), it's clear that Chi Ping received guidance and specifically sought out Shrek Academy. Tang San and Xiao Wu have a good relationship with Chi Ping, and judging from their conversations, they hold the mysterious person in high regard.

Based on this, Dai Mubai deduced that Tang San and Xiao Wu were highly likely to participate in Shrek Academy's recruitment this year.

To verify this inference, Dai Mubai even spent two days staking out Soto City.

—No need to worry about funds this month!

A soft exclamation drew Dai Mubai's attention back.

A look of surprise and uncertainty crossed Li Yusong's face. A young girl stood before him, withdrawing her outstretched hand.

The girl was alone, without her parents. Her simple white dress gave her a clean and tidy appearance. She had neat, shoulder-length hair, was about 1.5 meters tall, had delicate features, and fair skin.

"Excuse me, have I passed the preliminary test?" The girl's voice was soft and melodious, sounding so gentle that it gave one a feeling of tenderness.

Dai Mubai swallowed hard.

He had never seen such a high-quality beauty before!

Moreover, after three years at Shrek Academy, training with three men for three years, she's practically as beautiful as a sow compared to Diao Chan!

Li Yusong's surprise gradually subsided, and he frowned, asking, "Does your family know you're here?"

The girl didn't answer his question directly, but smiled and said, "They say education should be for all, so as long as I meet the academy's requirements, you have no reason not to accept me, right?"

Li Yusong hesitated for a moment before waving to Dai Mubai and saying, "Take her inside."

Three years ago, Li Yusong had him and Chi Ping follow him around because the academy had no students at the time, and Li Yusong wanted to assess the two of them himself. Now that the academy has four monstrous students, he's not in such a hurry anymore.

—Someone with connections? Even the academy can't afford to mess with them?

Dai Mubai's eyes regained their clarity, and he led the girl into the academy.

After sending the girl to the next level, Dai Mubai returned and sent her off for several more rounds until it was finally Tang San and Xiao Wu's turn.

However, Dai Mubai, who should have been paying attention to the two of them, focused his gaze on what was behind them.

It was a girl, who looked a little younger than Xiao Wu. Her long black hair was draped over her shoulders, and her face was slightly lowered. She was about the same height as the girl in the white dress, and her skin was also similarly fair. However, her extremely voluptuous figure was quite disproportionate to her age; if you didn't look at her face, you might easily mistake her for an adult girl.

Contrary to her fiery figure, the girl's expression was cold, a coldness that came from within, a pure coldness, her dark eyes devoid of even a trace of life. This clashed somewhat with her otherwise extremely beautiful face.

With slender, well-proportioned limbs and hands hanging naturally at his sides, the deathly coldness emanating from him was hard to bear.

This time, Dai Mubai didn't glare at him; instead, he swallowed nervously.

—Their martial souls are in harmony, their auras complement each other. No way, could it be her? Judging by the timeline, she should indeed be graduating from the beginner's soul master academy by now, but how did she escape from Star Luo City? What should I do? Should I run?

"Mu Bai, take them inside."

"Yes."

Dai Mubai snapped out of his daze, gave Tang San a smile, and kept his eyes fixed on the girl.

Dai Mubai walked into the academy and only looked away when the buildings blocked his view.

"What are you looking at? Trying to ruin some girl's life!" Xiao Wu said rudely.

Dai Mubai was conflicted and had no time to pay attention to Xiao Wu's unreasonable demands. He hurriedly led the two to the second test, saying, "You will take the second test here. The teacher will tell you how to do it."

After saying that, Dai Mubai jogged back.

When he returned to the admissions office, the girl in black had already finished her test and was waiting for him to take her to the second round.

"Come with me."

Dai Mubai spoke, but the girl did not answer; she simply followed quietly behind him.

"Uh... um... ah..."

Dai Mubai wanted to say something to break the awkward silence but didn't know how to start. He turned his head several times but only saw the girl's empty eyes.

"I'm level 40!"

A glimmer of light appeared in Zhu Zhuqing's eyes, but it quickly faded away.

Dai Mubai wanted to say something, but when he thought of the rules of the Dai family, the heavy pressure the girl was under, and the hardships she had endured on her escape, he couldn't bring himself to say it.

The two remained silent as they arrived at the second examination hall.

"Xiao Ao, Tang San, what are you doing?"

At a simple stall, Oscar was grilling sausages, Tang San was holding money, and there were many other examinees around him holding grilled sausages.

Dai Mubai understood what had happened and said quietly, "Xiao Ao, I remember both Pingzi and I told you that you weren't allowed to set up a stall in the academy during the enrollment period, right?"

"Boss Dai..." Oscar said with a bitter face, "I just couldn't resist. There are so many people, I can make a lot of money! And my sausages are also good for their assessment. Maybe they can help them escape from Brother Ping's clutches."

Dai Mubai glanced at the surrounding examinees. "Do you really think someone who doesn't meet the requirements can pass Hirako's test with just your sausage?"

Oscar wanted to argue, but in the end he kept quiet.

"Alright. I'll pack up and leave."

"Brother Dai, is the Pingzi you're talking about Chi Ping?" Tang San suddenly asked.

Oscar looked surprised. "You know Brother Ping?"

Dai Mubai said, "Tang San and Xiao Wu, that girl in the pink dress over there, and Ping Zi graduated from the same junior soul master academy."

Oscar suddenly realized, then nervously asked Dai Mubai, "So...they two are comparable to Brother Ping?"

Dai Mubai nodded solemnly.

Oskai gasped.

She then snatched the two sausages she had sold back from Tang San and returned the twenty copper soul coins Tang San had given her. Her speed was so fast that Tang San didn't even have time to react.

Before Tang San could say anything, Oscar hurriedly ran behind Shao Xin, who was in charge of the second round of assessments.

"I..."

Dai Mubai patted Tang San on the shoulder, "Don't be angry, this is all for your own good. Xiao Ao's sausages are good, but the soul spell is a bit... hard to explain, you'll understand later. If you're really hungry, you can fill your stomach with Hirako's mushrooms when you reach the fourth level."

Tang San wasn't angry, he was just confused because he didn't understand the situation.

Dai Mubai didn't continue speaking, but urged Tang San, Xiao Wu, and Zhu Zhuqing to test their soul power.

The rest of the story is pretty straightforward. Tang San and Xiao Wu were tested and found to have level 29 soul power, Zhu Zhuqing was tested and found to have level 27, plus the white-skirted girl Ning Rongrong who was tested and found to have level 26. Dai Mubai led the four of them to the examination hall.

Along the way, Dai Mubai explained to the four why they could go directly to the fourth level, the content of the third level's assessment, and the current situation of the academy.

"Shrek Academy currently has four students. I am Oscar, whom you just met, and the fourth examiners you will soon face, Ma Hongjun and Chi Ping... that is..."

Following Dai Mubai's direction, the four looked and saw two people standing on the wide playground. The one on the left was over 1.6 meters tall, wearing a brown cloth robe, with a muscular build, short hair, small eyes, and a small mustache; the one on the right was a little taller, wearing a white martial arts uniform with gold, blue, and purple patterns, lean, with short hair and a gentle expression.

Chi Ping seemed to notice the five people and nodded with a smile.

After greeting Chi Ping and Ma Hongjun, Dai Mubai led the four of them to the pavilion next to the playground.

"Teacher Lu, I've brought a group to conduct the fourth round of assessment."

"Huh? There are already four of them at this point!"

Under the shade of the canopy, the white-haired old man opened his sleepy eyes and looked at the young man and woman in front of him in surprise.

Dai Mubai said, "They all skipped directly to the fourth level."

Lu Qibin stood up. He was rather thin, but his eyes were extremely sharp.

"All four of you are above level 25, not bad! Looks like there are quite a few little monsters this year. This is the final test. If you pass, you will officially become members of Shrek Academy. However, my test will not be easy to pass. Practical experience is a must for every Soul Master. What I am testing is your ability in this area."

Lu Qibin's tone was gentle and soothing, but no one would take his words to heart.

"Xiaoping, Hongjun, come here."

Lu Qibin said to the four, "The fourth test involves sparring with our Shrek Academy students. You have two choices: one is to fight Ma Hongjun one-on-one, and the other is for all four of you to fight Chi Ping together. You have one incense stick's time to get to know each other and discuss your options. After that, the test will begin. The sparring time is limited to one incense stick's time. I will decide whether you pass the test based on your performance within that time. Now, you can tell me your decision."

"Third Brother, let's choose the second one!" Xiao Wu rubbed her hands together, eager to try.

Having not fought Chi Ping for three years, her fists were itching to get going.

"Xiao Wu, we're not the only ones participating in the assessment!" Tang San reminded Xiao Wu.

Zhu Zhuqing said coldly, "I have no objection."

While sizing up Chi Ping, Ning Rongrong said, "I also want to see what skills the students of Shrek Academy have."

Dai Mubai hesitated for a moment, then said, "Why don't you reconsider?"

Lu Qibin clasped his hands together and laughed, "Xiaobai, since they're not convinced, don't stop them. Xiaoping, you wait in the middle of the playground. Hongjun, you and Xiaobai tell the four of them what abilities Xiaoping has."

Dai Mubai sighed and said, "Come with me."

(End of this chapter)