20: Chapter 20 Entrance Exam… Passed! What a monster!

"Wow! Look! Is that Shrek Academy?"

"There are... so many people! Can we really get in?"

Tang Ya and Jiang Nannan looked at the magnificent, historic building before them and the long, dragon-like queue in front of the gate.

Their faces simultaneously showed a complex expression mixed with excitement, longing, and nervousness.

Wang Qiuer walked gracefully off the carriage with her arms crossed. She merely swept a casual glance over the sea of people and curled her lip.

"It's just a school gate. What is there to make such a fuss about? How long is this line going to take?"

"Since we're here, we might as well make the best of it."

Huo Yuhao was the last to get off the carriage. He patted Tang Ya on the shoulder and said with a smile, "Let's go join the line. Shrek Academy's rules have always been this way; no matter who you are, you have to follow the procedure."

"Mm!" Tang Ya nodded heavily and took a deep breath, as if wanting to inhale all the air belonging to Shrek Academy into her lungs.

The group of five walked towards the end of the line.

However, as soon as they stood still, they immediately became the center of attention.

"Hey, look over there!"

"My god... aren't those girls too beautiful?"

"That blonde beauty has such a great figure! And the silver-haired one—she doesn't even look real. Is she a fairy?"

"The one in the blue dress next to them and the one with the rabbit Spirit are also so cute! Are they together?"

Whispers, like pebbles thrown into a lake, quickly rippled through the long queue.

Countless gazes, whether admiring, jealous, or curious, all focused on Huo Yuhao's small group.

Tang Ya and Jiang Nannan were still not quite used to being the center of attention. Their faces flushed slightly, and they subconsciously leaned closer to Huo Yuhao.

Wang Qiuer, however, didn't care at all. She even puffed out her chest with interest, as if enjoying the feeling of being watched.

As for Gu Yuena, she completely ignored the surrounding gazes; her attention seemed to be captured by a cloud drifting across the sky.

Consequently, all gazes eventually converged on the only male in the group.

"Who is that little boy? He looks so ordinary."

"Is he their younger brother? He's so lucky!"

"Hmph, I wonder which big family's young master this is, bringing so many beautiful maids with him when going out." A young man with a sour tone muttered.

Huo Yuhao turned a deaf ear to these comments; his gaze calmly fixed on the ancient, simple gate in front.

His heart was far more excited than he showed.

Shrek. I, Huo Yuhao, have returned.

In front of the academy gate, the teacher responsible for the first round of entrance tests was named Wang Yan.

He had been in charge of admissions here for several years and considered himself to have seen all kinds of geniuses and eccentrics.

Today was as boring and long as usual. Until his gaze was caught by the group that had caused the commotion.

As a knowledgeable Spirit King, Wang Yan's composure was far superior to the average person.

But when he saw the four girls standing together, each with a different style yet equally unbelievably beautiful, he couldn't help but be stunned for a moment.

Then, his professional instinct made him subconsciously release his Soul Power to sense the strength of those children.

First was the most eye-catching blonde girl. The moment his Soul Power touched her, Wang Yan's expression changed drastically!

His Soul Power felt as if it had crashed into an invisible yet indestructible wall! His mere probe of Soul Power couldn't even stir up a ripple before it was swallowed without a trace.

A chill crawled up his spine. He couldn't see through it! He couldn't see through this girl's strength at all!

But he could feel the Soul Power inside her, vast like a dormant volcano, enough to make his heart palpitate!

"Spirit Emperor?" A word that he himself found unbelievable popped into his mind, "No, perhaps even higher! How old is she? Fifteen or sixteen? This... how is this possible?!"

Wang Yan forcibly suppressed the shock in his heart and turned his gaze to another target that equally concerned him: the silver-haired girl with a cold temperament, who seemed untainted by worldly affairs.

This time, his Soul Power probe received feedback. Three rings. The fluctuations of her Soul Power clearly indicated the level of a Spirit Elder.

Wang Yan had just breathed a sigh of relief, but the next second his heart leaped into his throat again! Because, although this silver-haired girl only revealed the strength of three rings, the feeling she gave Wang Yan—that faint, existential pressure originating from the level of life itself—was actually more dangerous than the blonde girl!

It was a feeling of absolute control, as if she could wipe him out at any moment if she wished!

A fine layer of cold sweat had already seeped out on Wang Yan's forehead. Who... exactly were these two girls?!

His gaze finally fell on the black-haired boy in the middle, who looked the most ordinary, surrounded by the four girls. About seven or eight years old, Soul Power fluctuation... it seemed to be over level 20?

A very good talent, but compared to the two "monsters" beside him, it seemed too normal. Wang Yan took a deep breath; he knew he might be witnessing history today.

After a long wait, it was finally Huo Yuhao and his group's turn. Wang Yan walked over personally with a serious expression. His gaze lingered on Wang Qiuer and Gu Yuena for a second before looking at Wang Qiuer, who was at the front of the line.

"You go first. Release your Spirit and spirit ring."

Wang Qiuer yawned, seeming a bit bored. She didn't even release her Spirit; she just moved her mind. Yellow, yellow, purple, purple, black, black! Six spirit rings rose quietly from beneath her feet.

The pressure emitted by those two deep ten-thousand-year spirit rings made all the surrounding examinees involuntarily take a step back, their breathing becoming rapid. The whole scene fell into a deathly silence.

Everyone widened their eyes as if they had seen a miracle. A... fifteen or sixteen-year-old six-ring Spirit Emperor?!

Wang Yan's pupils shrank to the size of needle points. He had guessed correctly, but seeing the shock with his own eyes was still overwhelming. He didn't ask any more questions and directly took out a special golden token from his bosom and handed it over.

"Exempt from the test, passed directly. Please go to the elite waiting area over there to rest." His voice carried a trace of imperceptible trembling.

Wang Qiuer took the token, threw it to Huo Yuhao without even looking at it, and then walked aside on her own.

"Next." Wang Yan's gaze turned to Gu Yuena.

Gu Yuena expressionlessly extended her right hand. With a flash of silver light, a silver long spear covered in exquisite dragon patterns appeared in her hand. At the same time, three spirit rings rose from beneath her feet. Yellow, yellow, purple.

Although it was far less shocking than Wang Qiuer's six spirit rings, an eleven or twelve-year-old three-ring Spirit Elder, and with the best spirit ring configuration, was also in the ranks of top geniuses!

"Passed, admitted directly." Wang Yan handed out a silver token again. Gu Yuena took the token and, also without looking, passed it to Huo Yuhao.

Two consecutive direct passes made the surrounding examinees go from shocked to somewhat numb. They were now just curious about what kind of "monsters" the rest of this strange group would be.

"You two." Wang Yan looked at Tang Ya and Jiang Nannan.

"Tang Ya, twelve years old, Spirit Blue Silver Grass, level 22 attack system Spirit Master!"

"Jiang Nannan, twelve years old, Spirit Soft Bones Rabbit, level 24 agility-attack system Spirit Master!"

The two reported their information according to what Huo Yuhao had taught them beforehand. A twelve-year-old Spirit Master over level 20 was an absolute genius anywhere.

But after witnessing the two "perverts" earlier, Wang Yan and the surrounding examinees felt it was actually much more "normal."

"Mm, good talent. Go over there to participate in the actual combat test." Wang Yan pointed to another field not far away.

Tang Ya and Jiang Nannan looked at each other and saw the determination in each other's eyes. They knew it was time to show the results of Wang Qiuer's "special training"!

The actual combat test was simple: as long as they could persist for five minutes against an academy teaching assistant of the same level, they would pass.

Tang Ya's opponent was a level 23 attack system Spirit Master. As soon as the battle started, the opponent charged over fiercely.

Tang Ya, however, did not use Blue Silver Grass to restrain the opponent immediately as she had in the past. Her body, under Wang Qiuer's hellish training, had become incredibly flexible.

She tapped her toes, and her body floated to the back and side like a weightless leaf. At the same time, dozens of Blue Silver Grass vines burst from the ground, but they didn't attack the opponent; instead, they formed a complex, constantly moving obstacle around her.

Her opponent instantly fell into a passive position—unable to catch up, unable to hit her, and extremely annoyed.

"What fast reaction speed! The application of the Spirit is no longer limited to control, but has been integrated into movement techniques!" The teacher in charge of the actual combat test's eyes lit up.

Tang Ya seized a flaw in the opponent's impatience and activated her second Spirit Ability. Ghost Vine Parasite!

An inconspicuous Blue Silver Grass silently wrapped around the opponent's ankle. The next second, countless vines instantly burst out from the opponent's body, binding him like a rice dumpling. The battle ended. It took less than three minutes.

Jiang Nannan's side was just as easy. Her speed and reaction had reached a new height under Wang Qiuer's training. Facing the opponent's attacks, she could always dodge with the smallest movement and the fastest speed. Then, she used her long legs, which appeared soft and boneless but were actually full of explosive power, to launch a precise counterattack. Similarly, in less than five minutes, her opponent voluntarily conceded due to excessive Soul Power consumption.

"Both are good seedlings! Passed!" The combat teacher gave a high evaluation.

Now, only Huo Yuhao was left on the field. Everyone's gaze focused on him once again.

"Huo Yuhao, seven and a half years old." He calmly stated his age. A collective gasp sounded around him. Seven and a half? Here to take the entrance exam? What a joke?

Wang Yan's expression also became serious. He looked at Huo Yuhao and said in a deep voice: "Release your Soul Power and spirit ring."

Huo Yuhao nodded. A stream of Soul Power surged from his body. The crystal ball testing Soul Power instantly lit up, the numbers on it jumping rapidly, finally stopping at the number "27."

"Hiss!" The whole scene fell into a deathly silence again. A seven-and-a-half-year-old level 27 Spirit Master! This was no longer a genius; this was a monster! A freak!

Even Wang Qiuer in the elite waiting area couldn't help but raise the corners of her mouth slightly.

Wang Yan felt his heart could no longer bear today's stimulation. He said with a trembling voice: "spirit ring..."

Huo Yuhao raised his right hand, and the Spirit Eyes activated. A white ring of light slowly rose from beneath his feet. That was a white spirit ring representing ten years.

"..." The plaza, which had just been extremely noisy, instantly fell into an eerie silence. Everyone was stunned. The examinees who had just been shocked by Huo Yuhao's talent saw their expressions change from shock to astonishment. Then came regret, and finally, undisguised ridicule from some people.

"What's going on? The first spirit ring is ten years?" "I thought he was such a powerful monster, but it turns out he's a waste!" "With such good talent, he absorbed a ten-year first spirit ring; his life is ruined! What a waste of natural gifts!"

The excitement on Wang Yan's face also instantly froze. He looked at that white spirit ring, his eyes filled with endless regret and disappointment. It was over. A peerless genius, just like that... ruined.

However, Huo Yuhao's face remained as calm as an ancient well. He looked at Wang Yan and said slowly: "Teacher, I have a second spirit ring."

Before the words fell, a deep purple ring of light full of mysterious aura rose from beneath his feet, following closely behind the white spirit ring! That touch of purple was so deep, as if it contained thunder and storms!

A... thousand-year spirit ring?! If the ten-year spirit ring just now had made everyone fall from heaven to hell, then this thousand-year spirit ring kicked them from hell directly into the eighteenth level of hell, making even their souls tremble!

Attaching a thousand-year spirit ring after a ten-year spirit ring?! This had completely exceeded the cognition of everyone present! How could a person's body withstand the impact of a thousand-year spirit ring after absorbing a ten-year one?! This did not conform to the iron rule of Douluo Continent for ten thousand years!

"Monster... he is the real monster!!" An examinee said, in a dreamlike voice, voicing everyone's inner thoughts.

Wang Yan's mouth was wide open, enough to fit an egg. He looked at the unbelievable white and purple spirit rings, feeling his worldview completely crushed today. He suddenly snapped back to reality and, using all his strength, roared.

"Passed! S-rank! Highest S-rank evaluation!!"

Because of Huo Yuhao's shocking performance, the group was taken directly to the academy's academic affairs office and received by a vice dean personally. After understanding the situation, the vice dean made a prompt decision and made arrangements.

"Student Huo Yuhao, your situation is very special. In order for you to practice without disturbance, the academy has decided to provide you with a separate dormitory."

"Student Gu Yuena, you have reached the Spirit Elder cultivation level at the age of eleven, and are also a key focus of the academy. We have also arranged an independent dormitory for you."

"As for students Tang Ya and Jiang Nannan, your talents are also very outstanding, so you will be arranged in the same high-level double dormitory."

"Thank you, Dean." Huo Yuhao thanked him politely.

After arranging them, the vice dean's gaze looked somewhat nervously at Wang Qiuer, who had been resting with her eyes closed from beginning to end.

"This... Student Qiuer, your dormitory..."

Wang Qiuer opened her golden eyes and glanced at him indifferently. "I can stay anywhere."

After speaking, she turned to look at Huo Yuhao, a playful smile curling at the corner of her mouth. "Anyway, I'll come find you tonight."

Huo Yuhao: "..." Vice Dean: "..." Tang Ya and Jiang Nannan: "..." Gu Yuena's hand, which was turning the pages of a book, paused slightly.

Huo Yuhao felt his temples throbbing. He lowered his voice and squeezed a few words out from between his teeth. "My dear ancestor, you'd better not."