Chapter 26: Shrek Academy's Assessment
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Before leaving, Xu Yuan didn't forget to inform Mu Ye about his decision to apply to Shrek Academy.
Upon hearing the news, Mu Ye didn't object. It was acceptable for a disciple of the Body Sect to study at Shrek Academy simultaneously—there had been similar cases in the past, though they were rare.
After Xu Yuan departed from Tianhai City, Mu Ye also left.
"It's time to visit my eldest disciple."
Riding in Xu Shengqun's mecha, the two soon saw the outline of Shrek City.
Shrek City.
It had been two years since he last left this place.
"Two years... I'm back." Sitting inside the mecha, Xu Yuan gazed through the screen at the distant silhouette of Shrek City, feeling a mix of anticipation and nostalgia.
"For the next few days, adjust your state. I can't disclose the details of Shrek's assessment—it's part of the trial itself," Xu Shengqun said as he stopped at his villa, allowing Xu Yuan to begin preparing himself.
"The entrance exam for Shrek Academy is challenging. Spend these days recovering your strength and adapting to the changes after your spirit soul's evolution."
Xu Yuan nodded without objection.
He was familiar with the general process of Shrek's admissions exam, though some details had grown hazy over time. He still remembered the key stages, so he wasn't particularly worried.
Many of Shrek's assessments tested one's true nature, requiring soul masters to make choices that came from the depths of their hearts. These evaluations often included illusionary techniques, which temporarily masked any prior knowledge of the exam content. Extraneous thoughts would be redirected by the illusions, ensuring that the examinee responded only to the core of the test with pure intentions.
Even knowing parts of the exam beforehand wouldn't allow for much meaningful preparation.
The best approach was to adjust one's state, mentally preparing for battle. That was all.
The day of Shrek's admissions arrived quickly.
Xu Shengqun simply dropped Xu Yuan off at the gates of Shrek Academy.
Shrek Academy could also be called the inner city of Shrek. The entire academy functioned as a city, no smaller than a medium-sized city outside its walls. Its facilities were even more complete than those of many large cities.
Strictly speaking, the inner city encompassed the true scope of Shrek Academy, though the actual teaching areas only occupied a small portion of it.
Even so, it was already impressive.
From the inner city, Xu Yuan set out on his own, following his uncle's instructions to find Spirit Ice Plaza.
By now, a large crowd of young boys and girls had gathered outside Spirit Ice Plaza.
Every three years, Shrek Academy held an admissions exam. Though the number of spots was limited, there were always numerous talented soul masters eager to participate. Each intermediate or advanced academy typically had a few recommendation slots, allowing students to take part in what was known as "the exam."
It wasn't uncommon for soul masters with a minimum soul power of twenty-three or twenty-four levels to pass into Shrek Academy. In this era, it wasn't rare for thirteen-year-olds to reach such levels, and almost every intermediate soul master academy had the capability to produce students of this caliber.
However, the disparity between individuals at the same level was stark.
What was truly rare were the spots for direct admission into the Inner Court. Those who passed the Inner Court assessment would enter as special recruits, and upon meeting the Inner Court's requirements, they would become official Inner Court disciples.
Of course, the proportion of successful candidates was extremely low. Each year, around a hundred applicants attempted the Inner Court assessment, but fewer than five would succeed in gaining direct entry.
Most of these special recruitment slots were used as safety nets—even if candidates failed the Inner Court assessment, they could still enter the Outer Court with reduced expectations.
The examination venue was located in the circular building behind Spirit Ice Plaza. The six-story structure exuded grandeur and elegance, giving off an ancient and refined aura.
As Xu Yuan passed through Spirit Ice Plaza, he noticed several statues standing in the square.
The Golden Iron Triangle, the original generation of Shrek's Seven Monsters, and the newer generation led by Huo Yuhao—all were prominently displayed.
Xu Yuan could sense a subtle, extraordinary presence emanating from the statues of legendary figures like Tang San. Whether it was due to the craftsmanship during their creation, the infusion of soul master intent, or the accumulation of faith, it was unclear.
Beyond the statues, the surrounding crowd of young applicants began to grow denser.
Due to his rapid physical development from cultivation, Xu Yuan stood out among the group despite being only seven years old. His presence drew curious glances from many.
Arriving at the circular building, Xu Yuan raised his hand.
"Teacher, I'm here for the special recruitment exam."
A young man guiding the applicants glanced at Xu Yuan. "Follow me."
Given the sheer number of applicants, they were assessed in batches. However, those taking the special recruitment exam could begin alongside the regular batches.
The young man led Xu Yuan into the building while explaining, "You're very young—are you only seven or eight? While your age gives you an advantage in certain assessments, it won't fully offset the higher difficulty of the Inner Court special recruitment exam. You'll need to perform at the same level as those in the standard exams to pass."
Xu Yuan silently nodded, refraining from making bold claims.
The young man was surprised, not expecting such composure from someone so young.
He guided Xu Yuan past two corridors, arriving at a circular hall. Above them, a mural adorned the domed ceiling.
The hall contained fifty young applicants, all looking up with expressions of fear.
Xu Yuan followed their gaze to the mural on the wall.
It depicted a massive black dragon with golden eyes, its enormous wings spread wide, and its body surrounded by a dark purple aura.
Though merely a painting, it was vivid and lifelike. Most importantly, it exuded a tangible pressure that struck both the body and mind of anyone who looked at it.
Dragon Pressure!
This was Xu Yuan's first direct encounter with Dragon Pressure.
Descriptions in books paled in comparison to the real experience. Only by facing it could one understand how terrifying this oppressive force truly was.
The reason why Dragon-type martial souls were so powerful—and why True Dragon martial souls exerted such overwhelming pressure on lower-tier Dragon-type souls and even non-Dragon-type souls—was because of Dragon Pressure!
"This is a form of spiritual oppression!"
Born from the spirit, yet not purely a matter of spiritual power.
Facing the Dragon Pressure head-on, Xu Yuan, with his sky-high ambitions, was hit hardest. His face turned slightly pale, and his body wavered before he managed to steady himself.
Though deeply affected—even feeling his resistance plummet—he wasn't disheartened. Instead, he felt a sense of relief.
There was no oppressive sense of superiority—only pure, raw pressure.
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