Chapter 22: Ning Rongrong—"Do You Feel a Connection With Me?"

Dai Mubai's gaze sharpened as soon as he saw Tang Lan.

He quickly approached.

"You really came."

"You don't need to wait in line—you're exempt from the first three tests."

"Come with me."

Public Outrage!

His words instantly stirred the crowd!

"Why doesn't he have to take the test?!"

"If you're gonna give people special treatment, at least be subtle about it!"

"How much for a slot?! I can pay!"

Dai Mubai's brow furrowed.

He stomped the ground, sending a wave of soul power outward.

The complainers immediately shut up.

"What's all the noise about?" Dai Mubai barked.

"Anyone above Rank 25 is exempt from the first test."

"If you're over Rank 25, step forward and you can enter directly!"

The Crowd Falls Silent

Everyone was stunned.

Shrek Academy's age limit was 12 years old.

Having Rank 25 at that age?

That would mean being a total genius!

Dai Mubai gave Tang Lan a knowing look.

Tang Lan understood—and didn't feel like wasting time waiting in line anyway.

So—

He activated his Martial Soul,

Three soul rings—yellow, yellow, purple—rose beneath him.

The Crowd: (⊙_⊙)???

A Rank 30+ Soul Elder?!

And only 12 years old?!

The entire crowd was dumbfounded!

"Hehe, then I can skip too, right?" Xiao Wu giggled, summoning her Martial Soul.

Her soul rings—yellow, yellow, purple—glowed.

This time, even Dai Mubai's eyelids twitched.

A freak's friend is always another freak.

Ning Rongrong Stunned into Silence

Just moments ago, Ning Rongrong had been ready to blow up.

But now—

She was completely speechless.

She was only Rank 26.

And that was with the full support of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan,

including unlimited cultivation resources from birth.

But these two…

What kind of monsters were they?!

Official Verification

Li Yusong, regaining his senses, immediately stepped forward to verify their bone ages.

Xiao Wu—passed.

But when he got to Tang Lan…

"Hmm?"

"Did you train some special technique on your hands?"

He squatted down to check Tang Lan's feet.

Same result.

"Your feet too?"

Li Yusong stood up, ready to check more bones.

But Tang Lan waved him off.

—— His Vajra Immortal Body was flawless all over.

This left Li Yusong conflicted.

If he couldn't verify bone age, how could he confirm Tang Lan's actual age?

Tang Lan flashed a document from his Blue Silver King storage.

"This is my Martial Soul Hall certification."

Li Yusong took a look—

"Martial Soul: Blue Silver Grass?"

"Innate Soul Power: Rank 3?"

His entire face wrinkled.

You're telling me this guy is a 12-year-old Soul Elder…

With Blue Silver Grass and Rank 3 Innate Soul Power?!

How does that make any sense?!

Tang San Arrives

Just as Li Yusong was struggling to process this,

Tang San ran up from behind.

"Brother, what's going on?"

"Nothing, just the test." Tang Lan said casually.

"By the way, Xiao San is my twin brother. He's Rank 27—feel free to check."

Li Yusong checked Tang San's hand—

And his eye twitched.

Another one with weirdly trained hands?!

Fortunately,

Tang San's feet finally gave him an accurate bone age.

But—

Looking at the tall, handsome Tang Lan,

Then at the small, frail, slightly-aged Tang San…

These were twins?!

Skipping the Formalities

"Dai Mubai," Li Yusong said.

"Martial Soul Hall keeps records of these things. We can verify it later. For now—"

Li Yusong slapped his forehead.

Why am I stressing over this?

If their ages don't check out, we can always kick them later.

But if he turned them away now,

and it turned out they were real prodigies…

That would mean losing three monsters at once!

So—

He apologetically nodded at Tang Lan.

"You've passed. Mubai, take them to the fourth test."

"Wait!"

Ning Rongrong suddenly spoke up.

"I'm Rank 26—can I skip to the fourth test too?"

"Me too."

Zhu Zhuqing stepped forward.

"Rank 27."

Dai Mubai's Reaction

The moment Dai Mubai saw Zhu Zhuqing,

His heterochromatic eyes flashed—

Martial Soul Fusion Attraction!

But—

Zhu Zhuqing didn't even glance at him.

Instead, her eyes kept flicking toward Tang Lan.

From what she gathered—

Xiao Wu and Tang San both called Tang Lan "brother."

So… he wasn't taken?

Official Check

Li Yusong verified their bone ages and soul power.

Zhu Zhuqing—all clear.

But when he got to Ning Rongrong…

"Does your family know you're here?" Li Yusong asked, hinting at something.

Shrek's Busiest Year Yet

"What does it matter?" Ning Rongrong tilted her head playfully.

"I am me. I can make my own decisions. Aren't you guys looking for 'monsters'? Do I not qualify?"

Li Yusong paused, then his face broke into a deep smile.

"Good, good, good!"

"This year, we've got five little monsters all at once."

"Shrek Academy is about to get lively!"

"Mubai, take them to Old Zhao."

Dai Mubai nodded and led the way toward the academy.

Tang Lan walked at the front, with the rest following behind.

Ning Rongrong's Unexpected Approach

As they walked, Ning Rongrong moved closer—

positioning herself between Xiao Wu and Tang Lan.

Then, with an elegant smile, she asked—

"Handsome, do you feel anything when you look at me?"

She was referring to Martial Soul Fusion compatibility.

But Xiao Wu obviously misunderstood.

She put her hands on her hips and snapped,

"Hah! My brother would never like you!"

Ning Rongrong's smile stiffened.

A princess like her—being outright rejected?

She had graciously overlooked Xiao Wu's earlier rudeness—

Yet this little brat still dared to pick a fight?!

Just as Ning Rongrong was about to fire back—

"Enough, Xiao Wu."

Tang Lan patted Xiao Wu's head.

"Your brother is single. A pretty girl showing interest? Let me enjoy the moment, alright?"

Xiao Wu was furious!

"Single?"

"Then what the hell do you do with me at night?!"

"A 'brotherly check-up' on my body?!"

She huffed, turned her head away, and ignored Tang Lan.

Tang Lan wasn't worried.

He could sweet-talk her later.

Zhu Zhuqing's Thoughts

Hearing this, Zhu Zhuqing's lips curled slightly.

"As I thought!"

"Xiao Wu and Tang Lan are siblings—not lovers."

This realization brought her some relief.

But when she glanced at Tang Lan—

She noticed just how many girls were interested in him.

"If I don't act fast… he might be taken."

But… making the first move wasn't her style.

She fell into deep conflict.

"Oscar's Famous Sausages! Delicious and Nutritious!"

Suddenly—

A loud call echoed across the courtyard.

"Get your Oscar-brand sausages!"

"Good for the body and full of flavor!"

A delicious aroma spread through the air.

Looking up,

They saw a scruffy-looking young man,

pushing a small food cart toward them.

Dai Mubai's Warning

"Oscar!" Dai Mubai snapped.

"How many times have I told you—"

"No selling sausages inside the academy!"

Oscar's face fell.

"Come on, Boss Dai!"

"I'm just trying to help the school's finances!"

Dai Mubai remained firm.

"Make a new sausage."

Oscar's expression twisted awkwardly.

He glanced at Ning Rongrong, Zhu Zhuqing, and Xiao Wu—

And looked very reluctant.

"Boss Dai, come on."

"We've been classmates for years."

"If I do this, these new students will hate me."

Everyone is Shocked

Except for Tang Lan,

Everyone was surprised.

This scruffy-looking guy… is also a student?

Dai Mubai only scoffed.

"I'm saving you from embarrassment. Don't make me use force."

That settled it.

Oscar sighed.

He reluctantly muttered his incantation—

"Your daddy has a big sausage!"

A sausage materialized in midair.

At the same time—

Everyone's expressions turned disgusted.

"That incantation… is way too perverted!"

Oscar's Helplessness

Oscar sighed deeply.

"I don't have a choice, okay?"

"For food-type Martial Souls to work, different incantations are needed for different effects."

"I don't like it either!"

But nobody was sympathetic.

Tang San even stepped back slightly, as if keeping his distance.

Oscar, seeing this reaction,

was certain his sausage business was ruined.

Just as he lowered his head in disappointment—

Tang Lan stepped forward.

(End of Chapter)