"Teacher Zhao, you're a grown man—why are you still so childish?"
Bai Mu spread his hands, his tone utterly innocent.
"Who said that signing up means you must take the assessment? And who said that passing the assessment means you must join the academy? Who made those rules?"
Zhao Wuji: "Then why did you sign up?"
"I came purely for fun—to spar with Teacher Zhao and test my current strength. Is that not allowed?"
Bai Mu smiled casually.
"Thanks to you, I'm very satisfied with my current strength."
"Fun?!"
Zhao Wuji's voice suddenly shot up, veins bulging on his forehead.
"You treat the entrance assessment like child's play? And fighting me—a Spirit Saint—as just sparring?!"
Sparring?
Then why had he been beaten into such a miserable state?
"In friendly sparring and exchanges, a little intensity is perfectly normal."
Bai Mu wasn't intimidated in the slightest and shot back calmly.
"What? Teacher Zhao, can't you accept losing?"
"You—!"
Zhao Wuji choked, forcibly suppressing his anger as he tried to persuade him.
"Bai Mu, kid, I admit your talent is unmatched, but you still have a lot to learn! Shrek Academy's faculty is extremely strong—far beyond ordinary high-level Spirit Master academies. This is absolutely your best choice!"
"Oh?"
Bai Mu raised an eyebrow and asked leisurely,
"Then may I ask—does your academy teach specialized meditation techniques? Offer unique courses? Or perhaps… provide high-level Mimicry Training Grounds?"
Zhao Wuji froze.
Meditation techniques? Aren't those things something everyone figures out on their own?
Special courses? Does going to the Spirit Arena for real combat count?
Mimicry Training Grounds… Shrek Academy was dirt poor—where would they get something like that?
"Don't worry about those details. The academy definitely has them!"
Zhao Wuji forced the words out, his voice unconsciously rising.
"Even if we don't have them right now, with so many outstanding teachers guiding you, the results will absolutely surpass any academy that does have them!"
Seriously—are you trying to sell me a dream?
Bai Mu rolled his eyes inwardly, then spoke seriously.
"I am Bai Mu. Innate spirit power level one. I left school at nine to travel the continent. Now, at twelve years old, I'm a level forty quasi–Spirit Ancestor."
"And Shrek Academy's graduation requirement is reaching Spirit Ancestor before the age of twenty. It seems I've already met the graduation standard before even enrolling."
He paused, his gaze sweeping over the damage still visible on Zhao Wuji's body, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly.
"More importantly… I don't think Shrek Academy can help me grow stronger."
"After all, even you, Teacher Zhao—the Vice Dean—seemed to have… lost to me just now?"
He deliberately dragged out the last words.
"This makes it very hard for me to believe the academy has the ability to make me stronger."
Slap!
Those words hit Zhao Wuji like a resounding slap to the face.
In the world of Spirit Masters, weakness was the original sin.
Being defeated by someone dozens of levels below him—if that got out, he'd be laughed at for the rest of his life.
"I wasn't in good condition just now! I simply didn't perform well!"
Zhao Wuji's face flushed red as he hurriedly defended himself.
"If it were a normal fight, I definitely wouldn't have—"
"Tsk~ Why is your 'condition' always so bad?"
Bai Mu shook his head and chuckled, cutting him off.
"My decision is final. There's no need to persuade me further."
He turned to Zhu Zhuqing and smiled with a hint of playfulness.
"Little kitty, I'm leaving. Take good care of yourself—and don't miss me too much."
Zhu Zhuqing's pupils trembled slightly, and she subconsciously asked,
"You… aren't taking me with you?"
She had thought Bai Mu would take her away, just as they had discussed before, and let her follow him.
"Your master has important business to attend to and doesn't have time to look after you."
Bai Mu reached out and ruffled her hair.
"So I'll leave you here for now."
The intimate gesture made Zhu Zhuqing stiffen, but she didn't dodge.
"Leave me here? I'm not your pet!"
She retorted coldly, yet she looked exactly like a kitten abandoned by its owner.
"Little San, Xiao Wu—you two keep working hard as well."
Bai Mu looked at Tang San and Xiao Wu, his gaze briefly passing over Ning Rongrong before he nodded slightly.
"As for the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School… I'll consider it later."
With that, he turned and walked away.
"Stop right there!"
Zhao Wuji's low roar boomed like thunder, his face so dark it looked like water could drip from it.
"Do you think this is a place you can come and go from whenever you please?"
Being defeated by a student was one thing—he could accept or even admire that.
But being toyed with, finishing the fight, and then having the other party casually walk away?
Did he really think the Immovable Wisdom King had no temper?!
"Is it not?"
Bai Mu stopped and turned his head.
"The road lies beneath my feet. I go wherever I wish."
"I've already used a Spirit Ability to Lock-On to you!"
Zhao Wuji's spirit power surged violently.
"If you insist on leaving, then I can only… forcibly keep you here!"
The threat was completely undisguised.
The temperature of the entire training ground seemed to plunge instantly.
Zhu Zhuqing and Tang San subconsciously stepped forward, but Xiao Wu quickly pulled them back.
Dai Mubai lowered his head, lost in thought.
"Zhao Wuji, you're nothing more than a Spirit Saint. What exactly do you think you're doing to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School's Guest Elder?!"
Ning Rongrong stopped pretending and boldly stepped between them, fearlessly.
In her eyes, Bai Mu's value far surpassed that of Shrek Academy.
This little girl has good taste.
Bai Mu glanced at Ning Rongrong with renewed appreciation.
He turned back to face Zhao Wuji. Instead of fear, there was a hint of amusement in his eyes.
"Teacher Zhao, why don't you guess…"
"Is the person standing in front of you right now the real me?"
!!!
The words struck like a bolt of lightning.
Zhao Wuji's pupils shrank violently.
That… he truly couldn't be sure.
He rapidly scanned his surroundings and realized that although Bai Mu hadn't recalled his spirit, Zygarde's Dragon Hound form had silently disappeared at some unknown point.
He looked back at the Bai Mu before him.
Calm demeanor. Steady breathing. Unshakable composure.
Too calm—far too calm.
This was very likely a Substitute.
"We're all civilized people. Wouldn't it be better to part peacefully and treat this as a friendly exchange?"
Bai Mu's voice pulled him back to reality.
"If it's unnecessary, I think… we shouldn't casually make enemies. What do you think?"
"Or are you already prepared to be my enemy?"
Cold sweat seeped from Zhao Wuji's forehead.
If the person before him was the real body, that was one thing.
But if it was a fake—and he attacked—
He would be completely antagonizing a peerless genius: a twelve-year-old level forty who could fight a Spirit Saint across realms.
Was it worth risking everything for the chance to force such a genius into the academy?
Even putting himself aside—would Flender really offend a future Titled Douluo just for a genius who refused to join?
"Alright, it's getting late. I'll be leaving."
Seeing Zhao Wuji remain silent, Bai Mu waved casually and continued walking toward the edge of the village.
His pace was unhurried.
His back was completely exposed.
As if any casual sneak attack could end his life.
That posture didn't resemble an Immortal Master at all.
…
Zhao Wuji clenched his fists.
Relaxed them.
Then clenched them again.
In the end, he didn't move.
And more importantly—
He didn't dare to move.
--------------Author---------------
Read 50 advanced chapters on
👉 patreon.com/Master_fic