Due to the sharp reduction in participants, it quickly became Tang San and Xiao Wu's turn.
They signed up together, and when Li Yusong saw that Tang San's Spirit was actually Blue Silver Grass, he was momentarily stunned.
Just like in the original story, Li Yusong found it hard to believe that Blue Silver Grass could cultivate so quickly?
And Tang San also said that even with a waste Spirit, being able to cultivate so quickly made him a genius.
Hearing this, Li Yusong smiled and told them to follow Ma Hongjun who had already returned.
However, this time, the scene from the original story where Tang San used the Spirit Crystal Ball to test his Spirit Power to show off didn't appear, because Ma Hongjun had explained the academy's entrance examination to everyone. As long as their Spirit Power reached level 25 or above, they could completely skip the second and third tests and go directly to the final fourth test.
So after learning that Tang San and Xiao Wu's Spirit Power was both level 29, Ma Hongjun took them directly to the location for the fourth test.
But Xiao Wu was a chatterbox, and after learning that she and Tang San could directly enter the fourth test, she became smug. After all, she had been the top student at Nuoding Academy for six consecutive years, and that's how talented she was!
On the way, Xiao Wu couldn't help but ask: "Senior, you... oh no, I mean we, why is our Shrek Academy's admission requirements so strict? If that's the case, wouldn't we be recruiting very few students every year?"
Hearing Xiao Wu's words, Ma Hongjun smiled slightly and replied: "The requirements are a bit strict, but everyone who can enter our academy is a genius among geniuses."
As he spoke, Ma Hongjun seemed to think of something and continued: "Actually, there's also a benefit to this, which is that it filters out Spirit Masters with poor talent from around you, leaving only geniuses. And as classmates, you can support each other in the future."
Hearing this, Tang San nodded in agreement beside him, but he still had a question: "But if there are no students, how does the academy maintain its funding?"
Ma Hongjun explained: "Our academy no longer relies on that little tuition money now. Moreover, we follow an elite route. Those who can enter the academy are all geniuses, and it's enough to pay the academy one hundred gold soul coins each year, but the feedback the academy gives us is far more than that. Anyway, you'll understand when the time comes."
Hearing this, Tang San increasingly felt that Shrek Academy was not simple. This academy's operating model was completely unlike that of a normal academy; instead, it focused solely on cultivating geniuses! Even at the cost of manpower and material resources.
And most importantly, now that he was so close to Ma Hongjun, he couldn't even feel the other's Spirit Power level? Or rather, the other's Spirit Power level was far above his!
And although Ma Hongjun was very handsome and looked more mature than him, in terms of age, they were definitely not much different.
In Tang San's view, Ma Hongjun was at most fifteen years old, but he couldn't determine the other's Spirit Power level?
That was terrifying. After all, although Tang San himself spent a lot of time every day forging hidden weapons and practicing Tang Men's unique skills, his Spirit Power cultivation speed was still among the best of his peers.
Even if Ma Hongjun was a genius with the same talent as him, it shouldn't be to the point where he couldn't determine the other's Spirit Power level, right?
So there was only one possibility: the other's Spirit Power level was far above his!
Tang San couldn't help but think to himself: "This is Shrek Academy? Is this the deep meaning behind my teacher sending me here? Competing on the same stage with such super geniuses is indeed exciting!"
However, what Tang San didn't know was that Yu Xiaogang recommended Tang San and the others to Shrek Academy precisely because of its strictness, but Yu Xiaogang didn't know the huge changes that had occurred in Shrek Academy now!
So everything Tang San was thinking now was just a wonderful coincidence.
Because some changes had occurred compared to the original story, there was no so-called sausage vendor selling grilled sausages along the way, and Ma Hongjun directly took Tang San and Xiao Wu to the Soul Fighting Platform in the center of the square.
At this moment, there was already a person in the rest area below the Dou Soul Arena, it was precisely that beautiful young lady who had entered earlier.
This beautiful young lady was Ning Rongrong, who had been staying at the Spirit Jade Inn in Soto City, just like in the original work, she hadn't changed at all, and had still come to Shrek Academy.
On a high platform on one side of the square, four young people were sitting around a table drinking juice, with a chessboard in front of them.
The four young people were two men and two women, among them, a handsome young man with silver-white hair looked the most dashing, whether it was his temperament or his behavior, it gave people a natural sense of reverence and harmony.
Opposite the silver-haired youth was a handsome young man with golden hair draped over his shoulders and dual pupils in his eyes. At this moment, the golden-haired youth had been defeated on the chessboard, and it seemed he was about to be checkmated.
Suddenly, the golden-haired youth saw Ma Hongjun walking in with two new students and immediately stood up and said: "Brother Oscar, I'm done playing, I have work to do."
As he spoke, the golden-haired youth stood up, directly messing up the entire chessboard.
Seeing this, the silver-haired youth just curled his lips speechlessly, while the other two girls watched these two men with smiles on their faces.
These four people were precisely Oscar, Dugu Yan, Dai Mubai, and Zhu Zhuqing.
Now fourteen-year-old Oscar looked a bit more mature, and eighteen-year-old Dugu Yan was the same, she had already begun to show the demeanor of a big sister.
She and Zhu Zhuqing were each looking at their own men, whispering something to the side.
Hearing Dai Mubai's words, Zhu Zhuqing and Dugu Yan slowly stood up, and like Dai Mubai, looked towards Ma Hongjun's direction.
And behind Ma Hongjun, Tang San and Xiao Wu also noticed the four young people on the high platform, and Xiao Wu was a bit stunned this time.
Not for any other reason, but because the students in Shrek Academy were just too good-looking?
And Tang San's thoughts at this moment were exactly the same as Xiao Wu's. Originally, Tang San didn't care about appearance, but to him now, appearance was something given by his parents, something that couldn't be changed in the first place, so it was what it was.
But now seeing several senior students appearing in Shrek Academy, Tang San suddenly felt that appearance seemed quite important after all.
Xiao Wu was fine, her looks weren't bad to begin with, it was just that she was still young now, giving a feeling of a bud about to bloom.
But Tang San himself was really so ordinary. Although his short black hair was trimmed neatly, his appearance was not outstanding, thrown into a crowd of ordinary people, he would definitely be the most inconspicuous one.
And Ma Hongjun noticed Tang San and Xiao Wu's gazes, and with a smile explained: "That silver-haired one is our academy's leader, named Oscar. The green-haired girl is our big sister, named Dugu Yan. The golden-haired four-eyed tiger is Dai Mubai, and the one with the great chest is our little sister Zhu Zhuqing, Mubai and Zhuqing are also a couple."
Ma Hongjun's introduction was very casual, and even made a small joke about Zhu Zhuqing, because their relationship was now very intimate, so it was natural to make some jokes.
Because Zhu Zhuqing now was much more cheerful than in the original work, after all, she hadn't suffered as much as in the original work now, plus her relationship with Dai Mubai was going smoothly, so naturally she was a more cheerful person.
Hearing Ma Hongjun's simple and unadorned introduction, Tang San and Xiao Wu immediately got to know these senior students, because their recognizability was indeed quite high.
Especially that little sister Zhu Zhuqing with the great chest.....
Even when Xiao Wu heard Zhu Zhuqing's introduction, she secretly glanced at her own chest, but when she looked down, what she saw was her own toes.
At this moment, Ning Rongrong, seeing that new students had finally arrived, couldn't help but wave to Tang San and Xiao Wu: "Hello, my name is Ning Rongrong!"
Tang San and Xiao Wu returned the smiles, introducing themselves as well.
At this moment, Ma Hongjun had already returned to the school gate, continuing to assist Li Yusong.
Tang San and Xiao Wu glanced at Ma Hongjun's retreating figure, then looked at the four senior students on the high platform, just about to say something when they heard Ning Rongrong say softly to Tang San and Xiao Wu: "Stop looking. I've been here for a while now, and no one has paid any attention to me."
Hearing this, Xiao Wu asked: "Then didn't you call out to them?"
Ning Rongrong replied with a bitter face: "I did, but that senior Oscar told me to wait."
Hearing this, Tang San looked at the high platform again, thinking to himself with some confusion: "Wait? Senior Ma Hongjun said the fourth test was a practical combat evaluation. How can they evaluate us by just waiting?"
Ning Rongrong was about to say that she was a support-type Spirit Master! How could a support-type Spirit Master fight?
And just as Tang San was thinking, Dai Mubai leaped forward and landed before the three of them.
Dai Mubai's action startled the three of them. Before they could speak, Dai Mubai had already started: "My name is Dai Mubai, I'm the examiner for your fourth test. Red Jun should have already told you about the test content, right?"
Hearing Dai Mubai's words, Tang San and the other two nodded: "Senior Ma said the fourth test evaluates practical combat. As long as we pass this final test, we can enter Shrek Academy to study."
Dai Mubai nodded: "That's right. Practical combat is the best way to test a Spirit Master's true combat ability. What you need to do next is to pass my test. You have one incense stick's time to get to know each other and discuss tactics. After that, the test begins, and your task is to work together to withstand my attacks for one incense stick's time."
"Of course, there are no restrictions during this time. You can use your most skilled and favorite methods."
Hearing this, Tang San raised an eyebrow: "No restrictions?"
And just at this moment, Oscar slowly spoke from the high platform: "Mubai, why don't let me do it. I just broke through and haven't had a chance to stretch my muscles with you and Zhuqing."
Hearing this, Dai Mubai turned to look at Oscar in disbelief: "Ah?"
Dai Mubai never expected that Oscar would suddenly want to come down and crush some newcomers!
In the past, when Shrek Academy recruited students, not many made it to the fourth test, but those who did were usually tested by Dai Mubai and Ma Hongjun. Now Oscar actually wanted to personally take action?
However, Oscar couldn't be bothered to explain because there was no need.
But the reason Oscar wanted to personally take action was also to test Tang San's true strength at this time.
After all, what was seen in the original novel and one's actual feelings are different.
And confirming that Oscar seemed serious about taking action, Dai Mubai still hesitated: "Brother Oscar, isn't this a bit much? If you personally take action, can they even last one incense stick's time?"
Oscar imitated Zhao Wuji from the original novel, glared at Dai Mubai, and said: "What's wrong with that? The principal and the others aren't here, so I'm the biggest in the academy. If I say it's good, then it's good."
Then Oscar said to Tang San and the other two: "Alright, I'm going to light the incense now. You don't have much time, so get ready yourselves. Mubai, you can tell them about my strength characteristics so they can be somewhat prepared."
After saying this, Oscar took an incense stick from his Spirit Device, pinched the tip with his finger, and lit it directly. In the blink of an eye, the incense was inserted into the ground without trembling at all.
After finishing this, Oscar stood there as if nothing was wrong, observing Tang San. He discovered that Tang San was indeed quite ordinary now.
In fact, more than half a year ago, Oscar had already met Tang San, because at that time, the Spirit Jade Restaurant and Spirit Jade Escort Agency had been established in Nuoding City, and Oscar had secretly observed Tang San and Xiao Wu through his clones.
However, speaking of which, Xiao Wu's Soul Beast identity probably can't be kept hidden anymore, but it won't have an impact in the short term. Because Zhao Wuji recently broke through to level 80, Flander and Lu Qibin accompanied him to the Star Dou Forest to obtain his eighth Spirit Ring, while Gai Yue was at the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Eye attempting to break through to level 90 and trying to condense his first Soul Core.
Therefore, Shrek Academy currently has no Spirit Masters above level 80, so naturally no one else can see through Xiao Wu's identity.
In fact, Oscar himself couldn't see through Xiao Wu's true form, because although his spiritual power far exceeded that of his peers, it was only at the late-stage of Spirit Emperor level now, and he couldn't yet see through illusions.
After all, although the Gazing Autumn Water Dew could enhance spiritual power, it didn't come with special abilities like eye techniques, and plus Oscar had no cultivation method to practice, so naturally he couldn't see through it.
However, Oscar didn't need to see through it, because he had long known about Xiao Wu's identity.
Of course, Oscar wouldn't bring it up, because it didn't match the facts, since he didn't possess the ability to see through Xiao Wu.
And most importantly, his teacher was about to break through to level 90, and if he exposed Xiao Wu's identity now, wouldn't that be letting this hundred thousand-year-old Spirit Ring get away?
After all, Tang Hao was definitely secretly following them at this time, and if Xiao Wu's identity was exposed, Tang Da Chui would definitely take Xiao Wu away.
After all, in the original story, Tang Hao initially treated Xiao Wu as a backup Spirit Ring for Tang San, but only because Tang San and Xiao Wu fell in love did he let her go.
Just as Oscar was pondering these issues, Tang San, Xiao Wu, and Ning Rongrong all reported their Spirit Power levels to each other. The three of them hadn't changed much; Tang San and Xiao Wu were both level 29, while Ning Rongrong was level 26.
And when Tang San learned that Ning Rongrong's Spirit was the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda, he was also shocked as in the original story, after all, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect was one of the top three sects.
Ning Rongrong's Spirit was the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda, which at a glance showed she was from the direct line of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. Even a direct-line genius from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect came to study at Shrek Academy, which once again made Shrek Academy loom larger in Tang San and Xiao Wu's hearts.
After the three reported their levels and Spirits to each other, Dai Mubai also sighed: "You three best of luck. Brother Oscar is personally taking action, so the difficulty of this assessment for you can be said to have greatly increased."
Hearing this, Ning Rongrong asked puzzledly: "Could it be that Senior Oscar is also a Spirit Emperor powerhouse like the teacher who just registered us for the assessment? But how is that possible? Senior Oscar doesn't look much older than us? How could there be such a genius in this world?"
Hearing this, Dai Mubai somewhat marveled at how big Ning Rongrong's imagination was. Although Brother Oscar was indeed a genius, it wasn't to the extent of directly reaching the Spirit Emperor realm!
However, this young girl guessed quite accurately. Although Brother Oscar's Spirit Power cultivation hadn't reached the Spirit Emperor level, his actual strength was enough to go a few rounds with a Spirit Emperor powerhouse.
Dai Mubai shook his head speechlessly: "It's not that exaggerated."
Hearing this, Xiao Wu smiled and said: "Then there's nothing to fear. How can we say that the three of us all have nearly level 30 strength? With three against one, and with the assistance of a top-tier auxiliary Spirit Master like the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda, as long as the strength gap isn't too wide, can't we last for the time it takes to burn one incense stick?"
Dai Mubai looked at her, his eyes a bit like he was looking at an idiot: "If you think Brother Oscar's attacks are that easy to block, then you're greatly mistaken. That's right, Brother Oscar is not a Spirit Emperor of the 60th level, but his Spirit Power has reached a terrifying level 47."
"Brother Oscar's comprehensive strength is the strongest in the academy. Even if Zhu Qing and I join forces with Hongjun, the three of us together are no match for Brother Oscar!"
Speaking of this, Dai Mubai thoughtfully added: "By the way, my Spirit Power is level 39, Zhu Qing is level 29, and we also have a Spirit Fusion Skill. Under the effect of the Spirit Fusion Skill, the strength they display is no less than that of a high-ranking Soul Elder!"
"Although Hongjun is younger than me, his Spirit Power level has reached a terrifying level 45!"
"That means even two high-ranking Soul Elders are no match for Brother Oscar. Do you think you three Great Soul Masters who don't even have your third Spirit Rings can last for the time it takes to burn one incense stick?"
"Even with the assistance of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda, I estimate you two can't even withstand one of Brother Oscar's strikes. Of course, Brother Oscar definitely won't go all out from the start, after all, this is an assessment."