Chapter 56: Let's Stay Here for Now

Chapter 56: Let's Stay Here for Now

"Are you sure this is the academy, Xiao San? This looks more like a village. Where is the grandeur of an academy?" Xiao Wu couldn't help but voice her disappointment as she looked at the dilapidated village before them.

The day before, she and Tang San had visited the Tianwu Academy, where the buildings were majestic and the teachers who received them were extremely polite and enthusiastic.

The teacher there had told them that if they joined the Tianwu Academy, not only would their tuition and miscellaneous fees be waived, but they would also have a free chance to use the Mimic Cultivation Field once a week.

Having witnessed the effects of the Mimic Cultivation Field, Xiao Wu longed to study there. However, their visit had only been to check it out, and their true goal was still the Shrek Academy.

Now, as Xiao Wu beheld the scale of Shrek, she couldn't help but pause in her tracks.

This place called Shrek didn't resemble an academy at all. There was only a bizarre icon and the words "Shrek Advanced Soul Master Academy" hanging above the entrance.

Compared to the bustling Tianwu Academy, this place was desolate and quiet to the point of being unbelievable. Where was the prestige and activity that a renowned academy should have?

Tang San also felt a bit embarrassed. It seemed that Shrek was truly inferior to Tianwu Academy.

No, it wasn't just a matter of seeming. Shrek was indeed inferior to Tianwu Academy.

"Xiao San, do you think it's possible that Master made a mistake? Maybe we were supposed to go to Tianwu Academy instead of Shrek?" Xiao Wu quickly tried to persuade Tang San as she saw his hesitation.

Hearing Xiao Wu's words, Tang San hesitated as well. Indeed, compared to Tianwu Academy, this Shrek didn't seem very reliable.

"Xiao San, why don't we wait for your teacher to arrive first? We can ask him then about which academy we should join. Anyway, students with our kind of talent are wanted by many." Xiao Wu continued to coax him. She felt that if Tang San's teacher truly cared for him, he would surely know which of the two academies was the better choice.

However, before Tang San could respond, a voice called out from within the Shrek Academy.

"From what you're saying, do you have someone recommending you?"

Soon, a figure appeared before the two of them—it was none other than the principal of Shrek, Four-Eyed Owl Franerd.

The first thing that caught Franerd's attention was the storage-type Soul Guide device tied to Tang San's waist.

"Yes, my teacher recommended that I come to the Shrek Academy. May I ask who you are?" Sensing the extraordinary aura emanating from Franerd, Tang San's tone became much more respectful.

Hearing the word "teacher," Franerd's eyebrows twitched, and he was about to invite Tang San to join Shrek. But he quickly abandoned that thought.

"I am Franerd, the principal of the Shrek Academy, also known as Four-Eyed Owl. Your teacher and I used to be good friends, and he probably recommended Shrek to you out of consideration for our friendship.

To be honest, compared to Shrek, I would recommend Tianwu Academy. It is the soul master academy established by the Tianwu Duchy, and their faculty and teaching facilities are superior to ours.

I suspect that Little Fatty isn't aware of the situation there. If he knew about Tianwu Academy, he would probably ask you to study there."

Hearing this, Xiao Wu became the most excited, immediately grabbing Tang San's hand and preparing to leave.

Tang San helplessly patted her hand gently, signaling for her to calm down.

"You and my teacher must have been more than just ordinary friends. Can you tell me more about your relationship and the stories you shared?" Tang San asked sincerely. Such heartfelt questions were only asked between those with a very close relationship, and it made Tang San view Franerd in a more favorable light.

"The stories between us…" Franerd fell into a brief reverie but soon shook his head. "Since he hasn't told you, his student, about it, it wouldn't be appropriate for me, an outsider, to do so.

In any case, I still don't recommend you join Shrek for now. We've been going through some tough times these past years."

Hearing this suggestion again, Tang San realized that Shrek might indeed be facing some problems.

"Senior, I'll wait for my teacher's arrival before deciding where to go. Since you're my teacher's friend, can I stay here temporarily during the wait? Could you also tell me more about the current situation at Shrek? How many teachers and students are there?"

"Currently, there are only three teachers at the academy, including me: myself, Zhao Wuji, and Shao Xin.

My martial soul is the Four-Eyed Owl, a Level 78 Agility-Attack Battle Soul Saint.

Zhao Wuji's martial soul is the Mighty Golden Bear, a Level 74 Strength-Attack Battle Soul Saint.

Shao Xin's martial soul is the Sugar Bean, a Level 71 Food-Type Tool Soul Saint.

There are only two students: Dai Mubai and Oscar."

"Among them, their most outstanding achievement is a genius girl who broke through to the Soul King level at the age of twenty-one." Hearing this, Xiao Wu covered her mouth in surprise, and a faint furrow appeared on Tang San's brow.

However, he quickly latched onto a key piece of information. "Senior, does the fact that there are only this many students and teachers here now imply that the academy used to have more?"

Upon hearing Tang San's question, Franerd paused in his tracks but remained silent.

He led the two of them into the academy and was just about to arrange accommodations for them when his ears twitched, and he looked toward the entrance. "It seems like there's another student who can't take the hint. I'll go deal with them; you two can find your own lodgings."

Franerd glanced at Tang San, but after saying this, he lightly shook his head and shouted toward the depths of the academy. "Dai Mubai, come out!"

A response came from within, and soon a figure soared into the air. As he landed, a muscular hulk of a man appeared before them.

At the sight of this man, Tang San couldn't help but swallow hard, and he shot a questioning glance at Franerd. "Is that Dai Mubai? A student in his thirties?"

Franerd could only sigh and rub his forehead in exasperation. "That's Zhao Wuji, one of the academy's teachers."

He quickly introduced him to Tang San and Xiao Wu before turning to Zhao Wuji. "Old Zhao, these two are a friend's students, and they haven't decided yet if they'll be joining Shrek. Don't get too worked up."

Hearing Franerd's words, Zhao Wuji waved his hand in disappointment and turned to walk back toward the inner parts of the academy. If they were new students, he would have loved to spar with them, but since they were friends of Franerd, it seemed unlikely they would be joining Shrek.

On his way back, Zhao Wuji ran into Dai Mubai. Without a word, Zhao Wuji tossed Dai Mubai forward, saving him the trouble of running the rest of the way.

Franerd caught the flying Dai Mubai and proceeded to introduce him to Tang San and Xiao Wu. "Greetings, I'm Tang San, and this is my sister, Xiao Wu."

Dai Mubai grunted in acknowledgment and then led the pair toward the dormitories. Franerd, meanwhile, ran off to deal with the unwelcome visitor.

As Franerd's figure disappeared from view, Tang San cautiously asked Dai Mubai a question that had been on his mind. "Wasn't there more to our academy before? I asked the principal, but he didn't say anything."

In response to Tang San's question, Dai Mubai merely glanced at him and remained silent. This piqued Tang San's curiosity even further, and he followed up with another question. "I heard that Tianwu Academy has excellent teachers. Why would you choose to stay at Shrek?"

The principal had tried to convince him, so he must have tried to persuade the other students as well. Why hadn't they left? Something about this situation didn't sit right with Tang San. Could it be that this seemingly lackluster Shrek Academy was hiding some secrets?

Hearing Tang San's words, Dai Mubai halted in his tracks and turned to stare intently at Tang San. "Are you deliberately looking to pick a fight?"

Dai Mubai took a step back and wasted no time in releasing his martial soul. "If you want answers, sure, but only after you defeat me!"

With his yellow, yellow, and purple soul rings activated, Dai Mubai pointed at Tang San and Xiao Wu, indicating that they should attack together.

"Hey, you're being completely unreasonable here! We just asked a question, and now you want to fight? Why should we battle you?" Xiao Wu stood in front of Tang San with her hands on her hips, clearly displeased by Dai Mubai's aggressive stance.

Seeing Dai Mubai's attitude, Tang San became even more convinced that there was more to this Shrek Academy than met the eye. "Xiao Wu, stand behind me. I'll take him on."

Yellow and yellow soul rings appeared beneath Tang San's feet as they both prepared for battle.

"Little San, no! You can't beat him; his third soul ring is a thousand-year-old soul ring. We should fight together." Xiao Wu also released her martial soul and stepped out from behind Tang San.

Seeing that Xiao Wu had already released her martial soul, Tang San swallowed the words he had been about to say and changed his instruction. "Xiao Wu, be careful and try not to get hurt."

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end