Shrek Academy, the number one academy that was located in the number one city of the continent, remains a place that countless people yearned to enter.
Shrek Academy's campus was vast, a small town unto itself.
It actually used to be the original Shrek City until Spirit Ice Douluo Huo Yuhao. The Spirit Pagoda's founder proposed an expansion. Only then did the city grow much larger.
Every three years, Shrek Academy would recruit new students, signaling a grand occasion for soul masters.
Tang Wulin saw all of this as he landed before, enter the city. He was running straight to the inn where they were supposed to meet at.
He already changed into a different set of clothing but the most notable feature is the rings of dragon claws around his neck. A sash around his waist that is hanging off and a golden ring on his left arm. Reminiscent of his old life when he was in Fiore.
"Well, there are other options other than Shrek."
'True but I wouldn't be able to fight most of the people here if I attended another school.'
That was pretty much the sole reason Tang Wulin cared about coming to Shrek. To challenge and dominate all the strong people there.
While he could do that in tournaments and school competition, they might not send out their strongest people.
He saw the inn where Wu Zhangkong said to meet him, ran straight to the side, and found the room.
He ignored everyone else and kicked open the door but instead of Wu Zhangkong, he notes four other people.
"Captain!"
"Where Wu Zhangkong?"
Shen Yi was surprised that her senior brother had one of his students calling him by his name. The other kids besides didn't seem to mind or care, as they all rocket towards Tang Wulin for a group hug.
"Do we really have time for this?"
"Too bad captain, your fault that we're late. So we're going to abuse this."
"Just as the Vice-Captain says. We haven't seen you in months."
"Hmph. You know how to come back huh."
Tang Wulin's lips twitch as Xie Xie, Xiaoyang and Gu Yue glared at him. He asks them about Wu Zhangkong and then they all turn to Shen Yi.
"We're leaving now."
Shen Yi got up and started to promptly leave the inn, with the kids instantly following behind her. Xie Xie started to tell Tang Wulin what happened while he was gone.
"You guys fought the platform guardian?"
"Yep Captain, you should have seen Xu Xiaoyan and Gu Yue. They were showcasing their overbearing self on the guardian."
"And you were being your useless self."
"Xie Xie couldn't even last the whole fight."
"If it wasn't for me, you guys wouldn't be alive!"
Tang Wulin was able to get the gist of what happened. The platform guardian was a ten-thousand-year Gold Wolf King.
They were able to rigorously suppress it with Gu Yue using her elements to keep it at bay and Xu Xiaoyan intercepting its attacks. She was able to do precisely this with her Ice Wheel and second soul skill Ice Weapon.
While Xie Xie himself would strike it back when he found an opportunity. In the end, the Gold Wolf King faked its death and when they thought they were done, went out to strike them.
It was because of Xie Xie's speed that he was able to block and counter it.
Sadly he still died because of its fangs and enraging the girls to absolutely decimate it. Tang Wulin promptly turns his eyes to stare at Xu Xiaoyan who instantly felt chills on her back.
'Curse you, Xie Xie. You had to tell him, now he is going to up the training.'
Xu Xiaoyan knew Tang Wulin was going to make her pay for her negligence.
She promises to pay him back for this. He then turns to Xie Xie and asks who was leading them ahead. Xie Xie told him it was Wu Zhangkong friend from Shrek.
'That man has friends!'
Zeref started laughing but Tang Wulin ignore finding it hard to believe that ice-cold man could have friends. Ignoring the fact that he also had friends, even if he tried denying it.
Gu Yue and Xu Xiaoyan pass him a bag of steam buns with meat. He started munching on them while Xie Xie's lips twitch.
"Are you guys his mom or something? How do you know he would be hungry."
Gu Yue and Xu Xiaoyan glared at Xie Xie, already promising to pay him back heavily. They arrived in front of Shen Yi's car, causing Tang Wulin's lips to twitch.
"Yea, I am just going to run there."
"Run there. There is no time, stop with your crap and get into the car."
Tang Wulin ignored Shen Yi as Gu Yue handed him a juice box and then sprinted off toward Shrek Academy, using all of his leg power.
Shen Yi stared blankly at the spot where Tang Wulin was, still shocked that he ignored her.
She turns to the other kids and saw they were already in the car, not minding what happened.
'Senior brother, why is it that your students are harder to deal with than you. Did you rub off on them or something?'
Knowing the boy was already long gone, Shen Yi got in the car and drove to Shrek. Within an hour, they arrived and saw Tang Wulin sitting on a bench laying down.
Shen Yi's lips twitch and told Tang Wulin to follow her, as she went through another entrance.
Xie Xie asks if they were in Shrek Academy now, with Shen Yi saying they are but specifically in the inner city.
Shen Yi told them their exam would be harder but if they passed they would be working students and will have to pay for their tuition.
"Captain where are you going!"
"Yea, Shrek isn't worth me paying out of pocket. Welp, I see you guys later, I'm going solo."
"Captain!"
"You're not paying out of pocket! You are just working for the school to pay off the tuition!"
"Oh, why didn't you say that in the first place."
Tang Wulin was not about to pay his money, for useless things. He is already too busy breaking these seals, which are costing a fortune sadly. As if he would pay to fight his opponents.
'These kids!'
Shen Yi felt like her whole world was breaking, as she found out there are people in the world who would reject Shrek's acceptance because they're a cheapskate.
"Captain, aren't you too much of a cheapskate."
"Are you saying you would have stayed?"
"Without you? No way."
Shen Yi took them around the place, while Tang Wulin follows outside of the car. After a while, they arrived in a building that a detailed painting.
The painting started to make everyone but Tang Wulin tremble and make their knees buckle.
There was a large black dragon in the mural. Its eyes glowed golden, even more striking against the backdrop of its ebony face, and its wings were spread wide.
Violet light exploded from its body. It was obviously a painting, but it was vivid to the point of blurring the lines between fiction and reality.
But surprisingly the people around him refuse to kneel have they start to rise back up. Tang Wulin had a smirk on his face hidden by his hair.
The dragon saw they weren't kneeling increased its might and roar, creating an even bigger pressure.
'You dare.'
'You puny overgrown lizard, that isn't even alive dare to try and make me kneel.'
Tang Wulin's eyes turned pure brilliant white, and the tribal markings on his body glowed as stared at the dragon painting.
The Gold-eyed Black Dragon King painting felt strange, it saw the area around it was turning black and then it saw fire. It looks like a battlefield with fire burning everywhere.
It started moving its eyes around and then saw the bodies of dead dragons.
It felt a feeling of dread, something it hasn't felt in a long time, and then it felt something staring at it. It turns its head to where it felt the stare until it was faced with something absolutely terrifying.
It was a mountain of dragon bodies piled up together with blood flowing down and then it was a human sitting on top of it.
The human had long dark blue hair. He looks young with tribal marking on him with a smile on his face. Then it changed to that of the boy he just saw in the examination and he was glaring at him.
Then the image changed again into a large, giant dragon. Whose entire upper body is covered in black round scales which in turn are decorated by spiraling blue markings. It possesses a blunt, rounded head with four large and elongated plates extending backward and has white beady eyes.
It had gargantuan, multilayered wings composed of the very same plates covering its whole body, which take on a formation reminiscent of a bird's feathers. Its massive tail splits in two at its end where the black plates disappear and take on a double stinger-like appearance.
The dragon had white eyes with blood flowing down on its body and mouth.
The dragon was chewing on the body of a dead dragon, as its blood was being leaked all over its body. It notices the heads of other dragons in the giant dragon's mouth.
The Dragon then turns its head at him and then roared at him as the flames around him started to envelop his body. It started to scream but then its eyes widen as it saw the sky was now covered in darkness.
The flame started to involve him even more, Gold-eyed Black Dragon King tried to shake it off but it couldn't move as the fire fully covered him. Then it felt something grab it, as it struggles to get the flames off it.
It saw the white eyes dragon staring at him and then it opens its mouth with blood still in it.
CRUNCH!
ROAR!
The painting inside the building utterly started to burn, causing alarm for everyone but Tang Wulin whose eyes were still white. Then the painting shattered into pieces, as Tang Wulin's eyes return to normal with a glare.
'How many Dragons have I killed.'
'Learn your place and Kneel.'
'I'm your one and only Dragon King.'
#
They were moved on to the next trial, which had them fighting an Earth Demon Rhinoceros.
"Xu Xiaoyan show them your skills."
Tang Wulin wanted to see how far she comes since he left. She nodded and charged at the Earth Demon Rhinoceros. She sidesteps it charged and then created a greatsword of ice to smash it down on the Rhinoceros.
SMASH!
The Earth Demon Rhinoceros was shocked at the power, as it felt its hide being torn through. It moved its head to the side but found Xu Xiaoyan was already gone, she was up in the air with a bow made of ice in her hand.
Swoosh!
The arrow pierces in the same spot, and the great sword struck. This caused the Earth Demon Rhinoceros to roar in rage and then it was slammed down with an ice hammer.
SMASH!
Xu Xiaoyan flips to the side of the stun Rhinoceros and then made another mighty hammer to smack it in the face.
SMASH!
She didn't stop with that, as she made an ice wheel to hit the Earth Demon Rhinoceros. The Rhinoceros couldn't do anything as Xu Xiaoyan was constantly changing offensive weapons to hit it with.
Xu Xiaoyan then creates an ice needle and then shoved it straight through the Rhinoceros open eyes.
Then used her third soul skill, Ice Make to instantly change the needle into a greatsword while it was still in the Earth Demon Rhinoceros.
Rhinoceros died without being able to attack or scream in the end. Everyone went to congratulate her and Xie Xie said she become even colder than Gu Yue. Which almost earns him an ice sword to face if it wasn't for Tang Wulin.
Shen Yi came to tell them the result was Xu Xiaoyan scoring 10 and everyone eighth. She told them Xu Xiaoyan got 10 for killing it, and they got eight because of that too.
Shen Yi was happy as she begins leading them to the next trial. Wu Zhangkong told her about their combat ability but didn't expect it wasn't just Tang Wulin and Gu Yue.
She was very glad they didn't just pick up her Senior brother personality. She was impressed that they had knowledge of the soul beast, showing that they all study the various amount of soul beasts.
A series of gates sat in rows, one after another, with at least a hundred covering the area in total. The number of gates in each row varied.
These gates were called guillotine gates. Each gate had a gigantic, two-meter-wide, one-meter tall, half-a-meter thick guillotine blade. With such an enormous blade, even a full-grown cow would instantly be split in half.
This was the third trial that they had to pass. Shen Yi told them this trial was to test their abilities to adapt. They will only have thirty seconds to finish, every three seconds you finish early, you get an additional point.
This also applies the other way, every three seconds late they will lose a point. They all look at the guillotine before turning to Tang Wulin, as if saying "Your time to shine."
Tang Wulin rolled his eyes and circles his hand around all of them. This cause most of them squish together and then summon his Light Wings.
This naturally surprised everyone but before they could ask about it. He just flew past the guillotine with amazing control as if he were flying all of his life.
"Captain when did you grow wings!'
"Why does it sound like you expected me to grow wings…"
"Captain, your so good at defying heaven that I wouldn't be surprised."
Tang Wulin ignores the fact that they all nodded to Xie Xie comment. He then told them about his spirit bone, which surprised them. Then they all chime in about his luck, which causes his lip to twitch.
'If my luck was so good, we wouldn't be late.'
Shen Yi showed up surprised but found out it was an external spirit bone. She then leads to another building. The walls and ceilings were pure white with gold lines etched into them as if to portray something.
Shen Yi told them to wait, as she went to go get the administrators. They already know what to show up, but Tang Wulin gave some advice.
Xie Xie would show off his martial soul. Xu Xiaoyan will show off her ice weapons and Gu Yue, just show your Element heart.
They begin resting, waiting for the examiners to arrive. The elderly lady held a walking stick in her hand, her gait unsteady as she walked over to a long table and took a seat.
The two middle-aged men treated her with respect, sitting down on each side of her after she was seated.
"Yes, Elder Cai." Shen Yi showed no discontent at how the old lady addressed her, and instead, answered deferentially. She took quick steps toward the four examinees to wake them up.
"This trial's administrators are here now." Shen Yi asked, "Which of you will go first?"
Xie Xie went first showing off his skill and was evaluated. Then it was Xu Xiaoyan, who sufficiently showed off her abilities to create multiple weapons of ice and also be able to chain together for a devastating melee combo.
It was Gu Yue's turn, being able to dazzle everyone and even that old lady that kept on not being impressed. In fact, she went on to ask Gu Yue to become her disciple but Gu Yue didn't want to.
This pisses off the old lady but the other examiners told her to give Gu Yue some time.
It was then his turn, as he walks up to them and told them his specialization is punching but then.
"Boy, is that all your good at? Punching? You think this place is some kind of joke."
Tang Wulin just stared and then ignored the annoying old crow. The Old lady was surprised someone had the gall to ignore her and then glared at him.
"You dare to ignore me! Alright, throw a punch at me but if it doesn't satisfy me. You can kiss your acceptance in Shrek goodbye."
"Old hag, are you questioning my strength?"
Tang Wulin was used to ignoring insults but for some reason, this old hag wouldn't let it go.
"Old Hag. Hehe, yes I am questioning your strength boy."
Tang Wulin showed a smile, and it was a simple smile. Xie Xie, Xu Xiaoyan, and Gu Yue back up very quickly, for some unknown reason.
"Acnologia…"
'Be quiet Zeref.'
'Papa! Don't get mad!'
'Too late, this human is about to blow!'
'Oh my. Such dreadful anger!'
Scales started to form overall over Tang Wulin's body and a dragon claw formed on his hand. Inside his spiritual world, his Dragon Slayer Powers roared in rage and demanded domination.
'When was the last time…'
'My strength was questioned…'
'When was the last time, someone dares to look down on me…'
Tang Wulin stomp down hard on the ground, undoubtedly causing the building to shake, and then a considerable mass of raw energy instantly surrounded his fist.
One eye was shining golden and the other was shining white.
'Magic Dragon Deadly Fury.'
#
Wu Zhangkong was kneeling on the floor, while his students were hopefully taking the test. He just hoped they didn't do anything to cause a disqualification.
Who is he kidding, they all should be able to easily pass the test.
"Hey did you hear that Elder Cai was throwing a fit because they held back the exam period?"
"I heard she was doing an examination for a group."
"Poor them, she most likely extra nasty."
'Crap.'
Wu Zhangkong felt that Elder Cai may piss off his students with her attitude or fail them.
'I'm sure they can keep each other in check.'
Wu Zhangkong thought hopefully, even when he knew it was unlikely.
BOOOM!
There was a booming sound that shook the whole city block, everyone around him turns and look up to see part of a building ruthlessly destroyed.
'Damn it.'
#
"Well, you tell me Old Hag."
"Was that punch sufficient enough for you."
Tang Wulin spoke this as blood was flowing sluggishly down his right arm and yet he didn't seem to notice. His two eyes were still shining with white and gold radiance.
The grand building he was in was ruthlessly destroyed, as the brilliant sunlight from outside was penetrating the hole he made.
Everyone around him was blown away by the shockwave of the violent attack, except for Elder Cai.
Whose right arm was merely gone as blood continued to pour out. Her face was pale, as blood was also leaking from her mouth.
Zeref hover behind Acnologia and thinking.
'You silly old women, you should have never insulted his pride.'
'For the consequences will be complete and utter domination.'
'To show you are his inferior.'