Yuhao's POV
"Wow, so beautiful."
"Wang Dong, shouldn't we be training after breakfast. Why come all the way here?"
"Save it, you can't be training all the time. You need to relax from time to time."
"Ng! This place is really peaceful. It was right to come here after all."
Wang Dong's jacket lifted up a bit, showing his slim waist.
'I remember yesterday's event again. Aiya, why am I always thinking about it? Wang Dong is a guy. Yuhao, you are a normal person.'
"Eh ? Across the lake, I see a little red dot in the mist!"
"Really, that side is the inner sanctuary! I don't see it! I can't see anything through the mist. Maybe you saw wrongly."
"Seems like someone is coming over."
"I see it. Can it be a senior student from the inner sanctuary? So amazing. He is flying across the lake even without using his essence."
'He is very fast. What is underneath his feet? Something feels off…. Why is there such a threatening feeling?!'
I felt a sudden surge of heat as the mysterious figure started to close in.
"Wah, so hot!" "What's with this heat wave?"
"Is that senior the one who brought it over?"
"It is getting hotter. This is getting scary."
"That isn't a normal person. We have to get away quickly!!" I shouted to Wang Dong. He activated his spirit essence and brought out his wings so that we could fly to safety.
"Hurry up, we can't take it any longer." I told him again as the flames got hotter and hotter. Wang Dong collapsed because he couldn't handle the immense heat. The figure was right now in front of me. I used soul shock on him but it didn't have an effect. The person's palm was reaching out for me. 'An attack? The heat is already too much for me to handle if I take an attack now…Will we turn into ashes? No!'
Out of the blue, something shone. It came from my neck. I searched for the source until my hand handed on the necklace Brother Yin gave me when we became friends. The Yin and Yang symbol got brighter and a barrier was made circling around me and Wang Dong. I couldn't even feel the heat anymore. I was surrounded by a calm and warm light. The person's attack landed on the barrier but it didn't even scratch it. I ,then, lost consciousness and let Brother DayDream take over.
"Such Impudence! You dare attack one of my men?! And you dare wake me up?! Go die!!"
-DayDream worm says and uses his skill, 'Absolute Freezing'. The attack managed to suppress the fire and caused the person to fall into the lake.
" You dare challenge me. You're a million years too early. Hm? There's another person coming? Forget it, I'll let you live this time."
Inside Yuhao's mind
"You idiot! If it weren't for me, you would have been burned to death. You made me use some of my power! I won't be able to protect you in the next year. If you ever encounter something like this again, it will be all over for you!!"
"Waa!"
"You had also better thank that Brother Yin of yours. The necklace he gave you was protecting you. It's probably a special protection charm of sorts. If it weren't for that barrier, you might've received the attack head on before I could protect you. It's better for you to stay close to him. He may be able to save you when I'm not around."
"The necklace was a protection charm?"
"Yeah, a really strong one at that. It was absorbing the demonic fire and healing you within the barrier it created. Sadly, it was a one time thing as the necklace broke after the barrier disappeared. Anyway, hurry up and obtain your second spirit ring so you won't have to bother me so much. I'm going back to sleep."
"Thank you, Brother Daydream."
Once I woke up with Wang Dong, there was a school administrator standing there. He instructed us to not say a single word about this even or else we would be expelled. He also gave us compensation in the form of a box.
"Remember, forget everything you have seen."
"Yuhao, what happened just now? We were almost done for!!"
"I don't know...we probably just ran into a crazy person."
I looked over to my neck and noticed that the necklace was indeed gone. Did brother Yin give me that to protect me? As I expect, he's a very good person. Despite us just becoming friends recently, he gave me such a precious thing. My heart felt warm as I secretly thanked Brother Yin in my heart.
3 months later~
Shen Yin's pov
About a month ago, I noticed that the necklace I gave Yuhao was gone. As expected from the protagonist, a humanized trouble magnet. His life was already in danger in such a short amount of time. I didn't bother questioning him about it and offered to give him another one. At first, he wanted to decline but after I insisted saying that it wasn't a problem he gave in. The item I created this time came out as a pin with the yin and yang sigil on. He thanked me profusely for it and said that he would repay me someday. I told him that since we were friends, I didn't need the repayment. I wonder if that really got into that head of his.
We appear to be getting close lately. I would even hang out and train with him and Wang Dong from time to time. I'm not saying it's a bad thing but it was just too sudden for me to keep up.
Currently we were in class, Teacher Zhou was about to announce something.
"It has been 3 months since school has started. You will take the Shrek Academy's new student entrance exam. Only through passing this exam will you become a true student of Shrek Academy. Otherwise, you must leave. Understand? The exam will split everyone into groups of three. In each and every group, every student must participate in 10 battles. You are ranked based on how many wins you have."
"There are only 300 new students, only 150 will pass. The rest will be forced to leave the school. Top 64 will participate in another tournament of which the top 4 will receive a reward. For now, please write down the direction of your training in the future. After the new student exam, you will be placed into different classes depending on the type of training you'll receive. Student Shen Yin, come with me."
I stood up and went with Teacher Zhou outside.
"Shen Yin, what spirit level are you right now. I don't believe that you haven't advanced in these three months, especially with all the training you and Yuhao went through."
"I won't lie then. I have successfully reached rank 40. I will need a ring to become a Spirit Ancestor."
"Already! You raised 4 ranks in three months. Your progress is becoming even more shocking. Although it's lower than student Huo Yuhao's, the difficulty in raising ranks increases with each realm."
"Why is Teacher Zhou asking me about my spirit level? Surely it's not just out of curiosity."
"That's right. The person who recommended you was someone with a high position in the entire school. He set this as the condition for you to get into the school without taking the new student exam. You have to reach rank 40 within the time you are in school without any pills or help. From what I've seen, you have indeed completed the conditions and will now proceed to become a true student and core pupil of Shrek Academy."
"Is that really fine? Isn't this exam compulsory?"
"That person had already discussed this matter with the school administration. They have already agreed. The conditions set by that person was ridiculous after all, they would all rather believe that you would fail. If you ever fulfill all the set requirements, then you are considered a true monster. This Shrek Academy is a school for monsters like you. Right now, all you have to do is showcase your abilities and prove your worth in front of all of them by battling with a Spirit Ancestor they school will select a suitable student as your opponent after the tournament."
"A Spirit Ancestor…"
"What you got a problem with that?"
"No, this suits me just fine. Am I allowed to leave school for some time?" To me, this was a chance to access my strength against someone of equal level.
"While the new student exam is going on, you are permitted to leave the school for a week. You must be back before the end of the tournament. If not, you will be expelled for leaving school grounds. I'm assuming this is about your 4th spirit ring."
"Yes. I'll head into Star Dou forest."
"Do you need someone to accompany you?"
"No."
"...Since you're already over level 31, I trust that you can handle a 3000 to 5000 year old spirit beast by yourself. As long as you don't proceed anywhere near the inner parts of the forest, you shouldn't encounter a spirit beast any stronger than 8000. The chances of you meeting a 10,000 are also very small.
"I'll keep your words in mind."
"Now go back in and fill up the form."
"Yes."
I went back into the classroom and filled up the paper that was probably left on my desk by Yuhao. After some consideration, I decided on the Attack department. Although the control department wouldn't be a bad choice as my battle style requires me to be extremely accurate and each swing of my blade must make a count, it is already a basic requirement for my techniques. It is fundamental for me to have complete control every inch of my skills, power and body.
Defense and support, I do have a spirit skill that allows me to do both which is the healing ability I acquired from the Star Transcendent Pheasant but my main must be attack. In order for me to triumph against my opponents, attack is something I should work on the most before control. The stronger my attacks are, the more I can utilize them.
"Okay, now let's divide you into groups. Stand up when I call you."
As according to the storyline, Yuhao, Wang Dong and Xiao xiao became teammates. I was the one one that wasn't called out because I'll be doing a solo battle against a senior student. Since everyone was too focused on their group and the exam, they all didn't notice that small detail.
"If you are able to stand out, you will be greatly rewarded. Our school is known for its riches and generosity. Remember I want all of you to pass! Whoever fails, not only will they have to leave, I will give them something to remember by!! Understand?" Teacher Zhou was making an especially grumpy face while giving us a threat.
"Yes!" All the students replied together.
"Okay, go get some rest. Be prepared for tomorrow! Yuhao, Wang Dong and Xiao xiao, you three stay behind."
This is probably the part where the teacher interrogates them about their choice of picking control department for their future training.
"Shen Yin! You too!!"
'....What did I do....?'
Minutes later~
"First of all, you three! Control department! Control department! Another Control department! Are you playing with me! You little bastards, are you toying with the school?! Typically, in the new student exam, the group is composed of different departments. If you guys don't give me an explanation, I won't forgive you lot." Teacher Zhou glared at them harshly before continuing on, "Yuhao, with your spirit essence, should you not be in support?"
"Teacher Zhou, I always wish to become a control spirit master. I have thought about it thoroughly, I also believe that I'll get an attack ability soon. Which is why I believe the control department is best suited for me."
This argument went on until the teacher finally sent them away.
"Moving on, you. I neglected to discuss this matter with you before on the first day of class because I thought it was a just me hallucinating but..." All of the sudden, Teacher Zhou released all of her spirit rings and placed a lot of pressure on me. In order for me to withstand it, I also released mine, including my 10,000 year old ring, "So it was real...not only did you have 2 purple rings, you have a black ring."
"Yes."
"Answer me properly, how were you able to take in the power of a 10,000 year old beast or rather how did you even take down such a beast."
I knew that this day would come one way or another that's why I already prepared an excuse.
"It happened a years ago. I was ten and I had already reached rank 30. I had no parents and was taken in by my guardian, who happened to be a spirit master though not a very high ranked one. One day, he took me out to get me my third spirit ring. We were unlucky and bumped into a 10,000 years old spirit beast. It was an Evil Nightmare Serpent King. You can guess what happened next."
"....Did your guardian die?"
"In order to save me, my guardian.....used his body and self-exploded, heavily injuring the serpent king to the point of near death. I merely used my tool spirit and dealt the killing blow." I clench my fist, making it seem as if it's out of anger and self-hatred. This kind of story would explain both my ring and background, "Before he died, he gave me this storage ring which contained some money and his assets. The reason I was able to absorb may be related to my left arm spirit bone's healing ability that I survived."
"A spirit bone?...I understand now."
"Teacher Zhou, can you not speak of my background with anyone else?"
"Why?"
"I don't want to be a target of pity for the people."
"Alright but I'll at least take about that spirit bone and spirit ring of yours with Teacher Fan Yu."
"I'm alright with that. Anyway Teacher Zhou, do you mind telling me how you found out about my rings?"
"I wasn't really sure of it when you released them in class before. My suspicions were only heightened when you displayed that odd expression upon talking about the 10,000 years old spirit ring."
"That was all..."
"Yes, that was sufficient for me to use this method of intimidation to force you to take out your rings. In the future, if you want to hide your skills, you must be very cautious especially around strong spirit masters. There are many dangers in the world. Some of the already strong people will take out the little ones with potential so that they wouldn't grow up to be big obstacles. This school doesn't only exist to produce strong and powerful monsters, it's also here to protect the kids with bright futures like you."
"....ok, this student will be more careful."
Once I bid my goodbye, I turned and left the office. 'My plan turned out to be more fruitful than I thought. Now I will have both Teacher Zhou's trust and the school's protection. I didn't expect Teacher Zhou to notice that small change in my expression. The reaction she spoke of was probably me think which 10,000 year old spirit beast to get. I wasn't planning on exposing myself so early.'
Now then, since that's done, I need to focus on getting my 4th spirit ring.