At the village entrance, they noticed that a large number of people were gathered most of whom were children near their age, among them a large portion followed by their parents.
At the village entrance was arranged a desk, behind the desk sat a sixty-something old man, making Tang San and Xiao Wu dumbstruck while JoyBoy amused was, over the arched village entrance made using logs was suspended a seemingly somewhat worn-out board, on it was simply engraved two words, 'Shrek Academy'. Above these two words was also a green portrait, looking similar to a kind of humanoid monster's head. Bright green, a little cute. On the chest of the old man behind that table, also wore a similar green round emblem. It should be Shrek Academy's crest.
Tang San and Xiao Wu were having difficulty believing that this was their destination but after hearing the conversation of people in the surroundings, they had to accept that this was indeed the place.
JoyBoy noticed that the application fee was ten gold coins. After paying the fee, the old examiner would test the bone age. Anyone over thirteen years old would be kicked out without refund. If they wanted their money back, they would have to fight Dai Mubai, who was acting like a hired thug.
After some time passed, the old man somewhat impatiently got up from behind the desk, facing towards the applicants lining up saying
"Coming to our Shrek Academy, you should first be clear on the regulations. Without being clear and coming here, you are only delivering the registration fee in vain, nothing more. Right now there is still time to regret. Do you not know the meaning of 'Shrek' in our Shrek Academy?"
The old man coldly said
"Shrek is a kind of monster, even among spirit beasts it is still an odd existence. Our Shrek Academy's meaning, is an academy only for monsters. One could also say, we only accept monsters, do not accept ordinary people. If age surpasses thirteen years of age, or spirit power does not reach over the twentieth rank, need not waste time here."
While speaking, he released his spirit rings showing six rings meaning he was a spirit emperor. Very quickly the majority of parents' faces all revealed regretful sighing expressions, silently bringing their children to leave.
Of the originally hundred long queue in an eyeblink only remained ten-something applicants.
The old man did not seem to mind the number of students, and started back with his application work.
The people able to stay behind, clearly were confident to pass this old man, and following were several applicant youngsters whose spirit power surpassed twentieth rank, possessing two spirit rings. After handing over the ten gold coin application fee, the old man told them their first entrance exam was passed, and could enter the Academy's second entrance exam. The parents could not follow the examinees inside the Academy.
When it was their turn JoyBoy told the old examiner that they were taking the test together and dropped thirty gold spirit coins in the wooden box in front of him. Then together with Tang San and Xiao Wu, he held out his hand.
After checking their age and finding it suitable, he asked them to release their spirit rings. When JoyBoy released his spirit rings, everyone except Tang San was shocked as he already knew about his rings, because he had three spirit rings!
After showing his rings, JoyBoy quickly summoned them back before more people could see them.
The old man's face revealed a rare smile and asked Dai Mubai to take them inside for further examination.
Led by Dai Mubai, JoyBoy, Tang San and Xiao Wu followed him together to enter Shrek Academy, which also was that village.
Entering the village, they were able to see, it was all wooden buildings, using the words 'simple' and 'unadorned' to describe the buildings here was only appropriate.
Not walking far, Dai Mubai brought them to an open space. Around were wooden buildings, this vacant land appeared to be about five hundred square metres or so, Just at the centre of Shrek Academy.
The previously passed preliminary exam students were before them, distinct spirit power fluctuations making the air shiver irregularly.
After leaving them there for some time, Dai Mubai left for outside to check on the girl he found interesting. Xiao Wu finally asked JoyBoy about how he was able to get his third spirit ring and why were they all thousand years of age to which his response was that his martial spirit was special and Grandmaster had asked his friend to help him with get the ring. Tang San nodded his head on that because that's what Grandmaster had decided if anyone were to question him.
While they were speaking, they heard voice of someone selling sausage. JoyBoy saw that person and identified him as Oscar from the novel. Looking at his big beard which Oscar grew in a single day, JoyBoy was impressed.
After Dai Mubai came back with a girl, he told Tang San about Oscar's sausage which made him return the food he had bought from Oscar.
He directly took JoyBoy and others to the front of the line where he explained something to the examiner. After hearing what he said, the examiner told him to bring them directly to the fourth hurdle.
While they were going towards the fourth hurdle, Tang San asked Dai Mubai whether the fourth hurdle was the last one to which he nodded and replied
"Altogether four tests. The first you already went through. It was to reject applicants with spirit power short of twenty first rank, or possibly age exceeding thirteen years old. This filters out most people. The second test is conducted to appraise spirit power and spirit. Merely having great spirit power is not sufficient to prove future growth potential, this test mainly tests the spirit, only spirits possessing sufficient growth potential, furthermore previous cultivation developing in a proper direction spirit masters can enter the third test. Of course, if the spirit is extremely extraordinarily freakish, one is also able to be chosen. In this way little Oscar originally passed.
The third is to test the examinee's own spirit application level. Only having spirit power and growth potential won't do, simultaneously still need to controle the own spirit's strength. the higher rank of the spirit the more difficult to control, this very easily becomes an issue. If regarding spirit's control one cannot attain a certain degree, then, this proves the spirit master is insufficiently diligent. Students like this we also do not accept.
The fourth is to test the examinee's actual combat experience. Some students own spirit is not bad, regarding spirit control also not bad. But from childhood living in a noble family, long in a privileged environment. Fundamentally without any understanding of the outside world, let alone fighting. This kind of student, the Academy also won't accept. The Dean said, 'pampered and spoiled since childhood absolutely refused'."