Zhao Wuji's bear-like eyes locked onto Shen An, filled with internal conflict.
"Fine," he thought. Shrek Academy's standard is to cultivate monsters, not to coddle them. Challenges and battles among students are not prohibited. If Dai Mubai, despite provoking first and having a higher spirit power rank, still lost, then it's his own fault for being inferior.
Zhao Wuji might have been a troublemaker in his younger years, but bullying someone weaker was something he could not stomach.
"This matter ends here. However, boy, while I won't bully the weak, be prepared for my Shrek students to seek revenge on you in the future."
Shen An chuckled lightly. "They're welcome to try. I'll take them all on whenever they come."
With a dismissive wave, Zhao Wuji declared, "Come with me, those of you taking the exam. The fourth trial is simple: hold out against me for the duration of one incense stick's burn."
Picking up the unconscious, bloodied Dai Mubai, Zhao Wuji dashed away in a flash of movement.
"Oscar! Get out here!" Zhao Wuji's voice boomed across the village.
A scruffy, gray-clad man with a full beard appeared, his peach-blossom eyes and soft, melodious voice an odd contrast to his unkempt appearance.
"What's wrong, Teacher Zhao? Whoa! Isn't this Boss Dai? Why does he look like a beaten-up dead cat?"
Oscar's shock was evident as he beheld Dai Mubai, whose body was riddled with sword wounds and dripping with blood—a terrifying sight.
"I have a sausage!" Oscar's gentle voice cried, the odd phrasing earning distasteful glances from the girls present.
Without waiting for an explanation, Oscar activated his spirit ability, summoning his Sausage Martial Soul to create a healing sausage. Breaking it into small pieces, he carefully fed them to the unconscious Dai Mubai.
Zhao Wuji scanned the examinees. "All right, you have ten minutes to discuss your strategy. Oscar, brief them on my abilities to give them a fighting chance."
Oscar let out a bitter laugh. "You poor souls. I didn't expect Teacher Zhao himself to be testing you. Good luck surviving."
He then explained Zhao Wuji's strengths and capabilities in detail, eliciting gasps of shock.
"Seventy-sixth-ranked Soul Sage? That's insane!" Xiao Wu exclaimed in disbelief.
Tang San's expression turned grave. "Let's introduce ourselves and figure out how best to cooperate."
As each candidate introduced themselves, Tang San froze upon hearing Ning Rongrong's background.
"Your martial soul is the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda? Are you from the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Clan?" he asked, astonished.
Ning Rongrong lifted her chin proudly, sneaking a glance at Shen An to gauge his reaction. To her dismay, Shen An remained unperturbed, his expression indifferent.
Inwardly, Shen An was reeling. So this is the famed Shrek Seven Devils. What a bunch of peculiar characters—a lecherous tiger, a 100,000-year-old rabbit, a bratty rich girl, and the ever-controversial hypocrite Tang San.
Shen An sighed inwardly. I just hope Zhu Zhuqing doesn't pick up bad habits in this madhouse.
Ning Rongrong, meanwhile, sulked. Hmph. He must be ignorant of how prestigious my clan is.
The battle began, and their teamwork was unexpectedly effective. These prodigies, guided by Tang San's battle-hardened strategies, managed to catch Zhao Wuji off guard and even land a few hits.
However, Zhao Wuji quickly retaliated. Activating his first soul skill, he unleashed a counterattack that sent Tang San, Xiao Wu, and Zhu Zhuqing flying.
Shen An caught Zhu Zhuqing mid-air. Fortunately, her training with Tom had paid off, and she managed to mitigate the impact using her agility.
Xiao Wu, on the other hand, wasn't as fortunate. Coughing blood, she collapsed into Tang San's arms. In a desperate move, she attempted to charm Zhao Wuji with her Charm ability, only to collapse unconscious, blood seeping from her mouth and nose.
Shen An watched Tang San intently. The young man's black eyes grew colder and deeper, radiating an unapproachable aura.
Ah, here it comes, Shen An mused. The protagonist's rage-fueled power-up. Classic.
Indeed, Tang San, enraged by Xiao Wu's injury, demanded a rematch with Zhao Wuji.
Shen An shook his head in exasperation. What's the point? Even at your best, you can't defeat him. All you'll achieve is making things awkward for yourself in the future.
Tang San's onslaught began. He unleashed a barrage of hidden weapons, coated with deadly poison, forcing Zhao Wuji to play cautiously.
Meanwhile, Tom, bored and curious, approached one of the poisoned needles embedded in the ground. Touching it with his paw, the feline let out a yowl of pain as his gloved paw began to swell. Panicking, Tom darted around in search of an antidote, eventually diving headfirst into a patch of grass near Zhao Wuji.
Then Zhao Wuji activated his fifth soul skill—Gravity Crush. The sudden increase in pressure flattened everything, including Tom, who was squished into a pancake-like shape.
Shen An sighed, covering his face. This idiot cat. Why touch the needle? And eating random grass? Serves you right.
While the others marveled at Tom's bizarre durability, Shen An remained unconcerned. It's Tom, after all. Even Death himself can't take him.
Sure enough, Tom began to reinflate himself like a balloon, eventually returning to his original form, good as new. The absurd scene stole the attention of everyone present, even Zhao Wuji and Tang San.
The fight concluded with Tang San coughing up blood and being sent flying, while Zhao Wuji stood battered and bruised. Shen An, meanwhile, lamented his missed opportunity to study Tang San's techniques.
"Next time," he muttered.