[Check Out My P4treon For +70 Extra Chapters On All My Fanfics!! And get chapters before publishing them here for free on my p4treon][https://p4treon.com/roooaaa]
===
Under the scorching sun, nearing noon, outside a picturesque village...
A short-haired boy with blue locks, dressed in plain clothes, walked toward a dilapidated gate.
Though his attire was simple, even rustic, the boy wore a necklace that seemed anything but ordinary. The dazzling blue gemstone hanging from it shimmered brilliantly under the sunlight.
If anyone could spot the tiny character engraved on the gem, they would recognize it as the word "Silver."
"Shrek Academy… This should be the place."
"Finally found it. Though it's… not quite what I expected." The boy stood about twenty meters away, staring blankly at the academy's "gate."
If it could even be called a gate. It was nothing more than two wooden posts and a few planks haphazardly nailed together. Even the sign above—bearing the crooked, uneven characters for "Shrek Academy"—looked as if it had been slapped on carelessly.
"Whatever. I'm already here—might as well check inside." Mustering his courage, the boy hesitantly stepped forward.
Peering through the entrance, he found the grounds completely empty.
"No one here? Is this place abandoned?"
"Maybe I should just go to Balak Academy instead…" After a brief moment of hesitation, the boy turned to leave.
He had assumed that even if Shrek Academy only accepted "monsters" and not ordinary students, there would at least be a handful of disciples under the guidance of a Soul Sage. Yet what he saw was a ghost town—not a soul in sight.
But just as he took two steps away, a burly, fierce-looking man in his thirties emerged from one of the wooden huts inside the academy.
"This kid has spirit energy… and his back looks unfamiliar. Is he here to enroll?"
"I should ask. If we don't get any students this year, Flender won't even be able to pay our salaries." Muttering to himself, the man leaped down from the hut's balcony and landed swiftly in the courtyard.
In the blink of an eye, he appeared in front of the boy, blocking his path.
"Who—?!" Startled, the boy stumbled back a couple of steps.
"Hey there, kid! Are you here to apply for admission?" The man forced what he thought was a friendly smile.
"N-No, I was just passing by. Who are you?" The boy eyed the man's unsettling grin warily.
"Let me introduce myself—I'm Zhao Wuji, a teacher at Shrek Academy."
"Are you sure you're not here to enroll? Our academy has excellent instructors, abundant resources, and personalized one-on-one guidance!"
"Right now, we have five teachers—two Soul Sages and three Soul Emperors. And I happen to be one of the Soul Sages, as well as the vice dean!" Zhao Wuji enthusiastically promoted the academy—and his own strength.
"Really? Two Soul Sages, three Soul Emperors… and one-on-one training?" The boy's interest was piqued.
"Of course! But since you're here, you must already know our academy's principle, right?" Zhao Wuji crossed his arms.
"Only monsters, no ordinary people?" the boy ventured.
"Exactly! Quality over quantity."
"So, tell me—your age, martial soul, and spirit power?" Zhao Wuji asked eagerly.
"Oh. My name is Lin Dongyao. I'm twelve years old. My martial soul is Blue Silver Grass, and my current spirit power is level 25. I'm a healing-type support soul master."
"Blue Silver Grass… and you've already reached the Great Soul Master level?!" Zhao Wuji stared at Lin Dongyao in disbelief.
After all, Blue Silver Grass was widely regarded as a "trash" martial soul.
"Yeah, it's Blue Silver Grass. But my healing abilities are really strong!" To demonstrate, Lin Dongyao summoned his martial soul in his right palm, accompanied by two century soul rings. The Blue Silver Grass in his hand was about twenty centimeters long, its usual blue hue tinged with a hint of emerald green.
"For Blue Silver Grass to reach level 25… that's a monster in its own right."
"But why does this grass feel so familiar? Have I seen it somewhere before?" Zhao Wuji frowned, lost in thought.
"Huh? And why does this kid's face look so familiar too? Wait… could he be related to that ruthless man?!" The more he studied the boy's features, the more uneasy he became.
A shudder ran down Zhao Wuji's spine as if recalling some traumatic memory.
"Ahem… mind if I ask your parents' names?" he ventured cautiously.
"My parents?" The boy's expression dimmed. "I don't know. I've never met them. I was raised by Grandpa Dugu."
"Dugu… as in that Dugu?" Zhao Wuji's eyes widened.
"Why are you asking so much? My grandpa, Dugu Bo, is very powerful!" The boy grew defensive under Zhao Wuji's intense gaze.
"Dugu Bo is your grandfather?!" Zhao Wuji paled. "So you're the Poison Douluo's grandson?!"
"Well… at least he's not that man's descendant." He exhaled in relief.
"So… do I qualify?" the boy asked.
"Absolutely! Your talent is exceptional—a level 25 support soul master at twelve!" Zhao Wuji quickly reassured him.
"Then can I enroll?"
"You can… but does your grandfather know you're—"
"Zhao Wuji, what's going on out here?" Before he could finish, Flender's voice interrupted them.
The dean approached, followed by three boys around Lin Dongyao's age.
One had an arrogant gaze, another looked sleazy and chubby, and the third seemed relatively normal—though not by much.
"Flender, this young man wants to join our academy," Zhao Wuji said, stepping aside.
"His age, talent, and strength all meet the requirements, but…"
"But what?"
Zhao Wuji glanced at Lin Dongyao and pulled Flender aside, whispering, "He's the Poison Douluo's grandson. And I don't think the old man knows he's here. Should we really take him in?"
"…!" Flender fell silent for a moment.
"Take him. Why not? This could be an opportunity for us. And if we refuse… the consequences might be worse." After a brief internal struggle, Flender made his decision.
"Fine. You're the dean—you deal with it." Zhao Wuji shrugged.
Flender turned back to Lin Dongyao. "Are you certain you want to join Shrek Academy?"
"Yes." The boy nodded.
"Good. The tuition is fifty gold spirit coins per year. And you cannot graduate until you reach the Soul Ancestor rank."
After paying the fee, Lin Dongyao officially introduced himself to the other three boys.
"I'm Dai Mubai."
"I'm Ma Hongjun."
"I'm Oscar. Like you, I'm a support soul master—but I'm a food-type."
"I'm Lin Dongyao!"
Note: So far this story is published up to chapter 290 on my patreon, go check it out and remember that if we reach the goal of 105 power stones I will publish the next chapter.