**Chapter 7: The Gloomy Dai Mubai**
Barak Kingdom, Soto City, Shrek Academy entrance.
Xiao Wu stared at the dilapidated, unranked academy, her face etched with confusion.
"Rosen, why did we have to travel all this way to this place? So many mid-tier Soul Master academies would have let us in without exams. Why go through the trouble of applying to this unranked academy?"
Rosen smiled and explained, "Xiao Wu, this academy specializes in accepting prodigies. Studying here will accelerate your Soul Power growth."
"An academy for prodigies? This place is truly strange! Let's sign up first and see what it's like."
After paying the registration fee, the elderly man at the gate instructed them to release their Martial Souls.
"Hmm? Your Martial Soul is quite peculiar! It's an unknown tree! This is the first time I've seen such a Martial Soul! Are you sure it has offensive capabilities?" the old man asked, his curiosity piqued.
"Of course it does! And it's incredibly powerful! Didn't you see he already has two Soul Rings? One of them is even a millennium-grade Soul Ring!" Xiao Wu replied.
"To reach level 29 at just twelve years old, and possess both a century-old Soul Ring and a millennium-old Soul Ring... they truly are little prodigies! Mu Bai, take them straight to the fourth trial."
The elder then summoned a tall youth with heterochromatic eyes—a sight that gave an eerie impression.
"Yes!" The youth replied respectfully, then led Rosen and Xiao Wu into the academy grounds.
The surrounding students, who had come to register, looked on with envy. After all, this meant they were exempt from the second and third trials!
"I can't believe these two are both level 29 Soul Masters! How on earth do they train like that?"
"The real mystery is their Martial Souls. One's a tree, and the other's a little white rabbit. When did such seemingly useless Martial Souls become so powerful?"
The elder overseeing the first trial at the gate sighed inwardly. *Monsters appear every year, but this year there's an especially large number! Who could have imagined five little prodigies would arrive in one year? It seems Shrek Academy is going to be much livelier this time!*
When Xiao Wu and Rosen entered the fourth trial, they found a middle-aged man slumped in his chair, snoring loudly.
"Teacher Zhao, these are new students who have been exempted from the second and third trials!"
"Hmm? Another pair exempted? Why are there so many prodigies this year?" The man yawned, stretched lazily, and craned his neck to look at Rosen and Xiao Wu.
"The fourth trial tests your combat skills. If you can withstand Dai Mubai's assault for the duration of an incense stick's burn, you pass. Xiao Bai, explain the rules to them," he drawled.
"Teacher Zhao, aren't you testing them personally today?" Dai Mubai asked curiously. Yesterday, Zhao Wuji had personally assessed three new students.
"Ugh, I'm a bit tired today. You can handle it for me," Zhao Wuji replied.
Yesterday, Zhao Wuji had indeed personally "taught a lesson" to Tang San, Zhu Zhuqing, and Ning Rongrong. The consequence? A thorough beating from Tang Hao that evening!
Though the physical injuries had healed overnight, the psychological trauma lingered. Zhao Wuji now refused to lay a finger on these new prodigies, no matter what.
*What if Rosen and Xiao Wu also have powerful, untouchable mentors behind them? Zhao Wuji would get thrashed again!*
Therefore, Zhao Wuji absolutely refused to act again. After all, his only responsibility was to supervise the exam; he could simply have Dai Mubai conduct the test.
Dai Mubai nodded respectfully, then turned to Rosen and Xiao Wu. "This is Teacher Zhao Wuji, Vice-Dean of Shrek Academy and proctor for the fourth trial. Your opponent is me. If you can withstand my attacks for the duration of an incense stick's burn, you will pass."
"You'll attack both of us alone? Isn't that unfair to you? Why not take us on one at a time?" Xiao Wu blurted out.
"Uh, are you underestimating me? I'm a level 37 Battle Soul Venerable! My Beast Soul is the White Tiger! Do you really think your little rabbit Martial Soul can hold up against that?"
Dai Mubai hadn't expected to be underestimated by this small girl. He immediately unleashed his White Tiger Martial Soul to show her his true strength!
Seeing Dai Mubai's White Tiger Martial Soul, Xiao Wu wasn't particularly surprised. She simply remarked, "Eh? You have a thousand-year Soul Ring too! Looks like you're not as weak as I thought!"
Dai Mubai bristled inwardly. He was a level 37 Battle Soul Venerable! How dare this level 29 Great Soul Master look down on him!
"Both of you attack together!" Dai Mubai said sternly. "Otherwise, I might accidentally injure you!"
"What big talk! Who knows who'll get injured here! Teacher Zhao, if we injure this guy, will it be considered a violation?" Xiao Wu asked Zhao Wuji.
Zhao Wuji froze momentarily, then perked up and replied with a smile, "If you can defeat him, you'll be automatically admitted! It definitely won't be considered a violation!"
"Great! Rosen, I'm going in first!"
Xiao Wu, with her fiery temper, charged straight at Dai Mubai.
"Hmm? Such speed!"
Dai Mubai was startled. In the blink of an eye, Xiao Wu vanished from his sight!
"Eightfold Throw!"
Xiao Wu's legs locked around Dai Mubai's neck, and with a swift push from her hands, she slammed him to the ground!
Dai Mubai was instantly dazed by the impact. Xiao Wu's speed was overwhelming, giving him no time to react. After being thrown eight times in quick succession, he felt like he might vomit blood.
Fortunately, Dai Mubai possessed formidable Soul Power and extensive combat experience. He managed to absorb much of the impact during the throws, allowing him to break free and swiftly counterattack.
With a furious roar, Dai Mubai transformed into a massive, beast-like figure. His strength, defense, speed, and all other abilities surged dramatically. This was his thousand-year soul skill, the White Tiger Vajra state!
"This is my ultimate White Tiger Vajra state! Watch out!"
Dai Mubai never expected Xiao Wu to push him this far. Just as he thought victory was within reach, she vanished. More accurately, her movements became so swift that he couldn't keep up.
"How is she so fast? Does that girl's Martial Soul really just look like a little white rabbit?"
Zhao Wuji frowned at the scene. He knew that Dai Mubai, in his White Tiger Vajra state, should far surpass any Soul Venerable below level 40 in speed. Yet now he couldn't even chase down a level 29 Great Soul Master! It was simply unbelievable.
The time it takes for an incense stick to burn passed quickly. Dai Mubai was panting from exhaustion, yet he hadn't caught a glimpse of Xiao Wu the entire time!
(End of chapter)