Douluo Dalu: The Path of Abyss

Along the way, Ye Feng continued to shamelessly take advantage of Xiao Wu at every opportunity. No matter what she said or how much she protested, Ye Feng feigned innocence and persisted in his antics. Tang San, who was walking at the front of the group, remained blissfully unaware of what was happening behind him. Eventually, Xiao Wu gave up on protesting. She sighed, resigned to her fate, and wrapped her arms around Ye Feng's neck, allowing herself to enjoy his impromptu "massage."

After about two hours of walking, a village finally came into view. At the entrance stood a modest wooden arch with five large, simple characters inscribed on it: Shrek Academy.

A queue of people had formed outside, where a simple tent was set up. Under the tent sat an old man in his sixties, with a weathered face but sharp eyes. A wooden table was set before him, and nearby stood a tall youth with blonde hair and sharp features—Dai Mubai. The pair oversaw the registration process.

Xiao Wu jumped off Ye Feng's back, staring incredulously at the sign. "Brother, is this seriously the Shrek Academy you talked about? It looks so... shabby!" she exclaimed.

Ye Feng chuckled. "Xiao Wu, you shouldn't judge a book by its cover. Appearances can be deceiving."

"Alright," Xiao Wu relented, glancing skeptically at the academy entrance. "Since we're already here, let's at least take a look. But this place better live up to its reputation."

Nearby, parents and students were murmuring among themselves about the academy's unassuming appearance.

"Is this really the Shrek Academy where graduates are titled Viscounts? It doesn't look like much!"

"This is so embarrassing! I was a top student at my junior soul master academy, and now you want me to study here?"

"You heard what the people from Spirit Hall said. Let's give it a chance. Maybe this is just their way of testing us."

Despite the doubts, the registration process continued smoothly under the old man's supervision. Occasionally, someone would complain about the academy's high entry fee of ten gold soul coins or question its legitimacy, but any dissent was quickly silenced by Dai Mubai's imposing presence.

"Next!" the old man called out.

A young girl stepped forward, her demeanor calm and confident. She extended her delicate wrist for the old man to examine. Unlike many others, she had come alone, unaccompanied by family.

As the old man assessed her, his eyes widened in surprise. "Do your family elders know you're here?" he asked cautiously.

The girl smiled, her voice as clear as a silver bell. "Education shouldn't be bound by status. As long as I meet the academy's requirements, there's no reason for you to refuse me, right?"

The old man nodded, clearly impressed. After passing the examination, the girl stepped aside, her elegant figure drawing curious glances from others in line.

Meanwhile, Ye Feng couldn't help but take notice of the conversation. The girl's voice and demeanor struck a chord. "Could it be... Ning Rongrong?" he muttered to himself, glancing at her back.

Finally, it was Ye Feng, Tang San, and Xiao Wu's turn. Ye Feng stepped forward, tossing the registration fee into the box. The old man began examining their bone ages.

"Impressive physique," the old man remarked, his eyes settling on Ye Feng. "What's your name?"

"Ye Feng," he replied casually.

Hearing his name, the girl who had passed earlier froze for a moment, her curiosity piqued.

"Ye Feng," the old man repeated thoughtfully. "You must be from the Nine Heart Begonia lineage?"

Ye Feng merely smiled and said nothing.

"Alright, show me your martial spirits," the old man instructed.

Tang San, Xiao Wu, and Ye Feng simultaneously released their martial spirits. Rings of light appeared beneath their feet: Xiao Wu with her three spirit rings, and Ye Feng with his four. The old man's jaw dropped when he noticed the colors of their rings. Xiao Wu's second and third spirit rings were both purple, signifying thousand-year levels, while Ye Feng's fourth ring was black—a ten-thousand-year spirit ring.

"You're... a Spirit Ancestor? And you already possess a ten-thousand-year spirit ring?" the old man stammered, his astonishment evident.

Xiao Wu smiled, her eyes gleaming with pride. "Have we met your requirements, teacher?"

The old man nodded enthusiastically. "More than enough! To surpass the usual limits of spirit rings at your level is nothing short of monstrous. Welcome to Shrek Academy, little monsters!"

Dai Mubai stepped forward to escort them into the academy. His gaze flickered warily toward Xiao Wu. Despite being a Level 37 Spirit Elder himself, he still remembered the bruising defeat he suffered at her hands the previous day.

As they prepared to enter, the girl from earlier suddenly approached Ye Feng. "Excuse me," she said with a smile, "your name is Ye Feng, right?"

"That's right," Ye Feng replied, meeting her gaze.

"My name is Ning Rongrong," she introduced herself, extending a hand. "You might have heard of me."

Ye Feng examined her closely. She wore a pristine white dress that accentuated her graceful figure. Her skin was porcelain-like, and her long hair cascaded over her shoulders. Though young, her features already hinted at a beauty that would only grow more radiant with time.

Ye Feng shook her hand politely. "Hello, Junior Sister."

"Junior Sister?" Ning Rongrong blinked in surprise.

Ye Feng grinned. "You call Grandpa Jian your teacher, right? He's also my teacher. By seniority, you should call me Uncle, but I won't take advantage of you. Junior Sister sounds much better, don't you think?"

Ning Rongrong's eyes widened in indignation, her cheeks puffing slightly in a manner similar to Xiao Wu's when she was upset. "Hmph! Who's calling you Senior Brother? If anything, we're the same age. And who knows, I might even be older than you!"