Chapter 3: Welcome to Shrek Academy!

(Ma Hongjun pov)

Shrek training ground

There was a time when I thought that solving my evil fire problem would be a great thing.

But when my stingy master did indeed solved my evil fire problem, and even made my Martial Soul evolved into a Golden Phoenix and making my flames reached the Ultimate Fire, I instantly regret it.

For some reason while before, Flender, this cheap master always claimed to make Shrek the number one Academy since 7 months ago, instead of continue in his boasting ; he actually start to do something and act toward his goal!

First of all Flender, my master recognized by the world for his stinginess; actually rebuild the whole school with his OWN money!

Let's not mention that because of that, we learned how rich that cheap teacher was. The simple fact that he took that money for a non-profit business shocked us.

But it was also because of that ; that I knew Flender was now getting serious in accomplishing his dream.

But then 3 months ago, I finally learned that I was somewhat wrong on his dream.

I can say without a shame that my head wasn't big enough to imagine what was actually his true goal.

Making Shrek the number one Academy was just a normal dream after I learned that my master actually wanted to become the first god who trained other people into becoming gods too!

Yes, the Dean of Shrek, Flender not only wanted to become a god, but he also wanted to create other gods with his own hands.

I admit that when he announced us that, he was quite cool, and even succeed in making me drink his 'chicken soup'.

But it was also because of that, that my suffering started. 3 Months ago I was only a level 15 Soul Master. But now, 'thanks' to master Flender and his hellish training, a week ago I became a Soul Grand Master with a soul power of 23 and a thousands years old for my second ring!

Yes, I had a genuine purple colored Soul Ring for my second Soul Ring! Moreover this second soul ring was special, because it was made with the new method created by my master, called Soul Ring Contract.

With this new method, instead of just killing the Soul Beast, I now create a contract with it so that when I get its Soul Ring, he won't die but transform into a spiritual state called Soul spirit, and live in my Soul ring.

I didn't really get how it works exactly, but I do know, that this new method allow me to have a partner to fight with me.

But Flender did tell me that this new technique wasn't complete. For example my Soul Spirit couldn't cultivate on its own. Besides if I wanted to get my Soul Ring to evolve further I would need a huge amount of energy every time. Something we didn't currently possess.

Also because Phoo (my Golden Nirvana Two Winged Phoenix's name) had some Phoenix blood, every time I breakthrough, his and my own blood evolved more towards a true Phoenix. I don't get how it is possible, but the Dean says that it was possible with the Soul Ring Contract plus the new cultivation method he gave me : Heavenly Blood Essence Method.

So I had to begrudgingly admit that while I wanted nothing more than to ditch all those training, it did get stronger and with the way things were going, I may actually become a god.

'I could already see it. Ma Hongjun, the god of Ultimate Fire! Or maybe, Ma Hongjun the Phoenix Fire god?'

"Mhahahahaha!" I couldn't help but laugh out loud imagining all the girls I would get after becoming a god.

"...Hum, excuse me?" say an unfamiliar feminine voice.

'Huh? Which mortal dare to stopped the Phoenix god from daydream, humpf I mean thinking about his future?!'

Turning my head, I was met face to face with three young tired people looking like 12. I couldn't help but sigh in annoyance after seeing them.

Because if they were here at the training ground, it means that they all succeed the entry test and I was now forced to do my job for the day.

Today, like every year was the day of admission for those who wanted to become Shrek's students. But like many of Flender's reform, he also changed the rules for the entry test. Except for the under 12 years rule, everything else change.

Now, no matter what is your Soul Ring, level or Martial Soul quality, you could enter as long as you passed the tests.

The first test was a test of Courage. The candidates were to crossed a long dark corridor with their soul powers sealed.

Of course it wouldn't be a test of courage if it was so simple. In that corridor was an illusion type Soul Guide. It's function was to bring out fear of your surrounding. Making you see your environment in such a way that it will make you feel a little afraid. It will then amplify that fear. Making you even afraid of your own shadow.

And so with some mirror here, a chair there, and other objects along the way, that seemingly normal corridor could transform itself into the corridor of hell.

The Dean put this ordeal because in his opinion, only the most courageous Soul Masters could attain the peak of cultivation and pretend to the title of monster.

But fortunately the Dean didn't activate the Soul Guide to its maximum capacity otherwise nobody would be able to pass the test. Because even in the Academy, only my master and Zhao Wuji successfully passed through the corridor at it maximum intensity.

But because I was the Dean's disciple, Flender expect me to pass through it too. Unfortunately I never succeed until now, otherwise I wouldn't have been forced to go through it every two weeks.

But while first test was a mental torture, the second one was clearly a physical torture.

The second test start by using a Soul Guide capable of judging your physical limit by scanning your entire body. After that, your datas are record in an armband Soul Guide that will put your whole body under a straining pressure adapted for you.

You were then order to climb up the many steps of the staircase leading to the training ground. Because the pressure was adjusted to fit to the limit of what your own body could bear, there were only two ways for someone to win this test : one was to breakthrough it's own limit, and the other was through sheer perseverance and willpower.

Two qualities require to become a powerful Soul Master and a must for a monster one.

And while I do agree with that, it didn't mean that I liked that exercise, on the contrary! Because every morning every students had to do this before coming to the training ground to do their own personal training.

But fortunately after those two test, one was directly admitted. But that may change in the future because my master said before that he actually imagined a third test to check someone's character, but he didn't know how to do it for now.

But when I saw that only three people passed today, I was doubtful on whether someone could successfully enter in Shrek if there were 3 test. But those problems were for the future students.

"Oh, sorry I was a bit distracted. But anyway, my name is Ma Hongjun a 23 Soul Grand Master. Now, congratulation on passing the tests and becoming Shrek's students." I said while looking at my future classmates.

Honestly speaking, apart from the blond handsome looking guy who had some noble temperament, the rest, a big guy looking fatter than me before my evolution and the frail looking girl, didn't really have anything special on them at the first sight.

But in any case, they did successfully past the test. So after some casual congratulations, and a restoration pill to restore some of their staminas, before leading them to the registration office. On the way we start so get each other better.

"My name is Dai Mubai. Like you, I'm also a 26 level Soul Grand Master. And my Martial Soul is an Evil-Eyes White Tiger." He said with some arrogance after hearing my Soul Power level. Which almost made me roll my eyes at him.

Evil-Eyes White Tiger? That's sounds like a powerful Martial Soul. But with his age being bigger than me and Oscar while his Soul Power being similar to us, it was a bit difficult for me to be impressed by his introduction. Contrary to the other two following us who were looking at this Dai Mubai with admiration.

Honestly after half year in being exposed to so many abnormal things, I even forget that a 12 years old 26 Grand Master was actually a big thing. Meaning that this guy was a real genius. But Shrek wasn't an Academy for geniuses. It was made to house monsters!

Looking at the red hair guy on the side, I thought that his answer would be similar, but I was somehow surprised.... By his shamelessness...

"Is it my turn? Well then hear me out! I'm the great Xu Fengshi, a 20 level soul master with a Water Turtle Martial Soul! As for why I didn't hunt for my Soul Ring? Because I know that in Shrek Academy there are very powerful teachers who would help hunt for the best one! Aren't I a genius? By the way after I become a powerful Title Douluo and create a Sect, if you can still keep up in term of cultivation I could consider making you enter into it, but you will have to accept me as your master now before it's too late, hahahaha!!!"

....

I think my mind blanked for a moment. I think that guy said something? But I can't seem to remember... Well, must not be something important then.

Turning my head to the plain looking blue hair girl, I hoped that she was at least a bit normal. But to be honest after the girl present herself I was really surprised. Shocked was more appropriate even, because I couldn't even think on how she passed the test.

"My name is Lin Chenguang, level 12 Soul Master. As for my Martial Soul, it's a common Pen." She said, lowering her voice at the end.

But honestly I could understand why. Just how did she passed the the second test?!

Although the Gravity Soul Guide armbands could adjust themselves with the datas input in them. She still had to climb around five thousand steps to reach the training ground!

Objectively speaking, with her cultivation and her soul power sealed, it should be impossible for her to reach the objective!

Thinking of this I couldn't help but remember what my master said when he explained why he now refused people based on their soul powers.

"If we were to accept students with soul power as criteria then we wouldn't be an Academy for monsters, but for geniuses. Because for me a monster isn't someone who's born with the innate full soul power or a god level Martial Soul. A monster is someone who goes beyond the genius and does things seemingly impossible for them to do. That, is a real monster!"

After watching Lin Chenguang, I finally understood the Dean's meaning. So with a big smile I tell her sincerely.

"Wow! Being able to climb those stairs with your physic and best so many beast type soul master, I can tell you without a doubt that you're monster! Which is good because our School only accept monsters, not mediocre people. So once again, welcome to Shrek Academy!"