“The reason why Shrek Academy only accepts 30 students every year is mainly because of resource constraints. Everyone has to rely on their own abilities to fight for even more resources in Shrek. The academy’s resources will not be distributed equally; whoever is stronger will obtain more. Hence, if an individual doesn’t work hard, they will fall and be eliminated.
“Although Shrek’s intake is only 30 students a year, at least 15 can enter the inner courtyard. And from what I know, all the students that have entered the inner courtyard were all at least Title Douluos. I was 17th place in my cohort. In the end, I had to leave the academy, and even until now, I haven’t become a Title Douluo. The difference between the Soul Masters from Shrek Academy and those not of Shrek is simply too big.”
“Fight for resources?” Lan Xuanyu asked curiously. “Teacher, what do you mean by fighting for resources?”
Ji Hongbin went on to elaborate. “Shrek Academy has an abundance of resources, including the most immortal herbs in the entire federation. I do not know where the academy obtains them. The academy and the Tang Sect have collaborated in terms of resources, and with the life energy of the eternal tree, they established a special paradise for immortal herbs and have since then cultivated and grown them. All of these immortal herbs have been immense help to us Soul Masters. However, in order to not overuse the life energy of the Eternal Tree, the amount of Immortal herbs cultivated is extremely limited. If students want to obtain them, they have to contribute to the academy and obtain the academy’s emblems to exchange for them. There are different types of emblems, from the lowest grate of white emblems to the highest grade red emblems, all calculated with decimals. So if you want to become strong, a definite shortcut to strengthen yourself is to obtain the immortal herbs. Shrek emblems are not that easily obtainable, however.”
“Are the emblems in the same accordance as soul rings?” Lan Xuanyu asked.
Ji Hongbin nodded his head. “Yes. It is extremely difficult to obtain the emblems, just like how you guys used the lucky wheel of fortune previously. If you are in the inner courtyard, it requires three yellow emblems for one opportunity. Those are worth 30 white emblems. Didn’t you find it difficult to obtain it from the qualifier in the first place? Let me tell you this, it is far more difficult to obtain 30 white emblems or three yellow emblems in Shrek.
“You’ll understand this soon enough. Further, not only can the emblem be used to exchange for immortal herbs, it can also be used to exchange for cultivation techniques, ancient techniques, etc. And Shrek emblems are not only usable in Shrek Academy, but also various large corporations in Shrek City, including the Spirit Pagoda and Tang Sect; the transactions are made with the emblems. Of course, that is within the premise of Shrek City. Here, money is nothing, only Shrek emblems count for anything. These emblems are so powerful that they can even be exchanged with soul coins in the Soul World. The lowest grade white emblem is able to exchange for 100 soul coins in the Soul World. I’m sure you are well aware of how difficult it is to obtain Soul coins.”
“Then can we exchange soul coins for Shrek emblems?”
“That is possible too,” Ji Hongbin affirmed. “The Soul World was fashioned by the Soul Federation, so in a sense, soul coins can be used to transact directly. Hence, the academy permits the exchange.”
“Alright, get some rest. The test tomorrow will no longer be single-elimination open format anymore.”
Lan Xuanyu was startled. “Why?”
Ji Hongbin laughed. “Because there won’t be too many eliminations. If they go for another round, the remaining number of people will be too little. The single-elimination open tournament today was not a competition of strength, but rather, a heavier emphasis on luck.”
“Luck?” Lan Xuanyu was surprised.
Ji Hongbin laughed. “Yes. Many times, a person’s luck is actually more important. For example, if the opponents you met today were not the same, but other four ring soul masters, they might not have lost their power effectiveness from your bloodline. Could you still have won? Or what if you encountered that five ring soul master? What then? Although luck is not absolute, it is an absolute factor at certain times.
“Shrek Academy has many mysterious places, and I dare to confirm that before the tournament today, the academy must have used some unique methods to tune your luck to a certain state, be it small or big, before allowing all of you to draw the lots. For example, the team that encountered Yuanen Huihui definitely had bad luck. So the ones who stayed are students that are luckier.”
Lan Xuanyu blinked his eyes multiple times. Was that even possible? Shrek was definitely a unique place!
“Then what will the next test be?” Lan Xuanyu asked.
Ji Hongbin said, “Shrek Academy particularly focuses on teaching in line with the student’s abilities. Every individual has their own unique points and potential that belongs to themselves. Shrek Academy only wishes to open up all the hidden potential within the outstanding geniuses, hence the way they work. So the following test should relate to your individual ability, which should be an individual test. At the end, there will be a final test, a total of three tests to determine who stays.”
“Individual test?” A look of worry appeared in Lan Xuanyu’s eyes. He was not worried for himself or Qian Lei, but Liu Feng.
Compared to the two, Liu Feng had no specialties and had not even attained three rings of cultivation yet. Would he be able to pass the individual test?
Ji Hongbin looked at him with a deep expression in his eyes. “Everyone has their own path to undertake. I understand what you’re thinking. You hope for your teammates to always be with you. But you alone aren’t enough to change the lives of others. If they only rely on you, they will never go far, nor will they be able to always accompany you and grow. So if they really want to stay and if they can manage to, they can’t rely on you but themselves.”
Lan Xuanyu was silent. Yes, he had always focused on relying on his hard work to bring his team into Shrek Academy. This was what he had promised Qian Lei and Liu Feng. But a person’s effort could only go so far. What could he do if the test method was different?
Frenzie, Fatty, the two of you have to work hard!
Lan Xuanyu only saw Qian Lei and Liu Feng early the next morning. Liu Feng wore a solemn expression while Qian Lei had a tired look, as though he had not slept.
“Xuanyu, I trained through the night! Aren’t I working hard?” Qian Lei giggled and told Lan Xuanyu.
Lan Xuanyu did not reply and only looked at him and Liu Feng with a complicated look in his eyes.
“What’s wrong?” Qian Lei’s Spiritual Power was extremely high, so he could tell that there was something wrong.
Lan Xuanyu replied gently, “The test today might be an individual test.”
Qian Lei was stunned while Liu Feng’s brows frowned deeply. An Individual test meant they would not be together. An Individual test meant that all of their personal strength would be completely exposed. In that instant, Qian Lei and Liu Feng recalled the days before Lan Xuanyu had arrived in the elite junior class.
The atmosphere instantly turned solemn. Lan Xuanyu opened his mouth, only to discover that he did not know what to say. He actually had no idea how to console his teammates.
Liu Feng suddenly smiled. “Xuanyu.”
“En?” Lan Xuanyu looked at him.