"Director Du, Xiao Ya and I have brought new students for registration," Bei Bei said to Du Weilun with a smile.
"Hello, Director Du."
Ling Bai and the other three offered a slight bow, a basic courtesy toward a teacher and elder.
Du Weilun nodded and proceeded with the new student registration in an official manner. He asked, "State your names."
The four exchanged glances. Then Ling Bai spoke first, "Ling Bai—’Ling’ as in soaring, ’Bai’ as in the color white."
Du Weilun neatly wrote down the name "Ling Bai" on the student registration form. He looked up at Ling Bai, a hint of surprise and doubt flashing imperceptibly in his eyes. He asked:
Tang Ya and Wu Feng couldn’t help but burst into laughter when they saw Ling Bai’s suddenly stiff expression, showing him no mercy. A faint smile also appeared on Ning Tian’s face. For the first time in over ten years, Ling Bai was truly embarrassed.
"You look quite pretty," Du Weilun said nonchalantly, even complimenting Ling Bai.
Ling Bai couldn’t help but correct him, "Director Du, it’s more appropriate to describe a man as ’handsome.’"
"What I mean is, you’re prettier than most girls."
"Thank you very much, Director Du."
Ling Bai said through gritted teeth. Wu Feng laughed even louder beside him and secretly decided to give him a new nickname – Sissy.
Ning Tian and the others each stated their names. After taking a good look at them, Du Weilun couldn’t help but feel that this year’s freshmen seemed particularly good-looking.
"Let’s do a quick test. Give me your hand."
Ling Bai extended his hand. His long, fair fingers elicited a pang of envy from Tang Ya. The earlier joke made her start noticing the details of Ling Bai’s appearance. A boy’s skin was actually much fairer than hers. Was this the advantage of having the Seraphim Martial Spirit?
Du Weilun reached out toward Ling Bai and grasped his palm. There were three criteria for admission to Shrek Academy’s Outer Courtyard: first, be under twelve years old; second, have spirit power not lower than rank 15; third, possess a recommendation letter from a main city of one of the three great empires.
"Eleven years old, bone age appropriate."
Du Weilun confirmed Ling Bai’s true age by examining the bones in his hand. He picked up a blue crystal ball from the table and handed it to Ling Bai for the second step: spirit power testing.
Golden spirit power surged into the crystal ball. In an instant, brilliant light radiated from Ling Bai’s hand, and the crystal ball became as dazzling as a diamond.
The crystal ball’s testing limit was rank 30. Now, the intense light filled every corner of the crystal ball, indicating that his spirit power was at least rank 30.
"The third rank 30 this year," Du Weilun’s expression suddenly turned strange. "There are always a few monsters every year, but this year there seem to be especially many!"
"Director Du, there’s actually a fourth one."
The same dazzling light flashed again. The young girl’s smile was sly and bright, as if she was quite pleased to give this Director of Shrek Academy’s Outer Courtyard a bit more of a shock.
Sure enough, Du Weilun was momentarily stunned. Once he recovered, he immediately laughed and said:
"Alright, alright! Once the school year starts, I’ll make sure your homeroom teacher trains you two well! Next!"
Du Weilun’s tone rose a few degrees. With Ling Bai and Ning Tian setting such high standards, he had higher expectations for Wu Feng and Huo Yuhao.
However, the results left him slightly disappointed. The crystal ball in Wu Feng’s hand glowed, but it was clearly some distance from rank 30. Her spirit power was approximately between rank 25 and 26.
Sigh, I was too greedy...
Du Weilun sighed inwardly. For a moment, he had thought all four of them were rank 30 monster students.
"Next," he said, sounding a bit less enthusiastic.
Du Weilun almost instinctively wanted to say ’pass,’ but he swallowed the word at the last moment. He abruptly stood up, staring intently at the faintly glowing crystal ball in Huo Yuhao’s hand, his brow deeply furrowed.
"Rank 11 spirit power?"
Two monsters and a genius, why are they bringing along a weakling?!
Just as Du Weilun was about to lose his temper and nearly lash out at Huo Yuhao, Tang Ya stepped forward to defend him:
"Director Du, the Academy grants our Tang Sect one exemption spot every year. As the current Sect Master of the Tang Sect, I’m using this year’s spot on Xiao Yuhao."
"Oh right, I almost forgot that you’re the Sect Master of the Tang Sect."
Du Weilun stroked his chin and teased, "I remember you went through the Academy’s standard admission process when you enrolled. This year you’re willing to use the exemption spot?"
"Hehe, Xiao Yuhao is my newly accepted disciple. As his teacher, it goes without saying that I need to look after him!" Tang Ya said with a cheerful grin.
Du Weilun turned to Huo Yuhao and said, "You will be admitted to the Academy without the entrance examination, but let me say the ugly thing first: even if you are recommended by the Tang Sect, you will still be expelled if you fail to pass the freshman examination in three months. I hope you can close the spirit power gap with your classmates in the shortest time possible."
Huo Yuhao clenched his fists tightly and said firmly, "I will definitely live up to Teacher Xiao Ya’s and your expectations!"
"It’s good for young people to be ambitious," Du Weilun praised. Then he said to Ling Bai and the other two, "Let me see your recommendation letters."
Ning Tian took out three letters from her Storage Spirit Guidance Device. In the center of each pristine white envelope was an exquisite nine-colored seal.
"You’re from the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Clan?"
Du Weilun recognized the origin of the nine-colored seal.
The Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Clan had been the second-greatest sect in the world ten thousand years ago. Although not as prosperous as in the past, it remained one of the super clans.
"Yes, Director Du," Ning Tian replied with a light smile.
Du Weilun’s attitude became more friendly. "Just like the Tang Sect, the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Clan is given an exemption spot to the Outer Courtyard every year. Yet look at you youngsters, insisting on taking the test!"
The Shrek Academy and the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Clan had maintained a friendly relationship for ten thousand years. Every generation, the clan would send a direct disciple to Shrek Academy for further study.
Due to the formidable capabilities of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda—the continent’s number one auxiliary-type Tool Martial Spirit—these disciples would invariably become members of the Shrek Seven Monsters and represent the academy in the Continental Advanced Spirit Master Academy Tournament. Du Weilun was naturally happy to say a few more words to such a disciple from an ancient lineage and outstanding abilities.
"By the way, your name is Ning Tian, right..."
Du Weilun suddenly seemed conflicted. Under Ning Tian’s puzzled gaze, he hesitantly asked, "How has Clan Head Ning been these years?"
He hurriedly added before Ning Tian could answer, "Clan Head Ning and I were classmates at Shrek Academy. We haven’t seen each other for so many years, so I... I’m just casually asking...haha"
Ning Tian leaned back slightly, while the others looked as if they were waiting for some juicy gossip. Even a fool could tell that Director Du and the Clan Head of the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Clan had an unusual relationship.
"My mother is doing well."
Ning Tian did her best to maintain proper etiquette, though she strongly suspected that Du Weilun was the licking dog her mother had mentioned, who had been pursuing her for nearly ten years.
TL/N: Licking dog is basically a simp.
"That’s good to hear... that’s good to hear..." Du Weilun rubbed his hands together like a fly, his face turning red. "If you encounter any difficulties in your studies in the future, come find me. I’ll help you resolve them!"
"Mm, thank you, Director."
"You’ve all passed the entrance examination. Bei Bei and Tang Ya will take you to collect your uniforms and badges. Your randomly assigned classes will be displayed on the Spirit Guidance Screen at the entrance of the dormitory building. It’s getting late; hurry back to rest!"
Du Weilun turned his head away and waved them off, as if eager to send them away after losing face.
Just as Du Weilun was inwardly berating himself for his lack of composure, a clear voice suddenly interrupted him.
"What else?" Du Weilun asked, showing some displeasure.
"I heard that the admission criteria for Shrek Academy’s Inner Courtyard are under eighteen years old and at least rank 40 spirit power."
"Yes, that’s correct. Why?"
Du Weilun turned his head, just in time to see the spirit rings slowly rising around Ling Bai’s feet.
Yellow, purple, purple, black!
In Du Weilun’s eyes, the boy who was much prettier than most girls suddenly exuded a completely different aura. The light flashing through his brilliant golden eyes was as sharp as a blade.
"Director Du, may I ask if I am eligible to participate in the Shrek Inner Courtyard examination?"