Zhou Sichen pondered briefly before replying, "From what my grandfather and father have told me, Shrek Academy is a sacred place for education, nurturing countless talents across the continent. To the common people, Shrek Academy is the embodiment of justice."
"In my opinion, these are indeed some of Shrek Academy's strengths. However, I don't yet have a personal evaluation of the academy because, until today, everything I knew about Shrek came from books and other people's words."
"So, at this moment, my answer may not differ much from what others have said about Shrek Academy."
Zhou Sichen did not blindly praise the academy but instead presented his thoughts objectively.
Ironically, this answer pleased the elders even more, as it revealed Zhou Sichen's character.
He did not blindly follow the crowd and, despite his young age, already had his own opinions.
Additionally, it indicated that, at least for now, his perception of Shrek Academy was positive.
There was no doubt about this, considering that Zhou Zhenxuan had once been an outstanding graduate of Shrek Academy.
So had Zhou Sichen's parents.
Mu En chuckled, his laughter growing even more radiant. "Your answer is very good. In time, you will come to understand Shrek. The reason we called you here today is to confirm a few things."
Zhou Sichen nodded respectfully. "I will answer to the best of my ability."
Mu En did not speak further. Instead, Yan Shaozhe stood up and looked at him. "Zhou Sichen, we already have some understanding of your martial soul. However, I would like to know more about how you utilize it, as well as the specifics of the fusion technique you displayed in your battle against Xiao Tao today."
Pausing for a moment, Yan Shaozhe added, fearing that Zhou Sichen might misunderstand, "This is not simply about examining your abilities but rather about designing a more systematic training regimen for you and preparing a specialized cultivation plan for someone with a martial soul as unique as yours. What do you think?"
From the method Zhou Sichen had used to treat Ma Xiaotao's evil fire—fusing with his contracted soul beasts—Yan Shaozhe and the others could already tell that his battle against Ma Xiaotao was not his full power.
And that was precisely what Zhou Sichen intended.
If he did not thoroughly cement his status as a supreme prodigy in the minds of these elders now, they might subject him to a prolonged and aimless assessment. That would be a waste of time—and not the result Zhou Sichen wanted.
Upon hearing Yan Shaozhe's words, Zhou Sichen's smile did not waver in the slightest. "I understand. However, if I only explain it verbally, I fear it might be difficult for the elders to truly grasp my abilities. So... I may need a sparring partner."
Yan Shaozhe smiled. "That works out perfectly. As the Dean of the Martial Soul Department, this will be my first time encountering a martial soul like yours. I will be your opponent."
Zhou Sichen simply nodded, unconcerned about facing a Title Douluo-level powerhouse.
After all, this battle was merely a demonstration of his abilities, not a challenge to defeat Yan Shaozhe.
No matter how gifted Zhou Sichen was—how he had suppressed Ma Xiaotao as a Soul Elder—in this hall, every person present could end his life with a single hand.
Zhou Sichen stood up and walked toward the door. "Then I'll trouble Dean Yan."
Yan Shaozhe chuckled as he followed Zhou Sichen out of the Sea God's Pavilion.
The others stood up as well, eager to see firsthand if this young man was truly as formidable as Bei Bei claimed—or if he had been hiding even more of his abilities.
Xuanzi pushed Mu En's wheelchair as the elders followed them outside. Along the way, Xuanzi transmitted his memories of Zhou Sichen's battle against Ma Xiaotao, allowing the other elders and Mu En to vividly recall the scene.
This only heightened their anticipation of Zhou Sichen's strength.
Outside the Sea God's Pavilion
On a flat hill outside the pavilion, Zhou Sichen and Yan Shaozhe stood facing each other.
Against an opponent of Yan Shaozhe's caliber, Zhou Sichen had no intention of holding back. He was going to display the full extent of his Contract Book Martial Soul's abilities—enough to give them a small but significant shock.
Raising his right hand, a dazzling golden Contract Book materialized. Unlike his battle against Ma Xiaotao, he did not slowly flip through three pages.
Instead, he casually tossed the Contract Book into the air.
The book, as if made of pure gold, floated magically in place before slowly opening on its own.
At the same time, Zhou Sichen dashed straight toward Yan Shaozhe, his three purple soul rings lighting up in sequence.
In the next instant, as his soul rings glowed, three streaks of light—icy blue, black-red, and dark gold—shot out from the Contract Book, following closely behind him.
Zhou Sichen casually grabbed the dark gold streak, as if picking up a small sphere, and hurled it directly at Yan Shaozhe.
The dark gold light streak approached at an astonishing speed. When it was just three meters away, it suddenly expanded against the wind, transforming into a towering three-meter-tall Darkgold Dreadclaw Bear.
The bear's massive body stretched out freely, its razor-sharp claws gleaming with a terrifying dark gold glow as it swiped at Yan Shaozhe.
Seeing this, Yan Shaozhe raised an eyebrow. So Zhou Sichen was not the type to stand idly while releasing his soul skills—he could also use them in unpredictable ways.
Against soul masters of the same level, no one would be able to block a charging Darkgold Dreadclaw Bear.
However, at this moment, its opponent was a Rank 95 Super Douluo.
Yan Shaozhe's soul power surged around him. Even against a nearly ten-thousand-year-old Darkgold Dreadclaw Bear, he dared not be careless.
Nine soul rings—two yellow, two purple, and five black—rose around his body. The terrifying pressure of a Title Douluo instantly forced the Darkgold Dreadclaw Bear back.
At the same time, he curled his right hand into a claw, golden soul power surging over it. His hand transformed into a golden talon, slashing toward the Darkgold Dreadclaw Bear.
But just then, Zhou Sichen, who had been rushing forward, underwent a drastic transformation.
A'Da and Hellfire fused into his body at the same time.
His originally black ponytail turned into flowing red-and-blue hair draped over his shoulders. His body was covered in an armor-like layer of seamlessly blended ice and fire. A long, icy-blue scorpion tail flicked behind him, and from his back, a pair of massive crimson wings spread wide.
And this was just the superficial change. From Yan Shaozhe's perspective, after fusing with two nearly ten-thousand-year-old contracted soul beasts, Zhou Sichen's aura had already reached the level of a top-tier Soul King.
The Phoenix Wings unfurled, leaving a trail of fire as Zhou Sichen shot forward, crashing into the retreating Darkgold Dreadclaw Bear.
Strangely, there was no impact. Instead, the moment they touched, the Darkgold Dreadclaw Bear melted into Zhou Sichen's body.
His appearance shifted once again. A layer of dark gold armor now covered him, perfectly merging with the elements of ice and fire.
With the speed boost from Phoenix Wings, Zhou Sichen reached Yan Shaozhe in the blink of an eye. His right arm had transformed into a terrifying claw, identical to the Darkgold Dreadclaw Bear's.
Due to his human form, the claw was not as thick, but the coiled muscles showed that its power was just as formidable.
"Darkgold Dreadclaw!"
His claw lashed out, colliding with Yan Shaozhe's golden talon. Naturally, Yan Shaozhe was not using his full strength, but after witnessing Zhou Sichen's battle with Ma Xiaotao, this strike carried the force of a Soul Emperor-level attack.
The clash of claws produced a sharp, metallic explosion.
To Yan Shaozhe's surprise, even against a blow equivalent to a high-tier Soul Emperor's, Zhou Sichen did not falter. Instead, he matched the force head-on.
With just that one exchange, Yan Shaozhe confirmed a shocking truth—after fusing with three contracted soul beasts, Zhou Sichen's strength was already on par with a high-tier Soul Emperor.
Watching from the sidelines, the elders of Shrek Academy raised their eyebrows.
Now they had a solid grasp of Zhou Sichen's power.
And beyond that, they were simply exhilarated.
A thirty-eighth-rank Soul Elder could already reach this level?
And this was not even his limit!
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