6 Chapter 6: Zhao Wuji, the Motionless Bright King

As they delved deeper into the inner parts of the academy, Dai Mubai began to introduce some of the history of Shrek Academy.

"Shrek Academy has admitted a total of 62 students, but only 14 of them have met the graduation criteria over the years. Our generation has the highest number of students in the academy."

Tang San and Xiao Wu looked around in astonishment. They had both come from the Primary Spirit Master Academy in Nuoding City and were surprised by the outdated facilities and the scarcity of students here.

With the knowledge of almost all the mainline stories in the Douluo Continent, Zhou Hao remained much more composed and didn't find anything particularly strange. On the contrary, the elite education system employed by Shrek Academy, where only the best are admitted, seemed to be effective and not conflicting with the training methods of regular Academies. It could effectively identify truly talented soul masters. However, given the conditions of the academy, it was still challenging to cultivate a genius.

"Can the school survive with such a small number of students ?" Tang San asked curiously.

"If it weren't for you all coming, we might have been the last batch of students in the academy," Dai Mubai replied with a respectful expression. "The Headmaster once said that Shrek Academy only admits monsters, and it would rather have a shortage than accept mediocrity."

After walking for a while, Dai Mubai led them to an open space. Not far away, there was a burly man in his fifties, dozing off on a recliner.

"Teacher Zhao, I've brought the students for the assessment of the fourth stage," Dai Mubai said.

"Hmm? So many little monsters this year," Zhao Wuji, with a scruffy beard, opened his drowsy eyes, surprised to see the five individuals before him. It seemed almost unbelievable.

"They all passed without examination!" Dai Mubai added, leaving Zhao Wuji even more astonished. He stood up, his body broad and powerful. While not particularly tall, standing at around 1.7 meters, his muscles were like iron, emanating a strong sense of oppression.

"Little monsters, today's assessment will be personally conducted by me, Zhao Wujin, the Vice Dean of Shrek Academy. Now, I'll give you the time it takes for an incense stick to burn to get to know each other. Afterward, the five of you will have to withstand half an hour under my hands working together. As long as one person can endure until the end, you will pass. Don't think about taking shortcuts. In the face of absolute strength, everything else is just empty talk."

Zhao Wuji had a fierce appearance, but he looked gently at the children before him, hoping that they would surprise him.

"Cooperating with each other is your only chance," he added before returning to his recliner and closing his eyes to rest.

Tang San and the others didn't find it strange, but Dai Mubai had a serious expression on his face. "Come here, everyone."

"In the past, I was the one conducting the assessment. Who would have thought that today, Zhao Teacher suddenly got interested and wanted to personally assess you. It won't be easy for you."

"What's wrong? There are five of us together. Even if he's a Spirit Emperor powerhouse, we can hold our ground," Xiao Wu said, confused.

"He's a Spirit Saint!" Zhou Hao corrected her.

Dai Mubai looked at Zhou Hao in astonishment. "That's right, Teacher Zhao is a 76th-rank Spirit Saint. His martial soul is the

Vigorous Vajra Bear, with an extremely powerful defense. His first four soul rings are two yellow and two purple, and the last three are the strongest black ten-thousand-year soul rings. His strength is far beyond what you can imagine."

Tang San and the others' pupils shrank almost simultaneously, filled with shock. A person with terrifying cultivation at the 76th rank, capable of single-handedly contending with a whole army of ten thousand people and calmly escaping. It was a legendary existence, now standing before them.

"Teacher Zhao once dominated the world of soul masters and was known as the 'Motionless Bright King'. Hardly anyone could break through his defense, and his attack methods were extremely terrifying. Well, let's not dwell on that. First, introduce yourselves, and then I'll tell you more about Teacher Zhao's abilities and devise a battle plan."

"Tang San, 29th rank Control System Spirit Grandmaster, Martial Soul, Blue Silver Grass."

"Xiao Wu, 29th rank Agility Attack System Spirit Grandmaster, Martial Soul, Soft Bone Rabbit."

"Zhu Zhuqing, 27th rank Agility Attack System Spirit Grandmaster, Martial Soul, Hell Civet." She still spoke coldly, in a detached manner.

Ning Rongrong hesitated a bit. "Ning Rongrong, 26th rank Auxiliary Tool System Spirit Grandmaster, Martial Soul, Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda."

Tang San, Dai Mubai, and Zhu Zhuqing looked at her curiously. "Are you a direct descendant of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan?"

"Oh well, I snuck out on my own, so you don't have to worry about it. I'll be fine," Ning Rongrong stuck out her tongue, feeling a little embarrassed.

Zhou Hao continued, "Zhou Hao, Martial Soul Dark Gold Fearclaw Bear, 32nd rank Assault System Spirit Elder." He glanced at Zhu Zhuqing with intense eyes, and she immediately turned her head away.

Tang San seemed to want to express his thoughts, but Zhou Hao interrupted, "We don't have much choice. Find your position and maximize your abilities. I'll take the main attack position, Ning Rongrong will provide support, Tang San, your Blue Silver Grass can coordinate from the center and protect her. Xiao Wu and Zhuqing, you'll be on the flanks, ready to strike."

Unconsciously, Zhou Hao didn't use Zhu Zhuqing's surname when speaking. His heart tightened, "Oops, that was abrupt." Dai Mubai had already looked over, slightly displeased, but Zhu Zhuqing didn't show any reaction. Zhou Hao breathed a sigh of relief, Dai Mubai's attitude didn't matter to him, what he cared about was Zhu Zhuqing.

The plan was set, and Zhao Wuji stood up, stretching his muscles and bones. He smiled, "Little monsters, are you ready? Stop dilly-dallying."

"Teacher Zhao, we're ready," Dai Mubai confirmed with Zhou Hao and the others, then said to Zhao Wujie. He stepped aside, preparing to observe. As an Assault System Battle Soul Master himself, Dai Mubai always benefited greatly from watching Zhao Wuji's battles, especially with someone like Zhou Hao, who had yet to reveal his true strength.

Zhao Wuji twisted his neck and with a flick of his wrist, the cracking of bones added to the pressure in the air. He looked at the five individuals across from him, his eyes carrying a hint of killing intent.

"Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda," Ning Rongrong gracefully spun around, releasing a colorful radiance. A translucent and radiant seven-colored pagoda appeared in her palm.

Accompanied by an elegant and noble aura, two yellow soul rings quietly circled around her.

"First of the Seven Treasures, Power." The first soul ring shimmered, and three streams of light flew out from her fingertips. They respectively entered Zhou Hao, Xiao Wu, and Zhu Zhuqing's bodies.

"Haha, there's even a little girl from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan. Hahaha, Flender is going to have a headache." Zhao Wuji laughed heartily and looked toward the opponents.

Zhou Hao stomped his foot, and a three-ring configuration with dazzling colors rose in Zhao Wuji's astonished expression. The Dark Gold Fearclaw Bear had already possessed him.

"Dark Gold Fearclaw Bear?" Zhao Wuji instantly felt the suppression from the bloodline of the Martial Soul, making him feel uncomfortable. And those three soul rings, for a twelve-year-old child, it was simply unreasonable.

"Damn, we've got a real monster here." Zhao Wuji curled his lips and his expression turned serious.

Zhou Hao felt the surging power amplification within him as the terrifying dark golden claws instantly sprung out. The first soul ring shimmered with a faint white glow as he slashed his claws toward Zhao Wuji.

At the same time, Xiao Wu used the momentum from Tang San's palms to leap agilely and swiftly toward the top of Zhao Wuji's head.

With a cold snort, Zhao Wuji stomped his right foot, and his palm, covered with a thick layer of brown fur like a fan, forcefully blocked Zhou Hao's frontal attack. He hadn't planned on using his martial soul at first, but Zhou Hao's attack was too formidable, causing him to feel uncertain.

Seizing this opportunity, Xiao Wu swung her long scorpion braid and entangled it around Zhao Wuji's neck. Her soul rings gleamed as she unleashed her first soul skill: Waist Bow.

Just as Zhao Wuji was about to exert his strength, he was only able to repel Zhou Hao. Tang San's Blue Silver Grass had already ensnared his feet. Carelessly, he couldn't find any leverage, and he was already lifted off the ground. Xiao Wu's agility was fully displayed as Zhao Wuji was instantly planted headfirst into the ground.

As Zhu Zhuqing hesitated while circling to Zhao Wuji's back, in the next moment, Zhao Wuji radiated a brilliant golden light. Brown bear fur covered his entire body, and seven soul rings in shades of 2 yellow, 2 purple, and 3 black rotated around him. He stood up, and the first soul ring shone brightly: Immovable King's Body. Activate!

Zhu Zhuqing's gaze turned cold, and her soul rings gleamed. Under Ning Rongrong's enhancement, she became like a shadow, resembling an elegant and agile black spirit cat. Her chilling claws instantly struck at the vital points. However, Zhao Wuji simply smiled faintly, completely ignoring the attack from behind. Such an attack couldn't break through his defense at all.

With both arms exerting force, Zhao Wuji leaped into the air and smashed fiercely toward the center of the formation. At the same time, his fourth soul ring shimmered as he activated Gravity Amplification. Tang San, suppressed by the sudden gravity, had no choice but to use Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track to evade, while Ning Rongrong behind him was at a loss.

Seeing the situation, Tang San quickly used a Blue Silver Grass to swiftly wrap around Ning Rongrong's waist and pulled her into the air, narrowly avoiding the danger.

Feeling the need to go all out, intense dark golden light surged from Zhou Hao's right arm as he activated his second soul skill: Shadow of Darkness. For one minute, his attack power doubled, accompanied by a secondary effect that weakened the opponent by twenty percent. This came from his second soul ring, the Shadow Leopard, which had been nearly six thousand years old.

Zhao Wuji sensed the chilling presence behind him and turned around, unleashing a palm strike, his second soul skill: Great Force Diamond Palm. However, his arm went numb as numerous vines entangled his hands. It was Tang San who seized the opportunity and activated Parasite.

Zhao Wujie could only withstand Zhou Hao's attack head-on. At this moment, Xiao Wu's eyes suddenly turned blood-red and stared directly at Zhao Wuji as she activated her second soul skill: Charm. Caught between enemies on both sides, Zhao Wuji let out a roar, and Xiao Wu instantly suffered a backlash. Her face turned as pale as paper, and Tang San hurriedly caught her, his eyes already filled with anger.

Zhou Hao delivered his strongest strike, followed closely by Zhu Zhuqing, whose Ghost Shadow Hundred Claws attacked various vital points with full force. Ning Rongrong escaped danger and immediately released her full amplification. It seemed that Zhao Wuji had been pushed into a desperate situation.

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