"Inner Court students?"
"How are you even more impressive than Luo Chuan..."
Zheng Yiran's face revealed unconcealable astonishment. She had thought Tang Luochuan and Gu Yue's talents were already formidable, but it turned out there were even greater prodigies.
The words "Inner Court students" spoke volumes. After all, anyone who could graduate from Shrek's Inner Court was far from ordinary.
Becoming a student of Shrek's Inner Court was the goal of nearly every talented Soul Master—to become one of its members.
And these two before her had already been in the Inner Court for years. Didn't that mean... they were direct admissions?
"Just what kind of talent does it take to be directly admitted to the Inner Court?"
A trace of awe flickered in Zheng Yiran's eyes. Indeed, the gap between people was evident from a very young age.
"Not at all."
"How could we compare to Brother Luo Chuan?"
Na'er immediately shook her head upon hearing this. No matter how strong she became, she would never surpass Luo Chuan Gege.
After all, Luo Chuan Gege was the best.
"I'm nowhere near Luo Chuan's level."
Ye Xinglan also smiled and shook her head, speaking slowly. She might be considered a genius, but compared to Luo Chuan, there was simply no comparison.
"Then..."
"What are your current cultivation levels?"
Zheng Yiran nodded thoughtfully. What they said made sense—Tang Luochuan was already a five-ringed Soul King. If their talents surpassed his, that would be truly terrifying.
But from her perspective, their strength was undoubtedly formidable.
"47th-rank Soul Ancestor."
"I'm a bit weaker, just broke through to the 39th rank."
Na'er and Ye Xinglan exchanged a glance before answering calmly.
"..."
Zheng Yiran was speechless.
"Just broke through to the 39th rank"—was that even human?
She, who was ranked on the Teenage Genius List, was only a 38th-rank Soul Venerable at present.
Among so many people here, her strength might not even make the cut.
"You..."
"What are your rankings on the Teenage Genius List?"
Zheng Yiran took a deep breath and asked curiously. She assumed these individuals must all be at the top of the list.
"Teenage Genius List?"
The two of them froze for a moment.
Ye Xinglan at least seemed to consider it, while Na'er looked completely unaware.
In truth, for a true top-tier genius like Na'er, such rankings were utterly insignificant.
"Boss."
"Do you know what these two lists are?"
Xie Xie and the others also hesitated, their gazes turning toward Tang Luochuan with curiosity.
Were they that out of touch? They hadn't even heard of either the Continental Fame List or the Teenage Genius List.
"The Continental Fame List is a ranking of the top one hundred powerhouses on the continent, compiled by the Spirit Transfer Pagoda. As for the Teenage Genius List..."
"It's just a minor branch of it."
Tang Luochuan smiled faintly as he explained.
To be fair, the list did have some merit. For instance, Wu Siduo's talent actually surpassed many of the Shrek Seven Monsters...
Even those at the bottom of the list, like Zheng Yiran and Yang Niansha, were close to the Soul Ancestor rank.
"That's right, it's a sub-list of the Continental Fame List. Anyone under eighteen can be evaluated..."
"Luo Chuan, Gu Yue, and everyone else..."
"Don't tell me none of you have ever paid attention to this?"
Zheng Yiran agreed with a nod, but seeing everyone's expressions, she fell into deep thought. It seemed...
None of them had any intention of competing for the list.
"Hmm..."
"We really haven't paid much attention. If it were the Continental Fame Rankings, we might know more."
Ye Xinglan and Na'er shook their heads, speaking frankly.
Beside them, Gu Yue and Tang Luochuan simply smiled and shook their heads. Teenage geniuses... In the face of true prodigies, such titles and honors were insignificant.
"Alright..."
Hearing this, Zheng Yiran nodded, though her shock remained undiminished. At this moment, she felt like a frog at the bottom of a well.
Previously, as a member of the Teenage Genius List, she had often prided herself on it, even treating her younger brother Wei Xiaofeng with an air of seniority.
But now, among this group—aside from her brother, whom she had subjected to brutal training, and a few classmates even younger than her—she truly didn't seem to surpass anyone!
"Sigh..."
"I still have so far to go."
A wave of emotion flashed in Zheng Yiran's eyes as she couldn't help but murmur. This was especially true when it came to Tang Luochuan and Gu Yue, both Soul Kings. When would she ever reach their level?
"By the way, Sister Mu Xi, what's your rank...?"
At this point, Zheng Yiran turned her gaze toward Mu Xi. She had previously learned that Mu Xi was the oldest among them. She wondered what her talent was like.
"I'm three years older than everyone else. Right now, I'm just an ordinary Soul Ancestor. My Martial Soul talent pales in comparison to all of yours. I came to Shrek Academy through my secondary profession—forging."
Mu Xi wore a calm smile as she spoke slowly.
Her Martial Soul talent was truly lacking. Even with Luo Chuan's help in enhancing her Soul Spirit, she still seemed insignificant compared to real geniuses.
Only through her development as a Forging Master, elevated by Luo Chuan, did she truly have the qualifications to keep up with the others...
"You're..."
"What rank of Forging Master are you?"
Zheng Yiran finally let out a sigh of relief—at least here was someone not overwhelmingly monstrous. But as she listened, she couldn't help feeling astonished again.
You could get into Shrek Academy through a secondary profession? The requirements must be no less demanding. Surely, she must be a fifth-rank Forging Grandmaster.
"Sixth-rank Forging Grandmaster."
Mu Xi smiled faintly. As she spoke, her gaze inadvertently drifted toward Luo Chuan. Wasn't it him who had helped her reach this point?
"..."
Zheng Yiran was utterly speechless.
A sixth-rank Forging Master—this one was just as inhuman as the rest!
"I'm done talking about this with you all..."
"It's too demoralizing."
Zheng Yiran took a deep breath and sighed helplessly. Being around these people had shattered her pride in her own talent.
If she hadn't met them, she could have remained a happy genius. But now, there was clearly no going back.
"Once I get back..."
"I'm going to train harder."
Zheng Yiran muttered with determination in her eyes.
"..."
"I'm heading back to train now."
"I'll strive to break through to Soul Ancestor as soon as possible!"
Not long after, as the gathering came to an end, Zheng Yiran bid farewell to everyone with a faint smile.
Realizing everyone's strength had undoubtedly dealt her a heavy blow, but as the saying goes, what doesn't break her...
Will only make her stronger!
She would definitely break through to greater heights.
"Xiaofeng, I feel like your sister..."
"Got completely crushed by Xinglan-jie and Na'er-jie."
Xie Xie blinked as he glanced in Wei Xiaofeng's direction, unable to help commenting.
"This..."
"I think so too."
Wei Xiaofeng also said with deep surprise. His usually proud sister actually had such a humbled day.
"Hmph..."
"My sister was so arrogant before, but in front of the boss, she's nothing. Now she's behaving."
Wei Xiaofeng snorted lightly, feeling secretly pleased.
Having their boss...
Was his lifelong confidence!
"I'm going back to cultivate too, I..."
"Also hope to break through to Soul Ancestor soon!"
Xu Xiaoyan's calm face carried a faint smile as she spoke, heading towards the dormitory building while lost in thought.
She couldn't compare to Luo Chuan-ge, Gu Yue-jie or Na'er, but catching up to Xinglan wasn't impossible!
Xiaoyan...
You must work hard!
"Us too."
The other members of Zero Class also responded. For them, the most important task now was naturally cultivation.
In this genius-filled Shrek Academy, only at Soul Ancestor level could they truly stand out. Otherwise, they'd be too embarrassed to lift their heads.
"Let's all work hard together!"
Nearby, Tang Wulin also said with determined eyes.
Actually, thanks to the energy absorbed in Dragon Valley, he wasn't in a hurry regarding Soul Power cultivation.
But he still wanted to bring Zixin-jie to the academy too. With his current abilities, he probably wasn't qualified yet. He hoped his forging skills...
Could advance further soon!
"Work hard, Wulin."
Tang Luochuan gently patted his shoulder, fully aware of his thoughts, and said with a smile.
"Hehe, I plan to visit the Forging Master Association later. Mu Xi-jie, Brother, do you want to come along?"
Tang Wulin blinked and asked cheerfully.
"I've already been, so I won't go."
Mu Xi shook her head with a smile. She'd already done her certification at the association and wasn't in a hurry to return.
"Wulin, you go ahead. Gu Yue-jie and I have something to attend to later."
Tang Luochuan also declined with a smile.
It didn't matter when he visited the association since he pursued an all-rounded path, excelling in various secondary professions. He could go whenever he had time.
But Wulin was a pure forging genius. This trip was likely to seek recognition from President Feng Wuyu.
"If you want to meet Elder Feng, it might be better to have Teacher Wu take you to meet Elder Zhuo later."
Tang Luochuan advised him thoughtfully.
"Oh?"
"Got it, Brother!"
Hearing this, Tang Wulin committed it to memory and headed towards the Forging Master Association.
"Luo Chuan-ge..."
"What are you and Gu Yue-jie going to do?"
After Zero Class had dispersed, Na'er's gaze turned to Tang Luochuan, her eyes filled with curiosity.
Were Luo Chuan-ge and Gu Yue-jie going out together?
"Hmm..."
Beside him, Gu Yue's face appeared calm, but a trace of curiosity flickered in her heart—Luo Chuan hadn't told her anything either.
"I promised you, Gu Yue-jie, that I'd take you to the Spirit Transfer Pagoda to meet Her Majesty, the Heavenly Phoenix. We'll be leaving soon."
Tang Luochuan smiled faintly as he spoke.
"Is that so?"
"Brother Luo Chuan, my teacher also wants to meet you. When you return, could you accompany me to Sea God Island?"
Na'er nodded sweetly, suddenly remembering something.
"Of course."
Tang Luochuan chuckled in agreement, nodding slightly. Yun Ming, the Sea God Pavilion Master, one of the world's top powerhouses…
It was certainly worth meeting him.
Meanwhile, Ye Xinglan, standing nearby, hesitantly raised her hand, looking somewhat embarrassed.
"Actually…"
"My elders also wish to meet you, Luo Chuan."
"..."
A thoughtful expression crossed Tang Luochuan's face.
Ye Xinglan's elders…
"Doesn't that make it like meeting the parents?"
Na'er mused aloud.
"Huh?"
Ye Xinglan froze, her already flushed face turning even redder with embarrassment.
Don't say it out loud…
Now it's even more awkward!
"It seems he's surrounded by quite a few girls."
From a distance, Yun Ming quietly observed the commotion around Tang Luochuan, a sigh escaping him. Part of him didn't want to entrust Na'er to someone like this, yet another part found it perfectly understandable.
After all, hadn't he, too, left behind his fair share of romantic entanglements in his youth? And this boy was already a Soul King at twelve!
"Indeed."
"He's also going with Gu Yue to meet Leng Yaozhu."
Beside him, Ya Li let out a soft laugh, humming lightly.
"Eh?"
"Ya Li, she really never liked me, did she…?"
Yun Ming was momentarily stunned, but soon, as his gaze fell on a distant figure, a contemplative gleam entered his calm eyes.
"An Ultimate Douluo I've never seen before… Could they be a student's family member?"
"I just mentioned a name, and you're already thinking about her?"
Just as he was lost in thought, Ya Li pinched his wrist lightly and turned to leave.
"Ah?"
"Ya Li—"
"I really don't know her well at all!"
Yun Ming hurried after her, grabbing her hand as he spoke earnestly.
What Heavenly Phoenix…
They were practically strangers.
"What about Cai Yue'er, then?"
Ya Li stopped in her tracks and asked.
Yun Ming pondered for a moment.
"Well… an old classmate?"