"Chu Chengzhou, 12 years old, martial soul: True Spirit Flag, 29th-level Soul Grandmaster."
"Xiao Wu, 11 years old, martial soul: Soft Bone Rabbit, 38th-level offensive-type Soul Elder."
The two exchanged glances and reported their basic information to Flender.
In Chu Chengzhou's eyes, Flender might not be a good person, but he was certain that unless there was an astronomical temptation—like a hundred-thousand-year soul bone—Flender wouldn't betray his own students.
They were merely showcasing extraordinary cultivation talent. Flender had no reason to sell them out.
"!!! You're a 38th-level Soul Elder?"
Flender leapt to his feet in shock, staring at Xiao Wu in utter disbelief.
An 11-year-old 38th-level Soul Elder? Was there really such a monstrous existence in the world? Could she possibly be a ten-thousand-year spirit beast that had assumed human form?
Chu Chengzhou: Did you figure it out just like that?
However, upon further reflection, Flender dismissed this completely unreliable guess.
Even if it were a hundred-thousand-year spirit beast assuming human form, it shouldn't be this exaggerated. Otherwise, the continent would already be ruled by transformed spirit beasts.
"I don't know why either, but my soul power cultivation speed is just absurdly fast!"
Blinking innocently, Xiao Wu lied with a straight face.
'Good heavens~ I've stumbled upon a great treasure!'
Flender couldn't help but scrutinize Xiao Wu carefully.
Although he had known yesterday that Xiao Wu was a three-ring Soul Elder, Flender couldn't see through her exact soul power level. He had assumed she was just entering the three-ring stage. With Chu Chengzhou, a 12-year-old 29th-level Soul Grandmaster, as a reference point, it wasn't too surprising since a 29th-level Soul Grandmaster wasn't far from becoming a three-ring Soul Elder.
But what he hadn't expected was that Xiao Wu wasn't just entering the three-ring stage—she was already at level 38?
At this rate of cultivation, wouldn't she reach the four-ring Soul Ancestor stage next year?
Qualifications for a Title Douluo? Forget that—this was potential for an unrivaled genius!
Just like the legendary peerless figures from decades ago, the "Invincible in the Sky" and the "Invincible on Land," who were revered as the "Two Peaks" of the soul master world!
If a future supreme powerhouse of the continent had studied at Shrek Academy, imagine the glory he, as principal, would receive! The thought alone made him a little excited.
At this moment, Flender felt that exempting their tuition and recruiting such talented students was undoubtedly the wisest decision he'd ever made in his life!
"Principal Flender, there's something I need to ask of you."
Chu Chengzhou interrupted Flender's daydream.
"Hmm? What is it?"
"If anyone asks about our ages in the future, just say we were born in the year 2625."
"Born in 2625? Hmm... You don't exactly look 16?"
After sizing up Chu Chengzhou, Flender spoke somewhat speechlessly.
On the surface, raising their ages was simple enough.
Currently, Xiao Wu, at 11 years old, had a high soul power level, so her physical development was faster than normal. Claiming she was 16 was plausible.
But Chu Chengzhou saying he was 16? That didn't seem to match at all.
If Chu Chengzhou hadn't mentioned it, based solely on appearances, Flender would have guessed Chu Chengzhou was a year or two younger than Xiao Wu!
"It's fine. I'll advance to the Soul Elder stage soon enough, and then I'll look the part."
Waving his hand dismissively, Chu Chengzhou replied.
"You sly fox! Not only do you refuse to pay tuition, but you also want me to give you a free third soul ring?"
Flender's eyes widened in astonishment. He hadn't expected this kid to have such grand plans! No wonder he chose this exact time to enroll at Shrek Academy.
"What are you talking about? How can you call it freeloading? Isn't it a teacher's duty to help students obtain soul rings?"
"Kid, when it comes to shamelessness, I, Flender, hereby acknowledge you as the strongest on the continent!"
Flender said with a mix of exasperation and admiration.
Chu Chengzhou: "..."
"By the way, what's the deal with your soul skill? It looked like you could summon spirit beasts?"
Flender recalled the earlier conflict outside the village.
He had personally witnessed Ma Hongjun and Dai Mubai confront Chu Chengzhou, only for Dai Mubai to get utterly humiliated.
Dai Mubai wasn't some weakling with poorly configured soul rings and an underwhelming martial soul.
In Flender's eyes, although Dai Mubai was only at level 36, he was undoubtedly one of the top-tier three-ring Soul Elders.
Yet even someone as strong as Dai Mubai had been defeated by Chu Chengzhou, who was only a 29th-level Soul Grandmaster. Moreover, throughout the entire battle, Chu Chengzhou had only used one soul skill.
Such an unbelievable record right before his eyes—how could Flender not be curious?
"Mm, my True Spirit Flag martial soul is a variant soul. Its soul skill effect allows me to summon spirit beasts corresponding to the soul rings to fight."
Chu Chengzhou nodded.
'A variant soul?'
Upon hearing the term "variant soul," Flender's expression grew complicated.
Speaking of which, his disciple Ma Hongjun and his good friend Yu Xiaogang also possessed variant souls.
Unfortunately, Yu Xiaogang's variant soul was a malignant mutation—a completely useless trash-tier martial soul.
Ma Hongjun's situation was better; his variant soul was benign, but for some unknown reason, it carried severe hidden dangers.
Chu Chengzhou, on the other hand, was different. His True Spirit Flag martial soul appeared to have no drawbacks, and his cultivation talent was exceptionally prominent. Flender guessed he likely had innate full soul power—otherwise, he wouldn't have reached the 29th-level Soul Grandmaster stage at just 12 years old.
What Flender didn't know was that if Chu Chengzhou hadn't cheated, he'd be a second Yu Xiaogang and probably wouldn't even be a proper soul master by now!
"Does your variant soul have any flaws?"
"Seems like none."
"In that case, if you ever manage to hunt a hundred-thousand-year spirit beast, could you summon it to fight?"
Flender was startled and quickly followed up with another question.
Generally speaking, a hundred-year spirit beast couldn't be fought by anyone below a two-ring Soul Grandmaster, a thousand-year spirit beast required at least a three-ring Soul Elder, and a ten-thousand-year spirit beast possessed the strength of a five-ring Soul King.
By extension, while a hundred-thousand-year spirit beast was theoretically equivalent in rank to a Title Douluo, ordinary Title Douluos absolutely couldn't defeat them—unless they were auxiliary or healing-type hundred-thousand-year spirit beasts.
A combat-oriented hundred-thousand-year spirit beast was essentially on par with a 96th-level Title Douluo without its hundred-thousand-year soul ring and soul bone.
Counting all the major forces across the continent, how many could boast a powerhouse at this level?
Aside from the Spirit Hall and the secluded Hao Tian Sect, Flender hadn't heard of any other faction with a confirmed 96th-level or higher Title Douluo.
Perhaps Sword Douluo Chen Xin of the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect might be at the 96th level, but the sect had never officially announced it.
If Chu Chengzhou managed to obtain a suitable hundred-thousand-year soul ring in the future, once he advanced to Title Douluo, his strength would place him among the top-tier powerhouses of the continent.
Though his potential might not match Xiao Wu's—already a 38th-level Soul Elder at 11—it was still more than enough to make the world look up to him.
"It should be possible? But hundred-thousand-year spirit beasts are said to be extremely rare. I doubt I'll have much luck with that."
Chu Chengzhou feigned regret and shook his head.
With cheats in hand, he wasn't worried about the problem of soul ring years.
While hundred-thousand-year spirit beasts were indeed rare, there were plenty of eight- or nine-thousand-year spirit beasts in the Great Star Dou Forest. After obtaining their soul rings, he could simply let them AFK in the slots for a while.
Xiao Wu: So terrifying! Little Bunny here is trembling uncontrollably~
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