# Chapter 16: New Faces
Soto City- Rose Hotel
Having thoroughly defeated Dai Mubai and effectively "fleeced" his brother of a humiliating loss, Chen Sheng's mood had improved considerably.
When Flender dismissed everyone for the evening, Chen Sheng simply nodded and said nothing more. He had other priorities.
He wanted to quickly return to his room and examine the system's accumulated treasure chests—a collection that had grown quite substantial over the day's events.
Xiao Wu, noticing that Chen Sheng wasn't planning any evening outings, immediately lost interest in further conversation.
The three of them returned to their assigned rooms in the hotel, agreeing to meet again in the morning.
Meanwhile, Yu Xiaogang and Flender hadn't seen each other for a considerable time. They took the opportunity to have a thorough conversation, catching up on years of separation. Tang San followed them to the small shop Flender had established in Soto City.
"Why are you still standing here gawking?"
Flender barked at Dai Mubai with obvious displeasure. "Go find Little Ao and have him treat your injuries. You won't be allowed to leave Shrek Academy until your soul power reaches at least level forty!"
The Dean's disappointment was palpable. Disgraceful! he thought bitterly. A level thirty-six Battle Soul Elder with three soul rings and two boosting soul skills couldn't defeat a level thirty-five Battle Soul Elder who appeared to rely primarily on physical combat. This is unacceptable!
---
In his private room with the door firmly closed, Chen Sheng finally allowed himself to access his system interface.
System, open all treasure chests.
The flood of notifications was overwhelming as each reward materialized in his system storage:
『Treasure Chest : ×1,000 Gold Coins』
A substantial monetary reward. Chen Sheng stored this without hesitation—wealth was always useful.
『Treasure Chest : Soul Ring Age Improvement Card (can increase soul ring age by 1,000 years)』
Without delay, Chen Sheng immediately applied this card to his first soul ring. The enhancement caused his soul power to surge, climbing from level 36 to level 37. His first soul ring's age jumped from 2,800 years to 3,800 years.
『Treasure Chest : 50,000-Year-Old Skull Spirit Bone』
Excellent, Chen Sheng thought, examining this reward with great interest. A skull bone would enhance my mental force significantly. I'll save this for careful consideration after reviewing all rewards.
『Treasure Chest : Martial Soul Enhancement Card』
Without hesitation, Chen Sheng activated this card on his Six-Winged Archangel martial soul. Immediately, divine energy surged through his spiritual sea as the magnificent archangel underwent another transformation.
Two additional wings erupted from its form, bringing the total to eight breathtaking appendages wreathed in holy light. The martial soul's quality jumped dramatically—it had now reached divine king-grade status, making it one of the most powerful spirits Chen Sheng could possess.
『Treasure Chests 5-13: Various mundane items』
Chen Sheng quickly scrolled through these rewards with minimal interest: a cooking pan, several modern-world clothing items, a harmonica, assorted tools, and other useless trinkets. He stored them away without further consideration.
『Treasure Chest 14: Soul Ring Enhancement Card (can increase soul ring age by 10,000 years)』
This is valuable, Chen Sheng recognized immediately.
He applied this powerful card directly to his third soul ring. The black ring pulsed with overwhelming energy as its age jumped from 23,000 years to 33,000 years. His soul power surged in response, climbing from level 37 to level 38.
『Treasure Chests 15-21: Various useless items』
More mundane modern-world objects: a digital watch, several books from his previous world, a bicycle pump, random decorative items. Chen Sheng filed these away in his mental storage for potential future use.
『Treasure Chest 22: Desert Eagle Pistol Blueprints』
Chen Sheng examined this reward's description carefully.
The Desert Eagle was a powerful firearm from his previous world—the blueprints indicated that a properly constructed pistol based on this design would possess enough power to injure even Soul Saints and potentially kill weaker ones.
Interesting, Chen Sheng mused. Though firearms won't be particularly useful in a world dominated by soul masters, these blueprints could eventually find application.
『Treasure Chests 23-25: Additional useless items』
More random objects: decorative candles, a flashlight with dead batteries, and a rubber duck.
---
After reviewing all twenty-five treasure chests, Chen Sheng shifted his complete focus to the 50,000-year-old skull spirit bone he had received earlier.
An external spirit bone for the skull would provide exceptional benefits. Absorbing it would definitely enhance his mental force significantly—exactly what he needed. His goal was to cultivate his mental power to the level of a Soul King before reaching level forty in soul power rank.
Without further hesitation, Chen Sheng retrieved the external spirit bone and began the absorption process immediately.
Boom!
An hour later, as Chen Sheng opened his eyes from his meditative state, he had completely absorbed the spirit bone. His soul power had surged further, now reaching level thirty-nine.
Looking in the mirror after the absorption, Chen Sheng noticed his pupils hadn't changed noticeably in appearance.
However, his eyes now flickered with an ethereal silver light when he concentrated—a subtle yet striking enhancement that made him appear even more striking than before.
I'm still very handsome, Chen Sheng concluded with slight vanity.
The spirit bone had provided remarkable benefits beyond just soul power advancement. He had gained two new spirit abilities:
『Combat Insight (Passive Ability): Greatly improves one's ability to predict enemy movements, rapidly capture opponent trajectories, and see through various illusions, charm effects, and deception techniques.』
『Mind Shock Gaze (Active Ability): Condenses mental power within one's gaze, creating overwhelming mental pressure on enemies and launching targeted mental attacks, similar to a spiritual shock wave.』
These abilities perfectly complemented his existing arsenal, making him even more formidable in combat.
---
The Next Day
Persuaded by Xiao Wu's insistence and reasoning, Zhu Zhuqing had finally agreed to visit Shrek Academy with the group. She held no affection for Dai Mubai, and honestly, she felt trapped with limited options.
If Shrek Academy was indeed as competent as Yu Xiaogang claimed, staying there to improve her strength could represent a viable alternative.
More importantly, she could continue observing Chen Sheng and potentially request his guidance on cultivation.
I want to become stronger, she told herself firmly. That's the priority.
Of course, there was another consideration she wouldn't fully admit to herself: her mixed feelings about Dai Mubai. Born into a noble family, she understood the complexities of aristocratic circles—powerful men could rarely be monogamous. The biggest reason Dai Weisi, her elder sister's fiancé and Dai Mubai's older brother, hadn't taken other concubines yet was his singular focus on winning the succession competition with Dai Mubai.
What angered Zhu Zhuqing most wasn't polygamy itself—she understood such things were unavoidable in noble circles. Rather, it was Dai Mubai's obvious dissolution and lack of discipline. Did this mean he had already surrendered? That he was no longer taking their competitive position seriously?
Dai Weisi, by contrast, maintained a facade of indifference while being intensely serious internally. This was evident from the fact that he hadn't accumulated concubines or indulged in excessive leisure activities. Of this, Zhu Zhuqing was certain based on observations and reports.
But now... Chen Sheng also has a White Tiger martial soul more powerful then royal family, Zhu Zhuqing reflected with mixed emotions. Could there be hope?
Although Chen Sheng's current strength exceeded Dai Mubai's, there might be potential. If Dai Mubai worked diligently on his cultivation despite his loss, he could potentially narrow the gap with Dai Weisi. Maybe, they wouldn't be without a chance of victory.
---
Led by Yu Xiaogang, Chen Sheng's group gradually exited Soto City and approached a nearby village.
"Grandmaster, are you absolutely certain Shrek Academy is here?" Xiao Wu frowned with obvious dissatisfaction.
Yu Xiaogang had assured them Shrek Academy would exceed their expectations, but what she was seeing contradicted such promises entirely.
The academy was apparently located in a rural village outskirts—far worse than Notting Academy's urban setting. There seemed to be nothing here besides villagers and countryside scenery.
Yu Xiaogang maintained his confident explanation: "Xiao Wu, haven't you heard that powerful cultivators often prefer locations with minimal population? Such places allow for undisturbed cultivation."
Xiao Wu didn't fully comprehend Yu Xiaogang's meaning, but Chen Sheng and Tang San immediately understood. He's suggesting Shrek Academy is a hidden institution with masters who have withdrawn from society, Chen Sheng realized with subtle amusement. The clichéd "mysterious hidden school" concept.
Chen Sheng wanted to laugh at the transparent explanation.
『DING! DETECTED Tang San's Curiosity emotion toward host's amusement. Congratulations! Reward: Treasure Chest acquired!』
Xiao Wu, by contrast, felt nervous uncertainty. What if Shrek Academy has Titled Douluos protecting it? That could endanger me if they discover my true identity.
Without any change in expression, Chen Sheng reached out and gently held Xiao Wu's small hand, gripping it reassuringly. His silent gesture conveyed a clear message: Don't panic. I'll protect you.
However, this intimate gesture didn't go unnoticed. Both Tang San and Zhu Zhuqing's eyes flickered with involuntary reactions—one showing concern, the other displaying a more complex mixture of emotions.
『DING! DETECTED Tang San's Complicated Emotions (concern and subtle envy) toward host. Congratulations! Reward: Treasure Chest acquired!』
『DING! DETECTED Zhu Zhuqing's Complex Emotions (concern and subtle jealousy) toward host. Congratulations! Reward: Treasure Chest acquired!』
As they continued walking, Chen Sheng suddenly noticed a beautiful young girl in a simple green dress approaching them. Her long brown hair framed a face full of intelligence and natural grace, and her eyes revealed both curiosity and keen observation.
Ning Rongrong.
As if sensing Chen Sheng's attention, the girl smiled politely and quickened her pace to approach the group. "Are you also here to register for Shrek Academy?" she asked pleasantly.
Chen Sheng nodded slightly, confirming her assumption.
Xiao Wu and Zhu Zhuqing exchanged surprised glances—they hadn't expected to encounter another beautiful girl whose appearance was quite remarkable.
The young girl's noble temperament and refined attire marked her as someone of significant status.
『DING! DETECTED Ning Rongrong's Interest emotion toward host. Congratulations! Reward: Treasure Chest acquired!』
After receiving confirmation, Ning Rongrong chuckled lightly. "Oh? In that case, why don't we walk together? I'm also planning to register for Shrek Academy. I heard this academy only accepts 'monsters'—students with exceptional talent—which has certainly piqued my curiosity."
She paused, her eyes curving with amusement as she looked at Yu Xiaogang. "Oh, and I thought I heard you mention strong experts earlier. Are these people Titled Douluos? Could you tell me more about them?"
Here comes the "little devil" Ning Rongrong, Chen Sheng thought with some amusement. The early-stage Ning Rongrong is quite cute and beautiful when in a good mood, but when her temper flares up, she can indeed be somewhat insufferable.
However, if Flender tried to use Ning Rongrong's "death-exempting token" to force her together with Oscar, Chen Sheng found the concept quite frustrating. Oscar was a decent enough person, but Chen Sheng had his own ideas about Ning Rongrong's future.
My heart is very big, Chen Sheng reflected with subtle amusement at his own thoughts. This isn't being a scoundrel, but rather wanting to give every woman without a proper home a warm one.
After all, flirting without responsibility is being a scoundrel, but flirting with responsibility is being romantic.
---
At Shrek Academy's Entrance
A long queue of applicants waited to register. An old man with white hair stood at the entrance as the registration official.
Surprisingly, Dai Mubai stood beside him, still recovering for his injuries.
Ning Rongrong took the opportunity to introduce herself more formally to Chen Sheng and the others as they approached the registration desk.
The old man—who turned out to be Flender's deputy in charge of admissions—reviewed the next applicant with cold indifference. "I made it very clear just now: applicants must be under twelve years old and have at least level twenty soul power. Your bone age exceeds our requirements."
"So what? I'm only over by one year. You must be able to make an exception!" the rejected applicant protested angrily.
The old man's response was absolute: "Shrek only accepts monsters. You do not meet our standards. Standards are standards."
"Then refund my ten gold coin registration fee!" the young man demanded.
"Once registered, no refunds," the official replied coldly, then closed his eyes in meditation, dismissing the applicant entirely.
"Next," he called out.
Chen Sheng and his companions exchanged unconscious frowns upon witnessing this harsh exchange.
Before Chen Sheng could comment, Xiao Wu blurted out her frustration: "Grandmaster, is this the Shrek Academy you praised? I've never heard of such an expensive registration fee, and this academy looks so dilapidated! Is it worth ten gold coins? And the 'no refunds' policy is outrageous!"
Yu Xiaogang froze, clearly caught off-guard.
Could he possibly say he was completely unaware of this?*Yu Xiaogang thought with internal dismay. He cursed Flender mentally. Even a miser wouldn't operate this way!
He knew some general information about Shrek Academy, but he genuinely hadn't known about these policies.
When had Flender become so desperate for money?
Ning Rongrong also couldn't resist commenting. "Grandmaster, you mentioned the prestige of your 'Golden Triangle' and claimed there were Titled Douluos and many strong soul masters behind you. Can a Titled Douluo really be this short on funds? Even if all these people paid the registration fee, it would barely exceed a thousand gold coins. I didn't expect you to be running such an operation."
Yu Xiaogang found himself completely unprepared to defend against these accusations.
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