The Level 21 Soul Master boy looked at Dai Mubai and didn't even dare to release his Martial Soul before dragging his father away in embarrassment.
Su Bai couldn't help but laugh inwardly.
Wasn't this just a pillow arriving right when he was getting sleepy?
He had been worrying about how to show off his strength—now the perfect opportunity had come.
What Su Bai wanted wasn't merely to pass the test.
He wanted to attract Xiao Wu, Ning Rongrong, and Zhu Zhuqing's attention in the most shocking way possible.
Seeing that no one dared to challenge him, a trace of disdain appeared on Dai Mubai's face.
"If no one else steps up, then we continue registration."
"I will."
A clear, firm voice rang out.
Everyone turned toward the source.
Su Bai, who had been standing in the middle of the line, stepped forward calmly.
He walked straight up to Dai Mubai.
"I'll fight you."
The moment Su Bai stepped out, he became the center of attention.
"Who's this kid? He doesn't look that old—how dare he challenge that blond guy?"
"Is he crazy? Didn't you see that Level 21 guy run off just now?"
"Handsome, sure—but what an idiot."
Whispers spread through the crowd.
Tang San was also surprised. He hadn't expected this man—who had already caught his attention—to step forward so suddenly.
He wanted to see what gave him such confidence.
Xiao Wu, on the other hand, felt a bit worried. While she could sense Su Bai's noble bloodline, she didn't know his actual strength.
Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing also turned their gazes toward him.
Dai Mubai sized Su Bai up. At over 1.8 meters tall, he stood half a head taller than him, with a well-proportioned, powerful build—nothing like a typical twelve-year-old.
"You sure? I won't go easy on you just because you're young," Dai Mubai snorted.
"Cut the nonsense," Su Bai replied impatiently. "If I beat you, does that mean I can skip all the tests and enroll directly?"
Dai Mubai froze for a moment, then burst into laughter.
"Hahaha! Interesting! That's the funniest joke I've heard all year."
Beside him, the admissions teacher Li Yusong frowned, thinking the boy far too arrogant.
"Young man, don't aim beyond your reach.
Dai Mubai is a Level 37 Battle Soul Elder, one of our academy's best students."
Su Bai ignored Li Yusong entirely and simply looked at Dai Mubai.
"Do you dare to bet?"
"Why wouldn't I!"
Dai Mubai's pride was instantly provoked.
"If you can beat me, forget skipping the test—at Shrek Academy, you'll be the boss, and I, Dai Mubai, will follow your lead!"
"Deal."
Su Bai uttered a single word and stepped back slightly.
"Come."
"Arrogant!"
Dai Mubai roared, no longer suppressing his soul power.
"Martial Soul—White Tiger, possess!"
With a tiger's roar, his body swelled, muscles bulging as golden fur burst from beneath his skin. His hands transformed into sharp tiger claws.
Two yellow and one purple soul rings rose from beneath his feet, circling his body.
A powerful pressure spread instantly.
Some of the applicants at the front of the line were forced to step back under the oppressive aura.
"Dai Mubai, Martial Soul White Tiger, Level 37 Assault-Type Battle Soul Elder."
He announced his name.
Everyone held their breath, waiting for Su Bai's response.
In their eyes, this boy was about to pay for his arrogance.
But Su Bai showed no fear.
He lightly stomped his foot.
"Martial Soul—Qilin."
The moment his words fell—
An aura far more majestic and sacred than Dai Mubai's White Tiger erupted from Su Bai's body.
A golden Qilin phantom flashed behind him.
Then, three soul rings rose from beneath his feet.
The first was a standard hundred-year yellow ring.
When the second ring appeared, a collective gasp swept through the crowd.
Purple!
A thousand-year soul ring!
Dai Mubai's smile froze.
Li Yusong's pupils shrank sharply.
Even Tang San's expression turned serious—his second ring being thousand-year level completely defied his understanding.
"Didn't the teacher say… the limit for the second soul ring is 764 years?"
Then came the third ring.
Its deep purple color was even richer than the second.
Another thousand-year ring!
Yellow, Purple, Purple!
A deathly silence fell over the entrance of Shrek Academy.
Everyone stared at the three soul rings beneath Su Bai's feet, mouths agape.
What kind of monstrous configuration was this?
A twelve-year-old with three soul rings was already a genius among geniuses.
But his second ring was at the thousand-year level!
This couldn't even be called genius anymore—this was pure absurdity.
Li Yusong rubbed his eyes, almost unable to believe what he was seeing.
In decades of teaching, he had seen countless prodigies—but never anything this outrageous.
Tang San's fists clenched unconsciously.
He had always believed his twin Martial Souls gave him an unparalleled advantage, but seeing Su Bai's configuration shook him.
It wasn't his confidence in his talent that wavered—but the theory he had always trusted.
Xiao Wu, Ning Rongrong, and Zhu Zhuqing were even more shaken.
The auspicious aura they had sensed earlier became overwhelmingly rich the moment Su Bai released his Martial Soul.
Especially Xiao Wu—her blood began to race, and she felt an almost irresistible urge to bow in reverence.
Dai Mubai, standing directly opposite Su Bai, felt it most clearly.
The moment the Qilin Martial Soul appeared, his White Tiger began to tremble.
It was fear—suppression from the depths of his bloodline. Even the flow of his soul power became sluggish.
"T-this… impossible…"
Dai Mubai's voice turned hoarse, his earlier arrogance completely gone, replaced by shock.
"Su Bai, Martial Soul Qilin, Level 35 Assault-Type Battle Soul Elder."
Su Bai's calm voice echoed clearly across the silent field.
A twelve-year-old Level 35 Soul Elder!
Cold sweat formed on Dai Mubai's forehead.
Although he was two levels higher, Su Bai's absurd soul ring configuration and overwhelming Martial Soul suppression had completely shattered his confidence.
"What? Afraid?" Su Bai said lightly.
Dai Mubai gritted his teeth. He was Dai Mubai—the Evil-Eyed White Tiger, a prince of the Star Luo Empire. He had his own pride.
Losing to Dai Weisi was one thing—but to lose to someone else?
"Afraid? What a joke!"
Suppressing the trembling of his Martial Soul, he roared,
"It's just flashy soul rings! Take this!"
"First Soul Skill—White Tiger Barrier!"
An attack and defense skill in one!
Dai Mubai made the first move, his body turning into a streak of white lightning as he charged straight at Su Bai.