"Director Long!"
Seeing the middle-aged man striding toward them, Tang Luochuan couldn't help but exclaim in surprise.
Even Wu Zhangkong, the usually unflappable and aloof male idol among them, was momentarily stunned when he saw this man who had once worked alongside him for a long time.
"When did you all arrive? Why didn't you say anything in advance? Teacher Wu, you really…"
"Couldn't you have at least given me a heads-up call?"
Long Xuheng practically rushed over to the group, his gaze tinged with dissatisfaction as he looked at Wu Zhangkong, unable to hold back his words.
"You—"
"I just brought the kids directly this time."
Wu Zhangkong nearly blurted out, "If you can beat me, then I'll give you a call next time," but instead, he held back and replied calmly.
"Teacher Wu…"
"But the kids coming is truly a joyous occasion. Luo Chuan, why have you all come?"
Long Xuheng sighed helplessly before shifting his attention away from Wu Zhangkong and turning to the Zero Class students led by Tang Luochuan, his eyes gleaming with excitement.
As he spoke, his face broke into an irrepressible smile. These were the most outstanding students of Eastsea Academy. Not only had they dominated all of Eastsea City, but even within the entire Heaven Sea Soul Master Alliance, those who surpassed them could be counted on one hand!
It was no exaggeration to say that because of these eight students, Eastsea Academy's reputation had grown by at least 70%.
"Director Long, we're currently in the middle of completing Shrek Academy's entrance exams, and we happened to pass through Eastsea City, so we thought we'd drop by…"
Tang Luochuan smiled as he explained.
"Exams…"
"What kind of exams does Shrek Academy have?"
Hearing this, Long Xuheng immediately perked up with interest. The entrance exams of Shrek Academy were something he had never experienced firsthand, so having the chance to hear about them now was a rare opportunity.
"It's like this—aside from Brother and Gu Yue, who don't need to take the exam, the rest of us have the same challenge…"
At this point, Tang Wulin, standing beside Tang Luochuan, also spoke up, explaining the nature of the challenge: surpassing opponents at least five ranks above them, as well as their previous battles at various academies.
"Visiting ten cities and challenging ten opponents who must be at least five ranks stronger… That's Shrek for you. In an ordinary academy, such a challenge would be unthinkable."
After hearing this, Long Xuheng couldn't help but sigh in admiration. Defeating a Soul Master five ranks above oneself was no easy feat—it was practically half a major realm!
Slowly, he fell into deep thought.
The exam required finding opponents five ranks stronger, and up until now, the group had been seeking them out at the Spirit Transfer Pagoda or other academies.
But the current situation was different, and for a simple reason—their academy simply didn't have enough Soul Ancestors!
"Our academy…"
"Can we really gather enough students at the Soul Ancestor or even Soul King level?"
Long Xuheng muttered in silence. In the intermediate division of the academy, a Soul Ancestor could already serve as a teacher. And as for him, due to his mediocre Martial Soul talent, he had yet to break through to the Soul King rank.
Students at the Soul Ancestor level were already rare in the academy.
Not to mention Tang Wulin, Wu Siduo, and Ye Xinglan, who all needed to face Soul Kings. While he wasn't sure about the latter two's exact capabilities, he was well aware of Wu Lin's ability to transcend cultivation levels.
Though Tang Wulin was just slightly inferior to his elder brother Tang Luochuan, even with his current Soul Ancestor cultivation, he might truly have no fear against a Soul King.
"Director Long, we plan to seek some strong opponents at the Spirit Transfer Pagoda this time, so we won't trouble you."
Noticing Long Xuheng's dilemma, Tang Luo Chuan shook his head and spoke plainly.
He didn't intend to put East Sea Academy—a place holding many fond memories for him—in a difficult position. Moreover...
The academy genuinely lacked four-ring or five-ring powerhouses. They couldn't possibly have teachers spar with students—that would be embarrassing for the instructors.
"Going to the Spirit Transfer Pagoda? People might think our academy doesn't have Soul Ancestors or Kings!"
Long Xuheng immediately understood Tang Luochuan's implication and snorted lightly.
True, their academy might not have many students at that level, but they had more than just students—they had teachers too!
"Prepare yourselves."
"I'll arrange some formidable opponents for you shortly."
As he spoke, Long Xuheng took out a Soul Guidance Device to message the faculty, a smile playing on his lips.
"Formidable opponents!"
Hearing this, everyone was stunned. This being the tenth and final match of the day, could the difficulty be about to skyrocket?
"It seems..."
"The academy still has its own hidden strengths."
Tang Luochuan's eyes lit up as he thought the same.
Meanwhile, Long Xuheng's gaze shimmered with anticipation.
He wanted to see how these outstanding children of Zero Class, now attending Shrek Academy, would fare against their former teacher!
"..."
When Tang Luochuan's group arrived at the arena, they fell into deep thought upon seeing the opponents facing Tang Wulin's team. Instead of the young Soul Ancestors they'd imagined...
Without exception, they were all intermediate division teachers. Only two were Soul Kings, while the rest were Soul Ancestors.
Was this supposed to be a challenge against strong opponents?
This had turned into teachers versus students!
"Except..."
"Our teachers might not even be stronger than us."
Tang Wulin hesitated before speaking, aware it might sound impolite, but the reasoning was undeniable.
"Hmm..."
Xie Xie's gaze drifted thoughtfully toward Long Xuheng, his eyes gleaming. Forget the rest—this Director Long would be his to handle.
"This might be East Sea Academy's first time..."
"Witnessing teachers sparring with students."
Seated beside Tang Luochuan in the spectator stands, Dean Yu Lian wore an irrepressible smile. Look at these exceptional children their academy had nurtured!
So young, yet already capable of competing with teachers their parents' age—truly prodigies!
"This moment must be recorded for future students to see the brilliance of their seniors."
Yu Lian chuckled warmly.
"Latest updates available at 69shu!"
"Hmm..."
Beside him, Tang Luochuan wore a pensive expression. This wasn't a challenge—it was bullying the teachers!
And now the old dean was even recording it...
"I definitely can't beat Luo Chuan and Gu Yue."
"But the others in front of me shouldn't be a problem at all."
On the other side of the arena, Long Xuheng's eyes held a trace of determination as he thought this. Two yellow and two purple Soul Rings emerged around him—the optimal Soul Ring configuration for his Soul Spirit.
Let him see...
Just how strong these kids have become!
"..."
Not long after, an utterly exhausted Director Long Xuheng lay sprawled on the ground in a starfish position, his Soul Power completely drained. Staring blankly at the sky, his eyes were filled with confusion and sheer astonishment.
The genius Soul Master he had been tasked to fight was none other than Xie Xie, who once possessed twin Martial Souls that later merged into one through serendipity—transforming from daggers into a dragon!
He had lost. He had been defeated by Xie Xie.
He admitted his Martial Soul wasn't particularly strong, and his talent paled in comparison, but he was still a high-level Soul Ancestor! How could he have been defeated by Xie Xie, a mere Soul Venerable?
And he wasn't the only one lost in thought. All the defeated teachers wore similar pensive expressions.
"Something's not right."
"This is a hundred percent not right!"
Among the participating teachers was one named Tuo Bukai, who had attacked with such ferocity that he suffered the harshest counterattack. Now he lay gasping for breath on the ground.
"Teacher, are you alright?"
A young man ran up to Long Xuheng's side—one of his own students, his face filled with concern.
Losing the match wasn't a big deal, but as a teacher being defeated by students so much younger... no matter how you looked at it, it had to feel uncomfortable...
And those juniors were seriously strong!
"I'm fine..."
"I'm perfectly fine!"
Hearing this, Long Xuheng immediately stood up, his face breaking into a radiant smile as he shook his head.
As he spoke, he glanced at the group of boys and girls regrouping nearby, a smile tugging at his lips.
Just a few years ago, these kids were still children. Now, they already possessed strength comparable to his own...
The new generation really does surpass the old!
"I only hope..."
"That you all can go even further."
Long Xuheng's eyes shone with unconcealed joy.
No matter when, he would always be proud to have had such students—this was his pride, and the pride of the entire East Sea Academy!
This wasn't just his own sentiment. The other teachers nearby felt the same. There was no shame in being defeated if it meant witnessing their students' strength...
This was already more than enough!
"The final challenge..."
"Everyone has completed it."
Seeing the smiles on each face before him, Tang Luochuan couldn't help but stand and step forward, speaking softly.
"Mmm..."
Xie Xie exchanged glances with Wang Jinxi and the other two, then shared a smile before slowly uttering four words—"Piece of cake!"
At this moment, Tang Wulin was also smiling, his gaze fixed on a graceful figure in the audience—none other than Ouyang Zixin.
And right now, she was looking sweetly back at him.
"Getting to see Sister Zi Xin..."
"Really is wonderful."
As Tang Wulin walked toward her, he couldn't help but say with a smile.
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