Chapter 37: Twisting the Narrative
Dai Mubai quickly led them to an open area surrounded by wooden houses. The clearing was roughly 500 square meters and located at the center of Shrek Academy. Several candidates who had passed the initial test were ahead, their soul power fluctuations causing the air to tremble slightly.
Dai Mubai pointed toward the line of examinees and explained, "Anyone with soul power above level 25 can directly proceed to the fourth test without wasting time here. That person with the Golden Patterned Grass martial soul? He went straight to the fourth test."
"Oh, I'm level 26. That means I can go straight to the fourth test too, right?" Ning Rongrong nodded before turning to Zhu Zhuqing. "What about you, Zhuqing? What level are you?"
Zhu Zhuqing answered calmly, "I'm level 27."
"In that case, I'll take you both straight to the fourth test." Dai Mubai nodded before leading them deeper into the academy.
As they walked, Dai Mubai tried to ease the tension by explaining, *"Our academy's entrance exam consists of four stages. You've already passed the first stage, which eliminates candidates below level 21 or older than 13. Most applicants are disqualified at this stage.
The second stage evaluates soul power and martial soul potential. Having strong soul power alone isn't enough students must have sufficient martial soul potential and have developed their soul power correctly. If a martial soul is exceptionally unique, it may still qualify."*
Hearing this, Zhu Zhuqing remained expressionless, but internally, she felt a slight sense of anticipation.
A school willing to enforce such strict selection criteria must have something special, right? Maybe they have some exclusive training methods that make them unique…
Dai Mubai continued, "The fourth stage tests combat experience. Some students have powerful martial souls and good control, but they grew up in noble families, shielded from real combat. They don't understand the world's dangers. Such students are not accepted. The Headmaster says we don't take in pampered brats."
Ning Rongrong suddenly felt targeted.
She frowned. "Are you recruiting students or choosing wives? That's way too strict! No wonder the teacher at the gate said you only accept monsters. With standards like this, how many people actually qualify? How many students does Shrek Academy even have?"
Dai Mubai forced a smile. "Since Shrek Academy was founded 20 years ago, we've admitted a total of 42 students. That's an average of just over two per year. In fact, we haven't admitted any new students for two years. Right now, including myself, there are only three students in the entire academy."
"Three?!" Ning Rongrong exclaimed.
Even Zhu Zhuqing frowned slightly clearly shocked by this revelation.
Is this even an academy anymore?
A school with only three students this felt completely unreliable.
Dai Mubai scratched his head awkwardly. "We're probably the only school in Douluo Continent where there are more teachers than students. Even if you both join, our student count will still be lower than our staff count."
Ning Rongrong questioned, "Then how does the school even survive? Without students, you have no income, right?"
Dai Mubai replied, "Why do you think our academy is in this tiny village? It's because we don't have money. If my family hadn't provided some funding, Shrek Academy would have shut down last year. If we fail to recruit students this year, we'll be the final graduating class of Shrek Academy."
"Then why not lower the entrance requirements? There were plenty of applicants at the gate." Ning Rongrong asked, puzzled.
Hearing this, Dai Mubai's demeanor changed.
His expression turned solemn, and his eyes filled with admiration. *"The Headmaster says
'It is better to have none than to lower our standards.'
No matter what happens, even if Shrek Academy closes down, we will never accept trash.
We only take monsters.
Do you know what our graduation requirement is? We are neither a mid level nor a high level soul master academy because our standards are completely different.
We only accept students under 13 years old, and they must be exceptionally gifted.
To graduate, students must reach level 40 before they turn 20 only then can they leave the academy."*
Dai Mubai's voice carried pride as he continued, *"In total, Shrek Academy has admitted 62 students but only 14 have ever graduated.
And after they graduated, every single one of them became a figure of great renown!
The most outstanding graduate is now the youngest Elder in Spirit Hall, second in authority only to the Pope!
The rest either failed to reach level 40 before 20 or died while hunting spirit beasts. The Headmaster has always said, 'If you don't reach level 41 before 20, don't embarrass my academy!'"
By the time he finished speaking, Dai Mubai looked ecstatic, as if he had just described the greatest school in existence.
However, Zhu Zhuqing and Ning Rongrong exchanged a wordless glance.
They had both realized something
Shrek Academy didn't lie… but they did twist the truth.
"You can't graduate unless you're level 41 before 20?!"
Ning Rongrong snorted sarcastically. "No wonder your academy claims that all graduates become nobles if you can reach level 41 at 20, getting a noble title is basically guaranteed."
On the Douluo Continent, soul masters held immense social status.
A Soul Ancestor (Level 40 49) was already highly valuable a prime target for recruitment by kingdoms and noble families.
A 20 year old Soul Ancestor was practically a once in a century genius, guaranteeing them a noble rank without a second thought.
At this realization, the true nature of Shrek Academy's promise became clear
They were using their students' future achievements as an advertisement!
They weren't helping students gain nobility their students were already destined to gain it!
This was nothing more than an illusionary sales pitch!
"That's not fair! Without Shrek's training, these students wouldn't achieve such great results "
Dai Mubai instinctively tried to argue, but Ning Rongrong cut him off immediately.
"By the way…" she asked casually, "You said one of your graduates became the youngest Elder in Spirit Hall, second in authority only to the Pope?"
Dai Mubai nodded proudly. "That's right!"
Ning Rongrong's expression turned mocking.
"Are you aware… that the known minimum qualification for a Spirit Hall Elder is being a Titled Douluo?"
At those words, her eyes gleamed with pure contempt.
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