Douluo Dalu 1: The Tang Family Rebel

"Tang Chuan, seventy-first-level control-type Spirit Master. Please guide me." Facing the elder, Yun Chuan performed a standard spirit master battle etiquette gesture, completely different from how he interacted with Dai Mubai. This time, he offered the minimum respect. Of course, he also concealed his true spirit power level. After all, hiding one's strength is a basic skill when traveling and gaining experience.

"Dai Mubai, you!" The elder looked at Dai Mubai with an expression that was hard to describe. At this point, he felt entirely stuck.

Just as Tang San, Xiao Wu, and the parents of other prospective students thought there was going to be a good show, the elder unexpectedly withdrew his already-revealed staff martial spirit. He looked at Yun Chuan and said, "I won't bother arguing with you."

In single combat among spirit masters, control-type Battle Spirit Masters are the strongest. The elder's spirit power was already one rank lower than Yun Chuan's, and fighting this monster would be a pure exercise in masochism. Since the elder had no such tendencies, he naturally wasn't about to seek humiliation for no reason.

"Where did the Dean find this monster?" the elder thought in awe.

After all, what does being a Spirit Sage at the age of twenty-five signify?

The youngest Spirit Sage in the history of the Spirit Master world was thirty years old, a record set by the Clear Sky Douluo, Tang Hao, Yun Chuan's cheap father in this lifetime. And now, Yun Chuan's disguised identity had already reached Spirit Sage at twenty-five, breaking the Clear Sky Douluo's record.

This meant that Tang Chuan would definitely break through to Title Douluo in the future. Moreover, he would likely achieve that breakthrough at an age even younger than the Clear Sky Douluo, setting a new record for the youngest Title Douluo in history.

"This fight is absolutely out of the question!"

Faced with such a rare genius and a true monster, giving up now would at most result in a bit of embarrassment and loss of face. But if he insisted on fighting, it would end in complete humiliation—and possibly a thorough beating.

The elder decided that his old bones couldn't afford to throw away his dignity. Better to swallow his pride and retreat.

He sat back in his chair and resumed sorting through the applicants, completely ignoring Yun Chuan.

Seeing the elder feigning deafness, Yun Chuan wordlessly retracted his martial spirit. He had no grudge against the elder—this had all stemmed from a minor argument. Since the elder had backed down, pressing the issue further and starting a fight would only create enmity.

While Yun Chuan was unafraid, what was the point of making enemies for no reason? That would be foolish.

Shaking his head, Yun Chuan, as a teacher of the academy, found a chair nearby and sat down, watching this classic scene unfold with interest.

Originally, the queue of over a hundred had dwindled after the elder revealed his martial spirit and loudly announced his requirements. Only a dozen or so applicants remained.

The elder didn't seem concerned about the number of students. He continued his enrollment work. Clearly, those who stayed were confident they could pass the elder's test. The next few applicants were all young spirit masters with spirit power exceeding level twenty, each possessing two spirit rings.

After paying the ten-gold-coin application fee, the elder informed them that they had passed the first stage of the entrance exam and could proceed to the second stage. Dai Mubai would escort them inside. Besides maintaining order, he was also responsible for guiding those who passed the preliminary test into the academy.

Soon, as another applicant left, a familiar girl caught Yun Chuan's eye. She was dressed in a blue-green long dress, with silky brown hair tied into two thin braids pinned on either side of her middle-parted bangs. Beneath the bangs was a delicate, heart-shaped face with fair skin tinged with a faint blush, youthful and charming.

Her eyes were as blue as sapphires, framed by long lashes, making them appear bright and lively. Her whole demeanor exuded a refreshing elegance.

Who else could it be but Ning Rongrong?

As she approached, Ning Rongrong's sapphire-like eyes met Yun Chuan's deep, beautiful black gaze. Yun Chuan smiled at her and gave a slight wink as a greeting.

Ning Rongrong's cheeks turned pink, and she hastily averted her gaze, not daring to look at him again. She silently summoned her Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda martial spirit. The dazzling, multicolored crystal tower immediately drew an astonished gasp from the elder. His face turned uncertain, and he frowned as he asked, "Do your family members know you're here?"

Hearing this, Ning Rongrong calmed her emotions and didn't answer directly. Instead, she smiled and said, "They say education should be available to all, regardless of background. As long as I meet the academy's requirements, you have no reason to turn me away, right?"

The elder hesitated for a moment before waving to Dai Mubai and saying, "Take her inside."

Dai Mubai looked at the rare beauty in front of him, his expression unusually calm. In the past, he would have already displayed a lecherous grin, but for some reason, over the past two days, he felt remarkably composed. Even when facing someone as beautiful as Ning Rongrong, his face remained indifferent. With a cold expression, he led her into the academy without a word.

The subsequent applicants quickly passed the elder's first round of testing. Finally, it was Tang San and Xiao Wu's turn.

By this time, Dai Mubai had returned to the elder's side after escorting several examinees.

Tang San suddenly noticed a change in Dai Mubai's gaze. He was staring fixedly at something behind Tang San, his expression one of disbelief.

Curious, Tang San instinctively turned to look. Although his reaction wasn't as dramatic as Dai Mubai's, he too was taken aback. Standing behind him and Xiao Wu was a girl, seemingly a new arrival. She looked slightly younger than them, with long black hair cascading over her shoulders and her head slightly lowered. She was about the same height as the girl in the white dress from earlier, and her skin was equally pale and fair.

Yet this girl had a completely different presence. Her figure was surprisingly voluptuous, starkly contrasting her apparent age. If not for her youthful face, one might mistake her for an adult, especially given her ample chest, which would undoubtedly draw the gaze of any man—a classic case of a youthful face paired with a mature figure.

However, her stunning figure was offset by her cold demeanor. Her expression exuded a deep, pure chill, as though her very soul was frozen. Her black eyes were devoid of vitality, further enhancing the discord between her striking appearance and lifeless aura. Her limbs were slender and well-proportioned, her hands hanging naturally at her sides. The icy stillness emanating from her was unsettling.

"That must be Zhu Zhuqing, the little kitten!" Yun Chuan, sitting nearby, observed with interest. Her distinctive traits, combined with Dai Mubai's reaction, made her identity unmistakable.

"Are you applying or not? If not, don't block the way," the elder's voice snapped Tang San out of his thoughts.

Tang San felt a sharp pain in his hand and turned to see Xiao Wu glaring at him angrily.

"We're applying together." Tang San suppressed the pain in his hand and placed twenty gold soul coins into the wooden box. He and Xiao Wu extended their hands together.

The elder first pinched Xiao Wu's hand and nodded. "Your age is appropriate."

When he moved to Tang San's hand, a faint hum of surprise escaped him. Seemingly unconvinced, he pinched Tang San's hand a few more times, his expression growing peculiar. Looking up at Tang San, he asked, "Have you been practicing some kind of soul skill with your hands?"

The elder's method of determining age involved feeling the bones of the applicant's hands—a foolproof technique. Yet Tang San's hands were so supple that the bone structure couldn't be discerned.

Tang San's heart skipped a beat, but he nodded and replied, "Yes."

The elder frowned. "Lift your leg."

Tang San complied, placing his leg on the table. The elder pinched his calf a few times, sending a tingling sensation through Tang San.

The elder nodded. "Your muscle development is good. Bone age checks out. Alright, now show me your martial spirits."

Tang San and Xiao Wu exchanged a glance before simultaneously activating their spirit power. Blue and red lights rose into the air, and their century-old spirit rings materialized.

Xiao Wu's rabbit ears emerged, along with soft white fur covering her hands. Her figure became even more graceful.

In Tang San's palm, the ordinary Blue Silver Grass grew, quickly transforming into the vine-like structure Yun Chuan had used during his fight with Dai Mubai.

The elder gave Xiao Wu a cursory glance before focusing on Tang San. "You also have Blue Silver Grass? How could Blue Silver Grass cultivate so quickly?"

Tang San smiled slightly and cast a brief glance at Yun Chuan, who was lounging behind the elder. Though he said nothing, his gaze conveyed everything.

The elder froze for a moment before realization dawned. The similarly surnamed Tang genius sitting behind him also had Blue Silver Grass as his martial spirit. When had this so-called "trash spirit" become so advanced?

Moreover, their shared surname and identical martial spirits—could there be some familial connection between these two?

As his thoughts raced, the elder sighed and said, "Alright, you've passed. Dai Mubai, take them inside."

"Yes."

Dai Mubai stepped forward, expressionless, though his gaze lingered on something behind Tang San.

After escorting Tang San and Xiao Wu into the academy, Dai Mubai quickly returned, his eyes once again fixated on Zhu Zhuqing. However, Zhu Zhuqing completely ignored him, standing still like a lifeless doll.

Moments later, all the applicants had finished testing. Zhu Zhuqing was the only one to pass.

Dai Mubai led Zhu Zhuqing into Shrek Academy.

Meanwhile, Yun Chuan, who had been observing for some time and was starting to feel drowsy, realized it was finally his turn. Stretching lazily, he stood up and began walking slowly toward the academy.

The examiner for the fourth test was him.

He had waited days and even deliberately joined Shrek Academy for this moment.

His goal was simple: teach Tang San a lesson, then spar with his cheap father, Tang Hao. Afterward, Yun Chuan would leave to continue his journey.

Unlike Tang San and his companions, he had no interest in staying in this small place playing house. As a transmigrator with a cheat system, his ambition was to traverse the infinite multiverse!

Douluo Continent was merely the starting point—not the destination!

(End of Chapter)