The Legend of the Dragon King

Yi Zichen had seen the three hundred mechas in the sky while he was still queueing at the back. For a child, not even twelve years old, the array was absolutely mesmerizing and jaw-dropping. He felt in his heart that he had made the right choice.

Then, he saw that the mechas were flying to the other side. He heard another name that he had been hearing since he was a child. He had also heard about the great catastrophe that had befallen that place. It was Shrek Academy.

It was only then he learned that the academy which was once the number one academy on the continent had reopened. It seemed that the Spirit Academy that he was going to join was competing against Shrek Academy.

Then, he heard the domineering voice saying ‘Do not violate Shrek’s airspace’.

Following that, everything seemed to become chaotic. He could vaguely see the distant airborne battle on the other side. There was a live broadcast as well!

Just as Shrek Academy had pushed out the huge screens, Spirit Academy had done the same. They were both playing the live broadcast of the battles between two parties.

Yi Zichen was a rather arrogant boy. He had been called a genius ever since he was young, so he was very self- confident. In his view, he was already a soul master and he would become a Soul Grandmaster soon. He could be said to have a foothold in the soul masters’ world.

Whatever the case, he discovered that he was still far from being able to understand this world after watching the thrilling and awe-inspiring battles on the screen. Only then did he realize that soul masters could become so powerful.

“Father, Shrek is awesome! Did Spirit Academy lose?” Yi Zichen asked his father by his side.

Yi Zichen’s father said with a bitter smile, “I don’t really get what happened! I’m just a tradesman, so I don’t really understand these matters related to soul masters. Teacher Li, what do you think?”

Teacher Li was a middle-aged man, and his eyes were filled with radiant splendor. He gasped in admiration and said, “Shrek is still Shrek after all! Even the reconstructed Shrek is so powerful. I never imagined that I’d be able to witness such battles in my life. What a waste that they didn’t fight the final round. Shrek Academy has adopted the supreme art of war which is to never fight a battle to win. It is truly impressive. There were five Limit Douluos there!”

Curious, Yi Zichen’s father asked, “So Limit Douluos are the most impressive ones, huh?”

Teacher Li said with a bitter smile, “Do you think that a man that can turn a city into ashes in one moment is impressive? Frankly, I’m having second thoughts now. Should we consider sending Zichen to enroll in Shrek instead? Look at the people queueing up for registration behind us. Many of them have moved over to the other side. It seems that the great explosion has not destroyed Shrek’s inner secrets and traditions.”

Yi Zichen’s father hesitated for a moment and said, “I don’t think that’s a good idea. Spirit Academy is offering so many resources. Moreover, it shouldn’t be that different, right? I’m not a capable man and I can’t afford to provide for Zichen. I can only hope that the academy will offer the right resources and terms for my boy.”

Teacher Li nodded and said with a bitter smile, “I suppose that’s the only way then. Zichen is so outstanding. I believe that not many people can measure up to him whether it is in Shrek or Spirit Academy. It won’t be too different for him regardless of where he is. It’s just that Shrek’s name is truly sacred in the hearts of soul masters.

Chatting away, their turn finally came.

Teacher Li and Yi Zichen’s father brought Zichen as they walked forward. A youth approached them. “Come, let’s do a simple test. Please hold out your hand.”

Yi Zichen stretched out his right hand as instructed. The youth touched Yi Zichen’s wrist for a moment and his expression revealed a wisp of surprise. “That’s impressive. You can head over there for the next test.” As he spoke, he pointed to the door of light shimmering with a faint vortex-shaped glow at the side.

Yi Zichen looked at the youth before him curiously. The youth appeared to be about the age of twenty years old. He was handsome with an icy quality.

“Brother, are you a soul master too? What is your rank?” asked Yi Zichen curiously.

It was his first time leaving his clan and coming to the bustling center of the continent. As a prodigious young soul master, he was always hoping to find others to compare himself with. Invariably, he felt like he was the best no matter where he was.

The youth smiled. “Over rank-80, I think.”

Yi Zichen widened his eyes at once. “Over rank-80? That’s impossible. Are you that impressive?”

The youth said, “Can anyone fake that? Work hard and you can be like this too in the future.” As he was speaking, there was a flash of light on his body, and his soul rings emerged soundlessly. There was no powerful aura or imposing manner, but those were eight genuine soul rings. The most impressive part was that the last soul ring was red.

“Is that a one-hundred-thousand-year soul ring?” Teacher Li could not help gasping in amazement.

The radiance faded as the soul rings vanished. The youth gestured for them to proceed to the light door on the other side.

Though his interest was piqued, Teacher Li hastily controlled himself and saluted the youth respectfully. Teacher Li was but a four-ringed Soul Elder. Before an eight-ringed Soul Douluo, he was feeling acutely inferior. He hastily pulled away Yi Zichen. The curious boy was just about to continue asking questions. They quickly walked toward the glowing door.

Spirit Academy’s inner secrets were truly amazing! The person in charge of the enrollment program was actually an eight-ringed Soul Douluo. Moreover, he had a one-hundred-thousand-year spirit soul. It seemed like they had come to the right place.

Everything turned illusory as soon as they stepped into the door. It was as if the surrounding space was being distorted. Yi Zichen wanted to scream in shock, but he found that he could not even make a sound.

Fortunately, the process did not last very long. In the next moment, they arrived in an isolated area.

The place appeared to be rather bleak and desolate. There was a very ordinary building looming nearby. It was built of wood and hay.

A wall surrounded the building and there was a group of people queueing up in front.

Yi Zichen tried to move but discovered that he could not budge at all. There was a sudden flash of light and they had arrived at the front of the queue.

There was an old man sitting behind a table placed there. He was in charge of registration and appeared to be slow and lazy. The clothes he was wearing could be politely described as simple. He looked just like an old villager who would not even be a match for Yi Zichen’s father.

Meanwhile, a youth came to register at the front of the console table. The old man said listlessly, “The registration fee is ten Golden Soul Coins. Please put it into the box.”

Yi Zichen, his father and teacher could not help feeling stunned for a moment upon hearing the words ‘Golden Soul Coin’. What sort of era was he from? Was this currency still in use? People were using paper currency now and they were known as Federation Coins!

The youth’s father hastily took out ten Golden Soul Coins and placed them into the box made by nailing a few pieces of wood together.

“Hold out one hand.”

The youth extended his hand in the front of the old man as instructed. The old man pinched his hand twice before he shook his head at the youth and said, “Your age is unsuitable. You may leave now.”

The youth was stunned for a moment. He turned his head sideways to look toward his father. Not many children over ten years old were as mature as Tang San.

The youth’s father hastily smiled flatteringly and said, “Teacher, my son has just reached his thirteenth birthday recently. Can you do something to make an exception for him?”

The old man said in a slightly impatient manner, “Don’t hold up the people behind. Don’t you know about the academy’s rules? We are only accepting children below thirteen years old here. Without exception, we don’t take in anyone who is over thirteen years old. You can leave now.”

The youth’s father said, “So, our registration fee…”

The old man said in an uncourteous manner, “The registration fee is non-refundable.”

They say that everyone has a temper. The youth’s father could not stop himself from saying angrily, “You are obviously trying to swindle everyone here. Refund our registration fee or we won’t leave. We wouldn’t have come if we’d known that this so-called Shrek Academy is such garbage.”

The old man darted him a look and said indifferently, “Mubai, someone wants to refund the registration fee. Please handle this.”

A silhouette scurried out abruptly from the ground on his side. “It’s fine if you wish to get a refund for the registration fee. We shall refund the full amount if you can defeat me.”

The youth that emerged from the side had a tall, muscular body. His hair was golden while his aura was exuberant. His most peculiar trait was that his eyes had multiple pupils. He appeared to be about thirteen or fourteen years old. Whatever the case, Yi Zichen felt ashamed of himself in the presence of this youth.

The youth did not waste time talking nonsense either. There was a flash of light in his eyes. Two one-hundred-year soul rings and a one-thousand-year soul ring unleashed simultaneously. A powerful aura burst then forth from his body.

The youth’s father had a drastic change of countenance. “It’s our unlucky day,” he muttered before pulling along his son and leaving in quick strides.

The handsome youth walked back to the side and took a seat once again. His double-pupil eyes swept across the youths and parents queueing up for the registration behind, looking at them coldly. His intention to threaten them was very obvious. The stress produced from three soul rings was not something an ordinary person could withstand. He appeared to be something of a hatchet man.