Xu Yunhan, Oscar, and Ma Hongjun lounged near Lu Qibin, resigned to another fruitless enrollment day.
Ma Hongjun's shout snapped them to attention. A tall, blond-haired boy strode through the gates.
Oscar perked up. "Finally! Doubt he'll pass Zhao Wuji's trial, though."
Xu Yunhan studied the stranger. Even with the statues of the Shrek Seven Devils in his era, time had eroded their likenesses.
"Testing's here?" The boy's voice carried aristocratic crispness.
Lu Qibin gestured to a crystal orb. "Channel soul power into this."
A routine the newcomer clearly knew.
Lu Qibin's exclamation drew stares. Oscar and Ma Hongjun gaped—they'd expected 22nd-rank at best.
Neither had reached 27th-rank by age twelve.
"Your name?" Xu Yunhan already suspected.
Oscar squinted. "Twelve? Really?"
Ma Hongjun smirked. "Or is Teacher Li doing nepotism?"
Lu Qibin cuffed Hongjun's ear. "Respect your elders!"
Dai Mubai, recognizing future classmates, softened his tone. "I'll be thirteen in weeks. Barely made the cutoff."
"Ha!" Oscar brightened. At that age, I'll surpass him.
Hongjun puffed up. "Decent, but wait till you face Zhao—"
"Enough." Lu Qibin cut in. "Yunhan, escort him."
As they walked, Dai Mubai eyed Xu Yunhan. "Final test?"
Oscar grinned. "Combat. Against a Soul Sage."
"Seventy-plus ranks," Hongjun added gleefully. "Quit now if you're scared."
Dai Mubai's pulse quickened. Most advanced academies couldn't boast one.
This place... is special.
"Your martial soul?" Oscar asked.
"Evil Eye White Tiger. Offensive-type."
"Hah!" Oscar jabbed Xu Yunhan's shoulder. "Our boss has a Three-Eyed White Tiger. You're outclassed."
Dai Mubai's eyebrow twitched. A variant?
Hongjun delivered the killshot: *"Boss is eleven. Innate full soul power. 28th-rank."*
Innate full soul power?!
Already surpassing me?!
Xu Yunhan's shrug was infuriatingly casual. "Talent exists. I'm hardly unique."
Oscar piled on: *"I'm a once-in-a-millennium food-type innate full soul power! Future #1 support soul master!"*
Dai Mubai's gaze darted to Hongjun.
"Ahem!" Hongjun puffed his chest. "Not innate full, but my Fire Phoenix—"
"Roasted chicken," Oscar sing-songed.
"—is rarer than your flea-bitten tiger!"
Relief flooded Dai Mubai. At least one's normal.
Yet three prodigies under one roof?
"Silence." Xu Yunhan halted them before a courtyard.
Zhao Wuji sipped tea, spotting Dai Mubai. "Finally! Name? Show me your rings."
*"Evil Eye White Tiger. 27th-rank,"* Xu Yunhan supplied.
Zhao Wuji's eyes gleamed. "The royal variant..."
As Dai Mubai summoned twin yellow rings, the unspoken truth hung heavy:
Star Luo's runaway prince had arrived.