Douluo Dalu 2: Reincarnated as the Auspicious Beast

"Alright, students." Wang Yan deliberately glanced at Wang Rui's direction and spoke in a gentle tone, "Let's continue where we left off."

"Now that you all have passed the freshman assessment, and some of you have even earned the title of core disciples, I must tell you—this is just the very beginning of your journey at Shrek Academy. Countless competitions and evaluations are waiting for you ahead." He spoke solemnly. "What is our ultimate goal in studying hard? To enter the Inner Court. I believe none of you here need me to repeat the benefits of the Inner Court—the quality of the instructors, the excellent treatment, and the bright future of those who graduate from it. If I were to elaborate further, you'd probably think I'm being too long-winded, wouldn't you?"

The students chuckled at his slightly self-deprecating remark.

"I will only tell you about the greatest benefit of the Inner Court." Wang Yan mysteriously raised a finger. "Something that only Shrek Academy can offer, something you won't find anywhere else."

Huo Yuqing looked up curiously, staring at Wang Yan. Most of the class had the same reaction as her, though a small portion of the students were holding their breath, looking extremely excited.

"I think some of you who are well-informed may have heard rumors about this," Wang Yan smiled mysteriously. "And indeed, there are various speculations out there… But today, I am here to tell you that the rumors are true."

A sudden uproar filled the classroom.

"Settle down, everyone," Wang Yan raised his hand slightly.

"After entering the Inner Court, you will still face competitions and challenges. Among you, only the most outstanding and exceptional Inner Court students will have the chance to take part in a very special assessment—one that will bring you immense benefits." Wang Yan announced, "That assessment is… the Divine Examination!"

Huo Yuqing's eyes widened.

"You all know of the ancestor who ascended ten thousand years ago—the Thousand-Handed Asura, the Sea God, Tang San, as well as the legendary Shrek Seven Devils. I won't go into their relationship with this academy again," Wang Yan said. "Ancestor Tang San was deeply grateful for the teachings he received at Shrek Academy. Before his ascension, he left behind Sea God Lake and Sea God Island at its center as part of his legacy. Some of you who have access to certain information may have heard whispers of another legend—that Ancestor Tang San left behind a place of inheritance and trials within Shrek Academy.

"And today, I am telling you: this legend is real."

The classroom erupted.

Some students were still confused about what Wang Yan's words truly meant, but others clearly understood much more.

It had long been rumored that before his ascension, Tang San had established a place of inheritance similar to the one left by the previous Sea God on Sea God Island.

For common-born soul masters, this information was an extremely well-kept secret. However, for those from powerful sects or ancient families, it was practically an open secret.

But very few had ever been able to confirm its authenticity—because the only ones ever chosen to take the Divine Examination were truly part of Shrek's inner circle, such as the future successor of the Sea God Pavilion.

These individuals would never disclose any details about the examination. All those who underwent the Sea God's Divine Examination had sworn an oath never to reveal any real information about it.

In most cases, even other Shrek Academy members had no idea what the examination entailed.

If a deity was not truly selecting a successor, then handing out divine trials was a trivial matter—it could be done without granting the full Nine Tests of Divinity.

Back in the day, every single resident of Sea God Island had to undergo a selection process. Only those chosen for the Divine Examination could remain on the island—those who failed had to leave. But within Shrek Academy, the number of Inner Court students selected for the Sea God's Divine Examination was far fewer than that.

Still, the existence of this legend dangled before the eyes of all sects and families, tempting them—making them willingly and continuously send their most talented members to Shrek Academy.

But whether one could actually take the Divine Examination was entirely up to Shrek Academy.

And with divine trial beneficiaries occasionally emerging with soul rings beyond the optimal configuration, there was more than enough evidence to prove this legend was true.

Shrek Academy's Sea God Island was deeply connected to a deity, making it impossible for Wang Rui's Eye of Destiny to peer into its secrets. To him, that lake appeared as a tangled mass of blue energy. And with so many powerful figures stationed there, he didn't dare recklessly send small soul beasts to investigate.

But after ten thousand years, Wang Rui had still managed to gather more information than most.

Back then, Tang San hadn't obtained the Golden Tree, but he still left behind certain things at Shrek Academy as compensation—such as the inheritance pillars originally found on the old Sea God Island. Tang San took control of these and even moved one of them intact to Shrek Academy.

Perhaps it was to exert greater control, or perhaps it was part of some grander plan—or maybe it was simply an act of kindness toward his alma mater. Wang Rui didn't know what Tang San had been thinking at the time.

But one thing was certain—Shrek Academy's Divine Examination today was very different from those of ten thousand years ago.

Now, the Sea God's Divine Examination was no longer a means of training and improving talents.

It was simply a mission distribution system for fulfilling the Sea God's will and tightening the control of a certain God-King over the Douluo World.

In other words: a tool for creating loyal servants.

Wang Rui's lips curled into a cold smile.

As for why Divine Examination participants swore never to reveal its details, yet Wang Rui still knew the current state of the trials… Well, let's just say that back in the day, Di Feng had been the target of Mu En's Divine Examination task.

Wang Rui had always been wary of Tang San tracking him down and had been hiding from him. Then, two hundred years ago, the Golden Dragon Spear had suddenly appeared. At that moment, Wang Rui was immediately on high alert—he used his puppet, Di Feng, to take the spear far away.

Later, after consulting the imprisoned Golden Dragon King in the Divine Realm, Wang Rui pieced together the truth: Tang San had tampered with the Golden Dragon Spear's seal and failed to retrieve it, causing the spear to escape to the Douluo World—where it naturally sought out its own bloodline: Wang Rui himself.

Whether for his own gain or to account for other deities, Tang San would try to reclaim the Golden Dragon Spear.

But Wang Rui had carefully separated Di Feng from his true body, successfully diverting Tang San's attention. The Sea God mistakenly believed Di Feng to be a female human soul master possessing the Golden Dragon King's bloodline.

Naturally, Tang San wanted both the Golden Dragon King's bloodline and the Auspicious Beast's fortune.

One of Mu En's Divine Examination tasks was to use certain methods to extract Di Feng's "bloodline" for Tang San—though Mu En himself was completely unaware of the true nature of the task. To him, he was simply fulfilling the Sea God's orders.

Truthfully, without Mu En's Divine Examination, Di Feng—who had no hope of surpassing Rank 95—would have had a much harder time faking his eath and disappearing from the world's eyes.

In this sense, Wang Rui was actually grateful to Mu En. Otherwise, Di Feng's disguise would have had to "die" permanently.

They were all adults. There was no such thing as betrayal—Wang Rui completely understood Mu En's choice. It was all for his ideals, his goals.

Still, as someone who had once been a reluctant old acquaintance, Wang Rui felt a tinge of regret.

He blinked.

Getting sentimental in his old age.

Lazily resting his cheek on his desk, he half-listened to the heated discussion between Huo Yuqing, Wang Dong, and An Wen. After a while, he drawled,

"You're all wasting your breath. The Sea God's descendants are on the Douluo Continent—Shrek Academy's Divine Examination will never lead to a true godhood."

Life and death—

(End of Chapter)