Chapter 101 - Maze

"So boss? Why did you call us all here." Said Xie Xie as he looked at Tang Wulin.

They were all in the Pavilion after Tang Wulin called them. He didn't state anything as he stared at them and then chills appeared on their back as a faint smile appeared on his face.

"For my future plans, I need you guys to be stronger than what you are right now. So I'm going to give you guys the opportunity to become true monsters." Said Tang Wulin causing them all to shiver at his ominous words.

Then to their shock, he dashes towards them and taps each of their limbs. Everyone blink their eyes as red markers started to appear all around their body.

"Hey captain, shouldn't you have asked us first!" Screamed Xie Xie and Yue Zhengyu but Tang Wulin only shook his head.

"Nonsense, you guys have already signed your life warrant to follow me. Besides, I know you guys too well to think you would want to decline this fantastic opportunity." Said Tang Wulin.

Before they could respond to his words, the pain hit them instantly. Tang Wulin had a faint smile as he watches them all screaming out in pain and then turned his head to the disciples standing behind him with shock looks.

"Now pick them up and take them to the rooms that were recently made." Said Tang Wulin waking them up from their shock before they began to move. Zeref and Sleipnir appeared while giving him dry looks.

'What? No pain no gains.' Thought Tang Wulin causing their lips to twitch.

"Wulin!" A voice rang out causing Tang Wulin to sigh.

'Oh right, Mu Chen.'

#

"Wait, how can you recognize me? Oh right, Mu Xi." Said Tang Wulin.

"Yes, Mu Xi! Why didn't you call to tell me you were back! It took my dearest daughter telling me you were back for me to even find out."Roared Mu Chen.

Tang Wulin blankly stared at Mu Chen as he kept on complaining and ranting. It seems he was going to continue this for a while but then a hand came out of nowhere and smack him in the head.

"Calm down dear." Said A voice behind Mu Chen.

"Ouch, but honey."

"Shush."

Tang Wulin glance behind Mu Chen and saw a raven-haired woman walking up from behind him. The women turn her lavender eyes towards Tang Wulin and smile gently at him.

"So you must be Tang Wulin, my daughter sure knows how to pick 'em." Said Mu Bao'er as she carefully inspects Tang Wulin. To say the guy Mu Xi liked was handsome would be an understatement as Tang Wulin might just be the most good-looking man she ever saw.

Couple with his golden-blue eyes that gave off a mysterious feeling and his tranquil aura that his ability to draw a person in.

"Your Mu Xi mother?" Questioned Tang Wulin.

"Yes, I'm Mu Bao'er." Said Mu Bao'er.

"Oh wow. You're already meeting the mother." Said Zeref as he appeared next to Tang Wulin with a huge smile on his face.

"They grow up so fast." Said Sleipnir as she also appeared next to him with a tender smile.

"Hi?" Said Tang Wulin as he sent a glance at Mu Chen.

"Don't give me that look. I didn't bring her here just for you to meet. Since I was moving here to work, I thought it would be better if she was close to us instead of being a continent away." Said Mu Chen causing Tang Wulin to nod his head.

"This is a lovely place you guys are building." Said Mu Bao'er as she became enchanted by some of the things that were being built outside.

"I heard most of these buildings were your idea, can't say I'm not impressed. Sigh, if only you stuck to blacksmithing."Said Mu Chen with a voice of regret.

"Isn't Mu Xi enough?"

"Don't use my daughter as a shield." Said Mu Chen but Tang Wulin just disregard him.

"Oh speaking of my daughter, did she confesses to you yet." Said Mu Bao'er causing Mu Chen lips to twitch at his wife bluntness.

'At least I understand where Mu Xi bluntness comes from.' Thought both Tang Wulin and Mu Chen.

"She and everyone have." Said Tang Wulin confusing Mu Chen and causing Mu Bao'er eyes to have a glint.

"What do you mean everyone?" Questioned Mu Chen.

"All the other girls that like me, they confess the same time as Mu Xi once I pointed out I knew. One thing led to another and now we're all dating." Said Tang Wulin.

"And what did my daughter say about it?" Questioned Mu Bao'er.

"She said it was unfair but the act of being apart destroyed all of her hesitations and that we would have to make compromises." Said Tang Wulin causing Mu Bao'er to nod her head.

"Why do you like my daughter? I know you, Wulin. You're not one to be charmed by an attractive face." Said Mu Chen.

"Warmth."

"What?"

"Mu Xi gives off a warm and peaceful feeling. I never really noticed it before, but she gives off a feeling of absolute warmth and comfort." Said Tang Wulin causing Mu Chen to smile.

"Alright brat, I have to go carry out my work for the place now. Take care of my dear and troublesome daughter." Said Mu Chen as he turned around to leave with Mu Bao'er who waved at him.

"I guess you got recognized by the parents." Said Zeref causing Tang Wulin lips to twitch.

#

Tang Wulin looks over the people that were gathered in front of the barracks. He noted there were about a thousand of them each from Xie Xie and Yue Zhengyu clan. He noted the various expression on their faces, some held arrogance, other held contempt for this place and some even held hopeful expression.

He didn't mind their looks, in fact. He welcomed it. As knew their faces will be changing soon as he turned to Wang Tong with a faint smile.

"Take them to the training area that I had you build." Said Tang Wulin causing Wang Tong to nod his head but his lips were twitching.

The training area that Tang Wulin drew up for them to build gave him concerns. The first one was whether the recruits would be able to survive.

After a while, over thousands of youths were standing in front of a large maze-like building that seems have just been recently built. Wang Tong was at the front of these youths and the maze entrance.

"For you all to be apart of this school of learning. You must pass a test for us." Said Wang Tong causing the youths to murmur.

"We have to pass a test?"

"Which school are you talking about?"

"Where is Xie Xie?"

"And Yue Zhengyu?"

Wang Tong heard all types of questions being flung at him, but he disregarded it as he releases his aura and soul rings.

"Silence."

The lively crowd of youths became silent as they stared at nine colored rings appearing behind Wang Tong. It was five purple, three black and one red that was shining prominently behind Wang Tong who look down on the youths.

"The school is called Tenrou Academy and yes you must pass a test. As for those two youths, you ask for right now they are doing their own type of training." Said Wang Tong as he answered the ones he deemed significant.

"Now get inside the maze. Those who don't make it out before the allotted time will get no food for the day." Said Wang Tong causing the youths to be shocked but too scared to try and argue.

Wang Tong watches as all of the youths began to go inside the maze. Tang Wulin already left as he said something about wanting to talk to his parents.

'I wish you all luck. You're going to need it.' Thought Wang Tong as he went over the building beside the maze, which allows one to watch what was going on inside.

#

'I will become strong.'

Were the thoughts of the youth with short golden hair, fair skin, and bright golden eyes. This youth name was Yue Long who followed the angel clan heir, Yue Zhengyu.

The reason was very simple, he wanted to join Shrek Academy in future but he was intimidated by the presence and sheer scope of Shrek Academy. It was an academy where heaven-defying people came from like Tang San and Huo Yuhao.

He didn't think he was talented like the clan heir Yue Zhengyu who was able to make it into Shrek and was opting to just join a normal academy. But that was sadly interrupted when he received a notice by the clan head to follow Yue Zhengyu.

It wasn't just him but about a thousand of their clans who were ordered to board a ship to go somewhere. So here he was with his other clan member walking through the maze and trying to find the exit.

"Don't you guys think this test is a little bit strange?" Questioned Yue Long as he felt something was off with this maze.

"Oh calm down, I doubt their anything special about this place."

"Yea, this is probably to test how our ability to navigate with a timer."

Yue Long heard his other clan member voicing their opinion but he still felt something was off. As they were working, something appearing out of the wall. It was a small sphere with electricity running through it.

"Just what is that." Said someone beside Yue Long.

"You think they're watching us with that?"

While the people beside him were chatting, Yue Long felt the urge to run. But as if the sphere sense Yue Long caution, it started to shine.

Then a visible streak of light flash by and hit the person next to Yue Long.

Everyone blink their eyes and turn to the youth was sent back flying. As they were turning, more of those small spheres appeared outside of the walls around them.

"What are-"

Without even giving any of the youths, a chance, the spheres begin to rain hell down on the youths. Yue Long tried to summon his martial spirit but he became paralyzed from one of the shots delivering a lucky shot on him.

'Why!'

#

Wang Tong gulped as he watches similar scenes happening to other parts of the maze. At the entrance of the maze, there were multiple pathways with the people taking different paths.

Yet they all led to the exit, with them all being the same distance. What was the purpose of this one may ask?

Wang Tong could only sigh as he remembers Tang Wulin words.

'Purpose? It's relatively simple, these brats lack both the experience and ability to sense danger before it happens. This maze will help them with that, while also easing them into their wonderful time in Tenrou Academy.'

Wang Tong watches as one of the Lacrima that were made, flooded one of the paths of the maze with water and fired off the electricity that began to shock the group. He saw another scene of the wind and fire creating huge walls of flames to trap the youths.

Then executing them with their continuous barrages.

Through all of this, Wang Tong only had one thought in his mind.

'This is just easing them in?'