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The next morning.
On the large training ground of Shrek Academy, Dai Mubai and Ma Hongjun appeared with severe dark circles under their eyes, their spirits visibly low.
In contrast, Ning Tianchen and Oscar stood tall, brimming with energy.
Thanks to the environment of the kitchen, Oscar had successfully broken through to level thirty in the latter half of the night. As for Ning Tianchen, his soul power had also advanced by one level, reaching level thirty-four.
Because of last night's incident, the eight of them hadn't eaten breakfast together.
As the time for class drew closer, the girls still hadn't arrived, and Tang San grew increasingly anxious.
He didn't want Xiao Wu to be punished on the first day of class.
At some point, Flender arrived at the training ground. After his gaze swept over Dai Mubai and Ma Hongjun, his eyebrows immediately shot up. "Still someone late?"
Tang San quickly defended Xiao Wu. "Principal, Xiao Wu must have encountered something—I'll go check."
Ning Tianchen wasn't worried. With Zhu Zhuqing around, the girls wouldn't be late due to oversleeping.
Ning Rongrong's soul power had long since reached level twenty-nine, and with the inheritance from the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect, breaking through to level thirty wasn't difficult.
When they parted ways last night, he had advised her to focus on cultivating her soul power. In this situation, it was likely that Ning Rongrong was about to break through.
Oscar, fearing the girls might get scolded, quickly interjected, "Principal, I broke through to level thirty last night. With just one soul ring, I can advance to a Soul Elder."
Flender chuckled softly, his sharp gaze sweeping over Oscar. "In that case, let's change the content of our first lesson to soul hunting. Later, Vice Principal Zhao Wuji will take you out to hunt for souls."
Speaking of Zhao Wuji, Ning Tianchen suddenly remembered that he hadn't seen him around the academy recently. He wondered how badly Tang Hao had injured him.
Changing the subject, Flender said sternly, "This is unacceptable! Half an incense stick's time has already passed since class began, and they're still not here!"
"Hm, the freshmen want to overturn the heavens on their very first day of class!" Dai Mubai sneered, intending to teach Ning Rongrong and the others a lesson.
If he hadn't spoken, Flender might not have addressed his issues, but now he had walked straight into trouble. "Mubai, Hongjun, why didn't you rest early last night? Look at those dark circles—what kind of example is this setting!"
"You two, run ten laps around the village. No resting until you're done!"
After last night's lesson, Dai Mubai didn't dare argue back. He started jogging along the village roads.
Ma Hongjun shot him a resentful glance but didn't dare say anything.
Not long after, Xiao Wu was the first to arrive at the training ground.
"Xiao Wu, what happened? Where are Zhu Zhuqing and Rongrong?" Flender quickly asked.
As the principal, he was naturally concerned about the safety of his students.
Tang San also couldn't help but ask, "Xiao Wu, did something happen?"
Xiao Wu shook her head and explained, "Third Brother, Principal, Rongrong is about to break through to level thirty. Zhu Zhuqing and I are guarding her while she cultivates. Not long ago, Rongrong successfully broke through, so I hurried over here."
Flender's brows lifted in delight, and his earlier irritation instantly dissipated. "Good! This means our academy will have two more Soul Elders. Since we need to hunt for souls, today's original lesson plan is temporarily canceled. In the afternoon, Teacher Zhao will take you out to hunt for souls."
After speaking, his gaze fell on Oscar. "Oscar, call Hongjun and Mubai back."
Originally, he had planned to use the first lesson to cultivate teamwork among the eight of them.
He was aware of last night's events, as well as the tension between Dai Mubai and Zhu Zhuqing.
If things continued like this, the eight students of Shrek Academy could form three separate teams!
However, since they were going soul hunting, fostering teamwork during the hunt would be far more effective than his verbal instructions.
That was why he decided to cancel today's lesson.
After Dai Mubai and Ma Hongjun were called back, Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing arrived at the training ground simultaneously.
Flender adjusted his glasses and spoke sternly, "You are a team. When you set out to hunt for souls this afternoon, I don't want to hear about any conflicts among you. Can you do that?"
"Yes!" Tang San answered decisively.
Dai Mubai and the girls exchanged glares but didn't respond.
Flender couldn't say who was right or wrong about last night's incident.
He knew Dai Mubai's behavior. Back when Shrek Academy was on the verge of closing down, he had also adopted a laissez-faire attitude, rarely concerning himself with the students' affairs.
Now, Shrek Academy could not only form a team, but his old friend Yu Xiaogang was also coming over.
Whether it was for appearances or otherwise, he had to take some action.
However, it was easy to let bad habits fester—it wouldn't be so simple to completely eliminate them.
"I don't care about your personal conflicts. If infighting occurs during the soul hunt, all of you will die. You decide what's more important."
Everyone fell silent.
Ning Tianchen was well aware of the dangers of the Star Dou Forest. Although Chen Xin had led the previous soul hunts without any safety issues, that didn't mean the danger wasn't there.
From the knowledge of the original timeline, Zhao Wuji alone couldn't protect everyone.
Therefore, during the soul hunt, even if only temporarily, it was crucial to ensure everyone remained united.
"If you understand the severity, then good. Now, each of you eat one of Oscar's sausages. During military operations, the food provided by a food-type soul master not only satisfies hunger but also restores soul power. For your safety, Oscar's sausages will inevitably be used during the soul hunt."
"Overcome your psychological barriers now—there won't be room for mistakes during battle."
Oscar's sausages were no problem for Ning Rongrong and Ning Tianchen to consume.
However, for the others, Oscar's sausages felt like poison, nearly impossible to swallow.
The sausages themselves were fragrant, but combined with Oscar's chanting and his lewd expression, they gave off an unsettling vibe, as if they were eating something questionable.
Oscar kept wiggling his eyebrows, grinning mischievously at everyone.
"Brother Tianchen, Rongrong, want a sausage?"
The two didn't refuse. They took the sausages and quickly ate them.
Tang San hesitated for a moment but ultimately gritted his teeth and ate one.
With someone leading the way, the others reluctantly pinched their noses and forced themselves to eat.
"Everyone except Mubai and Hongjun, go rest. After lunch, gather here again. Teacher Zhao will lead the soul hunt."
"Mubai, Hongjun, keep running."
…
After several days of recovery, aside from a slight limp, Zhao Wuji's injuries had mostly healed.
Upon hearing Flender explain the situation, he was startled and quickly asked, "Principal, is it really okay for these little monsters to have such conflicts?"
Geniuses always had their pride, making it extremely difficult for them to blend together.
Flender was also troubled by this matter.
The best solution, Tang San had already used last night—suppressing one while elevating another.
The problem was, Ning Tianchen and Ning Rongrong weren't pushovers, and Dai Mubai had financially supported the academy multiple times. Offending either side was undesirable, leaving Flender in a difficult position.
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