"Brother Hongjun, I made this for you. You've been working so hard—have a drink."
Dugu Yan shyly pulled a cup from behind her back and offered it to Ma Hongjun.
Ma Hongjun paused, surprised, but still reached out to take it.
Oscar, standing nearby, leaned on Dai Mubai with envy.
"Boss Dai, when do you think someone will treat us like that?"
With the bruises under his eyes, he looked even more comical.
Xiao Wu and the others nearby were clearly annoyed, glaring at Dugu Yan.
"You vixen! You're not even from our school, yet you show up here every day."
Ning Rongrong scowled.
To her, Dugu Yan's behavior felt like a deliberate provocation.
Dai Mubai rubbed his forehead, watching the girls squabble out of jealousy.
"Oscar, don't even dream of having that kind of luck. You couldn't handle it."
He patted Oscar's shoulder with mock sincerity before walking off.
Ma Hongjun looked a little helpless.
Time slipped by quickly, minute by minute.
During this period, Liu Erlong personally sparred with the Shrek Seven Monsters every day.
The other teachers didn't even need to step in—Liu Erlong, at full strength, could take on the entire team by herself.
Under her intense pressure, even Ning Rongrong and Oscar, who typically progressed more slowly, managed to break through the level 40 barrier.
"Little monsters, since you've all reached level 40, we'll head to the Soul Beast Forest tomorrow."
"It's time to find your fourth spirit rings."
Relief flashed in Flander's eyes.
He had witnessed the dedication of these young monsters. Even when they were beaten black and blue, they still showed up at the training grounds the next day, full of energy.
This daily sparring also helped them bond more deeply as a team.
Looking at this group, Flander felt a surge of confidence about the upcoming Advanced Soul Master Competition.
Shrek Academy was determined to win!
As soon as they heard the dean mention the end of training, everyone lit up with joy.
"It's finally over!"
"I can finally escape Teacher Erlong's inhuman torture!"
Oscar laughed out loud.
Liu Erlong narrowed her eyes beside him.
"What did you just say?"
Her voice carried a dangerous tone.
"Ah—n-nothing..."
"I mean, thanks to Teacher Erlong's strict guidance, we've all improved tremendously. We're really grateful for your efforts!"
Oscar stiffened, his voice faltering as he spoke.
The others around them burst into laughter.
"Oscar, you'd better be careful what you say."
Ning Rongrong smirked at him.
Ma Hongjun also smiled. As he looked at his teammates, his expression gradually turned thoughtful.
...…
In an inn within Tiandou Imperial City.
Yu Xiaogang set down the teacup in his hand, his expression pensive.
Not long ago, he had gone to the Royal Academy to find Tang San, wanting to ask why he had been expelled from Shrek Academy.
But Tang San avoided the question, refusing to explain. He only said that the entire Shrek team had kicked him out.
Yu Xiaogang didn't believe his disciple could have done anything so wrong.
Determined to get answers, he set out to find Flander.
But when he returned to Soto City, Flander was already gone.
After making inquiries through many channels, he finally learned that Flander had left for Tiandou Imperial City.
Yu Xiaogang hadn't expected that his old friend, who had lived in Soto City for years, would suddenly move to the capital. Though he didn't understand the reason, he rushed back to Tiandou without hesitation.
But once he arrived, he was at a loss. Tiandou was vast, and there was no sign of Flander anywhere.
In such a large city, finding one person was like looking for a needle in a haystack.
"You little rascal! You don't want to stay at Lanba Academy, and now you're running off to fight?"
Not far off, a burly man smacked his son on the head in frustration.
"Dad, I'm strong enough now. I don't need to stay cooped up in school all the time!"
The boy's face was filled with defiance.
The two argued as they walked away.
At the mention of Lanba Academy, Yu Xiaogang's expression shifted.
"Xiao Er, do you know anything about this Lanba Academy?"
He set down his teacup and asked the nearby waiter.
The waiter was initially reluctant to speak, but when he saw the soul coins Yu Xiaogang handed him, his smile brightened.
"Sir, you may not know this, but Lanba Academy was founded by someone from the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan."
"They say the founder is a woman who was once estranged from the clan. She has a mutated martial spirit. She's truly blessed."
The waiter sighed with admiration.
The Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon spirit was already considered top-tier.
And rumor had it that her mutated martial spirit was also among the best.
The moment Yu Xiaogang heard this, a familiar figure appeared in his mind.
Liu Erlong!
Realizing that Lanba Academy had been founded by Liu Erlong, memories came flooding back.
The past had been so beautiful… it was unforgettable.
But once he discovered that Liu Erlong was his cousin, that beautiful memory became a burden he couldn't accept.
After much hesitation, Yu Xiaogang finally made up his mind.
"I wonder—do you know where Lanba Academy is located?"
He asked again.
Thanks to the generous tip, the waiter told him everything he knew.
Once he had the address, Yu Xiaogang headed straight for Lanba Academy.
...…
Lanba Academy.
"Fatty, have you decided what kind of soul beast you're going to hunt this time?"
Oscar walked over and asked Ma Hongjun curiously.
"Not yet."
Ma Hongjun shook his head.
Gu Yuena stood nearby, observing the red-haired boy quietly.
With her strength, she could naturally sense the changes in Ma Hongjun's current state.
Countless soul beasts that would be perfect for his current condition flashed through her mind.
Enhancing his Qi, blood, and spirit ring quality wouldn't just increase his physical durability—it would also help him endure the shock of absorbing a new spirit ring.
Gu Yuena silently calculated the maximum spirit ring age that Ma Hongjun could handle.
Oscar, seeing that he wouldn't get an answer, simply shrugged.
Ning Rongrong chuckled playfully.
"Instead of worrying about Brother Hongjun, you should focus on yourself."
"As a battle-type soul master, Brother Hongjun has way more options than you."
She folded her arms, looking at Oscar with a smug smile.
"Hmph! You say that, but you're in the same position as I am."
Oscar didn't dare argue with her openly, so he just muttered under his breath.
As the group bantered, a shocked and familiar voice called out from a distance.
"Is that you?"
They turned around and were stunned to see Yu Xiaogang's surprised face.