He remembered that in his past life, it was at the age of nine, after Zhu Zhuqing awakened her martial soul and resonated with his, that he was chosen as one of the successors to the imperial throne.
However, the rival he faced was his elder brother, who was six years older than him. Even though his talent slightly surpassed his brother's, it couldn't compensate for the six-year head start his brother had.
So, feeling that no matter how hard he trained, he could never surpass his brother, he fell into despair at the age of eleven. Disheartened and giving up on himself, he fled from the Star Luo Empire and went to the Heaven Dou Empire.
That decision completely changed his destiny. He became one of the Shrek Seven Devils, and three years later, when Tang San joined the academy, he latched onto him and soared through the ranks. Eventually, they destroyed Spirit Hall and created a legend — the ascension of the Shrek Seven Devils to godhood.
He himself became one of the seven gods of Shrek — the War God Dai Mubai — and was worshipped by his descendants for tens of thousands of years.
Now reborn into the past, Dai Mubai no longer took his brother seriously. All he needed to do was follow his previous life's path, stick close to Tang San, and his counterattack would be all but guaranteed. Dai Weisi? Whatever, let him play his own game.
So what should he do next?
According to his memories, he should flee the country two years later and join Shrek Academy, then wait for Tang San to arrive.
But Dai Mubai didn't want to stay another moment in this place. He had been reborn for nine years, and the only reason he'd stayed this long was because of Zhu Zhuqing.
He needed to establish a martial soul fusion technique with her.
To Dai Mubai, the martial soul fusion technique was a form of insurance.
The Netherworld White Tiger was always dominated by the White Tiger martial soul, while the Spirit Cat martial soul was the subordinate.
In this clearly defined dominant-subordinate fusion, the one with the Spirit Cat martial soul would never betray the one with the White Tiger soul once the technique was established.
But on the other hand, the one in control wasn't bound the same way. (In Douluo 1, Dai Mubai cheated on Zhu Zhuqing before she joined Shrek. In Douluo 2, Dai Huabin admitted he loved Wang Qiu'er the most, yet Zhu Lu still remained loyal.)
When Dai Mubai thought about Zhu Zhuqing, all he could feel was—boredom. He was simply tired of her. That's all she was.
She was still young now, but her figure was already developing nicely, and she'd grow into a rare beauty.
But the tradition at Shrek Academy was loyalty in relationships.
Tang San was devoted to Xiao Wu, Oscar to Ning Rongrong, Ma Hongjun to Bai Chenxiang—and so Dai Mubai had to appear loyal to Zhu Zhuqing to maintain the group dynamic.
But deep down, he wasn't a loyal person. If he were, he wouldn't have become a time-management master in Soto City.
Zhu Zhuqing was beautiful, but no matter how beautiful something is, once you've had too much, you'll get sick of it—like eating rare delicacies every day.
Sure, the first time is unforgettable, but eat the same thing every single day, and won't you get tired of it? Answer me that. Fifty years in the God Realm—waking up to the same face every day. Could you take it?
In the last decade of his life in the God Realm, Dai Mubai had even begun to miss the twin girls from twenty thousand years ago. (Basically, our Dai Mubai was fed up with the delicacies at home and wanted to try some "wild game.")
Still, he couldn't just ditch Zhu Zhuqing. She was the foundation of his status both in Shrek and in the God Realm.
In the Shrek team, Tang San was powerful in his own right. Oscar and Ning Rongrong, as support-types, were more valuable than many battle soul masters. Ma Hongjun was weak early on, but after acquiring the Scarlet Phoenix Sage Herb and Ten Suns Pill, his suppression power vastly surpassed Dai Mubai's. If not for his early laziness, he could've become a first-level god.
With Zhu Zhuqing, Dai Mubai could use their martial soul fusion technique to challenge a first-level god. Without her, he was just an ordinary battle soul master—at best a second-level god, and the weakest among the Shrek gods.
So even if he was sick of her, he still needed Zhu Zhuqing.
That's why after awakening his martial soul, he stayed in the Star Luo Empire for another three years—waiting for Zhu Zhuqing to awaken hers so that their martial souls could resonate. Once she became bound to him and incapable of betrayal, he had her in the bag. Only then did he begin his escape plan.
This time, he planned to leave two years early. Once he got to Soto City, he could enjoy a couple more years of fun. He would play around until Tang San and Zhu Zhuqing arrived at Shrek Academy. Then, he would resume his role as the "devoted young master." Dai Mubai was already getting excited just thinking about it.
Hehehe... Soto City's young ladies, your War God Dai Mubai has descended from the heavens to bless you with his presence.
Meanwhile, Dai Weisi had been keeping a constant watch on Dai Mubai ever since confirming him as a rival. Although he had the advantage of age, Dai Mubai's talent was slightly superior. History in the Star Luo Empire was filled with tales of underdogs turning the tide—he couldn't afford to relax.
Just then, a trusted aide entered the room and said to Dai Weisi, "Your Highness, Dai Mubai has run away."
"He ran away?" Dai Weisi blinked in surprise.
He hadn't even started taking action against his little brother yet—and he just... ran?
Seriously?
At dawn, before the sun had even risen, Zhu Zhuqing had already gotten out of bed.
Unlike the princes of the Dai clan—none of whom knew which one would ultimately resonate with her martial soul and thus lacked any real urgency—Zhu Zhuqing had felt that pressure ever since her elder sister resonated with Dai Weisi. She knew what she was up against.
After her martial soul awakened, she hadn't dared to relax for even a second and had thrown herself into training.
Several hours later, as she felt the minor changes in her soul power, she sighed inwardly.
Dai Mubai had slightly more talent than Dai Weisi and perhaps had a tiny chance at winning. But she only had innate soul power of level 7, while her sister had level 8—and was both more talented and older. Zhu Zhuqing saw almost no hope of victory.
But she didn't want to die. And she didn't want to hold Dai Mubai back either. She told herself she couldn't give up.
At that moment, the door opened and Zhu Zhuyun walked in with a mocking tone. "Still training, little sister? Haven't you realized the gap between us yet?"
"No matter the gap, I will still try, sister," Zhu Zhuqing replied firmly.
"Heh. Even though your precious fiancé ran away, you still want to hold on?" Zhu Zhuyun sneered.
"He ran away?" Zhu Zhuqing was stunned.
Zhu Zhuyun continued, "I came to tell you: your little fiancé ran away last night—dressed as a woman, no less."
My fiancé ran away right after forming a martial soul fusion technique with me??
Zhu Zhuqing was completely dumbfounded.
Our Dai Mubai left the Star Luo Empire and arrived at the place of his dreams — Shrek Academy.
Coincidentally, Shrek Academy was in its enrollment season, and Dai Mubai immediately went to register.
Although at 9 years old he didn't meet Shrek's age requirement for admission, Dai Mubai proposed to sponsor the academy, which persuaded Flender to allow him to join Shrek Academy.
His arrival happened to come at a time when Shrek was going through its most difficult period.
Not all Shrek students came from humble backgrounds — some were from noble families.
Two years ago, while Zhao Wuji led a group of students into the Star Dou Great Forest to hunt spirit beasts, his drunkenness led to a tragic accident that resulted in student casualties.
Shrek once again faced a public relations crisis. If the incident had involved only commoners, Shrek could've cracked down without hesitation. The problem was — among the injured students, there were nobles.
To keep the noble family quiet, Flender had to dig deep into his pockets and bribe people all over the Balak Kingdom, allowing Shrek to survive that dangerous episode. But the money was gone, and the academy was once again on the brink of collapse.
Dai Mubai's investment revitalized Shrek. Plus, being from the Dai family of Star Luo, with innate spirit power of level 9.5 and potential to earn a title, Flender gladly accepted him as a student.
(In the original novel, Dai Mubai mentions using his family's resources to fund Shrek Academy. Later plots reveal his identity and the bloody succession system of the Dai family in Star Luo. Dai Mubai ran away to escape his family's fate, but the fact he could still use family funds proves he never truly broke free — even his escape was half-hearted. This shows that before Tang San arrived, Dai Mubai had given up on himself.)
Reborn into this life, Dai Mubai had a bit more awareness of the changing world — like the appearance of the Body Sect, which wouldn't normally emerge for thousands of years.
But so what if things were different? As long as he clung tightly to Tang San's coattails, he'd have a place among the gods in the future. Arriving at this dilapidated place called Shrek Academy, Dai Mubai felt like he'd secured his ticket to divinity.
"Now, all I have to do is wait for Tang San to arrive at the school in six years. As for these six years—" Dai Mubai stretched his arms, breathing in the fresh air, and said, "This is one of the few times in my life I'll be truly free. I can't waste it."
And so, our Young Master Dai completely let himself go.
Thanks to outstanding family genes, Dai Mubai not only had a powerful martial spirit but also a face charming enough to make countless young girls swoon.
With such strong assets, Dai Mubai finally tasted the "wild game" he had craved for decades.
One day he'd seduce this top courtesan, the next he'd spend the night with the most famous flower maiden in Soto City aboard a floating pleasure boat.
At his peak, he scheduled five dates in a single day — meticulously planning his time. One moment he might be romantically rowing along the moat with one woman, pouring out his heart, and the next, he'd appear in a luxury hotel with another beauty, spending a passionate night.
Eventually, even Flender couldn't take it anymore.
He barged into the private room of a hotel, only to find our Young Master Dai enjoying himself with a woman in each arm, drinking and eating meat, surrounded by dancing girls.
"Mubai, you're at the peak age for cultivating your talent. How can you be so careless?" Flender said.
Half-drunk, Dai Mubai replied, "Dean, I'll work hard when it's time to train. This kind of thing — just let it be. Besides, after fighting for so many years and eating so many delicacies, can't I try something wild for once?"
"What nonsense are you spouting? You're barely how old, and already fought for years?" Flender dismissed his words as drunken rambling. He sternly warned, "Dai Mubai, you can play around, but I expect you to reach level 20 spirit power by age 12. Otherwise, even Shrek Academy can't keep such a living Buddha like you."
"Fine, Dean, I promise. So just don't worry about me," said Dai Mubai. In truth, he just carved out a tiny portion of his schedule to train — casually, like watering a plant.
Seeing Dai Mubai like this, Flender shook his head and turned to leave.
After Flender left, Dai Mubai looked at the stunned singers and dancers around him and said, "What are you waiting for? Keep playing, keep dancing."
"Wow! Level 20 spirit power by age 12 — can you really do it, Young Master Dai?"
"For someone like Young Master Dai, that's child's play."
"Wow, you're amazing, Young Master Dai!"
Flender was an opportunist. He founded this school with an opportunistic mindset.
In Flender's eyes, Shrek Academy lacked two crucial things: outstanding students, and a strong reputation.
Only by recruiting enough excellent students could he build the "Shrek Monster" brand in the spirit master world. If he could seize the right opportunity and gain recognition — ideally by winning a place in the Continental Advanced Spirit Master Academy Elite Tournament — the entire plan would succeed.
With a strong reputation, there would be no shortage of students. With enough students, he could train them and achieve even more fame.
So reputation was key, and so were the exceptional students who could create that reputation.
Years ago, Qin Ming, a top graduate, was one such student. But he was just one — not enough for a team.
Excellent students were rare and highly contested. Every academy fought for them — when would it ever be Shrek's turn, stuck in this backwater?
Left with no choice, Flender took the initiative.
He even competed with the Spirit Hall officials. Every year, before the Spirit Hall dispatched officers for the spirit awakening season, Flender would rush to the villages ahead of them and offer free awakening services.
He pinned his hopes on these young children, praying for a miracle. But most of the time, his efforts were in vain.
From his lists, very few children could become spirit masters, let alone meet Shrek's monstrous requirements.
Of course, this was a clumsy method. The shrewd Flender also had a more efficient strategy — bribing Spirit Hall officers to get the spirit awakening lists before they were officially submitted, hoping to spot promising students early.
Even then, he rarely found anyone ideal. While Spirit Hall took in nearly all spirit-capable children from poor backgrounds, Shrek only wanted the best of the best.
So for years, Flender came up empty.
Until one day, a bribed officer gave him a report:
A sausage martial spirit, with innate full spirit power, had entered Flender's radar.
The story begins a few days ago, during a martial soul awakening ceremony in Zunhun Village.
Six-year-old Oscar, on his way to awaken his martial soul, suddenly regained memories of his past life.
Am I reborn?
I was one of the Shrek Seven Monsters, a second-level god, the God of Food in the Divine Realm?
Oscar felt a wave of disorientation, half-believing his past-life memories.
Lost in thought, Oscar didn't notice time passing. The line for the martial soul awakening dwindled, and soon it was his turn.
Oscar thought to himself, If my past-life memories are real, I should awaken an innate full soul power sausage martial soul next.
"Next!" Su Yutao's voice reached Oscar's ears.
Oscar hurriedly stepped into the awakening formation. With Su Yutao's assistance, he awakened a large sausage martial soul.
Staring at the sausage in a daze, Oscar heard Su Yutao say, "A sausage martial soul. You can become a food-type soul master. But first, we need to check if you have innate soul power."
Su Yutao produced a crystal ball and said, "Place your hand on it."
Snapping back to reality, Oscar stammered, "Oh, oh, okay, okay."
He pressed his hand on the crystal ball. The next moment, the village's Martial Soul Hall was bathed in a brilliant light.
"Innate full soul power! It's actually innate full soul power, and for a food-type soul master!" Su Haitao exclaimed excitedly.
Oscar stood there, dazed, murmuring, "It's real… a sausage martial soul with innate full soul power."
The deacon eagerly grabbed Oscar's hand and asked, "Child, would you like to join the Spirit Hall?"
Coming to his senses, Oscar declined, "Uncle, I haven't decided yet. Can I think it over for a while?"
Su Yutao nodded. "Sure, no problem. I'll issue you a certificate."
Oscar stole the show at this awakening. The Zunhun Village chief was thrilled, and Su Yutao instructed Oscar to find him in the city once he decided, then left.
Watching Su Yutao's retreating figure, Oscar recalled his past life—
Joining the Spirit Hall had been incredibly tempting back then. He'd agreed immediately after awakening his martial soul. But somehow, he ended up at Shrek Academy in Soto City. Only later did he learn that Flender had bribed a Spirit Hall deacon to suppress his certificate.
At first, Oscar resented Flender, but as he integrated into Shrek's atmosphere, that resentment faded.
Later, Tang San joined Shrek Academy, leading them to topple the thriving Spirit Hall and ascend to godhood. Looking back from the Divine Realm, Oscar felt endless gratitude for Flender's guidance.
Join the Spirit Hall? Hmph, the Spirit Hall is nothing but a rotting corpse. Join you? I only thank you slightly during awakenings and monthly stipends, but that's it. Everything I, Oscar, have is thanks to Tang San. In this life, I'll still follow Brother San to uproot you, the scourge of the continent.
Calculating this, Oscar figured Flender had already seen his certificate. All he needed to do was wait.
Sure enough, a few days later, Flender, wearing glasses, showed up mysteriously at Oscar's home, claiming to be from the Spirit Hall and taking Oscar to join them.
Seeing through but not calling it out, Oscar followed Flender.
Upon arriving at Shrek, Oscar sensed something off.
Dai Mubai was there early.
Oscar sidled up to Dai Mubai, patted his shoulder, and whispered a code only a reincarnator would know: "War God!"
Dai Mubai flinched, turned, saw Oscar, and responded with the countersign: "God of Food!"
In unison, they exclaimed, "You're reborn too?"
No more needed to be said. Instinctively, Dai Mubai invited Oscar to a Soto City club to "enjoy some flower girls."
It was a polite gesture, but to Dai Mubai's surprise, Oscar agreed without hesitation.
They headed to the club, booking two stunning Soto City "flower girls" for service.
Lying on the bed, Oscar glanced at Dai Mubai, chiding, "Big Bro Dai, with a beauty like Zhu Zhuqing, can you really justify this?"
Dai Mubai waved it off. "Little Os, monogamy is pain. You know the kind of guy I am. If you ate delicacies every day, you'd get bored too. I've only got a few years left before Zhu Zhuqing shows up, and then I'll settle down. Can't I indulge a bit now?"
Snapping back, Dai Mubai eyed Oscar. "Wait, Little Os, I remember you being loyal too. Can you justify this to Ning Rongrong?"
At the mention of Ning Rongrong, Oscar's face twisted in pain. "Don't bring her up."
"What's wrong with her?" Dai Mubai sensed drama. "Trouble between you two? I've got plenty of relationship experience—let me advise you."
Oscar sighed. "I loved Ning Rongrong so deeply, gave her everything, only to find out in the end she didn't love me. She loved Tang San. I was just a substitute."
Dai Mubai: "…"
Many mysteries from his past life clicked into place.
Though conceiving heirs after godhood was tough, the Shrek Seven Monsters roamed Douluo Continent for decades after destroying the Spirit Hall. He and Zhu Zhuqing had descendants, as did Ma Hongjun and Bai Chenxiang. But Ning Rongrong and Oscar had none.
Among them, Ning Rongrong should've been the most likely to leave heirs. If she'd passed down the Nine Treasure Glazed Pagoda, the Nine Treasure Glazed Sect wouldn't have declined so fast. At first, they thought it was Oscar's issue, and Ning Rongrong had been understanding. But now…
"So you two were fake spouses for decades?" Dai Mubai stared at Oscar, stunned.
Oscar's heart ached. He loved Ning Rongrong and dreamed of having a child with her. But every time he sought intimacy, she brushed him off, saying she wasn't ready.
As a devoted admirer, he endured silently. Even after ascending to the Divine Realm, Ning Rongrong still wasn't ready.
Until one night, he heard her sleep-talking in bed.
Oscar broke on the spot.
(In the upcoming plot, Zhu Zhuqing and Ning Rongrong are a bit inconvenient. Zhu Zhuqing's easier to handle, but Ning Rongrong's tricky, so the author crafted this plot to sideline her.)