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"Surprise? What surprise?"
After the recent Spirit Battle, Zhu Zhuqing no longer acted as cold and distant toward Oscar as she once did.
Oscar lifted his chin and grinned, "I broke through to level thirty."
"What?!"
Zhu Zhuqing gave him a look of astonishment. Reaching level thirty at the age of fourteen—especially as a support-type Spirit Master—was simply incredible.
It was well known that food-type Martial Spirits were among the hardest to cultivate.
In a sense, Oscar's breakthrough to level thirty was even more difficult than it would be for a combat-type Spirit Master.
That's why, despite having innate full soul power, he had only barely reached level thirty at the age of fourteen.
"Save the congratulations. Let's see what Master has to say first," he said eagerly, tearing open the envelope.
As the letter unfolded, both Zhu Zhuqing and Oscar read through it with anticipation, eyes scanning every word.
"Yo, Oscar, have you broken through to level thirty yet? If you haven't, the first thing I'll do when I get back is give you a good beating."
Oscar's mouth twitched.
So Lan Minghua had already predicted he would break through—so much for a surprise!
Zhu Zhuqing covered her mouth, chuckling softly, her gaze growing gentle.
Their eyes continued downward to the main content of the letter.
"I've already spoken with Old Zhao. He'll take you to the Star Dou Forest to obtain your third spirit ring.
I've even chosen the spirit beast for you—a thousand-year-level Scarlet-Crested Phoenix-Tail Serpent.
Also, since I'm not at Shrek during this time, I imagine you've faced some rejection and even jealousy.
But you must remember: only the mediocre escape envy. We don't start trouble, but we're not afraid of it either.
Lastly, if luck is on your side, you might just run into me in the Star Dou Forest."
That was all the letter said, and the format was anything but formal.
Still, it fit Lan Minghua's personality perfectly, at least in the eyes of Oscar and Zhu Zhuqing.
"What's Master doing in the Star Dou Forest? I don't get it."
Oscar didn't think too deeply. He brushed it aside and, grabbing Zhu Zhuqing's hand, excitedly dashed out of the infirmary.
"Come on, Zhuqing! Let's find the Dean and Teacher Zhao—we're going spirit beast hunting in the Star Dou Forest!"
Zhu Zhuqing didn't resist. She simply let Oscar pull her along.
Meanwhile, Zhao Wuji had just finished reading Lan Minghua's letter as well.
He was more than happy to help—after all, Lan Minghua had, in a roundabout way, saved his life.
He immediately headed toward the training ground to discuss matters with Flender.
By then, the sun was already high in the sky, and Tang San's group had been dragged out of bed early for training.
On the field, Flender stood sternly, his cold gaze fixed on Dai Mubai and Tang San.
Yesterday's Spirit Battle, where Tang San tried to kill Oscar and Zhu Zhuqing, had left Flender furious.
"Tang San, I get why you went all out on Oscar and Zhu Zhuqing—your father was crippled by Lan Minghua. But damn it, were you trying to expose your identity to him too?!"
"And you, Dai Mubai! Why were you egging him on? What, you thought things weren't chaotic enough already?!"
Flender raged inwardly, nearly wishing he could slap both of them to death.
Though he hadn't interacted much with Lan Minghua, he had no illusions about the man being mild-tempered.
If anything serious had happened to Oscar or Zhu Zhuqing, Flender feared he wouldn't make it out alive.
He had already left a bad impression on Lan Minghua and had been looking for a way to make up for it.
Now, thanks to Tang San and Dai Mubai's idiocy, things were on the brink of disaster.
Just as he was about to start scolding them, Oscar came running in, holding Zhu Zhuqing's hand.
Seeing them, Dai Mubai clenched his fists so hard that his nails dug into his palms—unnoticed by him.
He never once stopped to think how Zhu Zhuqing must've felt all those nights he spent with other women.
As for Tang San, a flicker of killing intent flashed in his eyes the moment he saw them.
But even that subtle shift didn't escape Flender's watchful gaze, leaving him deeply disappointed.
Your father couldn't beat Lan Minghua—what makes you think you, a mere Spirit Grandmaster, could?
Flender cursed silently and prayed that Tang San wasn't foolish enough to actually make a move on Oscar or Zhu Zhuqing.
Otherwise, no one could save him.
Switching expressions in an instant, Flender forced a smile and said, "Oscar, what brings you here? Are your injuries healed?"
"Dean, I'm almost fully recovered. And I've broken through to level thirty! Master asked me to find Teacher Zhao to help me get my third spirit ring in the Star Dou Forest!"
The moment he said that, everyone except Zhu Zhuqing was stunned.
Especially Ning Rongrong—she understood better than anyone how difficult it was to cultivate a support-type Martial Spirit.
Flender had once scolded her harshly, saying that Oscar might one day surpass the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda and become the world's number-one support spirit.
She had thought it absurd back then—but now? Oscar really might have that potential.
Tang San, too, was shaken. The fact that Oscar had broken through before him nearly caused his suppressed rage to erupt.
Fortunately, having lived two lives, he'd learned how to endure.
Flender burst into laughter. "Excellent! Oscar, you truly are a genius. On behalf of the academy, congratulations! Let's go. I'll have Old Zhao take you to hunt your spirit ring right away!"
Speak of the devil—Zhao Wuji arrived just then, hearing Flender call out his name from a distance.
"Flender, what are you roping me into this time?"
Flender had already seen him and called out with a grin, "Oscar just broke through to level thirty. Mind escorting them to the Star Dou Forest and helping him get his third ring?"
"Them? Dean, are others going to the forest too?"
Oscar frowned slightly. Even if he was slow, he could tell from yesterday's Spirit Battle that Tang San wanted him and Zhu Zhuqing dead.
Was it really a good idea to go to the Star Dou Forest with people like that?
"Of course. This isn't just about you getting a spirit ring—it's also a field trial for everyone. You're a team, after all."
Flender didn't want things between Oscar, Zhu Zhuqing, and Tang San to become too strained. That wouldn't benefit Shrek Academy at all.
This was the perfect opportunity to mend those broken bonds.
He shot a sideways glance at Dai Mubai and Tang San and said sternly, "You two—apologize to Oscar and Zhu Zhuqing!"
Feeling immense pressure, Dai Mubai and Tang San gave forced smiles as they offered their insincere apologies.
"Oscar, Zhu Zhuqing, I'm sorry. I was in the wrong."
"I lost control yesterday because Xiao Wu was injured. Please forgive me."
Oscar and Zhu Zhuqing remained indifferent. Faced with such hollow apologies, they simply nodded without speaking.
At that moment, Zhao Wuji spoke up, "Enough. Get ready—we're heading out. Mubai, you lead the team."
Dai Mubai said nothing, quietly moving to the front of the formation and setting off.
In the group, Xiao Wu's eyes darted about mischievously.
Back in the Star Dou Forest, she was confident she could escape undetected.
Even a Titled Douluo wouldn't be able to catch her.
If she got lucky, she might even find a way to conceal her spirit beast aura and continue staying by Tang San's side.
The Soft Bone Rabbit clan might possess secret techniques for hiding their presence—she just hadn't discovered them yet.
After all, her mother had been a 100,000-year spirit beast in human form and had managed to remain hidden until Bibi Dong found her.
Xiao Wu made up her mind to explore the Star Dou Forest again, hoping to find a method to suppress her aura.
Meanwhile, in the Spirit Hall's branch within the Balak Kingdom, the branch hall master was granted an audience with Pope Bibi Dong.
Inside the grand palace, Bibi Dong sat on her throne. Standing below on either side were two men—her most trusted subordinates: Chrysanthemum Douluo Yue Guan and Ghost Douluo Gui Mei.
Both were Titled Douluo of level ninety-five.
Yue Guan crossed his arms and stepped forward, looking at the nervous branch hall master.
"Speak. What brings you before the Pope? If it's something trivial, you know the consequences."
Swallowing hard, the man trembled as he said, "Your Grace, Chrysanthemum Douluo, I may have discovered traces of Tang Hao in the Balak Kingdom!"
"What? Tang Hao?!"
(End of Chapter)