After a long while, Flender finally calmed down. Just the thought that Oscar was his student now made him feel utterly delighted inside.
After all, the best way to make Shrek Academy's name known across the continent was to nurture a true genius.
At that moment, Oscar spoke up:
"Dean, how about this? Just telling you won't let you truly feel the power of my external spirit bone. Let me bring Hongjun here and spar with him a bit."
Flender nodded immediately in agreement. Truthfully, he very much wanted to see just how powerful Oscar's external spirit bone was.
Seeing the dean's approval, Oscar went to look for Ma Hongjun.
As for exposing the existence of his external spirit bone, Oscar wasn't too concerned. The teachers at Shrek might be strange in temperament, but when it came to loyalty to the academy, their unity was unquestionable. They would never covet his bone. On the contrary, they would only feel gratified—just as Flender did.
Sure enough, the moment Oscar left, Flender turned to Zhao Wuji:
"Old Zhao, call Shao Xin and the others over. Let everyone see the talent of this year's Shrek students with their own eyes."
He couldn't help but grin, already dreaming of the future:
"An auxiliary-type spirit master with the combat strength of an assault-type warrior! Heh! Our Shrek Academy will definitely make a name for itself across the continent!"
Zhao Wuji rolled his eyes helplessly. We just got back, and you're already ordering me around? Typical you…
Still, he didn't argue. With a small nod, he turned and left to gather the others. What could he do? Flender was the dean, and he was only the vice-dean, after all!
Oscar left the dean's office and went straight to the dormitory. On their way back with Zhao Wuji, they had passed the classrooms but hadn't seen Ma Hongjun.
With Hongjun's personality, the boy was most likely napping in his room right now.
True enough, Ma Hongjun didn't have the habit of locking his door. Oscar pushed it open directly and saw him hunched over the desk, writing furiously.
Hearing the sound, Ma Hongjun turned his head. The moment he saw Oscar walk in, his face lit up with joy.
"Brother Ao, you're finally back! You've been gone a month, and I nearly died from missing you!"
Oscar chuckled and walked over, glancing at what he was writing. To his surprise, it was all theory about spirit beasts. His heart warmed—he was genuinely pleased.
After training this kid for so long, he had finally built up good habits. Seeing the results, Oscar naturally felt proud.
"You brat. Looks like you haven't been slacking during this month I was gone. Not bad at all!" Oscar praised him directly.
Hearing Oscar's praise filled Ma Hongjun with sweetness—happier even than being praised by Flender.
With a silly grin, Ma Hongjun said:
"Hehe, Brother Ao, you don't know how hard I worked this past month. Just yesterday, I even broke through to level fourteen!"
"Oh? Perfect timing. I just got my second spirit ring. How about a little spar?" Oscar suggested smoothly.
At first, Ma Hongjun hesitated. The memory of the grueling training Oscar had put him through over the past months was still vivid. But soon, he gritted his teeth and nodded firmly.
"Alright! I've been training extra under the teachers this past month. I'm not the same as before. I'll definitely make you see me in a new light, Brother Ao!"
Oscar didn't doubt his determination. But no matter how much Hongjun had improved, what of it?
Now, with the Heaven Azure Spirit Jade Sword and his vastly enhanced physique, Oscar's combat strength rivaled that of assault-type spirit masters of his level. At rank twenty-two, facing a rank fourteen Hongjun would be no challenge at all.
Still, he did want to assess Hongjun's progress for himself—that was the reason he had suggested the spar to Flender in the first place.
So Oscar smiled faintly and said:
"Good. Let me see just how much you've grown."
The two made their way to the training ground. Strictly speaking, it was more of a large open square. Thanks to Shrek Academy's improved finances, it had been renovated into a proper arena.
At the center stood a fifty-meter-diameter dueling platform—something that hadn't existed in the original timeline.
Because of Oscar's influence, Flender had ordered its construction a year earlier. Built sturdily and practically, it had proven its worth many times.
When Oscar and Hongjun arrived, Flender, Zhao Wuji, Lu Qibin, Li Yusong, and Shao Xin were already waiting, seated in a pavilion beside the platform.
Spotting them, Flender called out to Ma Hongjun:
"Hongjun, Xiao Ao is now a Grand Spirit Master. Do you have the confidence to face him?"
Flender hadn't told Ma Hongjun about Oscar's true combat strength. This was intentional. It was an important lesson for Shrek's students: even without knowing an opponent's details, one must always fight with full effort.
Hongjun grinned back at Flender.
"Don't worry, Teacher. I may only be level fourteen, but I'm an assault-type spirit master! That technique you taught me this month—I'll finally get to try it out in battle!"
Satisfied, Flender nodded. The boy's mentality was at least on the right track.
At this moment, Zhao Wuji stepped forward, climbing onto the elevated platform beside the dueling stage. The arena itself was three meters tall, built thick to withstand even battles between Flender and Zhao Wuji themselves, who occasionally used it to stretch their limbs.
Constructed of marble and granite, fifty meters wide and three meters tall, the platform had been no small investment. But with Shrek's coffers no longer empty, such an expense was hardly an issue.
"You two, onto the stage," Zhao Wuji ordered from the raised judge's stand.
The two boys ascended the dueling platform, standing ten meters apart, facing each other.
As referee, Zhao Wuji's voice rang out:
"Spirit masters, release your spirits."
This was a standard procedure—not just to let the combatants prepare, but also to let the audience clearly see their martial spirits. After all, this was a sparring match, not a life-and-death duel.
At Zhao Wuji's words, Oscar's silver eyes flashed. Two yellow spirit rings rose beneath his feet. A bright orange sausage appeared in his hand.
"Oscar, Spirit: Supreme Sausage. Rank twenty-two, auxiliary-type Tool Spirit Master."
Hearing his level, Ma Hongjun couldn't help but be stunned. He knew Oscar had broken through two ranks when he obtained his first spirit ring. But now, another leap already?
So this is what an innate full-spirit-power genius really is… Hongjun thought with awe.
Still, once he stepped onto the dueling platform, his aura shifted. Though shocked inside, his face remained steady, his eyes sharp and focused on Oscar.
"Ma Hongjun, Spirit: Evil Fire Phoenix. Rank fourteen, assault-type Battle Spirit Master!"
As he spoke, flames erupted across his body. His once-red mohawk now resembled a blazing phoenix crown.
Though the evil fire prevented him from true flight, the fiery aura around him flared like wings of flame.
A single yellow spirit ring rose beneath him. Despite being only rank fourteen, the sheer presence of the phoenix—king of all birds emanated from him.
Oscar watched the transformed Hongjun and felt deeply satisfied.
If things continued like this, the lecherous little fat boy from the original story would vanish entirely—replaced by a true Evil Fire Phoenix, Ma Hongjun.
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