The radiant light came as swiftly as it vanished—lasting no more than 2 or 3 seconds before it began to fade.
"I, your father, have a Big Sausage!"
At the very moment he turned, Oscar shouted his incantation and unleashed his first spirit skill. A steaming hot sausage materialized in his hand. As the light dimmed slightly and became less blinding, he immediately rushed toward the two man.
"What was Boss Dai thinking? To release his second spirit skill from such close range—if something went wrong, what then?"
Worry knotted Oscar's chest as he sprinted toward them. But after only two steps, he slowed, then froze on the spot.
"Boss Dai… lost!"
The last remnants of light dispersed completely. What Oscar now saw stunned him: Qian Jue, bent slightly at the waist, coughing endlessly as he stood at Dai Mubai's side, while holding his bow pressed horizontally against Dai Mubai's neck.
Dai Mubai himself was baffled. He couldn't fathom how Qian Jue had evaded his White Tiger Light Wave. Aside from the persistent coughing, Qian Jue looked unscathed—hardly like someone who had taken the attack head-on.
Oscar snapped out of his daze and rushed over. When he confirmed both seemed fine, he finally let out a long sigh of relief.
"A-Jue, are you hurt? I've got a Recovery Sausage, do you want one?" Oscar asked nervously.
Qian Jue was still channeling his martial spirit. Oscar couldn't see his expression, only the eerie glow of the Blazing Eyes through the mask—something about it made him tense.
"Of course I'll take it."
Retracting his martial spirit, the Kindred Bow faded from Qian Jue's hands. He pounded his chest a few times, struggling to calm his breath.
At that final instant, with nowhere left to retreat, he had summoned his Wolf Spirit, placing its mask before his chest as a shield.
But Dai Mubai's White Tiger Light Wave was not a concentrated strike—it was an explosive area attack, similar to Qian Jue's radiant arrows. The moment it struck the Wolf Spirit, it detonated, scattering its power in all directions. The Wolf Spirit sustained heavy damage, and the backlash reverberated through Qian Jue's body, causing the violent coughing fits from earlier.
Yet when the blast erupted, the glow of his Kindred Mask and Blazing Eyes filtered the dazzling light, leaving Qian Jue unharmed by its glare. Seizing the moment when Dai Mubai turned his head to shield his own eyes, Qian Jue slipped forward, placing his Kindred Bow against Dai Mubai's neck—securing victory.
After putting away his martial spirit, Qian Jue accepted Oscar's sausage and bit into it. To his surprise, it actually tasted good. As the food slid down into his belly, he felt the backlash within him gradually easing.
A few more bites, and the sausage was gone. Drawing deep breaths, Qian Jue felt his strength return in full.
"Incredible, A-Jue!" Dai Mubai, who had withdrawn his martial spirit as well, patted Qian Jue on the shoulder in admiration. It was the first time he had ever lost to someone younger than himself. Even his elder brother had only suppressed him through age and cultivation advantage. In terms of raw talent, Dai Mubai had never considered himself inferior.
"Yeah, yeah! Boss Dai is 3 levels above you, yet he still lost!" Oscar chuckled as he chimed in.
"Your martial spirit—it's that mask, right? Mask-type spirits are usually tied to mental or spiritual power. How is it that your strength is greater than mine?" Dai Mubai asked in puzzlement.
"It's not the mask. My martial spirit is a Beast Spirit, called Kindred—similar to my own name."
As Qian Jue spoke, he released his Sheep Spirit, dissolving its Concealment. Immediately, Dai Mubai and Oscar saw the faint silhouette of the Sheep Spirit looming around him.
"Kindred Spirit… a sheep…" Dai Mubai muttered, searching his memory. But nothing came up. Still, he was certain: this was a martial spirit stronger than his White Tiger. Qian Jue had said he was an agility-type spirit master, yet his strength already surpassed Dai Mubai's, his speed from the last strike was faster, and his defenses—he had just taken a White Tiger Light Wave head-on and suffered only soul power backlash.
"Seems I'll need to work even harder…"
Resolving himself, Dai Mubai pushed aside thoughts of today's defeat. Lifting his head, he said to Qian Jue and Oscar:
"Come on! Let's go tidy up and then head into Soto City for some food. Consider it a welcome feast for A-Jue."
"Sounds good!"
…
The three agreed, then returned together to the dormitory. Not far away, beside another building, a towering figure withdrew his gaze.
It was none other than the Unmovable Vajra, Zhao Wuji.
Before leaving, Flender had secretly instructed him: a new child was brought in, keep an eye on him. When Dai Mubai later returned for training, Zhao Wuji sensed fighting on the training ground and, fearing the boys might go too far, slipped over to observe. What he witnessed was Qian Jue defeating Dai Mubai.
"Tch, Old Flender's new kid is something else—he even bested Dai Mubai. Looks like our academy has gained yet another monster." Zhao Wuji chuckled, shaking his head as he turned back to his quarters.
…
If Nuoding City could be likened to a small town from Qian Jue's past life, then Soto City could truly be called a metropolis. Its prosperity rivaled that of many modern cities.
Shrek Academy was not far from Soto City. Following Dai Mubai and Oscar, chatting along the way, Qian Jue arrived after only about 20 minutes.
When Flender had first brought him, they'd flown overhead, so he had only glimpsed the city from above. Now, entering its streets for the first time, the sight overwhelmed him: lanterns glittering like stars, soaring buildings alive with crimson-clad guests, and bustling night markets. Qian Jue fell in love instantly.
His head turned left and right, dazzled by the endless array of local specialties and trinkets that lined the streets.
Seeing his curiosity, Dai Mubai grinned. "Let's eat first. After that, we'll wander. Soto's night market doesn't quiet down until after midnight—we've got plenty of time."
With that, Dai Mubai led them into a restaurant. Though only 11, his height was nearing 1.7 meters, his presence already commanding enough that no one dared treat them lightly. A waiter, following his instructions, ushered them into a private room.
Taking the menu, Dai Mubai ordered braised pork belly, then passed it to Qian Jue. "Tonight's my treat. Order what you like, don't hold back."
Unreserved, Qian Jue picked two dishes he wanted to try. After all, they'd be together for years to come—he'd find an opportunity to repay the gesture later.
All three were spirit masters; their appetites far exceeded ordinary people's. With Dai Mubai and Oscar having trained all day, their stomachs were empty. By the time they finished ordering, 6 full dishes filled the table. The three feasted heartily.
…