"Alright, let's do it this way. Oscar, you restore your soul power while riding on the Wolf Spirit. Ah Jue will lead the team, I'll cover the rear. Every hour we'll eat one of Oscar's Big Recovery Sausages to replenish our stamina. Let's move out!"
Since there was a better plan, Dai Mubai nodded, summed things up, and let Qian Jue take the lead as the group set off at a run toward the Star Dou Great Forest. Along the way, passersby occasionally pointed fingers at Oscar, who seemed to be floating through the air.
At first, Ning Rongrong was displeased. She was also a support-type spirit master—so why did Oscar get to have a mount and fly through the air, while she had to run along the ground? Were they deliberately picking on her?
But after several hours, once she truly experienced the effect of Oscar's Big Recovery Sausages, she stopped complaining.
She hadn't expected his sausages to be this effective. With her physical condition, she actually managed to barely keep up with the team. Even if she felt mental fatigue, her body showed none of the soreness or aches that normally came with prolonged exertion. Only then did she finally understand why Oscar's Martial Spirit was able to achieve innate full spirit power.
——
Like this, after an entire day of travel, the group of eight from Shrek Academy finally reached Star Dou Town. Thanks to Oscar's sausages sustaining them along the way, they weren't even that tired.
As soon as they arrived at the town's entrance, they spotted the Grandmaster waiting there for them.
Seeing the eight, covered in dust from the road, the Grandmaster glanced at the time and nodded.
"Not bad. You're even earlier than I expected. Come, I'll take you to eat and rest."
He led them to a modest-looking inn.
"We've already eaten. You can order whatever you like. Afterward, go upstairs to rest early. The rooms are on the third floor, numbers 4 through 8. I've booked 5 rooms for you—arrange yourselves as you see fit. Don't cultivate tonight. Rest well and prepare for tomorrow's battles."
"Yes, teacher. Don't worry about us." Qian Jue nodded, signaling the Grandmaster not to fuss further.
The Grandmaster returned the nod and went upstairs to his own room. Over the past 2 years, unless absolutely necessary, he had rarely appeared. He spent most of his time in his room with Liu Erlong, and no one knew exactly what he was doing.
"Alright, let's eat. After a whole day of sausages, I'm sick of them. Fatty, you're the foodie—order for us." Dai Mubai found a large table, gathered everyone, and handed the menu to Ma Hongjun.
"Heh, of course. Look at my build!" Ma Hongjun grinned, scanning the menu for a while before calling the waiter over. In one breath, he ordered nearly 20 dishes before finally stopping, excitedly saying, "This place may look plain, but their menu is surprisingly complete. Let's see how it tastes."
Dai Mubai rolled his eyes. "So many dishes? Can you finish them all? You're paying."
"I'll pay, no problem. I'll be a Spirit Elder soon, I'm not short on money." Ma Hongjun dismissed it casually.
Soul coins held strong purchasing power. The tableful of dishes Ma Hongjun ordered wouldn't even cost 1 gold soul coin. As a Spirit Grandmaster, his monthly stipend was 10 gold coins. Dai Mubai, as a Spirit Elder, received 100 per month.
"Forget it, I'll cover it. Consider it a welcome for our 2 new teammates. And also—an apology to Rongrong. Only 2 days here and we've already made you cry twice."
Ning Rongrong rolled her eyes. "Made me cry? You make it sound like I'm petty. Hmph, I'll forgive you!"
She waved her hand arrogantly, but this time her attitude wasn't irritating. Instead, it drew a round of warm laughter.
Just then, as the Shrek group chatted and bonded, the inn door opened and another group walked in.
They were all dressed in moon-white spirit master robes, looking about 17 or 18, led by a neatly groomed middle-aged man. At a glance, one could tell they were a proper team. Unlike the mismatched clothing of the Shrek group, which made them look more like a ragtag bunch.
"Hey, Boss Dai, look at the girl in the back of that group—pretty or not?" Ma Hongjun's eyes lit up instantly. He leaned toward Dai Mubai, whispering with a lecherous grin.
But Dai Mubai didn't look. Instead, he glanced nervously at Zhu Zhuqing before hurriedly shoving Ma Hongjun's head away.
"If you want to look, then look yourself. Why ask me?!"
"I just wanted to share with you…" Ma Hongjun muttered, rubbing his head where he'd been pushed.
"Sir, please mind yourself."
At that moment, the dishes they ordered began arriving, and the waiter stepped in to serve them.
"Enough, Fatty. Don't cause trouble. Everyone's tired from the day. Let's eat and rest early."
Qian Jue took the chance to step in. He remembered that the Shrek group had originally clashed with this Blue Sunshine Academy team here. Their leader, that middle-aged spirit master with a Turtle Spirit, was around level 40 or 50. Dai Mubai and the others had struggled against him until Zhao Wuji appeared and slapped him away, ending the matter.
But now, with Qian Jue here, that turtle spirit master probably wouldn't even be his match. Besides, Shrek's current escorts were Flender and Liu Erlong, both stronger than Zhao Wuji. So Qian Jue had no interest in provoking them. Better to eat quietly, rest, and prepare for tomorrow's spirit ring hunt. Many things were bound to happen, and he couldn't afford to let the plot go astray. Tang San's Eight Spider Lances had to emerge without incident.
——
And so, under Qian Jue's lead, the group enjoyed their meal without conflict with Blue Sunshine Academy. After a good night's rest, morning came.
The sky was just turning light as the Shrek group checked out of the inn and lined up outside the entrance.
"Today, you'll truly enter the Star Dou Great Forest. It's not your first time, so you know the dangers. I won't repeat myself. Remember, unless you face a true life-threatening danger, we teachers will not intervene. Whether you can obtain suitable spirit rings this time depends on you."
After the Grandmaster finished speaking, he stepped aside with Flender and Liu Erlong, leaving Qian Jue's group to arrange themselves.
"Alright, let me set up our formation."
As team leader, Dai Mubai stepped forward.
"We're entering the Star Dou Great Forest, where danger can appear at any moment. We need a formation that lets us handle sudden situations.
I'll go first—I have the highest soul power. Zhuqing, you'll be second. Rongrong, third. You're agility-attack and support types. If I encounter danger ahead, you two must react immediately."
He glanced at Zhu Zhuqing and Ning Rongrong, who both nodded.
"Then, behind you will be Tang San, Oscar, Fatty, Xiao Wu, and finally Ah Jue. Tang San, you'll be in the middle. If anything unusual happens, use your Blue Silver Grass to get us out. Qian Jue, you're the strongest and have long-range attacks, so you'll take the rear and cover us.
Also, Ah Jue, have your Wolf Spirit patrol in the air once we go deeper, keeping an eye on both flanks.
That's the plan. Any objections?"
After Dai Mubai laid out his plan, he looked at the others for feedback.
"No problem, Boss Dai. You've thought it through. Let's go with it." Oscar agreed readily.
The others nodded as well—no objections.
Seeing everyone in agreement, Dai Mubai nodded firmly. "Alright then—move out!"
He strode forward to take the lead. The others followed in formation as arranged.
From a short distance behind, the Grandmaster, Flender, and Liu Erlong watched them leave, nodding.
"What do you think?" the Grandmaster asked.
"What do you mean, what do I think? I think it's great. Dai Mubai is looking more and more like a real leader. His arrangements were solid. I'm just not sure if the 2 new girls can fully integrate. Hopefully everything goes smoothly and no dangers arise." Flender adjusted his crystal glasses.
"What danger? Not with the 3 of us watching. Unless we run into a Titled Douluo or a 100,000-year-old spirit beast king, what could threaten them? Besides, don't underestimate these kids. They're far stronger than we were at their age. Especially Qian Jue. Give him a few more years, and he'll be catching up to us. He used to fight 4 at once—one day, he'll probably take on 7." Liu Erlong wrapped her arm around the Grandmaster, pride in her voice.
After all, he was Xiao Gang's disciple. Calling her "mistress" was practically the same as calling her mother.
"That's an exaggeration. His double spirit rings will become less of an advantage once he reaches Spirit King level, and the gap with Mubai and Tang San will shrink. One against 7? Not happening. Maybe 1 against 6 if you leave Tang San out."
"Pfft!" Liu Erlong burst into laughter at the Grandmaster's remark, giving him a playful punch on the shoulder. "So that's what you call closing the gap? Either way, both are your disciples."
Flender rolled his eyes. "Alright, alright, enough flirting. If we lose track of them, it'll be real fun."
He strode ahead, and the Grandmaster and Liu Erlong exchanged a glance and a smile before following quickly.
——