Dai Mubai had been sizing up Oscar from the moment he appeared. From registration until now, as they prepared for the soul battle, Dai Mubai was filled with surprises and astonishment about this Shrek Academy.
Because originally, from what he understood, although Shrek Academy was known for only accepting monsters, its reputation in the outside world was quite ordinary.
He had come here originally only to hide his identity and escape his imperial brother's pursuit.
But when he stepped into this academy, he discovered that this academy was not ordinary at all. The old man collecting registration fees at the entrance looked like an old farmer working the land, but he was a genuine Soul Emperor powerhouse!
And this referee vice-dean was also a Soul Sage level powerhouse!
Of course, most important was this red-haired handsome young man before him. He appeared to be about the same age, but that confidence and composure on his face was something he couldn't imagine at all.
From when Ma Hongjun brought him in until now, he had chatted with him about many things. Not only did he learn that Ma Hongjun was only nine years old and had already reached the terrifying level of twenty-five, but he also heard Ma Hongjun say he had a big brother, and that big brother was the real monster.
Not only was he handsome, but he could also wield a sword and so on...
Dai Mubai was immediately very curious about what kind of person could make a genius like Ma Hongjun acknowledge him as a big brother. Now seeing Oscar, even without knowing Oscar's true strength and martial soul, just from this temperament alone, Dai Mubai understood why Ma Hongjun did so.
However, with such a Shrek Academy, why was its reputation in the outside world so... poor?
Before Dai Mubai could think further, Zhao Wuji coughed and spoke again: "The examination continues. Both sides, release your martial souls!"
Oscar didn't interject further. He just sat down beside Zhao Wuji, picked up the water pitcher from the table, and poured two cups of peach water, handing one to Zhao Wuji.
"Ma Hongjun, martial soul: Evil Fire Phoenix, level twenty-five assault-type battle soul master."
Ma Hongjun announced his martial soul and soul power level. Two yellow Soul rings slowly rose from his body, and turbulent flames suddenly erupted from his form, even making the surrounding air become several degrees hotter.
As the flames surged, a clear phoenix cry resounded. Ma Hongjun appeared like a fire phoenix wearing a phoenix crown—extraordinarily imposing.
The current Ma Hongjun was no longer the little fatty from three years ago. After training with Oscar for over three years, his strength had also improved tremendously.
Actually, to be honest, at the same level, if Oscar hadn't obtained the external Soul bone Sky Azure Spirit Jade Sword, Oscar wouldn't dare say he could beat Ma Hongjun.
After all, Ma Hongjun's martial soul was a genuine phoenix, a pure top-tier martial soul. Even Dai Mubai's White Tiger martial soul might be slightly inferior in comparison.
Of course, this was assuming Ma Hongjun could suppress and control his evil fire. After all, evil fire had both pros and cons for Ma Hongjun, but now only the pros remained.
Looking at the imposing Ma Hongjun, Dai Mubai couldn't help swallowing. He knew he had indeed underestimated this Shrek Academy before coming. He just hadn't expected that he had still underestimated Ma Hongjun's power.
But precisely because of this, that trace of competitive spirit in Dai Mubai's heart rose up. Moreover, if this was the kind of Shrek Academy it was, wouldn't joining make it all the more meaningful?
He had indeed escaped because he couldn't compete with his big brother in the family, but that didn't mean he had just given up.
Or perhaps at this stage, Dai Mubai still had a lucky mentality. After all, he was only twelve years old and hadn't become dissolute like when he appeared in the original story.
"Dai Mubai, martial soul: White Tiger, level twenty-five assault-type battle soul master. Please instruct me!"
Dai Mubai similarly shouted. Two yellow Soul rings rose from his body, and white fur covered his entire form. On his forehead appeared a black character "王" (King) with three horizontal strokes and one vertical. Combined with his evil eyes, his entire bearing changed. Although he still couldn't compare to Ma Hongjun at this stage, he could barely hold his ground.
"Not bad. Being able to withstand my pressure without flinching—you're qualified to be my opponent." Ma Hongjun chuckled: "Then let me see your strength."
Ma Hongjun didn't release a Soul skill. Soul power surged from his body, and intense flames erupted from within. Ma Hongjun's speed suddenly increased. His claws condensed into a pair of flame claws with explosive aura, clawing at Dai Mubai from a distance.
Two crimson flame claw marks attacked Dai Mubai. This was Ma Hongjun's now-refined self-created Soul skill—he could completely freely use and compress flames as a conventional attack method.
Seeing that Ma Hongjun could launch such fierce and explosive attacks without even using a Soul skill, Dai Mubai's internal assessment of his strength rose again.
Actually, most skills for using one's own martial soul attributes couldn't really be called self-created Soul skills. But Ma Hongjun's skill was different from ordinary applications, because he had completely compressed the flames to form explosive attack moves—something ordinary soul masters couldn't do.
"Self-created Soul skill?" Dai Mubai murmured. Without any hesitation, the second yellow Soul ring on his body lit up.
"Second Soul skill: White Tiger Fierce Light Wave!"
As the Soul skill released, a golden light wave suddenly sprayed from Dai Mubai's mouth, dispersing Ma Hongjun's attack.
At this moment, Ma Hongjun wasn't surprised that Dai Mubai could block his Flying Flame Claw. After all, he hadn't even used a Soul skill, while the other had used his second Soul skill.
With this first wave of attacks launched, Ma Hongjun, accelerated by flame propulsion, had already closed in on Dai Mubai.
Dai Mubai directly used his first Soul skill—White Tiger Protective Barrier—increasing attack, strength, and defense by fifty percent.
It had to be said that as a genius with innate level nine soul power, with the support of the Star Luo imperial family, both of Dai Mubai's Soul rings were of excellent quality. That his Soul skills could have such power was actually within reason.
After all, the White Tiger martial soul could also be considered a top-tier martial soul. With the support of various resources, Dai Mubai's current strength wasn't bad either.
However, he was facing Ma Hongjun. Don't let Ma Hongjun's long-range burst "mage" setup fool you—after three years of training, his current body at level twenty-five had already reached the physical quality of a level thirty-five Soul Venerable.
Even with Dai Mubai using his first Soul skill for enhancement, such a gap was very difficult to bridge in the face of absolute strength difference.
After all, a fifty percent increase was only half of level twenty-five, while Ma Hongjun already possessed the physical quality of a level thirty-five Soul Venerable.
So after Dai Mubai used his first Soul skill, Ma Hongjun's crimson flame claws descended. Dai Mubai directly tried to block with a punch, but his entire person was knocked flying backward, and with a crack, his arm fractured.
That's right—it fractured. Ma Hongjun hadn't held back, because this was an examination, not a sparring match.
After all, he was also selecting his future teammates, companions he would study with. Naturally, he needed to know their strength.
"Ah!" The flying Dai Mubai cried out in pain.
Just when Ma Hongjun thought Dai Mubai would concede, Dai Mubai slowly climbed up from the ground, his dangling right arm sinking as he said: "I haven't conceded yet!"
Dai Mubai hadn't conceded. Although he was shocked by Ma Hongjun's terrifying strength, he wanted to know exactly how big the gap between them was, and he didn't want to just concede like this!
Both Oscar and Zhao Wuji were now full of interest in Dai Mubai, because this kid really suited their taste.
To continue fighting even with a fractured arm said it all.
And Oscar now understood even more the difference between the original story and reality. No matter how dissolute Dai Mubai was when he appeared in the original story, at least right now he looked like a man.
Moreover, from the later parts of the original story, besides sleeping with twins at the Rose Hotel when he appeared, Dai Mubai seemed to have no other bad records. As a big brother, he had played a good leading role.
After all, in the original story, Dai Mubai could already use self-created Soul skills during the Soul Master Tournament, and he fought against his big brother whose soul power was close to Soul King.
"Teacher Zhao, this kid is not bad. Looks like there's another good seedling this year." Oscar couldn't help saying to Zhao Wuji.
Zhao Wuji also chuckled: "Indeed not bad. Although his talent can't compare to you and Hongjun, he's still a little monster."
While the two were talking, Dai Mubai had already launched another attack at Ma Hongjun.
"Second Soul skill: White Tiger Fierce Light Wave!"
A charged White Tiger Fierce Light Wave was much more powerful than the previous one, because this time Dai Mubai had poured in more soul power.
But for Ma Hongjun, it was just something to make him take it a bit more seriously.
"You're not bad, so I've decided to let you lose with some dignity." Ma Hongjun cracked his neck. The two yellow Soul rings on his body instantly lit up.
"Second Soul skill: Blazing Fire Phoenix!"
Flame power increased by fifty percent.
Actually, for someone with pure burst capabilities like Ma Hongjun, a fifty percent increase in flame power meant his strength increased by fifty percent, because his attack methods were all flame-based.
"First Soul skill: Phoenix Fire Line!"
Under the enhancement of the second Soul skill, terrifying flames similarly sprayed from Ma Hongjun's mouth. The moment it collided with Dai Mubai's White Tiger Fierce Light Wave, a wave of air was stirred up.
However, although both were at level twenty-five, Dai Mubai's soul power foundation was far inferior to Ma Hongjun's. After persisting for only one second, the Phoenix Fire Line overpowered his White Tiger Fierce Light Wave and rushed toward him.
Just as Dai Mubai was about to be swallowed by Ma Hongjun's flames, Ma Hongjun finally stopped his attack.
With his soul power exhausted, Dai Mubai fell to his knees. Fortunately, Ma Hongjun was fast enough to catch Dai Mubai.
Sensing that Dai Mubai's condition wasn't good, Ma Hongjun called out to Oscar: "Brother Ao, sausage!"
Oscar directly took out two Super Recovery Big Sausages from his soul tool and tossed them to Ma Hongjun.
The reason Oscar could always take out sausages from his soul tool was that basically every day, or every few days, he would use his Soul skills to make sausages until his soul power was exhausted.
So Oscar's own soul tool was already stocked with a large number of sausages, ready for emergencies at any time—not something he made only when needed.
This was something Oscar couldn't figure out when reading the original story. With such cultivation speed, why not store some in advance?
After eating one sausage himself, Ma Hongjun stuffed the other into Dai Mubai's mouth, explaining:
"This is Brother Ao's first Soul skill. It can continuously restore soul power, physical strength, injuries, and mental power."