Early morning!
Shrek Academy.
Ma Hongjun got up early for his morning training, a habit he'd formed over the years.
Although he'd already broken through to level 26, Ma Hongjun felt he hadn't reached his limit yet and could use this time to push forward and level up one or two more.
The soul power boost from the thousand-year soul ring directly affected his body, so the period immediately after obtaining the soul ring was essentially the best time for cultivation breakthroughs.
Furthermore, Ma Hongjun's physical strength accumulated over the past three years, suppressing his soul power for three years, meant it couldn't be unleashed all at once.
Currently, Ma Hongjun, Dai Mubai, and Oscar shared a dormitory.
It wasn't that they didn't have a place to live; they just wanted to sleep together.
Oscar was a food-type soul master, and his cultivation method was rather laid-back—he could improve while sleeping, which was incredibly enviable.
However, food-type soul masters cultivated relatively slowly, and it was difficult to find a fast cultivation method. Oscar's rapid progress was due to his exceptional innate talent.
After all, he possessed innate full soul power, a food-type or support-type soul master. Innate full soul power was a terrifying talent, even rarer than other soul masters.
Dai Mubai, on the other hand, was somewhat complacent. He possessed exceptional talent, both in terms of his martial soul and his own physical attributes. Even with this
self-indulgence, his cultivation progress far surpassed most soul masters. If he were to take things seriously, his speed would be unimaginable.
However, he lacked a certain decisiveness, appearing as if he had given up on life, living day to day. While it seemed carefree, it was actually a form of inner exile.
In the not-so-spacious open space, Ma Hongjun strapped many lead weights to his body for weight training.
After breaking through his realm, his soul power had increased again, allowing him to continue practicing the twenty-first to twenty-sixth forms of his Hundred Birds Paying Homage to the Phoenix Spear.
Even with exceptional talent, spear techniques require gradual refinement. Skill development is not achieved overnight, but through accumulated effort over time.
The black iron spear swung slowly in his hand, the new moves requiring gradual understanding of how to generate power and how to transition between techniques.
The exquisite spear technique was crucial; each strike was vital, employing varying degrees of force, with controlled speed and explosive power.
Flander had already risen and was watching Ma Hongjun practice. He was very pleased with Ma Hongjun's diligent training.
His smile was as radiant as a blooming chrysanthemum. Since taking Ma Hongjun as his monstrous disciple, his smiles had increased daily over the past two days, no longer bearing the stern expression of before.
He didn't understand Ma Hongjun's spear technique; he wasn't very knowledgeable about swords, spears, or staffs. However, judging from Ma Hongjun's fight with Li Yusong yesterday, Ma Hongjun's spear technique was even more exquisite and profound than that of the old man, Li Yusong. For
a moment, Flander realized that although he had taken Ma Hongjun as his disciple, he seemed to have no ability to teach him. He
felt truly ashamed.
"Hongjun, I didn't expect you to be up so early. You seem to be working hard during your morning training, even adding weights." Flander walked over and smiled after Ma Hongjun put away his gun.
"Good morning, Dean. I've gotten used to it over the years. High-intensity training helps relieve the burning desire within me."
"I think your training methods are quite good. Your teacher, Chu Tianye, is indeed skilled. Here's a task for you: in the future, you'll be responsible for physical training, taking Mubai and Oscar with you. Train them too. I think they're too lazy; it's time to give them a boost. Soul Masters also need a strong physique."
Flander finished speaking, looking at Ma Hongjun, waiting for his response.
Ma Hongjun was speechless. Coming to your academy, not only do you not teach anything new, but you also want to use up my old knowledge.
Oh, you still teach. Aren't you going to take adult courses with Mubai tonight? Consider it an exchange.
Ma Hongjun certainly wouldn't refuse and readily agreed. Moreover, thinking about training those two guys, he felt a little happy, able to let them experience those devilish tricks from before.
"No problem, Dean, I'd be happy to."
Just then, two people approached – the village chief and Cuihua.
"Soul Master!" The village chief bowed upon seeing Flander.
After Flander nodded, he continued,
"Cuihua discussed yesterday's matter with her parents, and they've agreed to help out."
Cuihua blushed shyly, not daring to look at Ma Hongjun, but finally mustered the courage to raise her head and say,
"Soul Master, I'm willing to help take care of people, but it won't cost ten gold soul coins. That's too much; one gold soul coin will suffice."
Flander: "What do you need ten gold soul coins for!"
Ma Hongjun wanted to roll his eyes at this stingy old man; he had the strength of a Soul Saint, but lacked the demeanor.
"Well, Dean, I won't talk to you anymore. I asked Miss Cuihua to help me with some things, and ten gold soul coins is her reward. I'll take her to my house first."
Ma Hongjun didn't want to stay with the stingy Flander any longer, so he hurriedly led Cuihua towards his parents' courtyard.
Flander was stunned for a moment, and only after Ma Hongjun left did he react, standing there sighing.
"That kid is so impatient, he couldn't wait after only one day. He seems to know a lot, he didn't need Mubai to lead the way.
But giving this girl ten gold soul coins is indeed a bit expensive, it seems he still lacks experience."
Having walked a distance, Ma Hongjun was unaware of all the drama Flander had added for him; otherwise, he would have definitely given Flander a thousand curses.
When he brought Cuihua to his parents' yard, his mother was already making breakfast.
Seeing Ma Hongjun arrive with a young girl, Li Hui's first reaction was surprise and delight.
On the way, Ma Hongjun had already explained most of the tasks Cuihua needed to do, and upon arrival, the honest Cuihua proactively helped Li Hui with the chores, appearing quite skilled.
Ma Hongjun then went into the inner room to chat with his father. Outside, his mother and Cuihua also began chatting.
Soon, breakfast was ready, and the four of them ate together. Today, Ma Hongjun took Li Hui's place, personally feeding his father.
During the meal, Li Hui refused Ma Hongjun's offer to have Cuihua help, saying she could manage on her own.
Clearly, being a village girl herself, Li Hui was also unaccustomed to ordering others around.
"Mom, you've just arrived in this village, and you're probably unfamiliar with the place and it's inconvenient to buy things. I also don't have much time to go home and help out, so let Cuihua help out for a while.
Cuihua is the best girl in this village, so just treat her like your goddaughter. Haven't you always wanted a daughter?
Having another person at home will keep you company, and it'll be easier and more convenient if anything happens.
You can't leave here for even a moment, but with Cuihua here, you can ask her to let me know if anything happens
..."
Ma Hongjun patiently explained for a long time, finally settling things between them.
Having his parents settled was a major relief for Ma Hongjun.
After returning home, he started classes. Today's class was taught by Shao Xin, a teacher specializing in food-type spirit masters. The class
mainly covered the types, functions, and development of food-type spirit masters.
These were basic courses for spirit masters, like compulsory subjects in junior and senior high school in his previous life—all knowledge.
...
The sun set, casting a long, colorful glow over the sky!
After carefully dressing up, Ma Hongjun and Dai Mubai embarked on their journey to Soto City.