Seeing that Dean Flander didn't recognize him, Ma Hongjun was immediately embarrassed.
Actually, he knew how much his appearance had changed; let alone Dean Flander, even his former self would have had a hard time recognizing this reflection in the mirror.
Before coming here, he had held onto a sliver of hope that the Dean might recognize him through their bond, but reality had just slapped him in the face.
Seeing everyone's curious and wary gazes fixed on him, he didn't want to reveal his identity himself. It was too humiliating.
Just as he was about to give his teacher a pleading look, Yu Xiaogang pointed at him and said, "Boss Flander, this is Ma Hongjun. He looks much more handsome than before, doesn't he? It's all thanks to my methods."
"What? He's Ma Hongjun?!"
Flander's neck stiffened mechanically as he turned, staring at the youth in disbelief. Upon closer inspection of the facial features beneath the pale skin and sharp aura, he could indeed sense a hint of familiarity.
Not only him, but everyone else looked at Ma Hongjun with the same shock.
The change was too drastic!
If Yu Xiaogang hadn't said it himself, they would never have connected this eerie, handsome youth with the chubby, lustful Fatty of the past.
"Are you... really Fatty?"
Oscar leaned closer to Ma Hongjun, looking him up and down, trying to figure him out.
"Don't get so close! Your beard is pricking me!"
Ma Hongjun shoved Oscar away with unexpected force, sending the food soul master flying several meters before he stumbled and fell to the ground.
Since Ning Rongrong left Shrek Academy, Oscar had become unkempt and depressed. Although he'd gotten a haircut for the opening ceremony, his facial hair had grown back quickly, leaving him with messy stubble that the new, fastidious Ma Hongjun found repulsing.
Looking at Ma Hongjun, Dai Mubai's eyes were filled with disbelief.
Before, Ma Hongjun was just an ordinary-looking, round boy. But now he'd transformed into a handsome man, his looks second only to a cleaned-up Oscar.
Furthermore, his somewhat eerie, cold aura stirred a strange sense of kinship within Dai Mubai, a resonance between the Evil Eyed White Tiger and the Evil Fire Phoenix.
"Dean... I am indeed Ma Hongjun. But for some reason, my appearance has changed drastically."
As he spoke, Ma Hongjun glanced at Yu Xiaogang, his eyes filled with a deep, concealed resentment.
After he admitted it himself, even the shocked Flander and the others had no choice but to believe him.
A moment later, Flander finally controlled his emotions. He first looked at Ma Hongjun with concern, then took a few steps closer to Yu Xiaogang and asked in a low whisper, "Xiao Gang... is Fatty's... "issue"... healed yet?"
Although Flander deliberately lowered his voice, Ma Hongjun still heard it clearly. His face instantly turned as black as the bottom of a pot.
He naturally understood what Dean Flander meant.
That "incident", the method Yu Xiaogang used to cure the Evil Fire backlash, was undoubtedly a wound he could never heal physically. It was precisely because of this missing piece of himself that he now cultivated desperately. His only hope was to reach Level 100 and become a God, thereby repairing his incomplete body.
"Boss Flander, this... is quite difficult," Yu Xiaogang gave a bitter smile, his tone full of helplessness. "I solved the life-threatening issue, but the... cost... remains."
He had considered finding someone to help treat Ma Hongjun's physical loss, but without divine intervention or top-tier healing abilities beyond a Titled Douluo, it was useless.
Hearing this, the smile on Flander's face instantly froze, and much of the joy of their reunion vanished.
Although he had transferred Ma Hongjun to Yu Xiaogang's tutelage, in his heart, Ma Hongjun was always his direct disciple, more important than any other student.
After a while, Flander took a deep breath and continued to ask, "What about his martial soul problem? The Evil Fire?"
"Don't worry, Boss Flander. With my unremitting efforts and research, I have solved Hongjun's martial soul defect. Furthermore, his soul power has now broken through to Level 40!"
Yu Xiaogang said proudly, his head held high.
Upon hearing this, Flander and the others were all filled with disbelief. How long had it been? Ma Hongjun had already caught up with Dai Mubai?
"Fatty! Did you take forbidden drugs?!"
Hearing that Ma Hongjun had already reached Level 40, Oscar ignored the pain in his buttocks and quickly stood up from the ground.
He had worked hard to cultivate and was only at Level 35, while Ma Hongjun had easily surpassed him, exceeding him by a full five levels. It didn't make sense.
Upon hearing about "drugs," a fiery glint flashed in Dai Mubai's eyes.
If something could greatly boost his soul power, he would have the right to compete with his elder brother, Dai Weisi. Even if there were severe side effects, he had to fight to the death.
Now that his deadline was approaching, he couldn't afford to miss any opportunity.
"Fatty, how did you cultivate so fast? Can you help me?"
At this moment, Dai Mubai disregarded his pride as the boss of the group, lowering his stance and letting a pleading tone enter his voice.
Facing Dai Mubai's fawning, Ma Hongjun felt extremely satisfied. He used to be the sidekick fawning over Boss Dai, but now the tables had turned. It was incredibly satisfying.
In addition, he had been tricked and suppressed by Dai Mubai before, and he harbored a lot of resentment. Now was the time for petty revenge.
"Tsk, tsk. I never thought that the dignified Young Master Dai would see the day when he has to beg me."
Hearing this, Dai Mubai's face darkened to the point of dripping water. His hands clenched into fists, his heart filled with extreme resentment and humiliation.
In the past, he would have definitely taught Ma Hongjun a lesson physically.
But now, Ma Hongjun had already cultivated to Level 40, and his aura suggested his strength was not much weaker than Dai Mubai's own. Even if he could defeat Ma Hongjun, he would definitely be injured, making it a loss right before the tournament. Besides, he needed Ma Hongjun's secret, so he had no choice but to swallow his anger.
Sensing the two were at loggerheads, Flander immediately stepped forward, blocking their path.
Then, he looked at Yu Xiaogang, who seemed like a savior, and sighed, "Xiaogang, our team currently only has Dai Mubai as a Soul Ancestor. He can't carry the team alone; I'm afraid it will be difficult to even survive the preliminaries of this tournament."
"Boss Flander, I came to you specifically about this."
Seeing Flander's reaction, Yu Xiaogang's lips curled slightly, a fanatical glint in his eyes.
Hearing this, Flander immediately thought there was hope and hurriedly said, "Xiao Gang, do you have a way to help us pass the preliminaries?"
The others also looked at Yu Xiaogang, their eyes full of expectation.
"Brother Flander, I do have a way, but there's one condition."
After a pause, Yu Xiaogang's face revealed a confident smile, leaving no room for argument. "Dai Mubai and Oscar must join my Spirit Hall team for the finals."
These words stunned everyone present.
Flander was completely dumbfounded. He had thought Yu Xiaogang was showing consideration for their past relationship and brotherhood, helping Shrek Academy pass the preliminaries out of loyalty.
Unexpectedly, Yu Xiaogang was pulling a stunt, he had already taken Ma Hongjun away, and now he wanted to poach Dai Mubai and Oscar too?
"I'm willing to join the Spirit Hall team," Dai Mubai declared first, while everyone else was still in shock.
Since staying at Shrek Academy with a weak team meant certain failure and death at the hands of his brother, it was better to join Spirit Hall's team and at least save his life by winning.
However, Oscar hesitated.
For him, winning or losing the competition wasn't a matter of life and death. He couldn't bear to leave Shrek Academy and Flander just to enter the finals with a different affiliation.
At this moment, Flander finally came to his senses, his face full of confusion. "Xiaogang... what exactly are you doing this for? Why go to such lengths?"
"Of course, it's to beat Lin Mu! I want all the Soul Masters in the world to know that compared to my astonishing wisdom and theory, Lin Mu is nothing but a brute with high cultivation!"
As he spoke, Yu Xiaogang put his hands behind his back, his eyes blazing, displaying the demeanor of a misunderstood Grandmaster finally making his move.
Seeing this obsession, Flander's heart skipped a beat. He hurriedly advised, "Xiaogang, is this about the bet? It's only 100,000 Gold Soul Coins. If you don't have it, I'll cover it for you! You mustn't make an enemy of Lin Mu over money or pride."
"Boss Flander, you don't need to say anything. It's not about the money anymore. I've decided to gamble big with Lin Mu!"
Yu Xiaogang's eyes flashed with intensity. He wanted to use Lin Mu's reputation as a stepping stone. By defeating the team led by the "strongest genius," he would make his name as the Grandmaster resound throughout the Soul Master world forever.
"I'm going all in!"