Changed, But Not Completely

"Teacher Zhao, everyone, hold on a moment."

Just as Zhao Wuji was about to lead the way forward, Xia Tianling stopped everyone again. He took out a handful of sachets from his Storage Ring, handed them out one by one, and gestured for everyone to hang them from their waists.

Amid everyone's puzzled gazes, only Tang San sniffed lightly before asking, "Insect repellent?"

Xia Tianling smugly shook his head. "Of course. When traveling through a forest, Soul Beasts aren't the only trouble. There are countless insects too. This little thing is my secret formula; it can effectively keep mosquitoes and bugs away."

Zhao Wuji solemnly hung his sachet at his waist. "Xia Tianling has thought this through very thoroughly. Even I hadn't considered this. I'm a Soul Saint and fear nothing, but for you, all kinds of insects in the forest could cause serious trouble."

"Oscar, make some sausages." After distributing the sachets, he gestured to Oscar again.

"Leave it to me."

Oscar answered, and before long, made three kinds of sausages.

They were the Spirit Power Recovery Great Sausage, the Detoxifying Great Sausage, and a Swift Flight Sprint Sausage.

Having cultivated the Martial Golden Body, Oscar possessed a strong physique. His Third Soul Ring had a cultivation of over five thousand years and had likewise come from a Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent.

The new Swift Flight Sprint Sausage allowed a Soul Master to fly at the speed of a Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent for three Minutes. Compared to its original duration of one minute, it was far more powerful.

Back when he had first awakened his martial soul, Oscar had needed to recite some rather improper Spirit Incantations when making sausages. After several years of cultivation, he no longer needed them.

Spirit Incantations were, at their core, merely a means of assisting sausage production, not the foundation of it. Having overcome the need for their assistance, Oscar's production speed was actually faster than before.

"Let me introduce him to you all again. My partner, Oscar, a level thirty-five Food System Soul Elder. His martial soul is Sausage. His three soul skills are... Their effects are..."

After hearing about the effects of Oscar's sausages, the Shrek group was instantly dumbfounded. Zhao Wuji in particular looked deeply melancholy as he thought, Why isn't such a genius from our Shrek?

"I haven't had Little Ao's sausages in a long time. I kind of missed them." While everyone else packed away their sausages, Ning Rongrong took one and immediately bit into it. "The sausages you buy don't taste like this."

"Hey, Rongrong, if you like them, I'll make more for you." Oscar wore a fawning expression as he stuffed several more into Ning Rongrong's hands.

Oscar and Ning Rongrong had still met in this timeline, though not at Shrek, but in Spirit City.

However, in this timeline, after Xia Tianling had educated Ning Rongrong many times through Mind Interference, she was no longer as unreasonable as she had been in the Original Work.

Oscar had also still fallen for Ning Rongrong, that little witch, and directly turned into a shameless simp.

It gave Ma Hongjun and Xia Tianling goosebumps all over.

Simp away. Just keep simping.

"Alright, let's set out." As a seasoned bachelor, Zhao Wuji could not bear to watch any longer and spoke up to interrupt their interaction.

"Young Master Dai and I will take point. Fatty, Xiao Wu, and Teacher Zhao will guard the rear. Rongrong and Little Ao will stay in the middle, while Zhuqing scouts the flanks." Seeing Dai Mubai trying to stick close to Zhu Zhuqing, Xia Tianling immediately began issuing orders.

The others followed his instructions. Dai Mubai could not exactly demand special treatment, so he could only summon his White Tiger possession in frustration and clear the way at the front with Xia Tianling.

Once they entered the Star Dou Great Forest, Xiao Wu was like a Returning Swallow to its nest, showing none of the others' nervousness. Instead, she skipped about in unmistakable delight, making Zhao Wuji frown repeatedly.

This Little Rabbit isn't going to lure Er Ming out again later, is she?

The group traveled for quite a while, and it was already noon. During that time, they had encountered quite a few Soul Beasts, but Xia Tianling had activated his True Dragon Aura and frightened them away before they could approach.

This left Zhao Wuji, trailing at the very back of the group, rather confused. He wondered whether all these Soul Beasts had suddenly changed their nature today.

"Alright, everyone, take a rest first."

Zhao Wuji's voice allowed the tense group to relax slightly. Xia Tianling and Dai Mubai worked together to clear away the surrounding thorn bushes, opening up a small clearing.

Everyone sat on the ground and temporarily rested.

"Xia Tianling, I want something tasty. Didn't you bring a stove? Take it out and cook something." Ning Rongrong muttered. She knew that Xia Tianling's ring held not only a stove, but also all kinds of ingredients and seasonings year-round.

"Eat what? This is the Star Dou Great Forest. Do you think we came out here for a picnic?" Zhao Wuji glared at Ning Rongrong irritably. "You want to start a fire and cook? If we attract a stronger Soul Beast later, we'll all become its meal!"

Although Ning Rongrong liked causing trouble, she had to admit that Zhao Wuji had a point. She could only helplessly eat the sausages Oscar had made.

Just as everyone had rested for about half an hour, a sudden commotion came from the depths of the forest.

Xia Tianling and Zhao Wuji shouted at the same time, "Everyone up! Something is approaching!"

The group swiftly rose and formed a formation with Xia Tianling and Dai Mubai as the spearhead, shielding Ning Rongrong behind them.

"Oscar, aren't you a Food System Spirit Master? Get to the back!" Seeing Oscar standing in the front row as well, Zhao Wuji hurriedly scolded him.

Oscar grinned. "What's wrong with Food System Spirit Masters? Food System Spirit Masters can fight too!"

"You—"

"It should be a Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent around fifteen hundred years old." Zhao Wuji had wanted to say more, but Xia Tianling cut him off directly.

"How do you know?" Other than Tang San, everyone turned to look at him in unison.

"I'm a Prophet. Didn't I tell you?" Xia Tianling looked utterly unconcerned. "Zhuqing, climb a tree and take a look."

Without a word, Zhu Zhuqing leaped into the air. Her clawed hands extended as she rapidly climbed a large tree nearby.

Very soon, Zhu Zhuqing's cool voice came from the tree. "It's a flying snake, but it cannot fly very high. It can only fly about three meters above the ground. It has a fleshy crest on its head, larger than its head, blood-red and fan-shaped."

"Holy crap, it really is a Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent! Boss, you're incredible!" Oscar let out a loud howl. His Third Soul Ring had come from a Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent, so he was extremely familiar with its traits.

While everyone else was busy being shocked, Tang San, who knew Xia Tianling's capabilities, remained fairly calm and asked, "How long is the snake? What color are its wings?"

Zhu Zhuqing replied, "Its wings are pale red. It is around six to eight meters long."

Tang San made a quick calculation in his mind and was about to say something, but Ma Hongjun beat him to it.

"Pale red wings—there's no doubt this is a Thousand-Year Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent. At six to eight meters long, it should be around thirteen hundred to eighteen hundred years old. Brother Ling, you're amazing! You can actually foresee the future!" Ma Hongjun's eyes were filled with admiration.

"Huh, you know that too?" Tang San exclaimed softly.

"Holy crap, why wouldn't I know? Don't look down on your Brother Ma, alright? Isn't this all basic knowledge? Back when we had theory classes, Brother Ling made me memorize this stuff every day." Ma Hongjun said indignantly.

"Not only did he make me memorize it, he also gave me some exercise book called Five Years Theory, Three Years Practical. He made me do it, and he wouldn't even spare me when I went home for vacation!"

Thanks to readers 20210805181413845, 20210724204602184, and Pi One for their tips.

Thanks to reader 20190407144926183 for the Monthly Pass.