Sausage Specialty Store

"Bro, snap out of it!"

Zhao Xuan patted Dai Mubai's shoulder with a helpless sigh. Why was he still looking back when she was already out of sight?

"Bro, to be honest, that girl gave me a special feeling," Dai Mubai turned back, his handsome face serious.

"What's so special? She's just pretty, isn't she? Just say you want to hit on her," Zhao Xuan scoffed. Seriously, that's the best excuse you could come up with?

Xiao Wu, standing nearby, couldn't help but interject, "You just want to ruin some poor girl's life, don't you?"

Dai Mubai frowned. "What do you know? That girl's aura is very similar to mine, like we complement each other. If possible, she could really complement my Martial Soul. We might even be able to form a Martial Soul Fusion Skill! Do you even know what a Martial Soul Fusion Skill is?!"

Xiao Wu pouted. "Of course, I do. Master's told me about it before."

"I don't have time to argue with you. I'm going to go check it out. You guys can head to the teacher up ahead," Dai Mubai seemed genuinely concerned and, without further ado, hurried towards the village entrance.

Hermione watched Dai Mubai's retreating figure, saying with some surprise, "Could he actually be telling the truth?"

"How could it be so easy to find someone whose Martial Soul complements yours? He's definitely just making excuses," Xiao Wu waved her hand dismissively, clearly not believing him.

Entering the village, they saw that it was entirely made of wooden buildings. The word "simple and unadorned" perfectly described the architecture here.

In a clearing not far away, the youths who had passed the initial test were gathered. This was likely where the second trial would take place.

Before they could reach it, a voice hawking wares drifted over, accompanied by a wave of aroma.

"Sausages for sale, sausages for sale! Look, look, don't miss out. Oscar's brand sausages, delicious and sweet. Cheap and plentiful. Only five copper coins each. Eating Oscar's brand sausages will guarantee you pass the entrance exam more easily."

From around the corner of a house, a figure emerged, pushing a slightly dilapidated cart. A soft, lilting voice continuously called out, and combined with the enticing aroma, many students flocked towards it.

"They sell grilled sausages here too?" Everyone was a bit surprised, not expecting anyone to bring business to such a remote village.

As it happened, the group had been traveling for a long time and were feeling a bit hungry. So, at Xiao Wu's suggestion, they slowly walked towards the stall.

The stall owner was a burly man with a full beard, neatly trimmed short hair, dressed in grey, and with bright, flirtatious eyes that darted around.

The group was surprised to discover that the soft, lilting voice was coming from this burly man.

"Uncle, four skewers of sausage, please," Tang San said, walking up after the crowd around the stall had dispersed.

The stall owner sighed, sounding somewhat exasperated. "How many times have I told you, please don't call me Uncle. I'm only fourteen."

"Fourteen?!" Xiao Wu, standing behind Tang San, peeked out and looked the stall owner up and down with surprise.

The stall owner's eyes lit up the moment he saw Xiao Wu. His gaze shifted, and when he saw Hermione further back, his eyes shone even brighter, like light bulbs.

"Ahem," Zhao Xuan coughed dryly, staring at the stall owner with a displeased expression.

The stall owner snapped back to attention, scratched his head, and laughed. "Haha, my apologies! I've been at the academy for so long, I've barely seen any beautiful girls, let alone any sows. Seeing two beautiful girls suddenly, I couldn't help but lose my composure. Please forgive me, forgive me."

"So you're a student at this academy," Hermione said, sensing something and asking tentatively.

"That's right, my name is Oscar, and I'm a student here. If you enroll, I suppose I'll be your senior," the stall owner raised an eyebrow, flashing a smile he thought was charming, though it looked rather lecherous to others.

"Then how are you fourteen and already look like that?" Xiao Wu asked curiously, her eyes wide. If not for his voice, they would never have believed Oscar's claim.

Oscar shrugged helplessly. "Can't be helped. My hair is naturally thick and grows fast. If I don't tend to it for a few days, it gets like this. It's hard to bother with it after a while."

"So, want a sausage?" Oscar asked expectantly after finishing his explanation.

The group exchanged glances. This monster academy really lives up to its reputation.

"Then I'll have..." Tang San started, but Dai Mubai's voice cut him off.

"Wait!"

Everyone turned to look. Dai Mubai was striding towards them, followed by the black-clothed girl they had seen earlier.

"Oscar, how many times have I told you, no selling sausages at the academy!" Dai Mubai rushed over, furious, and began scolding Oscar vehemently.

"Dai... Boss, how about one?" Oscar's expression stiffened, and he said weakly.

"What's wrong? Is there something wrong with the sausage?" Tang San asked, looking at Oscar warily and with confusion. Is it poisoned? If it were, I would have smelled it.

Hearing this, Dai Mubai's expression turned strange. He said to Oscar, "Oscar, get a sausage out."

Oscar's expression immediately became awkward. "Dai Boss, please give me some face in front of the juniors. Otherwise, they'll resent me."

Dai Mubai's face turned cold. "Stop the nonsense."

Helpless, Oscar glanced cautiously at the group in front of him before extending his right hand. In his characteristic soft voice, he whispered, "I've got a big sausage."

"..."

The scene fell silent as Oscar's Soul Ring rose from beneath his feet and a sausage slowly appeared in his hand.

"This... this is a Martial Soul?!" Zhao Xuan's eye twitched. Are there edible Martial Souls?

"It's actually a rare Food-type Martial Soul," Tang San said, looking at Oscar with surprise.

As for the two girls, their faces went rigid. Looking at the still-steaming grilled sausage before them, they suddenly felt like throwing up.

"What kind of lousy Martial Soul is this?" Xiao Wu glared at Oscar, a mix of shame and anger in her eyes.

Oscar quickly explained, "I can't help it. I don't have control over this Soul Curse."

"Disgusting!" Hermione glared fiercely at Oscar and stormed off. Even the girl in black frowned and left without a sound.

Seeing the looks from the few beautiful girls he'd finally encountered, Oscar felt like crying. He could only gaze resentfully at Dai Mubai.

Unexpectedly, Dai Mubai remained unmoved, merely warning, "If I ever see you selling sausages in the academy again, I'll rip off your sausages."

Oscar's face grew even more bitter. Zhao Xuan chuckled, watching Oscar. This brother's Martial Soul has potential.

The group turned to leave, and Oscar's sigh drifted from behind them: "Such good sausages, why won't anyone eat them?"

The sound faded, replaced by smacking noises. Turning back, they saw Oscar eating them himself.

Zhao Xuan said with amusement, "Shrek Academy truly lives up to its name."

Dai Mubai also smiled. Perhaps feeling he hadn't given Oscar any face earlier, he now praised him, "Although Oscar's soul chant is disgusting, his Martial Soul is actually very powerful. It's a top-tier Food-type Martial Soul, and he's the first ever with Innate Full Soul Power for a Food-type!"

"Innate Full Soul Power?" Zhao Xuan and Tang San exchanged glances. They were surprised but not overly moved. While it was a rare Food-type, they themselves possessed Twin Martial Souls.

Shrek Academy's second trial was to test Soul Power Level. All of them had Soul Power Levels exceeding twenty-five, earning them exemptions from the next two trials, allowing them to proceed to the final test.

Surprisingly, the girl in black behind them also received an exemption, just like them. The girl they had encountered initially had also qualified.

Upon getting a clear look at the girl's face, it was no surprise that she was indeed a beautiful young woman.

The group of six bypassed the third and fourth trials, arriving at the final challenge.