Hard-to-Teach Xiao Xian—Time to Add Some Extra Ingredients

"Ugh—!!!"

The purplish-red fireball exploded against his face.

Ma Hongjun immediately let out a scream, feeling a sharp pain in his nose!

Under the powerful impact, his body toppled backward uncontrollably, crashing heavily onto the ground and kicking up a cloud of dust.

"Cough, cough...!"

After coughing a few times, he wiped his nose with his arm and was just about to get up.

But...

"That's enough." Ma Hongjun heard a calm voice beside his ear.

At some point, Xiao Xian had silently arrived behind him. Completely ignoring the purple flames still rising from his body, he gently patted Ma Hongjun's shoulder.

"...I lost." Ma Hongjun realized something, and his expression turned thoroughly miserable.

If Xiao Xian could pat his shoulder, he could just as easily have slit his throat with a blade.

He promptly conceded, and the flames around his body abruptly vanished as well.

"He actually won? He could win without even using his martial soul?!" Oscar was stunned.

"Could I win?" Dai Mubai's Evil Eyes flickered as he quietly considered whether, without using his Third Spirit Ring, he could defeat Xiao Xian.

Unfortunately, his final conclusion was that based solely on Xiao Xian's current performance, he would have to fight him to find out.

But Xiao Xian still had his martial soul. He had not revealed it yet.

As expected, Flender shot Ma Hongjun a glare before saying, "All right, disperse. You, come with me."

Xiao Xian obediently followed him.

Flender was not as easy to fool as Master. On the contrary, his methods were quite formidable. Obedience was all that mattered.

Not far from the open field stood Flender's office, which also served as his residence. It was not large, even somewhat shabby.

Flender sat behind his desk, pulled a sheet of paper from a drawer, and glanced up at Xiao Xian.

"Go to the cafeteria later. Bring your martial soul as well. I've already made arrangements."

"From now on, pay Teacher Li another nine Gold Soul Coins each month for meal expenses."

"Any problems?" Flender tapped the desk.

Xiao Xian shook his head. "No problem."

Xiao Jue had eaten free extra meals for six years before this.

Now it was only nine Gold Soul Coins.

Flender looked at the paper with some heartache, but ultimately set it aside.

He stared at Xiao Xian, satisfied yet dissatisfied.

His gaze was deeply conflicted.

In his eyes, Xiao Xian's performance just now could only be described as that of a genius.

Since founding Shrek Academy, among all the students he had seen, none had been more outstanding than him. He perfectly embodied Shrek Academy's purpose—Shrek.

He was a true monster.

But...

This monster was difficult to teach.

The other students were monsters more talented than geniuses—geniuses in every respect: Innate Soul Power, martial souls, Soul Rings, martial soul development.

Step by step, they could raise their potential, excavate their potential, train their minds, and make up for their weaknesses.

Naturally, they would achieve something.

But Xiao Xian's situation was completely different. His martial soul had undergone a malignant mutation, he possessed Half-level Innate Soul Power, and his First Spirit Ring and Second Spirit Ring had no combat ability. Instead, he had sought improvements to his cultivation speed.

Originally, he should have been a useless Soul Master with nothing but Soul Power.

Yet with his genius mind, he had created several Self-Created Soul Skills, giving himself strength no weaker than an Assault System Battle Soul Master.

A genius?

A genius.

But... that was all he was.

He could still hold some advantages in the early stages, but if the problem with his martial soul remained unresolved later on...

Against those terrifying thousand-year and Ten-Thousand-Year Spirit Rings, his little hurricane would be utterly insignificant.

And beyond that.

If Flender trained him the same way he trained the other students,

Xiao Xian would not only fail to grow stronger.

He might even die horribly.

If the boy had merely been an ordinary student, that would have been one thing.

But he was also Master's disciple.

That stubborn fellow's... proof.

Flender fell silent for a moment before slowly asking, "What spirit beasts did your First Spirit Ring and Second Spirit Ring come from? What are their soul skills?"

"My First Spirit Ring came from a four-hundred-year Sunlight Blood Dragon Vine. Its soul skill releases Sunlight Spores, increasing the activity of Soul Power."

"My Second Spirit Ring came from a seven-hundred-year Bright-eyed Dragon Tiger. Its soul skill... is somewhat complicated, but its effect can be understood as compressing Soul Power and improving its quality." Xiao Xian found it difficult to explain.

A glint flashed through Flender's eyes. "Activity and quality. No wonder your cultivation speed is decent."

Hearing this, he had a rough idea now.

Shrek's teaching methods were still somewhat useful to him, but unfortunately, they were not useful enough.

It seemed he needed to add some extra ingredients...!

"I understand now. Go get some proper rest and sleep well. After school starts the day after tomorrow... no, come find me directly tomorrow night after dinner."

"Yes, thank you for the trouble, Martial Uncle!" Xiao Xian obediently withdrew.

After he left.

"Sigh..." Flender adjusted his crystal glasses and murmured softly, "Old Shao is going to have a hard time..."

"..."

Xiao Xian did not care how Flender planned to train him.

With the help of his Second Spirit Ring, he still had some confidence in breaking through to Level 29.

As long as he reached Level 30 and obtained that Soul Ring,

the problem with his meridians could gradually be resolved. After that, the road ahead would be smooth.

With Flender's training, though, perhaps he could make up for his weaknesses. His cultivation speed might even rise again.

"..."

As soon as Xiao Xian returned to the little wooden cabin, Oscar sprang up from the bed and said excitedly, "Brother Xian! Bro! You're finally back! You were incredible!"

"How did you do it?!"

"How could a Soul Master be this strong without using a martial soul?!"

Xiao Xian glanced at Oscar, naturally knowing what he was thinking.

Every Support System Soul Master dreamed of becoming a damage dealer. Oscar was hardly an exception.

"It's simple. Like this." Xiao Xian smiled faintly and raised his hand. A hurricane suddenly erupted from his palm.

Oscar was pushed back again and again by the hurricane, but his eyes lit up at once. "Yes, yes, exactly like that!"

Xiao Xian did not keep him guessing. He dispersed the hurricane, and a warm layer of light quietly emerged from his palm, shining directly onto Oscar.

He explained, "I didn't use my martial soul, but... that doesn't mean I didn't use soul skills. My soul skills can provide enhancement effects and are almost always maintained on my body."

"..."

After Xiao Xian explained for a while, Oscar finally understood and instantly became somewhat disappointed.

That miraculous Self-Created Soul Skill actually had to rely on his First Soul Skill.

Otherwise, was it so weak that it could only blow a little wind?

"I can let you experience it, but... my First Soul Skill has a flaw. While it increases Soul Power activity, it also causes it to become chaotic..." Xiao Xian poured himself a cup of water and spoke unhurriedly.

With his powerful Spiritual Power, he could suppress that chaotic effect. Tang San could also easily suppress it with the Mysterious Heaven Skill and his experience from two lifetimes.

As for everyone else...

At least Master could not.

Xiao Wu could not either.

He was not optimistic about Oscar.

"..."

That night.

Oscar coughed up blood.

Xiao Xian helplessly carried him on his back and knocked on Flender's door.

Flender glared at both Oscar and Xiao Xian irritably, then directly grabbed him and went to find Shao Xin.