Outside Suotuo City

The next day, while eating in the cafeteria, Dai Mubai and Ma Hongjun saw the weakened Oscar.

Both were somewhat surprised.

They had thought Xiao Xian had beaten him up.

Only after Oscar explained himself with a pale face did Dai Mubai's tightly furrowed brow relax.

Ma Hongjun held his tray, looking suddenly enlightened. "That's what happened! So you used a soul skill!"

"I thought I was really that weak!"

"That I couldn't even beat a spirit master who wasn't using soul skills!"

When he went back yesterday and lay in bed, he had felt deeply frustrated.

Everyone at Shrek Academy was proud and arrogant.

After finishing his morning training, Xiao Xian slowly jogged in with Xiao Jue.

"What a fierce dog!"

Dai Mubai stared at Xiao Jue in considerable surprise.

Xiao Jue was a full 1.6 meters long and a meter wide. Its pale blue eyes were exceptionally fierce, not to mention the two floating yellow Soul Rings around its body and the powerful Soul Power pressure it radiated.

Hearing Dai Mubai's words, it immediately glared back. Danger and coldness filled its gaze as it quietly bared its teeth.

Unlike Luo San Pao, Xiao Jue had developed quite a bad temper over the past few years.

Besides, it hated being called... a dog.

Even though Xiao Xian had always introduced it that way.

Dai Mubai raised an eyebrow. He actually felt a degree of threat from this dog.

"Hehe, being naughty again..."

Xiao Xian wore a gentle smile as he patted Xiao Jue's large head.

Then he greeted Dai Mubai and the others.

Xiao Xian also went to get several portions of breakfast.

Shrek Academy's cafeteria was really just villagers hired by the academy to cook. The dishes were very ordinary, though there was enough food to fill everyone up.

Teacher Shao Xin, the Food System Spirit Saint, was in charge of the cafeteria.

He sat in a corner of the cafeteria, watching Xiao Jue with a cheerful smile. He pulled out a bamboo basket from beside him, filled with neatly cut chunks of meat.

Then he beckoned Xiao Jue over.

It was the first time he had seen such a pained expression on Boss Flender's face.

It was also the first time he had received so much "food money." As long as he skimmed off a little, the cafeteria's meals would improve beyond recognition.

At that thought, Shao Xin's gaze toward Xiao Jue became even more delighted.

"..."

Today was still a day for academy enrollment.

Before long, the teachers carried tables and chairs outside to prepare.

Ma Hongjun had nothing to do, so he wandered around the village, trying to use his status as a spirit master to pick up a new girlfriend.

His Evil Fire was too strong. The brothels thought he was taking drugs at such a young age and disliked him greatly.

Xiao Xian had held back during yesterday's spar. The instant the fireball struck, its speed had slowed considerably, so Ma Hongjun was not injured at all.

Ma Hongjun had naturally noticed. After breakfast, he chatted with Xiao Xian and expressed his thanks.

Oscar had not recovered yet and had no plans to cultivate. He pushed his barbecue cart out again to sell sausages.

No one knew why he was so short on money. Perhaps it had something to do with his father.

As usual, Dai Mubai was called over by Teacher Li Yusong to help out, acting as hired muscle to fleece the applicants of their registration fees.

He looked somewhat helpless, as though he found it embarrassing, but there was nothing he could do.

As for Xiao Xian...

He was not idle either.

After Zhao Wuji finished eating, he picked his teeth and told Xiao Xian to carry a chair and follow him.

His shoulders were as broad as city walls, and his coat looked several sizes too small.

Though he was not tall, even shorter than Xiao Xian.

The expression on his face was also quite amiable.

Yet his casual glances and exaggerated physique gave off an intense sense of oppression.

Xiao Xian naturally carried the stool obediently.

This was Zhao Wuji, the Unmovable Ming King.

A Spirit Saint powerhouse.

A Spirit Saint powerhouse who had dared face the Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast Titan Giant Ape head-on...

"..."

Soon, many youths who had just graduated from junior Soul Master Academies came to line up.

They had learned of Shrek Academy through all sorts of strange channels.

But without exception, the moment they arrived at Shrek Academy's entrance, they regretted it.

This place was simply too shabby.

Zhao Wuji lazily explained Xiao Xian's task: make any student who reached the fourth test hold out against him for the time it took to burn one stick of incense.

Unfortunately.

Xiao Xian sat in the chair for almost an entire day.

Because not a single person reached the fourth test...

"..."

Unlike his leisurely day, at the same time, inside Shi San Blacksmith Shop near Nuoding Junior Spirit Master Academy in Nuoding City.

Tang San was gripping a large hammer and wildly striking a piece of iron.

He had hammered iron here for almost the entire day.

He had not even stopped to rest.

His complexion did not look good, and his mood was especially gloomy.

Senior Brother had left.

For some reason, it gave him the same feeling as when his father had disappeared.

Perhaps Senior Brother had taken care of him too much over the years...

Tang San could not help thinking.

"Unfortunately, it'll be another year before I can go find Senior Brother."

"Father, Father... where exactly did you go? Will you come back?"

He had originally planned to graduate early and go to Shrek with Xiao Xian.

Xiao Xian had told him that he would be graduating soon, and that perhaps his father would return to see him when he graduated.

That was why Tang San had hesitated.

But now, he regretted it so much.

Still, at least... Xiao Wu was here.

Now she had truly gotten her wish and become Nuoding Academy's big sister...

Tang San let his thoughts run wild, trying to make himself feel better.

The fire in the furnace had dimmed somewhat. He instinctively struck out with his palm...

Whoosh—!

A weak gust of wind flowed from his palm, and the fire in the furnace grew even dimmer.

Seeing that...

"I forgot again. Senior Brother has left, the Sunlight Spores are gone, and the Blowing Fire Palm is useless now..."

Tang San stood there blankly with the hammer in his hand, feeling even sadder.

"..."

Like Tang San.

Master was also in a bad mood.

He stood in his dormitory, looking at the empty mat on the floor. There was a trace of regret on his stiff face.

For almost the first time, he realized just how cowardly he was.

The closer Xiao Xian's Soul Power came to Level 29.

The more restless he became, even suffering from severe insomnia.

According to the materials he had consulted, not a single spirit master on the Douluo Continent with Innate Half-Level Soul Power had ever broken through the Level 29 bottleneck.

Although Xiao Xian was so outstanding and his Soul Power had improved rapidly.

As he approached Level 29, however, the pace inevitably slowed.

Even at Level 28, he had already been stuck for several times longer than usual.

Several times, Master had happened to return early. Standing by the dormitory window, he had inadvertently seen Xiao Xian cultivating.

The bulging veins, the blood spots continuously emerging on his skin, the twisted expression...

The body's limits—how difficult was it to break through them...

He had even tried to persuade Xiao Xian not to rush.

But Xiao Xian had merely smiled gently...

Whenever Master saw Xiao Xian's gentle expression... he thought of Xiao Jue's eyes.

They were pale blue eyes, so beautiful... yet so fierce and cold.

Master had noticed those eyes from the first time he saw Xiao Jue.

His research into martial souls was fairly extensive.

Martial souls and spirit masters were closely linked.

A martial soul with such eyes.

How could its spirit master truly be as gentle as he appeared?

The gentler he was toward others, the colder he was toward himself.

"Teacher, if I fail, just pretend you never had me as a disciple..."

That familiar, gentle voice echoed in his mind again and again.

Master could not help feeling regret.

Yet in the end, when night fell.

Master, who had stood there for an unknown length of time, wore his usual stiff expression once more.

"..."

A small road outside Suotuo City.

"Martial Uncle, where are we going?"

Gales occasionally burst beneath Xiao Xian's feet, propelling his body forward at high speed. His familiar gentle smile remained on his face.

Flender floated lightly ahead of him and turned back to glance at Xiao Xian in surprise.

He could actually keep up.

Flender subconsciously accelerated again, but at the same time, he looked farther behind them...

Only to discover that Dai Mubai, Ma Hongjun, and Oscar, who should have been following them, had long vanished from sight...

They had actually left them behind!?