Lilies Bloomed in Hometown

Zhao Wuji immediately understood what Li Chen meant. He flicked him on the forehead and laughed as he scolded, "You little brat, you passed. Everyone passed. Stop keeping us in suspense!"

Hearing Zhao Wuji's promise, Tang San and Zhu Zhuqing finally relaxed. Yes, aside from Tang San and Zhu Zhuqing, the others were almost indifferent toward Shrek Academy.

"My Martial Soul is called the Soul Cannon. It can compress the Soul Power within my body into a ball before rapidly releasing it, creating a huge explosion outside. Just now, I poured all the Soul Power in my body into it and compressed it as much as possible, which was why it had such tremendous power and speed."

Everyone wore puzzled expressions.

Li Chen continued explaining, "Let me give you an easy example. The reason firecrackers used during the New Year are tightly wrapped in thick, sturdy paper is to make the gunpowder burn rapidly in a sealed, narrow space and produce enormous energy."

"My Martial Soul can compress Soul Power into a cannonball, which is why it has such power and speed."

Zhao Wuji nodded. "So that's how it is."

"Then with your Level 27 Soul Power, you can already unleash a full-force strike comparable to an Assault Type Soul Ancestor. Wouldn't that mean that once you reach Soul Sage or Soul Douluo, you could injure a Titled Douluo?"

Li Chen smiled bitterly. "Teacher Zhao, it doesn't work like that. Just now, I spent quite a bit of time compressing the Soul Power in my body to such a small degree. In a real battle, the enemy would never give me that much time to prepare."

"That's still incredibly impressive." Zhao Wuji spoke with lingering fear. Li Chen's attack had truly frightened him just now.

"Alright, children, it's getting late. Dai Mubai, take your classmates to the dormitory area and let them sort out the rooms themselves."

"I'll notify the cafeteria to prepare today's lunch. Once you've settled your rooms, you can come eat. Also, just give the annual tuition of one hundred Gold Soul Coins to Dai Mubai."

After making the arrangements, Zhao Wuji happily patted his backside and left. Five students in one year—what a haul. Although one of them seemed to have gotten in through connections, was rather weak, and was a little ridiculous, aside from that Tang San, there were still four Little Monsters. Shrek Academy was finally getting better.

What Zhao Wuji did not know was that in the entire Shrek Academy, the only ones who were truly devoted to it were probably Ma Hongjun and Oscar. Of course, that was a matter for later.

Li Chen and the others walked into a patch of woods, where the student dormitories were located.

There was a small pond in the middle of the grove, and they could clearly see several little fish swimming inside.

Seeing everyone's attention focused on the black fish in the pond, Dai Mubai immediately began explaining.

"Don't underestimate these fish. They're all Hundred-Year Soul Beasts, though they don't have much offensive power. They're called Spirit Devouring Fish, and their meat is exceptionally delicious. Dean Flanders keeps them. There are only a dozen or so, but there may not be many more across the entire continent."

Xiao Wu asked curiously, "Senior, if these fish are so precious, why not sell a few and exchange them for a better place for the academy?"

Xiao Wu looked at the row of thatched huts before her, her face full of confusion. "The academy doesn't seem very wealthy either."

"You don't understand. These fish may be rare, but they're only rare on the continent, because they live in the sea. Transporting them from the sea to the continent takes an enormous amount of effort."

"They aren't much to look at, either. You've seen them—black as can be. Once they sink to the bottom, you can't see a thing. Their only real advantage is their delicious meat, so they aren't that expensive."

"But their meat is unbelievably delicious. I was among the earliest students admitted to Shrek Academy, and I was fortunate enough to taste one. That flavor..."

Dai Mubai smacked his lips, instantly arousing everyone's curiosity about the fish.

Ning Rongrong's eyes spun. "Senior, today is a good day. So many new students have joined our academy at once. Shouldn't we kill one to celebrate?"

"No, absolutely don't think that. First, these fish are the dean's personal property, and we can't do that without his permission. Second, the dean keeps them for emergencies."

"What kind of emergency?"

"If a student truly cannot afford the tuition, the dean will waive it. But even without students paying tuition, the teachers still need to be paid. After all, most of the teachers have families to support. If there's really no money left for wages, they'll sell a few fish to tide things over."

Upon hearing Dai Mubai's words, everyone gained a bit of goodwill toward the Dean Flanders they had yet to meet.

"There aren't many empty rooms, so some of you will definitely have to share. Right now, Oscar, that fat guy named Ma Hongjun, and I each have a room. There are five rooms here in total, so I'll move in with Oscar later."

"Tang San, how about you share a room with Ma Hongjun? Ma Hongjun is a good person."

Dai Mubai asked Tang San first because he knew Tang San especially loved playing the leader. He was surely hoping to develop his own influence at the academy, so Dai Mubai might as well grant his wish. Aside from frequently being blinded by lust, Ma Hongjun really was a decent guy. He was not exactly setting Tang San up, Dai Mubai thought.

"Alright, no problem."

At that moment, Ning Rongrong suddenly hugged Zhu Zhuqing from behind. Zhu Zhuqing was slightly shorter than Ning Rongrong, and she had not expected Ning Rongrong to fool around with her like this. Caught off guard, she fell into Ning Rongrong's embrace.

Ning Rongrong's sweet, soft voice rang out. "I want to share a room with Qingqing!"

Zhu Zhuqing was still lying in Ning Rongrong's arms. Looking up at Ning Rongrong's delicate little face, Zhu Zhuqing became flustered and annoyed, quickly breaking free.

"Don't do that again!"

"Alright, next time I'll hug you from the front." Ning Rongrong smiled mischievously.

Dai Mubai's eyes went wide watching the two fool around, and even Tang San could not help secretly glancing their way.

As the only true gentleman present, Li Chen naturally kept his eyes straight ahead!

Yet he muttered under his breath, "Mom, I think I saw the lilies of my hometown bloom."

"Host, Host, you're too sleazy. You want to look at young girls, yet you make me broadcast it for you when they're right in front of you." Little Tangyuan mercilessly scorned her host.

"I'm not like them. I just want to give every girl a warm home."

"Then—"

Xiao Wu had barely begun speaking when Ning Rongrong cut her off.

"Xiao Wu, you can live by yourself for a while. Once we expand the house a little later, the three of us can live together."

"Alright," Xiao Wu said somewhat shyly. What she had wanted to say just now was, "Then I'll share a room with Li Chen~~"