Dugu Yan nodded, closed her eyes, and focused. After about the time it took to burn an incense stick, the phantom of her martial soul faded. She opened her eyes and raised a hand to summon the Jade Phosphor Dragon martial soul. Its serpent body was several feet longer than before, its scales gleamed with an even brighter golden light, and when it opened its mouth, it no longer released mere poisonous gas—it carried a thread of golden force. Its snake head had transformed into a dragon head, complete with dragon horns, looking exceptionally majestic.
"Grandpa, m-my... my martial soul seems to have changed. It's become so much stronger too. My whole body feels filled with an indescribable power." Dugu Yan looked at her martial soul and felt the strength in her body. Even she found it unfamiliar.
Dugu Bo stared at the golden light on the serpent body and the changes in the martial soul. Suddenly, he burst out laughing. "Good! Good boy! He actually refined such a pill for you! Hahahaha!"
Dugu Bo looked at his granddaughter's new martial soul as though it were a treasure, pacing back and forth through the room until Dugu Yan grew dizzy from watching him.
"Grandpa, stop pacing. You're making my head spin."
With a helpless yet proud snort, Dugu Yan rose and headed outside, eager to return to Heaven Dou Royal Academy and share the good news with her sisters.
Dugu Bo was left alone in the room, staring blankly at a photograph of his son and second daughter-in-law. "You saw it, didn't you? Yan Yan won't follow in our footsteps. My Dugu family has an heir!"
After saying this, the old man choked up and tears streamed down his face.
Naturally, Chen Chu, who was currently marching with the army, knew nothing of this.
These past few days had exhausted him. An armored force of thirty thousand flowed endlessly along the official road, and every day, he had to arrange personnel to take roll call and inspect supplies.
"General, Suotuo City lies ahead. Our final batch of supplies is there. Should we make camp here and replenish our provisions?"
Suotuo City was located on the Loma Plains, rich in resources and known as Barak's granary.
Holding the plan in hand, the adjutant rode his tall horse all the way to Chen Chu's side and asked the question.
"Suotuo City?" Chen Chu nodded. "Take men and transport the supplies here immediately. Let the soldiers rest for half a day, then depart before dawn tomorrow."
"Oh, and strengthen the guard." Chen Chu added the reminder. Slaughter City had people watching the camp, and Ao Tian was there as well, so there should be no major problem.
As for him, since he had come to this place, there were some personal matters he needed to handle.
Suotuo City was a relatively important location in the original world's storyline. Shrek Academy, known as Jiahao Training Camp, was located here.
"Tang San and the others haven't arrived yet, but there's still a true piece of gold in Shrek Academy."
Oscar. In the original world, he was the only one whose values were somewhat decent, the kind who kept himself clean. After all, having spent so many years alongside Ma Hongjun and Dai Mubai without falling into depravity meant his willpower could not be weak.
Moreover, in the original world, he had ventured alone into life-and-death trials for the sake of pursuing his love and proving himself to them.
Not to mention, he was born with full Soul Power as a food-type soul master. Even without Immortal Herbs, he would surely have become a god. It would be far too wasteful not to recruit a genius like that.
Following the locals' directions, Chen Chu arrived at—well—a pastoral area. More precisely, a village. At last, he saw that shabby gate, which was even made of wood.
Chen Chu dismounted, tossed the reins to his personal guard, and entered with only two attendants.
There were farmers in the academy as well. After asking around, Chen Chu learned where Oscar and the others lived.
Following the directions to the rear courtyard, Chen Chu gradually caught the fragrant scent of grilled meat.
There, a bearded man stood beside a barbecue cart, turning several skewers of sausages in his hand.
Two young men stood beside him. One was fat as a pig, with red hair and a huge belly. He was clearly that turkey, Ma Hongjun. The other looked quite valiant, with golden hair and a strikingly handsome face. He was most likely Dai Mubai.
When they saw three men in military uniforms approaching, their expressions immediately changed. Dai Mubai in particular visibly tensed.
"Are you Oscar?" Chen Chu walked straight over, stopped several paces away, and looked at the bearded man as he asked.
Oscar's hand paused. He looked up at Chen Chu, his eyes carrying a trace of wariness. Clearly, he had not expected this man to be looking for him. Still holding a freshly grilled sausage skewer, he forced a grin. "Who might you be, General? What business do you have with me?"
Chen Chu glanced at the two men beside him before returning his gaze to Oscar. "I am Chen Chu, General of the Town Army of the Heaven Dou Empire."
"I heard there was a truly talented young man here, so I came to take a look. I would hate to see a pearl buried in dust."
Oscar set the sausage on the grill and wiped the grease from his hands, but said nothing.
Ma Hongjun, however, fearlessly spoke up from the side. "That's right. The three of us brothers are the renowned geniuses around here. Want to recruit us? Then you'd better show us some sincerity first."
Dai Mubai tugged Ma Hongjun's arm and stepped half a pace forward, his eyes fixed on the attendants behind Chen Chu. "Who exactly is the General looking for? Don't mistake the wrong person."
"I haven't mistaken anyone." Chen Chu's expression did not change as he stared directly at Oscar. "A food-type soul master born with full Soul Power—if that isn't talent, what is?"
As soon as those words came out, both Dai Mubai and Ma Hongjun froze. Even Oscar frowned. "How did the General know?"
Chen Chu smiled faintly. "Knowing that isn't difficult. The difficult part is how to help a genius like you rise quickly."
He raised a hand and pointed at the dilapidated wooden houses around them, the vast fields, and the animal dung on the ground. "This place doesn't look like an academy. Environment alone, it is even worse than Heaven Dou Central Prison. There isn't even a Mimicry Training Ground. I truly don't know how students here are supposed to improve reasonably and quickly, or tap into their own potential."
Oscar pursed his lips, his gaze sweeping over the leaky roof. He truly could not think of anything to say in rebuttal.
Ma Hongjun swallowed the sausage in his mouth and shouted indignantly, "Our dean has his own methods! It's not your place to worry about it!"
"The dean? That Dean Flender?" Chen Chu's tone remained unchanged. "Can he help you hunt suitable soul rings? Can he give you soul bones? Can he plan a proper path for you and support the enormous resources required for your cultivation?"
Those words struck straight at the heart of the matter. Dai Mubai's expression shifted, and Oscar's grip on his skewer tightened slightly. Indeed, in this village, not only did he not need to work or earn money himself, he did not even have ample time he could freely control.
"I won't give those things to your academy, but I can give them to you, Oscar." Chen Chu stepped half a pace forward, his eyes fixed solely on him. "Choose whatever age of soul ring you want.
"Whatever attribute soul bone you want, I can help you find it. As for Mimicry Training Grounds, none are more complete than those at Heaven Dou Royal Academy. Status, position, beauties, resources, environment—you can have all of it."
Ma Hongjun's eyes widened when he heard that. Especially upon hearing about resources and beauties, he hurriedly asked, "What about me? I have a mutated martial soul. I'm a genius too!"
"You?" Chen Chu shot him a glance. "With that turkey martial soul of yours, you dare call yourself a genius before me?"
Before you continue