After learning about Ning Rongrong's situation, Flender and Zhao Wuji exchanged glances.
Fortunately, Ning Rongrong had not used any cultivation method that damaged her foundation. Otherwise, they would have had no way to explain things to Ning Fengzhi.
"Since student Ning Rongrong has also broken through to level 30, you two can come to the Star Dou Great Forest with Old Zhao!"
With a broad wave of his hand, Zhao Wuji directly added Li Xiaoyao and Ning Rongrong to the group. Herding one sheep was no different from herding a flock anyway.
Flender vaguely felt uneasy.
After giving it some thought, he spoke.
"With so many of you going to the Star Dou Great Forest together, should I arrange for Li Yusong and Lu Qibin to come lend a hand?"
Li Yusong was a Level 63 assault-type Battle Soul Emperor, while Lu Qibin was a Level 66 control-type Soul Emperor. Together with Zhao Wuji, a Level 76 Soul Saint—
These three were all the combat strength Shrek Academy could muster, aside from him, the headmaster, and Shao Xin, the food-system Soul Master with no combat ability.
Li Xiaoyao and Ning Rongrong exchanged a glance.
Then—
"Headmaster Flender, just handle things as you see fit."
"Although Rongrong and I are traveling with you, we have our own arrangements. Once we reach the Star Dou Great Forest, the two of us will split off and act separately."
He and Ning Rongrong had already discussed obtaining her third Soul Ring back when they were at the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Hotel.
If he stayed with Zhao Wuji's group, would he not have to face the Titan Giant Ape?
How would he cause trouble then?
How would he slip away to deal with Xiao Wu?
"Heh! Flender, listen to yourself!"
"You don't trust Old Zhao's strength, do you?"
Zhao Wuji muttered in considerable dissatisfaction.
"Oscar's third Soul Ring only needs to come from the thousand-year soul beast region at the outer edge of the Star Dou Great Forest!"
"Could it be that Old Zhao, a dignified seven-ring Soul Saint, can't deal with a few thousand-year soul beasts?"
"Even if we go deeper into the Ten Thousand Year Soul Beast region in the inner forest, as long as we don't run into a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast on the Titan Giant Ape's level, Old Zhao can still keep these kids safe!"
Zhao Wuji craned his neck, his bell-sized eyes glaring wide as seven Soul Rings—two yellow, two purple, and three black—suddenly lit up around him.
"Back when Old Zhao was still a six-ring Soul Emperor, I wasn't afraid even when sixteen Soul Emperors from Spirit Hall surrounded me."
"Now we're just looking for a thousand-year soul beast that suits Oscar. It'll be easy."
"If you're really that worried, come with me and see Old Zhao's strength for yourself!"
Zhao Wuji's words dispelled Flender's unease, so he did not bring up arranging for Li Yusong and Lu Qibin again.
After repeatedly reminding Zhao Wuji to be careful, Flender left the square.
His mood ruined by the interruption, Zhao Wuji pulled a long face and said—
"Kids, Old Zhao won't say much more."
"For this trip to the Star Dou Great Forest, you little brats will help Oscar solve the problem of his third Soul Ring."
"Old Zhao won't step in unless you encounter danger or a Ten Thousand Year Soul Beast."
Zhao Wuji's words instantly put tremendous pressure on Tang San, Xiao Wu, Dai Mubai, Zhu Zhuqing, Oscar, and Ma Hongjun.
So, on this trip to the Star Dou Great Forest, Zhao Wuji was basically only here as a safety net.
Nominally, Teacher Zhao Wuji was leading the team. In reality, he was letting them fend for themselves the entire way. If they truly encountered a thousand-year soul beast, the six of them would have to work together to take it down.
"Alright! Kids!"
"Everyone, run forward!"
"Our destination is the Star Dou Great Forest!"
"GOGOGO!"
Zhao Wuji took the lead and sprinted off. Dai Mubai, Oscar, and Ma Hongjun had expected this, adjusted their breathing, and hurried after him.
Li Xiaoyao, Ning Rongrong, Zhu Zhuqing, Tang San, and Xiao Wu were left behind staring at one another. In the end, they could only follow helplessly.
Along the way, Zhao Wuji's speed gradually increased.
Clearly, Zhao Wuji was testing everyone's physical fitness.
Among the group, Li Xiaoyao had it the easiest.
With the enhancement of a Level 70 Quasi Soul Sage and a Hundred Thousand Year Angel Soul Bone Set, Li Xiaoyao's physical condition and spiritual power far surpassed Soul Masters of the same rank. He could even rival a Titled Douluo.
To him, Zhao Wuji's increasing pace was as effortless as a leisurely stroll. Every now and then, he could even turn his head to look at the panting people beside him, his eyes carrying a hint of appraisal.
There was no need to mention Dai Mubai, Oscar, and Ma Hongjun. Having stayed at Shrek Academy for so many years, the three had clearly grown accustomed to this high-intensity pace of travel, as well as the "daily routine" of running to the Star Dou Great Forest at the drop of a hat.
Tang San possessed the Mysterious Heaven Skill, an internal cultivation method that allowed him to speed up his recovery through regulating his breath. Coupled with the Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track movement technique, he ran with considerable ease as well.
There was even less need to mention Xiao Wu. As a transformed 100,000-Year-Old Rabbit, even if she spent every day eating, drinking, and never cultivating, she would still stand at the top among her peers.
With the Mysterious Heaven Skill and Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track he had taught her, Ning Rongrong looked somewhat bedraggled while running, but she could still grit her teeth and keep close behind the group.
Zhu Zhuqing, on the other hand, performed far worse. As an Agility Attack System Battle Soul Master, physical endurance was not her forte. What she valued more were speed and explosive power.
Moreover, Zhu Zhuqing came with two large burdens of her own. While running, she had to use one hand to hold them in place to keep the big rabbits from bouncing around, completely throwing off her balance and wasting a great deal of stamina.
"Just as I thought!"
"Big rabbits are nice!"
"But it depends on the situation!"
Zhu Zhuqing's condition was exactly as Li Xiaoyao had expected.
Even Ning Rongrong, the little princess of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, normally wore close-fitting garments such as dudou and bandeaus.
From this, it was not hard to see that Douluo Continent lacked the thoughtful, comfortable, breathable modern intimate apparel from Blue Star that was especially suited for women.
Zhao Wuji took in everyone's condition from the corner of his eye, quietly quickened his pace a little more, and nodded to himself.
"Mubai, Oscar, and Hongjun are still the same as always!"
"Tang San has the Mysterious Heaven Skill and knows how to use borrowed force to regulate himself."
"Xiao Wu has great resilience, and the physical qualities brought by her beast Martial Soul are also strong."
"Ning Rongrong knows how to reasonably use Soul Power for enhancement. She also seems to possess those Martial Arts Manuals that Kid Li mentioned."
"Zhu Zhuqing's speed is decent... but her endurance is lacking. She needs more training."
"But this Kid Li..."
Zhao Wuji glanced at the calm and composed Li Xiaoyao beside him, a trace of surprise flashing through his eyes.
"Kid Li has such physical fitness at just over Level 40. This little fellow probably possesses those Martial Arts Manuals too. His potential is astonishing."
Before they had even traveled several kilometers, Zhu Zhuqing's chaotic steps and disordered breathing rhythm caused her, as expected, to be left far behind by the others.
Then, at that very moment, something unexpected happened to Zhu Zhuqing—
Before you continue