(The title of this chapter should be "Accumulating Real Combat Experience Doesn't Count as Causing Trouble... Can Soul Masters Accumulating Real Combat Experience Count as Causing Trouble?")
The next morning, Dai Mubai still wore a grim expression, while Ning Rongrong looked haggard. As for Oscar, whose dream had shattered yesterday, he did not appear on the Training Ground at all.
When Dean Flender saw that Oscar was late, he assumed Oscar had overslept. Who knew that, after his dream was crushed, he would instead find fortune in misfortune and successfully advance to Level 30, entering the Soul Elder stage?
Dean Flender was delighted. Food System Soul Masters had the greatest cultivation difficulty among all Soul Masters, so becoming a Food System Soul Elder at fourteen meant the boy had limitless prospects ahead of him.
Today was the second class, as well as an adaptation exercise. The training requirement was to eat at least one of Oscar's Martial Soul sausages.
After Oscar's Soul Power broke through Level 30, the effects of his Martial Soul sausages had become much stronger. Tang San's minor injuries from yesterday's soul battle were completely healed after eating just one sausage.
"Although the Soul Incantation is a little vulgar, the effect is undeniably real. No wonder Dean Flender said Oscar's sausage Martial Soul is the strongest Food System Martial Soul." Tang San, Zhang Yang, and Xiao Wu whispered among themselves.
Ning Rongrong, who had barely slept all night, seemed to have truly been holding back a fire in her heart. She was the first student to step forward and complete the training. Her change in attitude was truly eye-catching.
"All right, today's lesson ends here. After you return, each of you must prepare carefully. Tomorrow morning, Teacher Zhao will lead you to the Star Dou Great Forest to help Oscar obtain his Third Soul Ring."
"Remember, this is not just Oscar's matter. It is training for all of you as well. Before you encounter a Thousand-Year Soul Beast, Teacher Zhao will not act lightly. Everything will depend on yourselves. All right, dismissed."
They would be departing for the Star Dou Great Forest tomorrow, so Zhang Yang planned to make a trip to Suotuo City now and prepare some supplies.
Supplies had to be replenished before a major battle. This was what Master had taught Zhang Yang and Tang San.
Using the Lightspeed Movement of his Second Soul Skill, Zhang Yang reached Suotuo City, three or four kilometers from the academy, in less than a minute.
Obtaining a Soul Ring was not a simple matter. Finding a suitable Soul Beast depended entirely on luck, and taking three to five days, or even a week, was perfectly normal.
With that in mind, Zhang Yang bought enough rations from a dry goods store to feed ten people for ten days.
After putting the rations into his Soul Tool, Zhang Yang bought a large quantity of cured meat and various fruits, stuffing all of them into his Soul Tool as well.
That was not all. At a general store, Zhang Yang also bought dozens of waterskins that could hold three liters each, filled them with drinking water, then bought over a dozen tightly sealed Wine Barrels, filled them with fresh water, and placed them in his Soul Tool.
Afterward, Zhang Yang bought a large bag of snake-repelling powder, a bundle of sturdy hemp rope, and several sets of spare clothes.
This was the Procurement List passed down by Master. During the last shopping trip, Zhang Yang had even bought thirty jin of White Radishes for Luo Sanpao. However, Master was no longer by his side, so the White Radishes on the list could be crossed off.
Once everything on the list had been purchased, it was time to return to the academy.
Actually, Zhang Yang still wanted to go to Suotuo City's Great Soul Arena for another 1v1 battle and earn ten Gold Soul Coins. Unfortunately, the Great Soul Arena would not open until evening, and Zhang Yang could not wait in the city until then.
"I'll come back tonight," Zhang Yang thought.
At lunch, Tang San sat beside Zhang Yang and asked, "Do you want to go to Suotuo City this afternoon to prepare supplies?"
"I already went to Suotuo City after class. Here's the list." Zhang Yang took the list from his pocket and handed it to Tang San. "I didn't prepare antidotes or recovery potions. Oscar's first and second Soul Rings can perfectly solve that problem. Other than that, see if anything is still missing. I'll make another trip tonight."
Tang San said, "No need. If anything is missing, I can buy it."
Zhang Yang shook his head. "It's fine. I'm going to the Great Soul Arena for a soul battle tonight anyway, so it's on the way."
"Oh, then let me take a look." Tang San accepted the list and quickly scanned through it. He found that its contents were roughly the same as his own list, except Zhang Yang had prepared far greater quantities.
Of course. Zhang Yang and Tang San were disciples of the same master, and the lists in their hands had both been slightly adjusted based on Master's list. Naturally, they were not very different.
"Why did you buy so much water?" Tang San asked curiously.
"Xiao San, times have changed." Zhang Yang helplessly patted Tang San's shoulder. "Unlike before, there are three delicate Beautiful girls in the team this time. Even if they can't bathe, washing their faces and rinsing their mouths are still necessities."
Tang San glanced at Xiao Wu, Zhu Zhuqing, and Ning Rongrong from the corner of his eye, then nodded. "I understand."
Shaking his head, Zhang Yang put away his list, gathered his bowls and chopsticks, and left the cafeteria.
Watching Zhang Yang's retreating back, Tang San shook his head. "Zhang Yang still eats so quickly."
Early the next morning, after everyone finished breakfast and gathered at the Training Ground, they discovered that Zhao Wuji was already waiting for them.
When they saw Zhao Wuji, the students were all somewhat stunned. They wanted to laugh, but did not dare to actually do so.
Zhao Wuji did look rather miserable. At least three bruises on his face had yet to fade, especially the black eye around his left eye socket, which made it difficult not to laugh.
Of course, while finding it amusing, Zhang Yang and the others were also shocked. How had Zhao Wuji ended up like this? With his strength as a Level 76 Soul Sage, combined with the defense of the Great Vajra Bear, who could have injured him?
"Where are you looking? You little brats, are your hides itching?"
Upon hearing the words "little brats," Xiao Wu was clearly displeased. She muttered, "Why not call him a little blind bear instead?"
Zhao Wuji's eyes widened. "Xiao Wu, what did you just say?"
Tang San instinctively stepped sideways and shielded her behind him. At the same time, he waved to signal that she should not anger Zhao Wuji. His protectiveness was obvious.
When Zhao Wuji saw Tang San, a trace of embarrassment clearly appeared on his face. He did not pursue Xiao Wu's mockery any further and merely snorted. "All right, everyone, get moving. Mu Bai, lead the team."
Dai Mubai nodded. His expression immediately became serious as he said to the others, "The Star Dou Great Forest is not a place to be taken lightly. There are many Soul Beasts inside, and they are extremely aggressive. They have no goodwill toward humans, so everyone must be careful."
"Zhang Yang will lead at the front. Oscar and Ning Rongrong will stay in the center. Tang San, you'll be in front of them. Fatty and Xiao Wu, you two will cover the left and right flanks. Zhu Zhuqing and I will bring up the rear."
"We need to practice formation coordination even while traveling. Once we enter the forest, we'll be able to handle things with ease. Stay alert at all times. Everyone set off."
After leaving the academy, everyone spread into formation and began running forward. Zhao Wuji, as the teacher leading the team, trailed far behind the students.
Because Oscar's sausages restored everyone's stamina, the formation remained in excellent shape. Oscar's standing in everyone's hearts rose a few more notches as well.
In contrast, Ning Rongrong, who was also an auxiliary Soul Master, remained silent along the way. She did not use her Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda to assist anyone, merely accepting the protection of the formation and the support of Oscar's sausages in silence.
She was like the wealthy patron of a hired hunting party.
Along the way, Zhang Yang repeatedly signaled Ning Rongrong with his eyes, urging her to use her Martial Soul to support everyone and actively integrate into the group. Yet Ning Rongrong was like a block of wood, giving Zhang Yang no response at all.
Little girls throwing tantrums were truly impossible to understand.
Shrek Academy was less than five hundred kilometers from the Star Dou Great Forest. When everyone finished their first day of travel and stopped at a small town, they were already less than a hundred kilometers from the forest.
Zhao Wuji led everyone to a fairly ordinary hotel.
"You'll pay for your own food and lodging. Get some rest early after dinner. We leave at dawn tomorrow. Dismissed."
With that, Zhao Wuji went upstairs to rest in a private room under the guidance of a hotel attendant.
At the hotel counter, after discussing it, the eight of them booked two triple rooms and one double room.
The girls would stay in one triple room, the Senior Students would stay in another, while Zhang Yang and Tang San, the pair of fellow disciple brothers, would share the double room.
After getting their room keys, everyone found a corner table in the hotel restaurant, planning to head upstairs after dinner.
"Finally, we can eat. I've been eating sausages all day, and I'm about to throw up." Ma Hongjun lay sprawled across the table with a groan. He had the roundest build among the eight, expended the most energy while traveling, and ate the most sausages.
"All right, Fatty. I'm treating tonight, so order whatever you want." Dai Mubai, who received the largest allowance among the eight, said indifferently, "Consider this meal a welcome feast for Zhang Yang and the others."
Fatty burst into laughter, the flesh on his chubby round face trembling along with it. "Great! Don't worry, Dai Laoda, I won't go easy on you."
Fatty ordered more than a dozen dishes, including cold dishes, hot dishes, meat, and vegetables. While waiting for the food to arrive, Zhang Yang and Ma Hongjun worked hard to liven up the atmosphere at the table, managing to keep it from becoming too stiff.
Dai Mubai and Zhu Zhuqing were still angry with each other, Ning Rongrong looked full of worries, and Oscar remained low-spirited because of what had happened the night before last.
It took quite a bit of effort from Zhang Yang and Ma Hongjun to warm up a dining table with such an atmosphere.
At that moment, a group of people suddenly walked in from outside.
This group was also from an academy. A middle-aged teacher led a team of students, both male and female, all wearing matching moon-white Soul Master robes. There was also the emblem of a higher academy on their left shoulders.
Perhaps because they were students from a higher Soul Master Academy, every word and action of this group was filled with arrogance, and their manner was far more ostentatious than Shrek Academy's group.
"That girl is pretty good-looking, Dai Laoda. Those guys should be from Canghui Academy, right?" Fatty's tiny eyes were fixed on the only young girl among the group of eight, gleaming as he stared without blinking.
Dai Mubai curled his lip. "They're just a tiny Canghui Academy. Showing off my ass."
Zhang Yang: "..."
Neither Fatty nor Dai Mubai deliberately lowered their voices. Naturally, the teacher leading Canghui Academy heard them. His brow furrowed slightly as he looked directly over.
When he saw that Shrek Academy's table was occupied by nothing more than a group of children, his expression immediately turned ugly.
Oscar sat beside Tang San and chuckled softly. "There's going to be a good show."
Tang San looked at him in confusion. "What good show?"
Oscar whispered, "This is part of our cultivation too. Dean Flender once said that Soul Masters who don't dare cause trouble aren't good Soul Masters. As the saying goes, those who don't dare cause trouble are mediocre. Besides, provoking people from a Soul Master Academy is the safest. At most, it just turns into a fight."
Zhang Yang: "...What a genius of logic."
Before you continue