An Unexpected Encounter?

Since Ma Hongjun found Shrek Academy a little over ten days ago, was taken back by Flender, and had Yu Xiaogang design a Spirit Ring plan for him to solve the problem of the Evil Fire,

Flender then brought Ma Hongjun to the outskirts of the Star Dou Great Forest, where they stayed temporarily at this small inn, preparing to enter the forest the next day.

At this moment, Flender was trying to get Ma Hongjun to formally agree to the Shrek Academy, and repeatedly assured that Yu Xiaogang's plan would be absolutely effective.

What Ma Hongjun couldn't forget was still "Teacher Fu" from that vivid dream, located in Heaven Dou City, who could help his Martial Soul transform into a true Fire Phoenix.

Despite Flender's eloquent explanation of Yu Xiaogang's theories of "water and fire antagonism" and "mental suppression,"...

Ma Hongjun thought it made some sense, but deep down he felt a strange unease and resistance that prevented him from being completely convinced.

Thus, this stalemate ensued.

One day later.

Fu Shiyan, along with Fu Ze and Dai Tianyu, also arrived at the outer edge of the Star Dou Great Forest.

Next, they need to traverse part of the Star Dou Great Forest to reach their destination— Xingyao City.

Xingyao City is the main city of the "Xingyao Kingdom" under the rule of the Star Luo Empire. It is located at the border between the Star Luo Empire and the Heaven Dou Empire, adjacent to the Star Dou Great Forest, and is one of the gateways to the heart of the Star Luo Empire.

Not long after the three entered the outer edge of the forest, Fu Shiyan subtly adjusted her direction using the System Panel's guidance, heading towards the location of the light spot where Ma Hongjun was.

They hadn't walked far when they heard faint voices coming from ahead through the dense woods.

A child's voice, trembling with tears and hesitation, rang out:

"Dean... Dean... Do we really want to absorb this Spirit Ring?"

"But... my Martial Soul is fire-attribute, so absorbing an ice-attribute one... will that work?"

"Maybe... we should just forget about it!"

"Dean, please take me to Heaven Dou City! I... I still don't think it's a good idea!"

Immediately following was an adult's voice, both soothing and urgent:

"Hongjun, listen to me! This is Spirit Ring Xiao Gang spent several days carefully crafting for you, based on your problem with the Evil Fire, to fix your flaws!"

"You have to trust Xiao Gang! He's the number one theoretical Grandmaster in the entire continent!"

"What he said is absolutely true! The ice attribute is to suppress your burning Evil Fire, and the Mental Attribute is to help you stabilize your mind! A perfect combination!"

"But... but..." The child's voice was still filled with doubt and fear.

Fu Shiyan and the other two tread lightly, parting the drooping vines in front of them.

In a slightly open clearing in the forest, Flender and Ma Hongjun were standing next to the corpse of a huge bird- Soul Beast.

The Soul Beast was covered in blue and white feathers, with a third vertical eye on its forehead. It was lifeless at this moment. It was the Three-Eyed Azure Feather Sparrow with a cultivation of about four hundred years, which was the Soul Beast with both spiritual and ice attributes that Yu Xiaogang had specified.

Ma Hongjun's face was a little pale. Looking at the still lingering icy aura around the Soul Beast's corpse, he subconsciously hugged his arms and shrank behind Flender.

Upon hearing the conversation, Dai Tianyu's eyes lit up immediately.

The monotonous journey had been driving him crazy, but the sounds of hunting for Spirit Ring and the voices of his peers immediately stirred his restless and curious nature.

He turned to look at Fu Shiyan, blinked, and although he didn't speak, his eager expression clearly said: Master, there's something interesting to see! Let's go and take a look!

Fu Shiyan naturally understood his thoughts. She had come here for Ma Hongjun's sake, so she nodded slightly.

The three made no effort to conceal their movements, and the sound of their footsteps quickly alerted Flender.

He was trying to persuade Ma Hongjun when suddenly his ears twitched and his eyes sharpened instantly.

He grabbed Ma Hongjun's shoulder and whispered, "Hongjun, don't move, someone's coming!"

Ma Hongjun was stunned when he was pressed down, and then he became nervous. He subconsciously hid tightly behind Flender, only peeking out half of his head, and looked warily in the direction of the sound.

As the footsteps drew closer, the leaves parted, and the figures of Fu Shiyan and the other two appeared clearly in front of Flender and his companion.

Flender's gaze swept over the three of them immediately.

The young man in the middle had a calm demeanor, an unusually youthful face, and a faint, serene smile at the corners of his mouth, making him enigmatic.

The middle-aged man in black on the left had a cold and stern expression and didn't say a word, but just by standing there, he naturally exuded a calm and imposing aura, making Flender's back tense up subconsciously—a master!

He's definitely a powerhouse above Soul Douluo!

The boy on the right, about the same age as Ma Hongjun, was tall and had bright eyes that held a wildness and curiosity as he openly sized them up.

Flender's alarm bells rang, and he instantly realized that these three were no ordinary Soul Master.

He immediately lowered his stance, put on a slick, businessman-like smile, stepped forward, and cupped his hands in greeting:

"I am Flender, nicknamed ' Four-Eyed Owl,' and currently the Dean of the Shrek Academy. I have led my students here to hunt for the First Soul Ring. May I ask what brings you three gentlemen to this place?"

He clearly explained his background and purpose, and adopted a sufficiently humble attitude.

His Soul Saint- level perception clearly told him that the black-clad man on his left was exerting an extremely strong pressure on him, far beyond his ability to defeat.

The young man in the middle appeared harmless, but his aura was profound and unfathomable.

At this moment, he only hoped that the three people were just passing by and had no other intentions.

However, as soon as he finished speaking, Ma Hongjun, who was hiding behind him, was struck dumb the moment his eyes fell on Fu Shiyan's face.

That face... that face that appeared repeatedly in my dreams on countless nights, the face that taught them with a gentle smile, and that transformed the Evil Fire Phoenix into a real Fire Phoenix with a wave of its hand!

My heart was pounding wildly in my chest, and it felt as if all the blood was rushing to my head.

"Teacher Fu... it really is Teacher Fu!!!"

The overwhelming surprise and excitement overwhelmed all reason.

Almost uncontrollably, Ma Hongjun suddenly darted out from behind Flender and pounced on Fu Shiyan, his chubby little hands tightly hugging Fu Shiyan's legs.

"Hmm?" Fu Ze's eyes turned cold, and he took a slight step forward.

Fu Shiyan gently raised her hand, stopping him with her eyes.

Upon seeing this, Dai Tianyu, who was standing nearby, immediately frowned, his eyes flashing with obvious displeasure and vigilance.

From childhood to Grandmaster has always been his only master!

It was bad enough that Tang San, that bookish junior brother, had inexplicably appeared in Heaven Dou City, but this red-haired chubby kid, who seemed to have popped up out of nowhere, actually started clinging to his master's leg right away?

He pursed his lips, clearly unhappy, but since his master didn't speak, he didn't dare to act rashly. He simply looked Ma Hongjun up and down with a critical and dissatisfied gaze.

Ma Hongjun hugged Fu Shiyan's legs tightly, his upturned face revealing his eyes, which quickly reddened and filled with tears of excitement.

His mouth was agape, overwhelmed by emotion, and he couldn't form coherent sentences; his voice trembled as he repeatedly murmured:

"Teacher Fu... you... you are Teacher Fu? Teacher Fu... Teacher Fu... I've finally found you..."