When Snake Granny had just said those words, Flender, Zhao Wuji, and the other teachers hadn't argued. That meant it was true.
He had also put Feng Hou Qi Gate away long ago. Though he often challenged people to test his limits during this period, he was actually quite lazy. He followed the principle that a sorcerer should go with the flow, and normally couldn't be bothered with anything.
If it weren't for his adoptive father's crisis and his parents' vendetta dragging him into this, he might still be spending his days idling around Shrek Academy.
"Hmm?"
Snake Granny was stunned by Oscar's sudden move. She didn't know whether to swallow the Sausage in her mouth or spit it out.
"Please focus on recovering your Soul Power. We're still counting on you for this fight."
Oscar quickly swallowed the Sausage and smiled.
Snake Granny could feel the Soul Power contained in it. It wasn't much for a Soul Emperor like her, but it was still pretty good.
What surprised her even more was that the young fellow before her seemed to have an endless supply of Soul Power. He kept feeding her while stuffing Sausages into his own mouth.
He had already made at least twenty in that short time!
And the boy looked... remarkably well. She had never seen a Spirit Master whose Soul Power was so abundant that it seemed to pour out through his pores!
Normally, a Food System Spirit Master would be lucky to get one or two tenths of the effect from consuming their own Soul Skill. But this fellow was clearly an outrageous exception!
By Snake Granny's estimate, the boy was gaining more than ten times the benefit from consuming his own Soul Skill than she was!
She gave him a long look, but had no time to ask questions. She quickly sat cross-legged and began recovering her Soul Power.
Just as everyone was gearing up for battle, the rustling in the distance grew louder.
"They're here!"
Flender spread his wings and shielded Oscar, shouting in a low voice.
The next moment, Oscar saw a sea of snakes surging out of the woods ahead, like a black cloak that blotted out the sky, charging straight at their position.
Everyone on the line unleashed their strongest Soul Skills. Severed tails and chunks of flesh flew everywhere, and quite a few splattered across Oscar's face.
Yet the strange snakes charged forward relentlessly, like Spartans who didn't fear death!
Fortunately, everyone had seen their share of trouble. An attack of this scale couldn't break through their line—not yet!
Behind them was a Support Spirit Master who churned out Sausages like a perpetual-motion machine. As long as they held on until Snake Granny recovered her Soul Power, they could put an end to the crisis!
But no one noticed the Dragon Duke's dark expression, or how his eyes occasionally swept toward the distant forest. Unfortunately, there was nothing there...
"How are you feeling?"
Oscar shoved the last Sausage into his mouth. He really couldn't eat another bite.
"Almost there. You're a good kid."
Snake Granny patted Oscar on the shoulder, then turned and walked forward with her Serpent Cane in hand.
She was quite pleased with the boy. Her family was doing well, but her granddaughter, Meng Yiran, still didn't have a partner. If she could bring this boy into the family...
But now clearly wasn't the time, so she said nothing more.
Once they got through this crisis, there'd be plenty of time to talk.
But no one noticed—not even Oscar—that the ground beneath him had started to tremble! A tentacle suddenly shot out from below and wrapped around his waist!
Oscar felt as if something had slammed into the back of his head, and he passed out.
Meng Yiran had just come to and happened to see it. Her beautiful eyes flew wide open.
"G-Grandma... Grandma!"
Her scream caught everyone's attention. The Peerless Dragon Granny couple, who had been performing their Martial Soul Fusion Skill, turned and saw the enormous hole in the ground.
Flender and the others were a moment slower, but they noticed what had happened too. Their eyes instantly turned bloodshot!
"Little Ao!"
Flender beat his wings and plunged into the hole, but it was already too late. Whoever had abducted Oscar was long gone.
Flender searched the winding tunnels for a long time, but couldn't find any trace of Oscar. By the time he returned to the surface, the snakes had been completely dealt with, but everyone's faces were grim.
"Did you find him?"
Li Yusong and Zhao Wuji asked anxiously. They'd already guessed the answer when they saw Flender return empty-handed, but they couldn't believe it.
That slippery kid had really...
"Keep looking! We need to find him, alive or dead!"
Flender's eyes were red as he clenched his teeth.
"I'm sorry. I'd like to help you search for that fine young fellow, but I must urge you all to leave together."
Dragon Duke Meng Shu leaned on his Dragon Staff and sighed.
"This beast tide came out of nowhere, and we've sensed several powerful auras along the way. They're heading in this direction."
Flender's eyes blazed red. He lunged forward and grabbed Dragon Duke by the collar.
"This is all your fault! You brought the snakes here! If you hadn't, this wouldn't have happened to Little Ao!"
Dragon Duke knew he was in the wrong. Even though he was a Soul Douluo, he let the Soul Saint grab him without fighting back.
"Flender, I understand how you feel."
Snake Granny led Meng Yiran over and spoke softly.
"When this is over, we'll come back and search for that boy with you.
"This happened because of us, and he saved Yiran's life.
"Once we find him, let Yiran marry him."
Meng Yiran's face flushed. She shyly ducked behind Snake Granny.
She'd only caught a glimpse of Oscar, but she'd already seen how handsome he was. She'd also just heard from her grandmother about his character and those ridiculous Soul Skills.
She'd be happy to have a Food System Spirit Master like him by her side.
Besides, he'd saved her life.
If he really was alive, marrying him would be only right.
Still, she was worried. In that brief glimpse, she'd seen the tentacle, silver-white with a golden glow. Its aura was far beyond that of an ordinary Soul Beast.
That boy... might already have been swallowed whole.
At that thought, she plucked up her courage and stepped out from behind Snake Granny.
"Could you tell me where his parents are? He saved me. If anything happened to him, I'd like to take care of his parents for him."
Meng Yiran spoke earnestly, looking straight at Flender.
Flender had calmed down a little by then. The Star Dou Great Forest was full of danger. Anyone could end up buried there for all sorts of reasons. It all came down to fate and fortune, and had nothing to do with anyone else.
He understood all that. It was just... he still couldn't accept it.
Even after hearing Meng Yiran's words, he was still a little dazed.
"His parents died long ago. I'm his adoptive father. If you're willing, come to Shrek Academy."
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