Proof of the Monster (Part 1)

"Le Bai~ I'm here to play!"

Oscar was early again today.

In the past two years, the only two things he had improved were his Soul Power Level and the fact that his volume when calling people early in the morning had finally decreased.

Even though Le Bai had told him many times that the door was unlocked.

However, Le Bai was no longer easily woken up; long before Oscar arrived, he had already woken up and prepared a hearty breakfast for himself.

Most of the breakfast he prepared was for himself, with a small portion set aside for Oscar.

Ever since he started receiving one Gold Soul Coin every month from Old Master Huang, plus the twenty Silver Soul Coin wage as an apprentice, Le Bai had never skimped on food expenses.

Coupled with the need to replenish nutrients for physical training, Le Bai prepared meat for almost every meal. Of course, to maintain a balanced diet, the amount of vegetables was never lacking.

Ever since Oscar had his first meal here two years ago, the frequency of him mooching meals gradually increased until he came every single day.

Fortunately, the eight-year-old Oscar wasn't too thick-skinned yet; he felt embarrassed to always eat for free, so he paid Le Bai twenty Silver Soul Coins every month as his food contribution.

Operating on the principle that cooking for one is the same as cooking for two, Le Bai accepted Oscar's mooching. As for the food money Oscar paid later, Le Bai didn't stand on ceremony and took it all.

Dean Flender had even come to confirm the situation regarding this, seemingly worried that Le Bai was eating too poorly and dragging Oscar down with him.

After the actual confirmation, the Dean left with "tears" hanging from the corners of his eyes.

"Le Bai, what is your Soul Power Level now?"

Halfway through breakfast, Oscar suddenly asked about Le Bai's Soul Power Level: "I asked Teacher Li, who is in charge of admissions every year, yesterday. He said that as long as you are under 12 years old and your soul power reaches level 20, plus you have some actual combat experience, there is a high probability of getting into Shrek."

"I haven't tested it in two years, probably around level 8."

Le Bai glanced at the [Soul Power] Lv8 on his Panel and reported a precise number: "But I'm afraid it's impossible for me to enroll normally. It's been over two years since my Martial Soul awakened, and my soul power has only increased by six levels. In four more years, I'll be 12. At this rate, I'll be lucky to hit level 20. Besides, the higher the soul power level, the slower the growth. I'm certain I can't reach level 20 before I'm 12."

"Don't give up so soon, there's still a chance!"

Oscar said very earnestly: "As long as your first soul ring is as high-aged as possible, the extra soul power you get when absorbing the soul ring might allow you to increase your level by one or even two! That way..."

"Stop."

Le Bai ended Oscar's fantasy: "You are a student of Shrek Academy, and you have Shrek's teachers to help you hunt for soul rings. But I'm not, and I don't have enough money to hire a high-level Soul Master to take me hunting for soul rings. In this situation, where do you expect me to get a high-aged soul ring?"

"This..."

Oscar froze for a moment, then gritted his teeth: "At worst, I'll beg the Dean! Anyway, for him, a Century Soul Beast is nothing, it's very easy! If that doesn't work, I'll beg Teacher Zhao! If that still doesn't work, I'll find Teacher Li! Shrek Academy has so many teachers, I don't believe not a single one is willing to help me!"

"Don't get excited yet."

Le Bai comforted him, feeling a warmth in his heart: "I only said I have no hope of getting into Shrek through normal admissions; I didn't say I couldn't get in through other channels."

"Other channels?"

Oscar's face was full of confusion: "What do you mean?"

"Aren't you one yourself?"

Le Bai pointed at Oscar: "As long as Dean Flender approves, you can enroll even if you don't meet the admission standards."

"You mean that!"

Oscar understood, then expressed his doubt: "But didn't the Dean refuse to let you enroll back then? Did he change his mind recently?"

"No."

Le Bai swallowed the last of his breakfast: "But I have become stronger."

After breakfast, Oscar took Le Bai to find Flender, only to be told by Zhao Wuji, who was sitting in the Dean's Office, that Flender had gone out on business and wouldn't be back for two days.

Two days later, Oscar and Le Bai found Flender, who had just returned.

"Dean!"

Oscar shouted loudly, rushing over to Flender: "Dean, please, please wait a moment!"

"Oscar, and Le Bai."

Flender turned around and pushed up his glasses: "What do you two want with me?"

Oscar caught his breath and said slowly: "Dean, I hope you can approve Le Bai's entry into Shrek Academy."

"Oscar, I should have explained this to you a long time ago; we at Shrek only accept Monsters."

Flender frowned slightly: "I admit that Le Bai is indeed outstanding in other areas, but as a Soul Master, he is far from reaching the level of a Monster."

"Ah, no!"

Oscar got anxious, and the words he wanted to say got stuck in his throat: "Dean, that's not what I meant! I wanted to say..."

"Oscar, let me say it."

Le Bai pressed down on Oscar's shoulder, signaling that he would handle it.

"Dean."

Le Bai stepped forward and met Flender's gaze: "If I can prove that I have reached the level of a Monster as a Soul Master, would you agree to let me become a member of Shrek?"

"Oh?"

Flender pushed up his glasses and looked Le Bai up and down: "In my impression, you aren't the type of person who would say something like this easily. It seems something has happened to you over these past two years."

"Nothing particularly special has happened."

Le Bai smiled: "I just worked hard to become a little bit stronger. By the way, I also want to see how far I am from the Monsters you often talk about."

"That sounds like a fair point."

Flender nodded and asked: "Then Le Bai, how do you plan to prove to me that you have reached the level of a Monster as a Soul Master?"

Le Bai did not answer immediately, instead asking a question in return: "You should still remember that my Martial Soul is the Food System Bread, right?"

"Of course."

Flender said calmly: "I was the one who awakened the Martial Souls for both of you. It has only been two years; I am not yet senile to that extent."

Le Bai asked again: "I remember you saying in class that Support System Soul Masters have no combat ability."

"Yes, I did say that."

Flender nodded: "That can be considered common knowledge in the world of Soul Masters."

"Then—"

Le Bai tapped his chest lightly with his fist: "If I can defeat a Battle Soul Master of the same level, or even one whose Soul Power Level exceeds mine by several ranks, without relying on any external force, would that prove I am a Monster?"

"Defeat a Battle Soul Master of the same level or even several ranks higher without relying on any external force?"

Flender looked at Le Bai seriously, his tone grave: "Le Bai, I don't know how much you have grown in these two years, but I hope you understand—battles between Soul Masters are not the same as children fighting."

"Yes, I understand that very well."

Le Bai said with equal seriousness: "Battles between Soul Masters result in injuries at best and death at worst. I absolutely do not mean to joke with my own life."

"You know this, yet you still dare to say such things?"

The look in Flender's eyes as he watched Le Bai carried a hint of appreciation: "Do you know that a Battle Soul Master's Martial Soul can significantly increase their attack power and physical fitness? A Support System Soul Master's Martial Soul has no such effect. The gap caused by this alone is enough for a Battle Soul Master to easily crush a Support System Soul Master."

"Of course I know that; you taught it in class."

Le Bai said with a smile: "But it is precisely by doing what ordinary Soul Masters cannot that I can prove I am a Monster."

"Well said! Only those who can do what others cannot are Monsters!"

A smile appeared on Flender's face: "Since you've put it this way, it would be tactless of me to refuse. A Monster with outstanding practical combat ability? Perfect! Since the founding of Shrek, there has never been a Monster of this type. If you can do it, I will represent the Academy and acknowledge you as a member of our Shrek!"

"Then without further ado, please arrange a battle for me as soon as possible, Dean."

Le Bai said confidently: "As long as the Battle Soul Master you arrange does not have a Soul Power Level exceeding nineteen, or is at level twenty but has not yet obtained a Second Soul Ring, I am confident that I can win."