Practical Sparring!

Oscar opened his mouth but could not say a single word.

He had been a Food System Martial Soul master for so long and had made countless Sausages for others to eat, but never had anyone given such an evaluation after eating one.

"You... you didn't find it disgusting?" Oscar asked carefully. "You didn't think that Soul Incantation..."

"What's disgusting about it?"

Ma Hongjun finished the Sausage in a few bites and clapped his hands.

"The Soul Incantation is the Soul Incantation, and the Sausage is the Sausage."

"This thing fills your stomach and restores your strength. Who cares what the incantation is?"

"It's not like you have to eat it yourself after chanting the incantation. You're making it for other people to eat. You're the one who should be embarrassed, not me."

Oscar: "..."

Something seemed off, yet it also somehow made perfect sense.

Flender watched the scene, the corner of his mouth twitching slightly.

He had thought Ma Hongjun would be like the other children, showing a disgusted expression upon hearing that Soul Incantation and perhaps even refusing to eat Oscar's Sausage.

After all, the incantation truly was lewd. Even adults felt awkward hearing it, much less a six-year-old child.

Yet Ma Hongjun had not only eaten it but even given it a serious evaluation.

That kind of temperament truly was extraordinary.

"Kid," Flender said, "you really don't think there's anything wrong with that incantation?"

Ma Hongjun turned to Flender and said seriously, "Teacher, the fact that the incantation is lewd is Oscar's problem. I don't have to chant it. I only care whether this Sausage is edible, whether it tastes good, and whether it's useful. There's nothing wrong with any of that, so why should I care?"

Flender fell silent for two seconds, then nodded.

"A child with limitless potential."

The praise came suddenly. Ma Hongjun froze slightly, then smiled.

He knew what Flender meant.

In this world, many Soul Masters despised Oscar's Soul Incantation and refused to eat his Sausages, greatly diminishing the value of his Food System Martial Soul.

There truly were not many people who could set aside that prejudice.

And he had done so.

Not because he was a transmigrator, but because he genuinely did not think it was a big deal.

Oscar's eyes reddened slightly.

He walked up to Ma Hongjun, grabbed his hand, and gave it a firm squeeze.

"Hongjun, from today onward, you're my best brother!"

His voice was choked with emotion. "From now on, you can eat as many of my big Sausages as you want! Eat as much as you like!"

Ma Hongjun could not help but laugh at Oscar's expression, as though he were so moved he might cry.

"Easy there."

He patted Oscar on the shoulder.

"Your Sausages are condensed from Soul Power, right? If you make too many for me to eat, you'll exhaust yourself. I don't want to see a drained Oscar the next day."

Oscar paused, then grinned.

"Don't worry, I can take it!"

"Whether you can take it is one thing. Don't ruin yourself."

Ma Hongjun said seriously.

"Food-Type Soul Masters are physically weaker than Battle Soul Masters to begin with. If you don't rest properly, you'll run into problems sooner or later. I can eat the Sausages, but you have to make sure you're okay."

Oscar looked into Ma Hongjun's amber eyes and felt the sincerity within them.

This little brother he had met only a day ago genuinely cared about him.

"Okay." Oscar nodded heavily. "I promise you."

Flender sat in his chair, watching the interaction between the two children, a trace of gratification flashing through his eyes.

Shrek Academy might be shabby, poor, and have only two students.

But neither of those students was ordinary.

One was a Food System genius with Innate Full Soul Power, who had endured the humiliation brought by a lewd Soul Incantation and persevered in cultivation until Rank Eighteen.

The other was an Evil Fire Phoenix with Innate Full Soul Power, whose temperament was so steady that he did not seem like a six-year-old child and who had his own judgment of things.

With those two together, perhaps they really could create some sparks.

"Alright, alright, enough with the sentimental stuff."

Zhao Wuji urged from the side, "Oscar, Ma Hongjun has eaten your Sausage, so your task is complete. Now it's your turn. Go run ten laps to warm up."

Oscar answered and turned to run, but then looked back at Ma Hongjun.

"Hongjun, I'll make more Sausages for you at noon!"

Ma Hongjun smiled and waved.

"Alright, I'll wait."

Watching Oscar's distant figure, warmth rose within Ma Hongjun's heart.

The bond between the Shrek Seven Devils was built from these small moments.

In the original story, no one had been willing to eat Oscar's Sausages at first. Later, everyone got used to them, but they only treated them as battle supplies. No one truly understood his embarrassment and loneliness.

In this life, he wanted to be the first person to accept and understand him.

Not out of sympathy, but because that Sausage really did taste quite good.

After finishing ten laps, Oscar returned to the courtyard, panting heavily with both hands braced on his knees.

Ma Hongjun stood nearby, breathing steadily, with barely any sweat on his face.

Zhao Wuji glanced at him, surprise flashing through his eyes.

This kid's stamina was far greater than that of children his age.

"Not bad." Zhao Wuji nodded. "The warm-up is over. Next comes practical combat training."

Ma Hongjun's spirits lifted.

Practical combat was what he had truly been looking forward to.

"Hongjun, you're new here, so I need to get a sense of your combat level first."

Zhao Wuji looked at Li Yusong, who stood nearby. "Old Li, trouble you to spar with him."

Li Yusong nodded, picked up the Dragon Pattern Staff from beside the wall, and walked to the center of the courtyard.

He glanced at Ma Hongjun and said blandly, "Kid, attack me with everything you have. Don't be afraid of hurting me. You're not qualified for that yet."

His tone was calm, but it carried an unquestionable confidence.

A six-ring Soul Emperor against a newly awakened Soul Scholar was indeed an overwhelming mismatch.

Ma Hongjun took a deep breath, walked to stand opposite Li Yusong, and stopped about ten paces away.

Flender and Zhao Wuji stepped aside. Oscar also found a place to sit, staring unblinkingly at the center of the courtyard.

"Begin." Li Yusong held the Dragon Pattern Staff in one hand, its tip resting on the ground, his posture casual.

Ma Hongjun did not hesitate. Soul Power surged through his body in an instant.

Martial Soul Possession!

Dark crimson flames erupted from within him, dancing across the surface of his body.

The flames were threaded with pale golden patterns, more distinct than they had been yesterday.

A yellow first Soul Ring rose beneath his feet and slowly rotated.

Li Yusong's brows twitched slightly.

This flame truly was extraordinary.

That dark crimson glow carried an eerie aura that instinctively made people uncomfortable.

Yet that eerie quality was mixed with traces of bright purity. Two utterly different attributes coexisted as one, a truly rare sight.

Ma Hongjun did not attack immediately. Instead, he first sensed his condition after Martial Soul Possession.

His strength had increased, and so had his speed. His body felt far lighter than usual.

But he did not hurriedly spread his Light Wings.

Wings of Light were a trump card, not something to use for probing.

He bent his knees slightly, then exploded forward, charging at Li Yusong like an arrow loosed from a bow.

He was fast.

At least, for a six-year-old child, he was absurdly fast.

Li Yusong remained where he stood without even changing his posture, merely tilting his head slightly.

Ma Hongjun's fist swept past his ear, carrying a wave of hot air.

He had missed.