"Hahahaha! This feels amazing!"
Ma Hongjun flailed his arms and legs in midair, darting around like a fat-headed fly.
"Xiao Pang, slow down! Don't crash into a tree!"
Oscar shouted from below.
"I know, I know... Ah!"
Ma Hongjun plunged headfirst into the treetop.
Zhao Wuji shook his head, flew up, and plucked him from the branches.
With leaves covering his head, Ma Hongjun looked even more like he was about to cry than laugh.
"This thing... isn't easy to control."
"Just practice more."
Oscar patted his shoulder. "It's my first time flying, too, and I'm much steadier than you."
"That's because you got used to it while absorbing your Soul Ring."
Ma Hongjun protested, "This is my first time. Being able to fly at all is pretty good."
Flender hadn't eaten a Flying Sausage. He'd put it away instead.
"How long can this sausage be stored?"
He asked a very important question.
Oscar thought it over. "With my current Soul Power, about a day."
"A day will do."
Flender nodded. "From now on, make some for everyone before each trip and hand them out."
"That way, no matter what happens, we'll have a way out."
"Understood."
Oscar nodded firmly.
Fu Wen took a Flying Sausage, but didn't eat it right away. Instead, he held it and examined it closely.
Blue light flowed over the sausage's surface, and the wing patterns were so fine and delicate they looked carved into it.
He could sense the power of flight contained within the sausage, pure and abundant.
"Xiao Ao, this Soul Skill has tremendous potential."
Fu Wen looked up at Oscar. "With the Sharp-Tailed Rain Swallow's speed and an hour of flight time, you'll be able to escape from anyone below the level of a Titled Douluo."
"Once your Soul Power grows stronger, both the number of sausages and their duration will increase."
"When that happens, you'll be the hardest-to-kill food-type Soul Master around."
Oscar was a little embarrassed by the praise and scratched his head.
"I didn't expect it to be this powerful... I just followed your advice and looked for a Sharp-Tailed Rain Swallow."
"You helped me choose it. It wasn't really my achievement."
Fu Wen shook his head.
"I chose the Soul Ring, but you came up with the Soul Skill yourself."
"Even with the same Soul Ring, different people can gain different Soul Skills."
"The fact that you got the Flying Sausage shows you're highly compatible with the Sharp-Tailed Rain Swallow."
"That's your own ability."
Oscar paused, then smiled.
"All right, I'll reluctantly admit it."
Ma Hongjun came over, still clutching half a Flying Sausage.
"Brother Ao, your sausage lets you fly for an hour. Can you stop halfway and save the rest for next time?"
"No."
Oscar shook his head. "Once you eat it, the timer starts."
"Whether you're flying or standing still, it wears off after an hour."
"That's such a waste."
Ma Hongjun grumbled. "If you land after flying for only half the time, doesn't the rest go to waste?"
"That's why you have to plan ahead," Fu Wen said. "Save it for when you're in danger. Don't waste it during your daily routine."
"True."
Ma Hongjun nodded, finished the half-sausage in a few bites, and the blue Light Wings behind him lit up again.
He bounced in place twice, but managed to resist taking off.
"All right, that's enough fooling around."
Flender clapped his hands. "We've finished today's task. Time to head back."
"Xiao Ao has his Second Soul Ring, and Xiao Pang has his First Soul Ring."
"Let's get Shao Xin to make us a feast when we get back and celebrate properly!"
"Yeah!"
Ma Hongjun was the first to cheer.
Oscar joined in.
Fu Wen walked at the back, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly.
Oscar's Flying Sausage and Ma Hongjun's Phoenix Holy Light Strike.
One could fly, and one could fight.
The three students at Shrek Academy were getting better and better.
By the time the group returned to the academy, the sky had already darkened.
Shao Xin had prepared the meal long ago. The table was laden with food, more lavish than a New Year's feast.
"You're back? Wash your hands and come eat!"
Shao Xin poked his head out of the kitchen. When he saw the three children were safe and sound, a smile spread across his face.
"Uncle Shao, what's good to eat today?"
Ma Hongjun was the first to rush into the dining hall, sniffing eagerly.
"Braised pork, sweet-and-sour ribs, steamed fish, chicken stewed with mushrooms..."
Shao Xin listed the dishes as he brought them out. "Is that enough?"
"More than enough!"
Ma Hongjun was practically drooling.
Flender walked in, glanced at the table full of food, and nodded with satisfaction.
"Old Shao, today's dinner is to celebrate Xiao Ao and Xiao Pang both getting Soul Rings. We need something special."
"Isn't this special enough?"
Shao Xin rolled his eyes. "If you don't like it, I can take a couple dishes away."
"Don't, don't!"
Flender hurriedly waved his hands. "I was just saying, just saying."
Zhao Wuji, Li Yusong, and Lu Qibin also came in one after another.
Seven people filled the round table to the brim.
"Come on, don't eat just yet."
Flender stood up and raised his wine cup. "I have a few words to say first."
"Today is a good day."
"Xiao Pang got a four-hundred-year Dawn Light Spirit Crane as his First Soul Ring, with the Phoenix Holy Light Strike Soul Skill. It can attack and purify."
"Xiao Ao got a seven-hundred-year Sharp-Tailed Rain Swallow as his Second Soul Ring, with the Flying Sausage Soul Skill. Eat it, and you can fly."
"Both children chose excellent Soul Rings, and they exceeded my expectations."
"So I'm raising this cup to the two of them."
Flender finished speaking and drained his cup.
"Dad, I'm not an adult yet. I can't drink."
Oscar raised his teacup. "I'll drink tea in place of wine."
"Me too."
Ma Hongjun raised his cup as well.
Flender waved his hand. "Do as you like. It's the thought that counts."
Zhao Wuji lifted his wine cup and looked at Oscar and Ma Hongjun, a rare smile on his face.
"Xiao Ao, save one of those Flying Sausages for me next time."
"I can fly, but I'm not as fast as a Sharp-Tailed Rain Swallow."
"With your sausage, it'll be easier for me to chase people down."
"No problem!"
Oscar thumped his chest. "Teacher Zhao, I'll make sure you always have one!"
"Get lost."
Zhao Wuji laughed and scolded him. "What do you mean, you'll make sure I have one? That sounds weird."
Everyone burst into laughter.
Li Yusong pushed up his glasses and looked at Ma Hongjun.
"Xiao Pang, I saw the power of your Phoenix Holy Light Strike today, but not its purifying effect."
"Tomorrow, show it to me on your own, and I'll take a closer look."
"Okay, Teacher Li."
Ma Hongjun nodded.
Lu Qibin said nothing, only quietly helped himself to food.
But his eyes kept moving between the three children, a smile on his lips.
After dinner, Flender called the three children out into the courtyard.
"Both of you got Soul Rings today. That's a good thing."
"But I want to remind you: Soul Rings are only an external source of power. What truly determines how far you'll go is your own effort."
"Starting tomorrow, we're doubling your training."
"Xiao Ao, you need to practice not only making Flying Sausages faster, but also keeping your flight steady."
"Xiao Pang, the power of your Phoenix Holy Light Strike is enough, but your aim still needs work. Starting tomorrow, you'll practice on targets."
"Xiao Wen, keep training the two of them in close combat."
"Understood."
The three answered in unison.
Flender nodded and went back inside.
That night.
Fu Wen lay in bed with his eyes closed, but he wasn't asleep.
He was thinking about what came next.
For now, the passive purification of Ma Hongjun's Phoenix Holy Light Strike had suppressed his Evil Fire.
But it wasn't a long-term solution.
The Dawn Light Spirit Crane's purifying power was limited. As Ma Hongjun's Soul Power grew, his Evil Fire would grow stronger, too.
When that happened, they'd have to find a higher-level Light-type Soul Beast.
Or...
Find an Immortal Herb.
Where had the Cockscomb Phoenix Sunflower been again?
Sunset Forest? Or the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well?
Fu Wen thought about it, then decided it was too early to worry about that.
Ma Hongjun only had one Soul Ring, and he only had one himself.
There was no need to go to those places until they were strong enough.
"Brother Wen, are you asleep?"
Ma Hongjun's voice came from the bed beside him.
"No."
Fu Wen opened his eyes. "What's wrong?"
"I just wanted to thank you."
Ma Hongjun's voice was quiet. "If it weren't for you today, I might still be worrying about my Evil Fire."
"What's there to thank me for?"
Fu Wen said calmly. "Just train hard from now on, and don't let this Soul Ring go to waste."
"Mm!"
Ma Hongjun nodded vigorously. "I'll work hard!"
Oscar turned over beside them and mumbled, "You two, stop talking. We have training tomorrow..."
"All right, all right. Go to sleep."
Ma Hongjun tucked himself back under the covers.
Fu Wen closed his eyes, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly.
The night wind swept through the window lattice, bringing a touch of coolness.
Moonlight spilled across the courtyard of Shrek Academy.
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