First Day of School

At dawn, Tang San climbed onto the roof, intending to practice the Purple Demon Eye. He spotted two familiar figures already working out on the field not far away.

It felt like he was back at Nuoding Academy.

Even breakfast was much like what they'd had on the first floor of the Nuoding Academy cafeteria.

Steamed buns, porridge, and pickles—enough to fill your stomach, but don't expect anything nutritious.

Of course, back then, as soon as Jiang Jiu had a little money, he started heading upstairs. He'd never shortchange his own body, and naturally, things were no different now.

"Here, your breakfasts."

In the cafeteria, Xiao Wu handed Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing the breakfasts she and Jiang Jiu had bought in Suotuo City. Jiang Jiu also passed a portion to Tang San.

"Wow, thanks!" Ning Rongrong accepted it without hesitation, while Zhu Zhuqing murmured her thanks.

Aside from a few villagers in charge of preparing the food, the only ones in the cafeteria were the five new students.

It was no surprise that Zhu Zhuqing had arrived so early. Ning Rongrong, on the other hand, hadn't even slept in. She wasn't as lazy as they might have expected.

Judging by their enthusiasm for breakfast, the three returning students at Shrek Academy were the ones who slacked off the most.

"Xiao Wu, do you really drink that much soy milk? Is that why you have such a—" A peeled egg was stuffed into Ning Rongrong's mouth.

"That egg's your treat." Xiao Wu drank her soy milk as she peeled another egg one-handed.

She didn't mind chatting with Ning Rongrong about this sort of thing in private, but the Shrek Academy cafeteria was a little too public.

"Xiao Jiu, say ah~"

She'd learned the one-handed egg-peeling trick from Jiang Jiu. Ever since she'd mastered it, whenever there were boiled eggs to eat, she got to play with them.

By the time Ning Rongrong finally managed to swallow the egg, Jiang Jiu and the others had already cleared their plates in a whirlwind.

"I've been meaning to say this since yesterday. You guys can really eat," Ning Rongrong remarked.

Xiao Wu didn't take offense at being called a big eater. After all, Ning Rongrong had been their benefactor yesterday and treated them to the meal.

Besides, she wasn't the vegetarian she used to be. This was what Jiang Jiu had really raised her into.

"If I don't eat plenty, where am I supposed to get the strength to exercise? Besides, Xiao Jiu likes my figure just the way it is."

"Yeah, yeah, I know you've got a big butt." Ning Rongrong was still a little annoyed that Xiao Wu had forced an egg on her. She always ate in tiny bites.

Zhu Zhuqing listened quietly from the side, and began to take notes.

She'd always stopped eating once she'd had enough, but now she decided to work her way up to Jiang Jiu and Xiao Wu's appetites. She still chewed with composure, but she started shoveling food into her mouth much faster.

Once they'd nearly finished breakfast, a few portions were still left on the table.

After tidying up in a hurry, they planned to find a place to see what the Crystal Board Tang San had mentioned could do.

By the time Dai Mubai led Ma Hongjun into the cafeteria, Jiang Jiu and the others had already left.

Dai Mubai glared at Ma Hongjun, who was wolfing down his food. It was all this damn fatty's fault that he'd run late, wasting all the time he'd spent getting ready early that morning. At least he'd get to see Zhu Zhuqing again after the bell rang.

"Boss Dai, don't just stand there watching. Come eat!"

"I wonder who put together such a lavish breakfast. What a good person! It'd be even better if we could eat like this every day!"

"You can afford to buy your own." Dai Mubai sat down too.

"With that money, I might as well save up and go... heh heh..." He let out a lecherous chuckle.

Dai Mubai was at a loss. He liked to fool around too, but he couldn't hold a candle to Ma Hongjun's lecherous streak.

They made strained small talk on and off until at last the clang of the bell rang out. Dai Mubai immediately headed for the main field.

"Boss Dai, wait up! It's a shame to leave all that good food unfinished!"

Dai Mubai walked even faster.

They reached the field.

"My god!"

Ma Hongjun's eyes were practically bulging out of his head, and drool was running from his mouth. Dai Mubai couldn't take it anymore. He hurried over, hooked an arm around Oscar's shoulders, and switched places with him, putting Oscar between himself and Ma Hongjun.

Being lecherous wasn't the problem, buddy. You're taking it a little too far.

Dai Mubai had tried chatting up every one of them himself, and every single one had turned him down, but at least he'd kept up appearances.

"Tang San, why don't you use one of your Dragon Whisker Needles to stick that lecherous fatty?" Ning Rongrong found Ma Hongjun's lovestruck expression utterly repulsive. Then again, none of the girls liked it.

"Xiao Jiu, can you teach him a lesson? No, wait, somehow I feel like that'd reward him." Xiao Wu hid behind Jiang Jiu.

Ning Rongrong copied her and hid behind Xiao Wu. Zhu Zhuqing alone stared at Ma Hongjun with lifeless eyes. He looked back at her until a shiver ran down his spine, leaving him feeling as though a chill had crept over him.

Flender, walking over from a short distance away, was at a loss too. He'd chosen this disciple, so he'd have to put up with him. All he could say was that he needed to take the boy along more often and help him blow off steam.

"Ma Hongjun!"

"P-Principal!" Ma Hongjun snapped to attention.

"The academy has a clear rule against harassing female students, doesn't it?" Flender's stern expression still carried plenty of authority.

"I—I was only looking. Just looking," Ma Hongjun said, trying to reassure himself.

"Run twenty laps around the field."

Ma Hongjun breathed a sigh of relief. Not bad—it was much lighter than the punishment he'd expected.

Once Ma Hongjun started running laps, Flender used the opportunity to make an example of him.

Watching the new students become more attentive, Flender secretly congratulated himself.

"Although we've already met, let me give you a proper introduction."

"I'm Flender, principal of Shrek Academy. On behalf of the academy, I welcome you all."

"Oh, and remember to see Teacher Li Yusong later to pay this year's tuition: one hundred Gold Soul Coins."

Everything up to that point had been proper. The last line, though, brought the whole thing down a notch. But that was Flender for you.

Seeing that no one objected, Flender nodded in satisfaction.

Great. That was five hundred Gold Soul Coins in the bag.

Over six years, that would come to three thousand Gold Soul Coins.

Li Yusong still underestimated Shrek Academy. This was why Flender was the principal, not him.

But once he'd taken their money, he had to do the job too.

He looked at Jiang Jiu and Tang San.

"Normally, Shrek Academy has a set plan for the first lesson of the school year."

"But this year is different. There are two students among you who've reached level thirty."

Flender paused there.

Honestly, reaching level thirty at twelve was absurd. Flender had never seen a Little Monster at that level, let alone one who'd reached level thirty-four. He'd been genuinely shocked when he came back last night and saw their full records.

So this time, even he, the principal, would have to join the Soul Hunting expedition.

"Your task today is to rest well and build up your strength."

"Tomorrow, I'll personally lead the team and help the two of them obtain their third Soul Rings."

"You'll all be coming along too."

"This is a trial, and it's also your first lesson."

"Dismissed!"

Jiang Jiu did Flender the courtesy of applauding.

How many hundred Gold Soul Coins would it take to get a Soul Saint to personally help you hunt for a Soul Ring, one-on-one? Shrek Academy was far too kind.