On top of that, Tang San and Xiao Wu seemed to be a couple at the academy, as did Dai Mubai and Zhu Zhuqing.
Seeing everyone else dating made Oscar feel unbalanced.
That was why he had relentlessly pursued Ning Rongrong, hoping to win her over and make her his.
But now, Oscar had realized that Ning Rongrong didn't like him.
She wasn't a tree worth giving up an entire forest for.
Besides, his pride wouldn't let him become a lapdog and servant at Ning Rongrong's side.
So Oscar shook his head and said, "Rongrong, Mubai is my good brother. I could never hurt him."
Dai Mubai gave a wicked smile. "Xiao Ao, Ning Rongrong isn't a good woman. She's covered in thorns—they prick you to the bone! There are plenty of good women out there. We don't need to circle around her like lapdogs."
"Boss Dai, you're right."
Oscar nodded in agreement.
If you couldn't have her, then slander her. Then destroy her!
Then he turned to Ning Rongrong and launched into a long speech. "Rongrong, if you want to leave Shrek Academy, then go ahead. We won't stop you. Besides, we're all classmates. You don't need to treat us like servants. The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect may be rich, but money can't do everything. No matter how many Gold Soul Coins you have, you can't buy me, Boss Dai, Tang San, or Hongjun and make us obey your every command like servants."
After he finished, Oscar said to Dai Mubai, "Boss Dai, let's put this matter behind us for my sake and Xiao San's. We're all classmates. Fighting isn't good."
Dai Mubai smiled. "Xiao Ao, looks like you still have a soft spot for that thorny woman."
"Fine, Xiao San, Xiao Ao. For your sakes, I won't lay a hand on her."
As he spoke, Dai Mubai shot Ning Rongrong a cold glance with his Evil Eye, then added:
"Remember this: if Zhuqing hadn't stepped in to stop me, and Xiao San and Xiao Ao hadn't come to break up the fight, you'd already be crippled!"
"And this isn't your home. Don't provoke me again, or I won't care who you are. I'll beat you just the same whether you're from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, the Eight Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, or even the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect!"
"Xiao Ao, let's go."
Leaving those words behind, Dai Mubai strode off toward the academy.
"Boss Dai, calm down. Don't be angry!"
Oscar followed him like a lackey, trying to soothe him.
A look of disgust flashed through Ning Rongrong's beautiful eyes. She murmured, "You don't have an ounce of backbone. You're no man!"
Dai Mubai and Oscar left.
Tang San and Xiao Wu were about to leave, too.
"Ning Rongrong, this is Shrek Academy, not the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. If you still want to stay, you should think things over and adjust your arrogant attitude. Everyone here is equal."
Tang San spoke without warmth or hostility.
Beside him, Xiao Wu tried to comfort her. "Dai Mubai has a bad temper, and he's in a bad mood today. Rongrong, don't take this to heart. We're all the best of classmates."
"Mm." Ning Rongrong gave a faint nod and murmured a brief reply.
"Xiao Wu, let's go," Tang San said.
Then Tang San and Xiao Wu left as well.
Only Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing remained.
There was no one around. The moonlight was cold, and even the breeze carried a chill.
With everything over, the alluring look on Zhu Zhuqing's face faded, replaced by her usual cool expression. Without a word, she turned and headed through the academy gates.
"Wait, Zhuqing! I haven't thanked you for stepping in to help me!"
Ning Rongrong called after her.
Zhu Zhuqing replied without a trace of emotion, "There's no need to thank me. I just couldn't stand Dai Mubai's behavior."
With that, she continued walking.
The cold moonlight stretched Zhu Zhuqing's shadow long behind her. A deathly, icy aura radiated from her, making her hard to approach.
"Wait, Zhuqing!" Ning Rongrong called again. She ran up, took her hand, and said, "There's something else I want to talk to you about."
Feeling the warmth of Ning Rongrong's palm, Zhu Zhuqing paused, then pulled her hand back.
"What is it?" Zhu Zhuqing asked.
"Zhuqing, didn't you say that as long as something made you stronger, you'd do it right away, no matter what it was?"
A sly glint flashed in Ning Rongrong's beautiful eyes. She looked at Zhu Zhuqing with utmost seriousness.
"I did. What about it?"
"Zhuqing, what if I told you I could make you stronger in a short time—strong enough to surpass Dai Mubai within a month? Would you be willing to become my good friend?"
Hearing Ning Rongrong's words, Zhu Zhuqing paused again.
She had thought Ning Rongrong wanted to spend money and pull strings to make her obey like a servant or subordinate.
But the words "good friend" that Ning Rongrong had spoken made Zhu Zhuqing's slender body tense with surprise.
Zhu Zhuqing was a pitiful person—lonely, without a single friend.
She also believed her birth had been a mistake, and that she was destined to die in pain.
But Zhu Zhuqing wasn't willing to accept it. She wanted to take a chance and fight against the fate her family had arranged for her.
That was why she had come from the Star Luo Empire to Shrek Academy in Suotuo City, Heaven Dou Empire, to find Dai Mubai and see if anything could be changed.
But Dai Mubai's behavior had been thoroughly disappointing, chilling Zhu Zhuqing's heart even further.
Already lonely, Zhu Zhuqing now felt even more alone.
Now, hearing those three precious words—"good friend"—moved something inside her.
Friendship was another rare and precious thing she longed to have.
Still, on the surface, Zhu Zhuqing remained cool and expressionless.
Now interested, she asked without giving anything away:
"Make me stronger? How do you plan to do that?"
"Dai Mubai may be a scumbag, but he's more than three years older than me, and his Soul Power Level is as high as thirty-seven—ten full levels above me. I'm only at level twenty-seven right now."
"While I improve, he'll improve, too. Even if I trained day and night without stopping, I couldn't surpass him within three years."
"Let alone within a month?"
Zhu Zhuqing was stating a fact as she questioned Ning Rongrong.
There was indeed a gap between her and Dai Mubai.
Zhu Zhuqing didn't believe she could surpass Dai Mubai within a month.
"Zhuqing, don't sell yourself short!" Ning Rongrong said earnestly. "Maybe you couldn't do it alone, but with my help, you can absolutely surpass that short-tempered tiger within a month!"
A doubtful look crossed Zhu Zhuqing's beautiful face. "Your help? Rongrong, what can you do?"
"I have my ways. But first, you have to leave Shrek Academy and come with me. Are you willing?"
Ning Rongrong asked.
Zhu Zhuqing's gaze was firm as she replied without hesitation, "I came to Shrek Academy to get stronger. If you can help me grow stronger faster, Rongrong, I'll leave Shrek Academy without a second thought!"
"Good!" Ning Rongrong said emphatically. "Zhuqing, that's exactly what I was waiting to hear."
After speaking, she brushed her slender, beautiful fingers over the gem on her belt and channeled a wisp of Soul Power into it, taking out a small glass vial.
"What's this?" Zhu Zhuqing looked over. Inside the little bottle was a yellow liquid. It seemed unusual.
Ning Rongrong carefully explained, "It's called a Great Spirit Master Grade Experience Potion. It's only for Soul Masters at the Soul Grandmaster level. One bottle equals one level, and it takes effect immediately!"
Zhu Zhuqing listened while examining the potion, still hesitant.
"Zhuqing, don't tell me you think it's poison and that I'm trying to hurt you?"
Ning Rongrong rolled her eyes at her.
Zhu Zhuqing didn't reply, but the hesitation in her beautiful eyes said it all.
"Come on, Zhuqing, am I really that bad?" Ning Rongrong said, sounding a little aggrieved.
Zhu Zhuqing's expression was solemn as she replied, "Rongrong, it's not that I don't trust you. It's just so sudden. If you have something this good, why not keep it for yourself? With this, shouldn't you reach level thirty before Tang San and Xiao Wu? There's too much about this that doesn't make sense to me."
At that, Ning Rongrong smiled. "Good, Zhuqing. I'm very satisfied and reassured by how cautious you are. It proves you have a good head on your shoulders and aren't just a silly girl. You're worthy of being my good friend!"
"Rongrong, get to the point!" Zhu Zhuqing said calmly. "Prove that this Experience Potion isn't poisonous and that it really can raise a Soul Master's level, and I'll believe you!"
"Fine, Zhuqing. First, I'll tell you that I've taken four bottles of Experience Potion, and my Soul Power Level is now thirty. On top of that, my Seven Treasures Glazed Pagoda has become an Eight Treasures Glazed Pagoda."
"Is that enough to prove I'm telling the truth?"
Ning Rongrong said.
Zhu Zhuqing's beautiful eyes trembled. Surprised and astonished, she said, "Rongrong, release your Martial Soul and let me see. Also, I'll sense the strength of the Soul Power fluctuations around you."
"Fine, take a good look!"
Ning Rongrong nodded.
There was no one around, and the place was deserted. She didn't need to worry about anyone else seeing.
"Eight Treasures Glazed Pagoda!"
Soul Power surged within Ning Rongrong as she extended her right hand and summoned her Martial Soul.
Colorful light flashed and gathered in the palm of her right hand, where an eight-colored pagoda, over a foot tall, rose into view.
Its precious light shimmered, and its regal aura was overwhelming. Ning Rongrong looked as though she had drifted down from the heavens, breathtakingly beautiful.
Ning Rongrong lifted her chin and said proudly, "Zhuqing, I've suddenly gone blind and can't see. Count the tiers of my Glazed Pagoda for me, will you?"
Hearing that, Zhu Zhuqing began to count under her breath. "One, two, three... eight!"
"Eight tiers!!!"
Zhu Zhuqing was stunned. Her beautiful eyes widened, and her shapely little mouth fell open as if she could fit a baby's fist inside.
She truly hadn't expected that in just one night,
Ning Rongrong would turn the Seven Treasures Glazed Pagoda into an Eight Treasures Glazed Pagoda.
It was simply unbelievable!
And there was something even more unbelievable!
A smile appeared on Ning Rongrong's pretty face, more beautiful than any flower. She said, "Zhuqing, now sense the Soul Power fluctuations around me again. Can you tell that I'm at level thirty?"
"I'll sense it."
Zhu Zhuqing answered, moving closer to Ning Rongrong and carefully feeling the Soul Power fluctuations around her.
"Th-this really is level thirty!"
Zhu Zhuqing could indeed sense that Rongrong's Soul Power fluctuations were far stronger than her own.
Her shapely little mouth fell open, her jaw seeming to smack against the ground!
Level thirty!
Ning Rongrong had actually reached level thirty!!
With the Eight Treasures Glazed Pagoda and level-thirty Soul Power cultivation,
Zhu Zhuqing finally understood. "No wonder Rongrong looks so confident and keeps saying she'll leave Shrek Academy!"
Seeing Zhu Zhuqing's wonderfully expressive reaction, Ning Rongrong was very pleased and secretly laughed to herself.
"Well, Zhuqing, I didn't lie to you, did I? Everything I said was true! So, does that prove this Experience Potion is genuine?"