Ma Hongjun, Oscar!

Tang San set his bundle on the bedboard and began sorting through his things. "This academy is even smaller than I imagined. Besides Flander and Zhao Wuji, are there any other teachers?"

"There should also be a teacher who teaches soul beast theory." Yun Tian recalled information from the original work. "But Shrek's specialty is elite education. There are few students and few teachers, but every student receives tailored guidance."

Tang San nodded and did not ask any more questions.

His experiences traveling over the past six years had long made him indifferent to things like whether the environment was good or bad. As long as he could grow stronger, he could endure living in a cave.

The voices of Ma Hongjun and Oscar came from next door. The two seemed to be arguing about something, their banter mixed with laughter and mock curses.

Tang San listened for a while, then smiled. "It's lively, at least."

After settling into the boys' dormitory, Yun Tian went down to the playground for some air.

The midday sun was warm. He leaned against the trunk of an old locust tree and closed his eyes to rest.

Flander had said there would be arrangements at two in the afternoon. Yun Tian knew exactly what they were: a Shrek Academy tradition. The first thing after enrollment was to "get to know one another." Put simply, it was a preliminary match between the new students.

But given the current makeup of the five of them, there was not much point in a trial battle.

Tang San, Xiao Wu, and he had worked together for six years. They could recite one another's fighting styles with their eyes closed.

Although Zhu Zhuqing had only joined them recently, she had already shown impressive awareness of teamwork over the course of their day together yesterday.

Ning Rongrong was an auxiliary-system soul master, and her close-combat ability was practically nonexistent. But the boosts from her Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda were far too valuable. Her future worth to the team far surpassed that of an ordinary attack-type soul master.

The afternoon sunlight spread warmly across the playground, while the insects in the grass chirped one after another.

Leaning against the tree trunk, Yun Tian gradually relaxed the nerves that had been tense all morning.

Now and then, dogs barked and children laughed beyond Shrek Academy's fence, blending with the everyday bustle of Soto City and giving this run-down campus an unusual sense of peace.

He suddenly remembered himself six years ago, when he had just transmigrated here—an orphan who had received the Earth Shadow Stone during his awakening ceremony, with pockets emptier than his face, full of curiosity and caution toward everything in this world.

Six years had passed. He had younger siblings, trustworthy companions, skills enough to gain a foothold in the world of soul masters, and a stable source of income.

The road beneath his feet was growing broader and broader.

"Brother Yun! What are you spacing out for?" Xiao Wu's voice called from nearby.

She had changed into Shrek's dark green uniform. Though the style was a little rustic, she still looked lively and playful in it.

Zhu Zhuqing followed behind her, also dressed in the uniform. Her long black hair was tied into a high ponytail, making her seem less cold and severe than before, with more of the freshness proper to a young person.

Ning Rongrong wandered over as well. She had not put on the uniform, still wearing her pale yellow dress and fanning herself with her small white jade fan, every bit the young lady. "What exactly is the plan this afternoon? Headmaster Flander has been acting so mysterious. He refuses to tell us in advance."

"Probably to let you all get acquainted." Yun Tian opened his eyes and smiled. "By fighting each other or something."

"Fighting again?" Xiao Wu rubbed her hands together, her eyes lighting up. "Perfect! I didn't get enough of a fight against Teacher Zhao this morning. This afternoon, I'm going to have a proper spar with all of you!"

Tang San emerged from the dormitory building. He had changed into the uniform as well. The Blue Silver Grass vines had been neatly retracted, and he looked like an ordinary, handsome young man.

But those eyes, made ever deeper by the Purple Demon Eye, gave him away. No experienced soul master could miss the sharpness hidden beneath his calm exterior.

"Everyone's here." Yun Tian straightened away from the tree trunk and patted the dust from his back. "Let's go wait at the playground."

The five youths crossed the stone path between the school buildings and headed toward the playground.

The afternoon sun stretched their shadows into five silhouettes of varying lengths, drifting slowly over the grass.

At the second-floor window of the boys' dormitory, a blond figure with mismatched eyes stood silently, watching the backs of those five people on the playground.

Dai Mubai leaned against the window frame, a bronze student token clenched in his hand as his thumb repeatedly rubbed along its edge.

He watched for a long time, his gaze lingering longest on the figure with the black high ponytail.

Then he turned, tucked the token into his clothes, and pushed open the dormitory door.

Some things could not be avoided. Then he would face them.

As Dai Mubai descended the dormitory stairs, the door to the neighboring room happened to open, and Ma Hongjun and Oscar came out one after the other.

Ma Hongjun was still holding a half-eaten chicken leg, while Oscar stuffed a handful of sausage crumbs into his mouth as he walked, mumbling something indistinctly through his mouthful.

"Yo, Boss Dai! You're here too!" When Ma Hongjun saw him, he waved the chicken bone in greeting. "Come on, let's go watch the fun at the playground! I heard one of the five newcomers is a four-ring Soul Ancestor, and this morning he pushed Teacher Zhao so hard that he had to use his Martial Soul True Body! I've never seen anything that ridiculous in my life!"

Oscar added from behind him, "I heard there's also a young lady from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. That's the number one auxiliary-system martial soul in the world. Heh, our academy really struck gold this time."

Dai Mubai gave a quiet grunt. His expression was neither pleasant nor unpleasant, and he merely followed the two of them toward the playground in silence.

Ma Hongjun and Oscar exchanged a look. Both of them sensed that something was off with Dai Mubai today.

Usually, Boss Dai kept a stern face most of the time, but he could at least crack a few jokes. Today, he had barely said a word on his own since morning.

"Boss Dai, what exactly is going on between you and that newcomer?" Ma Hongjun leaned closer and lowered his voice. "I heard from Teacher Zhao that you fought last night. You lost? That's no big deal. He's a four-ring Soul Ancestor, while you're only..."

"Level thirty-seven. The gap is huge." Dai Mubai cut him off, his tone calm. "I lost, so I lost. I admit it."

Ma Hongjun choked on his words and awkwardly did not ask any further questions.

By the time the three arrived at the playground, Yun Tian's group of five was already standing in a row.

Flander stood at the front, holding a branch he had found somewhere and using it to draw a crooked circle on the ground. When he saw Dai Mubai and the others arrive, he beckoned them over. "Perfect, everyone's here. Let me formally introduce you."

"This is Dai Mubai. White Tiger martial soul, level thirty-seven, three-ring Soul Elder. You met him yesterday."

Flander tapped Dai Mubai with the branch, then pointed it at Ma Hongjun. "This is Ma Hongjun. Evil Fire Phoenix martial soul, level twenty-eight, two-ring Great Soul Master. That bearded fellow over there is Oscar, a food-system soul master, level twenty-nine, two-ring Great Soul Master. His sausages can be extremely important at critical moments."

Oscar grinned at the five newcomers, showing a mouthful of white teeth. "Hello, everyone. If you want sausages in the future, come find me. I've got plenty."