Qian Ni's Approval, the Misunderstanding That Almost Happened, and Tang San's Useless Inspiration

To knock Ning Rongrong down a peg, Flender called out the Seven Monsters one by one.

"Tang San and Xiao Wu—especially Tang San. You've seen his hidden weapons. Even Zhao Wuji, a Soul Sage, would suffer against them.

"They both possess Innate Full Soul Power. Even your talent falls short of theirs.

"Dai Mubai is a thirty-seventh-level Battle Soul Elder at fifteen. He was born with double pupils, and his martial soul is the top-tier beast martial soul, the White Tiger!

"He was only thirteen when he broke through to Soul Elder. Are you confident you could reach his level at that age?"

The more Flender spoke, the stranger he found it. Why did everyone lower their heads whenever he called them out?

So shy? What kind of monsters were they supposed to be? How was he supposed to lecture Ning Rongrong now?

What was wrong with everyone today?

Just as he was brooding over how to continue, Qian Ni appeared silently behind him like a ghost, chewing on a black biscuit.

"The Dean is right."

Flender jumped at the sudden voice.

Qian Ni ignored him, looked at Dai Mubai, and nodded approvingly.

"Dai Mubai, I told you last night.

"If you could withstand my first soul skill, you had every reason to be proud!

"You endured my Cursed Speech and held on until the end of the party without collapsing!

"Based on that alone, you've surpassed ninety percent of male Soul Masters.

"I acknowledge your will!"

Qian Ni raised a thumb in heartfelt admiration!

He truly meant it. He wouldn't have wanted to endure that Soul Curse himself.

Testiculus Torsio! (Testicular Torsion!)

How terrifying!

For Dai Mubai to endure it, even with Oscar's sausages supporting him, was enough to earn Qian Ni's admiration.

But Dai Mubai clearly didn't see it that way.

His eyes were full of terror.

Please shut that noble mouth of yours!

If he hadn't been unable to beat Qian Ni, he would've rushed up and covered Qian Ni's mouth.

Right after last night's bonfire party, he had immediately gone to Suotuo City to find a doctor.

Fortunately, Qian Ni's second Cursed Speech had twisted them back, and Oscar's sausages had also helped.

With timely treatment, no lasting damage had been left behind.

He was just a little inconvenienced in his movements for the time being.

Today, quite a few opponents at the Soul Arena had noticed this and specifically attacked his lower half, leaving Dai Mubai miserable and far more bedraggled than usual.

Hearing Qian Ni's assessment, Flender gave the two of them a surprised look.

"You sparred last night?"

He had originally thought that, because of Zhu Zhuqing, Qian Ni and Dai Mubai wouldn't get along.

Who would've thought the two of them were actually getting along so well!

Sure enough, Soul Masters only became acquainted after fighting.

That meant he no longer needed to worry about playing peacemaker between Dai Mubai, his student, and Qian Ni, his investor.

What he didn't know was that this wasn't them getting along. Dai Mubai had merely been beaten awake by a double assault on body and mind.

Flender didn't probe too deeply into Qian Ni's strength. He decided to maintain a sense of distance from his esteemed investor.

The man handed over money so readily, so there was no need to meddle too much.

The topic returned to Ning Rongrong, and Flender continued.

"So, Ning Rongrong, since you've chosen to stay.

"Then I hope you can gain something and grow during your time studying at Shrek Academy."

Ning Rongrong secretly rolled her eyes.

After droning on for so long, I've already found the greatest reward.

Hurry up and dismiss us! Don't get in the way of me getting closer to Brother Qian Ni!

On the way back to the dorms, Tang San suddenly cried out in shock.

"What? Xiao Wu, you spent the night at Qian Ni's place last night?"

One stone stirred up a thousand waves.

Dai Mubai, Ma Hongjun, and Oscar immediately turned their gazes over like flies catching a scent.

Especially Dai Mubai.

He hadn't expected what happened to him to happen to Tang San so soon.

Finally! He wasn't alone anymore!

Tang San and Xiao Wu were so close, and they were sworn siblings who had grown up together!

He could definitely understand how I felt now!

Definitely!

Dai Mubai stared intensely, waiting to hear the rest of Tang San and Xiao Wu's conversation.

"Why are you so worked up, Little San?

"It wasn't Qian Ni, it was Zhu Qing and Rongrong!

"Qian Ni wasn't in the room. Zhu Qing, Rongrong, and I slept together!

"Ah! It's all your fault, now I can't explain it properly!"

Xiao Wu hurriedly explained herself, nearly tying herself in knots.

As the group passed through the open space behind the dormitories, they immediately saw the villa released from Universal Capsule No. 1.

According to Qian Ni, that was his residence—and the dormitory for his underlings.

Xiao Wu staying over last night had been purely accidental. Out of hospitality, he hadn't kicked her out.

Tang San didn't doubt Xiao Wu. After six years together, he had already come to see her as his little sister.

He trusted her completely, so how could he suspect her?

His reaction just now had only been a momentary loss of composure from being too shocked.

"I believe you, Xiao Wu."

Tang San didn't say much else, answering with a firm gaze.

Xiao Wu calmed down and gave a proud snort.

"Of course you do. Zhu Qing and Rongrong are staying there because they chose to.

"My bed in the dorm is already made. Why would I stay somewhere else?

"Last night was just an accidental stay."

Xiao Wu's words carried a deeper meaning.

"Alright, it's getting late. I'm going back to the dorm to rest."

She left the group and headed alone toward the girls' dormitory.

Zhu Zhuqing and Ning Rongrong followed behind Qian Ni and returned to the villa.

Dai Mubai stared blankly at Zhu Zhuqing's retreating figure in her maid outfit.

Only after a long while did he turn and leave without a word.

Seeing there was no bigger piece of gossip to enjoy, Ma Hongjun also lost interest.

As for Oscar, seeing Ning Rongrong disappear through the villa doors without hesitation broke his heart once more.

What about Tang San?

The same answer as before: he trusted Xiao Wu completely, just as Xiao Wu trusted him.

The overnight stay was nothing more than a minor interlude.

What occupied more of his thoughts was cultivation.

Qian Ni had once said that there were three reasons he could absorb a ten-thousand-year-level Soul Ring as his first Soul Ring.

First, Whale Rubber.

Second, after reaching level ten Soul Power, he didn't absorb a Soul Ring. Instead, he continued cultivating and strengthened his body until it could withstand the pressure of a Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Ring.

Third, sufficient mental willpower.

Tang San was immediately tempted after hearing that.

But he quickly came to his senses and didn't lose himself in fantasies of a Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Ring.

First, obtaining Whale Rubber was a problem.

How could one obtain thousand-year, ten-thousand-year, or even higher-grade Whale Rubber?

Could the human body withstand it? What were the taboos?

Second, instead of absorbing a Soul Ring, one would continue cultivating. While that could indeed raise Soul Power, could bodily strengthening really keep up with the expected pace?

And without a Soul Ring came no soul skills. For ordinary Soul Masters, doing this meant being a blank slate. In the early stages, even if they had thirty or forty levels of Soul Power, they still wouldn't fight as well as a Soul Master with a single Soul Ring.

Even if this method truly worked, it wasn't suited for everyone.

Qian Ni's absurd feat of gaining a Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Ring as his first ring surely had more reasons behind it.

But even so, it still gave Tang San plenty of inspiration.

He couldn't blindly wait until his Soul Power met the requirements before obtaining a Soul Ring of a fixed age.

Since he had ambitions, he should strive toward higher levels step by step.

If Soul Rings required physical fitness, then take medicine! Temper the body!

If they required mental willpower... uh, there was no solution for that yet. He could only rely on his own foundation.

In short, the Mysterious Heaven Skill was enough to sustain him for a lifetime. He couldn't be halfhearted.

Shrek Academy fell into silence. Teachers, students, the investor, and the underlings all returned to their own little nests.

Only the Alien in the cafeteria still squatted foolishly inside its iron shell, waiting for someone to collect its pure heat-dissipating saliva.