Ma Hongjun and Oscar

Dai Mubai thought of his fiancée, Zhu Zhuqing, who was far away in the Star Luo Empire.

There was barely any trace of her in the original owner's memories. Presumably, before the two had even met, Dai Mubai had already arrived in Suotuo City.

Back when he watched the anime in his previous life, Zhu Zhuqing's icy temperament, explosive figure, and exquisite features had undoubtedly made her a stunning beauty.

Thinking of the original Dai Mubai, he really was a piece of trash. To avoid the competition, he had abandoned Zhu Zhuqing in Star Luo Empire while he himself indulged in pleasure in Suotuo City, surrounded by women.

However, things had already come to this. He had arrived in the Heaven Dou Empire less than a month ago. Going back now would definitely be inappropriate.

"Forget it."

Dai Mubai withdrew his gaze, and his eyes gradually hardened with resolve.

Since he already knew Zhu Zhuqing would safely reach Suotuo City three years later, he would deal with it then.

What he needed to do now was become as strong as possible over the next three years. Even if he had to resort to any means necessary, he would prove himself through action and strength.

Dai Mubai took a deep breath, forcing his surging emotions back down, then pushed open the door and went downstairs.

"Take care, Young Master Dai! Please come again!"

When the waiter in the lobby saw him coming down, he immediately bowed, his voice fawning.

Dai Mubai ignored him and walked straight out of the Rose Hotel.

The night wind rushed against his face, carrying the distinctive bustle of Suotuo City.

Following the route in the original owner's memories, he left Suotuo City through the western gate and headed toward that dilapidated village.

About half an hour later, Dai Mubai stopped before a signboard that looked ready to collapse.

A tattered sign hung above the entrance, bearing five crooked words: "Shrek Academy."

Beside it was a monster drawing with green skin, a huge head, and round eyes. It looked indescribably ridiculous.

Dai Mubai shook his head and smiled helplessly.

It was already deep into the night, and the academy was silent.

Dai Mubai headed straight to the dormitory building in the back courtyard, pushed open the door on the far left, and entered his bedroom.

The room was so simply furnished that it was practically shabby: a hard wooden bed, a table, and two chairs.

"Since I'm here, I might as well make the best of it."

Dai Mubai did not dwell on it. He closed the door behind him, sat cross-legged on the bed, and began planning his cultivation regimen.

His Soul Power was only level twenty-five.

Dai Mubai could not help mocking the original owner. He was seriously pathetic.

After all, when Tang San and the others came to enroll at Shrek three years later, Zhu Zhuqing would be level twenty-seven before even turning twelve. Even Ma Hongjun, as lazy as he was, would be level twenty-six at twelve.

It was easy to imagine how glaringly weak level twenty-five was.

Yet when Dai Mubai first appeared, he was level thirty-seven.

In other words, Dai Mubai had gained twelve levels in those three years. His Soul Power had improved far faster than it had before he came to Shrek.

Could it be that, back in the Star Luo Empire, Dai Weisi had suppressed him so badly that he had not dared to cultivate? Besides, there really were not many memories about cultivation in the original owner's mind.

Still, that also showed that after the original owner came to Shrek, although he had been promiscuous and willingly degenerate, he had not neglected cultivation too badly.

More than anything, his mentality had become listless and depressed. He had lost the courage to compete and strive, along with the kingly dominance a "White Tiger" should possess.

Even so, Dai Mubai knew that twelve levels in three years was nowhere near enough for him.

Since he had decided to walk his own path in this life, even to become enemies with Tang San, then every step he took had to be ahead of the other man.

To achieve that, everything had to begin now.

Dai Mubai exhaled a breath of stale air, calmed his mind, and entered meditation.

Soul Power slowly circulated through his meridians, and he could clearly sense that this body's foundation was fairly solid.

The Innate Soul Power of level nine had given him not only a high starting point, but also broad and resilient meridians.

Soul Power surged along its cultivation route. With every completed cycle, it became a little more condensed.

Dai Mubai gradually immersed himself in it. His breathing became long and even, and time itself seemed to lose all meaning.

Who knew how long had passed before the first rooster crowed outside the window and the eastern sky began to pale.

Dai Mubai slowly opened his eyes. A faint golden sharpness flashed through them before vanishing.

He felt his Soul Power brimming within him, while his mind had never been clearer. One night of meditative cultivation had not broken through his bottleneck, but his Soul Power had clearly improved by a trace.

After getting up and washing briefly, Dai Mubai pushed open the door and walked onto the training field. He stretched his limbs, then started running to warm up.

No matter how grand the plan, it had to be carried out step by step. For now, he would begin with half an hour of endurance running.

Teachers and students gradually began getting up throughout the academy.

As Flender passed by, he looked at Dai Mubai on the training field with a thoughtful expression.

Ma Hongjun and Oscar wandered to the entrance of the dining hall, yawning. When they saw Dai Mubai running laps, drenched in sweat, they exchanged a glance, their faces full of disbelief.

"Am I seeing things? Is that Boss Dai?" Ma Hongjun rubbed his eyes.

Oscar yawned. "Maybe I'm still asleep and dreaming!"

Dai Mubai ignored them. After finishing his final lap, he steadied his breathing and walked into the dining hall.

Breakfast was extremely simple: porridge, steamed buns, and a small dish of pickled vegetables. There was not even an egg.

Dai Mubai carried his bowl over and sat down, grumbling inwardly. This food is terrible. There's no way it can support long-term high-intensity cultivation.

He would have to speak to Flender later about improving the meals.

In any case, he was not short of money. When he left the palace, his mother had secretly given him one million Gold Soul Coins, more than enough for him to spend freely.

The body was his capital, and nutrition had to keep up. If necessary, he could just run to Suotuo City to eat.

As he was thinking, Oscar and Ma Hongjun came over with their bowls and boxed him in from both sides.

"Boss Dai, what's going on today? Why did you suddenly start running?" Oscar asked.

Ma Hongjun nodded along, his small eyes darting around. "Yeah, yeah. Were those two girls at the Rose Hotel too fierce last night, leaving you willing but unable?"

Dai Mubai raised his eyes and glared at Ma Hongjun.

Ma Hongjun shrank his neck and quickly lowered his head to shovel down porridge.

Dai Mubai did not answer immediately. A thought passed through his mind.

Ma Hongjun was nine years old now, with Soul Power at level sixteen.

His Martial Soul was the top-tier Beast Martial Soul, the Evil Fire Phoenix. He had Innate Soul Power of level nine and extremely high talent.

But because he needed to release the Evil Fire produced by his Martial Soul's flaw, Flender had led him astray at such a young age. He had no choice but to visit brothels to vent the fire, gradually becoming addicted to them as well.

Not only had this slowed his cultivation, but he had also picked up a whole body of bad habits in those filthy, chaotic places.

As long as Dai Mubai could help Ma Hongjun suppress the Evil Fire and guide him onto the right path, then when he returned to the Star Luo Empire in the future, this little fatso would definitely become his right-hand man.

As for Oscar, he was eleven this year, with Soul Power at level twenty-two.

As a food-type Soul Master with Innate Full Soul Power, his value went without saying.

Especially in a place as desperately poor as Shrek, there was no need to even mention a mimic cultivation environment. They did not have any decent resources at all.

At a time like this, Oscar's Super Recovery Sausage was practically a strategic resource.

Just imagine it: after being utterly exhausted, eat a few Big Sausages, and both stamina and Soul Power would rapidly recover to full. Even hidden injuries could be healed. Wasn't that basically a mobile health pack?

These two had to be brought under his command.