Zhou Sichen froze, thinking he had misheard. "Huh? Whatever? Youheng, that's... sure, I'm not one of the people you usually fawn over, but I'm still your roommate. You don't have to brush me off like that."
Only then did Dai Youheng stop what he was doing. He turned toward Zhou Sichen and asked, "Once you reach Soul Saint, Soul Douluo, or even Titled Douluo, will your first two Soul Skills still matter?"
"Uh..." The question caught Zhou Sichen off guard.
"Soul Beasts summoned by a mere pair of Hundred-Year Soul Rings," Dai Youheng said evenly, his voice carrying a piercing calm. "If you someday break through to the Titled Douluo Realm and fight opponents at the same level, how much use do you think the Demon Bear and Demon Tiger summoned by your Hundred-Year Soul Rings will be on a battlefield like that? Could they even take part in a fight at that level?"
Zhou Sichen opened his mouth but could offer no rebuttal. Hundred-Year Soul Rings did indeed have a very low ceiling. In the later stages, unless the Martial Soul itself was exceptionally unusual or some other fortuitous opportunity arose, Hundred-Year Soul Skills would generally be phased out or relegated to support.
"So," Dai Youheng continued, as though stating something perfectly obvious, "there's no need to fixate on offense for your third and fourth Soul Rings. Instead, you could look for Soul Beasts with special support abilities. For instance, ones that can boost your other summoned beasts' strength by a percentage, provide group buffs, or inflict negative effects. Build your support framework first."
"Then, starting with your fifth Soul Ring, when you begin absorbing Ten Thousand Year Soul Rings, focus on choosing genuinely powerful combat-oriented Soul Beasts to add to your tome, based on your role in the team or your personal preferences. Those will form the core of your fighting strength. That way, your support Soul Skills can remain useful all along, strengthening your main summoned beasts."
He paused, then added one last remark with the faintest hint of teasing. "Of course, if your expectations for yourself stop at the lower ranks, and all you want is to stomp weaklings at the Soul Ancestor or Soul Elder level, pretend I never said anything. Continuing to stack Power Attack System abilities would work just fine."
With that, he left Zhou Sichen to his thoughts and resumed organizing his luggage.
Zhou Sichen sat utterly stunned in his chair, staring blankly at the empty desktop before him as Dai Youheng's words echoed through his mind.
Exactly! Hundred-Year Soul Skills have limited future potential. Why should I let my first two Soul Skills restrict my future development? Build a support system first, then choose my core summoned beasts once the quality of my Soul Rings improves! Now that's truly farsighted planning!
He abruptly raised his head and looked at his roommate, whose demeanor seemed completely different from before the break and whose words were filled with calm insight. His eyes shone with shock and sudden understanding.
"Youheng! That makes so much sense!" Zhou Sichen nearly jumped up in excitement. "Why didn't I think of that? Thank you! You've solved a huge problem for me!"
Dai Youheng merely gave a quiet "Mm," as though he had just said something of no consequence.
Yet this seemingly offhand advice made Zhou Sichen see him in a new light. Inwardly, he marveled, After just one break apart, Dai Youheng... seems like a completely different person!
Classes would officially begin after the opening ceremony the following day.
Although Dai Youheng had no desire to attend classes at Shrek, his current identity was that of the simp he had replaced.
Bear with it for now, he cautioned himself. I've taken that simp's place. I can't act too differently and arouse unnecessary suspicion. Even if I want to leave, I need a legitimate, aboveboard reason that won't antagonize the academy. There's no need to deliberately challenge the rules of Shrek, the continent's strongest academy, and pile more trouble onto myself.
Fortunately, he had Zhou Sichen, his helpful roommate and deskmate. Dai Youheng only needed to follow quietly behind him. Whether it was finding the right classroom or knowing where to sit, he did not have to trouble himself over any of it.
Zhou Sichen seemed to have fully accepted him as a friend with whom he could discuss cultivation insights. All along the way, he excitedly talked about the future development of his Tome Martial Soul, utterly unbothered by Dai Youheng's occasional brief replies.
Nevertheless, trouble came knocking during the very first class on the first day back.
The moment they sat down in their respective seats, Dai Youheng felt two distinctly puzzled gazes settle on him.
He looked up. It was Wang Dong and Xiao Xiao. Besides confusion, Wang Dong's beautiful pinkish-blue eyes held displeasure and the impatience of someone kept waiting. Xiao Xiao looked more curious and bewildered.
Beside him, Zhou Sichen gently nudged Dai Youheng with his elbow and reminded him in a lowered voice, "Youheng, did you... forget something important?"
Dai Youheng paused briefly and quickly glanced over the things on his desk: textbook, notes, pen... nothing was missing. He looked at Zhou Sichen and asked, "Something important? Did I bring the wrong book?"
Zhou Sichen's expression grew somewhat awkward. He leaned closer and lowered his voice further. "Not your book... breakfast! Did you forget? Ever since the start of last term, haven't you always volunteered to bring breakfast for Huo Yuhao, Wang Dong, and Xiao Xiao? You didn't bring any today."
"..." Dai Youheng was instantly struck speechless, as though dark lines were descending over his forehead.
That damned simp! He really took "full service" to the extreme! Did he actually take care of all three meals for them? He had absolutely no bottom line! And now he's left me this whole rotten mess!
While he inwardly ranted at the former Youheng, who had already vanished, Wang Dong finally ran out of patience.
She was already in an extremely foul mood because Huo Yuhao still had not returned. After waiting half the morning on an empty stomach, she saw Dai Youheng make no move whatsoever, even whispering with Zhou Sichen, and her temper flared.
She stood straight up and called across several rows of seats, her voice unmistakably displeased. "Dai Youheng! Where's my breakfast?"
Her tone was entirely natural, as though this were not a request but a perfectly justified question. Clearly, an entire year of that simp Youheng's attentive service had made it a habit for her.
In short, he had spoiled her.
The classroom's somewhat noisy chatter instantly quieted considerably at Wang Dong's abrupt question. Quite a few students turned to look curiously, their gazes shifting between Dai Youheng and Wang Dong.
Dai Youheng raised his head and calmly met Wang Dong's mildly angry gaze. "I forgot today," he said indifferently.
Wang Dong frowned and was just about to speak when Dai Youheng continued in that same utterly unruffled tone. "And starting tomorrow, I'll keep forgetting."
He paused, as though stating an established fact. "So, starting tomorrow, Wang Dong, remember to get yourself
up early and go to the cafeteria for breakfast."
With that, he stopped looking at Wang Dong's face, which had instantly darkened, and opened the textbook on his desk as though all he had said was, "Nice weather today."
Before you continue