Night.
As darkness blanketed the entire Star Dou Great Forest, a small town on its outskirts remained brightly lit.
"Antidotes! Mosquito repellent! Your best choice for entering the forest!"
"The latest insulated armor! Protects against injuries and keeps you warm!"
As the lights and hawkers' cries appeared, Ma Hongjun was the first to show an expression of relief.
"Finally! I'm exhausted!"
"Is this the meeting place we agreed on?"
Dai Mubai looked around. He did not recognize a single person, which meant their accompanying teacher was not here?
Everyone instinctively turned toward Li Changsheng at the front, waiting for him to speak.
"He's here."
"Oh, it's Teacher Li Changsheng! What brings you here too?"
Just then, a rough voice rang out. Everyone turned in unison to see a burly man standing behind Li Changsheng, his face wreathed in smiles.
It was just that his smile was somewhat frightening.
He had a crew cut, rugged facial contours, a short, stiff beard, and defiance filling his eyes. There was even a savage-looking scar at the corner of his forehead.
He was powerfully built, with prominent muscles all over his body. He wore a black sleeveless combat outfit, with a beast-fur collar on each shoulder. At that moment, his arms were folded across his chest, a gilded bracer adorning each forearm.
This man was none other than the Immovable Wisdom King, Zhao Wuji!
"Teacher Zhao, I was just about to look for you at the inn."
"Hahaha, no need, no need! Haven't I come to the entrance to meet you?"
Zhao Wuji greatly admired scholars versed in theory like Li Changsheng, and the other man's strength was not weak either.
"You're this year's Little Monsters?"
"My name is Zhao Wuji, a level seventy-six Power Attack System Beast Soul Saint. My Martial Soul is the Great Strength Vajra Bear!"
"This Teacher Zhao is known throughout the land as the Immovable Wisdom King!"
Only after Zhao Wuji finished introducing himself did Li Changsheng step forward and specifically explain the origins of his title.
His account left even this rough fellow feeling embarrassed. Teacher Li Changsheng really had a way with words-his phrasing packed a punch!
Had this introduction taken place during Shrek Academy's entrance assessment, Tang San and the others might have been surprised, but now they were not particularly taken aback.
After all, Dai Mubai had already explained the cultivation levels of the academy's teachers to them.
"All right, I've booked the inn, and even the food has been served. We can go straight over and eat!"
"Teacher Zhao, when did you become so considerate?"
"Are you saying I wasn't considerate before?"
Looking at Zhao Wuji's sandbag-sized fist, Dai Mubai hurriedly waved his hands. Sweat involuntarily beaded on his forehead as he spoke at top speed. "No, no! You're the most considerate teacher I've ever met-even more considerate than the dean!"
"I'm telling the dean you said that."
"Ah, please don't!"
Listening to Dai Mubai and Zhao Wuji play off each other like a comedy duo, everyone burst into laughter. They certainly were lively!
At the back of the group, Zhu Zhuqing watched Dai Mubai scratch his head up ahead. The corners of her lips also lifted by a single pixel, but no one noticed.
They entered the inn, whose ground floor was dedicated to dining.
A large table at the far side was already covered with all kinds of dishes. Even the rice had thoughtfully been portioned out.
"Wow, Teacher Zhao, where have you been making your fortune lately? Let me in on it!"
"The dean's reimbursing it, of course. Hurry up and eat, then get some rest. We're setting out first thing tomorrow!"
Everyone ate dinner. Tang San sat to Li Changsheng's left, and Xiao Wu sat to Tang San's left.
Watching Li Changsheng eat with refined manners, Tang San asked curiously, "Teacher, what sort of Soul Beast would suit Little Ao?"
"Hmm-Little Ao's first Soul Skill, Recovery Tender Tofu, replenishes Soul Power and heals injuries. His second Soul Skill, Detoxification Sweet Garlic, removes poison and dispels negative effects. Does his third Soul Skill still need any thought?"
After pondering for a moment, Tang San's eyes lit up. He understood what Teacher Changsheng meant!
With replenishment and detoxification covered, didn't that leave something related to illusions and the mind, or flight? That way, Oscar would truly become an all-round support!
"Thank you!"
"Mm. If you have questions, ask. As your teacher, I naturally won't refuse to answer."
Li Changsheng nodded calmly. Looking at Tang San's blue hair with its black base, a thought suddenly occurred to him. What would happen if Tang San went back now and absorbed that Soul Bone hidden on the mountain behind them?
Could it allow Tang San's Blue Silver Grass to transform directly into a Blue Silver King?
Not only could these things make Tang San stronger, they could also give Li Changsheng's template another surge of progress. Given their importance, the increase would not be small, either.
Bang!
Just as Li Changsheng was thinking, the inn's entrance was kicked open.
A waiter had just been about to return to the kitchen for more dishes and nearly got struck by the doorframe.
At the head of the group was a green-haired man, followed by several figures. They all wore beige robes with badges pinned to their chests. The word "Canghui" on them looked particularly glaring beneath the reflected lamplight.
"Owner, bring out all your food and drink!"
"Yes, yes, Lords Soul Masters. Please wait a moment!"
"Wait, my ass! Serve it now!"
The green-haired man leading them was extremely arrogant in both tone and attitude, making Dai Mubai and the others beside him somewhat unable to bear
watching any longer.
But after thinking it over, Dean Flender had repeatedly taught them that when away from home, one less problem was better than one more. They should stay out of matters that did not concern them. They could step forward if ordinary people were being bullied, but there was no need to interfere in affairs between Soul Masters.
This was also the template's effect. Since Flender upheld some of Li Changsheng's principles, he naturally no longer held such garbage educational notions as "those who dare not cause trouble are mediocrities."
Thus, none of them bothered with the newcomers, continuing to eat their own meals, spoonful by spoonful and bite by bite.
"Hmph!"
As the Canghui Academy group passed the Shrek party, they merely snorted coldly and did not actively seek trouble.
They were only a little arrogant in their attitude. When it came to actually oppressing ordinary people, they would not dare.
"Phew! That really hit the spot!"
"You fatso, eat less! You're fat enough already!"
"If you keep talking about me like that, I really won't be able to take it!"
The mood among them returned to its previous cheerfulness. This time there was no battle, and everything proceeded smoothly.
Only after finishing their meal did they each return to their rooms.
Because rooms were limited, Zhao Wuji ultimately took a room alone, as did Li Changsheng. Dai Mubai shared with Ma Hongjun, while Oscar shared with Tang San.
The three girls then shared a twin room.
"Little San, come here a moment."
Just as they were about to return to their rooms, Li Changsheng stopped Tang San and motioned for him to come to his room.
"Teacher, what's wrong?"
Inside the room, Tang San saw Li Changsheng's solemn expression, and his own expression grew serious as well. "Little San, as your teacher, I need to tell you a secret!"