Faced with Xiao Wu's question, Dai Mubai responded:
"This is the Shrek teaching method."
"As they say, 'A master leads you to the door, but cultivation is personal.' Every strong person has their own path."
"So the academy doesn't overly interfere with the students' cultivation, giving us plenty of space to explore on our own."
Xiao Wu: "..."
Tang San: "..."
This educational philosophy...
Is this serious?
Without a simulated environment, how can they accelerate their cultivation?
Without a solid theoretical foundation, how can they build a strong base?
And giving space for exploration?
Isn't it just because the academy is too poor to do anything else?
Zhuge Lan saw through it but didn't plan to say anything.
—He still had points to earn at Shrek, no need to start firing shots everywhere.
"It's quite free, at least," Zhuge Lan joked. "Better than having us carry stones for a run, right?"
*[Emotion Points +233]*
*[Emotion Points +666]*
*[Emotion Points +111]*
Everyone laughed.
"Yesterday, that was the principal testing everyone's stamina," Oscar chuckled. "Who makes soul masters run laps as training? That's just too funny."
Everyone nodded in agreement.
Only Zhuge Lan smiled mysteriously.
Soon, they would know who exactly was being funny.
"Anyone interested in heading to the Great Soul Arena?" Zhuge Lan invited.
Zhu Zhuqing was the first to step forward.
She never turned down the chance to grow stronger.
Dai Mubai hesitated for a moment, feeling now wasn't the time to discuss things, so he simply shook his head and left.
"Hey, Boss Dai, wait for me!" Ma Hongjun hurried after him, "Didn't you say you'd take me with you yesterday?"
Tsk!
This is the result of being left to their own devices.
No wonder Shrek has always been so-so, it makes sense now.
Tang San mentioned he needed to organize his gear, and Xiao Wu, being his other half, followed suit.
That left a hopeful Oscar and an uncertain Ning Rongrong.
These two support-type soul masters couldn't participate in solo battles and couldn't form a team either.
So...
"I'll team up with Rongrong," Zhu Zhuqing suggested. "Perfect chance to train with Spiral Nine Shadows."
This was clearly an attempt to bond with Ning Rongrong and help Zhuge Lan in his "mission."
Ning Rongrong naturally jumped at the opportunity.
However, she knew the decision wasn't hers to make, so she looked eagerly at Zhuge Lan.
Zhuge Lan sized them up seriously.
Tender skin, delicate features, noble aura...
And that mouth which seemed to be able to devour anything...
"Alright," Zhuge Lan nodded. "Teaming with me is too easy for her, so some weight training will do."
*[Emotion Points +666]*
*[Emotion Points +999]*
Ning Rongrong laughed, "I'm not bad either, okay? I can definitely handle a two-on-one!"
"Then I'm finished," Oscar smiled bitterly.
"Brother Lan, it's not that I don't trust you, but you're both a control and defense type, and my two soul skills have no attack power..."
"Can we really win?"
Such self-awareness.
Might as well earn some emotion points from him first.
"Zhuqing, you two go ahead. I'll catch up later," Zhuge Lan said.
"Alright."
Zhu Zhuqing left with Ning Rongrong.
Zhuge Lan headed toward the dormitory.
Oscar thought for a moment, realizing something, and hurried after him.
*[Emotion Points +999]*
They stopped at the dorm entrance.
"Wait here. I'll prepare some medicine for you."
*[Emotion Points +1111]*
Just as expected!
"Alright!" Oscar replied eagerly. "I won't let a single mosquito into Brother Lan's room!"
Zhuge Lan entered his dorm and opened the system store.
He scrolled to the whale glue section, spending 8000 emotion points to exchange for 10,000-year whale glue, which could increase about 3200 years of spirit power.
He heated it, melted it, and carried the entire pot out.
"Drink it while it's hot. The effect will diminish if it cools," Zhuge Lan instructed.
*[Emotion Points +1222]*
Oscar didn't care about the heat and gulped down the contents, even licking the pot clean before putting it down, satisfied.
"Is that all?" Oscar asked.
"Of course not," Zhuge Lan grinned. "Go back to your dorm. It's going to get a little... intense."
Intense?
Oscar was confused.
With Dai Mubai out, the dorm was empty.
Soon enough...
The side effects of the whale glue hit.
Oscar's skin turned red, his eyes became hazy, and his breathing quickened.
*[Emotion Points +555]*
*[Emotion Points +666]*
*[Emotion Points +777]*
As Oscar's mind began to cloud, even the way he looked at Zhuge Lan changed.
Zhuge Lan summoned the sword of Li Jing, swinging it with a sharp crack.
*[Emotion Points +999]*
Oscar fell to his knees, his writhing body immobilized.
The discomfort only worsened!
*[Emotion Points +999]*
*[Emotion Points +1111]*
*[Emotion Points +1299]*
The emotion points kept pouring in with no signs of stopping.
In just a short time, Zhuge Lan had recovered his 8000-point investment and was now earning pure profit.
"Ugh—"
Oscar was breathing heavily, which annoyed Zhuge Lan.
With a glance, Zhuge Lan created spirit energy gloves, picked up a pair of rock-hard socks, and stuffed them into Oscar's mouth.
Oscar: Σ(っQДQ;)っ
*[Emotion Points +2222]*
*[Emotion Points +3333]*
*[Emotion Points +4444]*
Whoa!
It seemed like these socks had quite a story behind them.
Faced with Oscar's pleading gaze, Zhuge Lan pretended to be serious, "If I take them out now, you might bite your own tongue. Are you sure you want to switch?"
*[Emotion Points +5555]*
Oscar despairingly closed his eyes. Tears streamed from the corners, evaporating from his body heat.
Zhuge Lan chuckled.
With such an open opportunity to torment someone, how could he hold back?
If he didn't make at least two or three times the profit, it would be a loss!
And so, Oscar endured a nightmare-like half-hour until the emotion points finally dropped to double digits.
Only then did he get his relief.
*[1 Emotion Point Consumed. Body Scan Complete!]*
"Not bad. Your body strength increased by 3200 years," Zhuge Lan said casually.
Oscar, who had been on the verge of collapse, sprang up in excitement!
*[Emotion Points +1111]*
"Really?" Oscar exclaimed. "3200 years? That's incredible!"
3200 years!
The limit of a third soul ring was around 1760 years.
He was just shy of being able to absorb a 5000-year ring!
That was insane!
"The ingredients weren't potent enough, so you only gained this much," Zhuge Lan added indifferently. "Zhuqing got 6660 years and will be ready for a 10,000-year fourth ring soon."
*[Emotion Points +5555]*
Oscar winced, unsure how to respond.
A 10,000-year fourth ring?!
That's absurd!
Feeling a sense of inadequacy, he couldn't help but slap himself.
What was he even complaining about?
An increase of 3200 years was already more than enough!
"I'm more than satisfied with 3200 years!" Oscar said earnestly. "Brother Lan, from now on, you're my big brother! Anything you need, just ask!"
*[Emotion Points +6666]*
His attitude was sincere.
Zhuge Lan casually offered, "If the deal with the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan goes well, I'll have them make you another high-year medicine to cover the remaining 3000 years."
*[Emotion Points +9999]*
Oscar eagerly moved closer, offering to massage Zhuge Lan's shoulders.
"Brother Lan, you're like a god to me!"
"Your arms must be tired, let me take care of them!"
After enjoying the service, Zhuge Lan realized there was no more profit to squeeze from Oscar and swiftly left.
The Spiral Nine Shadows technique, though not suited for long-distance travel, had explosive speed!
With the system's "No Exhaustion Buff," Zhuge Lan sprinted full-force, becoming a blur.
He caught up with Zhu Zhuqing and Ning Rongrong at the gates of Soto City.
Zhu Zhuqing looked at him questioningly.
"3200 years," he said.
*[Emotion Points +1111]*
Zhu Zhuqing's lips curled into a smile.
The clear favoritism made her quite happy.
Next to her, Ning Rongrong was also tempted, but held back.
—Once her father bought the formula, she wouldn't be left out either, right?
The three headed toward the Great Soul Arena of Soto City.
Ready to start a storm of nightmares and celebrations!
---
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