Chapter 45: Returning to the Academy and Sharing the Immortal Grass

**Barak Kingdom, Soto City**

After a few days of travel, they finally returned to Soto City. Li Luochen looked at this prosperous city. Although it wasn't as bustling as Tiandou City, it was where he had grown up.

Shrek Academy was located in a village just outside Soto City, with simple wooden buildings.

"Uh... Chen, is this the academy you're attending?" Dugu Yan was momentarily speechless. Li Luochen was so powerful, yet the academy he came from was just a small village like this?

"Yes, although we lack a simulated training environment, our academy's other resources are no less than those of the five elemental academies. The main difference is that we have unique secret techniques." Li Luochen said casually. Shrek Academy indeed didn't have a simulated training room.

Shrek Academy had an abundance of high-quality soul beast meat, and the food was plentiful. With Soul Emperor and Soul Saint teachers personally training the students, the academy's small student body was an advantage, allowing them to afford such luxuries.

Li Luochen understood that Shrek Academy only accepted geniuses. Geniuses could grow anywhere; for instance, if he had gone to any other high-level soul master academy, he would still have become a soul master by age twelve.

However, Li Luochen had a close bond with Shrek Academy. He wanted to help turn Shrek into the top soul master academy of the future. There was still much work to do, but the future looked promising!

"Well, I think this place is quite nice and suitable for retirement." Dugu Bo admired the scenery. Though the village was simple, it was peaceful and quiet—perfect for him.

Soon, the teachers and students of Shrek Academy came out to greet them.

Li Luochen had been gone for more than half a year, but not much had changed among the teachers. Zhao Wuji and Shao Xin had both increased their soul power by one level. Oscar's soul power had reached the peak of level 19 and was close to breaking through to level 20.

Ma Hongjun had just obtained a soul ring, raising his soul power to level 11. After more than half a year, it had increased to level 14.

Lu Qibin was still at level 66, while Li Luochen's grandfather, Li Yusong, remained at level 64. Both men had long passed their optimal cultivation periods, and their soul power was increasing slowly.

"Hey, Boss F and Xiaochen are back! How was your half-year journey?" Zhao Wuji casually hooked his arm around Flender's shoulder.

Li Yusong hugged his grandson tightly, missing him terribly after half a year apart.

"Alright, Grandpa, put me down. Let me introduce you. This is Dugu Yan, my girlfriend. And the man next to her is her grandfather, Senior Bi Phosphorus Douluo Dugu Bo."

Li Luochen introduced his girlfriend and her grandfather to his own.

Upon hearing the name "Bi Phosphorus Douluo," Zhao Wuji, Shao Xin, Lu Qibin, and even Li Yusong inhaled sharply. He had actually managed to charm the granddaughter of a Titled Douluo? This guy was something else.

"Haha, I'll be the honorary dean of Shrek Academy from now on, so no need for formalities." Dugu Bo spoke casually. He was only here to visit and would soon leave to travel the mainland. Everyone here was family to Li Luochen, so there was no need for airs.

Even though Dugu Bo said so, Zhao Wuji and the others still performed a formal soul master's salute. It was a sign of respect for the strong.

Everyone then gathered in the cafeteria to chat and share their experiences over the past six months.

"What! Boss Fu, you've reached Soul Douluo? Weren't you only at level 78 Soul Saint half a year ago? And Xiaochen has reached level 44 Soul Sect?"

Zhao Wuji, known for his loud voice, shouted in surprise. It was hard to believe there had been such dramatic changes in just half a year.

"We encountered some fortuitous opportunities while traveling with Grandpa Dugu. Of course, I've brought some for you too. I'll distribute them after dinner." 

Li Luochen said nonchalantly. He didn't elaborate, knowing that such opportunities should be kept under wraps to avoid potential danger.

Moreover, he trusted the teachers at Shrek Academy not to speak carelessly. Li Yusong was his biological grandfather, and the other teachers had raised him like their own child.

Oscar and Ma Hongjun, though young, were sharp and knew better than to discuss such matters openly. The teachers had often lectured about the darkness in the world of soul masters.

After dinner, Li Luochen began distributing the treasures he had brought back.

"Grandpa, Grandpa Lu, this is a medicine made by Senior Dugu. It's made from ninth-grade purple fungus and can remove impurities, strengthen the body, and prolong life. It should help you both break through any cultivation bottlenecks."

"Uncle Zhao, this is a powerful diamond fruit. Just chew and swallow it, then refine it on the spot. It should boost your strength and defense and increase your soul power by about two levels. After absorbing it, your strength should be comparable to that of the Titan of the Power Clan."

"Teacher Shao, this is the ninth-grade ginseng king. Just keep it in your mouth and absorb the juice. It strengthens the body, prolongs life, and enhances mental power. Its medicinal effects are gentle and should help you break through to Soul Saint in one go."

After giving the treasures to the Shrek teachers, Li Luochen turned to his two younger brothers.

Oscar and Ma Hongjun stared at him expectantly, their eyes saying, "Boss, don't forget about us!"

"You two are in luck. What I've prepared for you are real immortal herbs, better than those given to the teachers. Where else can you find a boss as good as me?"

Li Luochen boasted with a grin, though in reality, these were the herbs they were supposed to get anyway. Still, it didn't stop him from looking smug.

"Long live the boss! Long live Brother Chen!" Oscar and Ma Hongjun cheered.

"Oscar, this is the Eight-petal Fairy Orchid. It has mild, mellow medicinal properties and is easy to absorb, though it takes time. It can strengthen your body and remove impurities. It's perfect for a food-type soul master like you, compensating for your slower cultivation speed. Its effects will last until you reach level 70."

Li Luochen handed him a snow-white, translucent orchid with a noble and ethereal presence.

Oscar didn't understand all the technical details, but one thing stood out: it would fix his slow cultivation speed and last until level 70.

"Thank you, Brother Chen." Oscar gratefully took the orchid and began refining it on the spot.

Next, Li Luochen turned to Ma Hongjun. "Fatty, your martial soul has defects, which make you overly energetic. Although your first soul ring contains the bloodline of the Fire Phoenix, it's only stabilized for now. It will corrode your body over time. 

"I've prepared for you a pure yang tonic herb called the Cockscomb Phoenix Sunflower. It can purify your martial soul, turning it into a true Fire Phoenix. Swallow it whole, gather your soul power, and endure the pain. The effects will be significant, but if you give up halfway, the benefits will greatly diminish."

Li Luochen revealed a soft, trembling crimson herb with red-gold leaf veins, which radiated intense heat as soon as it appeared.

"Thanks, Brother Chen! I'll make sure to succeed." Ma Hongjun said, patting his chest confidently.

"Remember to practice Zhou Tian Wu Ji Gong while absorbing it. It'll help reduce the pain. With this, you'll surpass the Blue Lightning Tyrannosaurus Rex and gain the ultimate fire attribute in your Phoenix martial spirit."

Li Luochen had high hopes for Ma Hongjun. Solving his martial soul issues early on would allow him to have less stringent requirements for future soul rings.

Once Ma Hongjun's Phoenix martial soul was purified, they could find a powerful fire-attribute soul beast to strengthen his flame to the ultimate level.

Ma Hongjun was extremely talented, with an innate soul power of nine and a half and a mutated martial soul. If he trained well, he could become the team's strongest explosive attacker.

After fixing Ma Hongjun's "evil fire" problem, they could feed him some whale glue to grant him a thousand-year second soul ring!