Chapter 46: A Different Shrek Academy

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After Ma Hongjun finished absorbing the whale jelly, his physical constitution greatly improved. Flender decided to take a few days of rest before heading to the Star Dou Forest to hunt for soul rings for Shao Xin, Oscar, and Ma Hongjun.

This time, Flender and Zhao Wuji would lead the expedition, while Lu Qibin and Li Yusong stayed behind to look after the academy.

Shrek Academy was now fully committed to an elite-focused approach. Each year, they recruited promising soul masters. Gone were the days of deceptive slogans like "Graduate and earn a viscount title in the empire." 

Flender simply listed out the top students with one straightforward statement: "If you're a genius, come to Shrek. Shrek only accepts monsters, not ordinary people."

Li Luochen still found this slogan awkward—did monsters really need nurturing? But even though he saw through it, he didn't say anything. After all, Shrek was part of his family now, and many improvements had already been made. Nurturing these "monsters" was beneficial for Shrek's reputation.

The admission criteria remained unchanged: by age twelve, students needed to have reached at least level 25 spirit power, with optimal soul ring configurations. Those who achieved Soul Grandmaster status before age twelve, with two yellow soul rings, were considered highly talented. However, Flender didn't accept them directly—he recommended them to Blue Tyrant Academy instead.

Especially after this trip to Tian Dou City, where Flender and Liu Erlong's relationship had evolved, Liu Erlong offered to host Shrek Academy at her place if Flender ever couldn't sustain it anymore.

Flender agreed—it was true that building simulated training rooms required a lot of money, and Shrek Academy currently lacked such facilities, which hindered the growth of their young prodigies.

Fortunately, Li Luochen had discovered the method of using whale jelly to enhance physical strength, allowing students to absorb higher-level soul rings and keep up with prestigious academies in terms of spirit power cultivation. However, regular training still lagged behind those elite institutions.

Thankfully, Shao Xin's high-quality sugar beans brought in significant funds for the academy, enabling them to provide premium medicinal baths for their students.

Flender had already considered merging with Blue Tyrant Academy but decided to wait a few more years until they had nurtured a few more prodigies to send over.

In fact, during this trip, Flender had given Liu Erlong seventy percent of his gold spirit coins to improve the simulated training rooms at Blue Tyrant Academy.

Due to the butterfly effect, former Shrek graduates Qin Ming and Mo Yu had written letters expressing their desire to teach at a prestigious soul master academy. Flender replied, recommending they join Blue Tyrant Academy in Tian Dou City, where the principal was their teacher's wife. He assured them they wouldn't be mistreated.

Meanwhile, Qin Ming and Mo Yu, who had been traveling the continent for years, were nearing Spirit Emperor level (Qin Ming) and close to breaking through (Mo Yu). They had planned to join the Tian Dou Royal Academy but were instead directed to Blue Tyrant Academy by Flender.

The two traveled together to Blue Tyrant Academy, adding two young yet powerful teachers to its faculty.

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One evening, at Li Luochen's home

"Grandpa, you're here," Li Luochen said as he stood up from his chair upon seeing Li Yusong enter.

"Little Chen, why did you call me over tonight? Only Old Lu and Xiao Yan (Dugu Yan) are left at the academy. What's so secretive?" Li Yusong wondered what his grandson was up to.

"Hehe, this is just a little extra care for Grandpa. Here, this is a seventh grade Dragon Ganoderma. It's incredibly beneficial for soul masters with dragon-attribute martial souls. You're 57 now, and your cultivation will only slow down further. This herb can directly boost your spirit power and enhance your Dragon Pattern Staff."

As Li Luochen spoke, he took out the seventh grade Dragon Ganoderma. The fungus bore a dragon pattern, and as soon as it was revealed, Li Yusong felt an overwhelming urge to consume it. However, he hesitated.

"Xiao Chen, I'm old. Don't waste these precious herbs on me. I know my limits—I'll consider myself lucky if I reach Spirit Sage in this lifetime. Save it for yourself or Xiao Yan."

Li Yusong shook his head and declined.

"Hey, the immortal herbs Yan and I consumed are far superior to this. To be honest, we've eaten herbs of the highest grade, far more valuable than this seventh grade Dragon Ganoderma. This isn't useful for us."

Li Luochen cut straight to the point and shoved the seventh grade Dragon Ganoderma into Li Yusong's hands. "Grandpa, quickly eat it and refine it. Just chew it up, swallow, and then sit down to refine it. I think it should boost your spirit power by at least two levels."

Li Yusong didn't argue further. Rejecting his grandson's filial gift would be inappropriate. He popped the herb into his mouth, chewed, swallowed, and immediately sat down to refine it.

When Li Luochen had returned earlier, he had already given his grandfather the complete Limitless Universe Technique. 

Currently, only four people practiced the full version of the technique: Dugu Bo, Dugu Yan, Li Yusong, and Li Luochen. Others at Shrek Academy practiced only the rudimentary version, which accelerated cultivation compared to meditation but lacked the advanced effects of the complete technique.

As Li Yusong refined the seventh grade Dragon Ganoderma, he simultaneously circulated the Limitless Universe Technique. He broke through the second stage, then the third, and continued until he reached the fifth stage.

As a Spirit Emperor, there were no bottlenecks for him until the seventh stage. With the aid of the herb, his cultivation technique advanced significantly.

At the fifth stage, his spirit power reserves greatly increased. Compared to other Spirit Emperors at the same level, Li Yusong's spirit power capacity was nearly fifty percent higher—a testament to the might of the Limitless Universe Technique.

The complete technique compensated for the shortcomings of his soul ring configuration. As long as Li Yusong obtained a fifty-thousand-year sub-dragon soul beast for his seventh soul ring, he wouldn't fall far behind other Spirit Sages at his level.

Even if some of his soul rings were white ten-year rings, a fifty-thousand-year seventh soul ring was the pinnacle. Many Spirit Sages only had thirty-thousand-year seventh soul rings. The higher the age of the seventh soul ring, the stronger the True Body of the martial soul.

Li Luochen planned to prepare high-age soul rings for his grandfather's next three soul rings, which would help him break through to even higher realms.

By dawn, Li Yusong had fully absorbed the seven-grade Dragon Ganoderma. Thanks to the breakthrough in his cultivation technique, his spirit power rose by three levels, bringing him to level 69 as a Spirit Emperor.

Moreover, his Dragon Pattern Staff improved. The dragon patterns on the staff became deeper and more lifelike, elevating its quality to the peak of high-tier martial souls. If he chose a good seventh soul ring, his martial soul might advance even further.

"Phew, I never thought I'd make such progress at my age. Xiao Chen, thank you."

Li Yusong was deeply moved. Not long after Li Luochen was born, his parents had died while hunting soul beasts, leaving him mentally impaired. It felt like fate had played a cruel joke on him.

Now, life had turned around. His grandson was exceptionally gifted, had found a fiancée, and had even helped him, his grandfather, break through.

"What are you talking about? Without your care, I wouldn't be where I am today. You didn't abandon me when I was lost and confused—you devoted yourself to raising me. Taking care of you is the least I can do. We're family; there's no need for formalities!" Li Luochen said firmly.

"Hahaha, you're right—it's my fault for getting emotional. By the way, Xiao Chen, when are you and Xiao Yan going to give me a chubby grandson to spoil? I want to see my great-grandchild!" Li Yusong teased.

"Uh… it's too early for that. I'm not even thirteen yet! No rush, Grandpa. You're in great shape now and could live another sixty years. Besides, I want you to become a Title Douluo—their lifespans are much longer." Li Luochen deftly changed the subject, dodging the pressure of marriage and children.

"Hahahaha, I'll wait for your surprises, Title Douluo, eh?" Li Yusong chuckled, confident his grandson wouldn't deceive him.

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