Chapter 40 - Soul Saint Show

Early the next morning, Han Feng was woken up by Dai Mubai and barely had time to wash up before being dragged out the door.

Flender was already waiting in the academy's training grounds. To Han Feng's surprise, Ma Hongjun had arrived even earlier than him and Dai Mubai. It was hard not to be impressed—after whatever "battles" Ma Hongjun had been through the night before, the guy still showed up bursting with energy. Unbelievable!

If Ma Hongjun could suppress his Evil Fire and channel it into cultivation, Han Feng believed he wouldn't just be at level 30—he'd be pushing 37 or 38 by now!

Of course, that was just a hopeful thought. Every man knows how hard it is to choose between "discipline like a monk" and "fighting with both hands for dreams." And Ma Hongjun? He was fighting literal battles.

Soon after, Zhu Zhuqing and Ning Rongrong arrived together. What puzzled Han Feng was how, overnight, their relationship had taken a drastic leap—they already looked like besties.

Is this just how girl friendships work? Han Feng couldn't understand. Dai Mubai, however, was beaming and gave Ning Rongrong a subtle thumbs-up.

Then came Tang San and Xiao Wu...

One stayed in the boys' dorm, the other in the girls'—yet they always arrived together. Their coordination was truly... puzzling.

A while passed, but Oscar still hadn't shown up. Flender's forehead twitched with irritation.

"Where's Oscar?! Sleeping again? "

Tang San, who shared a room with him, quickly stepped in.

"Dean! I saw Oscar cultivating this morning. I didn't want to disturb him. He may have lost track of time."

Hearing that Oscar was cultivating, Flender's expression softened a bit, but he still ordered,

"Mubai, go fetch him. Today's lesson can't start without him! "

"No need! I'm here! "

Before the words were even fully out of Flender's mouth, Oscar came running from behind the group, clean-shaven and grinning proudly.

Everyone looked surprised, which made Oscar even more smug. The reason for his sudden makeover? Yesterday in Soto City, not only had Han Feng teased him about his scruff, but a kid even mistook him for an old man. That, Oscar could not accept.

He, Oscar, a handsome young man—getting mistaken for someone's grandpa? Never again.

"Well, well! Little Ao finally decided to clean up! " Dai Mubai laughed and gave him a hearty slap on the back.

Ma Hongjun looked on wistfully. There used to be two of them holding the line—now, he was the last one standing.

The rest of the group stared in amazement. They never imagined someone could look that different with just a shave.

But Flender had his eyes on something else. The moment he saw Oscar, he was stunned.

"Oscar! Did you hit level 30?! "

Finally being noticed, Oscar smiled proudly.

"Yes, Dean! I cultivated all night and broke through to level 30! "

"Good! Good! Very good! "Flender repeated, brimming with excitement. A fourteen-year-old food-type auxiliary Spirit Elder? That was an absolute genius!

Everyone knew food-type soul masters had a much harder time advancing than others. If the top sects or Spirit Hall found out about Oscar, they'd stop at nothing to recruit him.

Without hesitation, Flender declared,

"Originally, today's class was just going to be a taste test of Oscar's sausages... But now, we're adding a new lesson—you're going to the Star Dou Forest to help Oscar obtain his third spirit ring! "

No one had any objections about helping Oscar get his ring. But Flender's first comment? That was harder to swallow...

Because Oscar's spirit incantations were notoriously cringeworthy.

Han Feng didn't mind, though. In fact, he grinned.

"Perfect! I'll get to hunt my third spirit ring too! "

That reminded Flender—Han Feng was the real monster. Before even enrolling, he had already reached level 30 and still hadn't gotten his third ring!

His power was already so overwhelming without a thousand-year spirit ring. If he did get one, he might even surpass Dai Mubai!

Flender narrowed his eyes and asked seriously,

"Han Feng, when exactly did you reach level 30? Be precise—month and all! "

Han Feng thought for a moment.

"Around the time I turned eleven, I guess? "

Flender was stunned.

"You're almost twelve now. You haven't cultivated in a year? "

"I heard you can keep cultivating even without getting a ring. I spent most of that time refining my spirit power, so it didn't really matter." Han Feng's tone was completely matter-of-fact. His spirit power was already around level 32. He could break through anytime—so why rush?

"..."

Everyone was speechless. Flender looked... a little weirded out.

Every spirit master fought tooth and nail just to push their spirit power up by one level. And here was Han Feng, voluntarily making things harder on himself!?

That's why cultivating extreme martial spirits is so difficult before reaching Spirit Sage rank—their spirit power is inherently purer, and it's hard for it to keep up with the strength of the martial soul.

And yet—even with that self-imposed challenge—Han Feng was still stronger than everyone his age!

"This is ridiculous! " Dai Mubai finally exploded.

"So this... That is what a true monster looks like," Oscar muttered with a bitter laugh. Whatever pride he had just felt vanished instantly. Even Tang San looked a bit discouraged.

Flender quickly stepped in before the morale collapsed.

"Yes, Han Feng's talent is one-of-a-kind on the continent. But don't sell yourselves short! If you work harder, there's still a chance you can surpass him! "

Everyone perked up again. These were all top-tier talents among their peers, after all. Even the usually spoiled Ning Rongrong wasn't jealous—she just looked genuinely happy for Han Feng.

Flender continued,

"Oscar, show them your spirit skills. After that, everyone eat your sausages and pack your bags. I'll notify Zhao Wuji—he'll be leading the team."

"Time to hunt the third spirit ring! "Han Feng shouted excitedly. No soul master could stay calm when it came to spirit ring hunts.

Xiao Wu, however, snuck up beside Flender and gave him a pleading look.

"Dean, can we skip Oscar's sausages? I think the ring hunt is more important..."

She still hadn't recovered from Oscar's infamous incantations.

Flender gave her a sideways glance and snapped,

"No way! In battle, if you're starving, you'll eat bugs and cockroaches if you have to! When you're fighting in the arena, Oscar's sausages might be the only thing that saves your life! "

Ning Rongrong didn't look thrilled either, but she remembered Flender's words—and Dai Mubai's warning from yesterday. Gritting her teeth, she stepped forward.

"I'll go first. Oscar, two sausages, please."

That caught Han Feng off guard. Flender hadn't scolded her. Dai Mubai hadn't, either.

As if sensing Han Feng's surprise, Rongrong shot him a bright, proud smile.

"Oh! Sure thing! "Oscar quickly produced two sausages.

"I, your daddy, have a big sausage! I, your daddy, have a small sausage! "

The moment she heard the incantation, Rongrong froze. But she took the sausages anyway, closed her eyes, and ate them—grimacing all the while.

Once she started, the others had no excuse to stall. Everyone reluctantly followed suit.

At first, they resisted. But after eating the sausages, their expressions turned to shock.

The recovery effect was incredible! Flender was right—Oscar's sausages could save lives in real combat.

Oscar gave a smug little smile. Say what you want about his chant—his martial soul was top-tier in its class.

Ma Hongjun, in particular, never stopped complaining—"Gross!" "Disgusting!" "I'll puke!"—but that didn't stop him from stuffing his face.

The chant may have been embarrassing, but the taste? Not bad at all.

Once everyone finished, Flender addressed the group again.

"Go pack up. We're heading to the Star Dou Forest. Zhao Wuji will lead, but unless you run into a ten-thousand-year spirit beast, he won't step in. Everything else—you'll have to handle yourselves. Don't treat this like a field trip! "

Han Feng clicked his tongue.

There went his plan to have Zhao Wuji help him with the third ring.