Upon returning to the academy today, Oscar was immediately pulled into two consecutive sparring matches—this special welcome method was probably unique to their Shrek Academy.
However, with the recovery from the Super Recovery Big Sausage, Oscar himself was fine, and his soul power quickly recovered.
Zhao Wuji acknowledged Oscar's improvement during his year away, and also gained some understanding of Dugu Yan's strength.
But he still wasn't entirely sure about Dugu Yan's soul skill effects, so he asked: "Dugu Yan, your first and second soul skills seem to be oriented toward support and control, right? After you used those two soul skills, Xiao Ao's overall state clearly improved significantly. And although I didn't inhale your poison mist, I could also sense that the poison mist from your first two soul skills was no simple matter."
Hearing Zhao Wuji's words, Dugu Yan was actually quite surprised, because Zhao Wuji hadn't known her soul skill effects before this. Now, having only experienced one battle, Zhao Wuji had already guessed most of her soul skill effects—truly worthy of being a seventy-eighth level Soul Saint!
Dugu Yan nodded slightly and replied: "Yes, Teacher Zhao. My first soul skill is called Jade Scale Red Poison. Its effect can boost teammates' attack and speed by thirty percent, while making enemies irritable and slow-thinking."
"My second soul skill, Jade Scale Blue Poison, can provide teammates with a fifty percent defense boost while eliminating pain. For enemies, it paralyzes their nerves and makes their movements sluggish."
Hearing Dugu Yan's soul skill effects, Zhao Wuji was somewhat surprised. Although he knew Dugu Yan, as the granddaughter of Poison Douluo Dugu Bo, would definitely choose optimal soul rings.
But even though Dugu Yan's first two soul skills weren't deadly poison attributes, their effects in support and control could definitely be called top-tier.
Two soul skills that could not only provide teammates with attack, speed, and defense boosts, but also had such powerful restrictive effects on enemies—she was a natural control-type soul master.
And she also possessed the capabilities of a support-type soul master. Zhao Wuji was now absolutely welcoming of Dugu Yan joining their Shrek Academy.
With such a powerful soul master who combined both support and control capabilities, their Shrek Academy's team was constantly improving.
Zhao Wuji praised: "Dugu Yan, the effects of your two soul skills are very powerful, combining both support and restriction. Add to that your deadly poison field control, and your contribution to this team in the future will be significant."
Hearing Zhao Wuji's words, Dugu Yan was genuinely happy: "Thank you for the praise, Teacher Zhao. I'll do my best to coordinate with my classmates."
Zhao Wuji laughed heartily: "Good, good, good. You've all worked hard today. You just arrived at the academy, Dugu Yan. After dinner, have Xiao Ao show you around the academy so you can familiarize yourself with Shrek Academy."
When Oscar and Dugu Yan arrived at Shrek Academy, it was already two or three in the afternoon. Now another hour had passed, plus a sparring match—they were indeed getting hungry.
Then Zhao Wuji took Oscar and his companions to the cafeteria for dinner. Dai Mubai had already been taken by Teacher Li Yusong to find Shao Xin, so there was no need to worry about him.
Besides, Oscar had been measured in his attack—at most, he'd only be bedridden for a few days, with no lasting injuries.
However, this was also because Dai Mubai was too weak. His strength might be top-tier at the same level, but facing Oscar, who had focused on physical conditioning since age six, later absorbed soul rings across levels, and consumed whale gelatin and two Immortal Grade herbs for body tempering—Dai Mubai, a twenty-ninth level Great Soul Master, seemed rather weak by comparison.
Arriving at the cafeteria, Shao Xin, who had just finished treating Dai Mubai, also happened to return to the kitchen. Seeing Zhao Wuji bring Oscar and his companions over, he cheerfully began preparing ingredients to cook.
Oscar hadn't seen Shao Xin in a long time either. He brought Dugu Yan to the kitchen to help Shao Xin while introducing her.
When Oscar had been cultivating his Supreme Sausage martial soul back then, Shao Xin, as a food-type soul master approaching the Soul Saint level, had taught Oscar everything he knew without holding anything back, giving Oscar many fair suggestions.
It was precisely because of Shao Xin's guidance back then that Oscar avoided many detours in cultivating his martial soul. So although Shao Xin wasn't his formal teacher, he was just like Gai Yue—a teacher in everything but name.
Shao Xin had now broken through to the Soul Saint realm. Over half a year, through his own cultivation plus the Nine-Piece Chaos Element Pill he had consumed, he had gone from seventy-third level to the peak of seventy-fourth level, just one step away from seventy-fifth level.
In the future, Shao Xin was also expected to reach the highest level of food-type soul masters—possibly becoming second only to Oscar among food-type soul masters.
Oscar brought Dugu Yan to the kitchen, and Shao Xin's round, chubby face was beaming with smiles: "Xiao Ao, I just heard from Teacher Li that your strength is at the top level even among assault-type soul masters at your level. It seems your gains at Poison Douluo's place this past year were indeed good."
Shao Xin continued, his smile growing even brighter: "Perhaps in the future you'll create history in the soul master world—possessing powerful combat ability as a food-type soul master, becoming an all-around soul master with both support and attack capabilities."
Hearing this, Oscar smiled slightly: "You flatter me, Teacher Shao. But I'll take your good words to heart. I also hope that in the future I can make a name for myself in the soul master world and not bring shame to us food-type soul masters!"
After Oscar finished speaking, Shao Xin nodded with satisfaction: "Good, you have ambition. From when you first entered the academy, I knew you were no ordinary person. You were only six years old then, having just awakened your martial soul. Getting up at six o'clock every day for all kinds of training—a child able to endure such hardship day after day, year after year. Xiao Ao, your future is absolutely bright!"
"Thank you for your recognition, Teacher Shao. This is all thanks to the guidance of you and all the teachers. In the future, Oscar will absolutely never forget this kindness." Oscar replied sincerely.
Shao Xin laughed heartily: "Good, good, good. I've been at Shrek Academy for over ten years, and you're the most talented and determined student I've ever seen. You will always be the pride of the teachers."
Hearing these words, Dugu Yan couldn't help but tighten her grip on Oscar's hand. Before this, when Oscar told her how hard he worked, she hadn't really felt it.
But now hearing it from Shao Xin, Dugu Yan felt a resonance in her heart regarding Oscar's past hardships and efforts. She also understood why, at the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, Oscar had been so strict with himself and with her.
She also understood why Oscar, as a food-type soul master, could possess such powerful combat ability.
"Dugu Yan too. Teacher Gai Yue often tells us about you. Being able to be with Xiao Ao is the luck of both you young people. In the future, you must progress together." Shao Xin looked at Dugu Yan and said with a smile.
"I understand, Teacher Shao." Dugu Yan replied with a smile: "And I really admire you, Teacher Shao. Xiao Ao told me that back then you didn't hide anything at all, giving him all your life's experience. Being able to meet such a good teacher is the fortune of both Xiao Ao and me!"
Hearing Dugu Yan's words, Shao Xin smiled even more happily: "Alright, alright, you two little ones stop praising me here—I'm getting embarrassed."
While chatting, Shao Xin and Oscar finished preparing the meal. Five dishes and two soups were placed on the table. All the teachers and students ate with relish, even drinking the soup clean.
Even Ma Hongjun and Shao Xin couldn't help but comment that Oscar's cooking had improved greatly, almost catching up to Shao Xin.
Although Oscar's cooking wasn't quite as amazing as they made it sound, his culinary skills had indeed improved significantly over the past year. After all, Oscar had done most of the cooking during this year, so it would have been hard not to improve.
After dinner, Oscar and Ma Hongjun took Dugu Yan for a walk around the academy, helping her familiarize herself with the place.
During their walk, Ma Hongjun asked a question he'd been wondering about: "Boss, why do you call Sister-in-law 'sister'? Before, when Mubai and I went to... they all called their lovers or girlfriends 'baby' or 'darling'."
Hearing this question, what Oscar noticed wasn't the question itself, but where Ma Hongjun and Dai Mubai had gone.
Although Oscar didn't say it explicitly, he could guess roughly—they had probably gone to some place of entertainment. But since Ma Hongjun had voluntarily mentioned it, he must have taken Oscar's earlier words to heart and not gone astray.
But now hearing Ma Hongjun's question, Oscar and Dugu Yan couldn't help but exchange a glance, both seeing a hint of amusement in the other's eyes.
After thinking for a moment, Oscar slowly explained: "My situation with your sister-in-law is a bit special. We met by accident originally, and then for some reasons we stayed together. At that time, since she was a few years older than me, I called her 'sister'."
"Later, from frequent contact, just the two of us alone together, naturally things happened. And this form of address, well, it became a habit. Later, even though we confirmed our relationship, the way we addressed each other just stayed the same."
Hearing Oscar's explanation, Dugu Yan seemed to recall the "two of us alone together" and "things naturally happened"... She couldn't help but gently pinch Oscar's hand that was holding hers, secretly rolling her eyes—clearly thinking of some "interesting" memories.
Hearing Oscar's explanation, Ma Hongjun nodded as if understanding but not quite, finally figuring out why Oscar called his sister-in-law "sister."
Oscar felt Dugu Yan's little movement and smiled slightly. But then he turned to ask Ma Hongjun: "You brat, you said where did you and Mubai go? How did you see all this?"
Hearing this, Ma Hongjun wasn't embarrassed at all, and directly said: "That was all several months ago. At that time, Mubai was under too much cultivation pressure and said he wanted to find some entertainment. I thought there wasn't anything fun at the academy, so I took him to Soto City, planning to show him a good time. But I didn't know his true identity back then—how was I to know the kind of fun he wanted was that..."
"He planned to take me to one of those pleasure houses for some entertainment. I did follow him in and saw those things, but after realizing something was wrong, I took him and left."
Ma Hongjun continued, grinning at Oscar: "He even laughed at me for being cowardly. But I always remembered what you told me, Boss—even if my evil fire acts up, I shouldn't release it that way. Besides, my evil fire wasn't acting up at the time. Mubai, that kid, even fought with me over this."
"But he's not my opponent, so I completely beat him into submission. Later, I told him some of the things you once taught me, and he never mentioned it again. His mindset seemed to change too, and his cultivation speed improved greatly. A year has passed, and now he's at twenty-ninth level."
Hearing Ma Hongjun's words, Oscar nodded with great satisfaction, unable to resist patting the kid on the shoulder: "Good kid, worthy of being someone I, Oscar, took a liking to. You didn't let down my trust."
Receiving Oscar's praise, Ma Hongjun grinned: "Of course. I, Ma Hongjun, owe everything I have today to you, Boss. Naturally I couldn't let down your trust."
Dugu Yan listened to their conversation, also looking at these two sworn brothers with envy. Although she didn't have much experience dealing with people, romance novels also had descriptions of pleasure houses.
Hearing Ma Hongjun's righteous words, and considering he was only ten years old, she could imagine how correct Oscar's values must be to have taught such an outstanding Ma Hongjun.
And Dugu Yan had also heard from Teacher Gai Yue and Teacher Shao Xin that although Ma Hongjun was Dean Flender's direct disciple, he was basically being taught by Oscar. While Flender was also indispensable, without Oscar, there absolutely wouldn't be the Ma Hongjun of today.
One could imagine just how remarkable a person Oscar was. No wonder this kid Ma Hongjun was so obedient to Oscar.
Dugu Yan couldn't help but praise: "Not bad, Little Hongjun. Your performance lives up to all the praise your Boss gives you. He praises you so much my ears are almost getting calluses. Seeing you today, indeed not bad!"
Hearing this, Ma Hongjun was happy, but Oscar was somewhat surprised. If this had been back when Oscar and Dugu Yan first met, she wouldn't have been able to say something like this.
After all, this tone already had a bit of the flavor of a big sister-in-law. But Oscar could also imagine Dugu Yan's transformation—after all, she had been in close contact with him for a whole year.
Oscar knew his own personality well—assimilating Dugu Yan was simply too easy.
Ma Hongjun smiled sheepishly: "Big sister-in-law, don't say that, or I'll get embarrassed."
Dugu Yan smiled: "Your big brother praises you because he's satisfied with your performance. Why be embarrassed? You should be proud."
Oscar patted Ma Hongjun's shoulder: "Not bad. Keep this up, and your future achievements will definitely not be beneath mine."
Ma Hongjun nodded, his face full of smiles: "Boss, with those words, I'm relieved."
"But Mubai's change has indeed been quite big. And he seems to be a prince of the Star Luo Empire. The White Tiger martial soul is the inherited martial soul of the Star Luo imperial family."
Hearing this, Oscar nodded: "I guessed that long ago. White Tiger martial soul, exceptional talent—apart from the imperial family having the resources to cultivate someone like that, ordinary forces couldn't produce such a result."
"And him coming to Shrek Academy was probably also because of their imperial family's special growth method creating pressure. He probably ran out to escape the high pressure."
Hearing this, Ma Hongjun nodded in agreement: "I think so too. But Boss, our classmate being a prince is pretty novel."
Oscar rolled his eyes at him: "What's so novel? Is a prince not human? And you've had the most contact with Mubai, you understand his character. Later, introduce him to me properly."
Ma Hongjun nodded: "That's no problem at all. And I do genuinely approve of him. He works hard in cultivation—his strength is just a bit lacking."
Ma Hongjun continued, hesitating for a moment before saying: "If he could also consume whale gelatin, perhaps he could catch up to us. But I don't know what the teachers think, so I didn't tell Mubai about the whale gelatin."