Douluo Continent, my martial soul is a mushroom.

Chapter 36 The Human-Faced Spider, A Heart-to-Heart Talk (Ning Rongrong, Oscar)

Zhao Wuji took the lead, while Chi Ping and the other students concealed their presence and watched from the sidelines.

To describe this battle in two words—utter crushing defeat!

Zhao Wuji swaggered to the shore of Red Lake, and based on Chi Ping and Tang San's descriptions, locked onto a two-thousand-year-old Crimson Swan suitable for Ma Hongjun. Then, he activated his third spirit ring and possessed his martial soul.

He extended his fist, and gravity transformed into invisible chains that bound the crimson swan. Then he withdrew his fist, and the gravity chains brought the crimson swan to Zhao Wuji's side, where he grabbed its neck, broke its wings, and shook its brains.

Everything happened too fast. By the time the Red Swan's companions reacted, Zhao Wuji had already slipped into the grove with his prey. By the time they chased after him, Zhao Wuji had completely disappeared!

The freshmen who witnessed the whole process were speechless. They could only sigh in their hearts that Chi Ping and Dai Mubai were truly strong to pass Zhao Wuji's test!

After watching the whole thing and understanding what the title "Soul Saint" really meant, Chi Ping led everyone away, turning left and right, and finally stopped under the tallest tree on a small hill.

This was the meeting place they had agreed upon beforehand.

About two hours later, Zhao Wuji picked up the crimson swan and threw it in front of the tree.

"Haha! Fatty, your spirit ring has arrived!"

Ma Hongjun jumped right in front of the unconscious Chi Honghu, his mouth practically watering!

Zhao Wuji grabbed Ma Hongjun by the collar. "This is the prey I caught for you, Fatty, aren't you going to do something for me?"

"Teacher Zhao is awesome! I'll treat you to a big meal when we get back!" Ma Hongjun said repeatedly.

Zhao Wuji nodded in satisfaction, released Ma Hongjun, and said, "Go."

Ma Hongjun charged at Chi Honghu again, but was stopped once more.

"Brother Ping?"

Chi Ping looked at Ma Hongjun and said helplessly, "The Crimson Swan is yours, it can't escape. Calm down first. After all, it's absorbing a spirit ring from a higher level. Although you and the Crimson Swan have a high compatibility, there are still dangers. Aren't you afraid of dying if you absorb a spirit ring with such excitement right now? Besides, this place isn't suitable for absorbing spirit rings. Let's move to a safe location first."

"oh!"

Chi Ping's words worked as always, and Ma Hongjun immediately took a deep breath to calm down.

So Zhao Wuji grabbed the Crimson Swan again, and the group began to retreat towards the outer edge of the Star Dou Great Forest, eventually stopping at the transition zone.

Ma Hongjun's mind calmed down, and he officially began absorbing the spirit ring.

Half an hour later, the absorption was successful, and Ma Hongjun obtained his third soul skill - Thousand Layer Fire Wings.

The soul skill effect is to spread out a pair of phoenix fire wings. With the blessing of the fire wings, Ma Hongjun can fly at high speed over short distances. In addition, the pair of fire wings can also scatter into thousands of fire feathers and shoot out, which is a large-scale killing skill.

After absorbing the spirit ring, Ma Hongjun's martial spirit underwent some changes, taking a further step towards becoming a phoenix. The purple in the flames faded, and the crimson deepened. The feathers of his martial spirit became more lustrous, and its aura intensified.

With Ma Hongjun's spirit rings sorted out, it was Tang San's turn. Perhaps it was fate, or perhaps it was the author's doing, but the group encountered a two-thousand-year-old human-faced demon spider.

Having witnessed Dai Mubai and Ma Hongjun absorb spirit rings beyond their level, Tang San ultimately chose to absorb the spirit ring of the Human-Faced Demon Spider. As a result, Tang San obtained a set of spider leg external spirit bones and his third spirit skill - Spider Web Binding.

Thus, the journey of all the students of Shrek Academy to the Star Dou Great Forest, though fraught with twists and turns, came to a successful conclusion, and all their objectives were achieved.

……

When Zhao Wuji returned to Shrek Academy at noon, he went to report to Flander on his experiences and gains from the Soul Hunting Operation.

Chi Ping went to the training ground, while the other trainees, either exhausted or upset, went back to their dormitories.

The training ground was deserted; none of the instructors were there.

Chi Ping climbed onto the large blue stone where Zhao Wuji often stayed, and looked at the small river in front of him. He cultivated his soul power while pondering the future path of Shrek Academy and everyone else.

Before we knew it, the sun had set and the moon had risen high into the sky.

Just like the order in which Chi Ping called out names in the Star Dou Great Forest, the first person to come looking for him was Ning Rongrong, and Oscar, who was hiding behind him.

"Brother Ping." Ning Rongrong walked to the large blue stone and bowed her head to greet him.

Chi Ping said gently, "Rongrong, is there anything you want to say?"

Ning Rongrong nodded seriously, "Brother Ping, I want to do a business deal with you."

"Is it a detailed cultivation method for the Six Forms and the intuitive perception of Qi and Blood?"

Ning Rongrong nodded again, not puzzled as to why Chi Ping knew her thoughts. During their trip to the Star Dou Great Forest, Chi Ping's keen insight and meticulousness had already won her over. "I come from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School. Although our Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School is one of the seven great sects of the world and holds a very high position, our direct disciples are all traditional support-type Soul Masters. While the support ability of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda Martial Soul is very strong, it is not enough to protect our own lives. Once we encounter an enemy, we are always the first target of their attack. I think your self-created Soul Skill can be of great help to us, at least giving my people some ability to protect themselves. In addition, I also have some ideas about Tang San's hidden weapons."

Chi Ping nodded, "Of course, but I have two conditions."

"What are the conditions?"

"I will present my research findings, but I hope that the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School can send a group of students to Shrek Academy every year for exchange, mutual learning, and common progress. In addition, I plan to persuade the dean to expand the scale of Shrek Academy next year, making it a formal Soul Master Academy, thereby qualifying it for the Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Elite Tournament two years later. In this process, I hope to receive assistance from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School."

Ning Rongrong asked in surprise, "Brother Ping, are you planning to usurp the throne?"

Chi Ping glanced helplessly at Ning Rongrong. "Don't put it so harshly! The dean can't be the dean forever. When he retires, I'll take over his position. I don't want to join any faction; I just intend to make Shrek Academy flourish. And I have an idea, or rather, an ambition. Once I inherit Shrek Academy, I will abandon the dean's rule of only accepting monsters. My Shrek Academy will be an academy that cultivates ordinary people into geniuses, even monsters!"

Ning Rongrong thought for a long time, and finally looked into Chi Ping's eyes and nodded seriously.

"I will persuade the sect leader!"

Ikehira nodded in response.

"Then I'll head back now."

"Wait a minute. Rongrong, I remember your Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School has a rule that disciples who awaken the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda must find a Battle Soul Master partner?"

"Yeah, what's wrong, Brother Ping? You want to marry into the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School?" Ning Rongrong said jokingly, but immediately became serious. "If it were you, this rule could be invalidated. The sect set this rule to protect the lives of its disciples. Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda Soul Masters are already easily persecuted. If they marry another support Soul Master, once they are alone, neither of them can protect the other."

Chi Ping: "I was just asking on someone else's behalf. Alright, you can go back now, someone else is coming later."

So Ning Rongrong went back to her dormitory.

Chi Ping turned his head to look into the darkness. "You heard everything, didn't you?"

Oscar emerged from the darkness with a wry smile, "I knew I couldn't hide it from Ping Ge."

Chi Ping said with a teasing look, "Now you're not worried about me stealing your girlfriend?"

Oscar blushed slightly: "Ping-ge, please stop teasing me."

"When did you start taking a liking to her?"

"I can't explain it. At first, it was lust at first sight, but then I unknowingly fell in love with her."

"You have chosen a very difficult path."

"I know."

"No regrets?"

"How could I possibly regret it?"

"Work harder. There are all sorts of spirit beasts, and maybe there's one that can give a food-type spirit master combat abilities. Even if you don't find one, you can still control your Qi and blood and become a physical master like me. You have great talent, as you can see from your ability to control your intuition. Didn't I control my intuition first, and then my Qi and blood?"

Oscar smiled and said, "Then I'll leave it to you, Brother Ping."

"You call me brother, how could I not help you?"

(End of this chapter)