Chapter 38: Transition

After Zhou Yi finished his early morning flute practice, he began his daily calligraphy training.

After a bout of writing, he discovered that the sky had already completely brightened.

After putting away his calligraphy, he planned to head to the school cafeteria. The so-called cafeteria was actually just an agreement between the academy and this village, hiring a few villagers to be responsible for everyone's meals. Although the breakfast was a bit simple, it had the advantage of being plentiful, so there was no problem with getting full.

By the time Zhou Yi entered, Rongrong and Zhuqing had already arrived.

"Brother Yi, over here~" Ning Rongrong waved happily after seeing Zhou Yi.

Thus, Zhou Yi also came to their side to enjoy the food. Don't say, it really had that flavor of farmhouse cooking. He couldn't help but think of Grandpa Jack, who had raised him.

Since settling in Tiandou City last year, he had basically gone back to visit him every month and even left him a large sum of money. However, this old man didn't spend most of the money on himself; whenever he saw someone's finances were struggling, he would go to help them out. But every time he saw Zhou Yi return, he would grin from ear to ear, constantly muttering, "My little Yi has really made something of himself."

However, everyone in the village held this kind old village chief in high regard, and presumably, he was happy with that.

Before long, Tang San and the other three also arrived at the cafeteria.

Seeing the four of them enter, Zhuqing and Ning Rongrong both nodded at them.

Ma Hongjun's eyes stared blankly at the two women, and he swallowed a mouthful of saliva without any attempt to hide it.

Dai Mubai bumped him with his elbow and said in a low voice, "Behave yourself. It's best if you suppress that evil fire."

Ma Hongjun said angrily, "Why? Don't tell me you're going to make a move again. I'm telling you, Boss Dai, even if you are the boss, you still have to leave some soup for your brothers to drink."

Dai Mubai looked at Zhou Yi with some fear and bumped into Ma Hongjun again, "Don't talk nonsense! You dead fatty."

Xiao Wu sat down next to Ning Rongrong and whispered something to her with a low laugh. From the surprised look Ning Rongrong gave Ma Hongjun, Ma Hongjun also knew they were talking about him. He immediately sat down in a deflated manner, using the breakfast on the table to vent.

Dai Mubai coughed and said, "That guy Oscar is sleeping in again. He's always so lazy. Except for Oscar, I see everyone is here. For the next period of time, we will all be living and studying together, so let's get to know each other. Let me introduce you: this fatty is the other student of our academy, named Ma Hongjun. His martial soul is Grass—oh, no, it's Phoenix."

Ma Hongjun said, "Right, Boss Dai, I heard the new student made Teacher Zhao suffer quite a loss yesterday. Who is it?"

"That's him. Let me tell you, fatty, it's best you don't provoke him. He didn't just make Teacher Zhao suffer a loss; he can actually fight Teacher Zhao to a draw." As he spoke, Dai Mubai pointed at Zhou Yi with his finger.

"Sigh~ don't say that, it makes me feel embarrassed, hehe."

Watching Zhou Yi scratch his head and smile foolishly, Dai Mubai was speechless.

Ma Hongjun looked at Zhou Yi in disbelief, "No way, Boss Dai, don't lie to me. He looks the same age as me, and he's so thin and scholarly-looking. Teacher Zhao is a level 76 Spirit Saint, and you're telling me he can fight Teacher Zhao to a draw? I don't believe it."

"Ahe~ Uncle Zhao's strength is actually quite good, I'm very satisfied."

Here we go again. The contrast between Zhou Yi when he's fighting and when he's normal is just too great. Dai Mubai helplessly covered his forehead.

Ma Hongjun didn't know the situation and just thought of him as a weirdo.

Dai Mubai told Ma Hongjun the names and martial souls of the four newcomers, including Tang San. As for Zhou Yi, he didn't even know what his martial soul or soul power level was. He could only look at Zhou Yi, waiting for him to clear up the confusion.

"Hmm, my name is Zhou Yi. You can just consider my martial soul to be a Dragon. My soul power level is thirty-seven."

Hearing this, Tang San couldn't help but say,

"Brother Yi, it seems the teacher was right after all. Your martial soul isn't as simple as a Cloud."

Zhou Yi felt a bit awkward; the Grandmaster had really hit the nail on the head by accident.

Beside him, Ma Hongjun was quite surprised. Level thirty-seven—his soul power level was actually as high as Boss Dai's. Truly, one cannot judge a book by its cover.

After the introductions were finished, Dai Mubai continued, "Everyone will be living and cultivating together from now on. There's no need to be too formal with how you address each other. Including you four newcomers, there are only seven people in the academy in total. Oscar and Fatty both call me Boss Dai because I'm a bit older than them. You can just call me Mubai. For Ma Hongjun, just call him Fatty. As for that guy Oscar, you can call him Oscar or Big Sausage Uncle, either is fine."

After the mutual introductions, the group began to chat.

Just then, a clanging sound suddenly came from outside.

Dai Mubai hurriedly stood up and said, "This is the bell for the Dean to summon us. I'll take you to the large training ground." After speaking, he left the cafeteria first.

When the group arrived at the large training ground, the bleary-eyed Oscar had already arrived. He was holding a sausage he had created himself and eating it.

Oscar's appearance had undergone a huge change. It was mainly reflected in the fact that the beard on his face was gone.

Suddenly, Oscar seemed to have discovered something and ran straight to Zhou Yi's side, draping an arm over his shoulder and trying to curry favor, "Brother, from now on you are my own brother. Ever since I had the honor of watching your duel with Teacher Zhao yesterday, I knew you were no ordinary person. My admiration for you is like the surging river..."

"No way, Oscar, is it necessary to be such a sycophant?" Ma Hongjun was a bit dumbfounded.

"What do you know? He's someone who can fight Teacher Zhao to a draw. Show some respect."

Since both of them said so, Ma Hongjun had to believe it, but he was still very confused.

While they were talking, a middle-aged man walked over from the other side of the training ground.

Flender walked up to Tang San, Zhuqing, and the others, and stopped. His unique, slightly magnetic, hoarse voice rang out, "This year is quite good; we have four more Little Monsters. I, Flender, Dean of Shrek Academy, welcome your arrival on behalf of the academy. Later, each of you will pay one hundred gold coins to Teacher Li, who is in charge of finances."

"As for you, I really don't know why you would come here with your strength, and I don't know how best to arrange things for you." Flender looked at Zhou Yi again, appearing very hesitant.

Zhou Yi smiled slightly, "Dean, don't worry about me. Just treat me by the same standards as them, except that I might have my own cultivation to do normally. I came here because an elder told me I needed to go deep into the mortal world and have more contact with people of my own age. It just so happens that there are many people I know here, so I came."

"Is that so? Your money was already paid yesterday. Later, when we are training, if you need to cultivate alone, just let me know in advance," Flender nodded and said.

"Mubai."

"Dean." Dai Mubai stepped forward. He seemed very respectful toward Flender, even carrying a bit of admiration.

Flender said, "Four more junior brothers and sisters have arrived. Later, you tell them the academy's rules. Then everyone go back and rest, and try your best to restore your state to the best level. Today's first lesson will begin in the evening. Oscar, you and Ning Rongrong are the exceptions. You two come with me."

After hearing this, only Ma Hongjun and Dai Mubai left. Zhou Yi stayed because he wanted to remind Flender of something; Tang San stayed because he wanted to see how Flender taught; Xiao Wu and Zhuqing just simply wanted to accompany Tang San and Zhou Yi.