Very many years later, as Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Ning Rongrong recalled the matters of her youth, she told her children, she once had a night, in all her life the most painful night, that caused the most significant change in her life.
Early morning.
Tang San awoke clearheaded to undergo cultivation, every morning cultivating Purple Demon Eye had already formed a part of his biological clock.
Today Oscar hadn’t gone back to sleep but was instead cultivating, only he still hadn’t awoken, Tang San softly and quietly left the dorm, moving onto the rooftop, beginning his necessary daily cultivation.
After one night’s rest, the internal injuries he sustained yesterday were already mostly well, and although his internal organs still ached somewhat dully, already it could not be considered serious, another one or two days and he would completely recover.
While cultivating Purple Demon Eye, in Tang San’s mind appeared the events of yesterday’s fight with the two brothers Tie Long and Tie Hu. Especially the two brothers’ final attack.
Spirits leaving the hand, pursuing the opponent to attack, focusing full power into one hit. Their spirit power was obviously lower than his, but could make him sustain injuries, if he had been struck head on, he might still have suffered heavy injuries. Even if that was the Tie brothers’ spirit ability, with this technique it didn’t seem too difficult to accomplish. He similarly also had a Hammer, if this kind of attack method also could be used with his Hammer, what effect might it have?
Although Tang San’s Hammer did not come from his spirit, he could be certain that his Hammer compared the the Tie brothers’ hammers was much heavier. As for pursuing the enemy, from a certain point of view, relying on Controlling Crane Catching Dragon could achieve it, similar to issuing his own Hammer like a hidden weapon.
Unfortunately, two kinds of spirits could not be used at the same time, otherwise using Blue Silver Grass Binding on the shaft of the Hammer, would that not become a Meteor Hammer?
Thinking of this, Tang San decided to find some time to test whether his Hammer could be used like this, what capacity, how to throw the hammer, using what technique, these all required practical experimentation to find out, simultaneously it must also be practiced many times. Right now of course wouldn’t do, that black hammer consumed tremendous spirit power, right now his injuries still had not recovered. Hastily exercising might on the contrary easily injure him further.
After concluding Purple Demon Eye cultivation, Tang San also did some simple hidden weapon drills until going for breakfast. He rose the earliest, and as he finished eating breakfast, Dai Mubai arrived at the dining hall with a gloomy expression. Seeing Tang San he only nodded, and said nothing further.
Just after Dai Mubai, Xiao Wu appeared third, after that just Zhu Zhuqing and Ma Hongjun. Tang San expressed to Xiao Wu that there was already nothing the matter with him, and Xiao Wu reassured sat down to eat.
Ma Hongjun had a lively energy and bright appearance, as if he had lost several jin of weight. Although Fatty was straightforward, he could still read body language, seeing Dai Mubai’s gloomy appearance, also dared not say anything, hurriedly eating breakfast.
As for Oscar and Ning Rongrong, neither arrived at the dining hall.
“Fatty, you went out last night.”
Watching him finish breakfast, Dai Mubai suddenly spoke up.
Ma Hongjun nodded, in a low voice saying:
“Yesterday the Evil Fire more or less emptied out, I should not have to go out for these two days.”
Dai Mubai said:
“That’s good. Tonight you stay at the dorms, I will go out to find those twins from last time.”
Fatty’s eyes shone,
“Boss Dai, you eat meat, haven’t I any soup to drink?”
Dai Mubai snapped:
“For This kind of matter must be enjoy mutually, vigorously swinging hips isn’t sweet.”
As he said this, he also deliberately looked at Zhu Zhuqing.
Zhu Zhuqing did not have any reaction, as if she basically had not heard their words, this ice cold young miss only drank the rice soup in front of her.
The intangible conflict didn’t continue, as the start of class bell rang, everyone hurriedly finished breakfast, arriving at the big grounds.
Neither the dean or any teachers had arrived, but on the field there was already one person, Ning Rongrong. Still no sign of Oscar.
Her fair and beautiful little cheeks looked wan and sallow, eyes reddened, spirit seeming very downcast.
For class today they still had the dean Flender. Tang San’s group had waited for no less than a quarter hour before this Dean came strolling along.
Flenders gaze first fell on Ning Rongrong, but he did not say anything to her,
“Today is your second class. What about Oscar? Did he sleep in again?”
Tang San hurriedly said:
“When I left this morning he was still cultivating, perhaps his mediation couldn’t be broken in time.”
Flender frowned,
“For today’s class we can’t start without him. Tang San, you go call him over.”
Tang San was just about to return to the dorms when he saw Oscar hurriedly come running from the dorm. However, on his face was no panic from arriving late, instead brimming with excitement.
“Oscar, do you want to run laps again?”
Dean Flender glared at him.
Oscar hastily shook his head,
“No, Dean please listen to my explanation. I broke through, I reached thirtieth rank.”
“What?”
Not only Flender, everyone’s astonished gazes turned to him simultaneously, including Ning Rongrong.
Oscar’s age was one year younger than Dai Mubai, he was still only fourteen years old, fourteen years old attaining thirtieth ranked spirit power, this already was equivalent to a shocking number, even more significant was, Oscar had a food system spirit, belonging to the most difficult to cultivate category of spirits. From some kind of meaning, his thirtieth rank compared to a Battle Spirit Master’s thirtieth rank was much more challenging. But for each level a food system Spirit Master promoted, the food’s auxiliary effect would strengthen enormously.
On the Douluo Continent, thirtieth ranked or higher food system Spirit Masters already were comparatively rare, if joining the army, all could enjoy the pay of a thousand man commander, or even higher. Fortieth ranked or over were even less common. Fiftieth ranked or higher food system Spirit Masters were even more like phoenix feathers and unicorn horns, and sixtieth ranked or higher food system Spirit Masters practically did not appear, even if there were, they would also be cultivated once in many years by the great clans or Spirit Hall.
If a Spirit Grandmaster level food system Spirit Master could be said to produce food for a hundred people to consume, then, one Spirit Elder, even if it was a Spirit Elder just broken through thirtieth rank, was also sufficient to supply food for five hundred people or more. Along with rank going up, this figure would still continuously rise. At the same time, attaining thirtieth rank also meant a food system Spirit Master would be capable of producing an additional third kind of attribute food. Regarding assisting a team, it would enormously upgrade.
Flender’s eyes distinctly shone,
“Good, good, good, Oscar, you haven’t let me down. You are among the current students the second to reach thirtieth rank. I congratulate you on behalf of the Academy.”
Right now, even Dai Mubai’s expression was no longer gloomy, walking up to Oscar’s side and clapping his shoulder,
“Little Ao, congratulations. Although you are a little bit slower than me in reaching thirtieth rank, as a food system Spirit Master, you already appear to be a more outstanding genius than me. Don’t tell me, being jilted can to help a Spirit Master in a spirit break through?”
Little Ao somewhat awkwardly glared at Dai Mubai, again looking at the red eyed Ning Rongrong, saying with a wry smile:
“Always with
out any attachment, how can you speak about being jilted. Don’t tease me.”
Tang San, Xiao Wu and Ma Hongjun stepped forward one after another to express their congratulations. Ning Rongrong stood in her place, looking at Oscar with a somewhat complex expression in her eyes, but Zhu Zhuqing kept her head lowered, not knowing quite what to think.
“Right, today’s class will begin now.”
Flender’s voice pulled everyone back from congratulating little Ao.
“Today’s class is very simple. Oscar, you have today’s leading role. Today’s course, is for each of you apart from Oscar, must eat at least one of the sausages produced by Oscar’s spirit power.”
“What?”
Xiao Wu cried out in alarm on hearing Flender’s words.
“Dean, what class is this?”
Flender grandiosely said.
“This is called adaptability training. I ask you, is life or reputation more important? When you can only pick one of them, which will you choose? Although Oscar’s spirit incantations are a bit vulgar, as I said yesterday, he is an innate full spirit power food system Spirit Master, extremely gifted. The sausages he makes are the best food system spirit I have ever seen. While at the Academy, he is one of you, you will learn together, if you are unable to reach a rapport with him, you will waste your best auxiliary companion.”
“At the same time, this is also to train your attitudes, if even this bit is impossible for you, in the future how will you survive in the Spirit Master realm? In order to survive, by fair means or foul, let alone eating one sausage, when in a life and death situation, even if it is a rat, cockroach or earthworm all must be eaten.”
Hearing Flender’s last words, the three girls present simultaneously paled, becoming distinctly unsightly. Especially Ning Rongrong already had a desire to throw up.
“This class is compulsory for everyone. Otherwise, you need not remain here. Don’t doubt my decision, the first day each of you arrived, someone told you that Shrek Academy’s education is for monsters, not ordinary people. Oscar, begin.”
* * *
[1] (僵尸) A Chinese zombie, or hopping corpse.
Chapter 026: Star Dou Great Forest
Part 1
Flender stood there with a cold face, a completely impartial and incorruptible appearance, his expression telling the students, do not think to bluff through it.
In Oscar’s heart a laugh had long ago blossomed, the expression in his eyes clearly revealing a vulgar light, particularly paying attention to Ning Rongrong.
If one could say, right now he truly thought to kiss Flender several times, in his heart secretly saying, ‘dean, I love you.’ Flender doing this was not only to let everyone engender a feeling of identifying with him, for Oscar himself, his heart also had a kind of extreme satisfaction.
‘Ning Rongrong eating my sausage’, this thought alone made Oscar somewhat excited.
Oscar simultaneously extended both his hands, and with a dark smile, read aloud his spirit incantations.
“I your father have a big sausage.”
“I your father have a little sausage.”
One thick and one thin, two sausages with distinctly different flavors appeared separately in Oscar’s palms. With a dark smile, saying:
“Who is first?”
Dai Mubai and Ma Hongjun had previously undergone a similar course, although their hearts remained somewhat shadowed, to some extent they could still repress it. As the two prepared to step forward, thinking it better to just get it over with and complete today’s class, one person rushed first.
“I’ll go.”
Accompanying the sharp and clear voice, Ning Rongrong walked in front of Oscar with big strides, both hands reaching out, separately grabbing his big sausage and little sausage.
Who would have thought Ning Rongrong unexpectedly would take the lead. Dai Mubai and Ma Hongjun halted on the verge of stepping out. They both wanted to see whether Ning Rongrong would eat Oscar’s spirit transformed sausage.
Ning Rongrong’s expression was very serene, only her eyes brimming with reluctance betraying her heart. After all she was still only a little miss, how could she possibly completely cover up her mood.
Yes, going through that one night, she still decided to stay. Without any compromise, she wanted to prove she could give it all for the people at Shrek Academy to see. Prove it how? That was by surpassing all the students, and gain even stronger spirit power than them.
Oscar promoting to thirtieth rank, was equivalent to one step further aggravating Ning Rongrong’s heart, that’s why she was the first to walk out.
Seeing Ning Rongrong’s expression face to face, Oscar suddenly felt a chill.
Ning Rongrong grabbing the big sausage and fiercely biting off a mouthful, that appearance, truly was rather ferocious. Seeing her expression, Oscar clearly felt his body tingle, subconsciously retreating a step.
Ning Rongrong completely gulped down Oscars big sausage and little sausage.
When just starting, she was still holding an idea of facing death with equanimity, but after swallowing the fresh sausage and cured sausage, she discovered that the flavour of these two kinds of Oscar’s materialized food spirit unexpectedly were exceptionally good.
Especially that big fresh sausage, after it entered the belly it immediately spread a warm feeling throughout the whole body, after one night without sleep, she who was originally already very tired clearly felt her spirits rouse, a feeling as if the body was brimming with strength.
What dean Flender said was right, this fellow’s food system spirit indeed was remarkable.
Being born to Seven Treasures Glazed Tile School, Ning Rongrong naturally was familiar with food system spirits, and had also eaten them. But the food system spirits she previously ate did could not have such a rapid effect as Oscar’s big fresh sausage. Even if it was a more than fortieth ranked food system Spirit Master, they would still be unable to do even a bit of this. This was completely a question of innate talent.
Oscar’s big fresh sausage incidentally also was his first spirit ring effect, Recovery[ (恢复) “to recover”]. This kind of recovery had a comprehensive effect, apart from giving a satiated feeling, it still had effects on both treatment and restoration. The effect of Recovery was directly proportional to Oscar’s spirit power.
Oscar probing asked:
“Were you hungry?”
Ning Rongrong licked her pink lips, her face revealing a gentle smile,
“Your sausage, a bite felt pretty good.”
Oscar once again felt a tingle, Ning Rongrong’s smile felt a bit like a devil’s smile.
Ning Rongrong turned around, gaze sweeping across each student, finally stopping on Flender, she used action to prove she had remained by her own power.
Dai Mubai and Ma Hongjun one after another ate Oscar’s fresh and dried sausage, Tang San walked forward fourth, somewhat helplessly picking up Oscar’s for the fourth time transformed spirit.
A girl like Ning Rongrong could do it, so why would it be impossible for him? With this kind of attitude, Tang San gulped down Oscar’s fresh and dried sausage.
Very quickly, he also had the same feeling as Ning Rongrong, perhaps even more clearly, the sausage entering the stomach created a feeling of warmth circulating in the entire body, the ache in his internal organs unexpectedly fading away, his whole body feeling as if full of strength.
Somewhat amazed he looked at Oscar, Tang San’s perception of him clearly had changed a bit.
Right now, only Xiao Wu and Zhu Zhuqing still had not completed today’s class assignment.
Xiao Wu somewhat pleading looked at Tang San, seemingly saying, ‘can’t I not eat?’
Tang San smiled slightly, saying:
“It’s no big deal, the flavor is pretty good. Think of it as food you buy on the street.”
Xiao Wu extremely reluctantly stepped out fifth, practically with closed eyes eating the two things, afterwards covering her mouth, resisting the
nausea and swallowing. Fortunately, after Oscar’s fresh sausage immediately transformed into that warmth spreading in the body, it didn’t leave any aftertaste. Despite this, Xiao Wu’s expression still appeared somewhat unsightly.
Right now, of all the students, only Zhu Zhuqing hadn’t completed the day’s assignment, everyone’s gazes also couldn’t help but gather on her.
Zhu Zhuqing’s little face changed between green and white, biting her lower lip, yet somehow could not make her feet step forward.
Dean Flender suddenly said:
“Zhu Zhuqing, if you want to one day be able to defeat Dai Mubai, and trample him underfoot, then you mustn’t hesitate now.”
Zhu Zhuqing stared blankly a moment, looking towards Flender. Flender’s face displayed a rare smile, nodding with eyes containing deep meaning.
Dai Mubai was first stunned, immediately following had a helpless face, at his side Fatty and Oscar already snickered.
What nobody had anticipated was, the expression in Zhu Zhuqing’s eyes suddenly firmed, with big strides walking up to Oscar, lightning quick grabbing the sausages in Oscar’s hands and in spite of everything eating them like that, her speed even a bit faster than Xiao Wu.
Dai Mubai’s look at her was a bit despondent,
“You truly want to beat me so much?”
Zhu Zhuqing firmly glared at him, but didn’t say anything.
Flender nodded satisfied, saying:
“Good, you have all passed today’s lesson, you all must remember, when you are together in the future, Oscar is your logistics supply. Forget those nonsense spirit incantations, to save your lives and let yourselves become even more powerful, to display your entire strength, even surpassing your usual display, is the most important. Now, all of you return to prepare, you have one day’s time to adjust and rest. Early tomorrow you will all set out on a journey. Teacher Zhao Wuji will lead you to Star Dou Great Forest to help Oscar obtain his third spirit ring. This is not only a matter for Oscar alone, it is also experience for all of you before encountering thousand year spirit beasts. Zhao Wuji will not lightly step in, everything depends on yourselves. Good, dismissed.”
Douluo Dalu - Volume 01-48 Page 47