Grandmaster slowly opened his eyes a little later. A spirited light flickering within his eyes, his whole body seeming a lot younger. But right now he was covered in filth and didn’t have time to say anything to the others before turning around and leaving the log cottage, first finding some place to bathe and change clothes.
While everyone were sensing the effects of taking the immortal treasure herbs, a resonant phoenix call and a deep tiger roar rose practically simultaneously.
Golden red flames suddenly discharged from Ma Hongjun’s body, soaring up and directly burning a large hole in the defenseless roof. Not even dust fell down.
Ma Hongjun’s body had smoothed out within the flame, and even though he was still chubby, he had clearly lost a considerable amount of fat.
The mohican hairstyle on his head had grown several times longer, even hanging down his back, his little eyes radiated all around, flames roamed across him as he moved, and behind his back could faintly be seen a Phoenix pattern, as if reborn.
Fatty was no longer as wretched as before. Making a long cry at the sky filled with abundant majesty. The pressure of the Phoenix as king among birds clearly made the air heavier.
The tiger roar naturally came from Dai Mubai, shooting up from where he was lying on the floor, spirit power surged all around him within a one meter range. The hair all over his body had become a sparkling and translucent snowy white, and intense bursting sounds constantly came from all of his four limbs. From within that white light the glimpse of Dai Mubai’s evil eyes gave people a kind of hair raising feeling.
“So hot.”
Ma Hongjun called out loudly, yawning and inhaling deeply. The golden red flames around him immediately withdrew like threads of silk into his mouth, in a moment disappearing unseen. His hair gradually restored to normal, and only his little eyes still flickered with light.
The Cockscomb Phoenix Sunflower Dandelion Ma Hongjun ate was, just like Tang San’s Infernal Precious Apricot, a pure yang immortal treasure. The difference was that the Cockscomb Phoenix Sunflower was a nourishing immortal treasure, while the Infernal Precious Apricot was highly toxic. Their manifestations differred somewhat.
First of all, the extrinsic energy of Ma Hongjun’s immortal herb wasn’t intense and could be taken directly. But if Tang San had taken that plant directly, let alone eating it, he would have burned to death. He needed the Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass to make it possible.
One of the two pure yang immortal herbs generated a kind of endless fiery strength, and one burst with sudden blazing heat, each with its own characteristics. In terms of how easily they could be taken, clearly Fatty’s Cockscomb Phoenix Sunflower won out.
“So amazing.”
Fatty laughed loudly,
“My fire has changed, it seems to have become more mellow and gentle. Didn’t you feel the vast energy in my flame?”
Ning Rongrong let a giggle escape,
“Damn Fatty, always tooting your own horn. How many ranks did your spirit power grow?”
Ning Rongrong, Zhu Zhuqing and Ma Hongjun had all obtained their third spirit rings just recently, so the three had stood at the same starting line. Zhu Zhuqing’s spirit power had increased seven ranks, and her own six ranks.
Fatty urgently sensed the spirit power within him, and couldn’t help saying:
“Fuck me, my spirit power reached the thirty sixth rank. It rose a full five ranks.”
Ning Rongrong giggled,
“Then you’re still not equal to us. Me and Zhuqing grew six and seven ranks respectively.”
Fatty stared blankly a moment,
“No way. So awesome? Third brother, you can’t be partial!”
Tang San helplessly said:
“What partial, go wash off first. The medical effect of that Cockscomb Phoenix Sunflower you ate was even more potent than theirs. Haven’t you noticed how your body has changed? If I’m not wrong, then hereafter you won’t have to suffer the complications of that evil fire. Even if I don’t know whether your spirit can be called a pure Phoenix right now, it still shouldn’t be far off.”
At this Fatty discovered that he was filthy, unbearable sticky, and hurriedly ran out to wash.
Dai Mubai stood there quietly. After the tiger roar ended he stood in the same spot, eyes closed, the fur gradually disappearing, his swollen body gradually restoring to normal.
Even though Zhu Zhuqing didn’t step forward, her deeply concerned gaze never left Dai Mubai. As she saw he didn’t speak up she couldn’t help be somewhat anxious, wanting to step forward, but being a bit too shy.
Part 2 (TL by Bagelson)
After all, she’d always been so cold to Dai Mubai.
But the concern in her heart finally overwhelmed her shyness, looking at Dai Mubai who hadn’t moved for a long time she started forward, carefully stepping in front of him. She wanted to call out but was afraid to disturb him, and was for a moment at a loss.
Just as Zhu Zhuqing raised her head to look at Dai Mubai, her eyes brimming with concern, Dai Mubai’s eyes snapped open without warning, startling Zhu Zhuqing who cried out in surprise and stepped backwards, but almost fell over.
Dai Mubai reacted instantly, stretching out a hand and pulling her close flawlessly.
“You…… Let go of me.”
Zhu Zhuqing was blushing red, but clearly breathed out now that Dai Mubai was awake.
Dai Mubai smiled:
“You came on your own but still ask me to let go? Coming when you want, and leaving when you want?”
“You, you shameless…… Let go of me quickly. Who came on her own?”
Zhu Zhuqing lowered her head in Dai Mubai’s arms and struggled with all her strength, but was still unable to throw off Dai Mubai’s cast iron-like embrace. Even if her spirit power had increased considerably, how could she be a match for a power attack system Spirit Master like Dai Mubai?
Dai Mubai lowered his head next to Zhu Zhuqing’s ear, whispering:
“You still care for me so much, don’t worry, your husband is alright. It’s all well.”
“You……”
Zhu Zhuqing raised her head sharply, intending to ask Dai Mubai, ‘Whose husband do you think you are?’
But she just met Dai Mubai’s evil eyes. Dai Mubai’s evil eyes were brimming with a sincere light, staring at her full of tender feelings.
It had to be said that Dai Mubai’s evil eyes indeed had extreme killing power. Zhu Zhuqing only felt a burst of distraction and in the end didn’t speak the words on her tongue, even softening somewhat against him.
Dai Mubai was inwardly exceptionally pleased. Being able to embrace this logical and cold Zhu Zhuqing made him even happier than having broken through the fortieth rank just now.
However, Dai Mubai couldn’t stay cheerful for too long. The moment he relaxed his guard Zhu Zhuqing suddenly slipped out of his embrace and with a flicker had already moved to the side, staring resolutely at him,
“You should use flowery speech like that on those lovers of yours. Don’t look at me with that expression.”
“Eh……”
Dai Mubai smiled bitterly as he looked at her,
“Zhuqing, you can’t be wasting effort on something trivial like that. Haven’t you seen how pure I’ve been recently? Pure like Tang San.”
Zhu Zhuqing snorted,
“When you can really be as clear as ice and clean as jade[ Idiom: Spotless, irreproachable], untainted by a speck of dust[ Idiom: Selfless and incorruptible] as third brother, we’ll talk again.”
Tang San resisted a smile and hastily changed the topic,
“Mubai, did you break through?”
Dai Mubai looked somewhat helplessly at Tang San, saying:
“I’ve already broken through the bottleneck, and moreover my spirit power feels especially abundant. Perhaps after I’ve obtained a spirit ring I will still be able to advance a bit. Little San, when you have time, teach me how to be clear as ice and clean as jade, and untainted by a speck of
dust……”
Perhaps it was because of the time he’d spent with the old freak Dugu Bo, but Tang San wasn’t as guileless as before. With a slight smile he said:
“I’m afraid you might not have the chance. Unless you’re still a virgin, how could you be described as clear as ice and clean as jade?”
Xiao Wu giggled, saying:
“Yeah, only my Ge can be described like that. Clear as ice and clean as jade young master Tang San. Young master Dai, you don’t have the chance.”
The words ‘young master Dai’ were precisely what the hotel manager had addressed Dai Mubai as the first time she and Tang San had met Dai Mubai with the twin sisters.
“Eh……”
Dai Mubai was immediately speechless. When he again looked at Zhu Zhuqing he finally caught a trace of a smile on her face. Instantly his heart came alive again:
“Xiao Wu, don’t tease me like that. Let me tell you that virgins meeting virgins is just a painful affair. How about I impart some of my experience to little San later?”
Xiao Wu stopped smiling at once. Even if she was even more brazen she still wouldn’t be a match for Dai Mubai. Her charming face instantly turned red and she hid behind Tang San’s back, not daring to come out. Her small hands constantly twisted on Tang San’s back.
Xiao Wu didn’t notice that Tang San’s gaze was somewhat absent-minded at this moment, apparently thinking of something, and the expression in his eyes somewhat hard to make out.
The great immortal treasure gifts Tang San had brought could be said to be the perfect endgame. Apart from Xiao Wu who had refused to eat the Yearning Heartbroken Red, everyone else had received considerable benefits. The strength of the Shrek Seven Devils had increased by a large chunk.
The one who had benefited the most among them wasn’t Dai Mubai who had broken through the fortieth rank bottleneck, nor was it Zhu Zhuqing who had gained seven ranks of spirit power, but rather Ma Hongjun whose evil fire had been filtered and the impurities discarded.
Returning from washing up, Ma Hongjun was like a different person. Even though his eyes were still as small as before, and he was still the plumpest among the seven, he wasn’t as bloated as he had been. With a heroic spirit in his expression, flickering within his gaze was a golden red brilliance that inspired awe in others.
Even when he didn’t release his spirit, just by being near one could feel a hot air current from his body.
The reason for this was clearly because he didn’t have full control after raising his spirit power.
Grandmaster returned together with Ma Hongjun, and on the surface he didn’t seem any different than before. It was only when looking carefully one would discover that he seemed a few years younger, his skin more glossy, the atmosphere around him seeming even more reserved as he held Luo San Pao who seemed to have grown a size to his chest.
“Grandmaster. How do you feel?”
When Tang San saw Grandmaster returned he hastily greeted him and asked.
Grandmaster’s expression seemed a bit eccentric,
“After more than thirty years. I didn’t expect that I would actually reach what I had hoped for on this day. It seems I still underestimated external forces, I’ve broken through the bottleneck I’ve been stuck at for decades. My spirit power has finally reached the thirtieth rank.”
Thirtieth rank, perhaps to geniuses like these little monsters it wasn’t much, just another phase of their cultivation.
But to Grandmaster, the thirtieth rank threshold had already perplexed him for several decades. In order to break through the thirtieth rank threshold he had expended untold mental and physical effort. Now finally breaking through with the assistance of the Nine Treasure Purple Zoysia left him with a both sad and delighted sensation that made Grandmaster feel somewhat strange. But breaking through was still a good thing, he could finally obtain his third spirit ring.
“Grandmaster, congratulations. Perhaps you will be able to cultivate rapidly after breaking through the thirtieth rank.”
Grandmaster sighed,
“This year I’m already a bit over fifty. Spirit Master cultivation becomes more difficult the older one gets. Generally speaking, it gets very difficult to advance after sixty. Do I still have a few years? I’ve long since given up the dream of becoming a formidable Spirit Master. You all are my hope. Well, you seven stay here for now. Even though the efficacy of the herbs is good, you still can’t slack off. The drugs you just took were so effective, stay here for the time being to cultivate and consolidate the strength you obtained to make it stable. In seven days me and Mubai will go to hunt spirit beasts for spirit rings.”
Grandmaster had everyone’s admiration in the field of spirit research, and their own strength rising made them even more confident in their cultivation. Nobody doubted Grandmaster, and they nodded one after another.
Although Dai Mubai had already reached the fortieth rank, according to Grandmaster’s theories, the Spirit Master world’s Ten Great Core Competences, the spirit ring bottleneck didn’t prevent Spirit Masters from increasing spirit power, the lack of spirit rings only prevented entering the next phase. Cultivation in the original phase, while unable to break through levels, would actually still cultivate spirit power and would show its effect after obtaining a spirit ring.
For instance, a Spirit Master who broke through the thirtieth rank bottleneck would require a spirit ring to enter the thirty first rank and become a Spirit Elder.
But if he never obtained a spirit ring and kept cultivating at the thirtieth rank, even though his spirit power would never reach the next stage, it would still be set aside. Once a spirit ring was obtained, this store would be released, promoting the corresponding level, just like when Tang San obtained his first spirit ring.
Over the next several days the Shrek Seven Devils all stayed at Liu Erlong’s little log cottage to cultivate their spirit power, consolidating the great benefits the medicinal effects had brought them. Even Grandmaster was no exception. Every day Flender sent people with food, and in order to let everyone cultivate in peace he posted the two tyrannically powerful teachers Zhao Wuji and Lu Ji-Bin nearby the log cabin to protect them.
In the log cabin the Shrek Seven Devils plus Grandmaster sat in a circle, differently colored light flickering from each of them.
Different energies complementing each other.
Sitting in the middle was Dai Mubai, with black and white light shining around him, releasing an overbearing energy.
On Dai Mubai’s left was Zhu Zhuqing, radiating with black light and an agile energy. On Dai Mubai’s right was the Big Sausage Uncle Oscar, and the light he emitted was the strangest. After eating the Eight Petal Immortal Orchid his spirit power had become pink, such a light appearing on a male Spirit Master really made people feel a bit strange.
On Oscar’s right was Tang San, mainly shining with white light, but within was gathered both red and blue. But the colors were very faint, and couldn’t be distinguished unless looking carefully.
Next to Tang San was Xiao Wu with a deep red radiance, the Yearning Heartbroken Red between her hands, that delicate fragrance drifting in front of her, quietly cultivating.
Part 3 (TL by Bagelson)
Ma Hongjun was golden red, Ning Rongrong was resplendent gold, and even Grandmaster released a purple light. The entire log cottage was filled with sparkling light, seeming extremely fantastic.
After the growth from the immortal treasure herbs, by now the Shrek Seven Devils had all increased their strength.
Evil Eye White Tiger Dai Mubai, fortieth rank.
Sausage Monopoly Oscar, thirty eighth rank.
Thousand Hands Asura Tang San, thirty seventh rank.
Evil Fire Phoenix Ma Hongjun, thirty sixth rank.
Soft Bones Demon Rabbit Xiao Wu, thirty fifth rank.
Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Ning Rongrong, thirty seventh rank.
Hell Civet Zhu Zhuqing, thirty eighth rank.
From just recently having entere
d the thirtieth rank to attacking the fortieth rank, none of the Shrek Seven Devils had imagined it would be this quick.
“Little San.”
As everyone were cultivating, Flender’s voice rose from outside the log cabin.
Tang San slowly opened his eyes and quietly left the room.
“Dean Flender, you were looking for me?”
Tang San asked.
Flender nodded, saying:
“Senior Dugu has brought Dugu Yan, and asked me to call you over for something. Little San, be a bit careful, Dugu Bo is still too dangerous.”
Tang San naturally understood why Dugu Bo was looking for him and smiled slightly: “Dean Flender, don’t worry. Nothing will happen.”
Flender brought Tang San out of the forest to the main school area.
Tang San still hadn’t looked the place over carefully since coming here.
Even though the main school area wasn’t as gorgeous as Heaven Dou Imperial Academy, it was still extremely practical. Right now there were several students interacting on the field.
The two entered the main school building, heading straight for the deepest part of the teaching block’s top floor to meet Dugu Bo.
This place had been claimed by Dugu Bo personally. He always liked peace and quiet, and this place met his requirements. By opening the window he could look over the forest behind the building and breathe in the fresh air every day, a feeling Dugu Bo was quite fond of.
In order to let the old freak stay comfortably, Flender had reluctantly spent money to double the amount of decorations since Dugu Bo came. Right now it even seemed somewhat splendorous.
Within the room Dugu Bo sat in a large chair, softly rocking. When Tang San entered he opened his eyes, looking at him with a smiling expression. On the large bed to the side, Dugu Yan sat leaning against the headboard in a bored manner.
“Little freak, you’ve come.”
Dugu Bo was first to call out. At the same time waving his hand at Flender, indicating he could leave.
Flender was indeed somewhat afraid of Dugu Bo. He clapped Tang San on the shoulder, hinting he should be careful, then greeted Dugu Bo and left.
Douluo Dalu - Volume 01-48 Page 128