# Chapter 21: Training Begins
Flender's commanding presence immediately subdued the chaos.
His gaze swept across the assembled group with calculated assessment before settling on Xiao Wu.
"What exactly happened here?"
He demanded, his tone measured but authoritative.
Xiao Wu explained the situation with remarkable clarity—Ma Hongjun's predatory behavior toward the village woman, his subsequent leering comments, and her intervention. She spoke without embellishment, presenting facts with the directness of someone unaccustomed to deception.
Listening to this accounting, Flender's expression shifted through several subtle iterations. By the time Xiao Wu finished, he appeared noticeably embarrassed—his academy's reputation had apparently already been damaged by his direct disciple's misconduct.
Oscar, however, chose that moment to interject with evident disapproval, his expression darkening as he voiced his objection.
"Xiao Wu, Fatty is also a student of Shrek Academy and happens to be the Dean's direct disciple,"
Oscar said, his tone carrying subtle reproach. "Moreover, Fatty and that girl were originally in a boyfriend-girlfriend relationship. If they had an argument, it's hardly your place to teach him a lesson. Perhaps they were simply flirting."
Chen Sheng's eyes narrowed with dangerous intensity. His gaze locked onto Oscar with unmistakable warning. One more word, his expression communicated silently, and you'll experience the full power of my Void Breaking Sword.
Ning Rongrong immediately voiced her disgust, her usual politeness evaporating entirely. "I didn't expect this disgusting fatty to also be from Shrek Academy. It appears your academy truly accepts anyone—only judging talent while completely ignoring character, correct? I'm genuinely enlightened by your standards!"
She turned toward Oscar with visible irritation. "Oscar! Didn't you see him teasing Xiao Wu just now? And his lecherous expression was directed at all of us the entire time!"
Oscar found himself stammering, unable to formulate an adequate response.
Zhu Zhuqing spoke up for perhaps the first time since arriving, her voice remaining characteristically cold but now carrying an edge of sarcasm. She glanced meaningfully toward Dai Mubai. "It's not particularly surprising. Just a few days ago, I encountered someone attempting to escort twin young women into a hotel room."
Dai Mubai's complexion immediately shifted to an awkward, mottled expression. However, recognizing that repairing his relationship with Zhu Zhuqing remained important—particularly his desire to practice Spirit Fusion with her—he could only force an unconvincing smile of acknowledgment.
Ning Rongrong's expression twisted into unmistakable disgust. So that's the pattern here. Her gaze flickered between Dai Mubai and Oscar, her disapproval intensifying.
Oscar, realizing his efforts to impress Ning Rongrong had catastrophically backfired, immediately began damage control. "I didn't! I've only dated a few girls—I haven't 'messed around' with multiple people!"
His protest, however, only deepened Ning Rongrong's negative impression. She had been contemplating whether to view Oscar favorably, and his defensive response—combined with the revelation that he had "dated several girls"—eliminated any residual consideration entirely.
Xiao Wu had genuinely underestimated the complexity of Shrek Academy's social environment. The academy may lack resources and proper facilities, but its students are remarkably uninhibited.
When Xiao Wu and Ning Rongrong returned to the group, neither offered response to Oscar's fumbling explanations. What was there to say? His admission that he had dated multiple girls—combined with his apparent indifference to Ma Hongjun's predatory behavior—had thoroughly discredited any favorable consideration.
---
Flender's urgent command redirected everyone's attention. "Little Ao, quickly! Heal Ma Hongjun!"
Oscar hastened forward carrying several Big Recovery Sausages. Upon reaching Ma Hongjun—whose injuries were visibly severe despite his already recovering consciousness—Oscar made the situation decidedly more awkward than necessary.
"Fatty, you need to open your mouth," Oscar called out, positioning himself above Ma Hongjun with his sausages held aloft in distinctly suggestive fashion.
Ma Hongjun stared up at Oscar with visible confusion and discomfort, clearly unhappy about the situation.
Dai Mubai merely sighed heavily, his patience clearly exhausted. "Little Ao, you take everyone to the cafeteria. I'll personally escort Fatty to rest and recover."
Oscar could only nod in agreement, his social miscalculations weighing heavily on his expression.
Under Oscar's reluctant guidance, the group proceeded to Shrek Academy's dining facility.
The meal proved underwhelming by any reasonable standard—steamed buns and pickled vegetables comprised the entirety of the offering, with conspicuous absence of any meat products.
While the food's monotony might not have troubled everyone, Xiao Wu found herself genuinely concerned about nutritional adequacy.
She quietly complained to Chen Sheng during their meal, noting the significant downgrade compared to even Notting Academy's offerings.
"Brother, Shrek Academy's food is even worse than Notting Academy's," she lamented quietly. "Only steamed buns and pickled vegetables—no meat at all."
Her concern was primarily focused on Chen Sheng's wellbeing rather than her own. While she personally didn't require substantial quantities of food—carrots provided adequate sustenance—she recognized that Chen Sheng needed proper nutrition to maintain his exceptional capabilities.
Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing similarly found the cafeteria's limited selection monotonous. Not that they were unaccustomed to simple meals, but such consistent lack of variety suggested inadequate resource management at the academy.
---
The academy's training grounds welcomed Yu Xiaogang and Flender, both evidently intending to oversee the first comprehensive training session.
Flender appeared genuinely curious about how Yu Xiaogang intended to train and integrate Chen Sheng's group, as well as the purpose of the baskets and stones scattered across the facility.
However, Zhao Wuji remained conspicuously absent.
The Vice-Dean had encountered Tang Hao the previous night—Tang San's father, though nobody present knew this significant detail—who had engaged him in an impromptu sparring match. Despite Tang Hao deliberately avoiding spirit ability deployment, relying purely on physical technique and hammer skills, he had decisively defeated Zhao Wuji in combat.
The injuries proved too severe for Zhao Wuji to overcome. He remained sequestered in his office, unwilling to face the academy students while nursing both physical injuries and wounded dignity.
Yu Xiaogang addressed the assembled students with characteristically stern authority. "Today represents your first official training session. However, given unexpected incidents and Ma Hongjun's injuries, I've decided to provide light instruction today. Tomorrow, we begin genuine training in earnest. For now, I'll explain my overall cultivation philosophy and outline your individual development paths."
Yu Xiaogang proceeded with detailed discussion of his theoretical framework regarding spirit master cultivation, emphasizing the importance of physical foundation alongside spiritual development.
---
Unexpectedly, Zhu Zhuqing approached Chen Sheng after Yu Xiaogang's initial lecture concluded, her demeanor displaying unusual boldness.
"If you have something to say, just say it,"
Chen Sheng said after noticing her prolonged staring. "Your continuous observation makes me uncomfortable."
Zhu Zhuqing's expression remained controlled despite visible vulnerability. "I want to learn from you. Can you help me?"
Her cheeks flushed faintly as she continued, adding necessary clarification. "To become strong, I'll do anything!"
Chen Sheng's internal response was immediate and predictable. If she's willing to do anything for strength, then perhaps we can arrange something mutually beneficial.
He stood deliberately, his gaze conducting a thorough assessment of Zhu Zhuqing from head to toe. His scrutiny lingered at certain anatomical features—specifically the substantial and well-developed assets clearly visible beneath her tight black clothes.
Chen Sheng wasn't particularly ashamed of this impulse. Physical appreciation represented a natural male response, and substantial curves held undeniable aesthetic appeal to most heterosexual men.
However, his examination received immediate interruption.
"Brother! Don't look! How can you stare at someone's chest like that?!" Xiao Wu protested, rising onto her tiptoes from behind Chen Sheng and covering his eyes with both her small hands.
Their proximity brought unintended consequences.
Xiao Wu's body inadvertently brushed against Chen Sheng's back, and he found himself acutely aware of the softness pressed against him. An involuntary urge surfaced—a desire to maintain this contact indefinitely rather than separate.
"Cough cough, Xiao Wu, this is simply male instinct,"
Chen Sheng protested, gently grasping her hands while regarding her seriously. "However, I possess exceptional self-control. Consider these six years we've spent together—haven't I remained pure and undefiled?"
Xiao Wu snorted with evident pride, issuing no verbal response as she deliberately led Zhu Zhuqing away from Chen Sheng's vicinity.
Xiao Wu's chest provided no particular advantage compared to Zhu Zhuqing's more developed anatomy, and this realization created subtle frustration within her. That achievement required no amount of papaya or milk to replicate.
However, her peripheral vision accidentally captured Ning Rongrong's form, and she immediately recovered some confidence. Ning Rongrong's development remained comparatively modest, suggesting Xiao Wu wasn't entirely outmatched.
Ning Rongrong watched the interaction between Xiao Wu and Zhu Zhuqing with barely concealed resentment. She felt profoundly wronged by the world's apparent injustice. Why did everyone else's physical development occur so rapidly during their early teens, while hers remained noticeably behind? Even at twelve years old, Zhu Zhuqing possessed a well-developed figure that seemed impossibly advantageous.
Ning Rongrong made an internal resolution. This evening, after returning to the dormitory, she would request detailed advice from Zhu Zhuqing regarding physical development techniques.
She had another priority as well—writing a comprehensive letter to her sect master grandfather, detailing her discovery of an apparent sword genius at Shrek Academy.
Since she had already committed to studying at Shrek, she harbored no concerns about forced retrieval. If the sect intended intervention, they would have already dispatched representatives.
---
That evening, Chen Sheng sequestered himself once more to examine his accumulated treasure chests.
『Treasure Chest: Dragon Elephant Prison Suppression Technique』
Chen Sheng's expression froze in absolute shock. This was one of the most legendary cultivation methods from across the multiverses—a supreme body refinement technique that transcended conventional understanding.
The technique's legendary incantation echoed within his consciousness: "Dragon Elephant entered the path with blood, fought against the heavens with strength, turned into a blood prison, and suppressed the heavens for ten thousand generations…"
According to the detailed method description, the core principle was deceptively elegant yet extraordinarily demanding: utilizing qi to guide the spirit, then employing the spirit to form the image of an ancient divine elephant. This wasn't merely metaphorical—it involved restructuring one's entire physical being at the cellular level.
The technique required awakening consciousness within each of the body's 840 million particle compositions. Each individual particle—each molecular structure within his physical form—would develop the strength equivalent to an entire giant elephant. If cultivated to completion, the cumulative effect would grant him power that approached that of a Divine Elephant itself.
The implications were staggering beyond conventional comprehension.
Complete mastery would grant capabilities described in the method's ancient records as world-altering: overturning seas and rivers, producing roars capable of making stars fall from the heavens, plucking moons from the sky, swallowing suns whole—power that transcended mortal understanding.
Yet Chen Sheng understood the cruel reality. This technique required years—potentially decades—of dedicated cultivation to awaken consciousness within even a fraction of those 840 million particles. The process demanded absolute commitment and consistency.
But the potential payoff was immeasurable.
『Treasure Chest: Decorative Mirror』
Disregarded.
『Treasure Chest: Martial Soul Improvement Card』
Chen Sheng activated this immediately, directing the upgrade toward his Eight-Winged Archangel martial soul.
Brilliant divine light erupted as his secondary martial soul underwent profound transformation. Two additional wings erupted from its back, bringing the total to ten massive appendages wreathed in holy golden radiance.
More remarkably, complete divine armor materialized across its ethereal form, transforming it from a spiritual entity into something resembling an actual warrior of immense power and authority.
The Eight-Winged Archangel had evolved into a Ten-Winged Divine Archangel, its quality ascending beyond previous classification.
『Treasure Chest: Ancient Scroll (Unreadable Text)』
Filed away for potential future translation.
『Treasure Chest: Soul Ring Age Improvement Card (10,000 Years)』
Chen Sheng applied this to his third soul ring without hesitation. The black ring pulsed with tremendous energy as its age ascended from 33,000 years to 43,000 years. The accompanying power surge elevated his spirit power level from 39 to 40—achieving the Spirit Ancestor.
『Treasure Chests (Multiple): Various Useless Items』
Over the next several chests, Chen Sheng encountered: decorative weapons, ancient pottery, historical texts, a music box, cooking implements, botanical seeds, and various other items of minimal practical application. He stored these methodically without particular interest.
Finally, Chen Sheng committed to cultivating the recently acquired Ancient Dragon Elephant Hell Prison Power technique.
Following the method's detailed instructions, he began absorbing and processing ambient spiritual energy through specialized visualization and breathing techniques. His entire body gradually warmed as if immersed in hot spring water.
The individual cells comprising his physical form seemed to respond with enthusiasm, becoming noticeably more energized and efficient.
However, the cultivation process proved remarkably slow. Based on his preliminary assessment, achieving the first Dragon Elephant transformation would require several years of dedicated cultivation. The method's power came at significant temporal cost.
Regardless, this technique would fundamentally enhance his physical capabilities. His current physical strength already approached 50,000 kilograms without spirit power deployment.
---
In the male dormitory, Tang San and Oscar maintained relatively quiet cultivation routines, neither particularly inclined toward extensive conversation.
The dormitory shared by Dai Mubai and Ma Hongjun proved considerably more animated.
"Hahaha, dead Fatty, who told you to recover so slowly? You should have been back training already,"
Dai Mubai commented, his previously depressed mood brightening noticeably at Ma Hongjun's expense.
Internally, however, Dai Mubai harbored significant concerns. Observing Zhu Zhuqing's obvious attraction to Chen Sheng—her willingness to request personal training and the obvious devotion in her gaze—had triggered deeper anxiety. Zhu Zhuqing was his fiancée, arranged through imperial decree before his disgraceful abandonment of the Star Luo Empire succession.
She should be looking at him with such admiration, not at some newcomer she had met mere days previously.
Examining the situation logically, Dai Mubai recognized the pattern. Chen Sheng had been present during his first meeting with Zhu Zhuqing. And more recently, Chen Sheng's gaze toward Zhu Zhuqing had carried unmistakable intent.
Dai Mubai felt metaphorical grass sprouting across his head—the ancient equivalent of recognizing his fiancée's romantic interest in another man.
"I'm warning you," Dai Mubai said to Ma Hongjun, his voice carrying subtle urgency. "In recent days, suppress your habitual inappropriate impulses. Among the academy students currently present, excluding Ning Rongrong, your combat strength is genuinely the weakest."
Ma Hongjun protested immediately. "That's impossible! Regardless of my overall strength, I'm certainly stronger than Zhu Zhuqing!"
Dai Mubai remained silent, maintaining his own counsel. That's not necessarily accurate, he thought privately. Ma Hongjun might theoretically surpass Zhu Zhuqing in direct combat—but only if he successfully utilizes his Evil Fire Phoenix's aerial advantage. Unfortunately, his phoenix hasn't achieved flight capability yet. Without that advantage, Zhu Zhuqing's Hell Civet martial soul and combat experience provide significant advantages.
The female dormitory exhibited considerably more liveliness and social bonding than its male counterpart.
Xiao Wu had joined Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing in their shared quarters, and the three young women had engaged in extensive conversation.
Ning Rongrong studied Zhu Zhuqing with obvious curiosity, her tone deliberately sweet and ingratiating. "Zhu Zhuqing, please tell me your maintenance secrets? I'd very much like to achieve a similar appearance."
As she spoke, Ning Rongrong extended her hand, gesturing suggestively toward Zhu Zhuqing's distinctly well-developed chest.
Zhu Zhuqing glanced downward somewhat shyly, though her vision was completely obstructed by her generous physical assets.
"This likely relates to my martial soul inheritance,"
Zhu Zhuqing explained, managing to control her embarrassment. "Women from my family who possess the Hell Civet martial soul tend to develop quite prominently."
She paused, observing the evident disappointment visible on Ning Rongrong and Xiao Wu's faces. Her expression softened with genuine sympathy. "Don't worry, Rongrong and Xiao Wu. You're both still young. I've simply developed earlier than average. In a few years, you'll both achieve similar development. It's simply a matter of time."
"I suppose that's the only consolation available," Ning Rongrong sighed, her hopes thoroughly diminished.
Xiao Wu suddenly brightened with apparent inspiration. "Rongrong, why don't you eat papaya and drink milk with me every day? Perhaps such nutritional support could accelerate development?"
Ning Rongrong's eyes widened with renewed hope as she regarded Xiao Wu intently. "Really? Are you suggesting your current appearance is entirely attributable to papaya and milk consumption?"
Xiao Wu hesitated briefly before nodding affirmatively. "I believe it has demonstrable effects. I've been consuming them consistently for six years—essentially every single day. The results speak for themselves."
Ning Rongrong's expression shifted to determined resolution. What young woman could possibly resist the temptation of improved physical appearance, particularly when presented with direct comparative examples?
The following morning, Yu Xiaogang surveyed the assembled students with evident satisfaction, noting everyone's presence.
"Excellent. Everyone has arrived promptly,"
He announced, his expression shifting to characteristically stern severity. "Now listen carefully.
You will each run twenty complete laps around the village carrying additional weight. You are absolutely forbidden from utilizing spirit power.
Anyone who violates this restriction will be immediately dismissed from the academy."
The announcement generated immediate protests.
"What?!" Ning Rongrong literally couldn't contain her objection. Who participated in such prolonged distance running? And without any spirit power deployment? The village perimeter was hardly insignificant, and completing twenty laps while carrying substantial weight would consume hours of exhausting physical effort.
Dai Mubai, Oscar, and Ma Hongjun exchanged expressions of clear distress.
Their faces reflected the physical reality they were confronting—even accomplished combat-type spirit masters struggled with such demands when forbidden spirit power deployment.
"Grandmaster, Dean," Dai Mubai ventured carefully, attempting diplomatic objection.
"The village's perimeter is genuinely substantial. Without spirit power utilization, even dedicated attack-system spirit masters would struggle significantly. Surely this surpasses reasonable expectations for Ning Rongrong and Oscar?"
"If I tell you to run, then run. What difficulty are you describing?" Flender responded dismissively, his expression revealing no sympathy whatsoever.
Flender recognized the pedagogical wisdom underlying Yu Xiaogang's assignment. The task would prove manageable for Dai Mubai and the other combat-focused spirit masters, providing effective physical conditioning. However, Ning Rongrong and Oscar required particular attention—Ning Rongrong desperately needed her entitled temperament moderated through practical challenges, while Oscar possessed sufficient character to complete demanding tasks despite his natural laziness.
Moreover, Oscar possessed sufficient intelligence to recognize this as an excellent opportunity to demonstrate reliability and dedication to Ning Rongrong—potentially salvaging his previously damaged reputation.
The plan demonstrated elegant simplicity: training, temperament adjustment, and social opportunity strategically integrated into a single unified assignment.
"Bastards! Yu Xiaogang, Flender! Do you comprehend that in my sect, my father never demands such excessive efforts from me?!" Ning Rongrong shouted, her usual refined noblewoman demeanor completely evaporating.
Her outburst genuinely surprised both Xiao Wu and Zhu Zhuqing, neither having previously witnessed such uninhibited emotional expression from the typically poised young woman.
Chen Sheng remained silent, recognizing that despite his personal disdain for Flender's methodology, the Dean's assessment possessed legitimate merit.
Ning Rongrong's princess temperament absolutely required practical moderation through genuine physical challenge and adversity.
"Everyone, begin immediately," Yu Xiaogang commanded, his tone leaving absolutely no room for negotiation or further protest.
---