When Oscar returned to the academy today, he was immediately pulled into two consecutive sparring matches. This kind of "special welcome" probably only existed at Shrek Academy.
Fortunately, with his Super Recovery Sausages, Oscar didn't feel drained at all. His soul power quickly recovered.
Zhao Wuji acknowledged Oscar's improvements after being away for a year, and at the same time, he gained some understanding of Dugu Yan's strength.
Still, he wasn't entirely sure about the effects of Dugu Yan's soul skills, so he asked:
"Dugu Yan, your first and second soul skills seem to lean toward support and control, don't they? After you used them, Xiao Ao's overall state noticeably improved. And although I didn't inhale your poison mist, I could sense that the toxins in your first two skills aren't simple."
Hearing Zhao Wuji's words, Dugu Yan was rather surprised. Previously, Zhao Wuji had no idea about her abilities, but after just one battle, he had already deduced most of them. As expected of a Soul Sage at the seventy-eighth rank!
Dugu Yan nodded lightly and replied:
"Yes, Teacher Zhao. My first soul skill is Jade Scale Red Poison. It boosts allies' attack and speed by thirty percent, while enemies affected become irritable, impulsive, and their thinking slows."
"My second soul skill, Jade Scale Blue Poison, increases allies' defense by fifty percent and dulls their sense of pain. Against enemies, it paralyzes the nervous system, making their movements sluggish."
Zhao Wuji was slightly surprised. He knew that, as the granddaughter of Poison Douluo Dugu Bo, Dugu Yan's spirit rings would have been carefully chosen.
But even without their toxic properties, just the effects of these two skills alone were extraordinary. They not only buffed allies with attack, speed, and defense, but also restricted enemies heavily—a perfect control-type foundation, with the added traits of an auxiliary-type soul master.
With Dugu Yan joining, the Shrek team's lineup was becoming even more well-rounded.
Zhao Wuji praised her openly:
"Dugu Yan, these two soul skills of yours are very powerful. They combine support and control, and with your venomous field-control abilities, your role in this team will be indispensable in the future."
Dugu Yan felt genuine joy from his words:
"Thank you, Teacher Zhao. I'll do my best to cooperate with my teammates."
Zhao Wuji laughed heartily:
"Good, good! You've all worked hard today. Yan, since this is your first time here, after dinner, let Xiao Ao show you around the academy so you can get familiar with our Shrek Academy."
By the time Oscar and Dugu Yan had arrived at the academy, it was already mid-afternoon. Nearly an hour had passed, plus a sparring match—it was natural that they were hungry.
Zhao Wuji then led Oscar, Ma Hongjun, and Dugu Yan to the dining hall. Dai Mubai had already been taken away earlier by Teacher Li Yusong to meet Shao Xin, so there was no need to worry about him.
Oscar had also controlled his strength earlier—at most, Dai Mubai would be bedridden for a few days, but without hidden injuries.
Still, compared to Oscar, Dai Mubai's performance was weak. While Dai Mubai was considered elite among his peers, he was still only a twenty-ninth rank Soul Grandmaster. Against Oscar, who had trained his physique since childhood, absorbed higher-level rings, and strengthened himself with both whale glue and immortal herbs, Dai Mubai was simply lacking.
At the dining hall, Shao Xin had just returned after treating Dai Mubai. Seeing Zhao Wuji arrive with Oscar and the others, he greeted them warmly and began preparing food.
Oscar hadn't seen Shao Xin for a long while. He led Dugu Yan into the kitchen to help while also introducing her.
Back when Oscar was cultivating his Supreme Sausage Martial Soul, Shao Xin, being nearly a Soul Saint-level food-type master, had taught him everything without reservation—passing down all his experience, offering sincere guidance, and saving Oscar from many detours.
Though not formally his teacher, Shao Xin was no less important to Oscar than Ge Yue.
Now, Shao Xin had broken through to the Soul Saint realm. With half a year of diligent cultivation plus the effects of the Nine-Grade Mixed Yuan Pill, he had reached the peak of rank seventy-four, just a step away from seventy-five.
He even had the potential to reach the highest levels of the food system—possibly the strongest of his era apart from Oscar himself.
When Oscar pulled Dugu Yan into the kitchen, Shao Xin's round face broke into a bright smile:
"Xiao Ao, I just heard from Teacher Li that your combat ability has reached the peak among power-attackers of your level. Seems like you've indeed gained a lot during your year with Poison Douluo."
His smile grew deeper:
"Perhaps in the future, you'll create history in the soul master world—becoming the first food-type soul master with such powerful combat strength, a true all-rounder combining support and offense."
Oscar smiled modestly:
"Teacher Shao flatters me. But I'll take your words as a blessing. I also hope to make my mark on the soul master world, and not let the food-type lineage lose face!"
Shao Xin nodded in satisfaction:
"Good! That's the spirit. From the day you entered the academy, I knew you weren't destined to be ordinary. Back then, you were only six years old, just awakened your martial soul, yet you trained every morning at six. For a child to endure such years of hardship… Xiao Ao, your future will shine brightly!"
Oscar bowed sincerely:
"Thank you, Teacher Shao. It's all thanks to you and the other teachers' guidance. I will never forget this kindness."
Shao Xin laughed warmly:
"Excellent, excellent! In all my years at Shrek, you're the most talented and determined student I've ever seen. You'll always be the pride of your teachers."
Hearing this, Dugu Yan couldn't help but tighten her grip on Oscar's hand. Before, when Oscar told her about his hardships, she didn't fully grasp it. But hearing it now from Shao Xin, she truly felt the weight of Oscar's effort—and understood why, back at the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well, he was so strict with her.
She also realized why Oscar, despite being food-type, could wield such overwhelming combat power.
Shao Xin glanced at Dugu Yan with a smile:
"Yan, I've also heard from Teacher Ge Yue about you. For you and Xiao Ao to walk together is both your fortune. In the future, you must advance hand in hand."
Dugu Yan smiled gently:
"I understand, Teacher Shao. And I admire you as well. Xiao Ao told me how you shared all your experience with him, without the slightest reservation. To have a mentor like you is a blessing for both of us."
Shao Xin chuckled, embarrassed:
"Alright, alright, you two little ones don't praise me anymore, or I'll get shy."
As they chatted, the meal was prepared—five dishes and two soups. Everyone ate heartily, leaving not even a drop of soup.
Even Ma Hongjun and Shao Xin couldn't help but praise Oscar's cooking, saying his skills were already close to Shao Xin's.
Though exaggerated, Oscar's cooking had indeed improved greatly over the past year, since he had been the one preparing meals most of the time.
After dinner, Oscar and Ma Hongjun took Dugu Yan to stroll around the academy.
During their walk, Ma Hongjun finally asked a question that had puzzled him:
"Boss, why do you call Sister-in-law 'Big Sister'? When I was with Mumbai before, we saw that others called their lovers 'darling' or 'baby.'"
What caught Oscar's attention wasn't the question itself, but the fact that Ma Hongjun mentioned going somewhere with Dai Mubai. He didn't spell it out, but Oscar could easily guess it was some sort of brothel. Thankfully, since Hongjun openly mentioned it, it likely meant he had remembered Oscar's past advice and hadn't messed around.
Oscar and Dugu Yan exchanged a glance, both smiling.
Oscar explained:
"My situation with your sister-in-law was a bit special. We met by chance, and for certain reasons, we ended up staying together. At that time, since she was older than me, I naturally called her 'Big Sister.'"
"Later, as we spent more time together—well, with a man and woman alone, things happen. I got used to calling her that, and even after our relationship was confirmed, the name stuck."
At the mention of "a man and woman alone," Dugu Yan pinched Oscar's hand gently and rolled her eyes playfully, clearly remembering certain "fun" moments.
Ma Hongjun nodded, half-understanding. At least now he knew why Oscar called Dugu Yan "Big Sister."
Oscar smiled but quickly asked:
"Brat, where exactly did you and Mubai go to learn about this?"
Ma Hongjun wasn't shy.
"That was months ago. Mubai was under a lot of pressure and said he wanted to find some fun. I thought there wasn't much entertainment in the academy, so I took him to Suotuo City. But I didn't know his idea of fun meant that kind of place."
"I followed him in, just to see. But when I realized what it was, I dragged him out. He even mocked me for being timid. But I remembered your words, Boss—no matter how my Evil Fire acted up, I couldn't vent it in that way. And at the time, my Evil Fire wasn't even causing problems."
"Mumbai got upset and even fought me over it, but he wasn't my match. I beat him down, then shared with him what you'd taught me. After that, he never brought it up again. In fact, he seemed to change his mindset, trained harder, and within a year, he's now reached rank twenty-nine."
Oscar nodded in satisfaction, patting Hongjun's shoulder:
"Good lad! I knew I didn't misjudge you."
Hongjun grinned:
"Of course! Everything I am today is thanks to you, Boss. I'd never betray your trust."
Listening, Dugu Yan felt admiration for Oscar. Though Hongjun was only ten years old, he already showed discipline and responsibility—clearly a reflection of Oscar's influence. No wonder Hongjun respected him so much.
She teased warmly:
"Not bad, Little Hongjun. You've lived up to your Big Brother's praise. He talks about you almost every day, and now I see he wasn't exaggerating."
Hongjun flushed a little:
"Big Sister-in-law, don't say it like that, I'll get embarrassed."
Dugu Yan laughed:
"Nonsense. If your Big Brother praises you, it's because you earned it. That should make you proud, not shy."
Oscar patted Hongjun's shoulder again:
"Keep it up. Your future achievements won't be below mine."
Hongjun's smile stretched wide:
"Boss, with your words, I feel at ease."
Then he added:
"Mumbai really has changed a lot, too. Oh, and I think he's actually a prince of the Star Luo Empire. His White Tiger Martial Soul is their royal family's inheritance."
Oscar nodded:
"I already guessed. The White Tiger spirit is extraordinary—outside of the royal family, no clan could provide the resources to cultivate it properly. His coming to Shrek was probably to escape the suffocating pressure of that upbringing."
Hongjun agreed:
"That's what I thought too. But still, it's pretty interesting that our classmate is a prince."
Oscar rolled his eyes:
"What's so interesting? A prince is still just a person. You've spent the most time with him—make sure you introduce him properly to me later."
Hongjun nodded:
"No problem. Honestly, I do respect him. He works hard, just… his strength is a bit behind."
He hesitated, then added:
"If he could take the whale glue like us, maybe he could catch up. But I don't know how the teachers plan to handle it, so I haven't told him about it."