"Zhu Zhuqing, are you alright?"
Ignoring the furious Dai Mubai beside him, Chu Chengzhou asked Zhu Zhuqing with a concerned expression.
"I'm fine, Senior Chu, please let me go!"
Zhu Zhuqing also ignored Dai Mubai's intentions. However, the current posture was somewhat ambiguous, so she said, feeling a bit embarrassed.
Upon hearing this, Chu Chengzhou helped Zhu Zhuqing up and released her.
Since she was wearing armor, there was naturally no sensation of softness or warmth.
"Zhu Zhuqing, do you still have any sense of shame?"
Seeing himself being ignored, Dai Mubai, his neck flushed red, questioned Zhu Zhuqing angrily.
Immediately, Zhu Zhuqing's face turned cold.
"Dai Mubai, I see that you're itching for trouble. Apologize to Zhuqing immediately!"
Chu Chengzhou said with an unhappy look on his face.
Of course, although he looked displeased, he was secretly delighted inside.
Without you, Dai Mubai, playing the villainous role to assist, when would I, Chu Chengzhou, be able to make progress with Miss Rongrong?
"Hmph, Chu Chengzhou, I warn you to stay away from Zhuqing. She is engaged to me, and my Star Luo Imperial Family is not someone you can provoke!"
Dai Mubai snorted coldly, speaking rudely.
"The Star Luo Imperial Family?"
Without further ado, Chu Chengzhou flipped his right hand, manifesting his True Spirit Flag martial soul. His second soul ring lit up, and amid surging soul power, the summoned spirit Little Bai, the Light Lion, abruptly condensed into existence.
He couldn't match the Star Luo Imperial Family; even without considering the entire Star Luo Empire, solely the imperial family's Dai clan, excluding the Title Douluo factor, their strength wasn't inferior to the Blue Lightning Dragon King Family, one of the top three families on the continent.
Moreover, considering the Soul Fusion Technique, the Netherworld White Tiger, the Star Luo Imperial Family's strength should surpass the Blue Lightning Dragon King Family.
But the issue was that Shrek Academy was in the Balak Kingdom, a subordinate kingdom of the Tian Dou Empire, which was hostile to the Star Luo Empire. The Star Luo Imperial Family's prestige didn't hold much sway here.
Besides, even if I can't handle the Star Luo Imperial Family, can't I deal with you, little tiger?
"Little Bai, attack him!"
With a wave of his flag, Chu Chengzhou commanded Little Bai.
"Roar!"
Letting out a low growl, Little Bai instantly pounced towards Dai Mubai.
A roar of lion and tiger echoed, dust flying everywhere. In less than half a minute, Dai Mubai was successfully subdued by Little Bai.
Although Dai Mubai wasn't the same as before—his soul power had increased from level 35 Soul Elder to the current level 37 Soul Elder —Little Bai's improvement was even greater.
During their first "Lion vs. Tiger" duel, Little Bai was just a newly-thousand-year-old summoned spirit, but now, Little Bai's age had increased to over three thousand six hundred years.
Even as an auxiliary summoned spirit, Little Bai's strength could rival a four-ring Soul Elder, making Dai Mubai far from a match.
At this time, Xiao Wu and Ning Rongrong, who were slacking off indoors, heard the roars of lion and tiger outside and came out.
"What happened to you guys?"
Seeing Dai Mubai's head being ground into the ground by one of Little Bai's lion claws not far away, Xiao Wu curiously asked Chu Chengzhou and Zhu Zhuqing.
"What else could it be? It must be because Dai the Tiger spoke rudely and got taught a lesson by Senior Chu again."
Though unaware of the incident's details, Ning Rongrong spoke with absolute certainty.
"This little tiger insulted Zhuqing earlier and even threatened me with the Star Luo Imperial Family. If I don't teach him a lesson, he won't know how formidable Master Chu is."
Chu Chengzhou pointed at Dai Mubai being ground into the ground by Little Bai.
"This Dai Mubai is really despicable! Zhuqing, don't take his words to heart. Such a rotten person doesn't deserve your attention. If he dares to bother you again in the future, see if Sister Xiao Wu won't beat him to the ground looking for his teeth!"
Upon hearing that Dai Mubai had insulted her close friend, Xiao Wu immediately raised her fist and indignantly said.
"Dai Mubai, we are all classmates. Don't say I'm bullying you. Apologize to Zhuqing, then leave!"
Chu Chengzhou said to Dai Mubai pinned to the ground by Little Bai.
"Hmph!"
This time, Dai Mubai was very stubborn, his eyes full of anger, coldly snorting without any intention of apologizing.
Zhu Zhuqing is my nominal fiancée. You two are flirting around openly, and after I scold you, you feel no shame and instead want me to apologize?
Impossible, absolutely impossible!
Even if I, Dai Mubai, am spineless, I can't do such a cowardly thing!
"Oh ho, are your bones so hard?"
Chu Chengzhou was somewhat surprised, not expecting Dai Mubai's backbone to have strengthened. He immediately prepared to have Little Bai give him some harsh treatment.
"Dai Mubai, whatever I, Zhu Zhuqing, do has nothing to do with you. No need for you to comment, and I don't want to see you either."
At this moment, Zhu Zhuqing spoke.
As for explanations?
Don't tell me this is all fabricated nonsense. Even if it were true, why would I, Zhu Zhuqing, need to explain myself to you, Dai Mubai?
"Little Bai, come back! Since Zhuqing doesn't want to see you, I'm too lazy to deal with you. Go cool off somewhere."
Waving his hand, Chu Chengzhou recalled Little Bai.
'You adulterous scum, hope you die miserable deaths!'
Casting a dark glance at Chu Chengzhou and Zhu Zhuqing, Dai Mubai clenched his fists and cursed inwardly.
Unfortunately, he couldn't defeat Little Bai, let alone Xiao Hong and Chu Chengzhou. No matter how much hatred he felt, he had to swallow his pride.
Shrek Academy wasn't Star Luo City; his status as the third prince of Star Luo held no sway here.
Moreover, since he cowardly fled to Shrek Academy years ago, his already few followers scattered like monkeys after the tree fell. Without capable subordinates under his command, he couldn't retaliate against Chu Chengzhou.
As for reporting to the imperial family that Zhu Zhuqing had fallen for an outsider?
These were unfounded matters; the imperial family wouldn't send experts thousands of miles to the Balak Kingdom.
Of course, if evidence were conclusive and the prospective princess consort ran off with an outsider, then to uphold the imperial family's dignity, the empire would certainly dispatch experts to thoroughly resolve the matter.
Full of hatred, Dai Mubai stared at Chu Chengzhou for three seconds, clenching and unclenching his fists, and ultimately left in disgrace.
"Senior Chu, sorry for causing you trouble!"
Glancing at Dai Mubai's retreating figure, Zhu Zhuqing sincerely apologized to Chu Chengzhou.
"It's fine! Zhuqing, we are friends. For things within my ability, I naturally can't just stand by and watch!"
Waving his hand, Chu Chengzhou dismissively said.
As for Dai Mubai's threats, he didn't pay much attention.
It wasn't that he underestimated them; he already had plans in mind.
This girl hasn't even been won over yet! Is the distant Star Luo Imperial Family going to bother messing with me for no reason?
Only after winning her over would he need to worry about these issues.
But frankly speaking, once he achieves the rank of Soul Emperor or Soul Sage, with his own strength alone, he wouldn't need to fear the Star Luo Imperial Family.
He planned to use the Dark Golden Terror Claw Bear as his fourth summoned spirit. Advancing his soul power to the Soul Sage level, even without soul bones, he would surely be able to withstand a hundred-thousand-year soul ring.
At that time, summoning a fearless ten-thousand-year Dark Golden Terror Claw Bear, even if due to insufficient soul power, the summoned spirit's battle endurance might not match a true ten-thousand-year Dark Golden Terror Claw Bear, unless the opponent was a Title Douluo above level 95, Chu Chengzhou wouldn't place them in his eyes.
The attack of a ten-thousand-year Dark Golden Terror Claw Bear, ordinary Title Douluos would avoid its sharp edge. If it were a hundred-thousand-year one, wouldn't one swipe kill instantly?
Not even necessarily hundred-thousand-years; a summoned spirit of the Dark Golden Terror Claw Bear over fifty-thousand-years-old should suffice to counter the threat from the Star Luo Imperial Family.
After all, the Star Luo Imperial Family publicly didn't have Title Douluo-level experts. Even if they did, they would be national treasures used only for major military affairs or facing huge crises, unlikely to move lightly.
If they truly wanted to deal with him, the most the Dai family would send would be a Soul Douluo.
And a White Tiger Soul Douluo, even with the Soul Fusion Technique, Netherworld White Tiger, his strength wouldn't surpass someone like Dugu Bo or She Long.
And this was just relying on his own abilities; he could also rely on external forces.
For example, befriending the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect or gaining a noble title in the Tian Dou Empire, believing these two powers would certainly be willing to shield him from assassination attempts by Star Luo Imperial Family experts before he grew stronger.
In the worst case, the continent was vast; hiding deep in the mountains with the girls, how could the Star Luo Imperial Family find him?
Time flew swiftly, almost five months passed in the blink of an eye.
In the evening, Chu Chengzhou was meditating in his bedroom when suddenly, a large amount of information surged into his mind.
"My Illusion Art has finally broken through!"
After a long while, digesting the information, Chu Chengzhou exhaled a breath of turbid air.
Since placing the Gray-Tier Hypnotism skill in the AFK training slots over 140 days ago, the skill, which initially could only induce mild hypnosis (perhaps useless?), had now upgraded to a Black-Tier Spiritual Illusion Art.
Once cast, it could pull the opponent's consciousness into an illusion. Unless the opponent's mental strength surpassed his, or they possessed special means to resist spiritual skills, they fundamentally couldn't escape.
With this Illusion Art, combined with his sharp archery, even without using the power of his martial soul, few soul masters below level 60 should be his match.
Even if using Titanium Armor-Piercing Arrows, with the slight influence of the Illusion Art, he could likely instantly kill a six-ringed Soul Emperor.
Of course, whether spiritual illusions or mental attacks, they absolutely couldn't be used against experts whose mental strength far exceeded his own.
Otherwise, the Canghui Academy team that got backlashed into idiots during the original storyline's soul master tournament would be the most typical example.
Subsequently, Chu Chengzhou opened his attribute panel.
[Attribute Panel]
[Host: Chu Chengzhou]
[Soul Power: Level 36 Soul Elder]
[Martial Soul: True Spirit Flag]
[Soul Rings: Purple (1000), Purple (9328), Black (10000)]
[First Soul Skill, Summon: Sky Azure Tree]
[Second Soul Skill, Summon: Light Lion]
[Third Soul Skill, Summon: Fire Phoenix]
[Skills: Nine Breaths Absorption (Red), Body Refining (Black), Spirit Refining (Black), Archery (Black), Movement (Black), Control (Black), Defense (Black), Forging (Black), Illusion (Black)]
[Idle Training: 1. Body Refining (Black), 2. Spirit Refining (Black), 3. Illusion (Black), 4. Second Soul Ring (Purple)]
Nearly five months had passed, and besides breaking through to level 36 Soul Ancestor a month ago, improvements weren't limited to the level of the Illusion Art. However, due to the short AFK time, Body Tempering, Spirit Tempering, and the second soul ring hadn't undergone qualitative changes.
Body Tempering and Spirit Tempering were still far from qualitative change, but the second soul ring was nearing it.
In another half month, the second soul ring would advance to a ten-thousand-year soul ring.
At this moment, sensing a familiar presence appearing outside the door, Chu Chengzhou raised his eyebrows, promptly closed the attribute panel, got up, and opened the door.
Outside the door, Ning Rongrong was about to raise her arm to knock when the door suddenly opened, nearly startling her.
"You almost scared me!"
Patting her chest, Ning Rongrong rolled her eyes.
"Rongrong, can't sleep tonight and came to seek guidance on cultivation?"
Chu Chengzhou asked with a smile.
Seeking guidance on cultivation was naturally all an excuse. This little devil girl somehow got addicted to kissing and visited every few nights.
"Should I leave?"
"Leave? Meat delivered to the door? There's no reason to let it go~"
As he spoke, Chu Chengzhou pulled Ning Rongrong into the room.
"Bang—"
The door closed. Leaning against the door, Ning Rongrong pouted her small lips and closed her eyes.
"Rongrong, we won't play this tonight. Let's try something more exciting."
Seeing the girl ready for a kiss, Chu Chengzhou thought of his recently upgraded Illusion Art.
"Exciting? No way, don't even think about it!"
Opening her eyes in surprise, a silver light flashed over her body, and Ning Rongrong quickly put on her Silver Light Plain Cloud Armor.
She indeed had feelings for Chu Chengzhou, but tonight she only came to kiss and relive that wonderful sensation. As for going further? Absolutely not!
"No worries, you'll like it~"
Chu Chengzhou said meaningfully, lifting Ning Rongrong, clad in Silver Light Plain Cloud Armor, and both lay down on the bed.
Subsequently, intangible spiritual force surged out, pulling Ning Rongrong's consciousness into an illusion.
The scene shifted, what met their eyes was no longer the bedroom, but a beautiful grassland filled with various flowers and grass.
"This is..."
Looking around at the unfamiliar environment, Ning Rongrong looked at Chu Chengzhou, bewildered.
"Rongrong, this is an illusion. Everything is false, but all sensations can be real."
Taking Ning Rongrong's delicate hand, Chu Chengzhou said gently.
The Gray-Tier Hypnotism skill could be considered utterly useless, while the white-level Hypnotism had a somewhat magical effect, influencing a person's senses without resistance.
The Yellow-Tier Hypnotism officially transformed into an illusion art, affecting the opponent's vision but unable to form a spiritual illusion.
The Purple-Tier Illusion could create an illusion realm.
Now, the Black-Tier Illusion Art added sensory granting and deprivation abilities based on the illusion realm.
As long as the target's mental strength was below his, in the illusion realm, he was an omnipotent god!
Even plucking the sun and moon or picking stars was just a thought away.
"Sensory-realistic fake illusion"
Carefully experiencing it, Ning Rongrong's cheeks visibly reddened.
Despite her pure body, and having lost her first kiss to a certain scoundrel just half a year ago, she knew a lot about men and women matters.
Perhaps Chu Chengzhou, with countless videos watched in his previous life, might not know as much as she did!
"Rongrong, let's have fun together!"
Saying this, Chu Chengzhou embraced her waist and lowered his head.
The moon climbed high in the sky, and time reached the early morning hours.
After Ning Rongrong, flushed and weak, left, reminiscing about the experience in the previous illusion, Chu Chengzhou couldn't help but fall into deep thought.
Here comes the question: does he still count as a virgin?
If yes, he had already loved Ning Rongrong in the illusion.
But if not, his body was still pure.
Uh, a pure body but an impure soul?
But don't mention it, this little witch girl truly lived up to her nickname.
Perhaps knowing she was in an illusion, the intoxicated Ning Rongrong went wild.
'No, no, alcohol is poison, lust is a bone-scraping knife. How can I, Chu Chengzhou, indulge in this? It's completely inappropriate!'
Shaking his head, Chu Chengzhou quickly expelled the impure thoughts from his mind.
In the morning, after eating breakfast in the cafeteria, Chu Chengzhou was about to lead the three girls to practice boxing and strengthen their bodies when he suddenly noticed a group of people approaching from outside the academy.
There were eight people, six men and two women, dressed impressively.
Leading them was an older youth with an extraordinary aura. Behind him followed seven men and women, looking several years older than him, all at the three-ringed Soul Elder level.
Seeing the eight entering the academy, Chu Chengzhou's expression slightly froze, but he quickly reacted.
Unsurprisingly, this should be Qin Ming and the Imperial Battle Team.
In the original storyline, Shrek's Seven Monsters' first encounter with the Imperial Battle Team was at the Suotuo Great Spirit Arena.
However, the current Shrek was different from the original Shrek.
Due to Xiao Wu's soul power level reaching the four-ringed Soul Elder, while Ma Hongjun, Ning Rongrong, and Zhu Zhuqing were still two-ringed Great Soul Masters, the level gap was significant. Headmaster Flender had no intention of organizing team spirit battles, naturally avoiding a fight with the Imperial Battle Team at the Suotuo Great Spirit Arena.
Nevertheless, the Imperial Battle Team actively seeking them out was within Chu Chengzhou's expectations, and he was quite certain about it.
After all, Qin Ming, who served as the leader of the Imperial Battle Team, was a graduate of Shrek Academy. Having come to Suotuo City, there was no reason for him not to visit.
Conveniently, with the arrival of the Imperial Battle Team, he intended to persuade Flender to go to the Tian Dou City.
After all, staying at Shrek Academy had no future. Besides Principal Flender and Zhao Wuji, the teachers had decent strength; otherwise, there was nothing there.
However, Chu Chengzhou's plan to persuade Flender to go to Tian Dou City wasn't aimed at the Tian Dou Imperial Academy but rather to have Flender freeload, turning to Liu Erlong.
Whether freeloading Flender could eventually become CEO, marry a rich beauty (twenty years ago), and reach the pinnacle of life had nothing to do with Chu Chengzhou. As long as they went to Lan Ba (Blue Tyrant) Academy, there would be a mimicry training field for his cultivation.
Though Lan Ba Academy sounded like a soul master academy under the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, it actually had no direct affiliation. It was personally founded by Liu Erlong.
Otherwise, in the original storyline, even though Liu Erlong felt somewhat indebted to Flender, she wouldn't have given the academy to him for free.
Joining Lan Ba Academy meant students remained free upon graduation and weren't labeled with the Blue Lightning Dragon King Family tag.
This aspect perfectly aligned with Chu Chengzhou's requirements for a soul master academy.
"Junior, hello. Is Principal Flender in?"
Seeing Chu Chengzhou and the others, Qin Ming quickly stepped forward and asked Chu Chengzhou.
"Who are you? What business do you have with Principal Flender?"
Chu Chengzhou knowingly asked.
"You should be students of Shrek Academy, right? My name is Qin Ming, a former graduate of the academy. I wonder if Principal Flender or others have mentioned me to you?"
Qin Ming smiled and said.
Upon hearing this, Chu Chengzhou and the other three exchanged glances, then all shook their heads.
Qin Ming: "..."
I, Qin Ming, the second youngest Soul Emperor recorded by the Spirit Hall on the continent, such a renowned alumnus, and you haven't heard of me?
"Haha, well, dear juniors, I'll go find Principal Flender first."
Seeing the slightly awkward situation, Qin Ming laughed it off.
Shrek Academy was still the same old impoverished state. Except for the buildings, which appeared more dilapidated after years of wind and sun exposure, nothing had changed. Qin Ming didn't need Chu Chengzhou and the others to guide him.
"Guests are welcome. Senior Qin Ming, I'm Chu Chengzhou. Let me show you the way!"
Glancing at the woman with short purple hair behind Qin Ming, Chu Chengzhou politely said.
It wasn't that Chu Chengzhou had no designs on Dugu Yan.
Dugu Yan was currently holding the arm of a young man beside her, likely already becoming Yu Tianheng's girlfriend. Apart from the special circumstances with a certain big cat, he wouldn't dare to snatch love away.
However, although he had no interest in Dugu Yan, he harbored considerable plans for her grandfather, Dugu Bo, specifically for the immortal herbs in Dugu Bo's medicinal garden.
Though he had cheats, it didn't mean he couldn't become a strong person without immortal herbs. But such life-changing items undoubtedly would allow him to grow faster.
Moreover, the known method for transforming Ning Rongrong's Seven Treasures Glazed TileTower into a Nine Treasures Glazed TileTower martial soul was solely through consuming the immortal herb: Beautiful Silk Tulip.
Immortal herbs were indispensable. But Dugu Bo was a Title Douluo; taking advantage of him wouldn't be easy. This matter required careful consideration.
"That's good, Junior Chu. May I ask how many students are currently in the academy?"
Nodding, Qin Ming asked.
"Including us, there are seven students in the academy."
Chu Chengzhou didn't hide anything and directly answered.
"Seven?"
Before Qin Ming could react, Dugu Yan behind him showed a hint of surprise in her eyes.
Before coming to Shrek Academy, Qin Ming had told them about Shrek Academy.
Shrek Academy didn't accept non-genius soul masters, setting a higher threshold than the Tian Dou Royal Academy.
If there were seven students, it implied that the seven members of Shrek Academy might form a spirit battle team?
Geniuses were proud. In the Tian Dou Royal Academy, the seven members of the Imperial Battle Team were geniuses. They wondered what caliber of geniuses Qin Ming referred to.
Thinking this, Dugu Yan couldn't help but examine Chu Chengzhou and the other three.
"Whoa~, so big!"
Suddenly, Dugu Yan widened her eyes, full of disbelief.
She had a boyfriend. Although Chu Chengzhou was very handsome, he held little attraction for her. Her gaze quickly shifted to Xiao Wu and the other three.
Naturally, her gaze was drawn to Zhu Zhuqing's pair of big assets.
She had seen people with good figures, but Zhu Zhuqing's youthful appearance indicated she was quite young. To possess such a figure at a young age was something she hadn't seen before.
Though hers weren't small, compared to Zhu Zhuqing, they were clearly inferior, even incomparable.
Could it be that this sister's martial soul was a cow, a support soul master specializing in milk production?
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