On the Shrek Academy training ground, a strange scene unfolded. Eight students and five teachers stood in a tense circle, each holding a can of surströmming that Ye Yin had provided.
Flender cleared his throat, trying to project authority. "Remember, this is everyone's adaptive training. If anyone fails to complete it…"
Before he could finish, Zhao Wuji's voice boomed across the field, "Then they'll automatically get out of Shrek Academy!"
"Teacher Zhao is right," Dai Mubai immediately declared, eager to prove himself. "If I, Dai Mubai, can't complete this adaptive training, I'll leave on my own."
The other three teachers stared down at the cans in their hands, swallowing nervously. Such a rare delicacy was hard to come by, and they didn't want to miss the opportunity.
"Good," Flender clapped his hands together. "Since that's the case, the adaptive training for all teachers and students of Shrek Academy begins now!"
Thirteen people simultaneously began to open their cans. But the moment the seals were broken, a wave of revulsion washed over the group.
"Ugh!"
[Resentment from Flender +25!]
[Resentment from Zhao Wuji +26!]
[Resentment from Dai Mubai +28!]
A series of simultaneous retching sounds echoed across the training ground. Watching the endless stream of resentment values flooding his system's screen, Ye Yin's heart bloomed with joy.
Zhao Wuji shot a furious glare at Flender. He just had to drag me here to eat this can! I was tricked!
Dai Mubai slapped his forehead in regret. He had been too hasty, too careless. What kind of good thing could a shady character like Ye Yin possibly offer? He had thought to himself, how bad can a can be? Now he knew. It smelled truly, unimaginably awful.
Flender frowned, peering at the fish inside the can. It looked perfectly fine, so why did it smell so foul? "Ye Yin," he asked, his voice strained, "are you sure this can isn't spoiled?"
Ye Yin casually picked a piece of fish from his can, tossed it into his mouth, and began to eat with relish. The overwhelming stench seemed to have no effect on him whatsoever. "No, this is just how it smells," he said nonchalantly. "It's adaptive training, so everyone must try their best to complete it. Dean, don't forget what you just said."
Flender's face went pale. Why did he have to talk so much? Why did he have to declare that anyone who failed would have to leave? His mouth was truly cursed!
[Resentment from Flender +29!]
Steeling himself, Flender closed his eyes and forced a piece of the surströmming into his mouth. A moment later, his eyes shot open. "Oh my, it's delicious!" he exclaimed with false enthusiasm. "Everyone, eat quickly! The taste is completely different from the smell."
The others looked at him, half-believing and half-doubting. Teacher Li Yusong was the second to brave it. But just as he put the fish into his mouth, Flender let out a strangled scream.
"Ugh!"
A second later, Li Yusong followed. "Ugh!"
Flender, you tricked me! Li Yusong cursed in his heart.
If even the seasoned teachers, who had endured countless hardships, found it this difficult to swallow, the seven other students were utterly terrified.
Zhao Wuji kept swallowing his saliva, his eyes wide. "Can this thing really be eaten?"
"Teacher Zhao," Ye Yin suddenly said, "I have a suggestion that can help you complete the training quickly."
"What suggestion?" Zhao Wuji asked desperately.
"First, use your Spirit Possession. Your body will get bigger. Then, you can eat one fish in a single bite. Before you even have time to react, you'll have finished!"
Zhao Wuji's eyes lit up. "Good, Ye Yin! I knew I didn't misjudge you!"
His body suddenly expanded into the massive form of the Vigorous Vajra Bear. "Ye Yin, quickly, throw the fish to me!" he roared.
Ye Yin grabbed a whole fish and tossed it directly toward Zhao Wuji's mouth. The bear opened its massive jaws and swallowed it in one gulp. The next second, a horrifying sound erupted from its throat.
"Ugh!"
The Vigorous Vajra Bear let out a roar that shook the heavens, which then twisted into a high-pitched, dolphin-like shriek.
"Everyone, eat up!" Ye Yin said cheerfully to the horrified crowd. "Doesn't anyone like canned fish?"
[Resentment from Shao Xin +25!]
[Resentment from Lu Qibin +26!]
[Resentment from Ma Hongjun +28!]
Finally, Tang San's quick mind found a solution. "Dean," he called out, "I think adaptive training should be done step by step. Let's eat Oscar's Big Sausage first. We'll do it together."
His words immediately earned the unanimous approval of everyone present except Ye Yin.
"Good!"
"You're right!"
Suddenly, Zhao Wuji, still in his bear form, realized something. "Then what about the surströmming I just ate?"
Once the difficulty of the adaptive training was modified, everyone completed the new task without a shred of hesitation. Even Zhu Zhuqing, Xiao Wu, and Ning Rongrong ate Oscar's sausage faster than anyone else, terrified of having to face that outrageous can again.
After everyone had finished, Flender breathed a massive sigh of relief. From now on, he decided, any suggestion from Ye Yin had to be considered very, very carefully. The boy was utterly inhumane.
"Now, each of you go back and prepare," Flender announced, eager to end the class. "You have one day to adjust and rest. Tomorrow morning, everyone will set off. Teacher Zhao Wuji will lead you to the Star Dou Great Forest to help Oscar obtain his third Spirit Ring. This isn't just for Oscar; it's an experience for all of you. Teacher Zhao will not intervene unless you encounter a thousand-year Spirit Beast. Everything else will depend on yourselves. Alright, dismissed."
After giving his instructions, Flender quickly slipped away. He had to hurry back and vomit; the single bite of surströmming had left him feeling incredibly nauseous. In fact, it wasn't just Flender. Everyone who had tasted it—or even smelled it—felt the same urge.
In a certain blacksmith shop in Soto City, the brothers Tie Long and Tie Hu finally took out the gift that the "White Demon" Ye Yin had given them at the Dou Soul Arena.
Tie Hu looked at the can with confusion. "Brother, the White Demon said to open this in a crowded place. Why?"
Tie Long shook his head, looking thoughtful. "The White Demon seems like a good person. This must be something beneficial for us. Maybe opening it will attract a lot of people, and then our problem of being single will be solved."
Tie Hu's eyes lit up. "We should go to two different places! One for each of us!"
The two brothers nodded in agreement, each heading to one of the most crowded malls in the city. As they simultaneously opened their cans, a foul odor erupted, spreading like a plague.
"Ugh!"
Not only were the two brothers retching, but everyone nearby was gagging and fleeing in disgust.
"What is that thing?"
"Someone actually brought something like that into a mall! They're practically not human!"
"How detestable!"
The Tie Long and Tie Hu brothers stood dumbfounded amidst the chaos. Though they were in different places, they both roared the exact same thing in their hearts:
"White Demon, don't let me see you again! The next time I do, I'll run!"
[Resentment from Tie Long +25!]
[Resentment from Tie Hu +25!]
----------------
You can read advanced chapters here: patreon.com/GregariousLion