Douluo Continent: Rebirth of Ma Hongjun, Phoenix of Ultimate Light

Chapter 38 Blueprint! Ma Hongjun's Ideas!

Ma Hongjun listened attentively the whole time without rushing to speak.

After everyone had shared their thoughts, he cleared his throat and said, "Teacher, I have some immature ideas, I don't know if I can share them."

Flanders glanced at him: "Speak."

Ma Hongjun stood up, walked to the blank sheet of paper, pointed to the entries recorded on it, and began to explain his ideas.

"Regarding the courtyard wall, it's correct to use stones, but it can serve more than just a perimeter. A running track can be built around the inside of the wall for training physical fitness and speed. In special circumstances, the wall can also function as a defensive fortification."

Flanders paused for a moment, but did not interrupt him.

"It's good that the school gate is grand, but it shouldn't just be for aesthetics. We can build two small guard towers on either side of the gate. They won't be used normally, but if the college holds any events and a lot of people come, people can be stationed in the towers to maintain order. In the future, when the college grows larger, these two guard towers will become regular gatekeeper posts."

Zhao Wuji's expression turned serious. He realized that the boy wasn't just boasting; every word he said had its reasons.

"It's right to pave the training ground with stone slabs, but I suggest not to cover the entire area with them," Ma Hongjun continued. "Stone slabs are suitable for most training programs, but for some training—such as wrestling, flexibility, and sparring—stone slabs are too hard, and falling on them can easily lead to injury. We can reserve an area to be covered with fine sand or cork chips, specifically for close-quarters combat training."

Flander put his pen on the table, crossed his arms, and listened attentively.

"Regarding training equipment, in addition to what Teacher Zhao mentioned, I suggest adding a few more items—a climbing frame, a balance beam, and an obstacle course. These are not for cultivating soul power, but for training physical coordination and reaction speed. Many times, the reason you can't beat your opponent is not because you don't have enough soul power, but because your body can't keep up with your brain."

"You don't need to buy all the equipment at once, but you need to reserve the space. You can add more later when you have more money."

"Regarding the dormitories, it's not just about replacing bed boards and mattresses. Ideally, each dormitory should be equipped with a small stove or heating device because it gets too cold in winter, and we don't have underfloor heating or anything like that here. The problem of coal smoke is easy to solve; just leave a ventilation opening in the room."

"Also, you should have two sets of bedding. Wash one set and change the other to keep it clean and hygienic."

Ma Hongjun spoke fluently; these ideas had been in his mind for a long time.

He absorbed and adapted the military-themed works he had read in his previous life, the facilities of modern schools, and the design concepts of various training bases, and then made localized modifications based on the actual conditions of Douluo Continent.

"Regarding the classroom, in addition to the usual desks, chairs, and blackboard, I suggest placing a large sand table or a large map at the front of the classroom."

When explaining tactics, it's difficult to understand without physical demonstrations. A teacher drawing on a whiteboard is less intuitive than looking directly at a sand table.

"A library shouldn't just be filled with books. It should have a few comfortable chairs, good bookshelves for easy access, and bright lighting so that reading at night won't strain the eyes."

"It would be best to have a small discussion room next to the library, where a few people can sit together and discuss issues without disturbing others."

"The medical room is not just for treating sprains and bruises; it's a crucial part of our logistical support. The medicine cabinet should be stocked with commonly used medicinal herbs. Teacher Shao Xin knows how to brew medicine, right? In the future, the herbs for medicinal baths can be prepared in advance in the medical room, so we don't have to prepare them fresh every time."

"The same goes for medicinal baths. Building a few large wooden tubs isn't impossible, but if conditions permit, it's best to build a few permanent medicinal bath pools. The bottom of the pools should be paved with stone slabs, and a heater can be installed underneath. The temperature of the medicinal bath can be controlled, unlike wooden tubs where you have to boil water and refill it when it gets cold."

Ma Hongjun recounted each and every incident, while Flander took notes word for word.

The white paper was already covered with densely packed small characters, and there was almost no room left in the corners.

Zhao Wuji leaned back in his chair, his hands behind his head, and looked at Ma Hongjun with a completely new perspective.

"Hongjun, where did you learn all this?"

Ma Hongjun scratched his head, having already prepared his explanation.

"I've read some of it in books, and I've been thinking about it myself. Our college didn't have good conditions before, so we had to keep many ideas to ourselves. Now that we have the resources, I want to do everything I can think of."

Zhao Wuji remained silent for a moment, then turned to look at Flander.

"Dean Flanders, where did you pick up this child?"

Flanders didn't answer, but he couldn't stop smiling.

After Ma Hongjun finished speaking, the office was quiet for a while.

Flanders picked up the densely written white paper and read it from beginning to end, then read it again.

"Let's do as Hongjun says." He made the final decision. "Zhao Wuji, you'll be in charge of overseeing the academy's construction. You know the foreman well, so make sure he doesn't cut corners."

Zhao Wuji nodded.

"Let's do this for the first phase of the project. We'll deal with any funding shortages later." Flander folded the white paper and put it in the drawer. "With Hongjun's blueprints and data, the construction period should be much faster than expected."

It was already late at night when everyone left.

Ma Hongjun didn't rush back to his dormitory. Instead, he sat alone in the courtyard, looking at the starry sky above.

The moonlight, like water, spilled onto the dilapidated walls of the courtyard, soon to be renovated. He recalled his first time watching Douluo Continent in his previous life, and the impression Shrek Academy left on him—poor, but full of love. Seven people squeezed into a run-down dormitory, eating Oscar's sausages and Teacher Shao Xin's multigrain porridge, training and growing together.

Those days were among the warmest times in the original story.

But it's different now.

In this lifetime, Shrek Academy will no longer be poor.

There will be stone walls, an imposing school gate, a training ground paved with stone slabs, comfortable dormitories, a bright library, a warm fireplace, and clean beds —

But these are just external things.

What truly matters is that those people are still around.

In the original story, teachers like Flander, Zao Wou-Ki, Shao Xin, Li Yusong, and Lu Qibin endured poverty their entire lives, never abandoning a single student because of money.

This is the soul of Shrek.

School uniforms, school walls, training grounds—these are all merely external manifestations of this spirit.

Ma Hongjun stood up and patted the dirt off his clothes.

He recalled a saying he had seen online in his previous life: "It is better to offer help in times of need than to return home in glory."

Those villagers' one hundred gold soul coins are more meaningful than anything else.

He recalled the reddened eyes of Uncle Li when he visited his home that afternoon. That feeling of being remembered and appreciated was far more important than the money itself.

In this life, he will make Shrek Academy a different kind of place.

It's not about finding joy in poverty, but about standing proudly at the top of the mainland.

There are the best people and the best conditions.

We want every student who comes here to grow without distractions, without worrying about not having enough to eat, wear, or sleep.

This is the future he wants.

He turned and walked briskly toward the dormitory.

Tomorrow is another day.

Training, studying, earning money, building houses, making school uniforms —

There are many things to do, but each one is something to look forward to.

This time, Shrek's story will unfold on a completely different stage.