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

Chapter 48 Waiting and Moving Forward

"The old things shouldn't be thrown away either."

Flander's tone remained calm, but carried an undeniable seriousness.

"Shrek's school uniforms are all made with money; we can't just throw them away. We'll send them to a tailor shop today for mending, and the academy will pay for it."

Dai Mubai looked at him.

Flander's expression remained unchanged; it was the kind of casual, offhand tone he used.

But Dai Mubai had seen too many people in the palace, and he knew that what a person said and what they really meant were often two different things.

Flander wasn't heartbroken over the school uniform—although he was—but more importantly, he had an attitude of "if something is broken, fix it, and keep using it."

Do not waste, do not squander, and do not discard carelessly.

This is also part of Shrek.

"I'll go tell Xiao Ao to change his clothes."

After Flanders finished speaking, he turned and left.

Dai Mubai placed the school uniform on the table, looking at the neatly folded dark blue fabric.

Brand new, smooth, with shiny copper and aluminum buckles.

Every stitch of this school uniform is proof of how this college has gone from being dirt poor to gradually improving.

Flanders was reluctant to throw it away, not because he was stingy, but because he couldn't bear to forget it.

Dai Mubai folded his school uniform, hugged it to his chest, and walked out of the dormitory.

When Oscar came out in his new school uniform, he looked much more energetic.

The new school uniform was pressed crisply, and the dark blue stand-up collar outlined the boy's handsome face. The double-breasted brass buttons gleamed in the morning light, and the metal accessories on the epaulettes and collar insignia reflected a subtle glow.

Standing there in this outfit, you exude energy and vitality from the inside out.

"Hongjun, do you think I'm handsome?"

Oscar circled around in front of Ma Hongjun.

Ma Hongjun looked him up and down.

"The clothes are pretty cool."

"And what about me?"

"As long as the clothes look good, that's enough."

"—Are you asking for a beating?"

"You think you can beat me?"

Oscar opened his mouth, thinking back to yesterday when, although he had charged ahead of Dai Mubai, he had been unable to get close to Ma Hongjun due to his flying and ranged attacks.

We can't beat them, we really can't beat them.

Oscar chose to remain silent.

Dai Mubai stood aside watching the two bicker, and the corner of his mouth twitched slightly.

Breakfast was prepared by Teacher Shao Xin.

White rice porridge, meat buns, scrambled eggs, cold side dishes, and a boiled egg for each person—it was a lavish breakfast that didn't seem like something you'd get at a college.

It was Dai Mubai's first time eating breakfast at Shrek Academy, and he stared at his bowl for a long time.

In the Star Luo Empire's palace, breakfast consisted of a table laden with delicacies from land and sea, including seven or eight kinds of snacks. Each item was so exquisitely prepared that it didn't feel like food, and eating it felt more like performing a ritual than eating a meal.

But the breakfast here is different.

The white rice porridge was cooked until thick and creamy, the meat buns had large fillings and thin skins, and the scrambled eggs were golden and tempting.

Everything was simple, down-to-earth, and made you feel like you were truly eating something.

He ate three bowls of porridge, four meat buns, a plate of scrambled eggs, and two boiled eggs.

Watching from the side, Zhao Wuji couldn't help but remark, "This kid can really eat."

After dinner, Flander called everyone to the training ground.

The morning light shone on the bluestone ground, giving it a faint white glow.

The dark blue flags around the training ground fluttered gently in the breeze, and the gold badges on the flags peeked out from under the sunlight.

Flander stood at the front of the line, hands behind his back, his gaze sweeping over the three people in front of him—Ma Hongjun, Oscar,

Dai Mubai.

The three boys stood side by side, all wearing dark blue school uniforms. Although they were different in height and build, they shared a unified spirit.

"Let's get down to business today."

Flanders got straight to the point, without any preamble.

"Hongjun and Xiao'ao have already broken through level 30 and are now Soul Masters. They only need their third Soul Ring to stabilize their Soul Power above level 30."

His gaze fell on Dai Mubai.

"Dai Mubai, you're currently at the peak of level 29, just a step away from level 30. How long do you estimate it will take you to break through to level 30?"

Dai Mubai did not answer immediately.

He closed his eyes and sensed the soul power within his body.

The soul power in the meridians was almost saturated, like water about to overflow from a glass.

The final step wasn't about the amount of cultivation required, but rather something inexplicable and hard to define.

It could be a turning point, an epiphany, or it could simply require a little more time.

"Within half a month."

"At that time, I was exactly eleven years old."

Dai Mubai opened his eyes.

"No more than twenty days."

Flander's brow twitched slightly.

It was faster than he expected. It seems that Dai Mubai has indeed been cultivating diligently during this period, and his soul power accumulation is already very solid.

"Hongjun, Xiao Ao."

Flander turned to Ma Hongjun and Oscar.

"You two have already broken through level 30, but you haven't acquired your third spirit ring yet. If we wait until Dai Mubai breaks through to level 30, the three of us can go hunting for the third spirit ring together, and we won't have to make a second trip. What are your opinions?"

Ma Hongjun thought for a moment and glanced at Dai Mubai.

"I'll wait."

"This period is perfect for training and breaking through, preparing for the acquisition of a higher-age third spirit ring. Laying a solid foundation is a good thing."

Without any hesitation, the answer was crisp and decisive.

Dai Mubai paused for a moment when he heard those two words.

He considered that Ma Hongjun might reluctantly agree to wait, or he might directly say "no," allowing Dai Mubai to break through his own limitations and go hunting for the ring.

After all, waiting for others will not benefit you; it will only waste time and delay your cultivation progress.

But Ma Hongjun's reaction was completely different from what he expected.

There was no hesitation, no reluctance, and no pause to weigh the pros and cons.

Two crisp and concise words: "We'll wait."

Dai Mubai opened his mouth as if to say something, but Oscar spoke first.

"I'll wait too."

Oscar's tone was just as crisp as Ma Hongjun's.

"This period is perfect for body training. We're still young, we have plenty of time, there's no rush."

Hearing this, Dai Mubai felt that something was not quite right.

Ma Hongjun's phrase "I'll wait" signifies his decisive and efficient approach to tasks.

Oscar said "I'll wait," but it sounds like Dai Mubai got the better deal.

"Then it's settled."

Flander made the final decision, giving Dai Mubai no chance to refuse.

"Dai Mubai, I'll give you twenty days to break through to level 30. Then the three of you can go hunting for your third spirit ring together."

"Yes."

Flander added, "For the next twenty days, your daily training will be handled by Zhao Wuji. He will arrange it for you."

Dai Mubai looked at Zhao Wuji, who grinned, revealing a smile that sent chills down one's spine.

Dai Mubai suddenly realized that breaking through to the 3,000 level within half a month might not be the most difficult thing.

"Hongjun and Xiao'ao, your training will continue as usual. You can start considering your target for the third spirit ring in the next few days. We'll discuss it together then, and once we've decided, we'll set off immediately."

Flander's gaze lingered on Ma Hongjun for a moment longer.

"Understood, teacher."

"Alright, that's enough for today. Zhao Wuji, take Dai Mubai to warm up. The rest of you can train at your own pace."

Zhao Wuji walked over and looked down at Dai Mubai.

"Boy, I've heard you're a prince of the Star Luo Empire?"

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