Qi Lin stored quite a few ingredients in his soul tool, so he casually cooked a simple meal in the dormitory.
But that simple meal instantly won over Ning Rongrong, who had been raised on rare and exotic delicacies since childhood.
Even Zhu Zhuqing, who came from an equally prestigious background, ended up with oil all over her lips. Although she didn't exclaim in surprise like Ning Rongrong, her constantly moving chopsticks said everything.
"Heavens, Brother Qi Lin, whoever marries you in the future is going to be so lucky."
Ning Rongrong's eyes sparkled as she gazed at Qi Lin.
Now she had one more reason to drag him back to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan.
But hearing Ning Rongrong's praise, Qi Lin only shrugged and said:
"Actually, when Xiao Wu and I were at Nuoding Academy, aside from the first two or three years, she did most of the cooking."
The moment he said that, both Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing were stunned.
Xiao Wu knows how to cook?
Seeing their doubtful expressions, Xiao Wu pouted and snorted unhappily, "What's with those faces?"
"You don't believe I can cook?"
Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing both nodded in unison.
Qi Lin chuckled and said, "Then you guessed wrong. Xiao Wu really can cook, and not any worse than a professional chef."
After all, it was Qi Lin who had taught her.
Back at Nuoding Academy, Xiao Wu was always a little glutton, constantly pestering him to cook. Qi Lin had no choice but to indulge her.
Eventually, he just taught her himself. From then on, Xiao Wu was in charge of cooking while he played the role of a pampered noble young master.
Two or three years later, her culinary skills had truly been cultivated.
With Qi Lin's endorsement, Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing finally accepted the truth.
"You're amazing!" Ning Rongrong gave Xiao Wu a big thumbs-up.
Xiao Wu proudly lifted her snow-white chin like a graceful swan.
After the meal, and a few hours of cultivation, Qi Lin took the three girls to the training field.
As they passed the field from a distance, they happened to see Yu Xiaogang instructing Tang San and the others, each carrying a large basket full of stones, running laps around the field.
"Pfft!" Ning Rongrong scoffed in disdain in their direction.
"I thought the Grandmaster's training methods would be something advanced. Turns out it's just the same old boring routines."
"If that's all it is, why even come to Shrek? Couldn't we train like that anywhere?"
Qi Lin smiled slightly. "Alright, let's go."
Though he didn't think highly of such training either, he also wasn't interested in criticizing others behind their backs.
Only then did Ning Rongrong drop it and obediently followed behind Qi Lin.
Meanwhile—
Dai Mubai and the others on the field also noticed them.
Dai Mubai frowned, "We've been training for so long, and they're just starting? Teacher Qi Lin is being too lenient with them, isn't he?"
Ma Hongjun snorted, "If you ask me, Qi Lin doesn't know how to teach at all. Have you ever seen a twelve-year-old teacher?"
Dai Mubai and Oscar shook their heads. Only Tang San, who had been Qi Lin's classmate for six years, spoke truthfully:
"I also think Qi Lin's behavior is a bit irresponsible, but he definitely knows how to teach."
"Back at Nuoding, I used to spar with Xiao Wu all the time. Because of the poison attribute I added to my Blue Silver Grass, she could barely fight me to a draw."
"But later on, maybe thanks to Qi Lin's secret guidance, she started beating me more often."
Dai Mubai raised his eyebrows in surprise.
Then, he asked curiously, "Aren't you friends? In six years, he never taught you anything?"
Tang San's face stiffened slightly, then he smiled and said, "Maybe he has his own reasons."
At this point, Ma Hongjun chimed in sarcastically, "'His own reasons'? I think he's just selfish. Got something good but won't share it with his friends. What kind of friend is that?"
Oscar immediately went silent. He knew better than to get involved.
Dai Mubai also didn't respond. They were both smart.
But Tang San's eyes darkened.
He had always treated Qi Lin with sincerity. Whenever Qi Lin came to him for advice on metal materials for soul tools, he always shared everything he knew.
And now that Qi Lin had developed an effective training method, he kept it hidden?
Who was he guarding against?
Qi Lin: Hey now, that's not fair. I asked you about metal materials to make soul tools. And didn't I give you one after I made them?
And besides, this soul power training method—I only figured it out in the past two years!
On the other side, Qi Lin was completely unaware that Tang San had already started to grow distant from him.
Even if he knew, he wouldn't care.
At the moment, he was sitting idly on a large boulder, watching Ning Rongrong, Zhu Zhuqing, and Xiao Wu training their soul power from a distance.
Compared to the still-clumsy Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing, Xiao Wu had already reached a level where she could sprint across treetops and water. She could even use soul power to form different shapes—
Like covering her fists for extra power, or wrapping herself in soul power to form armor. All of it was highly practical in battle.
If she became more proficient, she could even develop powerful soul skills based on the flow and form of her soul power.
But for now, only Qi Lin had reached that level.
Nightfall.
After training and dinner, Flender gathered everyone.
Qi Lin knew what this was about. Flender likely wanted the new students to head to the Great Spirit Arena in Suotuo City to participate in spirit battles.
Qi Lin was fully supportive of this.
He had always believed that while a soul master didn't need to like fighting, they must know how to fight.
On the way to the Suotuo Great Spirit Arena, Flender walked over to Qi Lin.
"I heard about what happened today. Xiaogang really didn't think it through. But that's just how he is. I hope you won't take it to heart."
Qi Lin was walking at the back with Xiao Wu and the others. Hearing this, he glanced at Yu Xiaogang ahead and shrugged.
"It was Rongrong who got criticized, not me. But I still think the Grandmaster has low emotional intelligence."
"Low emotional intelligence?"
"Means he doesn't know how to talk to people!"
Flender looked like he suddenly understood, then turned to Ning Rongrong and said, "Rongrong, on Xiaogang's behalf, I apologize."
Ning Rongrong just snorted and didn't reply.
Flender stood there a bit awkwardly.
In fact, even he had doubted Ning Rongrong at first. He'd even gone to observe them in secret.
He didn't understand the point of Qi Lin's training method, but once he saw Ning Rongrong earnestly following his instructions, he left in peace.
Who would've thought that right after he left, Yu Xiaogang would cause trouble?
Now, the academy was divided into two small groups, with a clear boundary forming between them.
If things went on like this, it wouldn't be long before Shrek Academy split apart.