The Journey Begins

As Ma Hongjun pushed through the final laps of his hellish training, the village air thickened with the sound of his heavy breathing and pounding footsteps. Each step seemed to echo his determination, resonating through the serene landscape surrounding them. Sheng Jun stood at the edge of the training ground, his gaze fixed on Ma Hongjun.

"Keep going! Only five more laps left!" Sheng Jun's blue eyes blazed with unwavering support as he watched Ma Hongjun's figure power through the last stretch. His words were akin to a mantra, driving Ma Hongjun forward with renewed resolve.

As Ma Hongjun continued his run, the weight of the rock on his shoulders seemed to grow heavier with each passing lap, pressing down on him like a relentless burden. But he refused to falter, drawing strength not only from Sheng Jun's encouragement but also from the fire burning within his own heart. 

Ma Hongjun's transformation over the past ten days had been nothing short of miraculous. The excess fat that had once plagued him had melted away, leaving behind the familiar handsome face and sculpted physique he had before the side effects hit. His black hair, now slightly longer, whipped around him in the wind as he ran, as if a proof of his transformation.

Yet, the path to this transformation had been fraught with pain. Ma Hongjun had endured days of excruciating agony as his body struggled to adapt to the hellish training. Bones cracked, and blood vessels burst, but through sheer willpower and the huge amount of vitality inside him and with the assistance of the Heavenly Dao Sutra, that aided in digesting his excess vitality, nourishing his body, and accelerating his healing process. It formed a cycle of destruction and regeneration, propelling Ma Hongjun forward even when his body screamed for mercy. Additionally, the healing provided by his brother was an indispensable factor in his training.

With a final burst of energy, Ma Hongjun crossed the finish line, the weight of the rock crashing to the ground behind him. Collapsing onto the grass, he gasped for air, his chest heaving with exertion. But amidst the exhaustion, there was a sense of accomplishment that filled him with pride.

Flender stood beside Sheng Jun, observing Ma Hongjun with a smile on his lips. The initial worry he held about the intensity of the training had gradually dissipated as he witnessed Ma Hongjun's remarkable recovery the very next day after each day of training. 

Over the past ten days, Flender had dedicated himself to guiding both Sheng Jun and Ma Hongjun in acquainting themselves with their Martial Souls.

Through experimentation and practice, they discovered that Sheng Jun Martial Soul is that of a Healing system, evident from the healing aura that radiated around him when he entered Martial Soul possession. This healing ability proved invaluable during their training, allowing Ma Hongjun to push past his physical limits and recover from fatigue.

But it wasn't just healing prowess that Sheng Jun possessed. To their amazement, they found that his Martial Soul also bestowed upon him a formidable Attack Power system and an Agility Attack system attributes. When Sheng Jun activated his Martial Soul, his physical attributes doubled in strength, while his agility tripled, a boost akin to those with Top-tier Martial Souls of the Attack Power system and Agility Attack System, respectively.

Amidst the discoveries, there were also unexpected quirks to Ma Hongjun's Martial Soul. Apart from the obvious increase in his attributes as a Top-tier Beast-type Martial Soul, his fire, once ignited, proved incredibly difficult to extinguish, burning with an intensity that seemed to defy logic.

Once it caught hold of a target, it tries to consume everything in its path until nothing remained but ashes, a testament to the ferocity of his Martial Soul's offensive capabilities.

And then there was the amusing fact that despite sprouting wings as part of his Martial Soul possession, Ma Hongjun couldn't fly.

"Xiao Hongjun, go wash up; we'll be leaving in an hour" Flender announced. He had lingered longer in the village than originally planned. Flender had intended to whisk away these two little monsters to Shrek Academy, where they would officially register as students.

Flender was well aware of the typical requirements for admission to Shrek Academy, but as the dean, he was prepared to make an exception for Sheng Jun and Ma Hongjun. He did not doubt that these two little monsters would surpass the standard Soul Power threshold of 21 before the age of 13.

In addition to enrolling them in Shrek Academy, Flender had other plans in motion. He aimed to lead them on their first Spirit Ring hunt at the Soul Hunting Forest while also venturing to the Holy Soul Village Su Yuntao had mentioned, in hopes of recruiting a boy with Innate full soul power Blue Silver Grass. Fortunately, the Soul Hunting Forest was not far from the Holy Soul Village.

Sheng Jun and Ma Hongjun exchanged glances, a mix of excitement and reluctance coloring their expressions. Despite their anticipation, they couldn't help but feel a pang of nostalgia for the place they had called home their entire lives.

…

After an hour a somber sound of sobbing echoed from in front of a small house. Sheng Yu, tears streaming down her cheeks, embraced Sheng Jun and Ma Hongjun tightly, her heart heavy with the weight of impending separation.

"My babies, you must come to visit us as often as possible, understood?" she choked out between sobs, unwilling to let go of her beloved sons. Sheng Jun and Ma Hongjun, their own eyes glistening with unshed tears, nodded solemnly, their voices choked with emotion.

Beside them, Sheng Fu stood with his back turned, his pride evident despite the tremor in his voice and body. "Hmph, you little brats better take care of yourselves and don't cause trouble for Mr. Flender, you understand?" he declared gruffly, his attempt at a stern demeanor betrayed by the unmistakable quiver in his tone.

With a dismissive wave of his hand, Sheng Fu shooed them away, his facade crumbling slightly as he turned away to hide the swell of emotion threatening to overcome him. He had always been a man of few words, but beneath his gruff exterior lay a deep well of love and concern for his sons.

Sensing that the time for farewells had come to an end, Flender stepped forward, seizing Sheng Jun and Ma Hongjun by the arms. With a powerful beat of his wings, he lifted them into the air. Flying towards Shrek Academy