Argument

At daybreak, Chen Yuan appeared in a teahouse in Suotuo City as usual. Not long after he arrived, Zhang Youfu came over with several people.

The moment they met, Zhang Youfu asked somewhat doubtfully, "Young Master, why haven't we seen hide nor hair of you these past two days?"

Chen Yuan chuckled softly and replied unhurriedly, "Same as before—I was practicing the Sword Control Technique in some uninhabited wilderness. I think Rongrong will be settling down in this city for a while, but I can't neglect my own cultivation either, so I left for two days."

Zhang Youfu nodded as if it were only natural. "Young Master, your talent is the finest in the sect. Any delay would be a loss to the sect. And just as you said, Miss will likely be staying in this city for some time."

"According to my investigation, this Shrek Academy is actually rather interesting. Its dean is Flying Horn Flander, one of the once-renowned Golden Iron Triangle. He is now a Spirit Saint. He gathered a group of independent Spirit Masters, also Spirit Saints and Spirit Emperors, and founded Shrek Academy with them. Their teaching staff is quite good—so many high-level Spirit Masters can absolutely rival those famous advanced Soul Master Academies."

"However, Shrek Academy is not a proper academy that has been approved and registered. It is also extremely impoverished. The academy is nothing more than a small village in the countryside; it is dilapidated and terribly rudimentary."

At this point, Zhang Youfu was utterly perplexed. With so many high-level Spirit Masters, they would surely be treated as honored guests if they went to other academies, families, or sects. Even if they established their own faction, they should not have ended up in such a state.

He then continued, "Just yesterday, Miss officially enrolled in this academy. Three other students enrolled alongside her, all extremely young geniuses. Naturally, they cannot compare to you, Young Master, but to possess Soul Power above level twenty-five at the age of twelve would make them outstanding even within our sect."

"There are only seven students in this academy now, including Miss. If Miss is truly determined to study there, we do not know how to explain it to the Sect Leader."

Seeing this, Chen Yuan waved a hand reassuringly. "In that case, perhaps it is time for me to show myself. I'll find an opportunity to meet Rongrong, tell her that the Sect Leader sent me to protect her, and tell her that the Sect Leader has always been thinking of her. We'll see whether Rongrong wishes to return to the sect or sincerely wants to stay here. Once we have her answer, the Sect Leader will have an explanation as well."

Zhang Youfu was overjoyed. He cupped his hands toward Chen Yuan and said with a smile, "With those words from you, Young Master, we can finally rest easy. If Miss learns that the Sect Leader even sent you out, she will surely understand how much the Sect Leader cares for her. No matter how great the misunderstanding is, it will certainly be resolved then."

A smile played at Chen Yuan's lips. The Shrek Seven Devils. Then I shall meet them.

As for Zhang Youfu, he looked at Chen Yuan and thought with emotion, Even Young Master Chen Yuan, who has spent years at His Excellency Chen Xin's side and cares only for cultivation, was sent out. It is clear how deeply Sect Leader Ning Fengzhi cherishes Miss Ning Rongrong.

Shrek Academy!

In truth, apart from its signboard, this academy was nothing more than a rural village. Even the buildings inside had once been the villagers' homes. It could only be described as exceedingly shabby.

On the village square, the dean of Shrek Academy and the future Shrek Seven Devils were all present.

Flender looked at Oscar and asked sternly, "Oscar, have all of you completed the training I assigned this morning?"

Oscar felt somewhat guilty. Faced with the question, he could only force himself to answer, "Dean, I completed it."

Flender's gaze sharpened. "I said all of you?"

Flender was intimidated. He did not dare question Ning Rongrong, so he only dared question Oscar, intending to force Oscar into submission.

Oscar's face turned bitter, but Ning Rongrong was not bad at heart. At this moment, she stepped forward on her own initiative to admit her mistake. "Dean, I'm sorry. My body is rather weak, so I wasn't able to keep running for all twenty laps."

Flender snorted coldly at Oscar before turning his gaze toward Ning Rongrong. He was deeply apprehensive. Having witnessed Tang Hao beat Zhao Wuji senseless just yesterday, he had no desire whatsoever to provoke these young masters and ladies with such formidable backgrounds.

His expression softened as he calmly said, "If your body is weak, you may run slowly or even rest. But that is not a reason for you to run off to Suotuo City to play halfway through."

Ning Rongrong's expression changed. She questioned him coldly, "Flender, you were spying on me!"

Hearing Ning Rongrong call him by name, Flender's expression remained unchanged as he explained, "I am the dean, and I am responsible for the students' safety. This is not spying; it is necessary protection."

In the original story, Flender had harshly berated Ning Rongrong because he held a letter that could serve as a talisman against death. But now, he did not dare do so. He could only shake his head and say, "Ning Rongrong, you have disappointed me greatly. You cannot even complete the training I assigned. If you cannot even do that, you might as well withdraw early. That way, you will not have to endure scolding every day, and I still have other students to teach."

Unable to provoke her, Flender chose to avoid her. Following the principle that less trouble was better than more, he threw the problem back at Ning Rongrong.

Back in the sect, aside from Ning Fengzhi, who had always been strict with her, Chen Xin and Gu Rong had spoiled Ning Rongrong rotten. She had never been treated like this before. Stubbornly, she said, "Flender, what right do you have to drive me away? I earned my place here, and I paid the tuition. I have the right to stay."

With Flender's miserly nature, he certainly would not mention refunding her tuition. He simply strode away, saying as he walked, "Then stay here. I am taking my other students to class."

As soon as he finished speaking, Dai Mubai and Ma Hongjun were the first to follow Flender away. Tang San, Xiao Wu, and Zhu Zhuqing followed close behind.

Ning Rongrong gritted her silver teeth. She had always been surrounded by admirers, with others fawning over and coaxing her. This was the first time she had been ignored so thoroughly.

Noticing that Oscar was still standing where he was, she asked in confusion, "They're all going to class. Why aren't you?"

Oscar had not expected Ning Rongrong to be so defiant, daring to confront Flender head-on, only for Flender to back down of his own accord. When she asked, he answered honestly, "The dean is taking them to the Great Soul Arena for practical combat. I'm a Support Spirit Master, so I should go back and cultivate. Breaking through to level thirty Soul Power as soon as possible is more important."

The Great Soul Arena!

Ning Rongrong's heart stirred. She asked Oscar, "Oscar, you're an older student here. Tell me about the academy's teaching methods."

Seeing Ning Rongrong's pretty face, Oscar's feet, which had been about to carry him away, honestly stopped. He told her everything he knew without holding anything back. "Rongrong, our dean believes that battle is the fastest shortcut to improving one's strength, so our academy's teaching methods are mainly divided into physical training, Great Soul Arena combat training..."

Ning Rongrong listened attentively, though no one knew what she was truly thinking.

Not long afterward, in a teahouse in Suotuo City.

Zhang Youfu's face was somewhat gloomy. "Young Master, Miss seems to have been isolated. Flender took the other students away from the academy but did not take Miss with them. What audacity!"

Chen Yuan's eyes narrowed. He thought of an excellent opportunity to reveal himself and said, "I understand. I'll go over today and ask whether Rongrong has been wronged!"