Disgusting Flander

The assessment ended. Besides the six of them, only one of the other four candidates managed to persist until the very end, but he was also severely injured and ultimately chose to leave. This year, Shrek Academy only recruited six students: Tang San, Xiao Wu, Dai Mubai, Oscar, Ma Hongjun, Ning Rongrong, Zhu Zhuqing, and… Lin Kun, who was considered an unofficial member.

As the senior student, Dai Mubai took the new students around to familiarize them with the academy's environment. However, this "familiarization" essentially involved a tour around a dilapidated village that wasn't much larger than Holy Soul Village.

A few ramshackle thatched huts served as dormitories; a bumpy, uneven open space was the training ground; a simple thatched shed without a roof was the cafeteria; the only building that looked somewhat sturdy was the largest wooden house in the center of the village, which was said to be the classroom and Dean Flander's office… and bedroom.

"This… this is Shrek Academy?" Xiao Wu's eyes widened in disbelief. "It's even more run-down than Nuoding Academy!" Ning Rongrong's pretty brows furrowed slightly, clearly finding the environment far from what she had imagined. Zhu Zhuqing remained expressionless, but a subtle flicker of emotion crossed her eyes. Oscar and Ma Hongjun, on the other hand, looked as if they were accustomed to it. Tang San was quite calm, valuing the teaching staff and cultivation atmosphere more.

Although Lin Kun had prepared himself mentally, seeing the extreme "hardship and simplicity" with his own eyes still made the corner of his mouth twitch. It was a miracle the academy could even operate…

Dai Mubai coughed awkwardly. "Ahem, well… the academy focuses on inner qualities, on the teaching level! Dean Flander, Teacher Zhao, and Teacher Shao are all very strong! And, we here… uh… have affordable tuition!"

That last sentence was the key point, Lin Kun thought sarcastically.

Just then, Dean Flander's distinctive hoarse voice sounded from behind them. "That's right! We at Shrek Academy charge fair and reasonable prices, honest with everyone! And today, you're lucky enough to witness the promulgation of new academy regulations!"

Flander walked over, holding a tattered parchment, and smilingly affixed it to the door of the only classroom.

Everyone curiously gathered around to look. The parchment read:

"Shrek Academy Student Conduct Regulations and Fee Supplement"

1. Tuition: 100 Golden Spirit Coins per person per year. (Dai Mubai and the others gasped; it had increased again from last year!) 2. Accommodation Fee: Single room, 10 Golden Spirit Coins per month; double room, 5 Golden Spirit Coins per month. (They're charging for the thatched huts?!) 3. Meal Fee: Self-catered. (Oscar weakly raised his hand, "Dean, isn't the cafeteria free?" Flander: "It's charging now! Teacher Shao works hard cooking!") 4. Utilities Fee: 1 Golden Spirit Coin per month. (Don't they have a well in the village that's free?!) 5. Facility Usage Fee: Using facilities like the training ground and simulated cultivation field costs 1 Golden Spirit Coin per hour. 6. Teacher Guidance Fee: Private consultations with teachers for questions will be charged based on difficulty, starting at 5 Golden Spirit Coins. 7. Uniform Fee: ... (There was a long list of other charges following this)

Everyone was dumbfounded! This wasn't a set of school rules; it was a price gouging list!

Xiao Wu was furious. "Dean! You're robbing us blind!" Ning Rongrong was stunned; even her Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect didn't have so many ways to charge! Dai Mubai covered his face, unable to bear watching.

Flander adjusted his glasses and declared righteously, "What do you mean robbing blind? This is called rational resource utilization! Our academy is small, with limited resources, so of course, we have to charge fees! Otherwise, how can we maintain operations? How can we hire good teachers for you? Don't want to pay? That's fine! See over there?" He pointed to the vast farmland outside the academy. "You can work and study, helping the villagers farm to pay off your debts!"

Lin Kun looked at the exorbitant list, his scalp tingling. He touched his empty coin purse, feeling his future was bleak. This Flander was truly a shrewd businessman!

[Ding! Detected that the Host is facing a severe economic crisis.] [Triggered long-term survival mission: Shrek's "Debtor".] [Mission Requirements: Repay all outstanding academy fees (initial estimated outstanding amount: over 200 Golden Spirit Coins annually).] [Mission Rewards: For every certain amount of debt repaid, receive corresponding points rewards. Completing the debt repayment earns 1000 points.] [Failure Penalty: None (but you might be forced by Dean Flander to mine or perform various "debt-repaying" labor).]

Lin Kun: "..." The system is ruthless! "Debtor"! That penalty is even worse than failure!

It seemed that at Shrek Academy, the first priority for survival wasn't cultivation, but… making money!

Under Dean Flander's threat of "no money, no food, no sleep," the new students had no choice but to grudgingly pay a portion of the fees (Ning Rongrong directly threw out a bag of Golden Spirit Coins; the young lady was never short of money) and finally received their dormitory keys.

Dormitory assignments: Tang San and Oscar in one room, Dai Mubai in a single room (senior student privilege?), Xiao Wu and Ning Rongrong in one room, Zhu Zhuqing in a single room (her aura was too cold), Ma Hongjun in a single room (probably to prevent his evil fire from affecting others), Lin Kun… in a room with Oscar? (Because there weren't enough rooms, and Oscar's room had an empty spot).

Lin Kun had no objections to this arrangement. Oscar was cheerful and lively, easy to get along with, and his Sausage Martial Soul… perhaps it could be developed for some commercial value?

After putting down their luggage, it was already close to evening. Everyone was hungry.

Oscar enthusiastically patted his chest. "You guys hungry? Leave it to me! I've got a big sausage!" His soul chant sounded, his first spirit ring flashed, and a steaming, fragrant big sausage appeared in his hand.

Except for Dai Mubai and Ma Hongjun, who already knew, the new students' expressions turned peculiar. Xiao Wu and Ning Rongrong, in particular, looked at the ambiguously shaped sausage with blushing faces and resistant expressions.

"Uh… thank you, I'm not very hungry," Xiao Wu waved her hands repeatedly. Ning Rongrong also politely refused, "I brought some dry rations." Tang San coughed dryly and silently took out his own dry rations. Zhu Zhuqing simply closed her eyes, out of sight, out of mind.

Oscar's smile froze, feeling a bit hurt and awkward. Although his Martial Soul's effect was good, the soul chant and appearance were too easily misunderstood.

Lin Kun watched this scene, his heart stirred. He stepped forward, took the sausage from Oscar's hand, and took a bite without hesitation!

The taste was surprisingly good! And a gentle energy instantly surged into his body, relieving fatigue and hunger.

"Mmm! Delicious! And the effect is great too!" Lin Kun praised sincerely, winking at Oscar. "Brother Ao, your sausage has such amazing recovery effects, it's too wasteful to just use it as dry rations!"

Oscar was taken aback. He hadn't expected the first person to openly accept his sausage to be Lin Kun, the newcomer. He felt a bit touched. "Brother Lin Kun… you really have vision! But… everyone else…"

Lin Kun smiled and lowered his voice. "Brother Ao, have you ever thought about… slightly changing your sales strategy?"

"Sales strategy?" Oscar looked blank.

"Look," Lin Kun analyzed, "your sausage has top-notch effects, but it's ruined by the soul chant and its appearance. If we could package it, for example… slice it, skewer it with bamboo sticks, sprinkle different seasonings, give it a new name, like 'Super Recovery Skewers' or 'Spirit Power Replenishing Energy Bars,' and avoid that soul chant and original form, wouldn't it be more acceptable? We might even be able to sell it to people outside the academy to make money!"

Oscar's eyes suddenly lit up! It was as if a new world had opened up to him!

"That's right! Why didn't I think of that!" Oscar excitedly grabbed Lin Kun's hand. "Brother Lin Kun! You're a genius! Let's go, let's go! We'll try it in the kitchen!"

Watching Oscar and Lin Kun leave, arm in arm and excitedly discussing "a hundred ways to eat and sell sausages," the remaining students were stunned.

Xiao Wu blinked. "They're taking that disgusting thing… to sell for money?" Ning Rongrong mused, "Business acumen… it's a bit interesting." Tang San looked at Lin Kun's retreating back, his gaze becoming more complex. This fellow villager always seemed to come up with strange but effective ideas.

Dai Mubai stroked his chin and said to Ma Hongjun, "Fatty, I think… we might have found a new way to get rich? If we get injured in fights later, can we buy sausages wholesale from Oscar?"

Ma Hongjun nodded in agreement.

And so, the first day at Shrek Academy began stumbling along amidst Flander's profiteering fees, Oscar's peculiar sausages, and Lin Kun's sudden "business planning."

Lin Kun knew that to survive in this "black-hearted" academy and pay off his debts, relying solely on system missions and the "stingy" missions Flander might issue wouldn't be enough; he had to proactively generate income! And Oscar's sausages might be his starting point to "break down" Shrek and earn his first pot of gold!

His academy life was destined to be anything but peaceful. And his "breakdown" journey would begin with a spectacular "sausage revolution"?