Ning Rongrong vs. Flender

To be honest, are support-type and combat-type Soul Master assessed using the same standard in Shrek's combat assessment? Of course not.

In fact, even if a candidate doesn't make it past the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, if the candidate performs exceptionally well or has extraordinary potential, the examiner will eventually find some other reason with high emotional intelligence to help the candidate pass.

After all, the time it takes for an incense stick to burn... half an hour of combat time, with the combat area limited, unless the overall strength difference is not too great, the Soul Power of Soul Master at this stage cannot support such a long battle.

Therefore, the so-called "surviving for the time it takes for an incense stick to burn" is actually no different from "defeating Dai Mubai".

Whether a hastily assembled team can complete this mission depends more on luck than on its actual strength!

A team with a perfect match is obviously far superior to a team with average compatibility.

These apparent conditions are often just a facade.

The real assessment still comes from the examiner's personal evaluation of the examinee.

However, the three teenagers clearly did not catch Zhao Wuji's eye.

Although he reached the Soul Grandmaster level at the age of twelve or thirteen, he only had twenty-one or twenty-two Soul Power. In terms of Martial Soul and combat awareness, he was far from meeting Shrek's stringent standards.

As for Ning Rongrong... her combat performance, which she considered quite satisfactory, was completely inadequate in Zhao Wuji's eyes. However, even with her Soul Elder level of Soul Power Level, her average combat performance still far exceeded the assessment benchmark.

Of course, Flender had informed him beforehand that the girl in front of him was actually Shrek's biggest financial backer, so even if she really messed up, Zhao Wuji would still pass.

After that, Ning Rongrong naturally checked in and became Xiao Wu's roommate.

Through Xiao Wu's words, Ning Rongrong also confirmed the identities of the remaining students and was surprised to find that, since enrolling, there was only one student named Ma Hongjun whom she had not yet come into contact with.

To be honest, Ning Rongrong was very curious about the relationship between Xiao Wu and Tang San and Dai Mubai, after all, she had seen the two boys fight because of Xiao Wu.

However, as soon as she mentioned those two, Xiao Wu showed obvious impatience, so Ning Rongrong stopped her curiosity. Although from Xiao Wu's attitude, it was basically certain that both of them only had one-sided feelings for each other.

Xiao Wu has people who are annoyed, and Ning Rongrong has people who are annoyed as well.

Oscar, upon learning of Ning Rongrong's enrollment, couldn't resist trying to curry favor with her.

However, unlike Xiao Wu, Ning Rongrong actually quite enjoyed the feeling of being flattered and fawned over.

She maintained her facade of a gentle, refined young lady, watching Oscar, who was trying every trick in the book to amuse her, as if she were watching a clown performance.

The next day arrived in the blink of an eye.

On this day, the same scene as in the original timeline occurred.

After the running training ended, it was evening.

"Oscar, have you finished twenty laps?" Flender looked sharply at Oscar.

Oscar coughed, nodded, and said, "Dean, I've finished running."

Flender scoffed and said, "I'm asking you all, not you."

Oscar turned to look at Ning Rongrong, Ning Rongrong was also looking at him with a pair of beautiful, innocent eyes.

What a joke! How could Ning Rongrong possibly follow such useless training? Not to mention, her opinion of the Shrek Academy is not as good as it was in the original timeline.

Meeting Ning Rongrong's innocent gaze, Oscar gritted his teeth, nodded, and said, "Yes, we've all finished running."

Flender smiled, but there was a chilling aura in that smile, and one could vaguely sense the anger beneath Flender.

Just like in the original timeline, he gave Oscar a sarcastic reprimand, made Oscar run twenty more laps, and then began to lecture the rest of the group, saying that he was punishing Oscar because he had lied.

Following this, they asked Ning Rongrong again if she had run twenty laps. After Ning Rongrong answered honestly, they revealed to Tang San, Xiao Wu, and the others that Ning Rongrong had not only skipped the running training but had also spent the whole day having fun in Suotuo City.

Then he uttered that classic statement.

"As the dean, I am responsible for every student in the academy. If Oscar lied because he couldn't bear to punish you, that might be somewhat understandable. However, the mistakes you made are unforgivable. Leaving the academy without permission, disobeying the academy's arrangements, and having a senior lie for you—none of these are mistakes that an excellent Soul Master should make. If this were on the battlefield, there would only be one outcome for you: military law and death."

Looking at Flender, who was trying to force her to accept the school's rules by comparing them to military discipline and law, Ning Rongrong's lips curled up slightly, a flash of contempt and disdain in her eyes. Then she put on a puzzled and aggrieved look, frowned and said, "But this is not a battlefield, it's just an academy."

Flender nodded and said, "That's right, this is just an academy, but this is my Shrek Academy. Now, I'm giving you two choices. One, pack your things and leave immediately. You don't deserve to be a member here. The other, prove to me that you are qualified to stay here and that you have the determination not to break the rules again."

In the original timeline, Ning Rongrong would not have been able to contain her anger and would have directly confronted Flender.

However, after being educated by You Chen, Ning Rongrong has matured somewhat and is able to view herself and others from a more rational perspective.

More importantly...

She knew the respect due to those stronger than herself.

For the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect School, Flender is far from being a true powerhouse, but Ning Rongrong herself is currently a lone support Soul Elder.

She wasn't afraid of Flender, but she wouldn't go so far as to offend or provoke him, or mock Flender like she did in the original timeline.

If that were the case, it would be a less desirable outcome.

However, respecting Flender's strength does not mean that she should respect Flender's personality.

At this moment, looking at Flender who used his authority to oppress her, Ning Rongrong couldn't help but think of another person who had done something similar to her.

Despite the similar behavior, Ning Rongrong couldn't help but feel extremely disgusted with Flender, and even couldn't help but miss You Chen.

Both methods involve using power to intimidate, but the lessons You Chen teaches her are far more convincing and acceptable than those taught by Flender, a teacher.

'However, comparing someone like that to Flender is a bit of an overstatement.'

Ning Rongrong thought to herself that this inner teasing actually allowed her to view Flender from a more detached perspective, and thus she regained her composure.

She took a deep breath, staring intently at Flender with unwavering resolve, and questioned, "Dean Flender, I came to the Shrek Academy to learn knowledge and become stronger, not to obey your rules. Of course, if your training methods do indeed have some profound meaning and can train me better than those of higher academies, then it's not unreasonable for me to obey your principles and laws. But... here's the problem: can you tell me what's so special about simply running? If this is all the education you offer, then you don't need to force me; I'll walk on my own!"

Ning Rongrong's righteous and well-reasoned statement caught Flender off guard.

Flender's face turned pale as he rebuked, "Sharp-tongued! Since you're students, you don't even have the most basic respect for your teachers, yet you dare to talk about learning knowledge?! Running training is just a test to see if you're sincere. If anyone can easily learn real knowledge, then who will still have any respect for knowledge?!"

He certainly knows he's relying on authority to educate CPU users, but so what?

Tang San nodded silently upon hearing Flender's words. There was no difference between an academy and a sect; without making any contributions, how could one learn inherited knowledge?

He completely forgot that in his previous life he had secretly infiltrated the inner sect, bypassing the distinction between outer and inner disciples, to steal the Xuan Mysterious Heaven Treasure Record).

Ning Rongrong, on the other hand, also approved of Flender's approach of "not easily imparting knowledge".

Although her intelligence had improved slightly, she was still not at the level where she could see that Flender was subtly changing the subject.

After all, in reality, many people are often inexplicably diverted from the topic when arguing, and those who were originally on the moral high ground end up being unable to argue with those shameless people.

Let alone the people of Douluo.

But Ning Rongrong's greatest strength lies in this: rather than trying to justify herself, she prefers to act spoiled and willful.

This advantage was further developed and amplified after being guided by You Chen.

She didn't feel guilty after hearing Flender's words. Instead, she put on an innocent look and asked doubtfully, "But as far as I know, that theoretical Grandmaster named You Chen generously shared his knowledge, which directly advanced the theory of the Soul Master World by at least a century. Dean, do you mean that such Grandmaster doesn't respect knowledge? Also, if you feel that I don't respect you, then as long as you tell me what the point of this running training is, I can apologize to you."

Flender stared, speechless.

He wanted to argue that You Chen wasn't the real theoretical Grandmaster, and that his good brother Yu Xiaogang was the true theoretical Grandmaster, but he knew that even he himself wouldn't believe it if he said it.

He knew that You Chen had always been Yu Xiaogang's target, and belittling You Chen was also belittling Yu Xiaogang.

As for the purpose of running training, he could certainly say it was to train willpower and physical strength, but when Flender looked at Ning Rongrong's innocent-looking face, he knew that this Little Demoness must have dug some trap for him to fall into!

Instead of suppressing Ning Rongrong's arrogance in one fell swoop, he was refuted by Ning Rongrong. He felt that he had already lost face among the students. If this continued, he might really lose all his authority! Then the team would be difficult to lead!

Thinking of this, Flender snorted coldly, "Ning Rongrong, you are indeed very good with words, and I can't argue with you. But my rules will not change because of you. Since you can't adapt to the rules here, please leave. Shrek Academy does not welcome students who do not follow the rules."

Upon hearing this, Ning Rongrong pouted and said, "Are you trying to get rid of me? Dean, if I have really done something wrong, I hope you can point it out clearly. If I am wrong, I will definitely correct it."

Ning Rongrong had already considered dropping out of school, but at this moment, from a high-dimensional perspective, she suddenly had an idea, which is why she spoke like that just now.

Flender was surprised that Ning Rongrong was still putting on an act even at this point.

His veins bulged, which meant he understood why Ning Fengzhi had specifically told him that Ning Rongrong was not easy to deal with.

He had intended to incite Ning Rongrong's anger in a straightforward manner, thereby exposing Ning Rongrong true colors and then using the opportunity to coerce the students into educating Ning Rongrong. However, he did not expect that even after all this, Ning Rongrong could remain calm and was thus outmaneuvered.

For a moment, Flender even considered giving up, but the problem was... he had already spent quite a bit of the money Ning Fengzhi had allocated!

Although failing to uncover the Little Demoness's disguise was a bit of a headache for him, it was still better than her simply running away.

Unlike in the original timeline, Flender deliberately belittled and provoked Ning Rongrong not because he really intended to make her drop out of school, but to temper Ning Rongrong's character. Otherwise, he wouldn't have arranged for Oscar to comfort Ning Rongrong.

In the eyes of Flender in the original timeline, Ning Rongrong's spoiled little girl personality was not difficult to grasp. He was confident that he could use this method to keep Ning Rongrong and complete the initial taming.

But Ning Rongrong is different now.

Ning Rongrong, who seemed to have volatile emotions, gave Flender a feeling that she was hard to understand. It was as if all her grievances and anger were just a facade, making her very difficult to deal with.

Flender snorted and said, "Your mistake lies in your lack of respect for your teachers! Ning Rongrong, do you think that just because you're a genius of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, you can disregard the teachers of us from small academies?!"

Ning Rongrong blinked. "I didn't. Dean, haven't I been trying to reason with you? Doesn't... reasoning mean I'm not respectful?"

"You disregarded discipline, sneaking off to Suotuo City to play while everyone else was training. Have you ever respected us or the academy?! Do you think this is respecting us?!"

Flender glared and bristled.

Upon hearing this, the gazes of several students who had initially agreed with Ning Rongrong's remarks became ambiguous.

Flender was pleased to see the change in Tang San and the others' attitude.

He knew very well that, compared to a teacher's reprimand, the disapproval and hostility of peers were far more likely to sway teenagers who were still students. In the original timeline, that's exactly what he did.

Seeing the change in attitude of the Shrek students who had been friendly to her over the past two days, Ning Rongrong was also flustered and anxious.

Fortunately, Flender's words did not surprise Ning Rongrong. Having experienced You Chen taking her to see a play before, Ning Rongrong knew that the strong had the ability to see into others' lives, and that her travels might not be able to hide from the academy teachers.

She had already prepared her answer in her mind.

Ning Rongrong looked aggrieved, struggled and gritted her teeth for a few seconds before finally sighing, "Fine... it seems that if I don't tell you the truth today, you'll all think I'm a bad person."

The truth?

Flender frowned, sensing that something was amiss.

Ning Rongrong looked dejected and gave Flender a resentful look. "This matter involves the secrets of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. Dean, do you really want me to say it here?"