Differentiation and Weaknesses

Dai Mubai had misunderstood. Truly misunderstood.

From beginning to end, Ye Tianxing had said only four words to Zhu Zhuqing.

"Endure hardships."

For most of the time afterward, Ye Tianxing and Zhu Zhuqing merely looked at each other.

Seeing that Ye Ping'an said nothing, Zhu Zhuqing understood. She secretly sighed, then left.

Then Ye Tianxing heard Dai Mubai's furious tiger-like roar. Sometimes, vague and ambiguous actions always made it hard for people to suppress their confusion. Once confusion arose, one would inadvertently let their thoughts wander elsewhere, and those wandering thoughts would lead to imagined endings of a different kind.

Ye Tianxing had clearly done nothing, yet Dai Mubai already felt that the two were hiding some unspeakable secret. That was precisely what he had seized upon.

In truth, Ye Tianxing had other ways to drive a wedge into Shrek Academy. He could have taken advantage of Zhu Zhuqing's desire to grow stronger and offered her more help, making her feel indebted to him and thereby securing a place in her heart. Then, naturally, everything would fall into place.

But Ye Tianxing had not done so. In his view, that would only bring needless trouble. It would be difficult to explain to Qian Renxue, and Ye Tianxing himself would end up mired in scandal. It was better to say nothing, do nothing, and focus wholeheartedly on working toward bringing down Shrek Academy.

Any action that benefited Shrek Academy was aiding the enemy.

The next morning, the sun shone brightly.

The bell summoning the students to assemble did not ring. Yu Xiaogang being shaken up was one matter; Flender wanting everyone to rest was another.

It was not until the sun hung high at noon, when the glaring sunlight made it difficult to open one's eyes.

Dong, dong, dong—

The melodious bell rang out. Everyone assembled at once by reflex, while Ye Tianxing once again arrived right on time.

Only Flender stood before them. Yu Xiaogang was nowhere to be seen. It seemed that yesterday's "wind-like speed" had yet to wear off on him.

Once Flender saw that everyone had arrived, he nodded slightly. "There are no classes today. I called you here to tell you to prepare yourselves tonight. I'll take you somewhere good."

Dai Mubai, Xiao Wu, Tang San, and the others understood at once. They knew where the good place Flender spoke of was.

"Ning Rongrong, Oscar, run back and forth along yesterday's route twenty times."

The moment Flender finished speaking, Ning Rongrong and Oscar's faces fell. Ten laps yesterday had already been unbearable. Twenty laps today would be the death of them.

"You don't need to carry bamboo baskets."

Before Flender had even finished, the two of them simultaneously heaved a sigh of relief. Without disobeying Flender's order, they turned and ran off.

"The rest of you don't need to run. Preserve your strength for tonight's activities."

"All right, dismissed." Flender waved his hand and announced the end of the gathering.

Ye Tianxing darted off again, so fast that it left people clicking their tongues. Before long, he had vanished from sight.

"Dean, how is Teacher? Is he all right?" Tang San asked only after Ye Ping'an had gone far away.

Flender shook his head. "He still hasn't recovered. He wants to vomit but can't. He's lying facedown on the bed with a livid face right now—it's rather frightening. I really don't understand him. Ye Ping'an's speed is absurdly fast. I can testify that the kid didn't cheat. But Xiaogang simply wouldn't listen and insisted on trying it himself. He tried it, and nearly died."

Tang San: "..."

It really was not Ye Ping'an's fault for carrying Teacher around, because Ye Tianxing had wanted to try it too.

"Little San, Xiao Wu, I have a set of clothes for you. Go try them on and see whether they fit. Remember not to damage them—you'll need them tonight." Flender leaned in mysteriously, his face wearing the smile of a shrewd merchant.

Tang San and Xiao Wu felt cold sweat trickling down their backs. The way Flender looked at them was wrong—it was the hungry, covetous look he only showed when looking at money.

On both sides of the broad road, golden wheat stalks rolled like crashing waves, forming a sea of gold.

One might have thought the wind was moving the wheat, but it was actually Ye Tianxing racing toward Suotuo City.

Only quite some time after Ye Tianxing had passed did Ning Rongrong and Oscar slowly crawl their way there like snails. Following Flender's instructions, they had to run back and forth to Suotuo City twenty times. That distance was not a problem for Spirit Masters.

"Rongrong, you must be tired. Here, have one." Oscar fluttered his peach-blossom eyes, fawning over Ning Rongrong with the look of a shameless simp. From the moment Ning Rongrong entered the academy, Oscar had known that he would never be able to leave her for the rest of his life.

"Get lost, Oscar! You keep pestering me—do you really think I have no temper?"

"Seven Treasures turn and bring forth glaze; the second is speed."

The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda slowly rose from her palm. Ning Rongrong's speed increased by more than double, and as she swiftly left Oscar behind, she entered Suotuo City.

The moment she entered the city, Ning Rongrong stopped following Flender's instructions. Thinking he would not notice, she went straight to browse the streets, eating and drinking to her heart's content as she enjoyed herself.

Unbeknownst to her, Flender's eyes were as sharp as an eagle's in the shadows. After witnessing everything Ning Rongrong did, he said nothing. Instead, he went with Ye Tianxing to the place they had arranged to meet and discuss the matter of sponsorship.

Flender held an oil lamp to light the way ahead. A room stood before them, already filled with people.

Ye Tianxing had been waiting here for quite some time. Across from them sat many people dressed in all manner of clothing and from various trades. They were wealthy business owners from Suotuo City.

What Flender did not know was that they had another identity: subordinates of Spirit Hall.

They had not expected Ye Tianxing's visit, because they had received no prior notice. Everything concerning Ye Tianxing was unknown to them, and they did not understand who he was.

They only knew that this person before them was a high-ranking member of Spirit Hall, the kind at elder level.

They had firmly committed Ye Tianxing's earlier words to heart, and immediately greeted the smiling Flender as he approached them.

"Dean Flender, I heard that the Three-Five Combination, which made a name for itself at the Soto Great Spirit Arena not long ago, consists of students from your academy. Is that true?"

"Headmaster Flender, let's be frank. My Giant Bear Merchant Association will immediately invest in Shrek Academy. How about we cover all the infrastructure costs?"

"And me—when the Three-Five Combination competes, please don't forget to wear the sponsored outfits we provide. This is a contract worth ten thousand Gold Soul Coins. Please accept it."

"I also have..."

"..."

The place was bustling with excitement. Having lived in poverty for so long, Flender had never seen such a scene. The mountain of Gold Soul Coins piled before him had already left him dizzy and dazed, his eyes practically turning into the shape of money.

Ye Tianxing, seated to the side, maintained a smile throughout. Flender undoubtedly knew everything there was to know about Tang San and Xiao Wu. If Ye Tianxing could learn something from him, it would be of crucial importance in his search for the Blue Silver Emperor and the spirit bone.

The battle of money was merely the key to opening Flender's mouth. An even greater shock was yet to come.