So Arrogant Without Surveillance?!

Oscar said in surprise, "What shady merchant uncle? That's our esteemed dean, the founder of Shrek Academy, Flender the Four-eyed Cat Owl. A rank seventy-eight Soul Sage. He's even stronger than Teacher Zhao. And he has a flying beast martial soul, which is quite rare among Battle Soul Masters. Fatty is his direct disciple."

Isn't he just a birdman with a feather stuck in his head? He didn't seem that strong in the original story. Other than being cowardly, he was just cowardly!

Gu Chen picked his nose and thought to himself.

Xiao Wu said, "Third Brother, do you think that shady merchant uncle still remembers us?" With Gu Chen and Gu Yuena, two big shots, protecting her, she was not afraid of her true form being discovered.

Tang San smiled bitterly. "It's only been two days. He probably hasn't forgotten yet. But since he's the dean, he shouldn't hold your offense against you."

Oscar chuckled and lowered his voice. "Then you're wrong. Dean Flender is famous for holding grudges. Of course, his greatest virtue is that he protects his own."

Flender, who was walking over, suddenly cast his gaze in their direction. It landed right on Oscar, and a teasing glint flashed through his eyes.

Oscar's face changed drastically. "Damn it, he might have heard me. I'm screwed now."

Flender stopped before the nine students. His distinctive hoarse voice, carrying a hint of magnetism, rang out. "This year is quite good. We have six more little monsters. I, Flender, dean of Shrek Academy, welcome you on behalf of the academy. Later, each of you is to pay one hundred gold coins to Teacher Li, who handles the finances."

At this moment, Flender could not help but look at Gu Chen. He had personally witnessed Gu Chen's battle with Tang Hao.

Even Zhao Wuji had been beaten black and blue. Though it had only been a physical battle, Gu Chen had actually fought a Title Douluo evenly. That was simply incredible!

Other than shock and excitement, Flender's gaze toward Gu Chen held only admiration.

"Mubai," Flender called.

"Dean." Dai Mubai stepped forward. He seemed to respect Flender greatly, even carrying a hint of worship.

Flender said, "Six new junior brothers and sisters have arrived. Later, tell them the academy rules. Then go back and rest. Restore yourselves to your best condition as much as possible. Today's first class will begin tonight. Oscar and Ning Rongrong, you two are exceptions. Come with me."

Oscar's face immediately fell. Reluctantly, he walked up to Flender and bowed. Only when he saw Ning Rongrong walk over to stand beside him did his expression improve somewhat.

Flender waved a hand. "The rest of you may go rest. Remember, get yourselves into peak condition before nightfall. Don't blame me for not warning you. This academy's teaching differs from other places. You may even face danger."

Zhu Zhuqing and Ma Hongjun left without looking back. Gu Chen also took Gu Yuena's hand, intending to go have some fun in Suotuo City.

Gu Chen knew they would soon face Soul Fighting at Suotuo City's Great Soul Arena, but he could even fight Zhao Wuji. What were Soul Elders of the same rank worth?

Neither he nor Na'er needed to conserve their strength like the others.

Tang San was in no hurry to leave. He wanted to see how this dean would teach. Oscar and Ning Rongrong both had support-type martial souls, which was likely why they would not be attending class that night. What puzzled Tang San was why the lessons had to be held at night.

Since Tang San did not leave, Xiao Wu naturally was not in a rush to go either. She stood quietly beside him and watched.

Gu Chen brought Gu Yuena to Suotuo City. After eating a huge meal, they wandered to a relatively secluded street corner.

Suddenly, an old woman crashed toward Gu Chen head-on. Gu Chen dodged aside, but the old woman fell straight to the ground.

A staged accident scam?

Gu Chen sneered. In his previous life, how many young people had been driven to ruin by such scams, their families torn apart?

Gu Chen hated people like this most. Old yet refusing to die, they came out to plague society instead.

Gu Chen ignored the old woman completely and prepared to leave.

But the old woman would not let it go. "Oh, my poor back! You hit me and won't even apologize? My waist is practically broken! We'll settle this at the City Lord's Manor! You're finished!"

Gu Chen turned back and said, "Heh, don't you know that big cities like Suotuo City have Image Stones?"

Image Stones were something similar to Soul Tools, serving the same purpose as surveillance cameras from Gu Chen's previous life. Gu Chen had learned about them at Nuoding Academy.

The old woman stood up, pointed her cane at Gu Chen, and sneered viciously. "I already checked. There are no Image Stones on this street!"

Damn it, a scammer acting this arrogant?!

Gu Chen immediately kicked her. Though he used almost no force, he still sent the old woman flying into the wall across the street. A streak of blood flowed from her mouth.

"Damn it, you're this arrogant just because there's no surveillance?"

Leaving those words behind, Gu Chen strode away with Gu Yuena.

Pfft!

The old woman had not been seriously injured, but upon hearing those words, she was so enraged that she spat out blood and fainted.

While shopping in Suotuo City, the two ran into Ning Rongrong, who had slipped out to eat and drink to her heart's content. Gu Chen did not say anything, though. After all, no one would be willing to waste their time teaching a stranger a lesson.

Night fell. Flender, the Four-eyed Cat Owl and dean of Shrek Academy, stood on the great training field, looking at all nine students before him.

Gu Chen, Gu Yuena, Dai Mubai, Tang San, Xiao Wu, Ma Hongjun, and Zhu Zhuqing, who looked cold but neat and capable, had all prepared for the night's lesson. Every one of them was full of energy.

However, Flender's attention was not on them, but on the other two students.

"Oscar, have you finished running twenty laps?" Flender's gaze was sharp enough that no one dared meet his eyes.

Oscar coughed and nodded. "Dean, I finished."

Flender snorted coldly. "I asked whether you both finished, not whether you did."

Oscar turned to look at Ning Rongrong. Ning Rongrong was looking back at him, her beautiful eyes filled with innocence.

Oscar gritted his teeth and nodded. "Yes, we both finished."

Flender smiled. If two words had to be used to describe that smile, "sinister" would have been most fitting.

"Very good, Oscar. I didn't expect you to be so caring toward your fellow students. Come here." Flender pointed to the spot in front of him.

A bitter smile appeared on Oscar's face, but he did not look at Ning Rongrong again. He strode over and stopped before Flender.

Flender sealed his Soul Power and ordered him to run another twenty laps.

His gaze shifted to Ning Rongrong, who looked innocent and pitiful. "Tell me, did you complete the lesson I assigned this morning?"

Ning Rongrong honestly shook her head. "No. The distance was too long, and I was hungry. I couldn't keep going."

Flender smiled faintly. "So you went to Suotuo City alone, had a huge meal, wandered around the commercial district, and only just returned to find Oscar. Is that right? Gu Chen, you saw Ning Rongrong in Suotuo City, didn't you?"

Ning Rongrong's beautiful eyes widened. "You were watching me?"

Flender's expression immediately turned cold. "As the dean, I must be responsible for every student in this academy. If Oscar lied because he could not bear to see you punished, then that is still understandable. But the mistakes you committed are unforgivable. Leaving the academy without permission, disobeying the academy's arrangements, and making a senior student lie for you. Not one of these is a mistake an outstanding soul master should make. If this were a battlefield, there would be only one outcome for you: execution under military law. Death, nothing more."

Ning Rongrong frowned. The gentle expression on her face gradually disappeared. The corners of her lips lifted slightly, and a trace of contempt and disdain appeared in her expression. "This isn't a battlefield. It's just an academy."

Flender nodded. "Correct, this is only an academy. But this is my Shrek Academy. Now, I'll give you two choices. First, pack your things and leave immediately. You are not worthy of being a member here. Second, prove to me that you are qualified to stay, and that you are determined not to break the rules again."

Ning Rongrong smiled. Though she was only twelve years old, it had to be said that her smile was truly adorable and beautiful. Yet that harmless smile made people feel a faint chill in their hearts.

"Flender, who do you think you are? You're just a mere Soul Sage."

Ning Rongrong fully revealed her little witch nature as she spoke with ignorant arrogance and utter disdain for everything.

To be honest, there were countless people on Douluo Continent more diligent than Ning Rongrong, and there were certainly many whose character and morals were better than hers. Yet those people all returned to dust, while Ning Rongrong actually became a god.

Gu Chen did not know whether to say that heaven was blind or that Tang San's protagonist aura was simply too strong. Uh, well, the bunch of useless fools in the God Realm really were blind despite having their eyes open!

Tomorrow, I'll reach fifty thousand words and be able to apply for a contract. Hopefully, it gets approved.