Ning Fengzhi: I've Seen Shrek for What It Truly Is

Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, side hall of Seven Treasure Hall.

Ning Fengzhi and Chen Xin stood in the center, looking at the girl before them. His tone was stern, but his eyes were full of concern.

"Rongrong, your running away from home this time scared your Grandpa Sword and Grandpa Bone terribly.

"If the guards hadn't reported it in time, we wouldn't even have known that you almost... sigh."

Ning Fengzhi let out a long sigh of lingering fear.

Ning Rongrong pouted, speaking somewhat aggrievedly. "I didn't know I'd run into the King of the Forest so far out on the outskirts.

"I'd only ever seen something like that in books before."

Seeing the Little Princess like this, Chen Xin immediately interrupted Ning Fengzhi when he saw that he still wanted to scold her.

"Alright, Fengzhi! It's enough that Rongrong is safe! She just got back. Whatever it is, can't it wait until tomorrow?"

Then Chen Xin looked at Ning Rongrong again.

"Still, Rongrong. Your father is right too. We don't oppose you going out to gain experience, but you must be prepared for everything and think things through."

"Grandpa Sword! How was I not prepared?"

Ning Rongrong had only been away for a little over a month. Though she had changed somewhat at Shrek Academy, her young miss temper had not completely faded.

Now that even Chen Xin was lecturing her, she could not help but argue back.

"Teacher Zhao led the team during the soul hunt. He's a Spirit Sage! The same rank as Father!

"Who could have known the Titan Giant Ape would appear in the outskirts?

"The master said that Titan Giant Ape had over fifty thousand years of cultivation and shouldn't have been there at all."

Hearing this, Ning Fengzhi became even angrier.

"Zhao Wuji? He dared take seven children to the Star Dou Great Forest for Ring Hunting all by himself!

"Though the Star Dou Great Forest has inner and outer regions, there are even more variables there!

"So what if he's a Spirit Sage! The more people there are, the greater the danger. To him, all seven of you are burdens!

"You said it yourself just now. A little girl was taken away by the Titan Giant Ape and nearly didn't make it back!

"Rongrong, if something happened to you, have you ever thought about what we would do?"

As Ning Fengzhi spoke, even his voice began to tremble.

This time, even Chen Xin did not interrupt. He merely stroked Ning Rongrong's head with heartache.

Seeing her father like this, Ning Rongrong finally understood. Her nose stung, and her eyes began to redden.

"Also, that master? He said the Titan Giant Ape had over fifty thousand years of cultivation?"

Ning Fengzhi suddenly asked about this.

Ning Rongrong held back her tears and answered in a muffled voice.

"Uncle Sword?" Ning Fengzhi turned to Chen Xin.

Chen Xin understood what Ning Fengzhi meant. As her father, Ning Fengzhi's words carried less weight in Ning Rongrong's ears.

Sometimes, Chen Xin's words could reach her far better.

Especially when it came to cultivation, Soul Power, and battle.

"Far more than fifty thousand. Every additional ten thousand years brings a Ten-Thousand Year Soul Beast an earth-shattering increase in strength.

"That Titan Giant Ape was no weaker than I was. It had already reached a hundred thousand years."

Ning Rongrong's eyes widened in disbelief.

"A hundred thousand years? But the master said..."

"Master, master! It's always the master! Rongrong, how did you become so poor at judging people after one trip away?"

Ning Fengzhi suddenly felt powerless, disappointment flickering in his gaze.

"Is Yu Xiaogang a Titled Douluo? Or has he ever defeated a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast? How dare he conclude that the Titan Giant Ape was below a hundred thousand years?

"Also, judging by what you said just now about Shrek Academy's teaching methods...

"Rongrong, don't go back!

"Even if you don't want to attend Heaven Dou Royal Academy, there are still Blue Tyrant, Four Elements, and many other academies to choose from."

The moment Ning Rongrong heard this, she was so anxious that she stomped her foot, not even having time to wipe away her tears.

"Father! Our Shrek isn't as bad as you think!"

But Ning Fengzhi had already made up his mind.

He truly did not dare let his daughter remain at that Three-No Academy.

The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect did have two guardian Douluo, but it was impossible to assign one of them to protect Ning Rongrong at all times.

"Does your Shrek Academy have a Mimicry Training Ground?" Ning Fengzhi suddenly asked.

Ning Rongrong instantly lost her confidence and answered timidly, "No."

A Mimicry Training Ground was greatly beneficial to Martial Soul cultivation, and she had experienced one at Heaven Dou Royal Academy before.

But no meant no. She could not lie.

Ning Fengzhi did not dwell on that and asked again, "You said Shrek has a Food System Spirit Sage?"

"Yes! Shao... Teacher Shao Xin! His Martial Soul is Candy Bean!"

Thinking Ning Fengzhi had changed his mind, Ning Rongrong answered eagerly, nearly failing to remember his name.

"Then how is Shrek's food?" Ning Fengzhi asked again.

"Uh... although the food was terrible at first, with only steamed buns and porridge... after the master arrived, the cafeteria got much better! Also, Third Brother's hidden..."

Ning Rongrong racked her brains to list Shrek's strengths.

Just as she was about to mention Tang San's Hidden Weapons, her father interrupted her again.

Ning Fengzhi nodded and asked, "Food System Martial Soul Products all possess marvelous abilities, not to mention that this Lord Shao Xin is a Spirit Sage.

"If his Martial Soul Products were used as supplies, they could completely make up for the gap in food quality.

"Did you ever consume his Martial Soul Products during your daily cultivation?"

Ning Fengzhi's calm tone was somewhat frightening.

Intimidated by her father's presence, Ning Rongrong's mind went blank.

"No... he only handled cooking. But Xiao Ao's sausages..."

From his daughter's answer, Ning Fengzhi had already seen Shrek Academy for what it truly was.

This Three-No Academy appeared powerful, with both teachers and students possessing extraordinary talent.

In truth, they did not understand how to train students at all. They had no passion for education, nor did they know how to make full use of their teachers' Martial Souls.

They were merely a group of self-important Soul Emperors and Spirit Sages congratulating themselves.

Their teaching results were sustained entirely by the students' own talent.

If a student succeeded, then it was the teachers' and academy's credit.

If a student failed, then they simply were not monsters and did not deserve to remain at Shrek.

Ning Fengzhi sighed again and did not continue the topic.

His expression softened as he spoke quietly.

"Rongrong, your Grandpa Bone was overjoyed when he heard you were coming back.

"He went to Moonlight Pavilion first thing this morning to buy you Lotus Crisp. I couldn't stop him even if I tried.

"He should be nearly back in the city by now. Go meet Grandpa Bone and give him a surprise."

Ning Rongrong could no longer think of any way to argue. Seeing that Chen Xin, who had always doted on her, did not speak up for her either, she could not help but begin to question Shrek.

As she walked out of the side hall in a daze, Ning Rongrong's thoughts were a complete mess.

Was Shrek really that bad?

But then what did that make me, whom they looked down on at first?

She had just taken a step when she heard Ning Fengzhi and Chen Xin talking behind the screen at her back.

"Fengzhi, you were too harsh." After Ning Rongrong left, Chen Xin could not help speaking up for her like an old nanny.

"Uncle Sword, Rongrong isn't young anymore. The sect will eventually be handed over to her, but with her current temperament... I truly can't rest easy."

Ning Fengzhi's words were full of worry.

"But you are right about one thing. That master has quite a reputation, but he is really just an Embroidered Pillow." Chen Xin was clearly deeply dissatisfied with Shrek and did not hold back in his assessment of Yu Xiaogang.

"I think he isn't even as capable as that youngster Yu Mingfei.

"I don't know where someone so young got such knowledge, but even he could determine that the Titan Giant Ape was a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast. They are both from the Yu Family and both have Mutated Waste Martial Souls, but at least Yu Mingfei is much more pleasing to my eye."

Chen Xin's words were full of appreciation for Yu Mingfei.

"Yu Mingfei? I was just planning to meet him! I was busy investigating that person's identity before and had no time to attend to this child. I heard that, a few days ago, Uncle Sword, you stopped Dugu Bo outside Seven Treasure City for his sake?"

Seeing Chen Xin praise him so highly, Ning Fengzhi became curious as well.

"That's right. Despite his low strength, he managed to escape from Old Poison's hands. He has some quick wits.

"Moreover, he possesses a Soul Bone. If we can bring him into the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, he should prove to be an asset."

Chen Xin did not hide his thoughts and stated them directly.

"A Soul Bone... but Dugu Bo is a Titled Douluo after all. It would not be wise to make an enemy of him.

"And there is also the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect...

"Let me think further on Yu Mingfei's matter, Uncle Sword."

Ning Rongrong was listening so intently that she did not notice the footsteps suddenly sounding behind her.

Startled, she abruptly turned toward the entrance of Seven Treasure Hall.

Yu Mingfei had just stepped through the hall doors, and their eyes met.

"It's you!"