Commercial Magnate, Haotian Chamber of Commerce Vice President Flender! Original Flender Was Stunned: Is That Me?!

He took the initiative to find Yu Xiaogang and, as an older brother, encouraged his insecure brother to accept Liu Erlong's love.

"Xiaogang, Erlong is a good woman. She likes you. If you're a man, don't let her down!"

In the scene, Flender smiled as he patted Yu Xiaogang on the shoulder. His smile was so bold and carefree when he said those words.

But the Heavenly Screen gave a close-up of the hand behind his back—that hand was clutching the corner of his clothes so tightly that his nails had dug into his flesh, leaving it bloody.

[Narration: Original World's Flender chose to sacrifice himself and leave in quiet sorrow for the sake of brotherhood and the happiness of the woman he loved. He traded half a lifetime of loneliness for the Golden Iron Triangle's false prosperity.]

At this point, many of the more sentimental female Spirit Masters present had reddened eyes.

"Boohoo, this Flender is too pitiful, too great."

"Yeah, he was willing to step aside for his brother and the woman he loved. What incredible magnanimity!"

Even over at Shrek Academy, Liu Erlong, if she had been present, would already have been crying her eyes out, her gaze toward Flender filled with guilt.

Yu Xiaogang lowered his head as well, not daring to look at Flender.

Flender himself took off his glasses and wiped the corners of his eyes, forcing a casual smile. "Hey, that's all in the past. Why put it up there? It's pretty embarrassing."

Though he said that, Flender still felt a trace of bittersweet comfort inside. At least the original version of himself had stood tall when it came to loyalty and devotion. He was worthy of respect.

However, just as everyone was immersed in Flender's image as a "tragic hero"...

The Heavenly Screen on the right lit up.

The tone changed completely!

There was no sorrowful music, no dim lighting.

In its place stood a magnificent chamber of commerce building, mountains of Gold Soul Coins, and...

A domineering business emperor!

[Current World: Haotian Chamber of Commerce Vice President—Flender's "Ambition"!]

[Current World · Suotuo City · Former Site of Shrek Academy]

The shabby little village that had once been filled with laughter did not appear on screen.

Instead, it was a bleak autumn afternoon.

Because Yu Xiaogang had never appeared, and there had been no "monster" students such as Tang San and Xiao Wu joining them...

The already-struggling Shrek Academy finally could not hold on any longer.

Flender stood before the crumbling sign that read "Shrek Academy," pushed up his glasses, and a trace of resolve flashed through his eyes.

"Old Zhao, let's call it."

Flender's voice was terrifyingly calm as he took out his last bag of Gold Soul Coins from his pocket.

He distributed them among Zhao Wuji and the other teachers.

"Headmaster, this..."

Zhao Wuji looked utterly reluctant.

"Shrek without monsters is just a joke.

"I can't make my brothers live on nothing but air for some so-called dream. I, Flender, can't do it."

Flender took down the sign and smashed it viciously onto the ground, as though shattering the obsession that had consumed half his life.

"From today onward, there will be no more Headmaster Flender of Shrek. There will only be the merchant Flender!"

[Narration: Current World's Flender learned from his pain, severed his obsession, and threw himself into the world of commerce!]

The scene shifted rapidly.

No longer burdened by that rundown academy, Flender completely unleashed his astonishing business talent, which had long been buried!

He began by reselling low-grade spirit beast pelts. With the speed advantage of an agility-type Soul Saint, he became Suotuo City's most efficient traveling merchant.

He was shrewd, cunning, and calculated over every last coin, yet at critical moments, he was exceptionally trustworthy.

In just three years, he monopolized the transportation of herbs and ores around Suotuo City.

However, the true turning point came on a rainy night.

[A Fateful Encounter: The God Son's Olive Branch!]

In the scene, Flender had already become a wealthy merchant when he encountered a spirit beast stampede while transporting a batch of precious goods. His cargo was on the verge of being destroyed.

Just then, Tang Shan's Nine Dragon Pulling Carriage passed through the area.

Tang Shan did not take action. A single roar from the nine sub-dragons was enough to frighten off the beast tide.

Flender looked at the God Son above the clouds. Rather than kneeling in worship like an ordinary man, he shouted aloud:

"Your Highness, God Son!

"I am Flender. I am willing to offer half this shipment as payment in exchange for a flag of the Clear Sky Sect!"

Above the clouds, Tang Shan lowered his head and looked through the carriage window at this shrewd man in glasses, a playful curve rising at the corner of his lips.

"I have no interest in half your goods.

"But I am interested in your brain."

"The Clear Sky Sect is planning to establish a chamber of commerce spanning the continent. We need someone knowledgeable, ruthless, and fast enough to manage it."

"Flender, are you willing to become the vice president of my Haotian Chamber of Commerce?"

[**BOOM—!!!**]

With Tang Shan's words, Flender's life completely took off!

[Current World · Heaven Dou Imperial City · Haotian Chamber of Commerce Headquarters]

The scene shifted to the top floor of a towering building more imposing than the Heaven Dou Imperial Palace.

Flender wore a finely tailored, luxurious brocade robe and held a glass of Scarlet Mary worth a fortune.

He stood before an enormous floor-to-ceiling window, overlooking all of Heaven Dou City.

Behind him was a massive map of Douluo Continent.

The map was densely covered with golden flags representing the Haotian Chamber of Commerce!

From the Far North to the Star Luo Empire, from flourishing imperial capitals to remote mountain villages.

The Haotian Chamber of Commerce controlled nearly seventy percent of the continent's Soul Tool circulation, herb trade, and rare metal mines!

And Flender was one of the helmsmen of this vast commercial empire!

"Vice President, Sect Master Ning of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect wishes to invite you to dinner to discuss next quarter's share of refined iron ore."

A voluptuous female secretary reported respectfully.

Flender lightly swirled his wineglass and said nonchalantly:

"Ning Fengzhi?

"Tell him to wait in line.

"Tell him I'm busy raising sponsorship funds for His Highness the God Son's 'All-Continent Spirit Master Elite Selection Tournament.' I don't have time to haggle with him."

[Two-World Comparison, a World of Difference!]

Left Side:

The Original World's Flender turned himself into an ascetic for the sake of so-called brotherhood.

To keep the academy afloat, he even had to place bets at the Soul Fighting Arena to swindle money, only to be looked down upon by the students' parents.

To fulfill Yu Xiaogang and Liu Erlong, he drank alone late at night, licking his wounds.

Though he possessed the hollow reputation of the "Golden Iron Triangle," he lived in poverty, his heart filled with bitterness.

Right Side:

Current World's Flender, having never met Yu Xiaogang or taken in Tang San, instead lived for himself!

Backed by the Clear Sky Sect, he held wealth rivaling that of a nation.

Even an Upper Three Sects Sect Master like Ning Fengzhi had to wait in line just to see him!

He was no longer that scheming headmaster who quibbled over a few Gold Soul Coins. He was a commercial magnate whose every stomp could shake the entire continent's economy!

[Real World · All-Continent Advanced Soul Master Academy Elite Tournament]

Clang!

The glasses in Flender's hand fell to the ground and shattered.

He stared blankly at the domineering "himself" on the right side of the Heavenly Screen, the man who did not even take Ning Fengzhi seriously. He was completely dumbfounded.