Flender, defeated by money! The Stunning Tang Sect!

Night gradually fell, and the streets of Suotuo City bustled with people beneath brilliant lights!

Ye Xingchen and the others, who had followed Dean Flender here, looked distinctly out of place.

They rather resembled ordinary townsfolk entering a big city for the first time.

Ma Hongjun and Oscar, in particular, stopped to look whenever they spotted pretty girls or delicious food along the way.

And whenever Ning Rongrong, Xiao Wu, and Zhu Zhuqing saw pretty jewelry or attractive toys, they lingered even longer.

Utterly helpless, Flender sighed. Only when he looked at Ye Xingchen, Tang San, and Dai Mubai behind him did he feel somewhat better.

"Say, Ye Xingchen, could you keep your wife in check? At this rate, even all of Suotuo City won't be enough for her shopping!"

Hearing Dean Flender say this, Ye Xingchen felt a little embarrassed.

He glanced back at Rongrong, who was buying jewelry, and spread his hands with a smile.

"Women always like buying strange things. There's nothing I can do either!"

"Why don't you try persuading her? You might even get some gold coins out of it!"

Standing beside him, Dai Mubai nearly burst out laughing. He turned to Dean Flender and suggested:

"Dean Flender, I think Brother Ye Xingchen has a point. If you go talk to her, you might even ease the burden of the academy's food expenses!"

Somewhat embarrassed, Flender sighed. Faced with their teasing, he could hardly say much. Still, he thought the suggestion had potential.

"Say, Tang San, why have you been so gloomy the whole way, without a single smile? What's been wrong with you these past few days?"

With his arms folded, Dai Mubai glanced back at the gloomy Tang San and asked:

"Don't tell me you and Xiao Wu had a fight? Couples arguing is perfectly normal. Go coax her a little. You're a grown man!"

Hearing Dai Mubai's words, Tang San maintained his impassive expression but sighed inwardly.

He wondered whether he would still be like this if a little coaxing could win Xiao Wu's heart back.

"Nothing's wrong. You don't need to worry!"

Confusion appeared in Dean Flender's eyes at Tang San's icy reply. He remembered that this young man had not been like this when they first met.

He sighed, then offered a casual reminder:

"Tang San, I hope you remember why Grandmaster sent you to Shrek Academy. If you remain so dejected over this that you can't pull yourself out, I believe Grandmaster will be very disappointed in you!"

Disappointed?

Tang San raised his head slightly and watched Dean Flender turn and leave.

He sighed inwardly and glanced at the impassive Ye Xingchen beside him, thinking how wronged he felt.

Not only had the girl he liked fallen for someone else, but he was also being utterly crushed in terms of fighting strength.

Feeling depressed, Tang San sighed without saying a word and hurried after Dean Flender.

"Brother Ye, do you think there's something wrong with Tang San's head? Look how gloomy he is all the time. He's nothing like the guy we saw before!"

"Then look at Xiao Wu, all happy and bouncing around. Isn't that great? She doesn't look troubled at all. Women these days really are impossible to understand!"

Dai Mubai sighed with his arms folded, then turned to glance at Xiao Wu and the others as he teased with a grin.

Ye Xingchen smiled unconcernedly, thinking that Tang San must be feeling quite depressed now. Even he wouldn't be very happy in Tang San's shoes.

A little later, outside the Soul Fighting Arena.

Carrying bags of every size, Ye Xingchen surveyed the Soul Fighting Arena before him, his eyes gleaming. According to the original plot, this was where everyone would earn the rank required for graduation.

The fighting formats inside were quite ordinary and would be extremely simple for him.

"This is Suotuo City's Soul Fighting Arena. As the name suggests, it's a gladiatorial arena for Soul Masters!"

"Although I'm not particularly fond of this place, I must admit that it has a very significant effect on improving a Soul Master's combat skills. I hope all of you can achieve good results here!"

"As for the specific graduation requirements, Dai Mubai will explain them to you one by one. Now go inside and register for the matches!"

With an impassive expression, Flender left them with those words and was about to leave.

Just then, Ning Rongrong appeared before him and said with a grin:

"Teacher, there's no time like the present. Since you're heading back, help me take these things back too. We won't have much time to look after them when we're fighting later!"

Hearing Ning Rongrong's words, Dean Flender's expression shifted slightly. Looking at the bags in everyone's hands gave him something of a headache.

He was just about to refuse when Ning Rongrong added with a smile:

"Of course, as payment, I'm willing to cover the academy's food expenses for six months. The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect will pay for it. How does that sound?"

Defeated by money, Dean Flender rubbed his head, then coughed softly.

"Rongrong, you can't measure this world with money. Although money really is all-powerful, I'm still your dean!"

"As you're my student, helping you with this is only right. Give everything to me. I'll take it back for you!"

Standing nearby, Ma Hongjun nearly had his eyes pop out of his head. He could hardly believe it. Was the Dean Flender before him still the imposing dean he had known?

"My heavens, has Dean Flender really been defeated by money? This is ridiculous!"

Hearing Ma Hongjun's complaint, Oscar folded his arms and laughed unconcernedly:

"That's something you don't understand. Money's charm is enchanting everywhere!"

"With our sister-in-law being so rich, it's only a matter of time before she conquers all of Shrek Academy. I really envy Brother Ye, having such a beautiful, wealthy wife!"

Hearing the two of them, Ye Xingchen's seasoned face flushed slightly. He watched Dean Flender moving the bags and sighed inwardly.

He thought that ever since he arrived on the Douluo Continent, the entire plot seemed to have changed, and nearly everyone's personality had undergone slight changes too.

For instance, Dean Flender before him had gone from his former imposing manner to loving money as dearly as his life.

"Let's go. We've left everything with Dean Flender, so let's go inside and see what there is to do. This is my first time coming to a place like this!"

Empty-handed, Ning Rongrong smiled and walked up to Ye Xingchen, linking her arm through his as she teased with a grin:

"Once we're inside, all your expenses are on me. Don't stand on ceremony!"

Dai Mubai clicked his tongue slightly at that. He sighed and said with envy all over his face:

"If only you'd come to Shrek Academy sooner. Perhaps you could have reimbursed my registration fee and everything else I've spent here!"

Ning Rongrong smiled unconcernedly, then pulled Ye Xingchen inside.

Inside the Soul Fighting Arena.

Graceful, curvaceous, and provocatively sexy attendants walked about, each holding up a Bidding Paddle.

Whenever they waved their Bidding Paddles, the fighters taking the field thumped their chests and strode into the center of the Arena.

On a raised platform above the Arena, a sharply dressed man with slicked-back hair held a microphone and roared without restraint.

"Welcome to the Arena, everyone! This is a Soul Master's heaven and a Soul Master's hell, a battlefield brimming with honor!"

"Plenty of new friends have joined us tonight. I can already see them. Let's give our full attention to the exciting performances they'll bring us!"

As Ye Xingchen walked inside and saw this familiar scene, the corners of his mouth lifted slightly.

He glanced back at Dai Mubai and Zhu Zhuqing and shook his head slightly.

"Please, just team up with me. Let's form a combination!"

Beaming, Dai Mubai looked at Zhu Zhuqing before him and said with a smile:

"Your Martial Soul and mine are a natural match. If we form a combination, we'll be able to defeat plenty of opponents!"

Cool-faced and unconvinced, Zhu Zhuqing looked a little helpless at his words.

She glanced at the shameless Dai Mubai, then shook her head.

"I'm only in my twenties, while you're already in your thirties. Unless I'm mistaken, if I form a combination with you, the opponents we face will be different too, won't they?"

Coming to his senses, Dai Mubai rubbed his head and said sheepishly:

"I almost forgot about that. But that doesn't matter. Once we form a combination, we can coordinate with each other in battle!"

Unconvinced, Zhu Zhuqing sighed. She then stepped forward, walked up to Ning Rongrong and Ye Xingchen, and said flatly:

"Sorry, I've already formed a combination with Rongrong. Wherever she goes, I go!"

Somewhat embarrassed, Dai Mubai sighed. Seeing that this plan to get close to her wouldn't work, he said no more.

Meanwhile, Xiao Wu had been staring at the center of the Arena. She glanced around and was about to wander about when she saw Oscar approach.

"Sister Xiao Wu, would you like to form a combination with me? Let's go have some fun in the Arena!"

Xiao Wu shook her head calmly. She glanced at Oscar, then folded her arms and teased:

"Go team up with Brother Tang San. I want to form a team on my own!"

Standing nearby, Tang San's eyes filled with disappointment at her words. He turned to look at the enormous Arena, a trace of anger appearing in his eyes.

He turned back to Dai Mubai and asked:

"How does this work?"

Dai Mubai sighed, pointed at the registration counter a short distance away, and teased:

"If you're on your own, just register an account over there. They'll give you a token marked with your battle record!"

"But I'd advise you to find a teammate. Most combinations here are pairs. Solo combinations have it too hard!"

Tang San nodded impassively. He glanced back at the silent Xiao Wu, then said nothing more and headed toward the Registration Desk with short steps.

"Xiao Wu, what's happened between you two? Things seem to have changed awfully fast!"

Unable to make sense of it, Dai Mubai approached Xiao Wu after Tang San left and asked:

"Did that wooden-headed fool do something to upset you? Tell me what's wrong, and I'll talk some sense into him!"

Smiling, Xiao Wu shook her head. Looking at Dai Mubai trying to play the nice guy before her, she found it rather uninteresting.

She glanced back at the Arena and quickly spread her hands.

"Don't overthink it. There's nothing going on between us!"

"Let's enter the matches too. Didn't the dean say we have to get results here?"

Standing nearby, Ye Xingchen nodded. He glanced at Ning Rongrong, then took her little hand and headed toward the service counter.

Zhu Zhuqing, following behind them, hurried after them with short steps.

As soon as they reached the counter, the pretty attendant before them smiled and asked:

"Are the three of you a team? What combination would you like to form? Please write your names here!"

Ye Xingchen nodded slightly. He glanced back at Zhu Zhuqing and Ning Rongrong, then asked with a smile:

"Do you have any impressive names in mind?"

Ning Rongrong rubbed her head, glanced back at Zhu Zhuqing, and quickly said with a smile:

"How about we call ourselves the Stunning Tang Sect Combination?"

The Stunning Tang Sect Combination?

Hearing that name, Ye Xingchen froze slightly. He looked at the two women and was about to ask about it when Xiao Wu walked over too.

"Do you still need anyone? Count me in!"

Rongrong nodded, grabbed Xiao Wu's arm, and said:

"With the three of us and my husband, that makes four!"

"Let's call it the Stunning Tang Sect. It's a pretty good name, and it suits our bearing and looks!"

Having said this, the three women turned their gazes toward Ye Xingchen, leaving him somewhat embarrassed.

He turned back to the pretty attendant and said with a smile:

"Then let's call it the Stunning Tang Sect Combination. We don't have any better names, so we'll use that for now!"

And so, the Stunning Tang Sect Combination came into being. Looking at the token in his hand, Ye Xingchen sighed softly.

He wondered what Tang San would think if he saw this later.

A little later, in the Arena.

The sharply dressed host looked at the Bidding Paddle in his hand, his eyes gleaming.

He glanced back at the audience below the platform, then announced loudly and exuberantly:

"Dear audience members, we have an especially large number of Soul Masters tonight, and plenty of fresh faces too!"

"Let's look forward to the thrilling battles we'll see tonight. Welcome them with your applause!"