Flender

Biodata

Power Progression

Background / History

Early Companions

Flender traveled the continent in his youth with Li Yusong, Shao Xin, and Lu Qibin. They later reunited in Suotuo City while struggling to make a living and looking for somewhere to settle down 85.

He also regarded Yu Xiaogang as his closest brother and loved Liu Erlong. Her affection for Yu Xiaogang left him torn between loyalty and jealousy 47.

Retaliation for Yu Xiaogang

After Mu Rong Chen, Xiao Lin, and Su Yuntao beat and robbed Yu Xiaogang, Flender found him unconscious alongside Liu Erlong. He threatened the entire crowd with his Soul King aura, demanded information about the attackers, and carried Yu Xiaogang to a healing Soul Master 44 45.

Flender and Liu Erlong subsequently searched Suotuo City for a boy with deep blue eyes. When they confronted the three youths, Flender kicked Su Yuntao into Xiao Lin, knocking both unconscious, then watched Liu Erlong attack Mu Rong Chen without intervening 48 50.

Wang Jie stopped the confrontation. Flender initially described it as play, but changed his approach when Wang Jie threatened to report the incident to the imperial Ministry of Education and Spirit City. To protect the Golden Iron Triangle’s reputation, he paid 300 Gold Soul Coins in compensation 51 52.

Founding Shrek Academy

After Yu Xiaogang and Liu Erlong left Suotuo City together, Flender remained behind, drinking alone and struggling with bitterness. His reunion with his old traveling companions gave him a new purpose: founding an academy 85.

The group lacked sufficient money, and Shao Xin warned that authorization required complicated procedures and a substantial deposit. Flender nevertheless insisted that they would find the funds and that he would handle the paperwork 85.

He named the school Shrek and declared that it would accept only “monsters”—exceptional geniuses whose achievements would spread the academy’s name across the continent. Lu Qibin agreed to join, and Zhao Wuji entered the venture seeking a refuge from Spirit Hall’s pursuit 86.

Appearance

• Build and age: A thin, middle-aged man 85 95.
• Face: Described as shoehorn-shaped, with calculating eyes behind his glasses 132.
• Glasses: Wears crystal glasses, described at different points as amber, black-framed, or shabby 85 95 104.
• Clothing: Wears a faded green robe during Shrek’s admissions campaign 132.
• Martial Soul Possession: Develops enormous black wings, blade-sharp eagle talons, and keen eyes 134.

Personality

Flender is ambitious but intensely money-conscious. He imagines Shrek becoming famous through its exceptional students, yet treats registration fees as essential income and ignores the distress of rejected applicants’ families. Paying compensation causes him visible pain, and the narration characterizes him as a miser who would not willingly part with money 52 86 112.

His aggression is tempered by calculation. He intimidates ordinary people and weaker Soul Masters, but retreats when an opponent has influential protection. Kachino’s Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect token makes him abandon a lethal confrontation, while uncertainty about Mu Rong Chen’s backing leads him to investigate rather than attack openly 44 99 105 110.

His feelings for Liu Erlong complicate his friendship with Yu Xiaogang. After Yu Xiaogang’s injuries, Flender briefly considers whether he now has a romantic opportunity, then feels disgusted with himself. Shi Nian later exploits this conflict through illusions of marrying Liu Erlong and killing Yu Xiaogang 47 134.

Flender places great value on reputation and control. He repeatedly tries to preserve Shrek’s prestige through threats, advertising, and attacks on Fengyun’s legitimacy. Only after sustained failure does he acknowledge that talented children have little reason to choose his impoverished academy and relax its admissions standards 117 132 148.

Abilities & Skills

Cat Owl Martial Soul

His beast Martial Soul provides aerial movement and abilities suited to nighttime reconnaissance 110 134.

• Flight: Uses manifested wings to move through the air and escape after his public humiliation 114 135.
• Night vision and concealment: Infiltrates Fengyun Academy silently and searches its grounds for nearly two hours 110.
• Aura detection: Locates Kachino, Xiao Lin, and Su Yuntao by their Soul Power fluctuations, though he cannot find the absent Mu Rong Chen 110.
• Soul Rings: As a Soul Emperor, displays two yellow, two purple, and two black rings 134.

Fifth Soul Skill: Sky-Rending Eagle Talons

A high-speed claw attack performed under Martial Soul Possession 134.

• His talons shine with metallic light as he rushes toward Shi Nian’s head.
• He attempts to use the Shrek teachers’ frontal assault as a distraction for a fatal flanking strike.
• Shi Nian slows the attack before it connects, preventing the intended kill 134.

Soul Power Control

Flender uses his Soul Power for intimidation, direct defense, and separating combatants 44 99 104 114.

• Suppresses a square full of ordinary witnesses with his Soul King aura 44.
• Repels Xiao Lin and Su Yuntao’s simultaneous attacks without a Soul Skill 99.
• Separates Mu Rong Chen from Zhao Wuji, and later Zhao Wuji from Shi Nian 104 114.

Documented Limits

• Illusion vulnerability: His Soul Power-enhanced shout cannot awaken Zhao Wuji inside Shi Nian’s domain. Flender himself then falls victim to Endless Nightmares 134.
• Unrevealed sixth skill: Activates his sixth ring in preparation for an attack, but Shi Nian traps him before its effect is shown 134.
• Draconic pressure: Mu Rong Chen’s evolved Martial Soul frightens him despite his higher documented cultivation rank 104 120.

Equipment / Items

• Crystal glasses — Frequently adjusts them while observing or calculating. They fall and shatter when Fengyun secures official recognition through a payment far beyond his own resources 98 117.
• Soul Tool — Stores the bag containing his 300-Gold-Soul-Coin compensation payment; its type is not specified 52.

Relationships

• Yu Xiaogang — Closest brother and fellow Golden Iron Triangle associate. Flender seeks revenge for his beating, but also experiences jealousy over Liu Erlong’s devotion to him 44 47 52.
• Liu Erlong — Woman he loves and companion in the search for Yu Xiaogang’s attackers. Her departure with Yu Xiaogang leaves him despondent 47 48 85.
• Li Yusong, Shao Xin, and Lu Qibin — Old traveling companions who become part of Shrek’s founding group and teaching staff 85 86 97.
• Zhao Wuji — Founding ally and powerful Shrek teacher. Flender repeatedly intervenes in his battles and attempts to rescue him from Shi Nian’s illusions 86 104 114 134.
• Qin Ming — Personal disciple. Qin Ming grows doubtful about choosing Shrek, but still approaches to help Flender after his public disgrace; Flender shoves him aside while fleeing 131 135 148.
• Mu Rong Chen — Long-standing enemy whose Fengyun Academy directly challenges Shrek’s income, educational ideals, and reputation 104 110 112 117.
• Xiao Lin and Su Yuntao — Former victims of his retaliation who later confront him over their injuries and the massacres affecting their families and communities. Flender denies responsibility for the killings 50 99.
• Shi Nian — Rival academy leader who defeats him through illusions and causes his public humiliation 114 134 135.
• Dugu Bo — Fengyun’s advisory dean. His overwhelming strength prevents Shrek’s teachers from rescuing Flender and later deters retaliation against Fengyun 135 148.

Story Role / Major Arcs

Renewed Feud with Fengyun Academy

When Fengyun rises opposite Shrek, Flender recognizes Xiao Lin and Su Yuntao from their confrontation five years earlier. He easily blocks their attacks, but Kachino’s Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect Guest Elder Token forces him to back down 98 99.

The youths accuse his group of responsibility for the massacres at Lone Wolf Village and the Nuoding City Lord’s Manor. Flender denies the charge but privately realizes that his earlier search for the blue-eyed youth may have attracted powerful figures’ attention. The supplied account identifies Spirit Hall as the pursuing force and records Mu Rong Chen’s conclusion that Bibi Dong ordered the killings; it does not establish Flender as their organizer 55 99.

Mu Rong Chen’s return intensifies the feud. Flender witnesses his dragon claws overpower Zhao Wuji, restrains his own murderous impulse, and later infiltrates Fengyun to investigate the youth’s secrets and possible backing 104 105 110.

Recruitment and Licensing Defeats

Fengyun’s free enrollment undermines Shrek’s nonrefundable-fee recruitment scheme. Flender tries to reclaim Lin Dong and Su Mei after learning of their rank-eight innate Soul Power, but cannot answer when Lin Dong asks whether Shrek still demands a registration fee 112 115.

His attempt to exploit Fengyun’s lack of certification backfires. Fengyun obtains official advanced-academy recognition, while Zhang Dekai exposes Shrek’s own missing permit and orders Flender to stop admissions and complete registration within three days or face closure 116 117.

Illusion-Induced Disgrace

During the next admissions contest, Flender displays his Soul Emperor strength and claims that Shrek trained Spirit Hall’s youngest Titled Douluo. Orlan challenges the claim and disputes his attack on Fengyun’s credentials 132.

After Shi Nian traps Zhao Wuji, Flender orders a coordinated assault and attempts a killing strike. Shi Nian instead ensnares him in Endless Nightmares, exploiting his longing for Liu Erlong 134.

Dugu Bo suppresses the other Shrek teachers before they can intervene. Flender acts out the illusion with a wooden stall post in front of parents and children, provoking ridicule and condemnation. Once released, he pushes Qin Ming aside and flies away 135.

Abandoning the Original Admissions Standard

Learning that Fengyun finished as runner-up in the Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Elite Tournament deepens Flender’s jealousy. Shrek’s deteriorating facilities, inability to pay its teachers, and fear of Dugu Bo leave him with little room to retaliate 148.

He finally abandons the insistence on admitting only exceptional “monsters” and changes the entry requirement 148.