Shrek Academy's Headmaster

Shrek Academy cafeteria.

After the earlier commotion.

The atmosphere among them was somewhat subtle, with several distinct little groups forming.

The original Shrek students—Dai Mubai, Ma Hongjun, and Oscar—sat together.

Ye Liuyun, Xiao Wu, and Tang San sat together.

Zhu Zhuqing and Ning Rongrong remained neutral.

Though Ma Hongjun's face was covered in soot, his mouth was still as stubborn as ever.

"Humph! If that kid's Soul Power Level hadn't been seven levels higher than mine, and if he hadn't had an extra thousand-year soul skill, I would've burned him to ashes long ago!"

"My Evil Fire is a top-tier Mutated Martial Spirit. How can Blue Silver Grass compare to it? Once I reach level thirty and get a thousand-year Spirit Ring, I'll burn that lousy forest clean!"

Although Dai Mubai thought Ye Liuyun was very strong, he could not deny that Ma Hongjun had lost so decisively partly because of the gap in their thousand-year Spirit Rings.

"Then work harder at cultivating from now on. Stop slacking off."

Ma Hongjun's eyes seemed to blaze with roaring flames.

"Starting today, I'll definitely cultivate diligently."

Dai Mubai and Oscar exchanged glances, both somewhat amused.

They had not expected this little fatty, the most irresponsible one among them, to become diligent after getting beaten up.

Who knew how many days it would last.

Just as the two finished laughing, they saw Ma Hongjun's tiny eyes constantly drifting over Zhu Zhuqing and Ning Rongrong.

"You damn grass chicken, keep looking and I'll poke your chicken eyes blind." Dai Mubai viciously hooked an arm around Ma Hongjun's neck.

Tang San listened from the side and silently nodded, the heavy stone in his heart easing somewhat.

That was right. The gap in Spirit Ring age and Soul Power Level was an objective reality.

Ye Liuyun had won because his cultivation was higher, not because his Martial Spirit was stronger.

As long as I cultivate step by step, once I reach that level and receive my teacher's guidance, my Blue Silver Grass combined with Hidden Weapons will definitely be much stronger than his.

After breakfast, a sudden clang-clang-clang sounded outside, and everyone gathered on the training field.

"That's the bell calling us for the headmaster. Come on, it's time for class."

Dai Mubai hurriedly stood up.

Everyone rose and headed for the training field.

A middle-aged man walked over from the other side of the field.

Tang San and Xiao Wu were visibly stunned when they saw him.

The man looked to be around fifty. His chin protruded somewhat, his cheekbones were broad, his face was flat, and he had a slightly hooked nose.

If he absolutely had to be compared to something, then his face somewhat resembled the sole of a shoe.

Though his eyes were closed, he still gave off a rather cunning impression.

He wore black-framed crystal glasses, with stiff, square frames.

Xiao Wu said in surprise, "Isn't that shady merchant uncle?"

Tang San recognized him as well. He was the man who had sold him the materials for the Dragon Whisker Needle.

Oscar gently walked over and struck up a conversation with Xiao Wu.

"What shady merchant? He's the founder of our academy, Headmaster Flender."

Xiao Wu felt a little guilty. Back then, she had wanted to beat that shady merchant up, so she quietly shifted behind Ye Liuyun.

Flender also noticed Ye Liuyun, Xiao Wu, and Tang San. By unspoken agreement, none of them mentioned what had happened that day.

With his hands behind his back, he stood before everyone.

The eyes hidden behind his glasses were as sharp as an eagle's.

"Not bad this year. We've gotten quite a few little monsters."

Flender's gaze swept across the group before finally settling on Ning Rongrong.

"Ning Rongrong, step forward."

"Tell me, what did you come here for? Are you here to play?"

"If you're here to play, then you can get the hell out right now."

"During yesterday's combat assessment, if not for Ye Liuyun, you, a support Spirit Master, would have been killed in an instant. What use are you?"

When had Ning Rongrong ever been spoken to like that? She stubbornly raised her chin, clearly refusing to listen.

Originally, Flender had planned to point out a few of Ning Rongrong's mistakes before addressing everyone else's.

As a teacher and elder, he had to establish his authority from the start. Otherwise, how could he control a group of geniuses like this?

Yet he had not expected the first one to throw an attitude at him.

"You're truly useless. You don't even know how to run when you encounter danger."

"Go run laps around the academy right now. If you don't finish twenty laps, you won't sleep tonight."

Shrek Academy had been built together with the village, so running laps around the academy was equivalent to running around the entire village.

Twenty laps were no easy task even for an ordinary Power Attack System Spirit Master, much less a Support System Spirit Master like Ning Rongrong, who was also a girl.

Ning Rongrong turned her face away and snorted coldly.

Why should she put up with this?

Whoever wanted to stay in this dump could stay.

She immediately started walking out.

Flender gave Oscar a look, meaning that he should take the chance to foster some friendship between classmates.

"You run with her."

At the thought of spending time with such a beautiful girl, Oscar eagerly ran over to strike up a conversation.

Flender proceeded to criticize the others for their various issues, but when it came to Ye Liuyun, he did not know what to say for a moment.

What was there to criticize?

Not only was Ye Liuyun talented, but his Soul Power Level also showed how hard he worked.

His performance in yesterday's battle had been beyond reproach.

He just seemed a little cold by nature.

Flender pushed up his glasses, somewhat awkwardly.

This kid... seemed like a troublemaker, but a troublemaker without any obvious flaws.

In the end, he simply said,

"You will all rest up and prepare for tonight's trial. If anyone lets the team down, don't blame me for being harsh."

"Ye Liuyun alone may do whatever he wants."

"At Shrek Academy, strength is the only standard that matters."

Flender coughed, and his tone softened slightly.

"You did well saving Ning Rongrong from Zhao Wuji yesterday. In a Spirit Master team, protecting Support System Spirit Masters is the highest priority. You have that awareness. Very good."

The moment he said that, everyone looked over.

Ning Rongrong, who had already walked halfway away, heard this and secretly glanced back at Ye Liuyun.

When she recalled pressing against his chest, her cheeks reddened slightly.

But when she saw Oscar catching up to run with her, she unhappily continued forward.

Who wanted to listen to that ugly headmaster and obediently run twenty laps?

Tang San's heart tightened.

Protect Support System Spirit Masters?

During yesterday's battle, all he had thought about was how to defeat Zhao Wuji. He had not considered anyone else at all.

This left Tang San somewhat frustrated. He had always believed that he possessed an adult soul.

At the very least, his mind should have been more mature than Ye Liuyun's.

Yet he had not expected to lose to Ye Liuyun even in thoroughness of thought.

Flender abruptly changed his tone. Not wanting the kid to become too smug, he deliberately suppressed him.

"Don't get arrogant either. Your fighting style relies too heavily on the traits of your Martial Spirit and lacks skill. If you encounter an opponent who truly counters you, you'll suffer greatly."

He pointed at Ma Hongjun.

"His Evil Fire Phoenix greatly counters your Blue Silver Grass."

"So you must learn from each other's strengths and make up for each other's weaknesses. You are a team, and you must cooperate with one another."

The moment he said this, everyone looked at Ma Hongjun strangely.

Ma Hongjun himself felt a little embarrassed. Not long ago, he had just lost.