Soto Grand Arena

Flender immediately released his Cat-Eagle avatar, knowing that if he continued to suppress his soul power to level fifty, he would likely lose.

Jiang Huai also sensed that Dean Flender had unleashed his full strength, but he did not let his guard down and drew Jiang Ling.

However, Flender shouted, "Kid, I am training you to become the champion of the Spirit Master Tournament. You cannot use other things in the tournament, and if you do this, I have the right to shatter your sword."

Hearing this, Jiang Huai placed his sword back into its case and stood the case upright on the ground.

Dai Mubai and Ning Rongrong were both shocked when they saw the sword case; why hadn't they noticed the character "Jiang" on the sword yesterday?

Suddenly, a sword with a primitive yet sharp design appeared in Jiang Huai's right hand; it had a black-gold blade engraved with golden runes, and the hilt featured a dragon head at the base.

Seeing this, Flender exclaimed in shock, "Twin martial souls."

Jiang Huai had already spun around with the sword, and when Flender looked again, he discovered an intangible dragon soul circling Jiang Huai.

Flender thought for a moment, his eagle-like brows furrowing as he laughed, "Hahaha! I didn't expect us at Shrek to have actually recruited a true monster this time. Then let me see what you are capable of, old man."

Flender's eyes sharpened, and he struck toward Jiang Huai with three terrifying claw blades. Seeing this, Jiang Huai curled his lips upward and dodged the attack with a perfect leap.

But Flender had already closed the distance, and suddenly, Jiang Huai's eyes turned into vertical pupils.

"Self-created sword technique: Xuanyuan · Hidden Edge Style!"

Boom!

Flender was sent flying back. He landed in the air and glanced at his claws, which were trembling.

When Flender looked again, Jiang Huai's figure had vanished. Dai Mubai shouted, "Dean, watch out above!"

Hearing this, Flender looked up to see Jiang Huai, looking like a demon, charging up his sword.

"Xuanyuan · Sinking Mountain Style!"

Another explosion occurred, and dust was kicked up, blocking the view of those watching. After the smoke cleared, Dai Mubai and the others saw a claw nail from the Cat-Eagle lying on the ground, while Jiang Huai helped Flender up.

Flender cursed, "You kid really have some tricks up your sleeve."

Flender hid his hand, which had lost a nail, behind his back to hide the trembling. Jiang Huai noticed this and was about to offer him a burger, but he politely declined.

In reality, Flender wanted to save room in his stomach; he intended to taste the large braised lion's head meatball that was currently simmering for lunch.

Flender stood before the nine people once more and looked at Ning Rongrong, saying, "This is what strength is. It must have been hard for you to hide it for so long."

Jiang Huai shook his head and said, "It wasn't hard."

"You brat, you'd die if you didn't act cool, wouldn't you?"

Seeing Jiang Huai fight Flender and witnessing Flender's defeat, Ning Rongrong obediently went to run her laps.

In reality, Ning Rongrong went straight to Soto City to go shopping and buy food, while Oscar helped cover for her. Every move was watched by a small owl, which then transmitted the information back to Flender's mind.

After the battle, the team dispersed. Flender did not forget to remind Jiang Huai to come again in the evening.

Soon, lunchtime arrived. Jiang Huai opened the lid in the kitchen and smelled the aroma of the braised lion's head. He used a spoon to scoop one into a bowl and walked to the dining room to eat.

As the lid opened, the entire Shrek Academy was once again filled with the scent of meat. All the little monsters of Shrek, except for Oscar and Ning Rongrong, arrived.

Jiang Huai looked at them, his mouth twitching as he said, "It's not even lunchtime yet."

Hearing this, Flender coughed lightly and said, "Uh, isn't eating just eating regardless of the time? We are eating lunch before others, which proves that we will be first in everything in the future."

Hearing this, Jiang Huai's mouth twitched again, "You really know how to twist logic."

Soon, the group had eaten almost all of the braised lion's head. Jiang Huai specifically saved four large meatballs for Oscar and Ning Rongrong.

But who would have thought that it would be sunset by the time Oscar and Ning Rongrong returned? Jiang Huai happened to be walking out and waved at them.

Ning Rongrong was still polite enough to wave back, but Oscar's mind was entirely on today's food, and he clasped his hands together in a plea.

Jiang Huai nodded and said, "I saved food for you, but today's dishes are the large meatballs from lunch and the pork rib soup from dinner."

Ning Rongrong was confused when she heard the names. Just then, the Shrek assembly bell rang.

Jiang Huai, Oscar, and Ning Rongrong joined the team. Gu Yue stood beside Jiang Huai, squeezing Ning Rongrong out.

At first, Ning Rongrong didn't think much of it and could have stood on Jiang Huai's other side, but Xiao Wu stood there instead, making her feel so awkward that she returned to the end of the line.

Flender descended from the sky with an air of immense presence. He glanced at Oscar and Ning Rongrong, then frowned and said, "Ning Rongrong, I ask you, have you finished your laps?"

Hearing this, Ning Rongrong stood in the line with her head turned away, pouting her small mouth to indicate she wouldn't answer. Oscar stepped forward and said, "Dean, we finished."

Hearing this, Flender glared at him with his eagle eyes before looking at Ning Rongrong, "You ran halfway and then went to Soto City to go shopping and eat to your heart's content, didn't you?"

When these words were spoken, Ning Rongrong shouted, "That's not how it was! I got hungry halfway through, so I went out to buy food, and then I saw some clothes I liked, so I bought them. So what?"

At this moment, a small owl landed on Flender's shoulder. He pushed up his crystal glasses and said, "Hmph, that is just an excuse for you to avoid training."

"Flender, what right do you have to manage me? No one at home dares to manage me. You're just a small Spirit Saint; do you believe I can have my Sword Grandpa cut you down?"

This sentence caused Jiang Huai and the others to feel disgust, and even the cold Zhu Zhuqing frowned.

Gu Yue didn't want to listen anymore and directly grabbed Jiang Huai's hands to cover her ears. Jiang Huai was startled by the sudden pull.

Flender looked over, his mouth twitching, and then he coughed lightly, "Ahem, in any case, since you have successfully enrolled, I must be responsible for you. This is not the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, nor is it your home, and your Sword Grandpa is not here. If you want to leave, you can do so at any time."

At this point, Flender looked at the eight people below. Jiang Huai had a girlfriend and was covering Gu Yue's ears with his hands, so he looked at Dai Mubai and said, "Mubai, go help her pack her things and send her away."

Hearing this, Dai Mubai nodded and ran toward Ning Rongrong's dormitory. Ning Rongrong shouted, "You dare!"

Dai Mubai was the Third Prince of the Star Luo Empire, after all; he wouldn't be cowed by anyone's intimidation and simply strode forward.

Ning Rongrong was so furious that her fists clenched tightly against her skirt, and Flender spoke again: "If you want to leave, then leave. Our temple is too small to house a great Buddha like you."

Hearing Flender say this, Ning Rongrong burst into tears and ran away. Seeing this, Jiang Huai gave Flender a thumbs-up; being able to scold someone until they cried was quite an achievement.

Flender wore an arrogant expression at this. Although Jiang Huai was the strongest in Shrek, his soul power was still only at level thirty-nine, and there was no guarantee they wouldn't run into trouble after the soul fight tonight.

Flender looked at Oscar and said: "Oscar, go comfort Ning Rongrong, and tell Dai Mubai to stop cleaning up and follow us immediately. We'll head out first."

Soon, the group arrived at the streets of Soto City, at a beverage shop not far from the Soto Grand Arena.

Jiang Huai and Gu Yue held cups of hot coffee in their hands, while Flender sat at an outdoor table sipping a cup of green tea he had ordered.

Dai Mubai soon caught up and asked how things were going, to which Flender smiled and said: "We were just waiting for you."

Before long, the group entered the Grand Arena, where people were coming and going, talking about who had won or who had lost.

Dai Mubai rested his hands on the railing and said: "This is the registration area for individual battles. The registration fee is one hundred Silver Soul Coins. The ranking tiers are Iron, Bronze, Silver, Gold, Purple Gold, Sapphire, Ruby, and Diamond. Ruby and Diamond are tiers reserved for Contra and Titled Douluo, but people at those levels don't bother fighting here, so no one has ever reached those two ranks."