Soto Grand Arena

Flender immediately revealed his Cat-Eagle Avatar. He knew that if he kept suppressing his Soul Power at rank fifty, he would very likely lose.

Jiang Huai could also feel that Dean Flender had unleashed his full strength. He didn't let his guard down, either, and took out Jiang Ling.

But Flender shouted, "Kid, I'm training you to become the champion of the Spirit Master Tournament. You can't use other things in the tournament. If you do, I have every right to smash your sword!"

Hearing this, Jiang Huai put his sword back in the Sword Box, then set the box upright on the ground.

Dai Mubai and Ning Rongrong were both stunned when they saw the Sword Box. How had they not noticed the character "Jiang" on the sword yesterday?

Suddenly, an antique-looking but exceptionally sharp sword appeared in Jiang Huai's right hand. Its blade was black and gold, with golden runes, and its hilt ended in a dragon's head.

Flender was shocked. "Twin Martial Souls!"

Jiang Huai was already turning in a circle with the sword in hand. When Flender looked again, he saw an invisible dragon spirit circling around Jiang Huai.

Flender thought for a moment, his eagle-like brows furrowing, then laughed. "Hahaha! I never imagined Shrek would actually recruit a true monster. Let this old man see what you can do!"

Flender's gaze sharpened as three terrifying talons shot toward Jiang Huai. Jiang Huai's lips curved upward, and he leaped gracefully out of the way.

But Flender had already closed in. Suddenly, Jiang Huai's pupils became vertical slits.

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

Boom!

Flender was blasted backward. As he flew through the air, he glanced at his talons, which were trembling.

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

Hearing this, Flender looked up and saw Jiang Huai, looking like a demon, holding his sword aloft as he gathered power.

"Xuanyuan—Sinking Mountain Style!"

Another explosion rang out, and dust billowed up, blocking the spectators' view. When the smoke cleared, Dai Mubai and the others saw one of the Cat-Eagle's talon tips lying on the ground. Jiang Huai helped Flender to his feet.

Flender cursed, "You've got some tricks, kid."

Flender hid his hand, with its missing talon tip, behind his back, trembling. Jiang Huai noticed and offered him a hamburger, but Flender politely declined.

In truth, Flender wanted to save room. At lunch, he wanted to try the huge braised lion's head that was simmering.

Flender stood in front of the nine students again and looked at Ning Rongrong. "That's what strength looks like. It must have been hard for you to keep it hidden for so long."

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

"You little brat. Would it kill you to stop showing off?"

After seeing Jiang Huai and Flender fight—and Flender lose—Ning Rongrong obediently went jogging.

In reality, Ning Rongrong had gone straight to Suotuo City to shop and buy food, while Oscar helped cover for her. A little owl had been watching every moment and relaying it to Flender.

After the fight, the group dispersed. Flender still remembered to tell Jiang Huai to come that evening, too.

Soon it was lunchtime. Jiang Huai lifted the lid in the kitchen and caught the aroma of braised lion's head. He scooped one into a bowl and walked to the dining hall to eat.

As soon as the lid came off, the whole of Shrek Academy filled with the savory smell of meat. Flender and the other Shrek Little Monsters, except Oscar and Ning Rongrong, all showed up.

Jiang Huai's mouth twitched at the sight of them. "It's not mealtime yet."

Flender cleared his throat. "Ahem. Does it matter whether it's mealtime or not? We're eating lunch before everyone else, which proves we'll be first in everything from now on."

Jiang Huai's mouth twitched again. "You really know how to twist an argument."

Soon, the group had nearly finished all the braised lion's head. Jiang Huai had deliberately saved four large meatballs for Oscar and Ning Rongrong.

Who would have thought that Oscar and Ning Rongrong wouldn't return until the sun had set? Jiang Huai happened to walk outside and saw them, so he waved.

Ning Rongrong was still polite enough to wave back. Oscar, whose mind was full of the day's meal, clasped his hands and begged.

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

Ning Rongrong looked confused at the names of those two dishes. Just then, the call to assemble rang out at Shrek.

Jiang Huai, Oscar, and Ning Rongrong joined the group. Gu Yue stood beside Jiang Huai and crowded Ning Rongrong out.

At first, Ning Rongrong thought nothing of it and figured she could stand on Jiang Huai's other side. But then Xiao Wu stood there, leaving her awkwardly stranded, so she went to the back of the line.

Flender descended from the sky with an impressive flourish. He glanced at Oscar and Ning Rongrong, then frowned. "Ning Rongrong, tell me: did you finish your laps?"

Ning Rongrong stood in the line, turned her head away, and pouted, making it clear she didn't want to answer. Oscar stepped forward. "Dean, we finished them."

Flender glared at him with his eagle eyes, then looked at Ning Rongrong. "You went to Suotuo City halfway through your run, wandered around, and stuffed yourself, didn't you?"

At that, Ning Rongrong shouted, "How could you say that? I got hungry halfway through, so I went out to buy something to eat. Then I saw some clothes I liked and bought them. So what?"

Just then, a little owl perched on Flender's shoulder. He pushed up his crystal glasses. "Hmph. That's just an excuse to dodge training."

"Flender, what gives you the right to control me? No one at home dares to tell me what to do. You're just a Soul Saint. Believe me, I'll have Sword Grandpa hack you to death!"

Jiang Huai and the others were all disgusted by those words. Even the cool and distant Zhu Zhuqing frowned.

Gu Yue didn't want to listen anymore. She grabbed Jiang Huai's hands and covered her ears with them, startling him.

Flender glanced over, his mouth twitching. Then he cleared his throat. "Ahem. In any case, now that you've successfully enrolled, I have a responsibility to you. This isn't the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, nor is it your home. Your Sword Grandpa isn't here, either. If you want to leave, you can go anytime."

Flender glanced over the eight students before him. Jiang Huai had a girlfriend, and he was even covering Gu Yue's ears with his hands. Flender looked at Dai Mubai and said, "Mubai, go help her pack and escort her out."

Dai Mubai nodded and ran toward Ning Rongrong's dormitory. Ning Rongrong yelled, "You wouldn't dare!"

Dai Mubai was the third prince of the Star Luo Empire. He wasn't going to be cowed by anyone, and he strode off without hesitation.

Ning Rongrong clenched her fists, bunching up her skirt. Flender added, "If you want to leave, then leave. Our temple is too small to hold someone as grand as you."

Hearing that, Ning Rongrong burst into tears and ran off. Jiang Huai gave Flender a thumbs-up. Making someone cry with a scolding was quite an achievement.

Flender looked pleased with himself. Jiang Huai might be the strongest at Shrek, but his Soul Power was only rank thirty-nine. There was no telling whether he might run into trouble after tonight's Soul Fighting.

Flender looked at Oscar. "Oscar, go comfort Ning Rongrong. And tell Dai Mubai to stop packing and come back with you. We'll go on ahead."

Soon, they reached a drink shop on a street in Suotuo City, not far from the Soto Grand Arena.

Jiang Huai and Gu Yue each held a cup of hot coffee. Flender sat at an outdoor table, sipping a cup of green tea he'd ordered.

Dai Mubai soon arrived and asked what had happened. Flender smiled. "We've been waiting for you."

The group soon entered the Great Soul Arena. People streamed through the place, talking about who had won or lost.

Dai Mubai rested his hands on the railing. "This is where you register for individual matches. The entry fee is one hundred Silver Soul Coins. The ranks are Copper, Iron, Gold, Purple Gold, Blue Sapphire, Red Sapphire, and Diamond. The Red Sapphire and Diamond ranks are meant for Soul Douluo and Titled Douluo, but those people don't deign to fight here, so no one has ever reached either rank."