Flender

Biodata

Feature	Value
Name	Flender (弗兰德)
Alias(es)	Dean; Headmaster; Boss, as addressed by Shrek’s teachers 3 4
Gender	Male 1
Affiliation	Golden Iron Triangle; Shrek Academy; later Spirit Hall 2 21 87
Occupation/Role	Founder and dean of Shrek Academy; master of Ma Hongjun and Lu Fan; grocery-store proprietor in Suotuo City 2 4 5 46
Martial Soul	Four-eyed owl 2
Cultivation	Level 71 Battle Soul Saint; agility-attack system 2 46
Spirit Rings	Yellow, yellow, purple, purple, black, black, black—described as an optimal seven-ring configuration 2
First Appearance	Chapter 1, “Flower Grass Village” 1

Background / History

Golden Iron Triangle and Shrek Academy

In his youth, Flender traveled the continent with Yu Xiaogang and Liu Erlong. Together, they became known as the Golden Iron Triangle. He continued to regard Yu Xiaogang as a brother and initially praised him as an acknowledged authority on martial-soul theory 2 21.

Flender later spent all his savings establishing Shrek Academy near Suotuo City. Its modest facilities contrasted with its faculty: when Lu Fan arrived, every teacher was at least a Soul Emperor, and Flender had the highest cultivation among them 2 3 4.

Discovering Lu Fan

While flying near Flower Grass Village, Flender was drawn by its floral fragrance. He volunteered to awaken the martial souls of six children and discovered Lu Fan’s mutated chrysanthemum martial soul and Innate Full Soul Power 1.

Flender offered to take Lu Fan as his disciple, but the boy initially refused. After explaining cultivation ranks, spirit rings, and the benefits of a Soul Saint’s protection, Flender persuaded him to visit Shrek Academy instead 2 3.

He accompanied Lu Fan to the Star Dou Great Forest, subdued a three-hundred-year Iron Thorn, and taught him how to absorb his first spirit ring. Lu Fan formally accepted him as master after negotiating permission to grow chrysanthemums on the academy’s back mountain without interference. Flender also waived his tuition for the following year 4 5.

Supporting His Disciple

Flender urged Lu Fan to delay registering with Spirit Hall and describe his martial soul only as a mutated chrysanthemum. He feared that revealing the boy’s talent would draw him into the conflicts between Spirit Hall, the Upper Three Sects, and the two empires 5 6.

He helped obtain seeds for Lu Fan’s flower-field cultivation environment and later assigned Zhao Wuji to supervise the hunt for his second spirit ring. When Lu Fan explained that his incomplete martial-soul mutation required yang-replenishing resources, Flender secured a piece of ten-thousand-year Whale Rubber within half a month 8 15 17 18.

Lu Fan’s Departure and Return

When Yue Guan arrived to take Lu Fan away, Flender first apologized on his student’s behalf, then activated his martial soul when he believed the boy was being taken against his will. Yue Guan’s nine spirit rings made the difference in their strength unmistakable 24.

Lu Fan reassured him that he was leaving willingly for better training and intended to return for the next Soul Master Tournament. Flender accepted the decision, encouraged him not to neglect cultivation, and promised to preserve his flower field 24 25.

During a later visit, Lu Fan and Qin Ming found Flender at his grocery store. Delighted by their return and Qin Ming’s success at Heaven Dou Royal Academy, he offered to treat the academy to a meal. Lu Fan turned the occasion into an expensive prank; Qin Ming ultimately covered the restaurant bill after Flender flew away in anger 46 47.

Choosing Spirit Hall

Flender initially refused Qin Ming’s invitation to join Heaven Dou Royal Academy. Lu Fan subsequently warned him that admitting Yu Xiaogang’s disciple, Tang San, would involve Shrek in the feud surrounding Tang Hao and Spirit Hall. He also suggested relocating to Blue Tyrant Academy, where Liu Erlong was headmaster 48 49.

After Shrek’s group reached Blue Tyrant Academy, Flender sided with Lu Fan during his confrontation with Yu Xiaogang. His decision reflected the danger of opposing Lu Fan and his Titled Douluo allies; he understood that intervening could cost him his life 82 83.

Following Tang San’s death, Lu Fan offered the academy’s teachers and students protection and a fresh start in Spirit Hall. Flender hesitated, but accepted after his colleagues urged him to agree 87.

Appearance

• Age and build: Introduced as a middle-aged man with a rather wretched appearance 1.
• Glasses: Wears square-rimmed glasses and frequently adjusts them while speaking 1 2 4.
• Martial-soul manifestation: A four-eyed owl appears behind him when he reveals his martial soul; wings sprout from his back for flight 1 2 5.

Personality

Flender is money-conscious, opportunistic, and capable of presenting hardship as a selling point. He describes Shrek’s shabby surroundings as a way to cultivate endurance and exaggerates his progress in recruiting Lu Fan by telling the other teachers that the boy has already accepted him as master 3 4.

His concern for money can extend to his colleagues’ detriment. He requests fifty thousand Gold Soul Coins from Yue Guan for repairs, cultivation resources, and salaries, but later admits keeping the money secret from the other teachers. When Lu Fan returns, the academy’s furnishings remain unchanged 25 46.

Nevertheless, he treats his own students with genuine affection. His willingness to confront Yue Guan, followed by his acceptance of Lu Fan’s better prospects elsewhere, shows that his attachment does not prevent him from supporting his disciple’s development 24. His loyalty has limits under mortal pressure: when Lu Fan and Yu Xiaogang come into conflict, he chooses self-preservation over defending his old friend 83.

Abilities & Skills

Four-Eyed Owl Martial Soul

• Flight: Flender can fly with wings sprouting from his back and carry passengers, including Lu Fan 1 3.
• Rapid travel: As an agility-attack Soul Saint, he transports Lu Fan and Qin Ming from Suotuo City to Shrek Academy in minutes 46.
• Martial Soul Possession: He can rapidly enter his possessed state and manifest all seven spirit rings 24.
• Power limit: His Soul Saint cultivation is insufficient to challenge Yue Guan’s Titled Douluo strength 24.

Soul Hunting and Cultivation Guidance

• Assesses Lu Fan’s physique and selects an Iron Thorn whose spirit-ring age falls within his tolerance 4 5.
• Uproots and subdues the three-hundred-year soul beast with ease, leaving Lu Fan to deliver the finishing blows 5.
• Teaches first-time spirit-ring absorption step by step 5.
• Arranges sparring and group soul hunts to give students practical experience 11 15 19 30.

Teaching Limitations

• Flender has little specialized knowledge of the Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum and supports Lu Fan’s own reasoning when selecting compatible spirit beasts 4.
• Shrek’s early instruction largely consists of independent reading, running—with or without weights—and student sparring 20.
• Lu Fan acknowledges that Flender and the other Shrek teachers cannot provide the martial-soul-specific guidance Yue Guan offers 23.

Equipment / Items

• Soul Beast Compendium — A reference book received from Yu Xiaogang; Flender lends it to Lu Fan to help select his first spirit beast 4.
• Small knife — Given to Lu Fan to finish the subdued Iron Thorn 5.
• Gold card — Contains the fifty thousand Gold Soul Coins paid by Yue Guan before Lu Fan’s departure 25.

Relationships

• Lu Fan — Personal disciple and a source of particular pride. Their bond combines affection, bargaining, and pranks; Lu Fan continues to regard Shrek’s early support as something worth repaying after accepting Yue Guan as another master 5 23 24 47.
• Ma Hongjun — Disciple. Flender entrusts his supervision and management of Evil Fire flare-ups to Zhao Wuji while away 4.
• Zhao Wuji — Vice principal and longtime colleague. Zhao freely teases Flender and takes responsibility for student training and soul-hunting protection 3 4 15 17.
• Yu Xiaogang — Former Golden Iron Triangle companion and sworn brother. Flender initially defends their bond but later sides with Lu Fan during their confrontation 2 48 83.
• Liu Erlong — Former Golden Iron Triangle companion and romantic interest. Flender believes Yu Xiaogang’s presence leaves him little chance of winning her affection 21 49.
• Yue Guan — Lu Fan’s later master. Their first encounter is confrontational, but Flender ultimately accepts the training arrangement and negotiates financial compensation 24 25.
• Qin Ming — Successful Shrek graduate whose return makes Flender visibly proud. Qin Ming tries to secure better educational resources for Shrek’s remaining students 46 48.

Notable Quotes

“I used all my savings to build an academy, but I can guarantee that I definitely won't treat you poorly.” 2

“I will make sure your Flower Field is preserved.” 25

“Don't touch if you aren't buying; if you touch it, you have to buy it.” 46