Flender the Pimp

"Fatty? What happened to you? Who beat you up like this?"

But the good days didn't last long before someone started stirring up trouble again.

"I got beaten up by some lecherous middle-aged man. It's shameful, damn it, truly shameful."

Facing Tang San's inquiry, Ma Hongjun, who had just walked through the academy gates, spoke with annoyance. Hearing this, Feng Xinglie, who was currently instructing Zhu Zhuqing and Ning Rongrong in self-defense techniques, also turned his head to look. He saw that Ma Hongjun's red hair, usually like a bird's nest, was a tangled mess, and his face was bruised and swollen—it was obvious he had been beaten.

"Ah... has the plot reached this point already?"

With just a glance, he understood what had happened, and Feng Xinglie immediately lost interest. However, the others, seeing Ma Hongjun being bullied, gathered around in righteous indignation.

"Damn it, to dare bully someone from our Shrek Academy, are they tired of living? Fatty, lead the way. Today, we'll show them what my Evil Eyed White Tiger is capable of!"

Watching Tang San and his group march toward Suotuo City in a grand, imposing manner, Feng Xinglie shook his head and let out a long sigh:

"The future Phoenix God gets beaten up after fighting a patron for a lady at a brothel, and then leads the future Sea God, War God, Food God, and Asura God to ambush the guy in an alley, all while relying on the future God King's wife to use her charms. Who would believe this if it were told?"

After his lament, Feng Xinglie met Ning Rongrong's curious gaze and immediately pulled a long face:

"They went to the brothel to fight a patron; what does that have to do with you? Learn from Zhuqing and stand your post properly."

Upon hearing this, Ning Rongrong's little face immediately fell. She stuck her tongue out at Feng Xinglie, but still obediently dropped into a horse stance. At this moment, Flender also walked over, muttering as he went:

"Strange, truly strange. According to the timeline, Xiaogang should have arrived long ago. Why is there still no news..."

Flender could rack his brains all he wanted, but he would never guess that when Yu Xiaogang arrived at Shrek Academy was not something he could decide. Feng Xinglie had already made arrangements in every town along the route from Nuoding City to Suotuo City. Today the whole city was under martial law, tomorrow there would be bandit attacks—all to ensure Yu Xiaogang could never reach Shrek Academy.

"Forget it, since Xiaogang isn't here, the Little Monsters' training must continue. Hey, you lot, go notify Tang San and the others. Starting today, we resume practical combat lessons at the Soul Arena."

"Yes! I'll go tell them right now!"

Hearing Flender's order, Ning Rongrong jumped up immediately and trotted off in pursuit toward Suotuo City.

"Sigh, this girl, she really doesn't let one worry..."

Feng Xinglie shook his head helplessly, then heard Flender say:

"And... Zhu Zhuqing. I know a little about the situation between you and Dai Mubai. Since you are pursuing powerful strength, don't keep resisting Dai Mubai. You must know, your Martial Soul Fusion Skill is quite powerful. But it can only be unleashed when you truly accept each other; you mustn't hold Mubai back."

Hearing this, Zhu Zhuqing's embroidered brows knit together. After Feng Xinglie's guidance, she had long realized that the path to becoming stronger did not rely solely on Dai Mubai. But deep down, her desire for strength still made her unable to completely abandon the Martial Soul Fusion Skill, even if she now felt nothing but disgust for Dai Mubai.

"Zhuqing, just listen to Dean Flender. Although there is more than one path to becoming stronger, if conditions allow, you should try it whenever possible."

No one expected that the one to provide the assist would be Feng Xinglie. Upon hearing this, Flender's eyes crinkled into slits with a smile. Zhu Zhuqing listened to Feng Xinglie more than anyone; with him speaking up, it was a sure thing. Sure enough, after a moment of hesitation, Zhu Zhuqing nodded gently.

"Good, good! Since that's the case, then during tonight's team soul battle, you two should give it a good try. Believe me, the power of a Martial Soul Fusion Skill will make you unable to stop!"

After resolving a major life event for his top disciple, Flender walked toward the teaching building with a satisfied expression, leaving Zhu Zhuqing standing silently in place, deep in thought. However, if Flender could see through her little thoughts, how could Feng Xinglie fail to notice? To make her abandon it completely, he had to sever that last shred of attachment. Otherwise, even if she left Shrek in the future, she would occasionally look back and wonder: if she had chosen Dai Mubai back then, would that powerful Martial Soul Fusion Skill have brought about a different change? And that was something Feng Xinglie absolutely did not want to see happen.

In the evening, after everyone had finished dinner, they arrived at the Soto Great Soul Arena. This time, Flender personally led everyone to register for the team battle, and while he was at it, he bet all of his Gold Soul Coins on Shrek Academy at the betting counter.

"Don't be nervous. Trust in the hard training you have persisted in for so long. Besides, growth on the mental level is also a manifestation of strength."

Seeing Zhu Zhuqing still looking distracted as they neared the time to take the stage, Feng Xinglie couldn't help but offer words of comfort. After all, he couldn't participate in this soul battle due to his Soul Power Level being too high, so he could only cheer from the sidelines. Zhu Zhuqing took a deep breath, regained her confident state, nodded at Feng Xinglie, and stepped onto the arena.

"Dear audience members, tonight's heavyweight showdown is about to begin! The rising star of the Soul Arena, Shrek Team, versus the incredibly powerful Sea Hunting and God Slaughtering Team!"

The audience at the arena was stunned by the host's introduction. Many had seen the members of Shrek Team, but what on earth was this Sea Hunting and God Slaughtering Team? Why had they never heard of it? They had no idea that this was a team Feng Xinglie had specifically arranged to coordinate with tonight's performance. Every member possessed strength close to that of a Soul Ancestor; one could say they were a cut above Shrek Team.

"Come on, the good show is about to begin."

Feng Xinglie anticipated it thus.

This battle had almost no suspense. Not to mention the Sea Hunting and God Slaughtering Team's overwhelming surface-level strength, even all of Shrek Team's hidden cards were known to them like the back of their hands. Feng Xinglie had meticulously leaked everyone's strength levels, spirit ring and spirit skill configurations, common tactics, and habitual fighting styles to the Sea Hunting and God Slaughtering Team—not even Tang San's External Soul Bone, the Eight Spider Lances, or all the hidden weapons he could currently use were exceptions. Coupled with the lack of Oscar's Mushroom Sausage for flight support, Shrek Team fell into a disadvantage almost as soon as the fight started.

"Damn it, Zhuqing, hurry and use the Martial Soul Fusion Skill!"

After being knocked away by the opponent once again, Dai Mubai wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and shouted loudly.

"Coming."

The reason for orchestrating such a scene was precisely to force Zhu Zhuqing to cooperate with Dai Mubai to use the Hell White Tiger, their only means of turning the tide, while in a desperate situation. Facing such a critical crisis, Zhu Zhuqing hesitated for a moment before letting go of her inner resistance and nodding. Seeing this, Dai Mubai was overjoyed. Being able to merge with such a beauty—just thinking about it made him feel stimulated. It just so happened that the Sea Hunting and God Slaughtering Team was also very "considerate," shifting their focus to the other teammates to create the perfect opportunity for the two.

One could see Zhu Zhuqing and Dai Mubai's pupils align as they charged toward each other. At the same time, Feng Xinglie, standing below the stage, activated his third spirit skill: Mirror Still Water. A powerful mental force enveloped the entire arena, taking in every move and change in expression of Zhu Zhuqing. In just one second, with the enhancement of his head spirit bone, Feng Xinglie discovered an anomaly.