"Teacher, it was them. I saw that kid enter our academy with two others."
A familiar figure came into view.
Qian Yu narrowed his eyes slightly and saw that the newcomer was Ma Hongjun, who was pointing at him.
Standing beside him was a middle-aged man with glasses and a full beard.
"Dean, you're back." Zhao Wuji was the first to react. He hurried over to greet the middle-aged man.
A bespectacled, bearded middle-aged man—the dean of Shrek Academy.
Qian Yu was certain: he was Flender, the Flying Corner of the Golden Iron Triangle.
Following Ma Hongjun's pointing finger, Flender spotted Qian Yu.
His anger flared at once.
Ma Hongjun was his beloved pupil, whom he had raised with painstaking care—he'd practically brought the boy up from infancy. He was the one meant to inherit Flender's mantle, yet just yesterday some kid had beaten him up.
And now that same person had brazenly walked into Flender's own territory—Shrek Academy.
How could Flender not be furious?
At first, Flender had assumed that the one who bullied Ma Hongjun was a much older middle-aged man, and he'd planned to bully someone younger than himself for once.
But when he saw what Qian Yu looked like, Flender found it hard to bring himself to do it.
Turning to Zhao Wuji, he said, "Zhao Wuji, have the academy's admission standards really fallen this low? Any stray dog or cat can get into Shrek now? Remember, Shrek only accepts monsters, not mediocrities."
Flender's words carried an unmistakable implication.
How could Zhao Wuji fail to hear it?
"Dean, Qian Yu is no mediocrity. He ranked first in every assessment the academy held this time."
Zhao Wuji hurriedly introduced Qian Yu to Flender.
"Whether you're a mediocrity isn't something you can prove with words. You, and the companions you brought along, will take a fifth assessment." Flender's tone was hostile.
Ma Hongjun stood nearby, smugly savoring the moment. You dared to offend me, but did you forget that I'm the bully of Shrek?
"Hey, Dean, you can't do this! You're saying you don't trust me, Old Zhao?"
Flender had put Zhao Wuji in an awkward position too.
These students were all ones he'd carefully selected.
With a casual remark, Flender was planning to turn away this entire group of monster students.
Zhao Wuji's face darkened until it looked like ink might drip from it, but he still held back. Flender was the dean, after all, while he was only a vice dean.
Still, unwillingly, he went to bring Xiao Wu, Zhu Zhuqing, and Ning Rongrong over. As for Tang San, Zhao Wuji didn't tell Flender who he really was. He only said that Tang San was unconscious and couldn't take the assessment. Flender snorted. "Zhao Wuji, look at the fine students you've recruited. They can't even withstand a little test."
Pointing at the unconscious Tang San, Flender criticized Zhao Wuji while pretending to criticize someone else.
Not far away, a shadow stared fixedly at Flender's hateful face, a cold gleam flashing in his hand.
Qian Yu had noticed it too. In an equally unfriendly tone, he asked Flender, "Uh, are you sure?"
Flender was plainly acting out of personal spite, deliberately targeting Qian Yu.
Flender couldn't tolerate Qian Yu's tone. He immediately raised his voice. "Of course! I, Flender, dean of Shrek Academy, am the sky above Shrek Academy. My word is its imperial decree. If you still want to join the academy, team up and defeat me. Then I'll let you join."
"Of course, I won't take advantage of you. I'll limit my strength to level fifty, so you won't be at a disadvantage."
Flender spoke with an air of lofty superiority, making Ning Rongrong, Zhu Zhuqing, and Xiao Wu grit their teeth in anger.
When Ma Hongjun saw the three beauties, his eyes went wide. Drool streamed uncontrollably from the corners of his mouth.
Ning Rongrong, Zhu Zhuqing, and Xiao Wu were all disgusted.
"So it's you, you pig!" Xiao Wu erupted in anger and pointed at Ma Hongjun as she cursed him.
"Hmph, you dare call me a pig?"
"Teacher, you have to stand up for me!"
Ma Hongjun looked at Xiao Wu and the others with a wicked grin, like a spoiled brat with his parents backing him up.
Ning Rongrong was even more direct. "You fat pig, quit leering at us, or I'll dig your dog eyes out."
Ning Rongrong truly lived up to her title as the little princess of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. She didn't mince words.
Flender was furious.
They were insulting his beloved pupil right in front of him.
His beloved pupil had only leered at them a little. It wasn't as if they'd lost a piece of flesh.
"Just you wait. I'll show you how I deal with you in a moment."
"Don't worry, my good pupil. Watch how your teacher brings them to heel." Flender gave Ma Hongjun a reassuring look.
Then he gestured for everyone to head to the small training field.
At the small training field,
Qian Yu, Ning Rongrong, Zhu Zhuqing, and Xiao Wu took their places.
Zhao Wuji, Ma Hongjun, and Dai Mubai watched from the side.
Flender faced Qian Yu and the others alone.
The two sides spread out.
"What should we do?" Ning Rongrong, Zhu Zhuqing, and Xiao Wu all looked to Qian Yu.
Qian Yu saw the situation clearly. He'd never liked Shrek Academy in the first place; he'd only come because the Divine Eye needed to devour Martial Souls. Now it seemed it was time to leave.
It would just mean handing Tang San the advantage for nothing.
Still, at least Xiao Wu was standing beside him now.
He just didn't know if she would leave with him when he left.
But before that, Qian Yu let out a low shout.
Spirit Detection and Spirit Share activated.
Ning Rongrong, Zhu Zhuqing, and Xiao Wu once again experienced an entirely new world.
They didn't need to worry at all about defeating Flender.
Zhao Wuji's face was dark as ink. No one knew what he was thinking.
Seeing Qian Yu and the others take up the same positions they'd used in the previous round of assessments, Zhao Wuji didn't warn Flender. He only gave a cold laugh.
"Flender, get ready to lose."
"All right, let's begin. I'll just stand here and let you attack me."
Flender released his Four-Eyed Cat Owl Martial Soul. He stood with an imposing air, looking down on everyone as he spoke.
"Xiao Wu, Zhuqing, same as last round. Draw him into a feint attack."
"Rongrong, you're in charge of supporting us whenever needed."
"Okay."
"Okay."
"Okay."
Three voices answered in unison, and the 211 Formation snapped into place.
Xiao Wu and Zhu Zhuqing were the first to launch their skills.
"First Soul Skill: Hell Stab!" Zhu Zhuqing's First Soul Ring lit up yellow as she charged at Flender.
Flender used the characteristics of his Four-Eyed Cat Owl Martial Soul to toy with Zhu Zhuqing.
Zhu Zhuqing couldn't land a hit.
Xiao Wu moved in to support her. She was about to unleash her First Soul Skill—Waist Bow—against Flender.
Flender's gaze sharpened. His fifth Soul Skill, Cat Owl Storm, sent the Four-Eyed Cat Owl beating its wings, generating a massive tempest that kept Xiao Wu and Zhu Zhuqing from getting close again.
Qian Yu watched it all through Spirit Detection.
Once Flender had finished using all his skills,
Qian Yu was sure that only one of Flender's skills could stop others from attacking. The rest were offensive skills.
Qian Yu had a plan now.
"Xiao Wu, wait."
"Rongrong, boost my stats."
Xiao Wu quickly moved away from Flender, waiting for an opportunity.
Ning Rongrong obeyed at once. "Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda, First: Strength, Second: Speed." The Seven Treasures' light shone around Qian Yu.
Qian Yu felt his strength and speed surge dramatically.
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