I Don't Know. The Teacher Didn't Say

The day Minghuo Academy opened its doors arrived in the blink of an eye.

Bai Mo, Wu Feng, and the other young Red Branch students had found a good spot in the audience and were waiting for the speech from Principal Herta.

It was worth mentioning that for the past few days, Little Silver Dragon had kept using apologizing to Bai Mo as an excuse to come over and hug him or hold his hand.

Bai Mo didn't dare move a muscle, afraid that if he did, he'd have to use up his only Sparkle Mask.

Just now, Little Silver Dragon had wanted to sit with Bai Mo, but Red-Haired Great Emperor, who'd been keeping a close eye on her, spotted her and squeezed right between the two of them.

Ning Tian, who'd originally been sitting with Wu Feng, had no choice but to take the seat on Bai Mo's other side, her cheeks faintly flushed.

Little Silver Dragon shot Wu Feng a hostile look. Wu Feng, in turn, grinned at Gu Yuena.

Sitting behind them, Nan Qiuchiu watched the group fool around and felt like she ought to crawl under her seat.

"Alright, quiet down! Minghuo Academy is officially opening for enrollment today. From now on, we'll accept students twice a year. Anyone under fifteen can come and give it a try. Every student will receive a free Jade Abacus upon enrollment. If you have questions, you can check the campus network directly. That's all. Principals, please arrange for the students to enter the Trial Tower."

After a couple of sentences, Herta handed the microphone to Tingyun.

With an exasperated look, Tingyun announced that the entrance tests could now begin.

"Just as you'd expect from Teacher Herta!" Ning Tian whispered.

"She seems really impressive. Do you know Principal Herta, Ning Tian?"

Gu Yuena had seen Little Black Tower once in the Star Dou Great Forest. Back then, she'd merely been curious about how someone who clearly wasn't a real person could wield the strength of a Titled Douluo.

Now, feeling that Little Black Tower's presence had become impossible to sense, Gu Yuena was even more curious.

"Yes. She's a very impressive scholar, and she's my teacher."

Ning Tian answered slowly under Gu Yuena's expectant gaze.

"Then what level is she now? Is she higher-ranked than Dean Bing?"

"I don't know. The teacher didn't say."

"Oh, then do you know what the principal is researching?"

"I don't know. The teacher didn't say."

"Then you must know what her standing is on the Fairy Boat, right?"

Gu Yuena clenched her little fists.

"I don't know. The teacher—"

Before Ning Tian could finish, a small, soft fist landed on Bai Mo's shoulder.

Bai Mo's face stiffened as he snickered.

"Hey, Old Gu, why are you hitting me?"

"Bai, Ning Tian's picking on me!"

"She wasn't lying to you. Ms. Herta is a mystery even on the Fairy Boat. It's normal that nobody knows."

"Is that so?" Gu Yuena eyed Bai Mo suspiciously, one eye bigger than the other in the March Seventh Style.

"Hm?" Bai Mo murmured.

"Isn't that Nannan? Why isn't she with us today? Does she have something to do?"

Bai Mo looked toward a Rabbit-Eared Girl standing beside the line of students taking the entrance test.

"Reporting! Nannan said she was going to find a friend and bring them here to enroll at Minghuo Academy."

Nan Qiuchiu, who was full of energy, hurriedly raised her hand to answer.

A friend? Bai Mo stroked his chin, thinking. At this point, Jiang Nannan only had one friend—Blue Silver Grass, didn't she?

"Very energetic! Qiuqiu, you may sit down!"

"Yes!"

Seeing Bai Mo lost in thought while Gu Yuena and Wu Feng were locked in a battle of wits, Ning Tian finally worked up the courage to tug on his sleeve.

"What are you thinking about, Bai Mo?"

"I'm wondering if Mu En would be furious enough to die if I poached all of Shrek's students."

"Hah? Maybe. He probably wouldn't dare come over and let you beat him to death, anyway."

Ning Tian flashed a sly smile as she teased him.

"I'm joking. But there's no doubt Mu En won't have time to come after me. He doesn't even have enough time left to train another successor."

Ning Tian gazed dreamily at Bai Mo, glowing in the sunlight.

"I'm so glad I met you. Otherwise, the Nine Treasures Glazed Sect would probably be in an even worse state than Shrek Academy is now."

"No need to put yourself down like that. Without Aunt Ning, I might have ended up in the belly of some Soul Beast!"

Bai Mo shrugged and said it casually.

"No! The Soul Beasts would have raised you, Bai!"

Gu Yuena, who'd been eavesdropping, answered with a perfectly serious expression.

"Haha! Thanks! Let's watch the tests, let's watch the tests! They're starting!"

Bai Mo gave an awkward laugh and pointed to the line of students, changing the subject.

Gu Yuena pouted, thinking that the guidebook she'd been reading for the past half month on how to win a man over was completely useless.

Shrek Academy.

Sea God Pavilion.

Two deck chairs drew everyone's attention. An old man lay in each one.

"Minghuo Academy is accepting students today, and its grounds have been set up right beside Shrek Academy!"

Yan Shaozhe spoke with a pale face. Though his Martial Soul could let him undergo rebirth, Bai Mo's control had still left him an 89th-rank Soul Douluo.

"So what?" Mu En's hoarse voice rang out.

"Teacher, I did nothing wrong! Even without me, they're ambitious and would have targeted Shrek Academy sooner or later. We can't just sit here and wait to die."

"Then why do you think he held back in the end?"

"Because of the Sea God! They're afraid of the Sea God!"

"Shaozhe, you're no longer fit to serve as dean of the Martial Soul Department. Starting today, go recuperate beneath the Golden Tree."

With a single sentence, Mu En determined Yan Shaozhe's fate. The elders watching said not a word.

"Mei'er, take over as dean of the Martial Soul Department for now. I'm not asking you to make Shrek great again. I only hope you'll keep a low profile and stop stirring up trouble. I can see that Shrek has reached the end of the road. Whether it can carry on..."

Mu En's words trailed off. His cloudy eyes swept over the elders, each of whom wore a different expression.

"Qian Duoduo, we can work with Minghuo Academy. They've developed a marvel like the Jade Abacus, which means their Soul Tool Department can't be weaker than their Martial Soul Department. You can go speak with their teachers. Mei'er, you can also discuss a student-exchange program with them. Though they may not even think much of Shrek."

Mu En assigned Shrek's affairs one by one. In his view, as long as the Fairy Boat didn't strike again, Shrek could still survive. But it would never reach its former heights again.

"Elder Lin, do your best to sell off the Treasure Appraisal Fair's stock. The world is about to change. Perhaps only one chamber of commerce will remain."

"Xuan Zi, it's good that you're like this. Stay here with me and keep an eye on these children. Don't go stirring up trouble elsewhere, either."

Mu En's low murmur filled the Sea God Pavilion.

Outside, Yan Shaozhe said goodbye to his student and walked alone toward the Golden Tree.

"Teacher!"

Ma Xiaotao's eyes were red. To her, it seemed likely she would never see her teacher again.

"Minghuo Chamber of Commerce! Fairy Boat! I'll make you pay for this!"