Payday! The Dean's Big Moment!

Early the next morning, just as the sky was beginning to lighten, Flender hauled Fu Wen out of bed.

"Get up. You're coming to the academy with me today."

Flender spoke as he got dressed.

Fu Wen rubbed his eyes and glanced out the window. "This early?"

"What do you mean, early? The sun's almost up."

Flender adjusted his glasses. "There's a lot to do today. The earlier we go, the sooner we'll get it all done."

Fu Wen yawned and rolled out of bed.

Once they had washed up, the two of them headed out.

Flender didn't fly. Instead, he walked to the academy with Fu Wen.

Along the way, Fu Wen noticed that his dad was in an especially good mood today.

A smile never left his face, and he practically strode on a gust of wind.

"Dad, why are you so happy today?"

Fu Wen asked.

"Isn't it obvious? I've got money in my pocket. How could I not be happy?"

Flender patted the Storage Soul Tool at his waist. "Three hundred and eighty Gold Soul Coins. That'll keep us going for a while."

"What are you going to spend it on?"

"First, I'll pay off what I owe."

Flender counted on his fingers.

"Zhao Wuji's wages, Shao Xin's wages, Li Yusong's and Lu Qibin's. They haven't been paid for the past few months."

"Then there's the rent for the village land and the laborers' wages. We've kept them waiting a long time, too."

"When we get there today, I'll settle all of it at once!"

As Flender said this, he stood a little taller.

Fu Wen glanced at him without saying anything.

Truthfully, his dad might be a bit stingy, but he never cheated anyone out of what he owed.

He always kept the money he owed people in mind.

It was just that they'd truly been poor before. He hadn't had the money to pay them.

Now that he had money, his first thought wasn't to enjoy himself, but to pay back what he owed.

Fu Wen admired him for that.

After walking for a while, they arrived at Shrek Academy.

When they pushed open the door, someone was already training on the field.

A burly, middle-aged man was practicing his punches, each blow cutting through the air with a whoosh.

When he saw Flender come in, he stopped.

"Boss Fu, what brings you here so early?"

"Old Zhao, good timing."

Flender walked over. "Go get Shao Xin, Old Li, and Old Lu. Tell them to come to the office."

"What's going on?"

Zhao Wuji paused, puzzled.

"Payday."

Flender uttered two words.

Zhao Wuji's eyes lit up. "Payday? Did you strike it rich?"

"Quit talking and go get them."

Flender waved him off.

Zhao Wuji took off without another word.

He ran even faster than he punched.

Watching Zhao Wuji's retreating figure, Fu Wen's mouth twitched.

That speed—no wonder he was a Seven-Ring Soul Sage.

Before long, the office was full.

Zhao Wuji, Shao Xin, Li Yusong, and Lu Qibin—every one of them was there.

The four men sat in their chairs, all staring at Flender.

They looked like hungry wolves who'd spotted meat.

"Dean, did you say you were paying us?"

Li Yusong adjusted his glasses and spoke first.

He was one of the teachers at Shrek Academy. His Martial Soul was the Dragon Pattern Staff, and he was a Six-Ring Soul Emperor.

He was the oldest and the steadiest of them all.

But even he sounded a little eager now.

Flender swept his gaze over everyone, pulled four bags of Gold Soul Coins from the Storage Soul Tool, and laid them out on the table one by one.

"Old Zhao, this one's yours."

Zhao Wuji took the bag and opened it. His eyes went wide.

"T-this much?"

"I owed you three months' wages. Eighteen Gold Soul Coins a month, so that's fifty-four for three months. Add this month's pay, and it's seventy-two."

Flender explained.

Zhao Wuji grinned from ear to ear.

"Dean, you've finally found your conscience!"

Flender rolled his eyes and ignored him, continuing to hand out the money.

"Shao Xin, yours."

Shao Xin took the bag, opened it to have a look, and nodded.

He was a Six-Ring Soul Emperor with a food-type Martial Soul. His wages were a little lower than Zhao Wuji's.

Ten Gold Soul Coins a month. Three months' back pay plus this month's came to forty in total.

"Old Li, yours."

Li Yusong took the bag without opening it. He simply weighed it in his hand, then nodded in satisfaction.

He was a Six-Ring Soul Emperor, but he was getting on in years and mainly taught theory classes. His wages were ten Gold Soul Coins a month.

"Old Lu, yours."

Lu Qibin took the bag and opened it with a cheerful smile.

He was a control-type Soul Master and a Six-Ring Soul Emperor. His wages were the same as Shao Xin's: ten Gold Soul Coins a month.

Each of the four had a different expression when he got his money.

Zhao Wuji was overjoyed, Shao Xin was composed, Li Yusong was satisfied, and Lu Qibin was delighted.

But they all had one thing in common.

Their eyes were shining.

Seeing their expressions, Flender finally let out a quiet breath of relief.

These teachers had stuck with him through harsh conditions, and their pay was often late.

To be honest, he felt guilty about it.

But now the accounts were settled, and he could finally put his mind at ease.

"All right, you've been paid. Get back to whatever you were doing."

Flender waved them off.

"Hold on."

Li Yusong spoke up. "Dean, how come you suddenly have money this time?"

At that, everyone turned to look at Flender.

Flender proudly adjusted his glasses. "My son earned it."

"Your son?"

Zhao Wuji stared at Fu Wen, surprised.

Fu Wen stood there without expression.

"It's this kid. He awakened his Martial Soul yesterday, has Innate Full Soul Power, and got a soul ring that was over four hundred years old. His Soul Power shot straight up to level thirteen!"

Flender pointed at Fu Wen, his voice brimming with pride.

"What?!"

Zhao Wuji shot to his feet, staring at Fu Wen with wide eyes.

Shao Xin already knew, so he didn't react.

Shock was written all over Li Yusong and Lu Qibin's faces, too.

"Innate Full Soul Power? A first soul ring over four hundred years old?"

"Good heavens, you're one lucky man!"

"Xiao Ao has Innate Full Soul Power! Xiao Wen has Innate Full Soul Power, too!?"

Li Yusong adjusted his glasses and looked Fu Wen up and down.

"Dean, you're not joking?"

"Why would I joke about this?"

Flender snorted. "Xiao Wen, show them."

Fu Wen had no choice but to release his Martial Soul.

A Yellow Soul Ring rose from beneath his feet, and the Divine Crocodile Phantom appeared behind him.

A primordial aura filled the air, and the temperature in the whole office seemed to drop several degrees.

Zhao Wuji's pupils contracted. "This Martial Soul..."

"Mutated Sea Crocodile."

Flender cut in before giving Fu Wen a look.

Fu Wen understood and withdrew his Martial Soul.

Silence fell over the office for several seconds.

Then Zhao Wuji laughed.

"Hahaha! Amazing! Dean, your son is something else!"

"You bet!"

Flender's pride threatened to send his tail soaring into the sky again.

Li Yusong adjusted his glasses and said gravely:

"Innate Full Soul Power, a mutated Martial Soul, and a first soul ring that's over four hundred years old..."

"As long as this child doesn't die young, he'll be at least a Titled Douluo in the future."

"Maybe even greater than that."

At those words, everyone fell silent.

A Titled Douluo.

They were among the most powerful beings in the world.

The Titled Douluos known to the public across the entire continent could be counted on one hand.

And now, standing right before them was a child who might one day become one.

It was a strange feeling.

"All right, all right. That's enough praise. Any more and this kid's tail will be in the sky, too."

Flender waved them off. "Get back to work. I still have things to do."

Everyone nodded and went their separate ways, each carrying his pay.