Flender was feeling great.
Four monsters had come to the academy today, one of them a super monster!
Twelve years old, with Soul Power at level 65!
If he trained for a few more years, wouldn't he become a Soul Douluo, or even a Titled Douluo?
Shrek Academy was about to make a name for itself!
So what was Dai Mubai's deal?
Although he was one of the academy's rare prodigies, how could he go around fooling around?
He'd been taken away by the Spirit Hall Enforcement Team. There was no way he'd get out easily.
Thinking of all this, Flender relaxed.
First, he'd settle these students in and tie them firmly to the academy.
If a super monster like Lin Ye went to another academy, Flender would never forgive himself.
As he led the four into the academy, they ran into Zhao Wuji head-on.
"You didn't bring Dai Mubai back?"
Zhao Wuji wasn't surprised to see Lin Ye and the others.
They must have run into him in Suotuo City.
"Oh, Dai Mubai's situation is complicated. It may take a while."
"Zhao, we recruited such an outstanding student. Why didn't you tell me sooner?"
Flender was somewhat displeased.
A student this monstrous should have been rushed straight over from Suotuo City.
Now he'd been left feeling awkward.
Thinking about how those girls had pranked him still rankled.
If Lin Ye hadn't stepped in, he'd still be lamenting his loss.
Little Demonesses, every last one of them.
But they really did have talent, and with Lin Ye there too, Flender couldn't bring himself to scold them.
Zhao Wuji grinned broadly. "I wanted to surprise you. So, are you surprised? Did you expect it?"
"I really am surprised. Have you arranged everything?"
Flender was genuinely delighted now. Even if he had to sell everything he owned, he'd keep these students here.
"Of course. The best dormitories!"
"Good!"
The two chatted as if they'd completely forgotten about Lin Ye and the other three.
"Dean, are you sure those are the best dormitories?"
Ning Rongrong couldn't hold back. Being ignored felt awful.
"Definitely the best dormitories in the academy!"
Flender was certain. If Zhao Wuji said they were the best, then there was no doubt.
"But... they're so run-down!"
Ning Rongrong didn't know whether to laugh or cry. How could they call a place like that the best?
At that, Flender felt a little embarrassed too.
The academy's facilities really were terrible. It hadn't been easy to keep going all these years.
The main problem was that they were too poor. They didn't have enough money to improve the academy.
After all, refusing sponsorship had cost them their most important source of funding.
A Soul Master Academy couldn't get by on student tuition alone. It was nowhere near enough.
The biggest source of funding was sponsorship from various factions.
The Balak Kingdom had offered to sponsor them.
With support from the kingdom, the academy's facilities would surely be excellent—at least on the scale of a high-level Soul Master Academy.
But Flender had refused.
The Balak Kingdom's condition was that Shrek students had to join the kingdom after graduating.
That would limit the students' futures.
How could Flender, who wanted to cultivate monsters, possibly accept that?
So Shrek Academy's finances had been a huge problem all along.
There were even plenty of times when they couldn't pay the teachers' wages, and had to keep putting them off.
"Well... the academy's in a tough spot right now. Could you put up with it for a while?"
As he spoke, he sneaked a glance at Lin Ye.
Lin Ye was the most important one!
If Lin Ye left because of the poor surroundings, that would be a disaster.
With Lin Ye's talent, any high-level Soul Master Academy would be scrambling to recruit him.
Even Spirit Hall Academy would be eager to take him, and would pour a huge amount of resources into him.
Who could ignore a twelve-year-old level 65 Soul Emperor?
Ning Rongrong nodded. The place was run-down, sure, but it was still just barely livable.
They were only here for fun anyway. As long as it wasn't too frustrating, that was fine.
But at that moment, Lin Ye's inner voice surfaced again.
Flender really does treat his students well, but he's too proud, so the academy is dirt poor.
He refused the Balak Kingdom's sponsorship conditions to protect the students.
But he doesn't seem to know a thing about making money. All he can do is swindle and cheat.
For Flender, as long as you give him money, he'd even become a cross-dressing boss!
The three girls: "!!!"
A cross-dressing boss, seriously?
Had the academy really fallen this far?
If the students weren't so talented, they'd have suspected this was a Black-hearted Academy.
Ning Rongrong's eyes shifted as an idea seemed to come to her.
"Dean, if the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect sponsored the academy, could you improve the facilities?"
"Hm? The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect?"
Flender paused. He knew she came from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.
But the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect had never had anything to do with Shrek Academy.
Sponsorship seemed unlikely.
Still, since Ning Rongrong had brought it up, there might be some hope.
But his experience with the Balak Kingdom was still fresh in his mind.
Since the academy had refused, the kingdom had held it against them to some extent.
The academy would run into trouble with certain matters.
Put plainly, the kingdom was tripping them up.
The academy had managed to overcome it all, but how could he put the feeling?
It was like having a toad sitting on your foot: it didn't bite, but it sure made your skin crawl.
If the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect made a similar demand, how could he agree?
Ning Rongrong said with a smile, "That's right. The academy's teachers seem quite capable, but the facilities are a bit poor, so I'd like to sponsor the academy."
"Of course, the academy has to agree to a few conditions."
Conditions!
Flender didn't even think about it. "No need!"
Just hearing the word "conditions" was enough to set him off.
Zhao Wuji was also wondering whether the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect had learned about Shrek Academy and intended to take it over.
Maybe they'd sent Ning Rongrong to investigate.
Otherwise, it was hard to understand why the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect would agree to send their little princess to the academy.
If it was for better training, wouldn't the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect be a better choice?
After all, they had two Titled Douluo, as well as several Soul Douluo.
They were better than the academy in every way.
"Dean, don't rush to refuse. Hear my conditions first."
Ning Rongrong had already pieced together some of the situation from Lin Ye's inner voice.
She'd thought of a way to handle it.
Flender hesitated, then said, "All right. Tell me your conditions."
"Fine. My condition is that after the sponsorship, the academy must set aside special funds to improve the students' living conditions. For example, build new dormitory blocks, with separate units!"
"Impossible! A harsh environment is a test for the students. How can you—"
"We should also build separate dormitories for the teachers, as well as classrooms and so on."
"No problem. Only an idiot would insist on suffering when they don't have to."
Flender instantly changed his tune.
Separate dormitories and the like sounded wonderful!
He never thought he'd get to live in a place like that. Thanks to heaven for sending them their little princess—boundless love!
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