Flender

Biodata

Feature	Value
Name	Flender (弗兰德)
Alias(es)	Flander — alternate spelling used in the text
Gender	Male 34
Affiliation	Shrek Academy; officially recognized as an advanced Soul Master Academy within the Balak Kingdom 51
Occupation/Role	Headmaster, theory instructor, and tournament delegation leader 38 43 52
Status	Alive; accompanying Shrek during the Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Elite Tournament 69
First Appearance	Chapter 34 34

Background / History

Shrek’s years of hardship

Flender maintained Shrek Academy through years of poverty, relying partly on nearby villagers who supplied vegetables, repaired roofs, and helped with daily work. When first shown, the academy consisted of shabby buildings, a dirt training ground, and a crooked fence 34 49.

Shrek also lacked official advanced-academy certification. Flender’s earlier dealings with officials in Barak had ended in a falling-out, after which his applications went unanswered. This problem persisted for nearly ten years and prevented Shrek from entering the Continental Elite Tournament under its own name 50.

Welcoming Yun Tian

When Dai Mubai returned injured after losing to Yun Tian, Flender stopped Zhao Wuji from seeking retaliation. He regarded a young Soul Ancestor with four purple soul rings as an exceptional prospective student and refused to let a student quarrel interfere with recruitment 34.

After the entrance assessment, Flender registered the newcomers and distributed dormitory keys, uniforms, and student identity plaques. He then arranged a seven-against-one trial to test Yun Tian against Shrek’s other students 38 40.

Following Yun Tian’s victory, Flender explained that a four-ring Soul Ancestor could graduate after obtaining at least a Silver Soul Badge. He candidly admitted that Shrek’s teachers could not fully understand or systematically guide Yun Tian’s unusual martial soul. Yun Tian already possessed a Gold Soul Badge but chose to remain at the academy 42 43.

Renovation and official recognition

Flender placed the group’s bets when Yun Tian challenged the Soul King Shi Wei. After Yun Tian won, Flender treated the academy to a feast at Heavenly Fragrance Tower and subsequently committed the academy’s share of the earnings to renovations 46 48 49.

The improvements included repaired classrooms and dormitories, a repaved training ground, an expanded cafeteria, and rebuilt gates. Flender also took Yun Tian and Tang San to distribute gold soul coins to the villagers whose help had sustained Shrek during its poorest years 49.

With the campus restored, Flender accepted Yun Tian’s proposal for resolving the licensing dispute: document Shrek’s achievements, make a personal courtesy visit, and offer possible cooperation with the kingdom. The two traveled to Barak City and secured official approval 50 51.

Flender then opened recruitment and prepared Shrek for tournament participation. Wang Hao, Zhang Lei, and Liu Qingshan joined through the new admissions process, while Yun Tian received responsibility for arranging the competitive lineup 51.

Regional championship and tournament preparation

Flender and Zhao Wuji led Shrek to the Balak regional qualifiers. Flender briefed the students on the rules and opposing academies, warning them that confidence was no substitute for caution. Shrek ultimately defeated Barak Royal Academy and secured its place in the Continental Elite Tournament 52 53 55.

On returning home, Flender reorganized the training schedule and monitored individual progress, including Yun Tian’s approach to level forty-three. He obtained information on leading tournament teams and worked with Zhao Wuji and the visiting Yu Xiaogang on preparation 56 57 58.

Shrek’s growing reputation also attracted Heaven Dou Royal Academy. Flender hosted its observers and expressed interest in Qin Feng’s proposed friendly matches, while waiting for a detailed proposal rather than treating the discussion as a confirmed invitation 62.

Spirit Hall scrutiny and old debts

Flender became concerned when Spirit Hall assigned Bishop Shen Yi to Shrek’s eligibility verification—a higher-ranking official than the routine inspection appeared to require. He privately warned Yun Tian that the unusual talents of Shrek’s students could explain the attention 59.

Although the verification passed without issue, Flender and Zhao Wuji held a closed-door discussion afterward and consulted more frequently in the following days. Flender also arranged an exercise on the outskirts of the Star Dou Great Forest, keeping the students within safe limits 59 60.

Before the Continental Tournament, Lin Wan arrived from Spirit City with a letter and requested a private conversation. Flender later told Yun Tian that Spirit Hall’s investigation of Shrek could uncover unresolved matters from his past. He intended to handle them himself without disrupting the students’ tournament preparation; the nature of those “old debts” remained undisclosed 67.

Flender continued leading the delegation through the tournament’s opening. He supplied information on Liuyun Academy before Shrek’s first group-stage victory and discussed the upcoming matches with Zhao Wuji afterward 68 69.

Appearance

• Build: Tall and thin; described as middle-aged 34.
• Glasses: Round-framed spectacles, which he frequently pushes up while speaking or assessing a situation 34 38 57.
• Characteristic posture: Often stands with his hands clasped behind his back 34 57.
• Expression: Initially introduced with a crafty smile; his pride in the students often appears through smiles he cannot completely conceal 34 38 52.

Personality

Flender is greedy, sly, and sharp-tongued, but does not compromise his teaching responsibilities. His response to Yun Tian illustrates that distinction: he welcomes extraordinary talent despite Dai Mubai’s grievance, then openly acknowledges when the academy has little left to teach that student 34 38 42.

His attachment to money does not erase his gratitude. Once Shrek gains financial security, he improves the students’ living conditions and repays the villagers who supported the school, rather than keeping all the proceeds for himself 49.

Flender combines pride in Shrek with practical caution. He insists on quality over recruitment numbers, warns against careless confidence, and judges tournament selection by form and coordination rather than soul power alone. Before departure, he assures the students that they will return together whether they win or lose 48 52 57 63.

Abilities & Skills

Theory Instruction

• Teaches soul beast classifications, soul ring combinations, and battle strategies 43.
• Introduces students to the continent’s major powers and unusual events 43.
• Conducts tactical theory classes observed by visiting Heaven Dou Royal Academy teachers 62.
• Recognizes the limits of his expertise, particularly regarding Yun Tian’s Earth Shadow Stone and Earth Tiger Armor 42.

Training and Talent Assessment

• Uses practical trials, including Yun Tian’s seven-against-one assessment, to evaluate students under pressure 40.
• Requires at least two individual Soul Arena matches and one team match each week 44.
• Establishes an intensive preparation schedule: rising at 5:30, morning training at 6:00, theory lessons in the morning, combat training in the afternoon, and independent cultivation at night 56.
• Monitors changes in students’ soul power and selects competitors according to readiness and coordination 57.
• Reduces training intensity before departure so students can check equipment and stabilize their condition 63.

Administration and Connections

• Handles enrollment, student identification, accommodation, and academy finances 38 49.
• Secures Shrek’s official license through renewed negotiations using Yun Tian’s plan 50 51.
• Draws on more than a decade of connections in the Balak Kingdom 61.
• Acquires tournament handbooks, opponent records, and updated intelligence for team briefings 57 64 65.
• Maintains courteous but guarded dealings with rival instructors and Spirit Hall representatives 59 66 67.

Relationships

• Yun Tian — Student and trusted collaborator. Flender recognizes his exceptional ability, accepts his licensing strategy, entrusts him with lineup decisions, and confides in him about Spirit Hall pressure 34 42 50 51 59 67.
• Zhao Wuji — Vice principal and close working partner. Zhao leads practical combat training while Flender handles theory and administration; they jointly guide the tournament team and privately discuss potential threats 34 43 60 68.
• Dai Mubai — Student. Flender refuses to retaliate against Yun Tian on his behalf, though Dai interprets the seven-against-one trial as an opportunity to recover some dignity 34 40.
• Yu Xiaogang — Familiar colleague whom he addresses as “Old Yu.” Flender welcomes his pre-tournament visit and receives his analysis of Heaven Dou Royal Academy’s core students 58.
• Nearby villagers — Longstanding supporters of Shrek. Flender acknowledges their contributions and personally helps repay them after the academy’s financial turnaround 49.
• Qin Feng — Heaven Dou Royal Academy’s dean of instruction. Flender hosts his observation visit and considers his proposal for future friendly matches 62.
• Shen Yi — Spirit Hall bishop responsible for eligibility verification. Flender receives him politely but remains suspicious of the unusually high-level attention 59.
• Lin Wan — Emissary from Spirit City whose letter brings Flender’s unresolved past affairs back into the present 67.
• Instructor Fang — Rival instructor previously met at an all-continent coaches’ seminar. Their tournament encounter remains polite and professionally distant 66.

Notable Quotes

“For a genius of that caliber to be willing to come to this rundown place of ours is an honor for Shrek.” 34

“I have faith, but blind carelessness gets people killed.” 52

“If we win, we’ll celebrate together. If we lose, we’ll return together too. Don’t put too much pressure on yourselves.” 63