Ning Fengzhi and Bone Douluo

The atmosphere at Shrek Academy had been somewhat strange lately. Master's teaching had already fallen into a routine, and the Shrek Seven Monsters from the original story suffered miserably every day. The traditional rock-carrying exercise naturally had not been abandoned, and there were also countless theory classes and practical combat lessons...

Yet among them, Su Sanjia was nowhere to be seen. He had already explained his intentions to the dean and the others. Flender and the rest did not say much, while Zhao Wuji merely patted his shoulder with a worried look and told him to be careful while traveling. If anything happened, he could just give Old Zhao's name.

Su Sanjia was rather speechless when he heard that.

Zhao Wuji's name? Fine. If he really encountered trouble outside and gave Zhao Wuji's name, someone who had merely wanted to teach him a lesson might decide to silence him permanently...

Never overestimate Teacher Zhao's reputation in the world of soul masters! Just as he should never overestimate the travel funds Flender had given him before his departure.

After bidding farewell to the teachers, Su Sanjia returned to the training grounds. The seven Shrek students had just finished a round of training and were sitting on the grass recovering their strength. The moment they saw Su Sanjia approach, Oscar was the first to stand.

"Brother Sanjia, are you leaving?"

"Yeah. Stay at the academy and cultivate properly! Teacher Shao Xin is a highly qualified teacher. As for the other classes, you should know what to do!"

As the academy's only food-system soul master, Oscar had always studied under Shao Xin, a level seventy-one Food-System Soul Saint. The other classes Su Sanjia referred to were naturally Yu Xiaogang's theory lessons.

Everyone stepped forward to say goodbye one after another. Not far away, Yu Xiaogang's expression darkened, but no one noticed him. Even Yu Xiaogang's most prized disciple, Tang San, had stepped forward. In Tang San's eyes, Su Sanjia had not yet reached the point of deserving death.

Ning Rongrong, however, seemed somewhat uneasy. Her brows were furrowed as she kept expecting her father's figure to appear. Her father would never pass up such a young Soul Sect, so why had he not come yet?

Suddenly,

A crack like a black hole appeared in the open space nearby, and a head poked out in a rather comical manner.

"We're here, we're here! Fengzhi, this time I didn't take the wrong route!"

Two figures emerged from the black hole. One was tall but extremely thin, like a layer of skin draped over an enormous skeleton, making him look exceptionally strange. The other wore an elegant white formal suit with a coat draped over his shoulders. A refined, gentle smile rested on his face, and he held a magnificent scepter that looked expensive enough to buy Shrek Academy outright. He carried the bearing of someone who had occupied a high position for many years.

"Dad!"

Ning Rongrong's face lit up with delight as she hurried over. Everyone was startled and turned their gazes toward him.

They all knew that Ning Rongrong was the daughter of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's Sect Master, his absolute darling. In other words, this suddenly appearing middle-aged man was actually the Sect Master of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, ranked second among the Upper Three Sects?

He was truly a towering figure! In terms of status alone, Ning Fengzhi stood on equal footing with the princes of the Heaven Dou Empire. Even the emperor of the Heaven Dou Empire had to show him some respect!

"Rongrong, my little princess, Grandpa missed you so much!"

Bone Douluo, who stood beside Ning Fengzhi, greeted her with a broad smile and vigorously rubbed Ning Rongrong's head with one large hand.

"Grandpa Bone!"

Whoosh! Whoosh!

Two sharp bursts of wind suddenly came from within the academy. Two figures rushed over at incredible speed.

"Flender and Zhao Wuji of Shrek Academy greet Sect Master Ning and Bone Douluo!"

Flender and Zhao Wuji did not dare be negligent, adopting extremely respectful postures. Tang San and the others from Shrek followed their example. Among so many people, Ning Fengzhi immediately noticed the young and handsome Su Sanjia.

This sort of soul power fluctuation...

Ning Fengzhi looked toward Bone Douluo beside him. The latter nodded, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly.

A fluctuation of soul power entered Ning Fengzhi's ears.

"Fengzhi, this kid really is a Soul Sect! And a level forty-five Soul Sect at that!"

Now it was Ning Fengzhi's turn to be surprised. Setting aside the fact that he was a Soul Sect, he was actually a level forty-five Soul Sect? Hadn't he broken through only recently? For an ordinary Soul Sect, gaining one or two levels of soul power in a year was normal. Gaining three levels would already warrant thanking the heavens. Yet how long had it been for Su Sanjia? He had actually gained a full five levels of soul power?

The smile on Ning Fengzhi's face became increasingly warm.

"There's no need for the two deans to be so formal, nor should the young friends be overly polite. My daughter has received much care from all of you at Shrek Academy. Ning owes everyone his sincere thanks."

A man like Ning Fengzhi naturally could not speak without exchanging pleasantries. Flender echoed him from the side. As they chatted, Ning Fengzhi began praising Shrek Academy's students, saying that it was truly fortunate that his daughter could study here and that such an academy ought to flourish.

When Flender heard that Ning Fengzhi intended to sponsor Shrek Academy without compensation, he was delighted at first, then puzzled.

How could a shrewd businessman possibly make a losing deal?

What could a small academy like theirs possibly have that was worth Ning Fengzhi's attention?

Flender could not help raising his head to look at Ning Fengzhi, then at Gu Rong beside him. He discovered that Bone Douluo's gaze had remained fixed in one direction. Flender turned to look. It was Su Sanjia! At that moment, Su Sanjia and Bone Douluo had already been staring at each other for quite some time.

Is it for Sanjia? That would fit the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's usual style. They like all kinds of geniuses... But this is a good thing for Sanjia too!

His student would have a bright future, and he himself would receive sponsorship. It was simply the best of both worlds!

After staring at Gu Rong for a long while, Su Sanjia's lips twitched. He was certain now. These two had come for him!

The successive sect masters of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect had all been powerful support-system soul masters possessing the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda, but they were still only support-system soul masters. They always needed powerful companions.

That was likely what Ning Fengzhi had in mind.

However, joining a sect had never been within Su Sanjia's considerations. He had never even considered founding a sect himself.

He hated being constrained too much. Whether he joined a sect or became the master of one, the sect would more or less influence his thinking. He hated that feeling.

Su Sanjia's goal from beginning to end had been to become a god and enjoy endless, unfettered freedom!

Therefore, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's attempt to recruit him could never succeed.

"Your academy truly is full of talent. At such young ages, these children already possess the cultivation of Grand Soul Masters and even Soul Elders. Their futures are boundless!"

Ning Fengzhi praised them, just about to steer the conversation toward Su Sanjia, when Yu Xiaogang strode out with his head held high.

"Greetings, Sect Master Ning! I am Yu Xiaogang, these students' teacher! You flatter us, Sect Master!"

Yu Xiaogang's abrupt appearance and immediate declaration that he was these children's teacher made Zhao Wuji frown and snort coldly. Disgust also appeared on Ning Rongrong's face. The Shrek students had mixed reactions, but none of it affected Yu Xiaogang in the slightest.

"Earlier, we heard that Sect Master Ning wished to sponsor the academy. We are naturally deeply grateful. Please rest assured, we will certainly nurture these children into outstanding talents and let them shine brilliantly at the Soul Master Tournament several years from now!"

Yu Xiaogang's attitude was exceedingly respectful—or so he believed. His iron-straight back even bent slightly, a rare sight. But those words...

Ning Fengzhi's expression stiffened, and a flash of displeasure passed through his eyes.