Theory and Practice Combined

Footsteps sounded as a tall, slender figure came to stand before Flender.

Flender forced open his swollen, bloodshot eyes and saw Fang Yuan standing before him, panic surfacing in his gaze.

At this moment, Shrek Academy's high-level combat forces had all been knocked down by Fang Yuan.

The remaining Soul Saint was a food-type soul master with little combat ability, so he had not joined the battle.

Even now, Flender still felt dazed, unable to believe what had happened.

Their combined assault of two Soul Saints and two Soul Emperors had actually been defeated by this young man, who looked no older than twenty or thirty?

And throughout the entire fight, he had used only two soul skills and had not even moved his feet half a step?

What exactly was his fifth soul skill? How could it possess such power?

Flender could not make sense of it. As one of the Golden Triangle, he had fought countless battles and seen much in his day, yet he had never encountered such an absurdly powerful soul skill.

Seeing Fang Yuan walk toward them, Flender's heart rose to his throat.

Yet Fang Yuan did not even spare them a glance. He simply passed by them, leading a teenage boy and girl toward the official road.

Seeing that great Buddha leave, Flender finally let out a long breath of relief.

But immediately afterward, rage blazed through his heart like wildfire.

He, Flender—a mighty Soul Saint, one of the Golden Triangle, and the headmaster of Shrek Academy—had actually been beaten by some young brat at the entrance to his own academy?

And during student admissions, in front of so many students and parents?

A flash of killing intent passed through Flender's eyes as he looked toward the students and parents watching the spectacle from afar. Murderous thoughts rose in his heart.

They had witnessed him in such disgrace. If they spread word of this everywhere afterward, would Shrek Academy have any face left?

And even if he accepted them as students, how could he maintain any authority as headmaster in the future?

Turning to look at Zhao Wuji and the others, Flender found faint killing intent in their eyes as well. Clearly, they had thought of the same thing.

None of the teachers at Shrek Academy had come from proper backgrounds. When they were young, they had all been unaffiliated soul masters who had committed all manner of crimes in the soul master world.

Most of them had only come to teach at Shrek Academy because they had no other choice.

Now someone had come to their doorstep, beaten them, and won. How could they endure such humiliation? And how could they allow those who had seen their disgrace to spread the matter around?

Just as the killing intent in Flender's heart steadily grew, a clear voice rang out.

"Is your academy still accepting students? I believe I meet the enrollment requirements."

The speaker was a short-haired girl with exceptionally fair skin and delicate features. Every gesture she made carried an elegant, ethereal air.

No parent accompanied her. She stood alone, yet she showed no trace of timidity.

After Fang Yuan's group of three left, she stepped forward and asked Flender and the others.

Flender exchanged looks with Zhao Wuji and the rest, all of them wearing questioning expressions.

Where had this little girl gotten such courage?

Had she not seen the group fight that had just taken place here?

Flender rose to his feet, his gaze dark. The girl's words had not made him abandon his previous intentions.

However, her next action made his expression change abruptly.

"Seven Treasures Turn, Glazed Light." The girl spoke the crisp soul incantation. Brilliant seven-colored light immediately surged from her body, gathering in her palm to form a seven-colored treasure pagoda.

Two yellow soul rings rose from beneath her feet, clad in exquisite shoes and stockings, and circled around her body.

Flender naturally recognized the girl's martial soul and cried out in shock, "The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda! You're a disciple of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect?"

The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect was one of the Upper Three Sects among the continent's seven great sects. Its influence was enormous, and Shrek Academy absolutely could not afford to provoke it.

A brilliant smile instantly appeared on Flender's face. "Of course admissions are continuing, of course! Li Yusong, get up and continue the entrance examination!"

His last sentence was shouted at Li Yusong, who was lying on the ground. The elderly weapon-type Soul Emperor was currently rolling around and coughing up blood. Upon hearing Flender's roar, he hurriedly stopped putting on an act, climbed to his feet, and returned to the wooden table.

Seeing the teacher seated behind the table, desperately trying to regain his dignified expression, as well as the Soul Saints and Soul Emperors smiling ingratiatingly at her, the girl could not help frowning.

Coming to enroll at Shrek Academy had been something she had strongly insisted on. At this point, there was naturally no reason to regret it.

Yet for some reason, the young man who had effortlessly defeated this entire group of teachers lingered in her mind, impossible to dispel.

As they walked along the road, excitement sparkled in Xiao Wu's eyes.

"This Shrek Academy doesn't seem to have anyone impressive. How could it have taught that vile young master who openly indulged in lust during the day?"

Xiao Wu curled her lips disdainfully. After witnessing Shrek Academy's true state for herself, she lost interest in the shabby little academy that had produced Dai Mubai.

Tang San, walking beside Xiao Wu, was not nearly as cheerful as she was.

After walking for a while, he looked at Fang Yuan and asked, "Teacher, you once taught me that if you avoid making enemies, then so be it—but once you make one, you must pull out the roots and eliminate all future trouble. But why did you only knock those people down this time instead of settling the grudge completely?"

Fang Yuan glanced at Tang San beside him. The Tang Sect where this boy had lived in his previous life had been neither wholly righteous nor wholly evil, so he was not the merciful sort and had doubts about Fang Yuan's actions.

Fang Yuan nodded. "Little San, it is good that you have this question. It shows that you remembered everything I taught you.

"I'll tell you why I did not kill those people. You saw it yourself—they were no match for me at all. Killing them would have been as easy as turning my hand over. The reason I spared them was to leave them for you."

"For me?" Tang San froze, somewhat confused.

Xiao Wu beside him clearly did not understand either. She stared at Fang Yuan with a pair of innocent, wide eyes.

Fang Yuan said calmly, "In a man's life, family, friends, and lovers may or may not be necessary, but rivals are indispensable. Without the experience of defeating opponents, one cannot be tempered into a mature man.

"To me, everyone in that academy combined cannot be considered an opponent. But to you, Little San, those people are quite threatening.

"That vile young master who fought you over the room is slightly older and stronger than you. He is an opponent of your generation. As for the teachers of that academy, their cultivation is far above yours, so they can serve as your future opponents.

"While striving to cultivate and surpass opponents of your generation, you must also take care not to be killed ahead of time by future opponents while you are still weak. This is harsh tempering in reality, and it is also the test I have given you."

After hearing Fang Yuan's words, Tang San came to a sudden realization.

His teacher had treated those people as whetstones for him, allowing him to better draw out his potential through pressure and competition.

Tang San could not help secretly admiring the depth of his teacher's considerations when it came to teaching.

After five years of studying under his teacher, he had learned enough theoretical knowledge. Now, it was time to turn that knowledge into strength through his opponents!