Master, He's Gone

Lin Chen pinched his chin and said, "I don't care about an academy's resources or teaching staff. Even if I did, you definitely couldn't satisfy me."

"I only have two conditions. Neither should be difficult for you."

"First, we're not used to living in mud-brick houses. Arrange for someone to build us a separate dormitory, complete with soul-guided lamps, soul-guided water heaters, and the like."

Flender's mouth twitched involuntarily when he heard that.

It was not that he could not afford it. Rather, frugal by nature, he usually wished he could split one Gold Soul Coin into two.

They wanted him to build a dormitory and equip it with soul-guided lamps and soul-guided water heaters.

That was practically draining his blood.

He had painstakingly scammed who knew how many students out of registration fees and miscellaneous tuition just to save up that money. Wouldn't this chop off more than half his savings in one go?

Flender took a deep breath. "What else?"

He did not try to bargain, because the other party's demands were not excessive. They were benefits they could enjoy at any academy.

They could even be considered the most insignificant benefits.

Lin Chen continued, "Second, I want absolute freedom. Don't waste my time with your useless classes."

"I have my own cultivation pace and plans. I don't need anyone's guidance."

"If anyone disturbs my cultivation over trivial matters, don't blame me for not giving you face when they get beaten up."

Flender: "???"

That left him somewhat confused. Since Lin Chen did not need anyone's guidance, what was the point of joining an academy?

But after thinking about it, it did seem right.

If Lin Chen truly needed guidance, he would not have chosen Shrek.

After all, all the teachers at their academy had unorthodox backgrounds. They did not even have a proper curriculum and simply taught whatever came to mind.

Since Lin Chen had investigated their academy, he naturally could not be unaware of that.

After some thought, Flender said, "I have no problem with your demands, but team coordination shouldn't count as one of those trivial matters, right?"

What was the purpose of recruiting students for an academy? Fame, of course.

Although Shrek did not yet qualify to participate in the Soul Master Tournament, the Soul Master Tournament had always been Shrek's goal.

Only when Shrek's students shone brilliantly in the Soul Master Tournament could Shrek Academy's reputation spread.

Only after gaining enough honor and money could Shrek expand.

If Lin Chen would not even participate in team coordination, what was the point of him spending so much money? Was he inviting a father home to worship?

Lin Chen smiled. "If you're not afraid of discouraging the others, I have no objection."

Flender: "???"

Well damn, was he really that arrogant?

Before Flender could speak, Lin Chen gave Xiao Wu a look. She immediately stepped out from behind the sofa and came forward.

"Xiao Wu, twelve years old. Martial Soul: Soft Bone Rabbit. Level forty-five assault-type battle Soul Ancestor."

As soon as she finished speaking, pink light suddenly blossomed from between her brows and rapidly spread across her entire body.

As the light emerged, a pair of pink rabbit ears grew from her head.

Other than that, there were no further changes.

At the same time, two yellow and two purple Spirit Rings quietly rose beneath her feet, continuously pulsing up and down around her body.

"F-Forty-five?"

Flender could not help crying out, staring dumbfoundedly at the four Spirit Rings around her.

Was this a joke?

A twelve-year-old level forty-five Soul Ancestor—there had never been any record of such a person, not in the entire Spirit Master world, nor even in all of Spirit Master history.

How had she done it?

Xiao Wu ignored him. She withdrew her Martial Soul and returned behind the sofa.

"Gulp..."

Flender swallowed hard, then turned his gaze toward Lin Chen, who sat steadily on the sofa with a faint smile on his face.

Ever since he had entered the room, Xiao Wu had behaved like a maid.

Even Xiao Wu, the maid, had reached the terrifying level of forty-five at the age of twelve. How outrageous must her young master's level be?

Lin Chen said calmly, "Lin Chen, twelve years old. Martial Soul: Dragon Roar Sword. Level fifty-six Soul King."

"How much?"

Flender stared at Lin Chen in utter disbelief. He even wondered whether he had misheard.

Twelve years old, level fifty-six?

Could this get any more absurd?

There were still nearly three years until the next Soul Master Tournament. Since Lin Chen was already level fifty-six, he should be able to cultivate to Soul Emperor within three years no matter what.

A Soul Emperor participating in the Soul Master Tournament?

What the hell would everyone else even compete with?

Only then did Flender finally understand why Lin Chen had said he was afraid of discouraging the others.

At the same age, others were still at the Soul Grandmaster level, while Lin Chen was already rushing toward Soul Emperor. Who would not be discouraged by that?

As for Dai Mubai, there was even less need to mention him.

Although Dai Mubai had already reached the Soul Elder level, he was fifteen this year. The gap between him and Lin Chen was far from small.

After the shock passed, Flender's grin became impossible to suppress.

That was a Soul Emperor at fourteen or fifteen.

Although Lin Chen had not been trained by Shrek Academy, as long as he participated in the Soul Master Tournament under their academy's name—

Shrek would not lose out on any of the glory it deserved.

Flender could already foresee the scene of every faction's jaws dropping when Lin Chen revealed his Soul Emperor strength in Spirit City.

Shrek was truly about to soar this time.

Flender took a deep breath and said, "Welcome to Shrek Academy."

Lin Chen waved his hand. "Hurry up and find someone to build the dormitory. I'll go to Shrek when it's finished."

Flender readily agreed. "Alright. I'll find someone immediately. You can stay in the hotel without worry. Shrek will cover your room fees."

At that moment, how could he still care about money? Compared to Lin Chen, a twelve-year-old high-level Soul King, what the hell was that little bit of money?

Once Lin Chen won the Soul Master Tournament championship and carried Shrek Academy to greatness, heaps of money would naturally flow into his pocket.

Lin Chen said, "Then I won't see you out."

"Just stay seated."

Flender did not say anything more. Leaving those words behind, he turned and left, even closing the room door for them.

The moment the door shut, he could no longer hold it in.

"Hahaha..."

Flender held the room's doorknob and instantly laughed until he bent over, his boisterous laughter echoing continuously through the corridor.

If the hotel's soundproofing had not been so good, he would definitely have been cursed out for laughing like that.

Flender laughed in the corridor for a long while. Only after his jaw muscles ached from laughing did he skip toward the stairs.

A man in his fifties skipping as he walked—the sight was simply too beautiful.

"Master, he's gone."

Looking at the closed door, Xiao Wu walked up to Lin Chen. She lightly bit her lip and looked at him with a seductive expression.

Lin Chen: "..."