Divination

An Chen hurried back to the dormitory, shut the door, and sat on the bed, his heart pounding violently.

He took a deep breath to calm himself, then summoned the System Panel with a thought.

[System Abilities] Divination ×3, Clown Warning ×2

Three uses remained. He had used one last time when hunting for his Second Soul Ring, asking for the Soul Beast's location. The system had directly given him the direction where it was located.

An Chen silently asked, "What is abnormal about Flender?"

The panel flickered, and an image appeared:

It was a portrait of a man who looked to be around fifty. He was powerfully built, with distinctive features: a slightly protruding chin, broad cheekbones, a flat face, and a somewhat hooked nose.

If he had to compare it to something, his face looked a little like the sole of a shoe.

Though his eyes were closed, he still gave off a somewhat sly impression.

He wore a pair of black-framed crystal glasses, the stiff, square kind.

An Chen's pupils contracted.

This was the Flender he remembered!

What did that mean?

Had Headmaster Flender been replaced? Then why had no one else noticed such an obvious difference in appearance?

An Chen stared at the image on the panel, a string of thoughts flashing through his mind.

What exactly was that Monocle?

An Chen closed his eyes, dismissed the panel, and lay back on the bed, staring at the ceiling.

That evening, An Chen had no choice but to gather with the others.

He had considered whether he should run.

Shrek Academy was remote, but if he wanted to leave, he still could.

It was not as if he had no legs, nor was he short on money.

Flender had not harmed him. When the tumor on Teacher Li Yusong's body had been pulled out that morning, Flender had merely glanced at him and smiled without making a move.

But if he ran now, could he really escape someone with such bizarre methods?

The sky outside had darkened. It was time to gather.

He hasn't harmed me. He hasn't harmed me. An Chen repeated silently.

He pushed open the dormitory door and walked step by step toward the meeting place.

Everyone had arrived at the Playground.

An Chen, Tang San, Xiao Wu, Dai Mubai, Ma Hongjun, and Zhu Zhuqing were all full of energy and had long been prepared for training.

However, Flender's attention was not on them, but on Oscar and Ning Rongrong.

Although Flender was somewhat abnormal, the course of events had not changed. Ning Rongrong still failed to finish the run, threw a tantrum, and was reprimanded by Flender.

After that, Oscar was sent to comfort Ning Rongrong.

Seeing Flender's changed appearance and temperament, An Chen could not help feeling somewhat strange.

An Chen stood to the side and watched silently.

Flender looked over. An Chen instinctively shifted aside, trying his best not to meet his gaze.

Flender swept his eyes over everyone, his gaze passing across each person before finally landing on An Chen. Yet he said nothing, merely smiling again.

What are you smiling at? Do you love smiling that much?

An Chen's scalp prickled, and he quickly looked away.

"Alright, ignore them. We're going to our first lesson today." Flender waved his hand.

With that, he pushed off with the tip of his foot and drifted away at a light run.

Damn, I thought he was going to fly. So he's just running.

Though An Chen feared Flender, he could not help mocking him inwardly.

The others followed. An Chen ran at the very back, keeping his distance from Flender.

Now, the difference in strength among the six students became apparent.

Dai Mubai, who possessed the highest Soul Power, followed directly behind Flender.

Zhu Zhuqing came next. As an Agility Attack System Soul Master, it was only natural that she was fast.

Tang San's Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track was ingenious, but in terms of straight-line acceleration, it was inferior to Zhu Zhuqing's. Thus, he and Xiao Wu were in third place.

An Chen was just a little behind Ma Hongjun.

"An Chen, are you keeping me company?" Ma Hongjun teased.

An Chen smiled. "More or less. I was afraid you'd be lonely if you came in last."

Ma Hongjun laughed and cursed, "You punk, don't tell me you really can't outrun me."

An Chen only smiled without replying.

In Suotuo City, the night deepened.

There were not many people on the streets. The occasional carriage passed by, its wheels creaking over the bluestone pavement.

Most of the shops on both sides had already closed. Only a few tea houses still had their lamps lit, casting out a dim yellow glow.

Flender led everyone through the streets and sat down in front of a shabby tea house, ordering a pot of the cheapest tea.

He raised his hand and pointed outside. "That is where you'll be having class."

Following the direction of his finger, An Chen saw a massive building. Nearly a hundred meters tall and oval-shaped, it appeared exceptionally imposing in the darkness, with faint lights flickering across it.

The Suotuo Great Soul Arena.

An Chen's heart stirred. Of course he knew what this place was. In the original story, the Shrek Seven Devils had trained in real combat here.

Flender said calmly, "Remember, you are all monsters, not ordinary people. Since you are monsters, you must cultivate like monsters. Of all the things you need to learn, actual combat experience is the most important. With the same rank and strength, the amount of combat experience one has will determine the outcome. Therefore, your first lesson is actual combat."

Tang San frowned. "Headmaster, aren't Soul Masters the noblest profession? Why is there a place like the Great Soul Arena, where people watch Wuhun battles as if they were watching monkeys perform?"

Flender shook his head. "No, you're wrong. Although I don't like the Great Soul Arena either, I have to admit that it is an important place for displaying a Soul Master's value. It belongs neither to the Two Great Empires nor Spirit Hall, but is a special force of its own. Soul Masters who become famous in the Great Soul Arena will become dazzling stars throughout the country."

He looked at everyone. "The grade of one's Wuhun is an indication of a Soul Master's strength, but it cannot represent a Soul Master's true capabilities. Your task is to obtain at least a Silver Douhun Emblem before graduation. Emblem ranks range from iron to diamond, for a total of eight levels."

As An Chen listened, he calculated inwardly. A Silver Douhun required one thousand points. One victory earned one point, while one loss deducted one point.

After more than five consecutive wins, each additional victory awarded ten more points. After more than ten consecutive wins, each additional victory awarded one hundred more points.

Dai Mubai and Ma Hongjun had already fought here for over a year, yet neither had impressive records.

It was clear that the Great Soul Arena was not an easy place to make a name for oneself.

Flender stood up and paid for the tea. "It's about time. Let's head over first."

Everyone followed him toward the enormous building.

Only after getting closer did An Chen realize how much more overwhelming it was.

The Suotuo Great Soul Arena was oval in shape and one hundred and twenty meters tall. Inside, it was divided into one main Soul Arena and twenty-four sub-arenas, capable of holding sixty thousand spectators at once.

Massive stone pillars supported the dome, while intricate patterns covered the walls. Under the lamplight, the entire structure looked especially magnificent.

An Chen followed the others into the Soul Arena.

He glanced at Flender, who was walking at the front. The Monocle glinted beneath the lights, as though it had been watching him all along.