The Royal Academy's Dining Hall

The mountain gate of the Heaven Dou Royal Academy is more magnificent than the entire Shrek Academy.

The Stone Platform led upwards, lined with neatly trimmed trees on both sides, and uniformed students stood guard at the entrance. Qin Ming led the group over, and the students on duty immediately changed their attitude upon hearing that they were invited by Three Education Committee Members, respectfully inviting them into the mountain gate.

After entering the room, Ma Hongjun walked with a lighter step.

"If we pry off a piece of this floor tile, could we sell it for money?"

Oscar whispered, "Don't say it out loud, the Dean will be tempted."

Flender heard this and gave him a cold look.

"What am I tempted by? Would I, the head of a hospital, do such a thing?"

Zhao Wuji chimed in from the side, "You stole the tea leaves from the Great Soul Arena's rest room last time."

Flender coughed loudly.

Qin Ming could only pretend not to hear and led them on a tour of the dormitories, Training Ground, and simulated cultivation area. The Royal Academy's conditions were indeed excellent, with forests, lakes, Valley, fire chambers, and ice chambers all specially designated, and students with different Martial Soul could even apply for different areas.

Tang San watched intently the whole way.

This kind of training environment is very useful for the Shrek students.

Ning Rongrong nodded as well. The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect is wealthy, but a sect and an academy are different after all; the Royal Academy has a more complete system.

Yuan Yu observed quickly. His Sun Wheel Blade had nine patterns, and he had already mastered the water, fire, thunder, wind, and rock elements. He would continue to develop new patterns, and the simulated cultivation ground was equally attractive to him.

When Ma Hongjun reached the cafeteria, he stopped.

He looked at the rows of hot dishes inside, his eyes filled with the sight of seeing a long-lost relative.

The cafeteria not only served hot dishes, but also meat soup and snacks prepared according to the consumption of Soul Master. The aunt in charge of serving the meals noticed that their school uniforms were worn out, so she gave them two extra spoonfuls of meat. Ma Hongjun, holding the plate, was so moved that he almost called her "Mom," but Oscar quickly covered his mouth.

"Teacher Qin, do the students at the Royal Academy eat like this every day?"

Qin Ming smiled and said, "More or less."

Oscar remained silent.

He glanced at the food table, then at Flender.

"Dean, I feel like we had a very hard life before."

Flender's face darkened.

"What's so bitter about it? Enduring hardship is part of the cultivation process."

Ma Hongjun rushed in with the plate in hand.

"Then I'll practice today to avoid suffering."

Lunch was a lively affair. At first, the Shrek academy members were considerate of Qin Ming's feelings, but once they saw that the Royal Academy cafeteria had no food limits, Ma Hongjun and Oscar immediately let loose. Flender sat to the side, looking at the table full of dishes, his eyes filled with both heartache and satisfaction.

"These are all free?"

Qin Ming nodded.

"Supply from the Academy."

Flender muttered, "What a waste."

Yuan Yu picked up a piece of meat.

"Dean, this is called a resource."

"Resources can't be wasted like this."

"Then don't eat it."

Flender glanced at him and pulled the plate closer to himself.

After lunch, Qin Ming took them to the Training Ground.

The Training Ground was large, and several teams of students from the Heaven Dou Royal Academy were training nearby. As soon as Shrek Academy's group entered, many eyes turned to them. The incident at the city gate had already spread; many people knew that a group of teenagers from Soto had arrived today and had even embarrassed a noble student at the gate.

Not far away, a silver-haired youth put down his long spear and walked over with several students.

"You're Shrek?"

Dai Mubai was too lazy to waste words.

"What's up?"

The silver-haired youth smiled.

"I heard you're going to the Royal Academy. The academy has no shortage of students, especially those who get in through connections."

Ma Hongjun had just finished eating, and his temper was still flaring.

"Who are you saying relied on connections?"

"Whoever feels guilty is guilty."

The silver-haired youth raised his spear, and four Spirit Ring lit up beneath his feet. Several students behind him also summoned their Martial Soul, all of them being three-ring Soul Elder.

Qin Ming frowned and said, "Lin Ze, step back."

The silver-haired youth looked at Qin Ming, his tone still respectful.

"Teacher Qin, we just want to see what our new classmates are capable of. Is it against the rules to spar at the Royal Academy Training Ground?"

As soon as he said that, the surrounding students immediately gathered around.

Flender did not stop him.

He knew that for Shrek to gain a foothold here, the approval of the Three Education Committee Members alone wouldn't be enough. Most students at the Heaven Dou Royal Academy came from prestigious backgrounds, and if they withdrew on the first day, they would only face more trouble later.

Yuan Yu didn't go on stage either, but leaned against the railing and lazily said, "Mu Bai, don't break the floor. The Dean sees everything at the Royal Academy as money now."

Flender refrained from cursing.

Dai Mubai stepped onto the stage, followed by Tang San, Xiao Wu, Zhu Zhuqing, Ma Hongjun, Oscar, and Ning Rongrong.

Seeing Oscar standing in the group, Lin Ze laughed and said, "Food System too?"

Oscar raised his hand, chanted the soul incantation, and several sausages appeared in his palm.

"What's wrong with Food System? You won't have any to eat later if you want to."

The exchange began quickly.

Lin Ze thrust his spear straight at Dai Mubai, the tip condensing his Soul Power into a cold light. Dai Mubai didn't dodge; he activated his White Tiger Bodyguard Barrier and met the attack head-on. The spear tip struck the golden light of the White Tiger, producing a piercing sound. Dai Mubai's shoulders slumped, but his hands gripped the spear shaft tightly, forcefully pulling Lin Ze forward a step.

Tang San's Blue Silver Grass parted from the ground, first entangling two Soul Elders, then creating a leverage point for Xiao Wu. Xiao Wu stepped on the Blue Silver Grass with her toes, flipped over, her rabbit ears swayed lightly, and kicked her opponent in the shoulder, sending him out of the arena.

Zhu Zhuqing was even faster. After consuming the Narcissus Jade Muscle Bone, her coordination and explosive power increased significantly, leaving her almost as nothing more than a few black shadows. The Agility-type Soul Master opposite her tried to flank her, but as soon as he turned around, a Netherworld Claw was already poised beside his neck.

Ma Hongjun's Phoenix Fire fell from mid-air, forcing the two students to retreat repeatedly.

"Don't worry, the fire's clean today, it won't burn your clothes!"

He said that, but a stray spark burned off half of the other person's sleeve.

"A mistake, a complete mistake!"

The student looked down at his cuff, his face turning green.

"You call this 'unburnable'?"

Ma Hongjun spoke with righteous indignation.

"He's not a bad person."

Laughter immediately erupted from the sidelines. Lin Ze's face darkened, and he tried to Dai Mubai's distraction to draw his spear and defend, but Tang San's Blue Silver Grass had already wrapped around the spear's end. The Blue Silver Grass wasn't thick, but it was extremely resilient. Lin Ze tried to pull it off but failed, and Dai Mubai seized the opportunity, unleashing a White Tiger Fierce Light Wave that forced him to retreat three steps.

Nine-Colored Radiance rose from Ning Rongrong's palm. Although the tower's shadow was only revealed for a moment, it made several knowledgeable teachers on the sidelines stand up.

"Is that the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda?"

"No, the ninth floor?"

Qin Ming's heart tightened upon hearing this, but he knew he couldn't hide it any longer. Since Ning Rongrong was going to follow Shrek, she couldn't stay hidden forever.

The battle ended quickly.

Lin Ze was knocked back by Dai Mubai's palm strike, and his spear slipped from his hand and stuck in the ground. He looked at the Shrek members in the arena, his previous disdain gone.

Yuan Yu then put the Wine Gourd away.

"Can we still eat?"

Upon hearing this, Ma Hongjun immediately turned around.

"Is there still no limit at night?"

The Heaven Dou students around him had complicated expressions.

Just then, an old man walked in from the entrance of the Training Ground, followed by two academy Deacon.

"Shrek members, the Three Education Committee Members request that you enter the hall."

Qin Ming's expression turned serious.

The important business that needed to be done has arrived.