Fifty Years Spent Honing Level Twenty-Nine

The Drunken Sky Pavilion's Eight Treasures Feast truly lived up to its name. The Gugas ate until grease shone around their mouths, and more than a dozen empty plates were stacked in front of Dark Gold Guga. The waiter brought the bill: 888 Gold Soul Coins. Flender's face turned green on the spot. He counted the coins in one pouch—not enough—then pulled another from his robes and emptied out the last few coins. He scraped together the total bit by bit, and his hand shook as he paid.

Dark Gold Guga spat out a bone and looked at Flender.

"Dean, why do you look so pale, Guga?"

Flender tucked the empty pouches back into his robes. Looking at the wreckage covering the table and the Gugas still licking their plates, his mouth twitched.

Lin Yuan stood and patted Flender on the shoulder.

"Dean Flender, thanks for the meal. We'll come visit Shrek Academy in a few days."

Ning Fengzhi and Gu Rong left first, and Dugu Bo took Dugu Yan home as well. By the time Lin Yuan's group walked out of the Drunken Sky Pavilion, night had fallen completely. Dark Gold Guga walked at the back.

"Will Dean Flender treat us again next time, Guga?"

Starry Guga thought for a moment.

"Probably. The dean's so nice. He buys us meals every time, Guga."

A few days later, Lin Yuan's group arrived at Shrek Academy. Xiao Wu, Zhu Zhuqing, Ning Rongrong, Yang Qiumo, Bai Chenxiang, and Niu Yue followed behind him.

The former Blue Tyrant Advanced Academy was impressive indeed. Its gates were hundreds of times larger than those of the shabby village they had started in. As soon as they entered, they heard a chorus of rhythmic shouts from the Training Ground. Tai Long, Jing Ling, Jiang Zhu, and