Think More About Why You're Falling Behind

Ji Hongchen walked in.

He caught Yu Xiaogang muttering about destroying Heaven Dou Royal Academy and couldn't hold back his laughter.

"Pfft~"

Hearing the laughter, Yu Xiaogang hurriedly looked up. At the sight of Ji Hongchen's smile, his heart sank, and his features gradually twisted with rage.

"You're only relying on your advantage in soul power. If Tang San and the others were at your level, you wouldn't necessarily win."

"Heh."

Ji Hongchen couldn't help laughing aloud. He looked at Yu Xiaogang and said disdainfully, "Everyone cultivates. Think about why you've fallen behind instead of cursing heaven and blaming everyone else."

"Trash is trash!"

"Especially you. You swindled and conned your way through publishing a few bullshit papers, and now you think you're really Douluo's foremost theoretical grandmaster?"

Yu Xiaogang bristled with rage. He pointed at Ji Hongchen, his voice trembling with anger. "You... you're spouting nonsense."

Nearby, Zhu Zhuqing watched Ji Hongchen looking down on them, a beauty in each arm and lovely women all around him. An unfamiliar feeling stirred in her heart.

They're both Soul Masters. Why is the gulf between Dai Mubai and Ji Hongchen so vast?

Ji Hongchen noticed Zhu Zhuqing's gaze too.

But he paid it no mind.

After all, Zhu Zhuqing couldn't offer him much help and wasn't worth deliberately courting. At most, she was a decorative vase he could toy with.

He didn't have a Martial Soul Fusion Skill with Zhu Zhuqing, either.

Ning Rongrong and the others were different. Those backing Ning Rongrong could give him vast amounts of cultivation resources, while Dugu Yan gave him a Titled Douluo bodyguard.

Even Ye Lingling had provided him with her family's Herbal Compendium and could help him gather medicinal herbs. And after taking Xiao Wu in, he could get two Hundred Thousand Year Soul Rings for free.

Qian Renxue went without saying. She was guaranteed to become a god, had a promising future, and was deeply devoted to him. Her value to him was self-evident.

But Zhu Zhuqing?

Her only distinction was being a daughter of the Zhu Family's main line in the Star Luo Empire. That was all. Beyond that, she wasn't even worth as much as a hundred-thousand-year soul beast.

Of course.

She did have one other redeeming quality: her looks. If she was willing to obey him, he could consider keeping her as a decorative vase.

Yu Xiaogang's face turned livid. Watching Ji Hongchen remain silent, he assumed the brat was deliberately giving him the cold shoulder and seethed with resentment.

But he was afraid of getting beaten.

He could only swallow his anger and carry Tang San and the others back to the lounge.

Inside Shrek's lounge.

The atmosphere was oppressive. Everyone sat in silence, preoccupied with their own thoughts.

Zhu Zhuqing kept her head lowered.

Her feelings were even more complicated.

She glanced at Dai Mubai, who had willingly sunk into depravity, and a jumble of emotions filled her heart.

She didn't know what to do.

If this keeps up, will Dai Mubai even be qualified to contend with Dai Weisi for the throne?

She didn't want to marry a piece of trash!

Yet deep down, she also wanted to become the empress of the Star Luo Empire.

Her heart was in agony.

On one hand, she didn't want to live out an ordinary life. On the other, Dai Mubai simply couldn't compete with Dai Weisi. She could see no hope.

Knock, knock, knock.

A knock sounded at the door.

Then a figure walked in.

"Teacher, I never thought I'd see you here."

The newcomer was Qin Ming. The instant he saw Flender again, he adopted an extremely humble attitude, almost bowing and scraping.

"Qin Ming?"

Flender came back to his senses. Seeing that the visitor was one of his proudest students, he couldn't help smiling faintly.

Excitement flashed in Qin Ming's eyes upon seeing the teacher he had longed to meet again. Then he noticed Flender's empty sleeve.

"Teacher, your arm!"

Qin Ming cried out in shock.

"What happened?"

Flender gave a bitter laugh.

"Ah, it's a long story."

As they spoke, Qin Ming glanced at Zhao Wuji and saw that he, too, was missing an arm. Shock filled his eyes, followed by a surge of anger.

"Teacher, who did this?"

"Though I'm only a Soul Emperor, I'm a student of Shrek Academy. I can't just stand by and do nothing!"

Seeing Qin Ming so furious.

Flender felt a measure of comfort. "It's all because of that brat named Ji Hongchen."

"What? Ji Hongchen!"

Qin Ming exclaimed, then said, "Ji Hongchen is my student. Did he attack Shrek Academy? Why?"

Zhao Wuji snorted coldly.

"Back then, Ma Hongjun only wanted to say hello to Ji Hongchen's girlfriend. Ji Hongchen took offense and crippled his manhood while he was at it."

"We couldn't stomach it and went to reason with them. But what could we do? They had powerful backing, and we couldn't fight them. Li Yusong and Lu Qibin were killed, and we each lost an arm."

Qin Ming's expression changed.

Then profound rage flooded him. His teachers had been injured and subjected to such humiliation. As their student, how could he stand by and do nothing?

"To think Ji Hongchen could be so cruel."

"When he first joined my class, I thought he was far too arrogant. I never imagined he could be so vicious and ruthless as well."

Qin Ming snorted coldly.

"I'll go confront him right now."

Seeing Qin Ming about to confront Ji Hongchen, Flender hurriedly stopped him. "Don't, Qin Ming. I know you mean well for the academy."

"But an arm can't wrestle a thigh. You'd better let it go."

He was also afraid that if Qin Ming confronted them and discovered they had started the trouble, things would become awkward.

Hearing this, Qin Ming felt utterly heartbroken.

Flender was quite satisfied with his reaction. "All I hope for now is to keep Shrek Academy running. That would be enough for me."

Qin Ming fell silent for a while.

Then, thinking of Shrek Academy's conditions, he decided to bring Shrek Academy into Heaven Dou Royal Academy and extended an invitation.

"Teacher, why don't you come with me to Heaven Dou Royal Academy? I'll vouch for you. Getting you into Heaven Dou Royal Academy definitely won't be a problem!"

"Well..."

Flender hesitated.

After all, once they joined Heaven Dou Royal Academy, would Shrek truly still be his Shrek?

Yu Xiaogang's eyes lit up.

"Yes. I think joining Heaven Dou Royal Academy would be a good choice."

"No! The monsters belong to Shrek!"

Flender firmly opposed it. Shrek was the fruit of his painstaking efforts. How could he simply hand it over?

Yu Xiaogang walked over to Flender.

"You're holding back the children's futures. What resources does Shrek Academy have? Aside from its mighty, invincible training regimen, what else is there?"

Flender had no answer.

Yu Xiaogang continued, "Besides, we'd only be joining Heaven Dou Royal Academy to make use of their resources."

"We'd use Heaven Dou Royal Academy's resources to raise Shrek Academy's children. Why wouldn't we? We'd be borrowing their hen to lay our eggs!"

Understanding dawned on Flender.

He looked at Yu Xiaogang with admiration.

"That's just like you, Xiaogang."

Hearing this, Qin Ming also nodded thoughtfully.

As a graduate of Shrek Academy.

He was part of Shrek too, and naturally hoped it would grow ever better. If they could use Heaven Dou Royal Academy's resources to make Shrek stronger.

He would naturally be happy to do so.

After all, Shrek would also help spread Heaven Dou Royal Academy's fame, so it wouldn't count as freeloading off Heaven Dou Royal Academy's resources.