Arriving at Shrek

Tang San paused. "You want to become his disciple?"

"Obviously! Who wouldn't?"

Tang San smiled. "I wouldn't know about that. You'll have to ask Teacher yourself when the time comes. Teacher generally doesn't take disciples lightly, but he cherishes talent."

"Boss Dai, with your talent, Teacher should appreciate you."

"Haha, that's good!"

Zhu Zhuqing stood nearby without speaking, but her gaze had clearly changed.

The strength Tang San and Xiao Wu had displayed was simply too astonishing. They were the same age, yet the gap between them was like a vast chasm.

If Yu Xiaogang was willing to take her as his disciple, could she become stronger like them too?

She had always been a woman of few words. The thought merely turned over in her mind, and she did not voice it.

Night fell, and a bright moon hung in the night sky.

On Shrek Academy's training ground, Flender stood before the new students, his blazing gaze sweeping over each of them.

Then he looked at Oscar and Ning Rongrong.

"Did you two finish running?"

Oscar stepped forward, wiping the sweat from his forehead as he answered, "Headmaster, I finished."

Flender raised his brows slightly. "I asked about both of you, not just you."

Oscar's heart tightened, and cold sweat immediately broke out on his forehead. He stammered, "Yes, we... we both finished."

The moment he finished speaking, Flender waved a hand. A flash of light sealed Oscar's soul power outright. "What a fine spirit of friendship. I've sealed your soul power. Now, run another twenty laps."

Oscar went rigid. He clenched his fists, but did not dare say a word, turning and silently walking toward the track.

Flender's gaze shifted to Ning Rongrong, who stood pale-faced nearby. "Whatever the reason, a lie is a lie. Tell me, did you complete the assignment?"

Ning Rongrong clasped her hands before her chest, her eyes shifting evasively as she argued in a low voice, "It was too far... and I was hungry. I couldn't keep going..."

"So you went into the city for a feast, browsed the shopping district, and found Oscar to help cover up your lie as soon as you returned. Is that right?"

Flender exposed the truth in a single statement.

Ning Rongrong abruptly raised her head, her eyes full of shock. "You were spying on me!"

"As headmaster, I am responsible for every student."

Flender's expression was solemn.

"You left the academy without permission, disobeyed its arrangements, and even had someone lie for you. That is inexcusable! Oscar's mistake was trying to get you off the hook, which is understandable."

Pampered since childhood, Ning Rongrong had never endured such a scolding. Anger immediately surged within her, and she retorted loudly, "You're exaggerating! This is just an academy!"

"That's right! This is my Shrek Academy!"

Flender's voice suddenly rose.

"But in my eyes, every student here is better than you. Since you think so little of this academy, please leave!"

Ning Rongrong's face was full of defiance. "I'm the only daughter of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's master! The sect's greatest genius in a hundred years! I broke through rank twenty before I turned twelve! How dare you belittle me?!"

Unintimidated by her status, Flender spoke calmly, beginning to list the abilities of each student present. "Dai Mubai, fifteen years old, a Battle Soul Elder with the best soul ring configuration. He reached rank thirty at thirteen."

"Tang San and Xiao Wu are already Four-Ring Soul Ancestors at twelve. In terms of genius, I believe no one on the entire continent can compare with them."

"Ma Hongjun has the Phoenix, a top-tier beast martial soul. Although his martial soul has a defect, few people on the continent can match its potential."

"Zhu Zhuqing's soul power is much the same as yours, but she has a steadfast, persistent heart. You don't."

"As for Oscar... a food-type Soul Master with innate full soul power. Unprecedented."

"There is no limit to what he can achieve in the future. Sooner or later, he will become the strongest support system Soul Master, capable of replacing the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda."

Ning Rongrong's pupils suddenly contracted, her face full of disbelief.

How could a support system martial soul possibly have innate full soul power?

"A support system Soul Master without companions is nothing but cannon fodder on the battlefield. Even your father wouldn't dare claim to stand above everyone under heaven, much less a girl like you."

Every word Flender spoke hammered at Ning Rongrong's heart. Unable to hold herself together any longer, she covered her face and ran off crying.

Watching her retreating figure, Dai Mubai felt somewhat worried. He stepped forward and gently urged, "Headmaster, weren't you a little too harsh? As for the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect..."

"Hmph! However powerful the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect may be, it has no say in Shrek's affairs!"

A moment later, his expression softened slightly, and he sighed.

"Ning Rongrong isn't bad by nature. As long as she learns her lesson, that's enough. All right, leave her be. Let's continue today's lesson."

Seeing this, Dai Mubai and the others could only follow his arrangements.

"Tonight's lesson will take place at the Great Soul Arena in Suotuo City."

With that, Flender set off first, and the others followed behind him.

Everyone from Shrek Academy set out, following the village road toward Suotuo City.

Not long after they left, two figures arrived together outside the village where Shrek Academy was located.

Standing at the village entrance, Liu Erlong surveyed the desolate surroundings, her brows twisting into a knot. "Boss Fu opened his Shrek Academy in a place like this? Isn't this a little too shabby?"

Yu Xiaogang smiled, having expected as much. "Well, you know Flender's financial situation."

"Honestly, he should have told me sooner. If he was willing to go to Blue Tyrant Academy, I'd even give him the whole academy."

Yu Xiaogang turned to look at her. "Haha, have you forgotten why we came? Flender and his people are all capable hands. Their talents are wasted in this little village."

Liu Erlong gave a knowing smile and hooked her arm through his. "True."

The two soon reached the academy gates.

A wooden sign hung crookedly above the entrance.

The words "Shrek Academy" were carved quite respectably, but unfortunately, most of the paint had peeled away.

The grounds were deserted, without even a gatekeeper.

"They don't even have a gatekeeper?"

Liu Erlong craned her neck to peer inside.

"Isn't this academy run a little too casually?"

The two walked inside.

The so-called Shrek Academy was actually just a rented plot of land in the village. Several dingy, tiled-roof houses formed a circle, and the open stretch of packed yellow earth in the middle served as the training ground.

Without the sign at the entrance, no one would have imagined this was an academy.

Yu Xiaogang took a few steps through the grounds and looked around. Actually, the place was fairly spacious.

Suddenly, faint sobbing came from nearby.

Yu Xiaogang stopped and looked toward the sound. Beneath an old locust tree in a corner of the grounds, a pink-haired girl crouched with her shoulders shaking, clearly crying.

Ning Rongrong? Yu Xiaogang recognized that distinctive pink hair almost at a glance.

He gave Liu Erlong a meaningful look, and the two walked over.

Liu Erlong crouched down, softening her voice. "Little girl? Why are you crying here? Has someone bullied you? Tell your big sister, and I'll get revenge for you!"

Hearing the voice, Ning Rongrong looked up. Her eyes were already somewhat red and swollen from crying, and the tip of her nose was red. She looked truly pitiful.

"Who are you?"

Liu Erlong smiled, her tone bright and straightforward. "My name is Liu Erlong, and this is Yu Xiaogang."