Flender

Biodata

Power Progression

Background / History

Golden Iron Triangle

Flender traveled with Yu Xiaogang and Liu Erlong as the Golden Iron Triangle, serving as its Flying Corner and the eldest of their sworn siblings. Their reputation rested partly on a formidable three-in-one Martial Soul Fusion Skill, whose development Flender credited to Yu Xiaogang’s theoretical guidance 32 37 38 40.

Flender loved Liu Erlong, but accepted her choice of Yu Xiaogang and agreed to officiate their wedding. Yu Luomian interrupted the ceremony, exposing that the couple were close cousins. Flender later recalled that Yu Luomian defeated him in a single move 38 39 77.

Founding Shrek Academy

After his time with the Golden Iron Triangle, Flender founded Shrek Academy with a close group of fellow Soul Masters. Zhao Wuji took refuge with him after offending Tai Tan and helped establish the academy 56 61.

Shrek accepted only exceptionally talented students but lacked official credentials, adequate resources, and eligibility for the Soul Master Tournament. Flender rejected investment from the Balak royal family because it required graduates to enter royal service, and because he disliked the royal family’s conduct 32 39 40.

Yu Xiaogang’s Return and the Secret Manuals

When Yu Xiaogang arrived at Shrek, Flender welcomed him immediately and privately urged him to stop avoiding Liu Erlong. Yu Xiaogang refused to resume their relationship, citing their blood relationship and the potential damage to the Golden Iron Triangle’s reputation 38.

Yu Xiaogang then presented modified Tang Sect manuals as his own creations. Flender noticed oddities in the techniques but trusted his sworn brother’s explanations. Hoping to strengthen Shrek and attract investment, he obtained permission to share them with the academy’s teachers and defended Yu Xiaogang against Zhao Wuji’s suspicions 39 40 41.

Evacuation of Shrek

Flender overheard Zhao Wuji accusing Yu Xiaogang of stealing Tang San’s techniques, which Zhao believed were Clear Sky Sect secrets. After Yu Xiaogang failed to explain their development convincingly, Flender concluded that his brother had deceived him and endangered the academy 59 60.

Despite his anger, Flender gave Yu Xiaogang Gold Soul Coins, told him to flee, and promised to conceal the affair. He suggested seeking protection from the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan or Blue Tyrant Academy, but Yu Xiaogang instead resolved to take revenge on him 60 61.

Flender organized Shrek’s departure for Liu Erlong’s Blue Tyrant Academy at nightfall, explicitly leaving Tang San behind. Zhao Wuji supported a cover story centered on his old feud with Tai Tan. Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing questioned that explanation, but accompanied the group, which departed by another route to avoid Tai Tan 61 65 66.

Confrontation at the Inn

While traveling, Ma Hongjun harassed Shui Jingyan’s daughters, Shui Bing’er and Shui Yue’er. Flender proposed settling the incident privately by engaging Ma Hongjun to one of the girls, citing his talent and the potential compatibility of their Phoenix martial souls. The proposal enraged Shui Jingyan and drew intervention from Leng Yulai and Leng Yaozhu 67 69 70.

Flender pleaded for Ma Hongjun’s life and offered to bear the punishment himself. When Leng Yulai burned Ma Hongjun, Flender attempted to attack, but a soul-power slap hurled him through the inn’s wall and severed both feet. His soul power subsequently fell to Soul Saint 71 73.

Afterward, Flender acknowledged his failure to teach Ma Hongjun properly, but continued to argue that provoking others was acceptable if the target could be handled. He pressed the group to seek Liu Erlong’s protection and continued looking for treatment for his disciple. Believing his own injuries beyond repair, he accepted a wheelchair and continued toward Heaven Dou City 74 75 76.

Personality

Flender combines financial ambition with selective loyalty. He wants Shrek to gain recognition and investment, and sees powerful students and stronger teachers as ways to achieve that goal. The academy’s exploitation of talented commoners is repeatedly criticized; Zhao Wuji also privately attributes its financial difficulties to Flender’s unsuccessful investments 37 39 40 56.

His loyalty makes him protective but also credulous. He dismisses irregularities in Yu Xiaogang’s manuals because he trusts his brother, then preserves Yu Xiaogang’s dignity even after discovering the deception. His devotion to Liu Erlong similarly leads him to encourage her relationship with Yu Xiaogang despite their close blood relationship 38 39 60 61 64.

Flender excuses serious misconduct by those close to him. He attempts to turn Ma Hongjun’s harassment into an engagement arrangement and invokes the boy’s youth when seeking leniency. Even after being crippled, his correction focuses on choosing opponents they can afford to provoke rather than rejecting the behavior itself 69 71 74.

Abilities & Skills

Flying-Type Martial Soul

Flender possesses a high-grade flying-type martial soul and is known as the Golden Iron Triangle’s Flying Corner 32.

• His aerial attacks are regarded as formidable 46.
• Flight does not guarantee victory over experienced Soul Douluos: Tai Tan is considered capable of exploiting an attack to seize and seriously injure him 46 59.
• After losing both feet, his overall fighting strength falls sharply alongside his soul power 73.

Three-in-One Martial Soul Fusion

Flender can participate in the Golden Iron Triangle’s Martial Soul Fusion Skill with Yu Xiaogang and Liu Erlong 37 40.

• The technique is famous in the Soul Master world for its considerable power 37.
• Flender credits its development to Yu Xiaogang’s theoretical direction 39 40.
• It is a cooperative technique involving all three members, not an individual ability 37.

Enhanced Hearing

Flender’s hearing is sufficiently acute for him to expect to detect his colleagues attempting to eavesdrop on a private conversation 38.

• He later secretly listens to Zhao Wuji’s confrontation with Yu Xiaogang before intervening 60.

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Modified Tang Sect manuals — Yu Xiaogang supplies altered versions of the Mysterious Heaven Skill, Mysterious Jade Hand, Purple Demon Eye, Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track, and Controlling Crane Capturing Dragon. Flender studies them and arranges for Shrek’s teachers to learn them, initially believing Yu Xiaogang created them 39 40.
• Wheelchair — Obtained by his companions after the destruction of his feet; used during the journey toward Blue Tyrant Academy 75.

Relationships

• Yu Xiaogang — Sworn younger brother and fellow Golden Iron Triangle member. Flender initially defends his intelligence and integrity, but expels him after the manual controversy while still protecting his reputation 38 40 60 61.
• Liu Erlong — Sworn younger sister and the woman Flender loves. He supports her choice of Yu Xiaogang and later relies on her academy and connections as a possible refuge 38 61 74.
• Zhao Wuji — Shrek’s vice dean and Flender’s longtime companion. Zhao conceals Yu Xiaogang’s actions for Flender’s sake and declares that he will die beside him rather than abandon him during the confrontation with the Leng sisters 40 61 70.
• Ma Hongjun — Personal disciple. Flender repeatedly shields him and continues seeking treatment after both are injured, although Ma Hongjun eventually comes to resent the group 69 71 75 76.
• Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing — New students who distrust his explanation for leaving Shrek. His handling of Ma Hongjun’s harassment further convinces Ning Rongrong to leave with Zhu Zhuqing 66 69.
• Leng Yulai and Leng Yaozhu — Titled Douluos who condemn his defense of Ma Hongjun and punish the pair for their treatment of women 69 70 71.

Notable Quotes

“Although I, Flender, am no decent fellow, no good man, the point is that I’ve never thought of screwing over my brothers.” 60

“Even though I taught you that those who don’t dare cause trouble are trash, you still have to choose people you can afford to provoke.” 74