After lunch, Tang Feng saw Dugu Yan and Ye Lingling off, but the three elders in the living room continued their conversation without stopping. Especially when it came to their expertise in making and detoxifying poisons, Dugu Bo and Yang Wudi talked non-stop, one after the other.
Although Ye Qingxin, who mainly focuses on treatment, also has unique insights into detoxification, she occasionally chimes in with her own thoughts. The three of them get along very well and find it as if they have found kindred spirits. Once they start talking, they can't stop.
Tang Feng listened for a while, and seeing that the three elders showed no sign of stopping, he simply said, "Grandpa, you and the two seniors continue your conversation. I'll just go and take a look around the Shrek Academy by myself."
Yang Wudi snapped out of his reverie from the heated discussion and thought for a moment. Shrek Academy wasn't far, and with his perception abilities, he could immediately detect any major commotion there. He nodded and said, "Alright, then be careful on the road, don't cause trouble, and don't linger too long."
"Understood." Tang Feng replied, stood up, nodded to Dugu Bo and Ye Qingxin, and then left alone.
Following the direction pointed out by Dugu Yan, Tang Feng found Shrek Academy without much effort.
The gates of the Shrek Academy are not grand, but they possess a simple and solid charm.
Tang Feng approached the gatekeeper and politely said, "Excuse me, sir, I'm looking for Oscar, Zhu Zhuqing, and Ning Rongrong, students of your academy. I'm their friend. Could you please show me in?"
The gatekeeper glanced at Tang Feng. The young man was tall and straight with clear eyes. Although his clothes were not fancy, the calm demeanor he exuded was unlike that of an ordinary person.
The security guards, being shrewd, immediately became polite. "Oh, okay. They should be in the conference room over in the teaching building right now. Please come with me."
Meanwhile, in the large conference room on the first floor of the Shrek Academy teaching building, the members of the Shrek Team sat on either side of each other in their respective chairs. Dean Flender, team leader Grandmaster Yu, and Immovable Wisdom King Zhao Wuji were in the main seats in the center.
At this moment, there were three more people beside the main seat than usual: Ning Fengzhi and Bone Douluo from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, and Crown Prince Xue Qinghe.
Ning Fengzhi maintained his warm smile, while Bone Douluo kept his eyes half-closed. Xue Qinghe, or rather Qian Renxue, wore a perfect, jade-like smile.
Flender adjusted his glasses and said clearly, "The academy is honored today to have Sect Master Ning and His Highness the Crown Prince visit us."
Ning Fengzhi waved to everyone. "First of all, congratulations on qualifying for the next round. I look forward to seeing even better results from you in the qualifying rounds and the finals."
Xue Qinghe, who was standing to the side, also offered a few words of encouragement, his words full of attempts to win them over.
Then Flender spoke up, "Also, I have some good news to announce. In the past two days, Oscar and Zhu Zhuqing have both broken through the level 40 barrier. There are still more than twenty days until the promotion competition starts, so there's still plenty of time. The academy has decided that Vice Dean Zhao Wuji and I will lead a team to hunt for suitable Fourth Soul Ring for them as soon as possible. This will give us more trump cards in the promotion competition and the finals. The rest of the team members will stay at the academy to continue their training and must not slack off."
As soon as Flender finished speaking, Oscar couldn't help but show a look of joy, and although Zhu Zhuqing remained aloof, a glint of light flashed in her eyes. The others all cast congratulatory glances their way.
Just then, the gatekeeper led Tang Feng to the lobby on the first floor, exchanged a few words with the guards on the first floor, and then left. The guards looked at Tang Feng, then went inside to report, while Tang Feng waited to the side.
Just as Flender was about to announce the dissolution, "knock, knock," there was a knock on the meeting room door.
"Please come in!"
The guard pushed open the door, bowed slightly, and said, "Dean, a man named ' Tang Feng ' requests an audience in the hall. He claims to be a friend of Oscar, Zhu Zhuqing, and Ning Rongrong, and is currently waiting there."
As soon as the guard finished speaking, a subtle silence fell over the meeting room, and everyone's expressions became extremely varied.
Oscar and Zhu Zhuqing's eyes lit up almost simultaneously, a clear look of surprise crossing their faces. Ning Rongrong couldn't help but exclaim "Ah!" and looked curiously towards the doorway.
Sitting in the main seat, Ning Fengzhi's gentle and refined face flashed with obvious surprise, but he quickly regained his composure.
Crown Prince Xue Qinghe tilted his head slightly, a hint of doubt rising in his heart.
Grandmaster Yu's face instantly darkened, his lips tightened, and his usual seriousness was mixed with a clear displeasure and aloofness.
Dai Mubai's reaction was the most direct. His handsome face suddenly tightened, a sharp glint flashed in his heterochromatic eyes, and his hand on his lap unconsciously clenched into a fist. This name, which had disappeared for more than two years, had now reappeared and was even linked to Zhu Zhuqing, causing a surge of intense anger to rise in Dai Mubai's heart.
Flender adjusted his glasses, his gaze sweeping over the core disciples with their varied expressions, then glancing at the composed Ning Fengzhi and Xue Qinghe, quickly weighing his options. He cleared his throat and said calmly, "We've already dismissed, and since you're looking for Little Ao and Zhu Zhuqing, let's go out together."
As Flender finished speaking, the subtle atmosphere in the conference room seemed to find a natural outlet. Everyone stood up and followed Flender out.
Upon entering the hall, Tang Feng stood quietly. Seeing a group of people emerge, his gaze immediately caught sight of several familiar figures, and a sincere smile appeared on his face.
Tai Long was among them. Tang Feng gave Tai Long a knowing look, Tai Long immediately understood, pretending not to recognize him.
" Big Brother Tang! You're finally back!" The Little Demoness Ning Rongrong was the first to wave and greet him cheerfully, breaking the slightly awkward silence.
Tang Feng waved to her, his gaze sweeping over everyone before finally settling on Oscar and Zhu Zhuqing. He said apologetically, "I'm sorry for the sudden visit. Did I disturb your cultivation?"
"No, no!" Ning Rongrong answered first, appearing very happy.
Oscar nodded repeatedly, quickly walked over to Tang Feng, and greeted him.
Although Zhu Zhuqing didn't speak, she walked closer, her still cool gaze carrying a barely perceptible longing as she looked at Tang Feng. She nodded slightly as a greeting.
Just then, Ning Fengzhi's gentle voice rang out, carrying the composure and appreciation of an elder. "Young friend Tang, it's been a few years since we last met, and your cultivation has improved considerably. It seems you've gained a great deal from this journey."
Upon hearing this, apart from Ning Rongrong, Oscar, and Zhu Zhuqing, who already knew Tang Feng's identity, everyone else, including Flender, Zhao Wuji, Yu Xiaogang, and even Crown Prince Xue Qinghe, couldn't help but show varying degrees of shock on their faces.
The sect leader of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, a key figure in one of the Upper Three Sects, possesses an extremely noble status. Why would he be so polite to a young man who looks to be under twenty, even displaying obvious approval in his tone? Just who is this " Tang Feng "?
Yu Xiaogang's face grew even darker, his brows furrowed. Dai Mubai's wariness and hostility deepened, and he subconsciously glanced at Zhu Zhuqing again, only to find that her attention seemed entirely focused on Tang Feng, which fueled his anger even more.
A sharp glint flashed in Xue Qinghe's eyes, but his perfect smile remained flawless; however, his assessment of her instantly rose several levels.
Faced with Ning Fengzhi's praise, Tang Feng bowed slightly, neither humble nor arrogant. " Sect Master Ning, you flatter me. This junior was merely fortunate; in terms of demeanor and bearing, I am far inferior to you."
Flender suppressed his surprise and doubt. As the dean of Shrek Academy and the host, he had to take control of the situation.
Flender adjusted his glasses and said, "Young friend Tang Feng, you're a guest from afar. Since you're friends with Little Ao and Zhu Zhuqing, you're also friends of Shrek. Perhaps... we could talk somewhere else? The main hall isn't exactly a place for reminiscing."
Ning Fengzhi nodded and smiled in agreement. Xue Qinghe also seemed to readily agree.
Tang Feng naturally understood Flender's meaning and didn't want to offend him, so he nodded and said, "Then I'll leave it to Dean Flender to arrange."
Tang Feng's gaze inadvertently met Zhu Zhuqing's clear eyes for a fleeting moment before naturally shifting away, as if it were just an ordinary glance. But this brief eye contact caused Dai Mubai, who had been watching them intently, to clench his fists even tighter.