After a round of introductions, everyone had gotten to know one another a little.
Xiao Yan turned to Dai Mubai and said:
"Mubai, why don't you tell us about the academy's classes and rules?"
Dai Mubai nodded lightly and addressed the group:
"It's simple. The academy has more teachers than students, so the actual classes depend on what the academy announces. Most of the time, they're tailored specifically for us."
"As for the rules... Simply put, apart from forbidding rape, pillaging, and kidnapping, the academy places no other restrictions on us. It even encourages students to fight and gamble."
Xiao Yan frowned slightly when he heard this, and Dai Mubai continued:
"The teachers believe that fighting is the best way to become familiar with your Martial Soul. Only by gaining more actual combat experience can you properly master your Martial Soul and grow stronger."
"Gambling, meanwhile, is another kind of psychological contest. It's highly beneficial for strengthening your mental resilience and improving your powers of observation and judgment."
"But everything must be done in moderation. You can't kill anyone in a fight, and you can't become addicted to gambling."
As Dai Mubai spoke, everyone showed a trace of surprise. It was their first time hearing about Shrek Academy's peculiar rules.
"Dong~"
Just then, a long, resonant bell rang out across the academy. Dai Mubai's expression turned serious as he said to the group:
"Hm? That's the academy's assembly bell. Looks like the dean is back. Come on, let's gather at the training ground."
After explaining, Dai Mubai led the group toward the training ground.
When they arrived, Flender was already standing there, a serious expression on his face.
The three of them spotted Flender from a distance. Xiao Wu immediately cried out and pointed at him:
"It's him, that money-grubbing shopkeeper!"
Beside them, Oscar and the others followed Xiao Wu's gaze, their expressions turning a little strange.
"That's our academy's dean, Dean Flender."
Oscar leaned closer to Xiao Yan and the others. After cautiously glancing in Flender's direction, he lowered his voice and said:
"Also... Although the dean is greedy for money... he's extremely protective of his own..."
"Oscar, get over here!"
Oscar had barely finished speaking when Flender called out from a distance, making Oscar cry out in dismay.
Everyone fell into line on the training ground without being told. Flender's gaze swept over them, lingering particularly on Tang San and Xiao Yan. His eyes paused briefly on their Twenty-Four Moonlit Bridges and Black Dragon.
"Everyone, congratulations to the four Little Monsters who have just joined Shrek Academy. Mubai, explain the academy's rules to them later, then take them to Teacher Li in the logistics department to pay one hundred Gold Soul Coins."
"Tonight, you will have your first class at Shrek Academy. It won't be easy, so you'd best use the day to get yourselves into peak condition."
"Yes." Dai Mubai nodded, his voice filled with respect. It was clear that he greatly admired Dean Flender.
After speaking, Flender turned his gaze to Oscar and Ning Rongrong and addressed them:
"Oscar, Ning Rongrong, you two are support Soul Masters, so you're exceptions. Your training starts now."
Oscar looked at Oscar and Ning Rongrong standing before him and nodded before speaking:
"As support Soul Masters, what matters most?"
"Making good use of everything in your surroundings to protect yourself and hiding behind your teammates," Oscar answered immediately.
Ning Rongrong nodded beside him. As support Soul Masters, this was a rule of survival they all had to remember.
"Correct, but not entirely." Flender nodded.
"The first thing a support Soul Master needs to train is their body. You have to run fast enough. As long as you can run fast enough, you can escape any danger!"
Flender spoke calmly, then began assigning Oscar and Ning Rongrong their task:
"Now, Oscar, take Ning Rongrong and run twenty laps around the village. If you don't finish before noon, you don't get to eat!"
Oscar's face fell at Flender's demand.
Ning Rongrong, on the other hand, looked utterly confident. She had done plenty of physical training in the sect, and as far as she was concerned, this was a simple task.
As he watched the two gradually disappear into the distance, Flender turned his gaze to Xiao Yan and Tang San and said:
"Xiao Yan, Tang San, you two come with me."
The two followed Flender into the dean's office. Flender turned around, looked them over, and asked:
"How is Grandmaster?"
"Teacher is doing well." Xiao Yan nodded, took an envelope out of the Black Dragon, and handed it to Flender. "Dean, Grandmaster asked us to give you this letter after we enrolled."
Flender took the envelope, a flicker of excitement passing through his eyes. He said:
"That fellow... Has he finally stopped avoiding us...?"
Flender looked at the envelope, his hands trembling slightly. He was visibly much more stirred up, and Xiao Yan and Tang San exchanged a glance, unable to understand what could make a Soul Saint like Flender so excited.
"You fool, it wasn't your fault... Why do you need to prove anything...?"
After reading the letter, Flender carefully put it away and took a deep breath. Only then did he look at the two and say:
"The fact that Grandmaster accepted you as his disciples says enough about your talent. But tonight's class won't be easy, so go back and get yourselves ready..."
Xiao Yan and Tang San bowed to Flender, then took their leave.
Outside Shrek Academy, Oscar watched Ning Rongrong walk away, a resentful look on her face. A trace of disappointment appeared on his own.
He wanted to persuade Ning Rongrong to stay, but she paid no mind to his attempts.
Ning Rongrong dared to do as she pleased, but he did not.
He could only run around the village by himself as instructed. Fortunately, in the scorching heat, he could take a few bites of the grilled sausages formed by his Martial Soul from time to time to replenish his strength.
The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect was renowned throughout the entire Douluo Continent.
This was not only because it was the sect that inherited the continent's foremost support Martial Soul, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda, but also because two Titled Douluo held the fort there.
Inside the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's great hall, Ning Fengzhi rubbed his brow as he looked at the message in his hand.
"That girl Rongrong... I hope she'll grow up a little on this trip..."
"Whoosh!"
A sharp presence came whistling in from outside the great hall, taking the form of a man at its entrance. He had an immortal air, sword-like brows and starry eyes, and an imposing bearing even without anger.
"Fengzhi, I heard you sent Rongrong off to train at some Shrek Academy? What kind of trash heap is that? What could they possibly teach Rongrong?"
"I'd better go bring her back."
This man was one of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's Titled Douluo, Sword Douluo Chen Xin!
"Uh... Wait, Uncle Jian!"
Ning Fengzhi pressed a hand to his forehead and said:
"Rongrong sneaked out on her own. But Shrek Academy was founded by Flender, one of the Golden Iron Triangle of old. It's a good place for Rongrong to study, too."
"Oh?"
Sword Douluo frowned and said to Ning Fengzhi:
"That won't do. Rongrong has never been so far from home. Going to such a remote place, who knows what grievances she'll suffer..."
"Uncle Jian, I've already written to Flender. I'm sure he'll take good care of Rongrong. Besides, if she comes back to the sect, with you two protecting her, she won't be able to settle down and cultivate."
Ning Fengzhi stopped Sword Douluo, and after much persuasion, Sword Douluo finally relented.
But at Ning Fengzhi's words, Chen Xin glared at him and said:
"If we don't dote on Rongrong, are we supposed to stand by and watch her suffer instead?"
Still, Chen Xin knew they couldn't bring themselves to be hard on Ning Rongrong. He sighed and said:
"Forget it, forget it. I'd better go practice my swordsmanship with that old bag of bones..."
With that, Chen Xin transformed into a streak of sword light and whistled away, disappearing into the mountain behind the sect.