Stepping out of the grand gates of the Education Committee, the sun shone brightly, but the Shrek students felt no warmth whatsoever as it shone upon them.
They came full of hope, and left full of resentment.
Flender stopped and looked back at the building that symbolized the highest-level Soul Master academy in the Heaven Dou Empire. His eyes were filled with complex emotions, including disappointment and anger, but more than anything, a sense of determination.
He patted Yu Xiaogang on the shoulder and said in a deep voice, " Xiaogang, don't take it to heart. If they don't want me here, there are plenty of other places that will."
Yu Xiaogang shook his head and smiled bitterly, "I've dragged everyone down with me."
"What nonsense are you spouting!" Zhao Wuji said gruffly. "That damned prince and nobleman, they're obviously no good! And that Poison Douluo, he bullies people just because he's strong! I don't even want to stay in this lousy place!"
"That's right! Grandmaster, you are our teacher, no one can drive you away!" Ma Hongjun shouted.
Dai Mubai said coldly, "We should have gone a little harder yesterday."
Tang San didn't speak, but judging from his eyes, he probably already harbored resentment towards Prince Xue Xing and the others.
Ning Rongrong whispered to Flender, "Dean, how about... I write home and see if I can..."
Flender waved his hand, interrupting Ning Rongrong: " Rongrong, I appreciate your kindness, Dean. But we at Shrek haven't reached the point where we need to rely on the protection of our students' families."
He took a deep breath, and his signature shrewd smile returned to his face, though it seemed somewhat forced at the moment. "Cheer up! Heaven Dou City is so big, surely we Shrek Academy can find a place to stay? Let's find a place to settle down first, and then we can discuss things further!"
However, reality was harsh. Prices in Heaven Dou City were exorbitant, and with a large group of them, finding a suitable and reasonably priced place to stay was not easy. After inquiring at several inns, they were either fully booked or so expensive that Flender felt a pang of regret.
Walking on the bustling streets of Heaven Dou City, watching the traffic and people coming and going, the Shrek members couldn't help but feel a sense of bewilderment and drifting.
Just as Flender frowned, calculating how long his dwindling Gold Soul Coin could last, a voice rang out behind them:
"Dean Flender, please wait a moment."
Everyone turned around and saw Qin Ming catching up, panting, his face filled with guilt and determination.
" Qin Ming? What brings you here?" Flender, somewhat surprised.
Qin Ming stopped in front of everyone, bowed deeply, and said in a choked voice, "Dean, teachers, fellow students, I'm so sorry! It's all my fault, I never expected it to turn out like this..."
Flender helped him up and sighed, "It's not your fault; it's Prince Xue Xing and Xue Beng who went too far."
Qin Ming straightened up, his eyes resolute. "Dean, I've made up my mind. Since Shrek Heaven Dou Royal Academy can't stay, there's no need for me, a student who graduated from Shrek, to stay any longer. I've decided to resign from my teaching position at the Heaven Dou Royal Academy and leave with the Dean and the other teachers!"
"What?!" Flender exclaimed in surprise. " Qin Ming, you need to think this through! You have a bright future at the Heaven Dou Royal Academy, why would you do this for us..."
"Dean, you don't need to try to persuade me anymore," Qin Ming said resolutely. " Shrek is my root. Without Shrek, there would be no Qin Ming today. Now that the academy is in trouble, how can I enjoy wealth and honor alone? My mind is made up!"
Seeing Qin Ming's resolute gaze, Flender felt a surge of warmth in his heart, and his eyes welled up with tears. He patted Qin Ming's shoulder heavily, and a thousand words were condensed into one. "Good! Good boy!"
Zhao Wuji and the others were also moved, casting admiring glances at Qin Ming. The Shrek Seven Devils held their senior in high esteem.
Qin Ming was quite familiar with Heaven Dou City, so he led the group to a relatively secluded but quiet inn with reasonable prices to settle down temporarily.
After settling in, everyone gathered in Flender's room, the atmosphere still somewhat somber.
After a long silence, Yu Xiaogang finally spoke, " Flender, what are your plans next?"
Flender rubbed his temples and said with a wry smile, "What other plans do we have? Let's establish a foothold in Heaven Dou City first. If it really doesn't work out, we'll move to another city and rebuild Shrek Academy! I refuse to believe that Shrek can't survive without Heaven Dou Royal Academy!"
"Reopening a school is easier said than done," sighed teacher Shao Xin. "Funding, facilities, student enrollment... these are all problems."
Just when everyone was at a loss, Ning Rongrong stood up again. She walked up to Flender and said earnestly, "Dean, teachers, I know you don't want to rely on the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. However, the situation is special now, and we need an opportunity. I don't want the sect to directly fund us, but rather I want to offer a possible alternative."
She paused, then continued, "Two days later, a grand Soul Master team exhibition match will be held at the Great Soul Arena in Heaven Dou City. It's said that many powerful Soul Master teams will participate, including some elites from Elemental Academies. If the Shrek Seven Devils can perform in this exhibition match and demonstrate sufficient strength, it will definitely cause a sensation and make Shrek's name known! At that time, perhaps other academies or forces will be willing to accept us or invest in our rebuilding of the academy. This is a way for us to earn opportunities through our own strength!"
Ning Rongrong's words instantly lifted everyone's spirits!
Flender's eyes lit up. " Soul Master team exhibition match? In the Heaven Dou City Great Soul Arena? This is indeed an excellent opportunity!"
Yu Xiaogang nodded in agreement, analyzing, " Rongrong is right. Demonstrating strength is the most direct and effective way to break through prejudice and predicaments. If we, the Shrek Seven Devils, can defeat those so-called elite teams, then our Shrek Academy will definitely become famous throughout the Heaven Dou Empire. At that time, who knows how many academies will want to recruit us!"
Dai Mubai clenched his fist, his fighting spirit soaring. "Alright! Let's do it this way! We'll show everyone the strength of the Shrek Seven Devils!"
Tang San, Xiao Wu, Zhu Zhuqing, Ma Hongjun, Oscar, and others also expressed their opinions, their fighting spirit rekindled in their eyes.
"But," Professor Li Yusong questioned, "It must be difficult to obtain a spot in an exhibition competition of this scale, right?"
Ning Rongrong smiled slightly, her face radiating the confidence befitting the little princess of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect School: "Leave the matter of qualifying for the competition to me. With a recommendation in the name of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, coupled with the proven strength of the Shrek Seven Devils themselves, securing a spot in the competition shouldn't be a problem."
This time, Flender did not refuse.
"Alright!" Flender stood up abruptly, his previous gloom vanishing, his voice booming, "Then it's settled! Everyone, get ready these next two days! Two days from now, at the Heaven Dou Great Soul Arena, we'll make Shrek's name resound throughout the entire Heaven Dou City!"
"Yes!" the Shrek Seven Devils responded in unison, their voices filled with high spirits.