Ning Fengzhi arrived

"Little Feng, the dean wants you," Zhao Wuji said, striding over with a swagger that acknowledged neither kith nor kin.

As he looked at Tang San and the others holding their secret manuals, a hint of envy appeared in his eyes.

What a lucky bunch of brats.

He had also learned about the Contract Soul Rings.

Aside from his shock at Chu Feng, all he felt was envy for Tang San and the others.

He envied them for having such a good big brother as Chu Feng leading them at their young age.

They could cultivate within a new Soul Master system.

Chu Feng had forcibly raised the heights this group could achieve in the future.

"This is yours, Teacher Zhao. I'll give the other teachers theirs later too." Chu Feng took out a secret manual suited to Zhao Wuji.

"All right, thanks." Zhao Wuji took the manual and laughed heartily.

"Once your Soul Power reaches the required level, I'll set you up with a Contract Soul Ring too, Teacher," Chu Feng added.

Hearing this, Zhao Wuji rubbed his head, which had little hair left, and gave a pained smile.

"That requirement is a bit high for me."

Zhao Wuji knew his own talent.

Over all these years, his Soul Power had grown extremely slowly.

Reaching level 80 would probably take at least another dozen years.

"Don't worry. I'll find something to improve your Soul Power or talent in the future."

Chu Feng thought of Dugu Bo's Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.

That was truly a treasure land blessed with excellent feng shui.

He would go find Dugu Bo after a while.

If everyone at Shrek also consumed immortal herbs, their strength would receive another boost.

If Shrek grew stronger, wasn't that the same as him growing stronger?

"Now that sounds great. I'll be waiting." Zhao Wuji's sorrow turned to joy.

He believed that since Chu Feng had said it, he would certainly be able to do it.

Who would have thought that after all these years, I, Old Zhao, would actually receive care from a junior?

The best decision he had made back then was bringing Chu Feng to Shrek Academy.

"I'll go see the dean first. Help me keep an eye on them."

With that, Chu Feng headed toward Flender's office.

Halfway there, Chu Feng remembered that he had forgotten to ask Zhao Wuji what Flender wanted him for.

Still, it was probably another complaint that the academy had run out of money.

Watching Ning Rongrong earnestly study her secret manual alongside Zhu Zhuqing, Zhao Wuji wore a doting smile.

"If the academy could latch onto such a wealthy patron, wouldn't Flender be over the moon?"

"No, that's not right." Zhao Wuji smacked his head.

"What am I thinking? Little Feng is rich too. Why ask anyone else?"

After three knocks, Chu Feng opened the door to the dean's office.

"Dean, have we run out of money again? Hmm..."

Chu Feng froze. Why were there other people in Flender's office?

At that moment, besides Flender, who sat at his desk, three people were sitting on the luxurious sofa to one side.

The man in the middle looked to be in his early forties, with a face like polished jade and gentle, handsome features. He wore an ivory brocade robe and carried himself with great nobility.

An old man sat on either side of him. The one on the right had a thin face and meticulously combed hair.

The old man on the left was tall, with somewhat sunken eyes and a bearing that held a ghostly quality.

From their appearances and bearing alone, Chu Feng immediately recognized the three.

The letter Rongrong sent really did bring Ning Fengzhi and the others here, Chu Feng thought as he looked at them.

Ning Fengzhi's eyes lit up when he saw Chu Feng enter.

What a handsome young man, with a fine bearing too.

"Little Feng, come greet Sect Master Ning and Seniors Sword Douluo and Bone Douluo," Flender hurriedly called.

He also gave Chu Feng a meaningful look.

My little ancestor, these three aren't people our academy can afford to offend. Mind what you say.

Chu Feng stepped forward and bowed slightly to the three. "Junior Chu Feng greets Sect Master Ning and Seniors Sword Douluo and Bone Douluo."

By sentiment or reason, this much courtesy was still necessary.

"Hahaha, so you're the genius Chu Feng that Rongrong spoke of."

"Would you be interested in joining my Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect?"

The moment Ning Fengzhi opened his mouth, he tried to recruit Chu Feng into the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.

He knew his daughter very well. Anyone she praised so highly in a letter absolutely had to be talented.

Everyone wanted talent, after all.

Moreover, Chu Feng was not an Auxiliary System Soul Master. If he joined the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, he could become a consecrated elder in the future, just like the Sword and Bone Douluos.

Ning Fengzhi's words left Chu Feng momentarily stunned.

Beside them, Flender grew anxious when he saw that Ning Fengzhi actually wanted to take away his "treasure."

"You jest, Sect Master Ning. This child has only average talent. He isn't suited to your Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect."

"Your great sect has plenty of people more talented than this child."

His unspoken meaning was that they should not fight Shrek Academy for recruits; their Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect had plenty of talent.

He would not let Chu Feng go.

"Geniuses are common, but monster-level geniuses are not." Ning Fengzhi still wanted to take Chu Feng away.

If possible, he also wanted to match Chu Feng with his daughter.

The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's rule was that one's partner had to be an attack-type Soul Master.

Chu Feng happened to meet that requirement.

"Thank you for your high regard, Sect Master Ning, but I prefer studying at the academy," Chu Feng said calmly.

Shrek Academy was his true foundation.

If he left, where would he find geniuses like Tang San to serve as his "beasts of burden"?

"What a pity, then." Ning Fengzhi felt some regret.

Why couldn't such a genius belong to their Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect?

What was so good about Shrek Academy that a genius like Chu Feng was willing to stay there?

From what Rongrong had said, there were other geniuses at this academy too.

Did this academy possess some sort of magic?

Chu Feng could only give him an apologetic look.

"Boy, I hear you've made our Rongrong suffer quite a bit." Bone Douluo's voice was hoarse, carrying the ferocity of someone protecting his young.

Ning Rongrong had grown up in the sect and had hardly suffered any hardship.

Yet after coming to Shrek Academy, she faced either grueling training or danger.

"There's nothing wrong with Auxiliary System Soul Masters honing their foundations, but training must progress step by step." Sword Douluo Chen Xin spoke softly, yet the heartache in his voice was plain.

The two Titled Douluos doted on Ning Rongrong no less than her father, Ning Fengzhi, did.

Hearing their words, Chu Feng stepped slowly forward, his gaze open and unflinching.

"Sect Master Ning, Senior Sword, Senior Bone."

"Could it be that you protected her too well before?"

Chen Xin paused slightly, then raised a sword-like brow. "What do you mean?"

"Rongrong is a genius possessing the world's foremost Auxiliary System Martial Soul. In future battles, she will undoubtedly be the target of every opponent's concentrated attacks."

"If she doesn't endure hardship now, how will she stand firm in the future?"

"Besides, with your ability to gather information, I'm sure you know the results of her training during this period."

Chu Feng rebutted their words clearly and methodically.

He also knew that Chen Xin and Gu Rong had only spoken this way because they loved Ning Rongrong so dearly.

Chen Xin and Gu Rong said nothing.

Naturally, they were well informed and already knew about Ning Rongrong's changes.

Those changes were certainly welcome, but their hearts still ached for her.

"True protection has never meant keeping her sheltered beneath your wings forever."

"It means teaching her how to stand firm and giving her the ability to face danger head-on," Chu Feng added at last.

He did not want Ning Rongrong to become nothing more than a decorative vase in the future.