Chapter 49: 49: Greedy Flanders
Inside Shrek Academy, after Dean Flender carefully read the detailed letter from Ning Fengzhi, he remained in contemplative silence for an extended period.
The addition of two promising disciples from the prestigious Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School, along with a substantial amount of financial sponsorship, was undoubtedly beneficial for the academy and its students.
However, these two new disciples were far from ordinary individuals. Ning Rongrong was Ning Fengzhi's only daughter and precious heir, meaning that absolutely no mistakes or harm could be allowed to befall her during her time at the academy. Although Ning Fengzhi had written in his letter that Flender could feel confident about her training and education, Flender understood even more clearly that someone of her status and importance could not suffer any injury or mishap while under Shrek Academy's care.
As for the other student, Yang Xiong, Ning Fengzhi had specified that he could be treated as a normal student for cultivation purposes, but due to the unique and special nature of his martial spirit and his personal cultivation methods, his privacy and personal secrets should not be interfered with or investigated.
Flender was a seasoned veteran in the spirit master world, so he naturally understood the deeper implications behind Ning Fengzhi's carefully chosen words. He had specifically inquired about the assessment situation from Zhao Wuji. This Yang Xiong not only possessed an extremely unusual martial spirit, but even his physical fitness appeared somewhat abnormal and beyond typical expectations. It seemed highly likely that he might be connected to certain closely guarded secrets of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School.
The fact that the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School had numerous disciples throughout their organization, yet had only arranged for one boy and one girl to come study at Shrek Academy, and even without any accompanying supervisory personnel, made the underlying purpose behind this arrangement quite obvious and transparent.
On the academy's training ground, Yang Xiong finally began to feel a satisfying workout effect only after completing more than ten full laps around the entire village perimeter.
However, at this moment, a fight was taking place within the academy grounds. Only after Yang Xiong approached the commotion did he discover that a rather overweight student was lying on the ground, looking quite miserable and defeated. The one who had delivered this beating was Xiao Wu, who had only arrived at the academy yesterday.
Yang Xiong felt speechless for several moments. Ma Hongjun had actually been taught a harsh lesson on his very first day, and it had been administered by Xiao Wu of all people. The situation was truly disappointing and somewhat pathetic.
Among all the Shrek Academy members, the person Yang Xiong truly looked down upon and held in contempt was this particular Ma Hongjun.
Ma Hongjun possessed the exceptionally rare top-grade beast martial spirit known as the Fire Phoenix, and his innate spirit power level was also remarkably high. It could honestly be said that his natural talent was genuinely impressive and valuable. In terms of explosive attack power, theoretically speaking, he should represent the strongest offensive capability among the entire Shrek Academy student body.
Unfortunately, this person had been led completely astray since early childhood. Although he possessed the troublesome evil fire characteristic of the Fire Phoenix martial spirit, this condition was not impossible to resolve or manage properly. However, Ma Hongjun had chosen to vent and release this evil fire through intimate relations with women, completely choosing the wrong path for addressing his condition.
It should be understood that in Ma Hongjun's particular situation, if his willpower had been strong enough and he had diligently exercised and strengthened his body since childhood, the evil fire could have been controlled and managed effectively. Such discipline might have even made him significantly stronger than his current state.
Unfortunately, Ma Hongjun's mentality and character were the worst among all the Shrek Seven Devils. If it weren't for the eventual use of the Cockscomb Phoenix Sunflower to resolve his condition, he would probably have become the founding ancestor of the first evil spirit master lineage.
After a round of heated arguments and bickering, everyone proceeded together to Shrek Academy's modest cafeteria. Looking at the simple and inadequate food offerings, Yang Xiong felt speechless once again. Spirit masters needed to replenish tremendous amounts of energy during their intensive cultivation, and coarse tea with light meals were completely unsuitable for supporting the growth and development of spirit masters, especially considering that twelve years old represented a crucial time when their bodies were rapidly growing.
All eight members of the Shrek Academy student body gathered in the cafeteria, including Oscar, who habitually slept late but had rushed over to join them. However, observing Oscar and Ma Hongjun's wandering gazes, their attention was essentially floating and focused on the several beautiful female students present.
Soon it was time for their first official class. Everyone assembled on the training ground, where a middle-aged man with a somewhat gloomy and suspicious appearance was waiting. He appeared to be around fifty years old, but his face was unusually flat and his chin protruded forward noticeably. With his distinctive pair of square crystal glasses, he didn't particularly resemble a teacher, but looked more like a cunning profiteer or merchant.
Tang San and Xiao Wu displayed obvious surprise and curiosity, but after Dai Mubai's introduction, this person was revealed to be Dean Flender of Shrek Academy himself. His martial spirit was the Four-Eyed Owl-Eagle, and he was a top-level Spirit Saint of level seventy-eight.
After everyone arranged themselves in a neat row, Flender nodded with apparent satisfaction. "Very good this year - we have gained five additional little monsters. I am Flender, the Dean of Shrek Academy, and I welcome your arrival here. Each of you will need to pay a tuition fee of one hundred gold spirit coins."
"Mubai, explain our academy's rules and regulations to them, then return to rest and adjust your bodies to optimal condition. Your first real class will be conducted tonight."
"Oscar, Ning Rongrong, step forward immediately. You two are auxiliary spirit masters. I want to ask you - do you understand what is most important for auxiliary spirit masters?"
Oscar and Ning Rongrong exchanged confused glances upon hearing this question, obviously not understanding what Flender was attempting to convey.
Flender continued with his explanation. "Auxiliary spirit masters are always the first targets to be attacked on any battlefield. You need to preserve your own lives in order to effectively assist your teammates, so survival is the most crucial skill for you to develop. You two will run twenty complete laps around the village and must finish before noon, otherwise you won't receive any lunch."
Oscar had no choice but to begin running immediately, while Ning Rongrong glanced around at everyone before helplessly following Oscar to start their punishment exercise.
Yang Xiong also spoke up at this moment. "Dean, would it be possible for me to construct a separate dormitory within the academy? My personal cultivation methods may prove troublesome for my roommates."
Flender's expression turned cold and dismissive. "Requiring you to live together is intended to cultivate mutual feelings and bonds, and also to help you understand the hardships faced by spirit masters. You cannot receive any special treatment."
Yang Xiong suddenly remembered Flender's well-known character traits and quickly revised his approach. "Dean, what I mean is that I would like to sponsor the academy with ten thousand gold spirit coins and request permission to expand the dormitory facilities, so that everyone can have their own private activity space."
Flender's demeanor seemed to brighten considerably, though he immediately coughed to cover his interest. "That arrangement would be acceptable. Spirit masters do indeed require independent cultivation environments. However, in addition to sponsoring the academy with ten thousand gold spirit coins, you must also arrange for someone to construct individual houses for each person. Please go directly to the finance department to pay the sponsorship fee."
Yang Xiong nodded quickly with agreement. "Certainly, Dean. I will go to the village later to arrange for someone to construct the houses."
In fact, Yang Xiong had always found something puzzling about the living arrangements. Considering Tang San's cultivation methods, they should be incompatible with sharing living space with others. In addition to standard meditation, Tang San also needed to practice the Tang Sect's specialized exercises and techniques. Wouldn't such activities be discovered if he lived with others? Wouldn't his roommates become curious about his unusual practices?
Yang Xiong proceeded directly to the finance teacher, Teacher Li, to pay the ten thousand gold spirit coins, and provided an additional five hundred gold spirit coins to request that Teacher Li arrange the construction of the houses. The finance department would know better than he would how to properly organize such construction projects.
Teacher Li was actually Li Yusong, the elderly man with the Dragon Pattern Staff martial spirit who had conducted the enrollment assessment, and who was also a Spirit Emperor powerhouse.
The strength and quality of the teaching staff at Shrek Academy was indeed impressive and noteworthy. Dean Flender was a level seventy-eight Spirit Saint, while Vice Dean Zhao Wuji was a level seventy-six Spirit Saint.
There were also three other teachers serving the academy: Shao Xin, Li Yusong, and Lu Qibin.
Shao Xin was a level seventy-one food-type Spirit Saint, with his martial spirit being Candy Bean.
Li Yusong was a level sixty-three strength attack-type Spirit Emperor, with his martial spirit being the Dragon Pattern Staff.
Lu Qibin was a level sixty-six control-type Spirit Emperor, with his martial spirit being Star Chess.
These four teachers of Shrek Academy had served as the administrators of the four-level assessment process during the initial enrollment period. Flender was quite skilled at utilizing people effectively, and essentially everyone was being used to maximize their individual talents and capabilities.
After Yang Xiong finished his business with the finance department, he immediately went to seek out Zhao Wuji. Zhao Wuji was responsible for combat guidance and instruction, and his combat experience was extraordinarily rich and comprehensive. Only teachers of their caliber could provide him with the genuine combat pressure necessary to truly improve and refine himself.
A body martial spirit needed to become stronger through continuous tempering and constant combat experience. This understanding represented one of the primary reasons why Yang Xiong had been willing to come to Shrek Academy in the first place.
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