After Yu Xiaogang flees from Nuoding Academy he traveled all the way to Soto City. After much wandering, he finally found the remote Shrek Academy.
"Halt! What are you doing?"
At the entrance of Shrek Academy, an old man lazily reclined on a wooden chair. He raised his eyelids to glance at the travel-worn Yu Xiaogang, his eyes scrutinizing the stranger.
Yu Xiaogang straightened his robes, trying to regain some of his "Grandmaster" composure.
"I'm looking for Flender."
"Looking for the Dean?" The old man sized him up skeptically. "Do you have an appointment? Our Dean is a very busy man; not just anyone can see him."
Yu Xiaogang took a deep breath, suppressing his displeasure, and said in a deep voice, "Go and announce that an old friend, Yu Xiaogang, has come to visit."
Hearing the words "old friend," the old man hesitated for a moment but still got up and went inside to announce the visitor.
Not long after, a series of hurried footsteps approached.
A bespectacled, somewhat shrewd-looking middle-aged man strode out; it was none other than Flender, the Four-Eyed Owl.
Seeing Yu Xiaogang, his face lit up with a mixture of surprise and delight. "Xiaogang! It really is you! How did you find your way here?"
"Brother Flender, long time no see. How have you been?"
Yu Xiaogang felt a warmth in his heart and managed a forced smile.
Flender patted him warmly on the shoulder. "Speaking of which, how many years has it been since we brothers last met? I'm so happy you could come!"
As a sworn brother, Flender was exceptionally good to Yu Xiaogang.
For his "good brother," Flender had not only voluntarily withdrew from the competition for Liu Erlong's heart, willingly becoming a third wheel, but also harbored no resentment whatsoever. To outsiders, this level of loyalty was simply incomprehensible.
Soon, the two entered the academy.
The interior was even more rudimentary than the exterior. The grounds were small, containing only a few dilapidated wooden huts and an open dirt training space.
At a glance, a robust, short, and muscular middle-aged man was training four teenagers using his own rigorous methods.
Flender led Yu Xiaogang over, smiling as he said:
"Xiaogang, you've come at the right time. We just took in a new batch of students. One of them had to leave, but the others are all here. Why don't you pick one to be your disciple?"
As a good friend, Flender naturally knew that Yu Xiaogang had a knot in his heart, a burning desire to prove to the world that he wasn't a good-for-nothing through a disciple.
"You've run this academy for so long, and you only have this many students?" Yu Xiaogang asked, raising an eyebrow.
"It's unavoidable. Shrek Academy adheres to the principle of 'better to have none than to have bad ones.' Unless they're a little monster, they're rejected."
Flender paused, a hint of pride on his face. He patted Yu Xiaogang's shoulder and continued, "Don't worry, these four are all geniuses, one in a million. I guarantee you'll be satisfied."
Hearing this, a glint of joy flashed in Yu Xiaogang's eyes, but he pretended to be indifferent.
"Then let's take a look."
Yu Xiaogang put his hands behind his back, his face calm, adopting the posture of a master.
Flender smiled and immediately called over the four students, solemnly introducing them:
"This is Yu Xiaogang, the renowned theoretical master of the Soul Master world. His theories are unparalleled. He will be responsible for guiding your cultivation from now on."
Hearing the Dean's introduction, the four students looked at each other, wondering why they had never heard of this "Grandmaster."
However, since Dean Flender said so, this master must have some extraordinary abilities.
"This is Dai Mubai, his Martial Soul is the Evil Eye White Tiger. He is fifteen years old, a Level 37 Battle Soul Elder. Absolutely a top genius."
Flender pointed to the blond youth at the front, who had naturally heterochromatic eyes, an extraordinary demeanor, and a hint of unruliness and arrogance between his brows.
Hearing Flender's praise, Dai Mubai frowned slightly. This was not like the Dean's usual behavior.
It seemed more like he was trying to sell something or someone.
"Fifteen years old? Level 37?"
Yu Xiaogang shook his head. Lin Mu was already over Level 40 at sixteen. Compared to Lin Mu, Dai Mubai was far inferior.
Seeing the hint of disdain in Yu Xiaogang's eyes, Dai Mubai felt extremely annoyed. But out of respect for Flender, he could only suppress his anger.
"Zhu Zhuqing, Martial Soul: Hell Civet. Eleven years old, Level 27 Great Soul Master."
Flender then pointed to a girl in a tight leather outfit, her figure well-developed for her age, radiating an emotionless coldness.
Upon seeing this, Yu Xiaogang's eyes dimmed slightly; her Martial Soul wasn't exactly top-tier in his eyes, and her level was average for a genius.
Flender sighed, a hint of helplessness in his eyes, and pointed to a scruffy-looking boy with a stubbly beard. He continued, "Oscar, Martial Soul: Sausage. Innate Full Soul Power. Fourteen years old, Level 29 Great Soul Master."
"Innate Full Soul Power, yet only Level 29 at fourteen?"
Yu Xiaogang shook his head, visibly disappointed.
Hearing this, Oscar just smiled awkwardly, inwardly cursing Yu Xiaogang's ancestors for eighteen generations. Being a food-type Soul Master was hard enough without this random old man judging him.
At this moment, Ning Rongrong suddenly remembered something and spoke up.
"I heard my father say that a certain 'theoretical master' stole Spirit Hall's research materials and then claimed them as his own."
Upon hearing this, everyone present was shocked and cast scrutinizing glances at Yu Xiaogang.
In an instant, Yu Xiaogang recalled the days he was humiliated by Lin Mu. His whole body trembled uncontrollably. His eyes turned bloodshot, he gasped for breath, and glared at Ning Rongrong with near-madness.
"You're talking nonsense!"
"These are all theories I painstakingly researched! They have nothing to do with Spirit Hall. You're slandering and defaming me!"
Seeing Yu Xiaogang's chilling, unhinged appearance, Ning Rongrong was startled and took a step back.
"Then how do you explain that you're only Level 29?" Dai Mubai interjected coldly.
Hearing that this "Master" only had less than Level 30 Soul Power, Dai Mubai and the others were completely enraged.
Previously, they had thought this master was at least a Soul Saint like Dean Flender, which was why they had been so patient. They never expected him to be just a piece of trash.
"You're just a snobbish jerk," Dai Mubai mocked openly.
Yu Xiaogang nearly coughed up blood. He never expected these students to be as disrespectful to their elders as Lin Mu was.
Flender, looking embarrassed, stepped in to smooth things over. "Ahem, Xiaogang's Soul Power may not be high, but his theoretical knowledge is definitely top-notch."
Dai Mubai and the others merely snorted, completely ignoring this fraudster.
Just as Yu Xiaogang was feeling utterly humiliated, a slightly lewd voice rang out.
"Dean, I'm back! Today was quite fruitful!"
A chubby figure ran in from outside the academy, a satisfied yet somewhat frivolous smile on his face, it was Ma Hongjun, returning from "relieving his pent-up desires" in the village.
Flender frowned. "Hongjun, you went to that kind of place again? Be careful!"
Ma Hongjun chuckled, patting his stomach. "Dean, I can't suppress this 'Evil Fire,' otherwise it would burn me out."
"Evil Fire?"
Yu Xiaogang immediately became interested. He stepped forward and grabbed Ma Hongjun's shoulder. "If you're willing to become my disciple, I can help you get rid of this 'Evil Fire.'"
Upon hearing this, Flender was completely dumbfounded.
'He's already slept with that girl, and now he's even going after my direct disciple?'
Seeing Yu Xiaogang's crazed state, Flender was in a dilemma. After all, Yu Xiaogang had claimed he could solve the problem of the "Evil Fire," which was a constant danger to Ma Hongjun.
After considering everything, Flender gave Ma Hongjun a look, urging him to accept.
Although he didn't know if this person was truly reliable, Ma Hongjun couldn't care less about dignity if it meant solving his "Evil Fire" problem. He immediately nodded.
"I'm willing!"
Seeing Ma Hongjun being completely fooled, Dai Mubai and Oscar exchanged glances, showing a hint of pity in their eyes.