Douluo Continent: Rebirth of Ma Hongjun, Phoenix of Ultimate Light

Chapter 40: Establishing Brand New Shrek School Rules! Complete Standardization!

Flanders remained silent for a long time.

He picked up his teacup, took a sip, put it down, then picked it up again and took another sip.

Finally, he raised his head and looked at Ma Hongjun.

"What's your suggestion?"

Ma Hongjun knew that Flander had given in, and he breathed a sigh of relief.

"I suggest revising the school rules, not just this one, but reviewing all the unreasonable rules."

He paused, then continued, "The saying 'A Soul Master who doesn't cause trouble is mediocre' was changed to—'Don't cause trouble, but don't be afraid of trouble.'"

Those who actively provoke trouble, bully the weak, or engage in other disruptive behavior will be expelled from the academy.

'

Flanders didn't speak, gesturing for him to continue.

"In addition, I suggest adding a few new school rules."

Ma Hongjun pulled a piece of paper from his pocket, which was covered with dense writing.

"First, respect your teachers and elders, unite with your classmates, and never use your martial spirit to bully the weak."

"Second, during your time outside, you must not provoke or cause trouble. If you are provoked, your priority should be to disengage from the conflict. If disengagement is unsuccessful, you may exercise self-defense, but you must report to the college immediately. Those who engage in excessive self-defense will be dealt with according to the severity of the circumstances."

"Third, private duels are prohibited within the academy. Sparring must be supervised by a teacher and must be stopped when the point is reached."

"Fourth, it is forbidden to use martial spirits and spirit skills to oppress civilians. Violators will be punished according to the severity of the offense, either by confinement or expulsion from the academy."

"Fifth, the academy implements a point system. Daily performance, cultivation progress, and compliance with school rules are all counted towards points. Those with high points will be rewarded, while those with points below the standard will be punished."

After Ma Hongjun finished reading, he placed the paper on the table.

The people in the office stared at the paper, and no one spoke for a long time.

Zhao Wuji was the first to break the silence: "I agree."

Li Yusong nodded: "Agreed."

Lu Qibin adjusted his glasses: "Agreed."

Shao Xin smiled and said, "Agreed."

All eyes were on Flander.

Flanders picked up the paper from the table and read it from beginning to end.

He stood up, picked up a pen, and wrote at the end of the paper: "The above school regulations shall take effect immediately."

He put down his pen and looked at Ma Hongjun.

"You proposed the school rules, so you're responsible for overseeing their enforcement."

"Yes, teacher."

Ma Hongjun carefully put the page away, a sense of peace welling up inside him.

School rules are far more important than repairing the school walls or making school uniforms.

Repairing the school wall is about improving the appearance, while revising the school rules is about improving the substance.

A college can improve its appearance over time, but it must not compromise its substance.

After the school rules were finalized, the college's renovation project began in earnest.

Zhao Wuji assembled the best team of craftsmen in Soto City. The foreman, surnamed Zhou, was in his forties, burly and with rough, calloused hands like two iron clamps. He had worked in construction in Soto City for two thousand years, handling everything from residences and shops to noble mansions—he had done it all. But building an academy was a first for him.

"Dean Flander, your blueprints are incredibly detailed!" Foreman Zhou exclaimed in amazement as he flipped through the construction drawings that Ma Hongjun had compiled overnight. "I've been doing this for twenty years, and I've never seen such meticulous work. Even the size of the stones used for the corners of the courtyard wall is clearly marked. Who drew this?"

"My student," Flanders said casually.

Foreman Zhou glanced at Ma Hongjun standing beside him, his eyes filled with disbelief. How old was this child? Six? Seven? But the lines and markings on the blueprints certainly didn't seem like something a child could draw.

"The younger generation is truly formidable." Foreman Zhou gave a thumbs up and didn't ask any further questions.

The construction team arrived on site the next day.

The original mud walls were torn down, and amidst the flying dust, the old walls that had stood by Shrek Academy for many years collapsed with a deafening roar. Oscar stood by, watching, feeling a pang of sadness. He had practiced his skills under this wall, sheltered from the rain, and been punished by Zhao Wuji to stand there. On the wall were his crookedly carved words and the horizontal lines he had drawn to record his height.

"Out with the old, in with the new." Ma Hongjun, standing beside him, saw through his thoughts.

Oscar nodded without saying anything more.

Truckloads of stones were hauled in. The bluish-gray stones, each cut perfectly square, were piled up outside the courtyard like a small mountain. The craftsmen dug the foundation first, then built the stone walls, their movements swift and their teamwork seamless. Foreman Zhou paced back and forth on the construction site, occasionally offering pointers, his voice so loud it could be heard halfway down the street.

Zhao Wuji volunteered to supervise the work. His imposing physique and fierce appearance were a natural deterrent to the construction site. The craftsmen never dared to slack off, because a single glance from Zhao Wuji was more effective than any other supervisor.

"Teacher Zhao, do you really need to keep such a close eye on me?" Oscar said quietly once.

"You don't understand." Zhao Wuji crossed his arms, his eyes blazing. "If you slack off even a little when these people are working, they'll slack off even more. You have to keep a close eye on them from the very beginning, and once it becomes a habit, it'll be fine."

Oscar nodded, seemingly understanding.

The wall was under construction for five days. Five days later, a two-meter-high bluestone wall rose from the ground, enclosing the entire academy. The wall surface was smooth, the corners were straight, and the top was covered with a layer of waterproof stone slabs. Compared to the previous crooked mud wall full of gaps, it was like two completely different worlds.

Flanders stood in front of the courtyard wall and looked at it for a long time.

He remembered many years ago when he came to this village alone. There were only a few dilapidated houses, a mud wall, and not even a proper school gate. At that time, he thought, "Take it slow, everything will come eventually." Many years later, the mud wall was still a mud wall, and the dilapidated houses were still dilapidated. He thought that nothing would ever change in his life.

But now, things have changed.

"That's fine." Flander said only these two words before turning and leaving.

Zhao Wuji watched his retreating figure, a slight smile playing on his lips. Having known Flander for so many years, he knew that while the man never said anything nice, he was happier than anyone else inside.

The school gate was started to be repaired on the sixth day.

According to Ma Hongjun's design, the school gate should be "grand" rather than "ostentatious." Two square stone pillars stand on the left and right, each as thick as two people could hug and more than three meters high, with simple geometric patterns carved on the top. The two ironwood doors are heavy and sturdy, painted with dark blue paint, and inlaid with copper rivets that gleam in the sunlight.

Above the door hangs a blue stone plaque with five large characters written on it.

Shrek Academy.

The calligraphy was commissioned by Flanders from the most famous calligrapher in Soto, who paid for two bottles of fine wine. The strokes were powerful and vigorous, each one exuding a dignified and upright spirit.

On the day the school gate was completed, everyone stood in the courtyard and watched it for a long time.

Zhao Wuji said, "This gate is even more magnificent than I imagined."

Li Yusong said, "With this door, it finally feels like a proper academy."

Lu Qibin adjusted his glasses: "This is just the beginning."

Shao Xin said with a smile, "From now on, I can set up a stall at the entrance to sell candy beans."

Spring: