Douro Continent

Chapter 206 Using a hen to lay eggs? (Part 2)

Flander sat down again, picked up the large glass of ale in front of him, and gulped it down.

Qin Ming smiled wryly and said to the Grandmaster, "Grandmaster, you've really given me a difficult problem. To be honest, from the perspective of the Heaven Dou Royal Academy, having our juniors represent the academy in battle would undoubtedly bring countless honors and greatly enhance its reputation. Your proposed conditions are by no means unreasonable. All the teachers are renowned figures in the Soul Master world, and the academy would certainly not refuse and would offer the best compensation. However, Shrek Academy is the culmination of Dean Flander's hard work. If we really do this, then in the future…"

"Alright, do as Xiaogang says." Flander stood up again, his expression now completely calm. "Xiaogang is right. I shouldn't have only considered my own pride; everything should be for the good of the children. The Heaven Dou Royal Academy belongs to the Heaven Dou Empire's royal family and is one of the few pure lands for soul masters that is not interfered with by the Spirit Hall. The children won't suffer there, and Shrek's current teachers will have a place to retire. All along, I've only considered my own thoughts, but everyone has followed me. Now we're all getting old, and it's time to find a place for everyone to belong. The Heaven Dou Royal Academy—that name seems pretty good. Besides, the children can get better development there. This matter is settled. You all discuss it. Xiaogang and Wuji represent me fully; I need to go and have some peace and quiet."

After saying that, Flander turned and walked outside. Zhao Wuji gave Ma Hongjun a wink, and the fat man immediately understood. He didn't care about the dishes that were being served one by one, and hurriedly chased after Flander. At this moment, he, as the disciple, could comfort Flander more than the master and Zhao Wuji.

The master sighed, "Flanders may be a bit stubborn, but he's not unreasonable. I believe he can figure it out."

Zhao Wuji smiled wryly, "After all, the academy has been our support for so many years. Flander is not unaware of the benefits of your suggestion. Even though he has decided to close the academy after these children graduate, he still finds it hard to accept when the time comes. For us, this is really quite sudden. We have lived here for twenty years."

The master nodded. "He can only rely on himself to solve this problem."

Zhao Wuji said, "Perhaps this is the best ending for us. Master, thank you. I know that you made this suggestion not only for the children, but also for Flander and us. The Heaven Dou Royal Academy is one of the few places unaffected by the Spirit Hall, and it has enough reputation. You are trying your best to save face for Flander. It seems like a good place to retire."

A slight smile appeared on Zhao Wuji's face, and his expression relaxed considerably. He wasn't Flander; he didn't possess Flander's pride and inner stubbornness. While his twenty years at Shrek Academy were certainly something he cherished, they were also somewhat tiring. A change of environment might not be a bad thing.

The Shrek Seven Devils had no say in this matter. Apart from Ma Hongjun, who went to chase after Flander, the remaining six looked at each other in bewilderment. This sudden change dampened their joy after the victory, and they even lost their appetite.

Flander stood at the hotel entrance, looking up at the star-studded night sky, and said calmly, "What are you doing here? Let's go eat."

The lewd smile that usually clung to Ma Hongjun's face was gone. He stood respectfully beside Flander and said, "Teacher, please don't be sad."

Flander shook his head. "I'm not sad, just a little disappointed. It all happened a bit too fast for me. Hongjun, I've noticed your problem with your 'evil fire' seems to have lessened considerably since you started training with the master. What's going on?"

Upon hearing the teacher mention his lustful desires, the fat man's smile returned. He scratched his head and said, "I don't know what's wrong with me. I've just been so tired lately, it seems like all my energy has been used up, and I haven't had time to think about those things at all."

Flander smiled faintly. "This is a good sign. Your martial soul is undergoing a subtle change. Perhaps, before long, you will no longer be troubled by it. Alright, go back now. Don't try to persuade me anymore. I just want to be alone."

Ma Hongjun blinked and rubbed his chubby face. "Teacher, actually this is just using someone else to achieve something. To be honest, I don't quite understand why you're upset."

"Using a hen to lay eggs?" Flander turned to look at his direct disciple, repeating his words with some surprise.

Ma Hongjun quickly nodded, "Yes, isn't that just borrowing resources to help us train? We're using the facilities of that Royal Academy to help us train. And us fighting for them is just paying a fee. I don't know about others, but I won't consider myself a member of that Royal Academy because of this. I will always be your disciple, the Phoenix of Shrek."

Flander stared blankly at Ma Hongjun. Although the fat man's analogy was really not very good, it seemed to open a door in Flander's mind. "Using a hen to lay eggs? Using a hen to lay eggs. What a great idea. It seems I really was too stubborn. What difference does it make whether it's sooner or later? Shrek will eventually end, but everything that was left behind can never be changed. Xiao Gang, thank you, thank you for helping me put this period on Shrek."

The next morning, the Shrek Academy students checked out of the hotel, concluding their month-long second phase of training.

Perhaps, physically, this second phase of training is not as extreme as the first phase, but mentally it will make the Shrek Seven Devils even more exhausted.

Every day they faced different opponents, and every day they had to strive for victory. When facing powerful enemies, they not only had to fight against them, but also cooperate with their partners. The Soul Battle was completely different from their sparring with each other; it was real combat. While gaining rich practical experience, the Shrek Seven Devils also clearly saw the effects of the first stage of their grueling training.

Their stamina, resilience, and recovery in battle have all improved significantly; otherwise, how could they have sustained the high-intensity battles they participate in every day? This is especially true for those who participate in three battles daily. They have fully utilized the effects of the first phase of their grueling training in these battles.

In addition to basic and combat training, the master also taught them another important aspect of this second phase: sustained combat capability.

Returning to that familiar little village, though it lacked the bustling grandeur of Soto City, it was also far from the city's hustle and bustle. The feeling of home was so comforting; for the Shrek Seven Devils, Shrek Academy had long been like home.

Flander's emotions had returned to normal, and even Zhao Wuji, who had followed him for the past twenty years, hadn't expected him to come to his senses so quickly. Flander had already made the decision: everything would proceed according to the master's plan. As for how to enter the Royal Academy and everything that followed, that was Qin Ming's problem.

"Children, go and rest. You've all worked hard these past few days. Wuji, call everyone here." Flander began issuing orders as soon as he returned to the academy. Shrek Academy wasn't just his; there were three other teachers as well. He also needed to consult their opinions.

As soon as Oscar got back to his dorm, he ignored the dust that had accumulated on his bed over the past month and collapsed onto it. "It's so comfortable being back here. Don't wake me, I'm going to have a long sleep. I'll sleep until I naturally wake up."

Tang San smiled and shook his head as he looked at Oscar lying on the bed in the shape of the Chinese character "木" (wood). This guy, if no one forced him to cultivate, his lazy personality would probably have caused his excellent martial soul to go to waste long ago.

According to the agreement between Grandmaster and Qin Ming, the students of Shrek Academy will travel to the Heaven Dou Royal Academy as exchange students in two months. Before that, Qin Ming will take care of everything at the Heaven Dou Royal Academy.

Shrek Academy also needs to do some follow-up work.

The master was not in a hurry to begin the third stage of the trial. Before leaving Soto City today, he gave the Shrek Seven Devils a simple task: in the next two months, first, to deal with their own problems, and second, to fully digest and absorb the practical experience they had gained from the battles over the past month.

These two months also mark the intensive training period for soul power. The master requires that, except for essential matters, everyone must concentrate on cultivating soul power.

Oscar quickly fell asleep, but Tang San was thinking about his own things.

I have two months left, and I need to take care of some things. Especially the promise I made to Ning Rongrong; as the saying goes, "He who has been entrusted with a task must be loyal to it." Having promised, I naturally have to keep my word.

Thinking of this, Tang San got up and left the dormitory, heading towards Ning Rongrong and Xiao Wu's dormitory.

"So tired!" Ning Rongrong and Xiao Wu had both taken off their coats and were lying on their own beds. Naturally, they weren't as unkempt as Oscar; they had changed their bedding, such as duvet covers and sheets.

Xiao Wu said, "Yeah, I didn't feel this way when we were fighting spirits every day in Soto, so why do I feel so tired now that I'm back? This must be what Master meant by the fatigue period. Rongrong, your skin is so nice. I can't help but drool."

Ning Rongrong and Xiao Wu were only wearing short bras and hot pants, lying on the bed with their arms and legs exposed.

(End of this chapter)