Dai Mubai was off the table for now, so it was time to focus on a new target.
Zhuge Lan's eyes fell on Ma Hongjun, still lying on the ground.
—This guy was full of pent-up energy, making him an easy target.
"This is all small stuff," Zhuge Lan casually remarked, "but with the academy charging such expensive registration fees, why is the pickled vegetable from the cafeteria still getting stuck between my teeth? Isn't the principal being way too stingy?"
Ma Hongjun, a disciple of Flender, had just gotten back on his feet when he heard these words. His inner frustration exploded like a flame.
**[Emotion Points +1999]**
"Hey, pretty boy!" Ma Hongjun shouted, rolling up his sleeves, "Do you even know how much effort Principal Flender has put into keeping Shrek Academy running? I won't let anyone disrespect him!"
[Emotion Points +1999]
[Emotion Points +2999]
[Emotion Points +3999]
Look at that! Just one comment had racked up over ten thousand emotion points. Ma Hongjun, with his fiery temper, was indeed easy to provoke—perfect for farming emotion points.
"Well, well!" Zhuge Lan taunted, "Who would've thought a fat guy who pressures girls into 'goodbye kisses' actually knows how to respect his teacher?"
There was no way Ma Hongjun could tolerate this blatant insult.
[Emotion Points +4444]
Engulfed in flames, Ma Hongjun rushed at Zhuge Lan, his first spirit ring lighting up.
"First Spirit Ability: Phoenix Fire Line!!!"
He unleashed a fiery blast from his mouth, aiming it directly at Zhuge Lan's face—intending to disfigure him.
Zhuge Lan let out a cold chuckle, summoning his Thorned Armor as his first two spirit rings glowed.
**Resentment Curse!**
**Light of Vengeance!**
The Phoenix Fire Line collided with the Thorned Armor, but the flames were instantly reflected back, turning Ma Hongjun into a human fireball.
—A perfect counter!
Though Ma Hongjun's evil fire didn't harm him much, his clothes couldn't withstand the flames.
Zhuge Lan, anticipating this, moved to block Zhu Zhuqing's line of sight, shielding her from the embarrassing sight.
But it was only the beginning. Ma Hongjun's continuous fiery onslaught, with its multi-hit effect, kept triggering the Resentment Curse over and over. A series of negative conditions quickly accumulated.
Ma Hongjun started feeling dizzy, his vision blurred, his nose clogged, and his ears rang. But worst of all, his throat began to itch, causing him to cough violently.
And that's when disaster struck!
Unable to properly release the Phoenix Fire Line due to his coughing, the flames got trapped in his mouth.
Boom!
Fire spewed from his nostrils and ears, and a half-meter-long tail of flames erupted from his rear end.
Zhuge Lan found this scene truly fascinating.
"Incredible!" he said, smirking. "Your Phoenix Fire Line can even shoot out the back end?"
[Emotion Points +4999]
Ma Hongjun glared at Zhuge Lan, grinding his teeth in fury as his second spirit ring began to glow.
Before he could act, however, a tall figure stepped between them. It was Dai Mubai, fully in his Beast Mode, staring down at Ma Hongjun.
"Get out of the way, Boss Dai!" Ma Hongjun fumed, "I'm definitely going to teach this new guy a lesson today!"
"You heard about what happened to Teacher Zhao yesterday, right?" Dai Mubai said calmly. "That was all Zhuge's doing."
Ma Hongjun: (▼皿▼)
Ma Hongjun: (Д)ノ
What?!
Thinking of the horrible condition Zhao Wuji had been left in, Ma Hongjun's anger deflated instantly. It was only then that he realized his body had been afflicted with numerous strange conditions.
Cold sweat began to pour down his face.
He had heard that this fierce new student was a level 35 Spirit Elder... while he himself was only level 27.
I'm screwed.
[Emotion Points +995]
[Emotion Points +995]
[Emotion Points +995]
Seeing that Ma Hongjun had calmed down, Dai Mubai pulled a cloak from his storage ring and tossed it to him.
"Whoosh!"
A loud cry echoed from the sky as a middle-aged man with wings on his back swooped down and landed, retracting his spirit ability. He had a square face, and after pushing his black-framed glasses up his hooked nose, he surveyed the scene.
"Dai Mubai, what's going on here?"
"Principal Flender, it's like this…"
Dai Mubai recounted everything, without any favoritism. He explained how Ma Hongjun had stepped in on his behalf and made it clear that Ma's actions were out of respect for Principal Flender.
Flender raised his hand, signaling for him to stop.
"Ma Hongjun!" Flender barked. "Run thirty laps around the academy. Finish before the next assembly!"
Ma Hongjun hung his head low and obediently ran out of the cafeteria, but not without a string of emotion points still trailing behind him, clearly indicating his lingering resentment towards Zhuge Lan.
—Only emotional fluctuations directed at Zhuge Lan would generate emotion points.
Zhuge Lan wasn't about to let him off that easily. He had to squeeze every bit out of this opportunity!
"Wait!" Zhuge Lan called after him, "He was bullying me on campus, and he's just going to leave without an apology?"
Ma Hongjun turned his head abruptly.
[Emotion Points +1111]
Apologize to you? Who's really worse off here?!
"Zhuge Lan, right?" Flender's stern voice cut in, "Ma Hongjun is my disciple. His situation is a bit unique. His martial spirit generates evil fire, which can lead to emotional instability, but he wouldn't attack without reason. It was your comment about the food that triggered his outburst. Let's leave it at that, okay?"
Flender's protectiveness was evident. Had Zhuge Lan not been so talented, Flender probably wouldn't have even explained; he'd have just dealt with it.
Normally, anyone in Zhuge Lan's situation would have to swallow their pride. But not Zhuge Lan.
Smiling, Zhuge Lan responded, "A defective martial spirit? Evil fire buildup? The Nine Heavens Phoenix Flame martial spirit of the Blazing Flame Sect—if it lacks talent and mutates negatively, it results in issues like that."
[Emotion Points +4999]
Flender instantly stepped closer, reaching for Zhuge Lan's shoulder, but his hand passed through empty air. The image of Zhuge Lan faded and reappeared half a meter away.
Spiral Nine Shadows!
"What's this?" Zhuge Lan raised an eyebrow, "Could it be this fat kid is actually from the annihilated Blazing Flame Sect? Why else would you be so agitated, Principal Flender?"
[Emotion Points +6666]
Flender retracted his hand, his opinion of Zhuge Lan escalating multiple times.
—This kid is no simple character!
In fact, he might even have more backing than Ning Rongrong from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan!
"Who are you really?" Flender asked, his voice low. "How do you know these things? And why did you come to Shrek?"
"Tsk!" Zhuge Lan smirked, unafraid. "Before asking others questions, shouldn't you answer theirs first?"
With unwavering confidence, Zhuge Lan wasn't the least bit intimidated.
After all, the system had a **"Life Preservation Mechanism"** in place. If things really got dangerous, he'd be teleported out immediately. If Shrek didn't work out, there was always the Spirit Hall.
Next time he met these guys, he could just farm emotion points from them again!
Because of this certainty, Flender hesitated to act rashly.
—Could this kid also have a hidden guardian, like Ning Rongrong?
Flender immediately switched to a softer tone, sighing with regret.
"Hongjun's father was indeed the head of the Blazing Flame Sect," Flender began, "I traveled the continent in my youth and became acquainted with him. When I first founded Shrek, he brought Hongjun to me and entrusted him to my care before succumbing to his injuries."
"So, in truth, I have no real experience training someone with Hongjun's martial spirit."
"Zhuge, if you know anything, could you offer some guidance?"
Flender's attitude was now deferential.
Zhuge Lan smiled in satisfaction.
—Now this is how you ask for help!
Well then...