Seeing Zhuge Lan summon the Thorn Armor, Ning Rongrong, despite being furious, couldn't help but recall the scene from yesterday—Zhao Wuji running away clutching his behind.
*[Emotion Points +4444]*
Panicking, she tried to pull back her foot, but she had used all her strength in her anger just moments before.
The result?
She lost her balance and fell flat on her face, even knocking her head on the ground as if bowing to Zhuge Lan.
*[Emotion Points +5999]*
Zhuge Lan chuckled and casually tossed a gold coin in front of Ning Rongrong.
"In our place, juniors giving such big bows are expected to receive red envelopes in return."
"Don't look down on it. It's just a token."
It wasn't much in terms of damage, but the insult was profound.
*[Emotion Points +6999]*
Ning Rongrong's eyes reddened with rage as she grabbed the gold coin, ready to throw it back. But seeing Zhuge Lan's Thorn Armor again, she hesitated.
She stood there, stuck, unable to throw the coin or walk away.
In the end, she glared at Flender furiously.
"Flender!" Ning Rongrong ordered, "Kill him now! I'll have my father expand the Shrek Academy!"
*[Emotion Points +7777]*
Seeing the rising number above Flender's head, Zhuge Lan blinked.
Could this guy... really be tempted by money?
If that were the case, he'd have no choice but to make a difficult decision…
Luckily, though Flender didn't have very high principles, he still had a functioning brain. Zhuge Lan's mysterious background was best left unprovoked.
As for Ning Rongrong... well, Flender absentmindedly touched the letter from Ning Fengzhi that he had tucked into his chest.
His expression turned stern.
"Ridiculous!" Flender declared righteously, "Ning Rongrong, you dare try to bribe the headmaster to target one of his own students?"
"If you can't apologize for this, then you can leave Shrek Academy!"
"Our small academy can't handle an ancestor like you."
Ning Rongrong's eyes widened in disbelief!
It was already bad enough that Zhuge Lan, whose background she didn't even know, dared to bully her. But now this small-time Soul Sage was speaking to her like this?
"Flender! Do you know who you are talking to?" Ning Rongrong screamed. "A mere Soul Sage! How dare you act so high and mighty?"
"Do you really think my Grandfather Sword won't flatten your little Shrek Academy?!"
Truth be told, for a brief moment, Flender was genuinely concerned when he heard this.
But then, recalling the "imperial letter" tucked inside his shirt, he straightened his back.
Smiling coldly, Flender retorted, "Indeed, I'm just a mere Soul Sage."
"But right now, you're merely a two-ringed Spirit Grandmaster."
"No matter how talented you are, the gap between us is still insurmountable."
"If you can't respect Shrek, then please leave. Shrek Academy does not welcome unruly students like you."
"Dai Mubai, pack her things."
Ning Rongrong's eyes widened in shock!
What in the world was happening?
How could everyone dare treat her like this?
"Flender, you wouldn't dare!" she shrieked. "And as for that Dai something or other, if you dare take a step, I'll kill you!"
Dai Mubai flinched, casting a quick glance at Zhu Zhuqing, who remained expressionless, even exuding an air of indifference.
Furious, his temper flared!
Sure, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan was indeed powerful—so much so that even the royal family of the Star Luo Empire had to be respectful.
But who exactly was Ning Rongrong?
He was still the crown prince of the Star Luo Empire!
Giving her a dismissive glance, Dai Mubai strode off.
"How dare you leave?!" Ning Rongrong roared. "Somebody, stop him! Kill him!"
But earlier, when Ning Rongrong had been forced to kneel, no one had shown up. Now, there was even less chance of that.
Dai Mubai: "Martial spirit, possess!"
He launched himself in the direction of the girls' dormitory.
Ning Rongrong was so enraged she was on the verge of tears!
Zhuge Lan was silently amused, nearly bursting into laughter.
—This Dai Mubai really has quite the temper too.
"Flender! I'll remember this!" Ning Rongrong snapped in anger. "A mere Soul Sage, and you dare act so arrogant?"
Flender smirked.
"You're not my daughter, and you're certainly not precious to me."
"To me, any of these other students are far better than you."
"What a pity for the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda, one of the most powerful support martial spirits. You're just tarnishing its reputation."
"You're lying!" Ning Rongrong retorted, stomping her feet. "I'm 12 years old and already at level 26! That's unprecedented even within the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan! I'm better than any of them—"
She pointed at Zhuge Lan, but her thoughts stuttered.
Twelve years old, a level 35 Spirit Elder, and a twin martial spirit user.
She couldn't compare.
She turned toward Zhu Zhuqing, who was a year younger than her but still a level higher.
Still couldn't compare.
Tang San and Xiao Wu were both 12 years old and at level 29. Again, better than her.
In desperation, she pointed at Oscar and Ma Hongjun.
"They're auxiliary types like me! I can't be worse than them, can I?"
"And this fat pervert—he grinned lewdly at me the moment we met! He must be trash!"
Oscar: (●—●)
Ma Hongjun:凸(｀0)凸
Flender chuckled.
Listing off each name like a treasure trove, he explained—
"Ma Hongjun, 12 years old, with a spirit power of level 27. And that's despite devoting some of his energy to compensating for his martial spirit's flaws."
"Yet, he's blessed with the top-tier beast martial spirit, the Phoenix!"
"In terms of martial spirit quality, only the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon can rival it among beast martial spirits!"
"And as for little Oscar…"
"Have you ever seen a food-type martial spirit with innate full spirit power?"
Ning Rongrong: (O_o)??
"That's impossible!"
"How can an auxiliary martial spirit have innate full spirit power?!"
Flender scoffed, unwilling to waste more words on her.
The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda was indeed impressive. But with Zhuge Lan around, the team now had eight members.
Yet, for the Elite Tournament, only a seven-person team was required.
The team already had one support member, Oscar. Adding another might weaken their offensive capabilities.
If Ning Rongrong behaved, they could alternate in battle for tactical variety. But now…
Well, whatever.
Flender glanced at Zhuge Lan and the others, his tone serious—
"Do not assume your status allows you to do as you please!"
"If you wish to continue training at Shrek, you must follow the academy's rules!"
"Otherwise, you'll face the same fate as Ning Rongrong."
"Now, let's move out!"
With that, he led the group away.
Leaving a stunned Ning Rongrong frozen in place.
She watched the group slowly disappear, overwhelmed with helplessness.
Did they… really leave?
Impossible!
It couldn't be!
But the most absurd thing happened next.
Dai Mubai returned, tossed a bundle onto the ground, and coldly said—
"I hope you'll be gone by the time we return."
"If not, I won't mind taking matters into my own hands."
Then, without another glance at Ning Rongrong, he dashed out of the academy gates.
Ning Rongrong looked down at the bundle, feeling like she was about to burst!
They really did it…?
What was happening…?
"Wahhhh—!"
"You're all terrible!"
"You're all bullies!"
"I'll have my father kill you all!"
"Grandfather Sword! Grandfather Bone!"
"Rongrong has been bullied!!!"
"Wahhhh—"
Meanwhile, Zhuge Lan, watching the constant flow of *[Emotion Points +7777]*, couldn't stop grinning.
*[Emotion Points: 381,365]*
Ning Rongrong had contributed over 40,000 emotion points in total.
He almost didn't want to see her leave.
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