Thank you to our new Patrons: Dog Jay, Christopher Gärtner, Jose cabrera atzin, Luke Matthews, allen pellissery, mark74497 and Charlie Puente-Duany! Your support means the world to me <3 We are up to Chapter 200: Sword Sheathed, Knee Raised on Patreon!
There's something for free patrons too! Free Patrons receive 1 chapter in advance :)
Patrons, don't forget to vote for the next novel to be released!!!
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Approximately the time it took to burn a stick of incense later, the Shrek Academy group arrived at a side entrance of what they believed to be "Tian Dou Imperial Academy."
"Why isn't there a sign for the academy here?" Xiao Wu couldn't help but ask.
"This isn't the main entrance. Regardless, we've arrived—let someone announce our presence."
With that, Flender stepped forward.
At the side entrance, two students were on guard duty. Upon seeing Flender's figure, one of them approached and asked, "Uncle, what brings you here?"
Flender gave a kindly smile. "Young lads, I'm Flender, the principal of Shrek Academy. Could you please go inside and inform your teachers? Tell them that Shrek Academy has arrived as invited."
"Shrek Academy?" The two students exchanged glances and shook their heads.
They had never heard of any Shrek Academy.
"Zhang Feng, take them to the reception room while I go notify a teacher."
According to academy rules, they weren't allowed to speak rudely to outsiders. Moreover, the visitors confidently claimed they were "invited."
The other student immediately reported the matter to his teacher.
"If they're here in the name of an invitation from the academy, it must have been issued by the principal," the teacher thought to himself.
It was well-known that Seven Treasures Academy was severely understaffed with teachers. In preparation for the new semester, the academy had been actively recruiting instructors.
Recently, quite a few teachers had come to report for duty.
However, it was the first time that the principal of another academy had personally brought teachers to report.
The teacher assumed that the visiting academy intended to merge into Seven Treasures Academy and promptly headed to the principal's office.
---
What the Shrek Academy group didn't realize was that they had arrived not at Tian Dou Imperial Academy but at Seven Treasures Academy.
Because of the academy's massive scale and its location in a bustling area, they mistakenly assumed it was an academy established by the royal family.
Shortly thereafter, they were led by Zhang Feng to the nearest reception room.
While waiting to be received, Flender couldn't help but chuckle. "Even big academies know proper etiquette—they didn't leave us stranded outside the gates."
There were no obvious signs or slogans indicating the academy's name within the premises.
However, as they walked through, Yu Xiaogang clearly noticed that the learning atmosphere here was extraordinary.
"Flender, don't celebrate too soon—are you not finding this place a bit odd?"
"Master, you're overthinking things. Everything here seems normal. Besides, under broad daylight, Tian Dou Imperial Academy wouldn't dare harm us," Zhao Wuji interjected, thinking Yu Xiaogang was making a mountain out of a molehill.
The better the learning atmosphere, the easier the teachers' jobs would be.
Not only Zhao Wuji but also Flender and the other teachers had grown fond of the ambiance here.
Yu Xiaogang frowned deeply and said gravely, "Do you remember what Qin Ming said? The students of Tian Dou Imperial Academy are all descendants of imperial officials and nobles—lazy troublemakers who cause problems everywhere. But the students we've seen here are wearing uniforms and don't seem like arrogant troublemakers at all."
Flender shrugged dismissively. "Every academy has its share of arrogant individuals. Qin Ming didn't say all the students were like that. It's probably just an isolated case."
Yu Xiaogang couldn't find any further evidence to support his suspicions and reluctantly let it go. "Let's hope so."
---
Inside the principal's office…
The members of the Seven Treasures team were still adapting to their newfound strength, so training sessions were relatively light, and Ke Jie wasn't fully monitoring them.
In recent days, he'd been enjoying some peace and quiet, cultivating his soul power in his office.
After absorbing the immortal herb yesterday, his soul power had increased by nearly half a level, bringing him just a step away from Level 90.
With his improved innate talent, he was confident that through his own cultivation, he could break through the shackles of becoming a Title Douluo.
Just then, a knock came at the door of the principal's office.
Once Ke Jie gave permission, the door slowly opened.
"Teacher Zhu, what is the matter?" Ke Jie asked.
Teacher Zhu quickly reported, "Principal, a man claiming to be the principal of Shrek Academy has arrived at our academy along with his teachers and students, stating they were invited."
Ke Jie looked puzzled.
He had never extended invitations to any academy—what was this Shrek Academy business?
"Could it be guests invited by the two vice-principals?"
He had no knowledge of Shrek Academy. Moreover, the two vice-principals had left early that morning to handle official matters, so he couldn't verify anything.
Since the visitors claimed to be "invited," it wouldn't do to turn them away arbitrarily.
After some thought, he decided to meet this Principal Flender.
Under Teacher Zhu's guidance, Ke Jie soon arrived at the reception room.
When Flender saw Ke Jie, sensing the man's powerful aura, he immediately bowed and introduced himself. "Flender, martial soul Cat-Owl, Level 78 Agility-Attack System Battle Soul Sage."
"Zhao Wuji—"
Ke Jie: "???"
To start off by announcing their strength—were they trying to intimidate him? But Soul Sage-level strength seemed rather weak for such a display.
Flender spoke respectfully. "We apologize for arriving unannounced and humbly request your forgiveness, Commissioner. These behind me are the teachers and students of Shrek Academy. As for other details, I believe Qin Ming should have informed you."
Ke Jie's brows furrowed even more deeply.
Seven Treasures Academy didn't have any "commissioners," and neither among the teachers nor the students was there anyone named Qin Ming.
Had Flender's group mistaken the academy entirely?
"Principal Flender, before coming here, did you not investigate our academy's situation properly? I am the principal of this academy, not a commissioner."
Principal?
The Shrek group exchanged awkward glances.
Qin Ming had said that Tian Dou Imperial Academy was managed by three commissioners—he had never mentioned anything about a principal.
Flender inwardly cursed Qin Ming for being unreliable and regretted not asking more questions himself.
How could they possibly know who the principal of Tian Dou Imperial Academy was?
At this moment, Tang San stepped forward, speaking calmly and respectfully. "Apologies, Principal. We only just entered Tian Dou City today and came straight here without having the chance to inquire about your academy's situation."
"However, according to our agreement, Shrek Academy is supposed to become a subsidiary academy of yours. Might you be able to arrange accommodations for us?"
Ke Jie couldn't help but look at him with newfound respect. "Such composure for someone so young. However, none of our teachers or students is named Qin Ming. Moreover, our academy has never recruited any subsidiary academies!"
Recruiting a subsidiary academy was a major decision that the two vice-principals couldn't make on their own.
Ke Jie was certain that these visitors were either frauds or had come to the wrong place.
What puzzled him was how they had entered the academy despite the large golden characters reading "Seven Treasures Advanced Soul Master Academy" displayed prominently at the main gate. Did they not know how to read?
Of course, he didn't know they had entered through the back door.
The quick-witted Yu Xiaogang was the first to catch on. "Principal, may I ask for the full name of your esteemed academy?"
"Seven Treasures Advanced Soul Master Academy." Ke Jie snorted, no longer interested in entertaining their antics. "Teacher Zhu, show them out!"
With that, he turned and left.
"Seven Treasures Academy!" The Shrek group exchanged stunned glances.
Wasn't this the academy where the "four traitors" of Shrek Academy were now located? If that was the case, hadn't they just walked right into the lion's den?
Flender's face flushed with embarrassment. He should have confirmed the academy's name before entering.
Now, they had made a complete fool of themselves.
------------------------------------------------------
Support my writing journey: patreon.com/EphemeralShadow
40+ Chapters Ahead Guaranteed.