The atmosphere in the ravaged grounds of Shrek Academy was thick with a strange mixture of exhaustion and newfound purpose.
The journey to the Star Dou Great Forest had been quite good with Xiao Wu, Tang San, and Oscar gaining their Third Spirit Ring.
Now, as they gathered once more, they were met by the entirety of the academy's teaching staff, a prospect that filled some with curiosity and others with a quiet dread.
Flender stood at the center, his hawkish face set in a serious, formal expression. He gestured to the three men standing beside him and the ever-present Zhao Wuji.
"Now that everyone has returned and advanced, it is time you were formally introduced to the full faculty of our Shrek Academy," he announced, his voice booming with forced gravitas.
He pointed to the first teacher, a man with a severe, wooden expression and a ramrod straight posture. "This is Teacher Li Yusong. His spirit is the Dragon Pattern Stick. He is a sixty-third ranked Spirit Emperor."
Teacher Li gave a stiff, almost imperceptible nod, his eyes sweeping over them without a flicker of emotion.
'A Power Attack type,' Zhang Tian analyzed silently. 'Rank 63 is respectable, but his demeanor is rigid. Likely a fighter who relies on established forms and brute strength, lacking adaptability.'
Flender then indicated the second man, who, in stark contrast to Teacher Li, wore a gentle, scholarly smile. "This is Teacher Lu Jibin. His spirit is the Star Luo Chess. A sixty-sixth ranked Spirit Emperor."
Teacher Lu offered them a warm, welcoming smile. 'A tool spirit, focused on strategy and control,' Zhang Tian deduced. 'A much more interesting and potentially dangerous opponent than the stick user. His rank is higher, and his spirit implies a sharp intellect. I'll need to be wary of him.'
The final teacher was a surprise. He was significantly shorter than the others, barely reaching Xiao Wu's height, with small eyes and a large nose that gave him an almost comical appearance. Yet, the spirit power radiating from him was immense, far surpassing the other two.
"This is Shao Xinshao," Flender said, his voice tinged with pride. "His spirit is the Sweet Pea. He is a seventy-first ranked Spirit Sage, a Food System Spirit Master. Among all the food system Spirit Masters I know, Teacher Shao's power is absolutely within the top five."
The revelation sent a shockwave through the new students. A Spirit Sage! And a Food System one at that! Such a combination was almost unheard of. It was a rank that would command immense respect and a high position in any clan or even in the Spirit Hall.
Teacher Shao didn't seem to notice their awe. His strange, obsessive gaze was fixed entirely on Oscar, a look of intense professional interest that made Oscar squirm uncomfortably.
Finally, Flender walked over to the man who had been standing silently at his side, the man whose arrival Zhang Tian had been dreading. He placed a hand on the man's shoulder with a familiarity born from decades of friendship.
"Lastly, this is the one I must carefully introduce to everyone," Flender declared, his voice filled with a reverence that bordered on worship. "He is the man who, relying on his own research, compiled the legendary 'Ten Great Spirit Competences.' He is regarded as the best in spirit theory, the wisest Spirit Master on the continent. He is also Tang San's personal teacher, Mister Yu Xiaogang. I am sure that even if you do not know his name, you have all heard his title. From now on, you will address him as Grandmaster."
Xiao Wu, Ning Rongrong, and even the aloof Zhu Zhuqing looked at the gloomy, stiff man with newfound awe. This was the legendary Grandmaster? The author of theories that had revolutionized the understanding of martial spirits?
Zhang Tian let out an internal sigh, so heavy it was almost a groan. 'The best in spirit theory? The wisest Spirit Master? Flender's talent for hyperbole is truly world-class. This is the man whose 'research' was largely plagiarized from restricted Spirit Hall texts, whose grand theories are filled with glaring logical fallacies, and whose own spirit mutated into a pathetic, non-combat pig. And now, he is to be our ultimate authority. This will be insufferable.'
"Starting from today," Flender continued, oblivious to Zhang Tian's internal monologue, "Grandmaster will have full authority over all of you, teachers and students alike. We will all coordinate with his instructions. You all returned just yesterday, so I believe you are still tired. Today, you will have a one-day vacation. Tomorrow, classes will resume. Ning Rongrong, Ma Hongjun, and Zhu Zhuqing, you three have yet to break through the thirtieth rank. You must work hard to catch up to the others."
He then turned to his old friend. "Grandmaster, do you have anything to say to them?"
Yu Xiaogang stepped forward, his face as stiff and emotionless as carved wood. He looked at the eight students gathered before him, his gaze sweeping over each one like a scientist examining a specimen.
"The Academy now has only you eight students," he said, his voice a flat, indifferent monotone. "In my eyes, you are one entity. I have already reviewed your records. Later, I will draw up focused education methods for each of you. Apart from coordination, I do not wish to hear any different voices. Whoever it is, I will treat everyone equally. Since you are the students of Monster Academy, you must be more monstrous than any common Spirit Master. Hereafter, when people speak of you, I want them to think only of one word: 'Monster'."
He paused, letting his words sink in. "Starting from now, you will not be split into initial and high-rank sections. You will undergo a completely unified education. I will rank you according to age. First, Dai Mubai. Second, Oscar. Third, Tang San. Fourth, Ma Hongjun. Fifth, Xiao Wu. Sixth, Ning Rongrong. Seventh, Zhu Zhuqing. And eighth… Zhang Tian."
Grandmaster's gaze swept across them one last time. "Good. You can disband now. Gather here early tomorrow morning. In addition, I do not want to see anyone absent at breakfast. Otherwise, you will receive special drills."
His speech was as dry and rigid as his posture. The promise of a day off was welcome, but the arrival of this new, unyielding authority cast a shadow of apprehension over the students.
As the teachers began to depart, Oscar sidled up to Tang San, his voice a low whisper. "Little San, it looks like this teacher of yours is even more difficult to deal with than Dean Flender, ah!"
Tang San smiled faintly, a look of profound, unwavering loyalty on his face. "Teacher's work has always been meticulous. As long as we do everything strictly according to his instructions, there won't be any problems."
Just as the group was about to fully disband, Dai Mubai stepped forward, his gaze fixed on Zhu Zhuqing. "Zhuqing. We need to talk."
Without waiting for a reply, he turned and walked towards a more secluded area behind the dormitories. After a moment's hesitation, her face a cold, unreadable mask, Zhu Zhuqing followed.
When they were out of earshot of the others, Dai Mubai turned to face her, his expression a mixture of impatience and frustration.
"Did you come to Shrek Academy for me?" he asked bluntly. "So we can join hands and have a chance against my elder brother and your sister? If so, we can't waste any more time. We need to start practicing our Martial Spirit Fusion skill as soon as possible."
He took a step closer, intending to reach for her, but she put up a hand, stopping him cold.
"You are being too impudent, Dai Mubai," she said, her voice like chips of ice.
"Originally, yes," she admitted, her gaze unwavering. "I came to this academy after escaping my family, after dodging my sister's attempts to cripple me, all for the sole purpose of finding you. To join hands with you, to fight against our fate and survive the succession battle."
Her voice then dripped with a scathing disdain. "Unfortunately, the man I found is not the partner I was hoping for. For the past few years, while I have been forced to endure my sister's torment, training every single day just to stay alive, you have been here… enjoying yourself. Wasting your time and talent on women and wine."
She shook her head, a finality in her voice that was as sharp as her claws. "I have no intention of joining hands with you now, Dai Mubai. I will find another way. I will resist my fate alone if I have to."
Dai Mubai's face flushed with anger, then paled as her words hit their mark. He frowned, his mind grasping for an excuse, a deflection. Then, his eyes narrowed with suspicion.
"Is this because of him?" he snarled, the question laced with jealous venom. "Is it because of that bastard Zhang Tian?! Do you like him? Have you forgotten that you are my fiancée?!"
Zhu Zhuqing's expression didn't even flicker. "Who I like or do not like is none of your concern. But I will say this. At least Zhang Tian appears to be far more talented, far more intelligent, and far more hardworking than you could ever hope to be."
With that final, devastating blow, she turned and walked away, leaving Dai Mubai standing alone, trembling with a mixture of rage, humiliation, and a dawning, terrifying fear.
His moment of lonely distress was short-lived. A light, musical giggle echoed behind him. He turned to see Ning Rongrong approaching, a mischievous, taunting smile on her face.
"Aww, did you fail to pursue Zhuqing and made her angry with your attempt to pursue her?" she chirped, her tone dripping with mock sympathy. "Well, what else can be expected from a bastard like you? It's obvious a girl as hard working and determined as her wouldn't want a degenerate coward for a partner."
The word 'coward' was a lit fuse. Dai Mubai's evil eyes flashed with a cold, furious light. "Ning Rongrong. Don't provoke my patience. This is Shrek Academy, not your home. Other people might fear the Seven Treasures Glaze Tile Sect, but I, Dai Mubai, do not. Provoke me again, and take care I don't rape you, kill you, and then do it all over again."
The threat was vile, born from a wounded ego and a complete lack of self-control.
Ning Rongrong, however, just giggled, completely unintimidated. She deliberately stuck out her still-developing chest. "Ooh, I'm really scared, ah! Come on, then. Let me see how you rape me."
"You…!"
That was the final straw. With a roar of pure fury, Dai Mubai's spirit power erupted. 'If the White Tiger does not reveal its power, you will truly consider me a sick cat!' he thought, his anger completely overwhelming his reason. The shockwave of his power slammed into Ning Rongrong, sending her small frame flying backwards through the air.
But she never hit the ground.
In an instant, a thick, blood-red vine, pulsing with golden imperial light, shot out and wrapped gently around her waist, arresting her flight and lowering her safely to the ground.
In Zhang Tian's mind, Ah Yin's voice was a low, cold command, filled with the fury of an empress. 'Zhang Tian. Beat that disrespectful animal until he can no longer stand.'
He didn't need to be told. He hadn't expected this scene to play out again, not after he had changed so much, but it seemed Dai Mubai's foolishness was a constant of this universe.
He cracked his neck, the sound sharp in the sudden silence, and began to walk slowly towards Dai Mubai. His voice, when he spoke, was deceptively calm, but it carried a chilling coldness that was more terrifying than any shout.
"Did I hear you correctly, Dai Mubai?" he asked, his blue eyes like frozen lakes. "Did you actually say you would dare to rape and then kill Rongrong?"
By now, Tang San, Xiao Wu, and Oscar had heard the commotion and rushed over, arriving just in time to see the confrontation.
Dai Mubai, his face twisted in a ferocious snarl, glared at Zhang Tian. "So what if I did? She asked for it!"
"So what?" Zhang Tian echoed, a slow, dangerous smile spreading across his lips. "You are just the fourth prince of the Star Luo Empire. A spare. A prince whose life and death is almost certainly sealed at the hands of your elder brother. I truly do not understand where a failure like you gets the courage to threaten the sole, beloved heiress of the Seven Treasure Glaze Tile Sect."
He took another step closer. "Her sect has two Titled Douluo, Dai Mubai. One of them is the Sword Douluo, Chen Xin, who is one of the strongest Titled Douluo in the world. Do you seriously believe that your pathetic Star Luo Empire, which doesn't have a single active Titled Douluo to its name, could protect you from their wrath? In fact, would your father, the Emperor, even dare to try? He would hand you over to them on a silver platter to appease their anger."
The anger in Dai Mubai's eyes began to fade, replaced by the dawning horror of realization. He had spoken in a fit of rage, but Zhang Tian's cold, political analysis laid the catastrophic consequences of his words bare. The fear was real and visceral.
Tang San and Xiao Wu watched, their eyes wide. They had known Ning Rongrong was from a powerful clan, but they had never truly understood the scale of that power until now.
But Zhang Tian wasn't finished. "I spoke those words only to make you understand your own foolishness. But understanding is not enough. You must now face the consequences."
He stopped, standing a few meters from the stunned prince. "Come at me, Dai Mubai. I truly want to see how strong a 'cowardly' Spirit Elder, ten levels higher than myself, can be."
The word 'cowardly' was the final spark. With a roar of defiance, Dai Mubai possessed his spirit, his muscles swelling, his body covered in white fur with black stripes. His spirit rings pulsed as he charged at Zhang Tian.
Zhang Tian didn't even summon his martial spirit. He simply reached into his storage spirit tool and pulled out two sleek, black pistols, one in each hand.
He glanced at Ning Rongrong, who was watching with wide, expectant eyes. "Rongrong," he said calmly, "these are a bit different from the shotgun. Watch closely."
He raised the pistols and fired.
The speed of the bullets was incredible. Dai Mubai, reacting on pure instinct, roared as his first spirit ring lit up. "White Tiger Shield Body Barrier!" A translucent golden shield materialized around him.
The moment the first bullets touched the barrier, they didn't just stop. They exploded.
BOOM! BOOM!
Small, concussive blasts of fire and shrapnel hammered against the shield, causing it to ripple violently. These were not penetrating rounds; they were miniature grenades.
Zhang Tian fired again, a relentless barrage of explosive bullets that slammed into the shield over and over. The barrier, designed to withstand physical blows, began to flicker and crack under the constant, explosive assault. Just as its one-minute time limit was about to expire, it shattered completely.
Dai Mubai's eyes widened in panic. He tried to retreat, to dodge, but it was too late. Zhang Tian's aim was perfect. He fired a volley of bullets not at him, but in a precise pattern around him. The bullets exploded mid-air, creating a cage of concussive force that sent him flying backwards with a strangled cry, his body peppered with minor shrapnel wounds, his clothes smoking.
He crashed to the ground in a heap, groaning in pain and shock.
Before he could even process what had happened, Zhang Tian was there, standing over him. He calmly placed one foot on Dai Mubai's face, grinding it into the dirt.
"The next time," Zhang Tian said, his voice a low, terrifying whisper, "I will target some really interesting spots."
He lowered the muzzle of one pistol, aiming it directly at Dai Mubai's crotch. "If this thing explodes… will you still want to live? Because that will be my next target."
He pressed his foot down harder. "If you want revenge, feel free. Go and beg your teachers. Go and cry to that Royal Family you are so proud of, yet so terrified of. I will be waiting."
With that, he removed his foot, turned his back on the broken prince, and walked over to a stunned but secretly thrilled Ning Rongrong. "Let's go."
"Wait!"
Tang San stepped forward, his face a mask of disapproval. "Zhang Tian, you've gone too far!"
Zhang Tian stopped and turned slowly, his blue eyes cold.
"I heard the conversation," Tang San continued, his voice righteous. "It was Ning Rongrong who provoked Boss Mubai first! Your actions were excessive!"
Zhang Tian stared at him for a long, silent moment. Then he asked a simple question.
"Tang San, if it had been Xiao Wu who provoked Dai Mubai, and if he had uttered those same words to her… would you still think that what I have done is excessive?"
The question struck Tang San like a physical blow. His mind instantly flashed to the image of Dai Mubai threatening his sister, his precious Xiao Wu, with such vile acts. A wave of pure, murderous rage, far colder and more violent than anything Dai Mubai had displayed, surged through him. He knew, with absolute certainty, that if that had happened, Dai Mubai wouldn't just be humiliated. He would be crippled. Permanently.
He had no answer. He stood there, speechless, his own hypocrisy laid bare for all to see.
Zhang Tian didn't wait for a reply. "Rongrong is my friend," he stated simply, his voice leaving no room for argument. "A good one. And my future business partner. Dai Mubai spoke those words. He had it coming."
He turned and walked away, Ning Rongrong following closely at his side, leaving a humiliated Dai Mubai on the ground and a stunned, conflicted Tang San in his wake.
~~
A/N: Check out my other novels like "Harem Master: Seduction System" and the "Villain: Manipulating the Heroines into hating the Protagonist" and I hope you like this story and those stories as well.
Check out more chapters on my P.atreon. The P.atreon will have 20+ Chapters ahead for this story. I hope you like it.
The link of p.atreon is: bit.ly/evildragon