[Ding! Warning! Warning! The Nine-Colored Goddess Ning Rongrong has been detected within 100 meters. Please be cautious and avoid excessive contact, or risk punishment from Oscar the God of Cookery!]
Xiao Tian: ???
Oscar wants to punish me now? That's just overthinking!
Turning around, Xiao Tian noticed a beautiful girl in a simple green dress with long brown hair and lively, intelligent eyes looking their way. He couldn't help but wonder: Did Ning Rongrong overhear what Yu Xiaogang said earlier? If so, that would be quite amusing.
Noticing Xiao Tian's gaze, Ning Rongrong smiled politely and quickened her pace.
"Excuse me, are you also registering for Shrek Academy?" she asked lightly.
Xiao Tian knew Ning Rongrong must have caught some of Yu Xiaogang's words. After all, Yu Xiaogang didn't lower his voice deliberately before, so even someone with Bai Mi's physique and a soul master's sensitivity would catch key phrases.
Xiao Tian nodded slightly, acknowledging the guess.
Xiao Wu and Zhu Zhuqing were surprised to see another beauty of such stature. Was Shrek Academy really that well-known?
The girl's noble bearing and elegant attire left no doubt she wasn't ordinary.
Upon receiving their response, Ning Rongrong smiled and said, "Oh? In that case, shall we go together? I'm applying too. I heard Shrek only accepts monsters—that intrigued me.
"By the way, I think I heard you mention the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect and their two Titled Douluo, and that they couldn't defeat someone. Could you tell me more about that?"
Her eyes curved mischievously as she glanced at the jade jar. Here comes the little witch Ning Rongrong.
Xiao Tian silently pitied Yu Xiaogang—it seemed he might be in trouble later.
But since Ning Rongrong was mostly a supporting system, even if she wanted to stir trouble, she probably lacked the strength. Moreover, Ning Fengzhi had secretly sent a letter to Flanders, further complicating matters.
Perhaps it was good to face some setbacks; the once quiet Ning Rongrong was cute early on but could be quite unlikable when angered.
If Flanders used some "immunity token" to pair her with Oscar, Xiao Tian doubted he could endure it.
Xiao Tian claimed to be a big-hearted man and not a scoundrel, but he intended to offer all homeless women a warm home—responsibly, of course.
Flirting without marrying was scumbaggery; courting and commitment showed affection.
Yu Xiaogang interjected awkwardly, "Ahem, I said nothing. You must be mistaken."
He changed the subject, "Look at the long queue ahead. That says enough about Shrek's situation."
Though Ning Rongrong appeared noble, it was their first meeting, so she resolved to withhold judgment until they passed the academy's assessment. Her gaze wandered, but seeing Yu Xiaogang silent, she had to let it go… for now.
Nonetheless, she had made her mind up. She had just heard of a Titled Douluo behind Shrek Academy—strong enough to defeat her grandfathers, the continent's top attacking and defensive spirit masters. Apart from major sect leaders or powerful Spirit Hall figures, who else could match them?
Ning Rongrong could not fathom such a person existing.
This meant the rumors were just that—rumors!
Outside Shrek's gate, a long line of applicants waited to sign up. A white-haired old man stood at the entrance, Dai Mubai beside him.
During this time, Ning Rongrong introduced herself to Xiao Tian and the others and only then realized the scruffy middle-aged man speaking nonsense earlier was Yu Xiaogang, the renowned mainland theoretician.
That forced her to take things more seriously.
Could the Titled Douluo behind Shrek be Yu Yuanzhen, Yu Xiaogang's father?
Wasn't he kicked out of the Blue Lightning Tyrannosaurus Rex family, then joined the Golden Triangle to traverse the continent, finally founding this academy?
As little princess of the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect, she knew these rumors well. Her mind buzzed with confusion.
Suddenly, a young man in line quarreled with the white-haired old man.
"Why can't I enroll? I have two yellow spirit rings, so I meet Shrek Academy's requirements, right?" he demanded.
The old man replied flatly, "I already made it clear: you must be under twelve and have soul power at least level twenty. Your bone age is too high."
"So what? I'm only a year older! Can't you be lenient?"
The young man was angry.
The old man answered calmly, "Shrek only accepts monsters. Standards are standards!"
Clenching his teeth, the boy demanded a refund of his ten gold soul coins registration fee.
"No refunds or exchanges after registration!" The old man closed his eyes, dismissing the protest.
"Next!"
Witnessing this, Xiao Tian and the others all frowned.
Before Xiao Tian could speak, Xiao Wu exclaimed, "Master, is this really the Shrek Academy you told us about? I've never heard of such an expensive registration fee! And this place looks shabby—does it even deserve ten gold soul coins? No refund, either?!"
Xiao Wu had followed Xiao Tian here, but after hearing there was a Titled Douluo behind the academy, she wanted to run.
Jade Vat:
Could he really have been totally unaware?
Yu Xiaogang cursed Flanders silently. This wasn't the behavior of a frugal man!
Though Yu Xiaogang knew a little about Shrek Academy's situation, he never expected such greed. When did Flanders become so short of money?
Ning Rongrong also chimed in, "Master, is this the status of your Golden Triangle? You said titled masters were behind it. How can a titled master be so broke? Even if all these people pay the fees, that's barely over a thousand gold soul coins. I didn't expect you'd rip people off for such a tiny sum!"
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