Black World, Spirit City.
"The youngest Elder of our Spirit Hall is actually a graduate of this Shrek Academy?"
Upon hearing Dai Mubai's introduction of Shrek Academy's graduates in the comparison video, a deep frown formed on Bibi Dong's elegant and beautiful face.
Beside her, Chrysanthemum Douluo Yue Guan was even more furious, his effeminate voice rising sharply in anger.
"This is utterly absurd!"
"In our Spirit Hall, only those who reach the rank of Titled Douluo are qualified to become Elders!"
"At present, the youngest Elder is the Ninth Elder, Xuanjian, a direct descendant of our core lineage. When did we ever have any connection with this so-called Shrek Academy?"
"Calling them the most outstanding graduates of Shrek Academy is nothing but blatant fabrication and nonsense!"
After venting his anger,
Chrysanthemum Douluo immediately dropped to one knee before Bibi Dong, cupped his fists, and spoke with indignation.
"Your Holiness the Pope, I request permission to dispatch someone to teach this Shrek Academy a severe lesson!"
"They dare to spread false claims about the Elders of Spirit Hall. Such audacity cannot be tolerated!"
However, Bibi Dong's brows remained tightly drawn. After a long moment of silence, her vermilion lips parted slightly as she spoke in a calm yet cold tone.
"The comparison video has not finished yet. Let us wait and observe."
Because her heart still lingered with Yu Xiaogang,
Bibi Dong naturally had some understanding of his experiences after leaving Spirit City. She knew that Flender was his sworn brother.
For Yu Xiaogang's sake, she was unwilling to act against Flender and Shrek Academy over what she considered a minor matter.
Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School.
"This Shrek Academy is truly outrageous!"
Although Bone Douluo Gu Rong had some awareness of Shrek Academy due to Ning Rongrong's enrollment, he had only known of its reputation as an "Academy of Monsters."
As for what truly made it deserving of that title, he had never looked into it deeply.
Now, after hearing Dai Mubai's explanation of its recruitment and graduation requirements in the comparison video, he was left utterly stunned.
Shrek Academy clearly did not rank among the continent's top institutions in terms of cultivation resources or teaching strength.
Yet its admission standards were even stricter than those of Spirit Hall, and its graduation requirements were so extreme that students were forced to risk their lives by hunting their fourth spirit ring alone.
The level of danger was simply excessive.
From the fact that Shrek Academy had enrolled sixty-two students but only fourteen had graduated, one could easily estimate that the mortality rate approached eighty percent.
At this thought, Bone Douluo's heart felt as though it were bleeding.
"With such harsh requirements, if those students had instead joined our Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School, we might have discovered talents with the potential to reach Titled Douluo…"
At his side, Sword Douluo's sharp brows furrowed as he spoke in a low, cold voice.
"Sect Master, if Shrek Academy's graduation requirements are truly so dangerous, what about Rongrong?"
Ning Fengzhi gently rubbed the jade cane in his hand. A faint, cold smile appeared on his otherwise refined and gentle face as he replied calmly.
"Uncle Sword, there is no need to worry."
"Flender is a sensible man. He knows his limits."
"For commoner geniuses, he may dare to let them venture into the Star Dou Great Forest alone to hunt their fourth spirit ring."
"But if he dares to treat Rongrong the same way…"
"If even a single strand of her hair is harmed, I will make sure every teacher of Shrek Academy pays with their lives."
[After hearing Dai Mubai's explanation of Shrek Academy's enrollment and graduation requirements,]
[Tang San, Xiao Wu, and the others were all visibly shocked.]
[After a long pause, Tang San finally smiled and said, "I am fortunate to have come here."]
[At this moment, Dai Mubai gave a bitter smile and added that Shrek Academy insisted on remaining independent from all factions and refused any external funding, which had left its current operations in a rather difficult state.]
[After leading Tang San and the others to a large training ground,]
[they saw a sturdy middle-aged man in his fifties reclining on a lounge chair, wearing a straw hat and dozing lazily.]
[Dai Mubai stepped forward and woke him, informing him that several students had reached the fourth stage of assessment.]
[Upon sitting up and noticing Tang San and the others, the man showed clear surprise and satisfaction, even expressing his intention to personally conduct their combat assessment.]
[Hearing this, Dai Mubai was taken aback and attempted to dissuade him.]
[However, the man shot him a glare and insisted on proceeding. He instructed Dai Mubai to brief the students on his abilities, stating that the assessment would begin in the time it took for a stick of incense to burn.]
[After speaking, he lit a stick of incense, planted it into the ground, and reclined once more on the lounge chair to rest.]
[Left with no choice, Dai Mubai gathered Tang San and the others and introduced the man's background.]
[This teacher was none other than the once-renowned Fudo Myoo Zhao Wuji of the Spirit Master world. His Martial Spirit was the Vigorous Vajra Bear, and he was a level seventy-six Spirit Saint.]
[Upon learning of Zhao Wuji's strength and identity, everyone drew in sharp breaths of shock.]
[Soon after, under Tang San's lead, the group introduced themselves and began formulating a strategy to face Zhao Wuji.]
Black World, Heaven Water Academy.
"This Shrek Academy actually has a level seventy-six Spirit Saint. Its teaching staff does seem quite strong."
"Combined with such strict admission and graduation standards, it's no wonder it calls itself an Academy of Monsters. It really does seem impressive."
Still somewhat lacking in deeper analysis, Shui Yue'er couldn't help but voice her admiration as the comparison video reached this point.
However, Shui Bing'er shook her head and spoke firmly.
"No. This Shrek Academy is, in truth, nothing more than a fraudulent academy that disregards human life."
"Sister, why would you say that?" Shui Yue'er asked in confusion.
"It's a simple matter of logic."
"Shrek Academy's admission and graduation standards are indeed extremely high. On the surface, this gives it the image of an elite 'Academy of Monsters.' But rights and responsibilities are always intertwined."
"Having recruited such exceptional geniuses, does Shrek Academy truly possess the ability to nurture them properly?"
Shui Bing'er spoke calmly, her reasoning clear and precise.
"Their teaching staff may be decent, but it does not surpass that of our Five Elements Academies."
"Beyond that, their cultivation facilities are severely lacking."
"Furthermore, they admitted sixty-two students, yet only fourteen graduated. One can only imagine how many of those so-called geniuses perished while attempting to hunt their fourth spirit ring in the Star Dou Great Forest."
"If those same geniuses had joined our academies instead, they would not have faced such life-threatening risks, and their achievements might have been even greater."
A faint trace of mockery appeared on Shui Bing'er's gentle and elegant face as she continued.
"Shrek Academy presents itself as an Academy of Monsters."
"But in reality, it merely uses that title as a façade, fabricating a reputation to attract true prodigies, only to use their struggles and even their deaths to sustain its own image."
"Even without Shrek Academy, those prodigies would still have become monsters in their own right."
"But without those prodigies, Shrek Academy would be nothing at all."
"This alone explains everything."
This is question of whether the chicken came before the egg or the egg before the chicken…