The number of Titled Douluo from other factions aside, even the Spirit Hall alone had more than ten such powerful individuals.
A mere Soul Saint like Flender had no way of knowing these things.
To the average person, the Spirit Hall seemed to have only six or seven Titled Douluo at most: Ghost Douluo, Chrysanthemum Douluo, the Pope, and a few elders from the Elder Hall.
As for the Worship Hall's elders, the youngest of them was over 130 years old. Their peers had long since aged into obscurity or passed away.
Only individuals with extraordinary status knew of these elders, and none of them would share such knowledge with the general public.
Age itself wasn't terrifying—being forgotten was.
The Worship Hall's elders often secluded themselves for decades at a time, and most had been completely forgotten by the world.
"Oh my, a little Soul Saint like you dares to boast so boldly? Should I applaud your audacity?"
Ning Rongrong's lips curled into a slight smirk, her gaze filled with disdain.
Zhu Zhuqing, standing silently to the side, was thoroughly stunned.
This lady Ning Rongrong must truly be fearless!
A mere auxiliary spirit master, brazenly provoking a Soul Saint! Even within the prestigious Zhu family of Star Luo, there weren't many members who had reached the rank of Soul Saint.
"Well, since you're so eager to know, I'll generously enlighten you!"
"Yes, I am Ning Rongrong, daughter of Ning Fengzhi, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan's patriarch!"
Flender's face twitched, and his eyelid began to jump uncontrollably.
Great. Yesterday, we offended the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan. Today, the young lady of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan shows up to cause trouble. The Upper Three Sects really are united, aren't they?
Flender didn't doubt Ning Rongrong's identity. After all, impersonating the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan's young lady wasn't something anyone would dare to attempt—such an imposter wouldn't live to see the next day.
"Haha, I wonder how Shrek Academy might have offended Miss Ning to warrant such a personal visit to cause trouble?"
Flender forced a bitter smile.
He knew better than to escalate things. If he offended this young lady, the Sword and Bone Douluo could probably dig up every worm in Shrek Academy just to chop them into pieces!
Rumor had it that Ning Rongrong was arrogant, willful, and troublesome. However, with the support of the clan's two Grand Elders, not even her father Ning Fengzhi could control her.
Now, seeing her in person, Flender found the rumors to be entirely accurate.
"Offended?"
Ning Rongrong scratched her head, genuinely puzzled. Had Shrek Academy done anything to offend her?
Wait a second—should a scam academy like this even exist? Whether or not they had offended her, the fact that they had deceived her was reason enough for her to take action!
"No, you didn't offend me, but your scam academy shouldn't exist in the first place!"
Ning Rongrong declared proudly, her arrogance undiminished.
Flender's face remained calm, but the people hidden in the shadows protecting Ning Rongrong broke out in cold sweats.
"My dear young lady, you can do whatever you like within the clan. No one will stop you when you're with Sword and Bone Douluo. You're free to act as you please."
"But here, you're alone! And the person you're provoking is an experienced Soul Saint!"
Ignorance truly is bliss!
If they continued to stay hidden and the Soul Saint in front of them decided to attack, there could be real trouble.
Even if they avenged her later, losing Ning Rongrong would mean losing their own lives as well.
"Sir Soul Saint, my young lady is still immature. Please forgive her this once on behalf of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan."
The leader of Ning Rongrong's hidden protectors, a Soul Emperor, stepped out of the shadows.
As a Soul Saint, Flender had long noticed the hidden protectors. If not for their presence, Ning Rongrong would have already been sent flying—not out of malice, but simply as a lesson in respecting her elders.
Not everyone was like that monstrous Soul King who could defeat Soul Saints while skipping two ranks.
Ning Rongrong froze for a moment. What was going on?
The person standing before her was dressed in the uniform of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan.
So… someone had been following her all along?
"I, Flender, am over fifty years old. How could I stoop to arguing with a little girl?"
Flender said indifferently, taking the offered olive branch.
Although he felt humiliated, what choice did he have? In the world of spirit masters, strength was the ultimate rule. If you didn't respect power, you had to be prepared for annihilation.
"This is a letter from the patriarch. Young lady, we bid you farewell."
The protector handed a letter personally written by Ning Fengzhi to Flender, bowed to Ning Rongrong, and disappeared.
"???"
Ning Rongrong was utterly confused.
Why would her father, Ning Fengzhi, write a letter to this man?
She wasn't stupid—quite the opposite. Known as a mischievous troublemaker, Ning Rongrong was actually quite clever.
The sequence of events—the rumors about Shrek Academy within the clan, her "escape" from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan under the watchful eyes of so many, the secret protectors, and now this letter—suddenly made sense to her.
In an instant, Ning Rongrong realized the truth.
She had been set up by Ning Fengzhi!
First, he planted the idea of Shrek Academy in her mind through rumors, piquing her curiosity and prompting her to leave the clan. Then…
Without Ning Fengzhi's approval, how could a mere Rank 20 auxiliary spirit master leave so easily?
Without his backing, Sword and Bone Douluo would have found her by now!
"Damn it!"
In this moment, the "warm little jacket" had sprung a leak!
Ning Rongrong's face darkened, leaving Zhu Zhuqing utterly baffled.
What's going on? What kind of dramatic twist is this?
Flender was equally puzzled.
Why would the patriarch of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan write a letter to him, of all people?
With his background and status, he had no connection to a figure as prominent as Ning Fengzhi. Why would Ning Fengzhi bother to contact him?
Curious, Flender opened the letter and began reading.
The more he read, the stranger his expression became. He occasionally glanced at Ning Rongrong, whose face remained dark.
"Good heavens, Ning Fengzhi can't handle his daughter, so he's dumping her on me to manage?"
Flender mentally complained.
He would never have guessed that Ning Rongrong's real reason for coming to Shrek Academy was to enroll as a student.
At that moment, Flender was deeply conflicted.
Could he handle someone with this young lady's temperament?
If he failed to teach her properly, would Sword Douluo slice him in half? Would Bone Douluo punch him into oblivion?
"What should I do? Should I accept this little devil or not?"
Flender pondered for a moment…
(End of Chapter)