Ning Rongrong furrowed her brow, the gentle expression on her face gradually fading. The corners of her lips curled upward, and a trace of contempt and disdain crept into her features. "This isn't a battlefield — it's just an academy."
Flandre nodded. "You're right. This is just an academy. But it's my Shrek Academy. Now, I'm giving you two choices. One — pack your things and leave immediately. You don't deserve to be a member here. The other — prove to me that you have what it takes to stay, and that you're resolved never to break the rules again."
Ning Rongrong smiled. She was only twelve years old, but one had to admit — that smile was genuinely adorable, genuinely beautiful. Yet that seemingly innocent expression was enough to send a chill down one's spine.
"Flandre, who do you think you are? Nothing but a petty Soul Saint."
The moment those words left her mouth, Tang San, Xiao Wu, and the others all paled. None of them had expected that such a seemingly gentle girl could say something like that. And now, the warmth had vanished entirely from Ning Rongrong's face, replaced by undisguised disdain — radiating an aura of utter superiority.
Flandre wasn't angered by her words. He smiled faintly. "That's right. I'm nothing but a petty Soul Saint. But the current you? You're still leagues away from me. Even if you're the most talented disciple of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan's current generation, you're still just a Great Soul Master. Between you and me lies an uncrossable chasm. Since you look down on this place, then please leave. Shrek Academy has no use for students who refuse to follow the rules."
Ning Rongrong let out a cold laugh. "You think you can drive me away? Not so easy. Since I've come, I never planned to leave early. Flandre, I advise you to stop trying to control me. Otherwise, the consequences won't be something you can afford."
Flandre responded with an indifferent smile. "If I were afraid of consequences, this academy wouldn't exist. This is my territory, and what I say goes. Mubai."
"Headmaster." Dai Mubai stepped forward. His gaze as he looked at Ning Rongrong was still tinged with disbelief. He vaguely understood that this was Ning Rongrong's true nature — but yesterday, she had hidden it far too well.
Flandre said, "Go bring Miss Ning Rongrong's things from her room, and then escort her out. If she resists, I authorize you to use whatever means necessary."
"Flandre, you dare!" Ning Rongrong snapped, placing her hands on her hips. The twelve-year-old girl radiated a fierce, almost ferocious energy. "In all my life, you're the first person who's dared treat me this way."
Flandre smiled darkly. "Your father can't bear to discipline you — that doesn't mean I can't. You're not my daughter. You're not my treasure. In my eyes, every single student here is better than you. The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda is indeed one of the most powerful auxiliary-type Martial Souls in existence. What a pity that you do nothing but disgrace it."
"You're talking nonsense!" Ning Rongrong's chest heaved with fury. All her life, she had known she was the most outstanding disciple of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan's current generation. She had several elder brothers, yet not one of them had broken through to Rank 20 before the age of twelve, as she had. Even her father — the Clan Master of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan — had once said she was the first genius in centuries who might one day transform the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda into an Eight Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda. For Flandre to dismiss her as worthless — someone as proud as her simply could not tolerate it.
"Oh, I'm talking nonsense? Then tell me — which person here are you better than?" Flandre said with open contempt.
Ning Rongrong shot back, "I'm an auxiliary-type Soul Master. Of course I can't compare with these Battle Soul Masters in raw combat. But my contribution on the battlefield is far greater than any of theirs. With my support, an entire team's overall strength would increase dramatically."
Flandre wagged his finger at her. "No. You're wrong. Every single person here would outperform you on the battlefield. Because every one of them has the ability to survive in a fight. You, on the other hand, don't. With your personality, if you ever set foot on a real battlefield, you'd be nothing more than cannon fodder."
"Impossible! Our Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan's Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda is unrivaled under heaven — no one can compare. Why would I be worse than them?"
Flandre's voice turned cold. "Because of your heart. Because of your restlessness and arrogance — you think too highly of yourself. Even your father doesn't consider himself unrivaled under heaven. Without capable partners at his side, even an ordinary Soul Master could kill him. And with your personality, do you truly believe you could find partners who would entrust their backs to you without hesitation?"
Ning Rongrong froze. Although she had been spoiled since childhood and had developed a rather peculiar temperament, she was exceptionally clever. Flandre's words were harsh, but she had already grasped his meaning, and for a moment, she didn't know how to argue back.
Flandre walked slowly over to where Dai Mubai and the others stood. Because of the verbal confrontation with Ning Rongrong, Dai Mubai had not yet gone to retrieve her belongings.
Flandre pointed at Dai Mubai. "He's fifteen years old this year. His Martial Soul is the White Tiger — a Combat Type Soul Master. Born with twin pupils. Rank 37. He possesses two Hundred-Year Soul Rings and one Thousand-Year Soul Ring. He is the youngest student in the entire history of Shrek Academy to reach the rank of Soul Venerable. He broke through to Soul Venerable at the age of thirteen. Ask yourself — could you have broken through the Rank 30 bottleneck at thirteen?"
"If anyone could surpass Mubai, it certainly wouldn't be you. Tang San and Xiao Wu have already reached the level of Rank 29 Great Soul Masters at the age of only twelve. They are the ones with the potential to surpass Mubai. You were present for Tang San's battle with Zhao Wuji — you should know full well the gap between a Great Soul Master and a Soul Saint. Although Zhao Wuji wasn't using his full strength, the fighting prowess Tang San displayed — I'm certain you saw it clearly enough. In terms of talent, they all surpass you."
(End of Chapter)