Ning Rongrong still couldn't refute him. Flandre was absolutely right — Dai Mubai, Tang San, and Xiao Wu all possessed superior Soul Power to hers.
Flandre turned to Ma Hongjun and Zhu Zhuqing. "Ma Hongjun. His age is similar to Tang San, Xiao Wu, and yours — he entered Shrek Academy at eleven, despite having a defect in his Martial Soul. However, the Mutant Martial Soul he possesses is a top-tier Beast Martial Soul with truly exceptional advantages. In terms of Martial Soul alone, there are hardly a handful of people across the entire continent who could compare to him. His Soul Power is no weaker than yours either, and this is even after he has devoted part of his energy to compensating for his Martial Soul's deficiency."
"Zhu Zhuqing. Soul Power roughly equal to yours. But the difference between you and her is that she has a resolute and unwavering heart. Zhu Zhuqing, tell me — why did you come to Shrek Academy?"
Zhu Zhuqing's icy voice answered without a moment's hesitation. "To make myself stronger."
Flandre said, "What would you do about the courses arranged by the Academy?"
Zhu Zhuqing replied, "As long as it helps increase my strength, I will carry it out without hesitation."
Flandre said calmly, "Ning Rongrong. You heard that, didn't you? Ask yourself — which of them can you measure up to? Here, you are already the weakest among them all. What right do you have to be proud? I dare say that if you leave this place, in twenty years, every single one of them will have achieved far more than you."
Ning Rongrong was unwilling to accept this — truly unwilling. "What about Oscar? Surely I'm better than him. He's also a support-type Soul Master, nothing more than a lowly Food Type Soul Master. He can't possibly surpass me."
Flandre shook his head. "No. You're wrong. If you think that way, you are gravely mistaken. Oscar's talent surpasses even Mubai's. Otherwise, why would I have allowed him into the Academy? Ning Rongrong, I'll ask you just one question: have you ever seen a Food Type Martial Soul with Innate Full Soul Power?"
Ning Rongrong's face went pale. "No — that's impossible. How could a support-type Martial Soul possibly have Innate Full Soul Power?"
In the world of Soul Masters, Innate Full Soul Power holders were rare but not unheard of. Yet among support-type Martial Souls, it had never occurred. The only reason Ning Rongrong had considered herself a prodigy, a genius beyond compare, was that her Martial Soul had reached the ninth rank upon awakening — just a single step away from Innate Full Soul Power. That already made it an exceptional existence among support-type Martial Souls.
She had never in her dreams imagined that that somewhat handsome but utterly vulgar-looking man — Uncle Oscar, with his ridiculous sausage incantation — would actually possess Innate Full Soul Power.
Flandre said mildly, "Oscar is an unprecedented existence. His future achievements will be beyond measure. He may very well displace your Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan's position among support-type Soul Masters. You don't have to believe what I'm saying, but I can tell you with certainty that it is entirely possible."
Ning Rongrong stood there, dazed. Ever since she was a child, she had grown up surrounded by everyone's doting care. Combined with her natural talent, she had been pampered to the extreme. She had always believed she was the most outstanding, the most gifted — that her current strength was lacking only because of her age.
When she had witnessed Tang San's battle against Zhao Wuji, Ning Rongrong had already been shaken to her core. But deep down, she had still set herself apart from Tang San — after all, their Martial Souls followed completely different cultivation paths.
Now, though, every one of Flandre's words pierced her heart like a blade, shattering the very pride she held most dear.
Ning Rongrong's face turned deathly pale. Suddenly, she burst into tears, spun around, and ran toward her dormitory.
A faint smile of satisfaction appeared on Flandre's face as he thought to himself: if I couldn't even handle a twelve-year-old girl, I wouldn't deserve the title of Golden Iron Triangle.
Dai Mubai caught the smile on Flandre's face and ventured cautiously, "Headmaster, should I go help her pack her things?"
Flandre shot him a glare. "You want to see this girl leave? Ning Rongrong may have been spoiled, but she's not a bad person at heart. Let her figure it out on her own. Go fetch Oscar and tell him I'm lifting his punishment — he should go comfort Ning Rongrong."
"Got it." Dai Mubai nodded and turned to find Oscar. In his heart, he felt a fresh wave of admiration for Flandre.
Dai Mubai himself came from a noble house, so he understood all too well how terrifying the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan's influence was on the continent. There were only around ten Titled Douluo in all of Soul Land, and the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan alone accounted for two of them. With that kind of power, even the imperial families of the two great empires had to treat the Clan's master with utmost courtesy. Yet Flandre had dared to defy such authority and berate the Clan's most pampered young lady. That could not be explained away as mere courage.
In truth, Dai Mubai had no way of knowing that nestled in the headmaster's breast was a letter sent by the master of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan — a letter that could serve as an imperial warrant. Without it, would Flandre really have been so completely without reservation?
Xiao Wu quietly stuck out her tongue. She hadn't expected Ning Rongrong's true nature to be like this. When she had been with Ning Rongrong the day before, she had felt a genuine warmth and closeness. It was only now that she realized Ning Rongrong was even more overbearing than she herself was.
Flandre clasped his hands behind his back. "All right, prepare to set out. You've all seen what happened to Ning Rongrong and Oscar. If you want to stay here and cultivate, you will follow the Academy's rules and attend every single class. My word is law in this place. Next, you will begin your first lesson as students of Shrek. Each of you will complete your training independently. Don't say I didn't warn you beforehand — if you don't perform well, you'll be lucky to escape with your skin intact."
(End of Chapter)