On the observation platform reserved for participating academies, Flandre stood up with a broad grin and said to the Great Master and
Liu Erlong asked curiously, "Boss Flandre, what are you going off to do?"
Flandre let out a hearty laugh. "The little monsters performed so brilliantly — our clothing advertisement is as good as settled. I figure anyone with half a brain can see just how formidable our Shrek Academy is. I need to think carefully about the advertising fees, set a high price, and earn some money for the academy. This time, there's no way our academy's reputation won't skyrocket."
He tugged at the front of his shirt, deliberately making the Shrek Academy emblem even more visible. Flandre couldn't remember the last time he'd felt this vindicated. The humiliation dealt to him by Heaven Dou Royal Academy — he had never forgotten a single moment of it. And right now, the gloom that had been weighing on his heart was swept clean in one fell swoop. He understood perfectly well that
Heaven Dou Royal Academy — that worthless Prince
Those seven members of Heaven Dou Royal Academy's second team had all suffered multiple bone fractures. Those were absolutely not injuries that could heal in a matter of days. Without those seven core players, could Heaven Dou Royal Academy's second team still claw their way through the preliminary rounds?
Flandre hadn't felt this good in a very long time. Right now, this man who was always thinking about money was actually considering whether to give every last copper of the advertising fees to those adorable little monsters.
"Third Brother, you guys were incredible!" The Fatty rushed over and gave Tang San a bear hug. "Let's see if Heaven Dou Royal Academy still dares to look down on us now."
Tang San smiled faintly. "But we've also revealed our strength. The teams that come after us will definitely develop tactics to counter us."
As he spoke, he tugged at his team uniform. "Poo-green? So what? As long as we win, any color works just fine."
"Let's go. We'll head back to the academy first — I don't want to get swarmed by crowds the second we walk out," Dai Mubai called out, leading the Shrek Academy team quickly through the competitors' corridor. They slipped quietly away from the arena.
To avoid becoming the center of attention again, once they reached the rest area the group didn't hesitate for a moment to strip off those poo-green uniforms and change into their own clothes before stepping out of the Heaven Dou Grand Arena. Because they'd left so quickly, by the time they emerged the audience had only just begun to disperse. After all, today was merely the opening act — tomorrow was when the preliminary rounds would truly begin in earnest. At that point, the round-robin stage would get underway in full, requiring an entire month of continuous competition.
By now, the Shrek Seven Devils were increasingly aware of just how valuable the Great Master's special training had been. With the month-long combat experience they'd already accumulated at the Soto Grand Arena, the upcoming tournament felt even more manageable by comparison.
"Rongrong." The group had just stepped out of the Grand Arena and was preparing to return straight to the academy when a familiar voice stopped them in their tracks.
"Daddy!"
Upon seeing the master of the
Ning Fengzhi took Ning Rongrong's hand and walked over. "Hello, little friends from Shrek Academy."
Though he'd been far away before, both the Shrek Seven Devils and the four substitute members had recognized this clan master. They hurried to bow in greeting.
Ning Fengzhi smiled. "No need to be so formal. Right now, I'm just Rongrong's father — don't think of me as some clan master. Consider me simply your elder."
Ning Fengzhi's approachable manner won the Shrek Academy members over instantly. His gaze then fell upon Tang San, and he smiled. "Congratulations, little San. I never expected you'd already obtained a ten-thousand-year Soul Ring."