The next day.
Qin Ming was true to his word; he immediately led the Huang Dou Battle Team straight to Shrek Academy.
They left Suotuo City and followed the road due south.
Inside the team, Ning Rongrong gazed at the rapeseed fields and scattered villages lining the road, her brows knitting slightly.
"Teacher Qin, how much farther to Shrek Academy? This place doesn't look like it could hold any academy."
The moment she spoke the others nodded in agreement.
As far as the eye could see, nothing but farmland—no academy buildings anywhere.
Qin Ming answered patiently, "You'll understand when we arrive; Shrek Academy isn't like other high-level Spirit Master academies."
"All right." Trusting Teacher Qin, the Huang Dou Battle Team said no more.
After another stretch Qin Ming brought them to a small village and stopped.
The team looked around, puzzled. Why had they halted?
Dugu Yan's sharp eyes caught a tattered wooden archway at the village entrance.
A signboard hung from it, reading "Shrek Academy."
The sight of the impoverished hamlet sent a bad premonition surging through her.
Surely… this couldn't be Shrek Academy?
Before arriving she, like the rest, had secretly hoped it might be some reclusive sanctuary of learning.
But the dilapidated archway shattered that illusion in an instant.
Once Dugu Yan spotted the sign, Ning Rongrong and the others quickly noticed it too.
Yu Feng asked cautiously, "Teacher Qin… this isn't the Shrek Academy you mentioned, is it?"
He stared at the low cottages beyond, the air of poverty and age leaving no trace of a hidden elite school.
Seeing their faces, Qin Ming cleared his throat but did not deny it.
"So, were your jaws suitably dropped?"
They gave awkward laughs.
"Definitely dropped."
Just then a loud, excited voice rang out from inside the village.
"Come look—guests at the academy!"
They turned to see a handsome young man with peach-blossom eyes.
Behind him stood a group of youths.
Qin Ming's gaze swept over them and settled on Flender and Zhao Wuji at the back.
"Headmaster Flender, Teacher Zhao Wuji—long time no see!"
He stepped forward with a greeting.
The Shrek students blinked in surprise.
This stranger knew the headmaster and Teacher Zhao?
Flender's shoe-sole face lit up with delight.
"Qin Ming!"
"What brings you here, boy?"
Zhao Wuji roared with laughter.
"Qin Ming, you rascal, returning to your alma mater today?"
Qin Ming smiled respectfully. "I'm guiding my students on training. Passing Suotuo City, I decided to visit my teachers."
"Your students?"
Flender and Zhao Wuji looked curiously at the Huang Dou Battle Team.
At a glance they recognized the Spirit Ancestor squad from yesterday's Great Spirit Arena match.
Flender exclaimed, "So you're their teacher! We watched that fight and wondered who trained such students—turns out it's you."
Zhao Wuji laughed heartily.
"Qin Ming, you've done us proud, producing outstanding students—true to the Little freaks of Shrek."
Qin Ming looked embarrassed.
"Headmaster, Teacher Zhao, you overrate me. I've only just become their instructor; someone else trained them."
The two elders nodded in understanding.
"Then which academy employs you now?"
Qin Ming smiled, pride flickering across his face.
"Heaven Dou Academy. These are its most gifted students."
"No wonder their Spirit Power Levels are so high—especially the girl with the Poison Bifurcated Serpent. Even our Little freaks may not match her when they're grown."
Qin Ming chuckled, not denying it.
Dugu Yan's talent was second only to Yang Yuan in all Heaven Dou.
Suddenly Qin Ming laughed. "Headmaster, introduce me to my junior brothers and sisters."
"Haha, gladly!" Flender boasted, for this year's crop was the finest he'd ever taught.
But when he looked, his face darkened.
The others were fine—only Ma Hongjun, whose beady eyes were lecherously fixed on Ye Lingling and Ning Rongrong.
He didn't stare at Dugu Yan, knowing her strength and fearing it.
After yesterday's fight he knew she could single-handedly suppress three Spirit Ancestors.
Such a tigress was not to be trifled with.
The other two were merely support Spirit Masters; he paid them no mind.
Ye Lingling frowned, disgust plain in her eyes.
Ning Rongrong's gaze held both revulsion and dangerous glints.
How dare this Fatty ogle her—did he have a death wish?
She resolved to have someone teach the lecher a lesson—ten days bed-rest would be mercy.
Flender, mortified before his former student, barked,
"Fatty, never seen a girl before?"
"Run twenty laps round the village—no spirit power. No food till you finish."
"Ah!" Ma Hongjun yelped, face paling.
Why was the headmaster so mad?
He'd only looked at two girls.
Besides, they were his senior's students—practically family.
What harm in looking?
In the whole academy Tang San had Xiao Wu, Boss Dai chased Zhu Zhuqing, even Oscar had Meng Yiran—he alone was lonely.
What if these support girls liked his type?
(End of Chapter)
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