Thank you to our new Patrons: SilverWolf, Melon, Sam Olsen, Thomas Gill and P Tydd! Your support means the world to me <3 We are up to Chapter 140: You're Not Even as Good as Your Brother! on Patreon!
There's something for free patrons too! Free Patrons receive 1 chapter in advance :)
---------------------------------------------------------------------
The door to the principal's office was pushed open with a loud bang.
Flender, deep in thought, was startled by the sudden noise and nearly fell off his chair.
"Xiaogang, what has you so angry?" Flender asked. Then, slapping his forehead, he added, "Oh, I forgot to tell you—Ning Tianchen and Ning Rongrong have been temporarily granted leave due to sect affairs. Oscar went home to visit relatives and should return in a few days."
However, Yu Xiaogang's expression remained grim.
Tang San spoke up from the side, "Principal, Zhu Zhuqing has withdrawn from school."
"What?" Flender shot up from his seat. "When did this happen? How could I not know?"
Tang San handed over the letter. After reading it, Flender's expression gradually darkened.
All four of them leaving the academy at the same time—how could anyone believe this wasn't premeditated?
Oscar and Zhu Zhuqing likely left to join the Seven Treasures Glazed Sect. If that were the case, Flender truly had no grounds to chase after them.
"Xiao San, step outside for a moment. I need to discuss something with Xiaogang."
After Tang San left the office, Yu Xiaogang immediately asked, "Flender, is this how you manage the academy? Teaching students who show no respect for their elders?"
Flender didn't argue with him but instead asked, "Xiaogang, what did you say to Ning Tianchen last night?"
This guess was just one possibility—it was also possible that Yu Xiaogang's actions had prompted Ning Tianchen to protest by withdrawing from school.
Thinking back to last night's events only fueled Yu Xiaogang's anger. "I merely wanted to take him as my disciple, but he dared to give me attitude! Such students aren't worth keeping."
On the continent of Douluo, each soul master could only formally accept one teacher in their lifetime.
Even if Ning Tianchen hadn't formally accepted a teacher, Yu Xiaogang's offer still wouldn't have appealed to him.
Having a rough understanding of the situation, Flender sighed and began to console Yu Xiaogang.
With Ning Tianchen and the others gone, the team's internal conflicts would vanish. The remaining four-person team would be much easier to manage.
"Xiaogang, I'll scout for more talented individuals nearby to bring fresh blood into Shrek Academy. For now, you can focus on training Xiao San and the others."
---
The Seven Treasures Glazed Sect was extremely far from Suotuo City. When Ning Tianchen and the others first came, they took their time traveling, spending several months on the road.
Now, riding in a carriage without any delays, they would reach the sect in just over half a month.
Ning Tianchen turned to Zhu Zhuqing and Oscar, saying, "Zhuqing, Xiao Ao, regarding your entry into the sect, I've already sent word ahead. By the time we arrive, Uncle Ning should have figured out how to accommodate you."
The two nodded in agreement.
After a pause, Zhu Zhuqing asked, "There's still more than two years until the next Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Elite Competition. After we join the sect, will we still have a chance to participate?"
"The soul master competition?" Oscar gave a bitter smile and explained, "Zhuqing, even if we stayed at Shrek Academy, we wouldn't qualify."
Shrek Academy hadn't been registered with the Ministry of Education in the Kingdom of Barak. It wasn't officially recognized as an academy. During the soul master competition, they wouldn't even qualify for the preliminary rounds.
"This…" Zhu Zhuqing fell silent. She had never imagined Shrek Academy would be so inadequate.
Ning Rongrong angrily added, "Whoever told me how great Shrek Academy was, don't let me catch them! Attending such an academy is a complete waste of time!"
But then, thinking about the situation of the Seven Treasures Glazed Sect, she deflated. "Our sect doesn't have any affiliated academies, nor do we qualify for the soul master competition."
Ning Tianchen had considered this issue.
Obtaining a spot in the competition wasn't the problem—the real challenge was finding enough participants.
Currently, including the Yudie sisters, they only had six people. Two of them were auxiliary-type soul masters, who wouldn't be able to participate in the advancement rounds.
Thus, their team still needed three more battle-type soul masters.
"There's still some time before the soul master competition. There's no need to rush. I'll discuss this with Uncle Ning. For now, our priority is to quickly increase our soul power."
"Fighting in the Grand Spirit Arena provides extraordinary training for soul masters. Once we return to the sect, we'll aim to fight once a day."
Truly ambitious individuals wouldn't fear failure in the Grand Spirit Arena.
A single loss often revealed flaws that were otherwise hard to notice.
As the saying goes, failure is the mother of success. By learning from failures, they would secure more victories during the soul master competition.
---
After more than half a month of bumpy travel, the carriage finally arrived at the entrance of the Seven Treasures Glazed Sect.
As usual, sect disciples questioned the unfamiliar vehicle.
Ning Tianchen lifted the carriage curtain and, spotting a familiar face, greeted him with a smile. "Qi Huan, you're guarding the gate after graduation? Doesn't this save you decades of detours?"
Qi Huan scratched his head, looking slightly embarrassed. "Big Brother, Young Miss, welcome back. Serving the sect isn't bad, but guarding the gate suits me best."
"Let's go inside. The sect leader instructed that you bring the two guests to the main hall as soon as you return."
"Is Fatty Chen in the sect?"
"He's out on a mission. Big Brother, when he returns, should I inform him?"
Fatty Chen and Qi Huan were both former classmates from the sect's special training camp. Ning Tianchen couldn't help but ask about him.
After entering the sect, Ning Tianchen and the others quickly freshened up before heading to the main hall.
---
"Uncle Gu, Uncle Jian, Tianchen and Rongrong have brought back two talented individuals for the sect. What do you think would be the best way to arrange their placements?"
In his letter, Ning Tianchen had already mentioned the two individuals' innate soul power levels.
Oscar, a food-type soul master with full innate soul power, would naturally receive the sect's full support without drawing criticism.
However, Zhu Zhuqing's innate soul power was only at Level 7. Training her according to the sect's highest standards might attract gossip. But failing to do so would make Ning Tianchen lose face.
As for Zhu Zhuqing's background, Ning Tianchen had made it clear. Having joined the Seven Treasures Glazed Sect, she wouldn't return to the Star Luo Empire.
Gu Rong said, "That food-type soul master is indeed promising. As for the girl, her martial soul is also dark-attribute. Why not take her as an honorary disciple? While training her with second-tier resources, we can give her an additional apprenticeship gift."
Zhu Zhuqing joining the Seven Treasures Glazed Sect would greatly aid the sect's commercial expansion.
In the future, she could be sent to the Star Luo Empire to expand the market.
Since she hailed from the Zhu family, officials in the Star Luo Empire would likely grant her some favors.
Even if she lacked business acumen, according to Ning Tianchen, she was highly driven. In the future, becoming a guardian of the sect would be a respectable path for her.
"Old Bones, are you sure about this? Accepting a disciple is a significant matter—it shouldn't be done so casually." Chen Xin reminded him.
------------------------------------------------------
Support my writing journey: patreon.com/EphemeralShadow
40+ Chapters Ahead Guaranteed.