Chapter Fifty-Five: Striking at the Absolute Peak

Seeing Flender acting so submissively towards Xu Sheng, Dai Mubai covered his forehead and muttered in speechlessness, "Is this really Dean Flender that I know?"

Just what on earth had this Xu Sheng done to Dean Flender? To make him this terrified!

Fortunately, he hadn't provoked Xu Sheng just now; otherwise, Dean Flender would have been a cautionary tale.

Flender raised his head and forced a smile, saying, "Um, Your Excellency Xu Sheng, it was my offense this morning. I hope you are magnanimous and won't hold it against me."

Seeing that Flender had backed down to this extent, Xu Sheng couldn't be bothered to pursue the matter further. After all, that Tang-style disfigurement punch from the morning had probably traumatized him thoroughly, leaving his face mottled with blue and purple bruises to this day.

He glanced indifferently at Flender. "I have no interest in you. I only came here incidentally to take a look at this Shrek Academy of yours, which only recruits monsters."

He believed Flender should be able to understand the implication behind his words, right?

However... as expected, he was disappointed.

Flender simply stepped back silently, stretched out a hand, and said respectfully, "In that case, Your Excellency, please take your time."

Hearing these words, Xu Sheng's eyebrows twitched wildly.

He really shouldn't have let this fellow off just now; the man couldn't even understand the subtext of a sentence and thoroughly deserved a beating that would nearly kill him!

As the saying goes, the authorities are deluded while the onlookers see clearly. The elderly man standing nearby coughed upon seeing Flender's action and frantically made eye signals at him.

Anxiously, he thought to himself, "What are you still standing there for? Quickly invite him into Shrek!"

Seeing that Flender, usually the most emotionally intelligent among them, had turned out like this, the elder was even more anxious than the dean himself!

Prompted by the elder's reminder, Flender met the old man's gaze, had a sudden realization, and heavily struck his own head.

Then, with an awkward laugh, he walked up to Xu Sheng. "Your Excellency Xu Sheng, I was just joking earlier. It's a long journey, and it's already getting late. Why don't you rest for the night here at Shrek Academy?"

Xu Sheng's mood finally settled. He slowly turned around, glanced once more toward where Tang San had entered, and then said coldly, "In that case, I'll be intruding..."

The elder smiled broadly and said to Flender, "Dean, you should accompany His Excellency inside. I'll take the little monsters to complete the assessment process shortly!"

Flender glared angrily at the elder, cursing inwardly, "Damn it all! Do you have no idea how terrifying this guy is when he beats people up? And you're telling me to accompany him inside all by myself!"

Yet, on the surface, he had to smile most insincerely and said, "Your Excellency Xu Sheng, please follow me. Although our Shrek Academy doesn't have much to entertain guests with, we aren't so poor that we lack a place for you to rest."

Hateful fellow, so what if you're a Title Douro? Finish resting and get lost immediately!

Xu Sheng did not reply. His icy gaze swept deeply toward Xiao Wu, who was standing beside Tang San.

Xiao Wu's eyes happened to meet Xu Sheng's piercing gaze. Trembling all over, she couldn't help but quietly shrink back behind Tang San.

She thought to herself, "This Xu Sheng has indeed already seen through my true form!"

Xu Sheng quietly withdrew his icy gaze and slowly nodded. "Mn."

After that, Xu Sheng and Flender left the Shrek enrollment area and walked toward the inner grounds of the academy.

Only then did Tang San pull Xiao Wu into his embrace, comforting her, "Xiao Wu, were you just now afraid of Brother Sheng?"

He had observed all of Xiao Wu's actions earlier, but because of Xu Sheng's presence, he hadn't asked directly.

Feeling Tang San's warm embrace, Xiao Wu felt her previous fear instantly dissipate. She replied, "Mn..."

Seeing that this was indeed the case, Tang San said gently, "There's no need to be afraid. Brother Sheng is actually a very good person; it's probably just his seemingly evil Martial Soul that gave off that impression!"

Witnessing such a clingy and affectionate scene, Zhu Zhuqing, Ning Rongrong, and Dai Mubai all wore expressions tinged with slight jealousy.

Unable to stomach any more of this public display of affection, Dai Mubai reminded them, "Tang San, Xiao Wu, just how long are you planning to hug? The next assessment is about to begin!"

Prompted by Dai Mubai, Xiao Wu and Tang San, who were tightly embracing, suddenly realized there were others around and abruptly let go.

The remaining Shrek instructor stroked his beard and sighed, "What a bunch of energetic little monsters. Let's go, I'll take you to the fourth stage of the assessment. Besides, we probably won't be taking in any other students anyway."

...

"Lu Qibin, level 66 Control-type Soul Emperor, Martial Soul: Star Luo Chess Set."

"Zao Wuji... wait, Zhao Xin, level 71 Food-type Soul Saint, Martial Soul: Sugar Bean."

"Plus the two currently outside conducting assessments: Li Yusong, a fierce-attack-type Battle Soul Emperor with the Dragon Pattern Staff Martial Soul, and Zao Wuji, a level 75 fierce-attack-type Battle Soul Saint with the Vajra Bear Martial Soul."

Flender patiently introduced the teachers of Shrek Academy to Xu Sheng one by one.

Lu Qibin asked in confusion, "Flender, this is...?"

Could this be a newly joined student of Shrek Academy?

The other teachers also assumed this must be the case.

After all, Xu Sheng looked so young and didn't appear to be anyone formidable, though the kid was undeniably mesmerizingly handsome.

Flender's expression shifted, and he hastily explained, "Everyone, the person beside me is Your Excellency Xu Sheng, a ninety-third-rank dual-attribute auxiliary and control Title Douro with the Nine Heart Blood Begonia Martial Soul. His Title is: Demonic Begonia!"

He certainly didn't want the teachers of his academy to provoke Xu Sheng and then end up getting severely beaten up one by one just like him.

Hearing Flender say this, the other teachers suspected they were suffering from auditory hallucinations.

What did Flender just say?

This young man was already a Title Douro?? And furthermore, a dual-attribute auxiliary and control type?

Was Flender just talking nonsense?

Since when was there such a thing as a dual auxiliary and control type? They had lived for the better part of their lives and had never witnessed or heard of such a thing.

Zhao Xin frowned and said, "I say, Dean Flender, you aren't trying to tell a joke, are you? Throwing around titles like Title Douro so casually."

Lu Qibin nodded in deep agreement. "You must be playing a cold joke because we've been bored these past few days. How could a wet-behind-the-ears kid like this possibly have cultivated to become a Title Douro?"

Hearing them speak thus, Flender knew for certain they were doomed!

He silently stepped back a little. "It has nothing to do with me anymore. I've already explicitly warned you. The two of you can experience that feeling for yourselves now..."

A flash of coldness crossed Xu Sheng's eyes. Wet behind the ears?

He slightly clenched his palm, and countless vines of the Nine Heart Blood Begonia burst forth from the ground, surging directly to engulf Lu Qibin and Zhao Xin.

A few seconds later, the Nine Heart Blood Begonia vines abruptly vanished, revealing the two men collapsed on the ground, staring at Xu Sheng in utter disbelief.

Their soul power, in merely the blink of an eye, had been completely drained away by that bizarre plant...

Was this the formidable might of a Title Douro??

Even if there were hundreds or thousands of them, under this terrifying strength, they would be reduced to a pile of bones in mere minutes!

With trembling and sore legs, the two men supported each other as they stood up, speaking respectfully, "Your Excellency Xu Sheng, it was our lack of manners to rashly judge you!"

Standing to the side, Flender shrugged helplessly, thinking to himself, "I already told you both, yet you insisted on experiencing it firsthand to be happy."

If he hadn't suffered a brutal beating himself, how could he possibly have willingly become a bootlicker?

Pui! This isn't bootlicking! I, Flender, am a man with dignity!