{T/N: Congratulations to Kurutta_Kyoju for achieving 2nd place in the Fan ranking. This bonus chapter is for you.}
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Chapter 90 — The Older One is Always Cunning!
"Cough, cough… Tang San, you should head back to class first."
Hearing Du Weilun's voice, Tang San instinctively tilted his head to glance at Yan Shaozhe, whose face was darkening as if water could drip from it. Though his fists tightened slightly, he nodded obediently, a faint smile still on his face.
"All right."
As the door opened and closed again, the office was plunged into a momentary silence.
After a brief pause, Du Weilun lowered his head, his voice heavy with resignation.
"I… I'm truly sorry, Dean. This is entirely my fault. I failed to properly investigate Huo Yuhao and Gu Yuena beforehand, resulting in the Battle Spirit Department losing two geniuses…"
"No, this isn't your fault this time."
Yan Shaozhe glanced at the documents on his desk and took a deep, heavy breath, his voice filled with helplessness.
Who could have predicted this?
Even though Huo Yuhao and Gu Yuena were bonded partners, the events that had just transpired were still highly irregular.
By all logic, after Yan Shaozhe had offered Tang San such generous terms, the other two should have at least listened to their own treatment packages before making a decision, right?
Or… had Xian Lin'er privately approached the two earlier, offering them conditions even better than what he had just given Tang San, so that after hearing Tang San's treatments, they no longer held any expectations?
The thought, once it surfaced, stubbornly rooted itself in his mind, growing more plausible by the moment. Yan Shaozhe's expression inevitably turned colder.
And the fact that Xian Lin'er had just feigned shock in front of him… made his teeth grind with anger.
Xian Lin'er!!!
After decades as the dean of the Spirit Guidance Department, even your straightforward nature has become cunning and calculating.
She spoke of fair competition and relying on one's own ability, yet had secretly tried to get a head start.
And he had trusted her so deeply… only to suffer such a blow today.
The more he thought about it, the angrier he became. The more he retreated in thought, the more he felt wronged.
In all his years as Dean of the Battle Spirit Department, had Yan Shaozhe ever been treated this way?
Moreover, he had promised a hundred-thousand-year spirit ring, yet Huo Yuhao and Gu Yuena still chose the Spirit Guidance Department without hesitation. Clearly, Xian Lin'er had privately offered them terms far superior to his own.
To waste academy resources on petty rivalry was intolerable.
With a slam of his hand onto the desk, the loud bang startled even Du Weilun.
"This cannot be allowed to pass. Old Du, stay here—I'm going to find Elder Xuan."
Other matters could be ignored, but recruiting three geniuses was a mission personally assigned by his teacher, Mu En, to evaluate both him and Xian Lin'er. He could not afford to be careless.
Without looking back and ignoring Du Weilun's strange gaze, Yan Shaozhe stormed out of the office.
"What?"
Hearing Yan Shaozhe's words, Xuan Zi even forgot about the chicken leg in his hand. Beneath his messy hair, his cloudy old eyes suddenly sparkled with delight.
"You're telling me Huo Yuhao went to the Spirit Guidance Department? Excellent news!"
"…?"
Yan Shaozhe, who had been venting his frustration moments ago, froze, his expression twisting into a strange, complicated glare.
Do you even know what you're saying?
Are you really an elder of the Shrek Academy, or did some hostile faction send you as a spy?
"Cough, cough… that's not what I meant."
Meeting Yan Shaozhe's sharp gaze, Xuan Zi realized he had misspoken. He waved his hand, suppressing his faint smile, and adopted a serious tone.
"I mean, Shaozhe, you're overthinking. Since they've chosen the Spirit Guidance Department, just let them be. After all, we have the most talented one—Tang San, don't we?"
Yan Shaozhe's face reddened. "But Elder Xuan, that night, Teacher—"
"That's exactly what I want to address. You completely misunderstood what Elder Mu intended that night."
Before Yan Shaozhe could finish, Xuan Zi raised a hand to interrupt, his expression calm.
"Do you think Elder Mu's so-called assessment was simply to see who could recruit more geniuses? Of course not!"
"If that were the case, the test would just become a contest of who could offer the better terms. Then you might as well just give them the position of Dean of the Battle Spirit Department."
"But that would be meaningless, wouldn't it?"
Seeing Yan Shaozhe start to calm down, Xuan Zi continued.
"Shaozhe, tell me—what is Shrek Academy's teaching philosophy?"
Without hesitation, Yan Shaozhe answered.
"To cultivate monsters."
"Correct. To cultivate monsters—and the emphasis is on cultivation!"
Hearing this, Yan Shaozhe's eyes brightened with sudden understanding.
"Elder Xuan… are you saying—"
"Seems you already understand."
Xuan Zi bit into his greasy chicken leg, looking calm and collected as he spoke.
"Elder Mu's assessment isn't over. He isn't measuring who can recruit more geniuses—it's about who can truly train these geniuses into real powerhouses, adding to Shrek Academy's growth."
"From this perspective, the Battle Spirit Department actually has the advantage. Among the three, our Tang San has the best talent for cultivation. Losing Gu Yuena is regrettable, but this will allow us to focus even more on cultivating Tang San."
"Conversely, the Spirit Guidance Department has to train two geniuses simultaneously, which inevitably divides their attention. The difference may not be evident now, but over time, the gap between Tang San and the other two will become glaringly obvious."
Yan Shaozhe hesitated. "But Elder Xuan, those two geniuses each have unprecedented first spirit rings of a thousand years. Perhaps our Battle Spirit Department can try to win them over..."
"Don't overvalue those thousand-year-old first spirit rings. Though rare, they only represent a higher starting point."
Xuan Zi shook his head and tossed back a gulp of the strong liquor from his gourd.
"These talents may be strong early on, but in the long run, true power is measured in hundred-thousand-year spirit rings. A titled Douluo with a hundred-thousand-year spirit ring surpasses one without; multiple hundred-thousand-year spirit rings surpass a single one. Under these circumstances, whether first or second spirit rings are hundred-year, thousand-year, or ten-thousand-year, the differences eventually shrink." {T/N: Trash man's trash logic}
"The Body Sect is a prime example. Even if their first spirit ring is a thousand or ten thousand years, they were still surpassed by Shrek."
"Elder Mu's first and second spirit rings were only hundreds of years old, yet look at his ultimate achievements—how could they compare? The early stages are ultimately just the early stages. To become a true powerhouse, later opportunities and comprehension matter just as much."
"Considering comprehension alone, for Tang San to have mastered Tang Sect's ultimate techniques and the Clear Sky Sect'sDisorder Splitting Wind Hammer at such a young age, he's already far ahead of the other two. And what about opportunities? Tang San certainly has his own!"
"He possesses twin martial spirits! Even if his Blue Silver Grass's spirit ring is weaker, if we wait until he reaches the Titled Douluo level and then add a Hundred-thousand-year-old spirit ring to the Clear Sky Hammer... do you still think Huo Yuhao and Gu Yuena's thousand-year-old first spirit ring can compare to Tang San's?"
"Elder Xuan… I understand now!"
Excitement mingled with relief in Yan Shaozhe's voice, his heart secretly admiring Xuan Zi's insight.
Though he appeared scruffy and careless most days, Xuan Zi always discerned the truth swiftly and decisively.
The older one is always cunning!
"You're right. I was blinded by their thousand-year first spirit rings, oblivious to the treasure that is Tang San."
"The ones who should truly regret are Huo Yuhao and Gu Yuena. When they face the Tang San we've nurtured, and realize the growing gap between them, that will be the moment these two geniuses bitterly regret their choice."
Seeing Yan Shaozhe grasp his nonsense words so quickly, Xuan Zi's wrinkled face broke into a satisfied smile, nodding.
"Exactly. Shrek's true foundation lies in the Battle Spirit Department. As a Dean, instead of worrying about the Spirit Guidance Department's two geniuses, devote yourself entirely to cultivating Tang San. Prove yourself."
Pausing as if recalling something, Xuan Zi patted Yan Shaozhe's shoulder.
"I'll help train Tang San when I have the time. That Huo Yuhao brat must be surpassed, no matter what."
"Thank you, Elder Xuan. It seems you harbour quite a grudge against Huo Yuhao!"
Yan Shaozhe smiled knowingly, fully understanding Elder Xuan's situation. It stemmed from the incident in the Star Dou Great Forest.
"Humph. I'm not petty enough to compete with a two-ring child."
Xuan Zi sneered slightly.
"I only wish to show him that there are always greater powers to dampen his arrogance. All right, now that you understand, prepare yourself. The three-month new student assessment is your first chance to demonstrate results—make every moment count."
"Yes, sir!"
Three months later…
The classroom of New Student Class Five.
Zhang Lexuan's calm gaze swept over everyone present, pausing briefly on Huo Yuhao before speaking aloud.
"I believe many of you have already heard. The three-month freshman orientation period is ending. Tomorrow marks the first assessment for new students. Only those who pass will continue studying at the academy for the rest of the year."
"The assessment will be combat-based. You will form teams of three with other students in your class to compete against teams from other classes in 3v3 team battles. Team requirements are simple: no three members should be from the same system; only one attack-type spirit master is allowed per team. Based on this, you may form teams freely. If unsure or unable to find a team, I can help you later."
"Considering the current number of first-year students, there will be roughly three hundred teams. In the end, only the top 150 teams will remain…"
(End of Chapter)