"Bell, I'm willing to increase the enrollment subsidy I previously offered to 50 gold coins per year, and for your spirit ring, the Academy will unconditionally prioritize helping you select and hunt for it. How about joining our Shrek Academy?"
"Dean Flender, I've already told you, there's no way I'd transfer to another academy. Wherever my teacher is, I'll be. Unless my teacher becomes a teacher at your Shrek Academy, there's no way I'll join Shrek. My apologies."
"Kid, these benefits are already pretty good. Don't be too greedy. At most, I can arrange a luxurious single room for your accommodation. You should nod now, right?"
"Sorry, Dean Flender, I refuse."
"Kid, don't refuse a toast only to drink a forfeit. I'm kindly inviting you to join our Shrek Academy, offering so many benefits, and you're not tempted? Do you really like being a watchdog here at Heart of Fire Academy?"
"Look, does Xin treat you like a human? Letting a peerless genius like you guard the gate like a dog, living in the gatehouse, aren't you feeling wronged? I can't even bear to watch."
"With your talent, if you come to our Shrek Academy, I can train you as a core disciple, allowing you to shine brightly on the continent and in the Spirit Master Tournament in the future. But at Heart of Fire Academy, Xin will only use you like an animal."
"Look, your spirit power is almost at level thirty. He went out hunting for spirit rings with two beautiful female students, leaving you here to guard the gate. Why didn't he take you along? He clearly doesn't care about your third spirit ring at all. Aren't you feeling wronged staying here?"
"Bell, you're still young. You need to think clearly. This decision concerns the rest of your life."
"Dean Flender, please respect yourself. My teacher is not the kind of person you describe. I am not a watchdog, nor am I a peerless genius.
If my teacher hadn't allowed me to study with him, I might still be an unremarkable Spirit Master who couldn't even see the shadow of a second ring.
Being a gatekeeper at Heart of Fire Academy is my own choice, not something my teacher forced me to do. If you continue to sow discord between me and my teacher, then..."
"Please engage in a life-and-death duel with me."
At the entrance of Heart of Fire Academy, cherry blossoms fell in scattered flakes. Bell walked out of the gatehouse. Even though Flender's cultivation was far superior to his, he showed no fear.
From the first day his teacher left the Academy with his two junior sisters to hunt for spirit rings in the Star Dou Great Forest, this Flender had been sneaking around outside Heart of Fire Academy with shifty eyes, constantly trying to talk to him and persuade him to leave Heart of Fire Academy and join Shrek Academy.
The initial one-time enrollment reward of 10 gold coins had also increased to 50 gold coins a year.
For Bell, this was an insult.
"A life-and-death duel with me? Are you sure? I am a Spirit Saint."
"You are certain to die."
Flender was somewhat incredulous. In this day and age, a Spirit Grandmaster dared to challenge a Spirit Saint?
Did he have a chance of winning?
Isn't this just seeking death?
"I once heard my teacher recite a poem: 'From ancient times, who has not died? Let a loyal heart illuminate the annals.' What is there to fear in dying to protect the beliefs in one's heart?"
"Ignorant! Simply ignorant! I've never seen such a blockhead, a wooden dummy. Bah."
Flender met Bell's resolute gaze, took a deep breath, spat on the ground, and flicked his sleeves, walking away.
Damn it.
He had intended to take advantage of Xin being out with his disciples to poach someone, but he was repeatedly rejected and got a cold shoulder from a Spirit Grandmaster. He had completely lost face.
How could he have the mind to engage in a life-and-death duel with him?
If word got out, winning would be embarrassing, and losing would be even more so.
...
"Whoa!"
Not long after Flender left, a strong, resonant neighing sound came from outside Heart of Fire Academy.
"Finally back, phew~"
"Senior Sister Rongrong, don't be angry anymore. Get off the horse."
"Hmph, seeing as you were on my side defending our teacher, I'll forgive you for now. But you're not allowed to do that again in the future!"
"Mhm, got it."
Zhu Zhuqing and Ning Rongrong rode a single horse, Snake Woman brought Meng Yiran, while Xin and Dragon Duke each rode a thousand-year Spirit Beast, returning from the Star Dou Great Forest.
When dismounting, Zhu Zhuqing leaped off the saddle first and reached out to help Ning Rongrong down.
After several hours of travel, and experiencing the thrill of the other's ample chest bumping into her, Ning Rongrong found Zhu Zhuqing much more agreeable and haughtily forgave Zhu Zhuqing's previous 'imprudence'.
Snake Woman and Meng Yiran also dismounted one after another, looking at the cherry blossom trees in front of Heart of Fire Academy's gate. Although it wasn't luxurious or grand, it had a feeling of a Cherry Blossom Spring, with cherry blossoms dancing and a gentle fragrance wafting.
"Is this our Heart of Fire Academy? It's so beautiful."