Duolou: After taking advice, I became Supreme!

Flender sat back down, picked up a large mug of wheat beer, and gulped it down in big swigs.

He was just about to say something when Yu Xiaogang's next words completely shattered his composure.

"So, are you planning to drag these talented students down with you just to fulfill that old promise with her?"

"Flender, how many more geniuses will you ruin before you finally accept that you and she are impossible—even if I weren't here?"

Yu Xiaogang's outburst struck Flender like a hammer blow.

His eyes instantly reddened, veins of blood appearing within them.

He raised a trembling hand, pointing at Yu Xiaogang for a long time, but in the end, he lowered it weakly.

He didn't dare.

He didn't dare to completely expose his vulnerabilities in front of his students.

He was even more afraid that once his true feelings were laid bare, even his disciple Ma Hongjun would leave him.

In the end, he could only slump into his chair, drinking in silence.

Qin Ming gave a bitter smile and turned to Yu Xiaogang.

"Master, you've really put me in a difficult position. Frankly speaking, from Heaven Dou Royal Academy's perspective, having these juniors represent us would bring immeasurable honor to the academy."

"It would make our reputation soar, and your conditions are not unreasonable. All of you teachers are well-known figures in the Soul Master world. The academy would never refuse, and they would surely offer the best compensation."

"However, Shrek Academy is Headmaster Flender's life's work. If we truly go through with this, then in the future..."

"Enough. Do as Xiaogang says."

Flender stood up again, his expression now completely calm.

"Xiaogang is right. I shouldn't just consider my own pride. Everything should be for the children's sake. Heaven Dou Royal Academy belongs to the empire's royal family and is one of the few Soul Master sanctuaries untouched by the Martial Soul Hall."

"The kids won't suffer there, and Shrek's teachers will have a place to settle down."

"For so long, I've only thought about my own feelings, yet everyone has followed me without question. But now that we're old, it's time to find a place to belong."

"Heaven Dou Royal Academy… it doesn't sound so bad."

"Besides, the children will have better opportunities there. It's settled then. You all discuss the details. Xiaogang and Wuji will handle everything on my behalf. I need some time alone."

After speaking, Flender turned and walked toward the exit.

Zhao Wuji exchanged a glance with Ma Hongjun. The latter immediately understood and, without caring about the steaming plates of food arriving at the table, hurriedly ran after Flender.

At this moment, as Flender's disciple, he could offer more comfort than Yu Xiaogang or Zhao Wuji ever could.

Yu Xiaogang sighed dramatically.

"Flender may be stubborn, but he is not unreasonable. I believe he will figure it out."

Zhao Wuji, setting aside his past disagreements with Yu Xiaogang, sighed in return.

"After all, the academy has been our support for so many years. It's not that Flender doesn't understand the benefits of this plan."

"Even though he decided long ago that he would close Shrek Academy after these children graduated, now that the time has come, it's still hard for him to accept."

"For us, this is sudden. We've lived here for twenty years."

Yu Xiaogang nodded.

"This is something he must come to terms with himself."

Zhao Wuji, having given it more thought, finally said,

"Perhaps for us, this is the best outcome as well. Heaven Dou Royal Academy is one of the few places not influenced by the Martial Soul Hall, and they have ample resources."

With a light smile, Zhao Wuji's expression relaxed.

Unlike Flender, he didn't have the same stubborn pride.

While the twenty years he had spent at Shrek Academy filled him with nostalgia, they also left him exhausted.

A change of environment might not be a bad thing.

The rest of the Shrek students, apart from Ma Hongjun who had chased after Flender, were left staring at each other in confusion.

The sudden shift in their circumstances left them momentarily at a loss.

Outside the hotel, Flender stood at the entrance, gazing up at the starry sky.

"Why did you follow me? Go back and eat."

Ma Hongjun, for once, had none of his usual cheeky expressions. He respectfully stood beside Flender.

"Teacher, don't be sad."

Flender shook his head.

"I'm not sad. Just… feeling a little lost. Everything is happening too fast."

"Alright, go back inside. You don't need to comfort me. I just need some time alone."

Ma Hongjun blinked, then rubbed his chubby face.

"Teacher, this is just a case of borrowing a chicken to lay eggs. Honestly, I don't see why this is making you so depressed."

"Borrowing a chicken to lay eggs?"

Flender turned to his direct disciple, repeating his words in surprise.

Ma Hongjun nodded earnestly.

"Yeah! Isn't this just borrowing a chicken to lay eggs? We're just using Heaven Dou Royal Academy's facilities to train."

"In return, we fight for them—it's just like paying rent. I don't know about the others, but I definitely won't consider myself part of Heaven Dou Royal Academy just because of this."

"I will always be your disciple. I will always be Shrek's Phoenix."

Flender stared at Ma Hongjun in a daze.

His student's metaphor was ridiculous, yet somehow, it unlocked something in his mind.

"Borrowing a chicken to lay eggs... borrowing a chicken to lay eggs... What a perfect analogy!"

"I really have been too stubborn. Whether it happens sooner or later, does it really matter?"

"Shrek Academy will eventually come to an end, but the legacy we leave behind can never be erased. Xiaogang, thank you. Thank you for helping me put a proper ending to Shrek."

The next morning, the Shrek Academy group checked out of the hotel, marking the end of their one-month-long second phase of training.

Physically, this phase was not as extreme as the first, but mentally, it was far more exhausting.

Every day, they faced different opponents, pushing themselves relentlessly to win.

Against formidable enemies, they had to not only fight but also coordinate with their teammates.

Compared to their internal sparring, real combat in the Soul Arena was a completely different challenge.

The constant battles had sharpened their combat experience, making them realize just how effective their first phase of training had been.

Of course, this was less noticeable for Yun Feng, Zhu Zhuqing, Xiao Wu, and Ning Rongrong.

To them, it hadn't felt that challenging.

That said, their endurance, resilience, and recovery ability had all improved significantly.

Without this, they wouldn't have been able to sustain the grueling pace of daily battles.

Especially for those who fought in three matches per day—this phase had fully unlocked the benefits of their earlier hellish training.

Beyond basic and combat training, this second phase had another purpose: building sustained combat endurance.

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