Three days passed in a flash.
Tang San and the others arrived in Polaris City just as they had in the original story, and they smoothly entered Polaris Royal Academy.
However, from that point onward, things changed. After hearing Elio Quinn's request, the three board members of Polaris Royal Academy refused to meet Flender, Tang San, or any of Shrek's teachers and students.
The reason was naturally the order Wu Ling had issued after killing the bishop of Spirit Hall's Soto City branch.
That order had directly reshuffled many Spirit Hall branches across the Polaris Empire. It also drew the interest of many high-level forces. They wanted to know what had caused such a large movement from Wu Ling, the Saint.
Because Wu Ling had not deliberately hidden the matter, and had even quietly released part of the information, the intelligence on Shrek Academy, that so-called "monster" academy, naturally became known to many people. The three board members of Polaris Royal Academy were among them.
"What? The three board members are unwilling to meet us, and they rejected our entry?"
Flender roared at Elio Quinn in disbelief.
They had three Spirit Daoists and two Spirit Kings here. That level of teaching strength was enough to rival almost half of Polaris Royal Academy. Now he was being told they had been refused without even getting a meeting. How could Flender not be angry?
Facing Flender's roar, Elio showed no displeasure. First, to him, being scolded by his teacher was only natural. Second, he had been the one who invited Shrek here, and now the board members had rejected them outright. His own face had been damaged too.
"Teacher, perhaps the board members have some misunderstanding about you. I know where they will be giving a lecture today. Let us go ask them in person."
Elio Quinn truly deserved to be an "outstanding" student produced by Shrek Academy. Helping his old force make trouble for the force he now belonged to required a level of conditioning stronger than certain scam groups.
At first, proud Flender did not want to hear Elio's suggestion at all. He wanted to leave directly. But after Ethan Drake persuaded him, he reluctantly agreed to lower himself and meet the three board members face-to-face.
Yes, lower himself. In Flender's mind, it was already generous that the three board members did not beg Shrek to join and then feel grateful after Shrek accepted.
After all, Tang San, as his student, had defeated one of the main members of Polaris Royal Academy's imperial battle team. Rounding things off, that meant Shrek's teachers were stronger than all the teachers in Polaris Royal Academy.
Since both the teachers and students on his side were stronger, asking in person to join truly counted as lowering himself.
"Enough, Flender. Let us meet those short-sighted board members face-to-face. Once they see Tang San and the others' potential, they will definitely regret their decision."
Ethan Drake placed a hand on Flender's shoulder and persuaded him.
After a while of silence, Flender finally nodded.
"Fine. For the children, I will swallow my pride today."
Once Flender agreed, Elio Quinn cheerfully led everyone to block the route the three board members had to take.
Elio had no awareness at all of how improper his behavior was. But if he was acting as a member of Shrek Academy, then there was no problem. After all, what kind of morally normal student could be raised by a school whose motto was "those who dare not cause trouble are mediocrities"?
A long time passed. Just as Ash Flynn Hawke grew bored and began playing with fire, three elders in red, white, and yellow robes approached from a distance. They looked like elderly men with no strength to truss a chicken, but anyone with a little familiarity knew that these three were the board members of Polaris Royal Academy. Each one was a Spirit Emperor-level powerhouse.
At the same time, the three men in the distance also saw Elio Quinn, a junior they valued highly. Naturally, they also saw the Shrek group.
When the two sides drew closer, Hugo Shade, the chief board member of Polaris Royal Academy, glanced at Flender and the others. Then he looked kindly at Elio and asked, "Mm, Elio. Is this not the time when you should be teaching the elite class? Why are you here?"
Hugo's words made Elio pause. Because of the Shrek matter, he had completely forgotten today's lesson. But after another thought, how could those students be more important than Shrek? After his brief daze, Elio began expectantly introducing Flender and the others to the three board members.
Before he could start, Desmond Grove, standing in the second row, interrupted him.
"We already made ourselves clear, did we not, Elio? Not a single one of these Shrek people is joining Polaris Royal Academy!"
The smile on Elio's face froze. He looked to Aster Cole, the plumpest of the three, hoping that this most optimistic board member would support him. Reality disappointed him. On Aster's face, he saw only coldness and disgust.
Flender also sensed the three men's attitude toward them. He tried asking, "Senior, may I ask what this junior has done wrong? If there is something to correct, please say so."
"Done wrong? Your greatest mistake was founding Shrek Academy!"
The one who said this was Hugo Shade, who had looked kind only moments ago. After reading the information on Shrek Academy, even he felt disgust toward them.
Forty-eight people.
A full forty-eight outstanding students, each with talent close to or perhaps equal to Elio Quinn's, all of them becoming Spirit Adepts around the age of twelve. Because of various incidents, they had been injured, crippled, or killed.
In Hugo's investigation, almost every one of those forty-eight students had possessed the potential to join the imperial battle team in the future. Yet these excellent students had their lives ruined by irresponsible teachers. How could that not make him furious and disgusted?
After that, Flender still wanted to fight for a chance, but Hugo, Aster, and Desmond had already made up their minds to reject him.
Suddenly, a cold voice with a trace of excitement sounded from behind them.
"Hmph. Groveling like this does not suit you, Flender. Come straight to my place."
Hearing that voice, Flender turned his head in delighted surprise. Ethan Drake's face darkened at once.
At the same time, one name appeared on Flender's lips and in Ethan Drake's mind.
"Scarlet!"