Chapter 158: Meng Shenji

"Flender, I hope you can give me a reasonable explanation!"

After only a moment, Meng Shenji's voice, suppressing his anger, rang out from behind.

Flender's expression did not change; he turned around, bowed to Meng Shenji, and then said, "Education Committee Member Meng, I apologize; this matter was indeed my rashness. However, they are the last batch of students from Shrek Academy. As their Dean, I truly hope that in this final stage, they can help me carry the name of Shrek out into the world."

"Flender, we already granted your request to rename the Tiandou Second Team to the Shrek Team and to embroider the Shrek Academy logo onto the uniforms to highlight your academy's name. But is this how you repay the trust I placed in you?"

"Do you understand how much of an impact your unauthorized alteration of the uniforms has on the face of the entire Empire? They are not just people from Shrek now; they are also people from my Heaven Dou Imperial Academy! Standing here today, besides representing your Shrek, they also represent the Heaven Dou Imperial Academy and the Heaven Dou Imperial Family!"

"Yet you privately changed the uniforms into such a preposterous mess, turning them into a joke. How am I supposed to answer to the Emperor, and how will the Spirit Masters of this world view the Emperor?"

Upon hearing this, Flender frowned tightly. "Education Committee Member Meng, isn't your assessment a bit too severe? The Spirit Master tournament relies on strength, not a piece of clothing. As long as the Shrek Team displays sufficient strength, their clothes will naturally become their signature."

"Foolish!" Meng Shenji shook his head in anger. "Since you say the tournament relies on strength, why must you engage in these flashy, superficial things? If they display sufficient strength, they will naturally make everyone notice the 'Shrek' on their uniforms. But your actions have directly turned Shrek into a laughingstock, and if you aren't careful, it will even jeopardize the dignity of the entire Empire."

Flender waved his hand helplessly. "I believe in Tang San and the others. Never mind the Preliminary Round, they can easily handle the Promotion Tournament as well. The Shrek Team will definitely be able to enter the final Championship Round, and besides, the clothes are already worn; it's too late to change them."

Watching Flender's stubborn attitude, Meng Shenji couldn't help but shake his head. "Flender, this matter is not that simple. Your actions have completely pushed all of Shrek into a desperate situation. I am telling you, if your performance is even slightly problematic, or if the Emperor is dissatisfied, the Emperor will directly revoke your team's eligibility. Forget the Promotion Tournament; whether the Shrek Team can even finish the Preliminary Round is a question!"

Hearing this, a hint of panic finally appeared beneath Flender's calm eyes. "It's just a piece of clothing; is there any need to make such a big deal out of it?"

Yu Xiaogang shook his head helplessly. "This matter was indeed ill-considered. But since things have reached this point, saying more is useless; we can only break the pot and let it sink. Moreover, I also believe in Tang San and the others; their performance will certainly satisfy everyone."

"Xiaogang, I just wanted to make our Shrek name a bit more well-known. I didn't expect the consequences to be this severe." Flender looked at Yu Xiaogang with an ugly expression.

"Education Committee Member, please rest assured, Shrek will certainly not let you down."

Meng Shenji glanced coldly at Yu Xiaogang. "In the exhibition match shortly, you had best let Shrek perform well and achieve victory with the force of a thunderbolt to achieve a stunning effect. Otherwise, it is highly likely that the Emperor will directly abolish the Shrek Team's eligibility, and all of you will receive the Emperor's severe punishment."

"A piece of clothing?" Meng Shenji was furious. "Even now you still don't know what a huge mistake you have made. This concerns the face of an Empire, and you tell me it's just a piece of clothing? Flender, you have truly disappointed me."

"This is Heaven Dou City, this is the Heaven Dou Imperial Academy! Not Shrek! Since you have joined, you must follow the academy's rules. Have I been too indulgent with you in the past, making you forget what place this actually is!?"

Yu Xiaogang also spoke up at this moment: "Education Committee Member Meng, this matter was indeed Flender going too far. The most urgent task is how to salvage the Empire's face; arguing here won't solve the problem, will it?"

"It's fine, Dean, this is all what I should do." Qin Ming responded with a smile.

"Heh." Meng Shenji let out a cold laugh. "Do not let the Emperor down. You had best hope the Emperor is satisfied, otherwise, you have the possibility of being disqualified at any time."

"It's just that I've wronged you, Qin Ming." Flender sighed and patted Qin Ming on the shoulder.

Hearing Meng Shenji's reprimand, Qin Ming could not help but lower his head.

Meng Shenji looked at Qin Ming and scolded him sternly: "Qin Ming, it is good that you know! You haven't been in the Heaven Dou Imperial Academy for a short time; do you not know what the academy represents? And as the leader of Shrek, you don't lead by example—wearing your original uniform while letting the students wear such a mess of a uniform. How exactly are you acting as a leader? Or is it as Xiao Quan said, that in your heart there is only Shrek and no Heaven Dou Imperial Academy?"

Leaving Flender and the others behind.

Flender and the others clenched their fists tightly. They had never been scolded like this before, but when one is under someone else's roof, one has to bow one's head.

Qin Ming also comforted them: "That's right, Dean. Don't you know the strength of the juniors? These ordinary teams pose no threat to them at all. Tang San and the others will definitely be able to win easily."

"Education Committee Member, it is all this junior's fault. I should have reminded Teacher Flender and the others immediately." Seeing this, Qin Ming hurriedly took the responsibility upon himself.

After saying this, Meng Shenji turned and left in anger.

On the plaza, one team after another took the stage. After the master of ceremonies introduced the last team, his gaze fell upon Xue Ye the Great in the center of the VIP stand.

"Next, we invite His Majesty the Emperor of the Heaven Dou Empire to announce the opening of this tournament."

Loud cheers erupted inside and outside the arena until Emperor Xue Ye stood up, extended his right hand to wave slightly toward the audience and the contestants, and pressed it down, at which point it became quiet.

"I, Xue Ye, Emperor of the Heaven Dou Empire..." Xue Ye's deep voice quickly spread throughout the arena via a Soul Guidance Device.

Afterward, it was Ning Fengzhi's turn. After a small interlude where the master of ceremonies asked him a question, Platinum Bishop Salas stood up.

"First round of the Preliminary Round!"

"Canghui Academy versus Zixing Academy... Oakland Academy versus Blazing Glory Academy."

"Heaven Dou Imperial Academy Shrek Team, versus Lanba Academy."

"It couldn't be that coincidental, could it?" As soon as Salas's voice fell, Flender couldn't help but mutter.

Others might not know Lanba Academy, but he knew the origin of Lanba Academy. He subconsciously looked toward the location of Lanba Academy, but did not see that familiar figure.

Some time ago, Flender had thought about tricking Yu Xiaogang into coming out for a stroll to create a chance for a chance encounter, but Yu Xiaogang was immersed in the formulation of various training plans all day and was unwilling to pay him any mind, so he had no way to manufacture an encounter between the two.

While lost in thought, the drawing of lots ended. Salas scanned the entire arena and said indifferently: "I swear by the honor of the Spirit Hall that there is absolutely no fraud in this drawing. At the same time, I hereby announce that for any participating student from any academy present, as long as they can advance to the Grand Finals stage, the Spirit Hall will make an exception and permit them to join the Spirit Temple directly."

When these words fell, there was an uproar outside the arena, and Xue Ye, sitting in the main seat behind him, saw his expression turn gloomy instantly.

"Your Majesty." Ning Fengzhi whispered a reminder from the side, shaking his head slightly to signal him, and only then did Xue Ye's expression soften slightly.

At this time, Salas turned and returned to his seat. The master of ceremonies stepped forward to speak: "Then, the next event is the first match of the first round of the Preliminary Round, the Heaven Dou Imperial Academy Shrek Team versus Lanba Academy. Now, please have each participating team exit the arena in an orderly fashion under the guidance of the staff. After the two academies participating in the upcoming match exit, please be prepared; the match will officially begin in half an hour."

"For those who just mocked us, we must let them witness our strength in a while!" Ignoring the contemptuous and disdainful gazes cast from around them, Ma Hongjun turned to look at Tang San, rubbing his hands together, eager to try.

His face was full of confidence.

Tang San did not reply immediately, but said: "Let's go back and discuss it before deciding."

He had just noticed that Meng Shenji had gone to the location where Flender and the others were. The distance was too far for him to hear clearly what they had said, but judging by everyone's expressions, something must have happened.

Therefore, he prepared to go back first to ask about the specific situation before making detailed arrangements.

"Fortunately, we were the second to exit, otherwise if we had been looked at like that any longer, I really wouldn't have been able to hold back." Dai Mubai loosened his clenched fists and let out a long breath.

"No need to be angry. In a while, we will just use our strength and victory to make these vulgar people shut up." Tang San lowered his voice to comfort him.

Dai Mubai nodded and said nothing more.

Because today was the opening ceremony, there was only one match, which was their Shrek Team versus the Lanba Academy team. This meant that the other academies had no matches that day. When they exited the arena, Shi Quan and the others in front had already been led by staff directly to the designated spectator area to watch the match.

Only their team was left in the huge rest area. They had originally thought that once they reached the rest area they wouldn't have to be mocked, but every team that exited passed by the rest area and then turned to the spectator area. Sitting in the rest area, they were like a group of clowns, being scrutinized by every team that exited.

Even though they had thick skin, being scrutinized by so many people—and with quite a few beautiful Spirit Masters covering their mouths and giggling—they only felt even more embarrassed.

Watching Flender, Yu Xiaogang, Qin Ming, and the others walking quickly toward them, everyone couldn't help but reveal a resentful expression.

Upon arriving, Yu Xiaogang did not arrange any tactics, but first recounted the whole story of Meng Shenji's visit just now.

Hearing this, everyone was also speechless. After all that, it turned out that their ugly clothes had been privately changed by the Dean, and now it had caused such a big problem. Knowing that Flender was in a bad mood, they didn't dare to say anything more. After a brief moment of contemplation, the topic returned directly to tactical arrangements.