Douluo Dalu (Soul Land): Shadow Monarch

"The first thing, well, is that I, Rongrong, want to drop out of Shrek Academy. This academy isn't anything like how it's advertised. It's basically a scam, pretending to be something it's not. They even boast about having produced a former Elder of the Spirit Hall, which is just shameless," Ning Rongrong said, exasperated.

"Rongrong, Grandpa Bone will help you vent your frustration. Just tell me, where is that brat, Dai Mubai?" Bone Douluo Gu Rong suddenly stood up from the sofa. His towering figure of over two meters was intimidating.

"Old Bone, let's go to Shrek Academy right now!" Sword Douluo Chen Xin puffed out his chest, his face brimming with anger.

To both of these guardians of the clan, Ning Rongrong was like a cherished treasure. Normally, they wouldn't even bear to say a harsh word to her. And now, at this rundown academy, someone dared to bully their little princess? Were they looking for death? Seeing how furious the two were, Ning Fengzhi, the clan leader, sighed in resignation. He remained calm and addressed the two elders, "Uncle Jian, Uncle Gu, don't be so impulsive. Let's first hear what Rongrong has to say."

As he spoke, Ning Fengzhi turned to Ning Rongrong and asked, "Rongrong, is that really the reason why you want to drop out?"

"Not exactly." Ning Rongrong shook her head slightly, then sighed, "Dad, I remember when you sent me there, you said that this academy was special. But after being there for a while, I haven't seen anything special at all. They claim to train 'monsters,' but all they do is make us run laps with weighted loads or go to the arena to fight."

"This academy can't even provide nutritious meals for its students. There's no spirit training field, and most of the time, all we do is listen to that so-called 'Grandmaster' boast about his spirit theories, or we're forced to run and run. It's maddening."

"And I'm not just criticizing the teachers. It's really that 'Grandmaster' Flender brought in, he's so insufferable! Last time, at a dinner with the Heaven Dou Royal Academy's team leader, he claimed that a former Shrek student is now an Elder of the Spirit Hall. What a joke! With their low standards, how could they possibly produce such a legendary figure without anyone knowing?"

"If you ask me, Shrek Academy would be better off without that 'Grandmaster.' He's useless at everything, but great at bragging. I even heard he's from the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan. I can't imagine what kind of fool his father must be to raise such an idiot."

After venting her frustrations, even Ning Rongrong felt drained. She couldn't understand how she had managed to endure this long. If it hadn't been for a certain incident that occurred one night, she might have continued putting up with it just to prove to her father that she wasn't just a mischievous little troublemaker.

However, after being saved by Cheng Xiao that fateful night, Ning Rongrong finally realized that the problem wasn't just the teaching methods at Shrek Academy. The entire place, including the so-called 'monster students,' was flawed. In fact, the whole academy was a disaster.

"Oh? So there's more to this story?" Ning Fengzhi raised an eyebrow, genuinely surprised. "It seems Shrek Academy really has quite a few issues. So, Rongrong, what's the second thing?"

"Hmm…" Ning Rongrong thought for a moment and replied, "While at Shrek Academy, I recruited a food-type spirit master with innate full spirit power for our clan. He's also a Shrek student. Aside from being a bit sleazy, he's far better than the others. And he wants to leave Shrek too, so I suggested he join our clan, and he agreed."

"A food-type spirit master with innate full spirit power?" Ning Fengzhi was taken aback and quickly asked, "Rongrong, are you serious? You recruited a food-type spirit master for our clan? You're not joking with me, are you?"

At this moment, Sword Douluo walked over to Ning Rongrong, gently ruffled her hair, and said to Ning Fengzhi, "Fengzhi, why are you doubting Rongrong? If she said it, she must have done it. Besides, don't you understand why that food-type spirit master agreed to join us so easily?"

Upon hearing this, Ning Fengzhi couldn't help but chuckle. How could he have forgotten? Ning Rongrong wasn't just the little princess of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan; she was also his daughter. Aside from these privileges, Ning Rongrong was also blessed with beauty. Though she was a bit mischievous, she was undoubtedly a natural-born beauty.

As a businessman, Ning Fengzhi quickly deduced what Sword Douluo was hinting at, though he didn't voice it aloud. After all, to become the son-in-law of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan, being an auxiliary-type spirit master alone wouldn't be enough, even if he was a prodigy with innate full spirit power.

"And the third thing, Rongrong?" Sword Douluo asked affectionately.

"Well… Dad, Grandpa Jian, Grandpa Bone… I gave away the birthday gift you gave me, the one with the unlimited gold card." Ning Rongrong lowered her head and fidgeted with her fingers, her cheeks flushing red.

"Huh?" Hearing this, Sword Douluo, Ning Fengzhi, and Bone Douluo all became alert. Being experienced, they immediately sensed something off from Ning Rongrong's demeanor. Especially considering the card, which had an actual unlimited balance—unless the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan was destroyed, the amount of money that could be withdrawn from it was practically infinite.

"Rongrong, let me ask you this," Ning Fengzhi said after a moment of silence. "Did you give that card to a young man, tall and handsome, with impressive strength? And does his surname happen to be Cheng, and he studies at Heaven Dou Royal Academy? Am I right?"

Ning Rongrong was stunned for a moment before blurting out, "Dad, how did you know?"

Upon hearing this, Ning Fengzhi glanced at Sword Douluo. With a nod from the latter, Ning Fengzhi reached into his robes and pulled out the gold card, handing it to Ning Rongrong.

When she saw the card in her father's hand, Ning Rongrong was dumbfounded. "Dad, isn't this the card I gave away? How did it end up with you?"

Ning Fengzhi's expression relaxed as he rubbed his chin, seemingly deep in thought. After a moment, he proposed, "Uncle Jian, what do you think about sending Rongrong to study at Heaven Dou Royal Academy?"

"You should have done that a long time ago," Sword Douluo replied, patting Ning Rongrong on the head. "If Rongrong doesn't like Shrek Academy, then let's enroll her at Heaven Dou Royal Academy. After all, you have good ties with the Heaven Dou imperial family. I'm sure they'd be more than happy to accommodate her."

"Grandpa Jian, you're the best!" Ning Rongrong laughed, throwing herself into Sword Douluo's arms, making Bone Douluo grin in mild exasperation.

"Alright, it's settled then," Ning Fengzhi decided. "Rongrong, before you withdraw from Shrek, you'll come with me to visit the academy one last time, okay?"

"Dad, you're not going there to confront Dai Mubai, are you?" Ning Rongrong asked curiously.

"Not at all," Ning Fengzhi shook his head, looking relaxed. "I want to meet this Tang San. I'm quite interested in his hidden weapons. If possible, I'd like to place an order for a set. As auxiliary-type spirit masters, we lack self-defense capabilities. But with these hidden weapons, our situation could improve considerably."

"Also, since you said you recruited a food-type spirit master for the clan, this is a good chance to see him as well."

"Alright then, Dad. Let's head there now. I have some gifts to bring back to my friends anyway," Ning Rongrong giggled.