Douluo: Yu Hao Pan Tang San

Chapter 148, Section 165: Shrek's makeshift team
To establish an academy, the first requirement is a strong faculty. In the Douluo Continent, most powerful Soul Masters come from Brahmin and Kshatriya clans. Flander, a Vaishya whose fate was changed by the awakening of the Spirit Hall, naturally could not attract the support of Kshatriyas and Brahmins. You should know that even Yu Xiaogang, a Brahmin who was looked down upon by other Brahmins for his mutated spirit, looked down on Flander, who was of Vaishya origin, let alone other Brahmins and Kshatriyas.

Therefore, Flanders could only find like-minded people among the Vaishyas to build his own team.

Flander was also very lucky. On the Douluo Continent, the Spirit Hall had awakened over tens of thousands of years, giving birth to the largest Vaishya class of Soul Masters on the entire continent. Most of the Vaishyas who came from humble backgrounds were devoted to the Spirit Hall, regarding it as the holy land of Soul Masters, and joined it.

However, there's always that one exception: after being awakened by the Spirit Hall, the exceptionally talented Vaishya Soul Masters, who felt they had a bright future and therefore hated the greedy and selfish Spirit Hall, and were unwilling to be bound by its doctrines, yearned for freedom.

For example, Zhao Wuji, who awakened the Mighty Vajra Bear Martial Soul, thought he was very great after receiving the Spirit Hall Martial Soul Awakening. In his youth, he had a volatile temper and loved to cause trouble. He had conflicts with people from the Spirit Hall and injured some of them, thus incurring the Spirit Hall's wrath. However, the Spirit Hall valued Zhao Wuji's strength and tried to recruit him, but Zhao Wuji was stubborn and unwilling to join the Spirit Hall, which triggered the Spirit Hall's pursuit.

During that chase, Soul Emperor Zhao Wuji successfully withstood the siege of sixteen bishops from the Spirit Hall who were at least level 60 Soul Emperors, and escaped from the encirclement. This battle made him famous, but it also completely offended the Spirit Hall.

He and Flanders became acquainted through this, and they became close friends.

Then they met Li Yusong, Lu Binqi and others, and Shrek's makeshift team was set up.

Because they had no money, they could only open Shrek Academy in the village.

"Ten gold soul coins for tuition, and you have to be at least level 20 in soul power when you're 12 years old? My god, these conditions are too strict!" Li Yusong said.

“Harsh?” Flander sneered, “There isn’t a single advanced Soul Master academy in the entire Douluo Continent that’s open to commoner Soul Masters. Our Shrek Academy recruits from them, so isn’t it worth the price?”

"Ahem." Li Yusong coughed twice and said, "Dean Flander, what I mean is, isn't the requirement of having a soul power level of 20 or above at the age of 12 too demanding?"

Flander said, "We don't have much money, so we have to spend it wisely. If Shrek wants to grow stronger, we must be selective from the beginning. Shrek is Shrek because it's a monster. We cultivate monsters, not trash."

After saying that, Flander continued his analysis: "If we accept just anyone, then truly talented people won't come here. Instead, we should create an academy that only trains monsters, and build a monster atmosphere to attract monster students to come and study, right?"

Zhao Wuji, Li Yusong, and others were persuaded by Flander.

This is indeed an excellent marketing strategy. Given Shrek Academy's dilapidated state, only teachers like Flander and this monster's marketing strategy could truly attract talent. (Of course, cultivating talent is something any qualified advanced soul master academy can do. If it weren't for Tang San and others' later extraordinary rise, what would Shrek Academy's actions be called—attention-seeking.)
The following day, Shrek Academy was officially founded in a rural area of ​​Soto.

The news spread like wildfire, and many Vaishyas came with their children, drawn by its reputation.

Although Shrek Academy is dilapidated, its teaching staff is truly exceptional. People like Zhao Wuji and Flander are either Soul Kings or Soul Emperors. Furthermore, most of the advanced Soul Master academies on Douluo Continent recruit internally, only considering background and only accepting Brahmins and Kshatriyas. After completing the primary and intermediate Soul Master academies, the Vaishyas have basically reached their limit and have nowhere to go for further study.

So, of course they had to give Shrek Academy a try, since it's a school that doesn't care about background and only looks at talent.

They naturally overlooked Flander's admission requirements; after all, people have a tendency to take chances. The admissions line in front of Shrek Academy formed a long, orderly queue.

Flander sat in the chair in the admissions office at the front, with Zhao Wuji and Li Yusong standing beside him like bodyguards.

A Vaishya parent led his child forward, and Flander pointed to the money box in front of him and said, "Pay first, ten gold soul coins."

"Yes, yes, yes." The Vaishya family head put ten gold soul coins into the box. This was their family's savings accumulated over three years, but as long as it could help raise their son, then spending this money was worthwhile.

"Activate your martial spirit and hold out your hand," Flander said as he watched the money fall into the box.

The child obediently activated his Martial Soul, the Wind Wolf Martial Soul, with two Soul Rings swirling around him at level 21. At the same time, Flander grasped the child's hand and said, "Bone age 13 years old."

"My child is quite good, isn't he? Look, both of his spirit rings are hundred-year spirit rings. I hired a professional spirit hunting team to hunt them down. What do you think?" the Vaishya elder said with a fawning smile.

Flanders smiled without saying a word, pointed to the position on the left and said, "Stand here for now, we will announce the results in a moment, next one."

The child's parents had no choice but to stand with their child in the spot designated by Flanders.

The next Vaishya parent came up with his child. He was 12 years old, level 18, and his first spirit ring was a ten-year spirit ring. Flander still made him pay the money and stand in the same spot as the previous parent.

The queue grew smaller and smaller, with more and more people standing on the left. Occasionally, they would encounter geniuses who were 12 years old or above level 20, and Flander would have them stand on the right.

This is where the difference comes in. The people on the left are starting to get uneasy. One parent couldn't help but ask, "Can you give us an answer, will it work or not?"

Zhao Wuji said with a fierce look, "Quiet down. If you keep making noise, don't blame me for being impolite. Don't disturb the dean. We'll announce the results later."

Finally, the Vaishyas endured the scorching sun, and by dusk, they had all finished lining up.

Flander stood up, stretched, and pointed to the few people on his right, saying, "You have passed the first round of testing."

He then pointed to the people on his left and said, "As for you, I'm sorry, you've been eliminated."

(End of this chapter)