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Flender and his group arrived at the gates of Blue Tyrant Academy.
From a distance, the academy appeared eerily quiet and deserted, a stark contrast to the bustling Seven Treasures Academy.
Inside Blue Tyrant Academy, only a few students were seen moving about. Their numbers were far fewer than even a tenth of Seven Treasures Academy's student body.
"It might be class time now, so the students are likely in their classrooms," Yu Xiaogang mused, stroking his chin thoughtfully.
Flender gave him an enigmatic glance.
He wondered how Yu Xiaogang would react upon seeing Liu Erlong.
"Let's all go together. We old folks will first apply for teaching positions, and afterward, we'll handle the enrollment procedures for the little prodigies."
At the main gate of Blue Tyrant Academy, only three elderly men were stationed to guard the entrance.
"Grandpa, we're here to apply for teaching positions. Could you tell us where we should go?"
The elderly men were a bit hard of hearing and assumed they were parents of prospective students. Without hesitation, they let the group into the academy.
Once inside, Zhao Wuji couldn't help but comment, "Principal, something feels off here."
Typically, advanced soul master academies would assign students to guard the gates. Yet, Blue Tyrant Academy not only failed to do so but instead stationed three elderly men with poor hearing.
By all appearances, this didn't seem like a prestigious academy.
For other teachers, there might still be options. But Yu Xiaogang, with only Level 29 soul power, had no choice.
The weaker Blue Tyrant Academy's faculty was, the easier it would be for him to secure a teaching position with the help of Flender and the others.
At any established advanced soul master academy, he wouldn't stand a chance of being hired—unless he opted for a junior soul master academy.
"Since we're already here, let's make the best of it. Don't be misled by surface appearances. Let's go to the academic affairs office to inquire about the situation."
---
After much effort, the Shrek group finally located the academic affairs office.
The teachers' offices were right next to the academic affairs office. As they passed by, the Shrek group noticed that more than half of the desks were unoccupied.
Zhao Wuji felt that the academy was on the verge of collapse—otherwise, there wouldn't be so many teachers leaving.
Yu Xiaogang, however, held the opposite view. He believed the teachers had been poached by Seven Treasures Academy, and their timing couldn't have been better.
Upon entering the academic affairs office, the head teacher, a middle-aged man with a scruffy beard named Wang Qing, greeted them wearily.
"Who are you parents of? Are you here to process withdrawal procedures?" Wang Qing asked tiredly.
As the next enrollment season approached, many students from advanced soul master academies chose to withdraw early to ensure their admission into Seven Treasures Academy.
Among all the affected academies, Blue Tyrant Academy suffered the most.
"Withdrawal?" Flender was momentarily startled before explaining, "We saw the recruitment notice at the city gates and came here seeking teaching positions."
Wang Qing glanced up at them.
Flender's strength left him puzzled.
But given the academy's current state, they couldn't afford such talent.
"You must be outsiders and probably unfamiliar with the situation in Tiandou City. You should leave—we don't lack teachers. As for the notice you saw, we simply forgot to take it down."
Yu Xiaogang wasn't ready to give up. "I noticed your academy has very few teachers. Isn't our timing perfect?"
Wang Qing waved his hand dismissively, offering no further explanation.
After leaving the academic affairs office, Tang San frowned and said, "Teacher, Principal, Blue Tyrant Academy must have been heavily impacted by Seven Treasures Academy. Their teachers and students have likely already transferred there."
The words spoken by the head teacher when they entered were enough to reveal the truth. In other academies, would a head teacher care so much about student withdrawals?
After pondering for a moment, Flender said, "Wait here for a moment. I know the principal of this academy."
With that, he returned to the academic affairs office to explain the situation to Wang Qing. Seeing Flender's familiarity with Liu Erlong, Wang Qing immediately led them to the academy's back mountain.
---
"Gentlemen, I can only escort you this far. Our principal prefers solitude, so I won't disturb her."
With that, Wang Qing returned to the academic affairs office alone.
On the way, Yu Xiaogang had gathered some basic information about the principal.
Seeing the environment of the back mountain, he couldn't help but comment, "It seems the principal of this academy is completely incompetent. With the academy facing internal and external crises, how can she have the leisure to tend to flowers and plants?"
Flender was alarmed and quickly covered his mouth. "Xiaogang, say less. Once you meet her, you'll understand."
Otherwise, I'm afraid you'll be embarrassed.
Flender silently communicated this sentiment.
In the distance, a figure could be seen busily tending to the flower beds. Judging by the silhouette, it was clearly a woman.
Approaching closer, Yu Xiaogang gradually recognized her face and froze in astonishment.
"Teacher, what's wrong?" Tang San couldn't help but ask.
Hearing the voice, Liu Erlong set down her watering can and turned around.
"Erlong, it's been a long time," Flender greeted her with a smile.
"Big Brother Fu, and… Xiaogang, it's really you!" Liu Erlong was visibly moved and hurried forward.
Yu Xiaogang seemed intent on avoiding her, hiding behind Tang San at this moment.
"Xiaogang, after all these years, are you still trying to avoid me?" Liu Erlong was both excited and worried that he might ignore her.
Finally, after Flender's persuasion, Yu Xiaogang reluctantly spoke with Liu Erlong.
After exchanging pleasantries, the group headed to Liu Erlong's wooden cabin to discuss the matter at hand.
"Erlong, what do you mean by saying that Blue Tyrant Academy is on the verge of bankruptcy? How is that possible?" Flender asked in astonishment.
Of course, he didn't know that without the support of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon family, even if the academy hadn't lost its original faculty and students, it would still struggle to survive.
Liu Erlong had neglected the academy entirely, leaving its management to the teachers.
These teachers had embezzled the academy's funds, and she had been unaware of it. Now that these teachers had left the academy, there was no way to investigate further.
"Damn Seven Treasures Academy! Do they intend to monopolize everything?" Yu Xiaogang slammed the table in anger.
Liu Erlong sighed. "The academy is in this state, and I've never managed it. Big Brother Fu, since you're here, I'll hand over the principal's position to you. Starting tomorrow, the academy will be renamed Shrek Academy. I hope it can improve under your leadership."
Flender asked, "Currently, how many students and teachers does the academy have?"
Liu Erlong replied, "From the original 500-plus students, the number has plummeted to just over a hundred. The teaching staff has also dropped from over forty to just a dozen or so."
Flender was speechless.
For a moment, he couldn't think of a good solution.
Yu Xiaogang interjected, "The Soul Masters Tournament is our only chance to revive the academy. Erlong, has the team for the next tournament been formed yet?"
Liu Erlong shook her head. "Three members left, and now only four remain in the academy."
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