Chapter 1598 - Enrollment Day
“Yes, Grandfather. We’re well prepared. Everything is ready pending the event. Moreover, I can tell that Shrek seems to have acknowledged their defeat. Our advertisements on all the channels have gotten immense attention, but Shrek Academy remains passive. They’re not even concerned with promoting their academy. I think they’ve given up knowing they’re no match for us.”
“Don’t always assume that I’m wildly optimistic, Grandfather. I doubt that they have a strategy for the situation. They can’t compete against our resources. Moreover, they are way behind us. I was planning to announce that we’ll not supply spirit souls to Shrek Academy’s students. Even then, it’s only after I thought that it’ll not affect the Spirit Pagoda. I think we’d be able to cut them off directly.”
Qiangu Dongfeng said, “Stop talking nonsense. You’re not allowed to do it because it’s going to offend all the forces. We’ll then become a target for all. However, there are certain things we can do covertly.
Qiangu Zhangting’s eyes glowed brightly. “What do you mean?”
Qiangu Dongfeng spoke indifferently, “When the enrollment exercise has ended and the statistics analyzed, I’m going to enact certain policies against their students. We won’t make a public announcement, but it doesn’t mean we won’t do it. I won’t leave them with any way out.”
Qiangu Zhangting smiled at once. “Grandfather, I know what you mean now.”
The blue skies were clear with a mild wind and the sun shining brightly.
It was an ordinary day for the Douluo Continent. Nevertheless, it would be an important day in the soul masters’ world.
Ever since Shrek Academy completed their reconstruction, today was their first day of enrollment. On the other hand, the Spirit Academy was having their enrollment on the same day to compete against Shrek.
The two academies were located less than fifteen kilometers apart. They were competing aggressively against each other. Everyone’s attention was focused on the two academies.
Whether Shrek would succeed after their reconstruction, or whether the Spirit Pagoda could rely on its Spirit Academy to suppress Shrek Academy, only the enrollment numbers of the two academies would tell.
Undoubtedly, the enrollment requirements of the Spirit Academy was expedient. Any normal person would be attracted. On the other hand, Shrek possessed its profound inner secrets and a glorious tradition. It still stood a chance.
These two great forces had gotten into a full dispute during the Joust For A Spouse Festival. Who would have the upper hand this time?
In the early morning, the media giants were already at the two academies. At the same time, they had begun filming the entrances to the two academies. Almost all the media had two groups each to cover the two different locations. A comparison of the film footages between the two academies would reveal the winner in this situation.
As expected, students began queuing in front of both the academies since the early morning. Soon after, the media captured an alarming scene.
Two large streamers were set up at a spot about a hundred meters away from Shrek Academy’s main entrance.
The slogan on the left streamer was as follows: ‘In the Spirit Academy, spirit souls are a continual feast.’
On the other side, the slogan read: ‘Make the right choice, or you may regret it for the rest of your life.’
A giant arrow printed below the two streamers pointed toward the direction of the Spirit Academy. Over thirty soul buses emblazoned with the Spirit Academy’s hexagonal logo were waiting next to the streamers. The place had been set up as an enrollment counter.
It was not just a simple provocative act. They were enticing the people in such a blatant manner and putting up slogans which were a little threatening. Things were getting ugly on the Spirit Pagoda’s side. Their intention was to be confrontational upfront.
All the new students enrolling in Shrek Academy could see this for sure.
Below the two streamers, two overbearing middle-aged men stood on each side of the streamers. There was no doubt that they were powerhouses.
“Hello, everyone. I’m the reporter from the Mingdu Channel. Today’s the enrollment day for both the Spirit Academy and Shrek Academy. We’ve just witnessed an appalling scene as soon as we arrived at Shrek Academy. Everyone can see the motto of the Spirit Academy on camera. It seems like the situation between the Spirit Pagoda and Shrek Academy is getting increasingly tense. I wonder which academy the new students will choose? Let’s interview a student.”
The reporter was a beautiful woman. She walked to the end of the queue where the new students were waiting for the entrance examination in front of Shrek Academy. She approached a new student.
The requirement for a new student was the student’s age should not exceed twelve years. Hence, most of the students were accompanied by their parents.
“Hello. May I inquire what your reason is for enrolling in Shrek Academy?” The reporter interviewed a young man.
The young man was hyperactive. He was prancing around as he spoke, “I’m enrolling in Shrek Academy, of course. Shrek is the number one academy on the continent. I look forward to studying here.”
The reporter pointed to the streamers in the distance. “What do you think of Spirit Academy?”
The young man hesitated for a moment then took a glance at his father by his side.
The father spoke in a deep voice, “The Spirit Academy’s actions are not ethical. I think a soul master academy should win people over by virtuous means. They’ve gone too far with their tactics. They’re not giving Shrek Academy the due respect Shrek deserves. Shrek Academy has cultivated countless outstanding soul masters for the continent over twenty thousand years. I believe in Shrek. I hope that my son can get into Shrek.”
The reporter asked, “What if your son is not accepted into Shrek? Will you consider the Spirit Academy then?”
The middle-aged man was stunned for a moment. He spoke hesitantly, “Maybe.”
The reporter said, “The Spirit Academy is offering rather impressive terms too. The most crucial part being the provision of spirit souls, the Spirit Ascension Platform, and even the Ten Thousand Beast Platform possibly in the future. These are terms that Shrek Academy is lacking. You’re apparently a man with good financial resources.”
The middle-aged man frowned and said, “It’s necessary for us to pay the fees in order to cultivate our children. It’s true that the Spirit Pagoda’s resources are more abundant.”
The reporter spoke, “That’s right! Judging by their slogan, I wonder if it’s going to be an issue for your son to acquire spirit souls from the Spirit Pagoda in the future if he’s accepted into Shrek Academy.”
The middle-aged man had a change of countenance. “I don’t think so. The Spirit Pagoda is open to the public.”
The reporter shrugged and said, “I’m not so sure about that. However, it seems like the relationship between the Spirit Pagoda and Shrek Academy is truly tense now. Alright then. Please continue waiting. I’m going to interview the others.”
Similar scenes were happening in different places in front of Shrek Academy. The reporters were from the media giants of the Federation. Almost all the reporters were biased toward the Spirit Pagoda.
It did not take long before the people began to change their minds. They walked toward the Spirit Academy’s buses.
On the other hand, Shrek Academy did not appear troubled. The enrollment counter at the entrance was still admitting applicants as usual.
“Currently, the number of students heading over to enroll in the Spirit Academy has doubled according to our estimates. It seems like the resources promised by the Spirit Pagoda have attracted the people. We’d like to find out the opinion of Shrek Academy. However, they’ve turned down the interview with the excuse of their enrollment program being the priority at the moment.
“Everyone, look! Look at the view from the Spirit Academy.”
Meanwhile, a deafening humming sound was heard coming from the Spirit Academy. Over three hundred mechas arose from the mecha division of the Spirit Academy.
The mechas were of different ranks. The most appealing were the three mechas leading the formation. They were red divine mechas.
The three mechas flew in a triangle formation in the sky. Each mecha was carrying a huge banner. The slogans printed on the banner were identical to the ones displayed outside Shrek Academy.
It was a majestic scene with three hundred mechas soaring into the sky simultaneously. The mechas were flying in formation according to their colors and displayed some difficult maneuvers occasionally.
Undoubtedly, the Spirit Academy was showing off their abilities.
The Spirit Pagoda did not use any unscrupulous tactics in attacking Shrek Academy this time. They adopted a direct method of using their abundant resources to compete for the new students against Shrek.