Due to some discordant voices that arose in the middle, everyone lost the mood for casual conversation.
The Shrek Academy group kept their heads down as they made their way up the mountain path, soon arriving at the entrance of the Heavenly Dou Royal Academy.
"Dean, I'll take you directly to the Education Committee," Ye Lingling said, glancing around at the familiar surroundings, her heart filled with a mix of emotions.
"The entrance doesn't even have a guard. This just shows how lax the Heavenly Dou Academy's educational system is," Flender muttered under his breath, observing the deserted entrance.
Ye Lingling ignored the sour remarks and led the way toward the Education Committee.
She and Yu Tianheng had studied here for several years and were well-acquainted with the place. Along the way, they occasionally ran into some former classmates.
Ye Lingling didn't mind, greeting them warmly and catching up on recent events.
However, Yu Tianheng was not so fortunate. His withdrawal from the academy had been anything but honorable, as Li Xun had thoroughly humiliated him both in reputation and pride.
Though several years had passed, the students of Heavenly Dou Academy, who rarely experienced major events within their ivory tower, still vividly remembered the intense battle between Li Xun and Yu Tianheng.
Although the students who recognized Yu Tianheng didn't say anything out loud, their pointed gestures and whispered conversations with those around them made it clear.
Yu Tianheng knew they were talking about him.
"Li Xun!!" The long-buried sense of humiliation surged back in Yu Tianheng's heart. He had thought that after years of training, he could face that defeat with composure.
But upon returning to this place, he realized that the hatred in his heart had not diminished; instead, it had grown stronger with time.
"Tianheng, stay true to yourself. Acting impulsively won't make you a strong person," Yu Xiaogang, who had noticed Yu Tianheng's troubled state, quickly intervened to guide him. "Your life is still long, and you have plenty of time to prove yourself and seek revenge. There's no need to dwell on a single failure."
"When I was young, I also fell into confusion like you. But as time passed, I realized that it was just a mental barrier we set for ourselves."
"As long as you can face it bravely, this barrier won't hold you back; instead, it will become a solid foundation for breaking free from your shackles. Moreover, this is also a test of your character."
"I understand, Uncle. I will defeat Li Xun and wash away the shame," Yu Tianheng took a deep breath, his eyes gradually clearing.
Tang San, however, lowered his head, a glint of killing intent in his eyes. The events in Suotuo City still haunted him, occasionally resurfacing in his mind. He was determined to make those who had wronged Xiao Wu and himself pay.
Dai Mubai and Ma Hongjun nodded repeatedly as they listened to Yu Xiaogang's encouraging words.
They too had suffered crushing defeats at the hands of Li Xun, and now that they were about to study at the same academy, they couldn't help but feel uneasy. However, out of respect for Flender and Yu Xiaogang's decision, they had to suppress their discomfort.
Hearing Yu Xiaogang describe this as a test of their character, they couldn't help but feel a surge of determination.
"What's wrong, Qin Ming? Are you pretending not to recognize the dean?" Flender asked as he noticed a disheveled, bearded man in his thirties walking out of the Education Committee with a dejected expression.
He felt that the man looked somewhat familiar and stared at the middle-aged man for several seconds before recognizing him. "Dean! Grandmaster."
Qin Ming looked up in confusion, and when he saw that the visitors were Flender and Yu Xiaogang, he was surprised: "Long time no see, what brings you two here?"
Qin Ming glanced at the group in confusion. He noticed that among them were not only his former teacher but also Tang San and Yu Tianheng.
"Well, it's a long story. Let's just say I'm here to seek refuge with you," Flender laughed heartily and patted Qin Ming's shoulder. "It's been many years since I last heard from you. Judging by your current state, have you encountered some difficulties?"
"Haha, difficulties aren't quite the right word, more like discomfort," Qin Ming forced a bitter smile and turned his gaze to Yu Tianheng. "Actually, this matter is somewhat related to Tianheng as well. But forget it, there's no point in talking about it now."
"Dean, let's talk about the purpose of your visit instead."
"Related to Tianheng?" Yu Xiaogang was taken aback and took two steps forward to stand in front of Qin Ming. "Can you tell me more about it?"
"Qin, if there's something bothering you, just say it. If you've been wronged, we can help you stand up for yourself," Flender chimed in at the right moment.
Seeing how concerned the two were, Qin Ming sighed. "Actually, the Heavenly Dou Royal Team hasn't performed well in the past Soul Master Competitions."
"As the team leader, I've been under a lot of pressure. When Tianheng left the academy, I was quite disheartened because I didn't see a bright future for the team."
At this point, Qin Ming's eyes showed a hint of resentment. "But when I recovered, I found that my authority as the team leader had been completely stripped away. I couldn't even interfere with the training arrangements of the team members. Even the three members of the Education Committee chose to remain silent about it."
"Has the internal strife in the Heavenly Dou Royal Academy reached such a level?" Flender exclaimed in shock.
Yu Xiaogang and the others also looked serious upon hearing this. They hadn't expected that such a prestigious academy in the Heaven Dou Empire would have such severe internal conflicts. This shattered their beautiful illusions about the future after joining the academy.
"Dean, you've misunderstood. It's not other teachers competing with me, but a student," Qin Ming quickly clarified upon seeing their reactions, though his words felt a bit dry. "And you should know this student."
Qin Ming looked at Yu Xiaogang. "It's Li Xun."
"Li Xun?"
"..."
Not only Yu Xiaogang, but Flender, Tang San, Yu Tianheng, and the others were all equally shocked.
"Isn't he a student? How can he compete with you for the team leader position?" Yu Xiaogang felt utterly confused.
Qin Ming's words puzzled him. Li Xun was the same age as Tang San. Even if the boy had extraordinary talent, he couldn't possibly threaten Qin Ming's position.
"Is it pressure from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School?" Flender's expression turned grim.
Qin Ming had come from Shrek Academy, and this situation was undoubtedly a slap in the face for Shrek Academy.
"No, I was simply excluded from the team," Qin Ming, though feeling deeply embarrassed, explained the whole situation.
Yu Xiaogang pondered for a moment. "What level is that boy's Soul Power now? What's the average level of the team members?"
Upon hearing the question, Qin Ming shook his head, beads of sweat instantly forming on his forehead. He felt utterly embarrassed because he had lost touch with Li Xun and the training of the team members, and thus had no way of knowing their current Soul Power levels.
Yu Xiaogang was also surprised by Qin Ming's reaction, not expecting that the latter couldn't even handle a child. However, he still comforted him, saying, "Haha, I admit that Li Xun has some talent, but the Soul Master Competition is open to all eligible Soul Masters across the continent. Relying solely on himself, it's unlikely he can lead a team to break through the competition."
Qin Ming wiped his sweat with his sleeve and said, "Let's not talk about me. What brings the two of you here with so many people, making such a grand entrance to the academy?"
"Haha, naturally, it's good news," Yu Xiaogang replied, clasping his hands behind his back and surveying the surroundings, taking in the entire scene of the academy. "We are here to exchange with the Heavenly Dou Royal Academy. Look at these children; each one of them is outstanding among their peers."
"I want these children to participate as exchange students in the upcoming continent-wide Soul Master Competition half a year from now."
(End of Chapter)