Third Uncle

As the smoke and dust gradually cleared, a figure appeared at the center of the clash. With one hand, he gripped Dai Yao's fist; with the other, he blocked Zhu Zhuyue's sharp claws.

Zhu Zhuyue hurriedly withdrew both hands and retreated swiftly.

"Third Uncle."

Dai Yao cried out in surprise and delight.

This was Dai Yao's third uncle, Dai Hengyu. He was the Vice-Dean of Star Luo Royal Academy. After hearing that Dai Yao had been taken away by the Second Prince's men, he had rushed over without stopping. Fortunately, he had not arrived too late.

"I'm taking Dai Yao with me. The Second Prince has no objections, I trust?"

Dai Hengyu lowered Dai Yao's fist, turned, fixed his gaze on Dai Hengyu, and said with a smile.

Although he wanted to help Dai Yao, this was, after all, a struggle between two princes, and it was permitted under the rules of the competition for the throne. If he wantonly broke the family's rules, even as a Star Luo Prince, he would inevitably face punishment.

"Your Highness, trampling on the rules of the competition for the throne so recklessly is probably inappropriate." Dai Hengyu had no intention of letting Dai Yao go.

"Dai Yao is enrolling on his first day, and there are many matters that need to be handled. As Dai Yao's relative, it's not excessive for me to lend a hand, is it?" Dai Hengyu showed no anger at all as he spoke with a smile.

Dai Hengyu had used the rules of the competition for the throne to pressure him, so he countered with his status as a relative. Now, Dai Hengyu could no longer find an excuse to drive him away.

"You may leave."

Dai Hengyu waved his hand, about to let Dai Yao go. He knew that since Dai Hengyu was determined to protect Dai Yao, he had no chance to make a move against him.

Zhu Zhuyue, who was beside him, leaned close to his ear and asked softly, "Yaming, are you really letting them leave just like that? I haven't seen little sister Zhuqing in such a long time. I haven't had enough fun yet."

"Don't worry. Dai Hengyu can't possibly stay by Dai Yao's side at every moment. There will always be a chance."

Seeing Dai Hengyu arrive, Dai Yao let out a long breath of relief in his heart. Otherwise, whether he and Zhu Zhuqing could have left this courtyard safely would have been a question.

By now, Dai Yao had already calmed down. He had realized just how important insufficient strength was. Because he was not strong enough, he had nearly been humiliated by the First Prince's men at the academy entrance, and now he had been wantonly bullied by the Second Prince and the others again.

He clenched his fists, looked coldly at Dai Yaming and Zhu Zhuyue, and said, "I said it just now. I hope that in the future, you won't regret what you did today."

Zhu Zhuyue laughed softly, not taking Dai Yao's harsh words to heart. Dai Yaming, however, narrowed his eyes and committed Dai Yao's words to memory.

"He and I are already irreconcilable. Although he's no match for me right now, I can't give him the chance to grow."

Dai Yaming had always been the type to endure in silence. After being oppressed by Dai Weisi for years, he understood the mindset of someone who had been oppressed. Once the day came when he could beat Dai Weisi, he would repay all the suffering Dai Weisi had inflicted on him over the years many times over.

Presumably, Dai Yao thought the same way.

"I can't let him keep cultivating smoothly."

Dai Yaming made up his mind.

... On the way back.

Dai Hengyu walked in front, while Dai Yao and Zhu Zhuqing walked behind him.

Dai Yao went up beside Dai Hengyu, looked up at him, and said gratefully, "Thank you, Third Uncle. If not for your help, I probably wouldn't have been able to leave Dai Yaming's residence safely today."

"Ah, this was my fault too."

Dai Hengyu's expression dimmed, and he felt somewhat guilty. Dai Yao's mother had entrusted Dai Yao to him, yet back in the Cold Palace, he had failed to protect Dai Yao properly. This time, after arriving at the royal academy, something had nearly happened again.

If it had been the Cold Palace, the Empress's territory, where his reach was too limited for him to fully protect Dai Yao, that would still have been understandable. But the royal academy was his territory, and yet something had almost happened here too.

"Yao'er, although I'm the Vice-Dean of the royal academy, I can't make the decisions in everything. The First Prince and Second Prince both have very deep backgrounds, and I have too many concerns."

"Besides, when the First Prince and Second Prince want to make a move against you, that's all permitted by the rules of the competition for the throne. I was originally worried that after defeating Dai Mubai, you would become proud and complacent. Today, you should have realized the gap between you and them."

"When your strength is weak, you need to endure. Don't put yourself in danger over a momentary clash of pride. If they provoke you, avoid them as much as possible. What you need to do now is focus on cultivating and increasing your strength."

Dai Hengyu stroked Dai Yao's head and analyzed his current situation for him, as well as the path he should take in the future.

Third Uncle's heartfelt words moved Dai Yao deeply. "Thank you, Third Uncle. I'll definitely keep it in mind."

"All right, after saying so much, go comfort your little girlfriend."

Dai Hengyu's tone turned playful. He raised his eyebrows, glanced in Zhu Zhuqing's direction, and teased Dai Yao.

That made Dai Yao's face flush bright red. He had originally wanted to stammer out a few words of rebuttal, but when he saw Zhu Zhuqing's profile under the setting sun, a surge of courage rose in his heart, and he said confidently, "She's not my little girlfriend. She's my fiancée!"

Hearing those words, Zhu Zhuqing, who had been somewhat uneasy after everything she had just experienced, showed a fleeting smile on her cold face, but it vanished in the blink of an eye.

She lowered her head, making it impossible to see the expression on her face. Only her cheeks were flushed red, though it was unclear whether she was blushing or whether it was due to the setting sun.

Dai Hengyu was first taken aback, then burst into hearty laughter. His laughter startled countless mountain birds in the woods.

"Good lad! You really have the bearing of my Dai Family!"

... As Star Luo's Fourth Prince, and with Dai Hengyu's help, the many trivial matters of enrollment were swiftly completed without any obstacles.

His height and weight were measured, and he received a new school uniform.

Dai Hengyu placed a purple-gold card in Dai Yao's hand and said, "This is my access card for the school cafeteria. Whenever you're hungry, you can order food, and it's free."

"I have dedicated people in charge of my meals every day, so I've never used this card. It's just right to give it to you."

"Thank you, Third Uncle."

"There's one last thing. You need to choose your own Simulated Cultivation Environment. The Simulated Environment will be of some help to your cultivation, so you must choose carefully," Dai Hengyu warned.

After saying that, he left.

After all, he was the Vice-Dean. There were many matters he needed to handle, so he could not possibly stay with Dai Yao all the time.

After Dai Hengyu left, he assigned a student to handle Dai Yao's choice of Simulated Cultivation Environment.

"Does Fourth Highness have any Simulated Environment in mind?"

The student was about fourteen or fifteen, much taller than Dai Yao. He bent at the waist, lowered his head, and spoke with a somewhat eager tone.

In the original work, the reason Grandmaster had merged Shrek Academy into Heaven Dou Royal Academy was not only because doing so would grant them the qualifications to participate in the All-Continent Advanced Soul Master Academy Elite Tournament, but also because of the facilities Heaven Dou Royal Academy possessed.

One very important point among them was the Simulated Cultivation Environment.

After learning that he would soon be going to Star Luo Royal Academy to study, Dai Yao had once carefully considered what kind of Simulated Environment he needed to choose. And today's two encounters, where he had struggled helplessly, had only further confirmed his thoughts.

Thus, he asked the student: ····· there's only one chapter.

The company held a gathering yesterday, so I didn't have time to write. Sorry about that. I just finished one chapter.