Could Your Academy's Motto Really Be 'Double Standards'?

"Is Chief Meng Shenji here?"

Prince Xue Xing called out loudly. Without waiting for a response, he led Li Yu and the others into the hall in a file.

Everyone inside was briefly stunned.

Still, Meng Shenji, the chief of the Three Education Committee Members of Heaven Dou Royal Academy, was the first to react.

He hurriedly rose and went out to greet them.

Upon seeing Prince Xue Xing, he bowed slightly. "Your Highness, what brings you here?"

At the same time, his gaze casually swept over the haughty Xue Beng beside Prince Xue Xing, as well as Dugu Yan and Li Yu.

Meng Shenji frowned slightly, realizing that Prince Xue Xing had likely come to cause trouble.

One look at Xue Beng's arrogant expression told him that this group had not come with good intentions.

Dugu Yan's status went without saying. Her grandfather was a Titled Douluo—who would dare provoke her?

As for Li Yu—

He did not know him, nor did he care.

Seeing Dugu Yan holding his arm, he assumed he was merely one of her friends.

Prince Xue Xing did not answer. Instead, his gaze fell upon the people in the hall. "What, do you have guests here? Aren't you going to introduce them to me?"

Meng Shenji froze. "My oversight."

He then led them inside, turned around, and began the introductions with a smile. "This is Flender, the headmaster of Shrek Academy..."

Walking beside them, Li Yu paid no attention to the exchange between Meng Shenji and Prince Xue Xing.

After consuming the Full Moon Wearing Autumn Dew, his Spiritual Power had increased greatly, and his eyesight now far surpassed that of ordinary people.

At that moment, his gaze had already settled on Xiao Sanzi in the hall.

Tang San, I've finally met you!

Li Yu muttered inwardly, a faint smile curling at the corner of his lips.

If he wanted to help Qian Renxue ascend the throne, he naturally had to remove this greatest obstacle for her.

Besides, he found Xiao Sanzi thoroughly unpleasant himself.

As they drew closer—

Li Yu felt Dugu Yan's hand tighten around his arm. Clearly, she was not calm inside either.

After their defeat at the Soto Grand Soul Arena, Dugu Yan and the others had returned and trained intensely within Heaven Dou Royal Academy.

This was also the first time they had gone back to see Dugu Bo.

However, because of Li Yu's "detoxification," Dugu Yan had not thought to tell Dugu Bo that Tang San had broken her Jade Phosphorous Serpent Poison.

Now that she saw Tang San again, her fighting spirit naturally surged.

Unfortunately, after their previous encounter, Dugu Yan also knew that she was currently no match for Tang San.

Thus, she had been holding that frustration in her heart.

At this moment—

Prince Xue Xing had also finished listening to Meng Shenji's introduction.

He gave a mocking smile and said coldly, "Shrek Academy? I've never heard of such an academy. It must be some third-rate institution!"

After a pause, he turned his gaze to Meng Shenji and said sternly, "Chief Meng Shenji, don't tell me you intend to bring these people of unknown origin into our Heaven Dou Royal Academy?"

Meng Shenji's expression shifted slightly. "Your Highness, while Shrek Academy is not well-known, every one of them is an exceptionally rare talent..."

"Heh, talent?"

Prince Xue Xing sneered, then turned even more serious. "Heaven Dou Royal Academy is a pillar of the Heaven Dou Empire. The Heaven Dou Imperial Family invests countless resources into it every year!

Talent?

This is the one place that never lacks talent!

Chief Meng Shenji, according to academy rules, teachers must undergo an assessment before being hired!

Not only their strength, but their character must also be strictly vetted!

As far as I know, these people seem not to have gone through that process.

Are you trying to abuse your authority for personal gain?"

By the time he spoke that final sentence, Prince Xue Xing was already berating him.

Meng Shenji's heart sank.

"Your Highness, the teachers of Shrek Academy all possess the strength of Heaven Dou-level teachers, so there is no need for further assessment!"

Meng Shenji explained, then continued, "I know full well how important Heaven Dou Royal Academy is to the Heaven Dou Empire. That is precisely why we should bring in talents such as Headmaster Flender!

This would strengthen Heaven Dou Royal Academy's foundations. It is not an abuse of authority for personal gain!

I ask that Your Highness see clearly!"

"Oh! Heaven Dou-level?"

A glint flashed through Prince Xue Xing's eyes. He was about to suggest testing their strength, but then remembered that Dugu Bo was not present.

So he immediately changed his tune. "I acknowledge their strength, but what about their character?

Xue Beng has already told me that the moment these honored guests arrived yesterday, they beat him up!

Heh!

Do I need to tell you what status Xue Beng holds?

Fine. Perhaps you have sat in your positions for too long and grown too arrogant, forgetting that Heaven Dou Royal Academy belongs to the Heaven Dou Imperial Family. Today, I shall introduce it to you again!

Xue Beng is the Fourth Prince of the Heaven Dou Empire. When he is outside, he represents the dignity of the Heaven Dou Imperial Family!

And now, you intend to welcome into Heaven Dou Royal Academy a group that trampled the dignity of the Heaven Dou Imperial Family beneath their feet?"

At this point, Prince Xue Xing paused, then fixed Meng Shenji with a piercing stare. "Chief Meng Shenji, could it be that you already harbor thoughts of rebellion?"

Thoughts of rebellion!

Those four words struck everyone's hearts like a heavy hammer.

Li Yu could not help glancing at Prince Xue Xing with a measure of admiration.

Who said this man had no brains? Step forward!

At the very least, Li Yu knew he could not match this man's skill at slapping labels on people.

Xue Beng also swept a smug gaze over the people from Shrek Academy.

Meng Shenji's heart jolted. He hurriedly said, "Young people are hot-blooded. A few conflicts are perfectly normal, Your Highness. There is no need to elevate this matter to such a level!"

Flender had been watching coldly the entire time.

First, Shrek Academy had been mocked as a third-rate institution. Then they had been accused, both openly and subtly, of poor character.

Now, seeing Prince Xue Xing continuously making things difficult for them, he could no longer hold back.

"Does Your Highness know what happened? Does Your Highness know why Xue Beng was beaten?"

Flender looked at Prince Xue Xing, doing his best to suppress his anger.

Unexpectedly—

Prince Xue Xing's expression turned even more severe. "So you knew Xue Beng's identity before you beat him?"

He was so furious that he laughed. "Hahaha! What arrogance! What audacity!"

His gaze then fell on Meng Shenji once more. "My dear chief, do you still think this need not be elevated to such a level?"

Everyone was stunned again.

Li Yu had already secretly given Prince Xue Xing a thumbs-up. That title of prince truly suited him!

Flender knew that his words had been used against him, so he fell silent.

Meng Shenji was furious inside. He understood that Prince Xue Xing was determined to cause trouble, yet despite his dissatisfaction, there was nothing he could do.

"You've gone too far!"

Dai Mubai, who had been watching from the sidelines, finally could not endure it any longer. His martial soul suddenly emerged, and he charged straight at Prince Xue Xing.

Unlike the others, he was also a prince of the Star Dou Empire. Naturally, he did not fear this so-called Prince Xue Xing!

He was even confident that, after revealing his identity, his safety would not be at risk. At most, he would suffer some physical pain and have to make certain concessions in exchange for benefits.

He could bear that!

But he could not swallow this insult!

More importantly, he really had been the one to strike Xue Beng. A man should take responsibility for his own actions!

Everyone froze when they saw this. None of them had expected Dai Mubai to suddenly make a move—and against Prince Xue Xing, no less.

How unwise!

Meng Shenji was the first to recover and was about to intervene.

But at that moment—

"You beat my younger brother, and now you're still being so presumptuous. Do you really think the Heaven Dou Imperial Family has no one left?"

Li Yu's indifferent voice rang out. He then stepped forward.

Soul Power surged from his body, and Soul Rings rose one after another from beneath his feet!

Purple! Purple! Purple! Black!

Four Soul Rings rose in succession, and an aura far surpassing that of an ordinary four-ring Soul Ancestor descended at once.

Everyone's eyes widened as they stared at Li Yu in disbelief.

A four-ring Soul Ancestor was not surprising. After all, there were even several Soul Douluo-level figures present!

But for a four-ring Soul Ancestor to possess three purple Soul Rings and one black Soul Ring was astonishing—even terrifying!

There had never been such a precedent.

And among the crowd, if anyone had suffered the greatest shock—

It was undoubtedly Yu Xiaogang!

According to his theory, the limit for a first-ring Soul Master to absorb a Soul Ring was only a little over four hundred years!

Yet what he saw before him had directly overturned his theory!

His vision spun, as though he had suffered a tremendous mental blow.

"Teacher!"

Tang San hurriedly supported Yu Xiaogang. His face was filled with concern, but his emotions were inexplicably complicated.

Didn't you say the limit for the first ring was four hundred years? How could someone else's First Soul Ring be a thousand-year ring?

You deceived me?

Tang San's heart darkened, yet not the slightest trace of it showed on his face.

Aside from him, the people of Shrek Academy, along with Meng Shenji, Bai Baoshan, and Zhi Lin—the three Soul Douluo-level education committee members of Heaven Dou Royal Academy—all stared at Li Yu in shock.

Prince Xue Xing, who had not even spared Li Yu a proper glance before, now had his eyes wide open.

His originally pitifully small eyes showed no trace of being "small" at that moment.

Xue Beng knew that barely half a month earlier, Li Yu had only possessed the Soul Power of a two-ring Soul Master. Who could have expected him to grow so much in such a short time?

And with such a terrifying Soul Ring configuration, no less.

However, before Xue Beng could think further, he realized that Li Yu seemed to be standing up for him!

His heart instantly blossomed with joy. I knew Miss Li Yu cared about me!

Unlike the others—

Dugu Yan had long known of Li Yu's strength and had personally watched him absorb his Fourth Soul Ring.

Dugu Yan's face was filled with pride, as though the Li Yu standing in the hall was herself.

At the same time—

Dai Mubai, who had rushed forward in a single stride, was already face-to-face with Li Yu.

Dai Mubai was also startled by Li Yu's Soul Ring configuration and realized the gap between himself and Li Yu.

But since he had already charged out, he could not retreat, if only for the sake of his pride.

So he took a deep breath, and three Soul Rings rose.

"White Tiger Vajra Transformation, White Tiger Barrier, White Tiger Light Wave!"

He unleashed three soul skills in succession, directly launching his full-power attack.

Li Yu's gaze remained calm. With a flick of his hand, the Water Elemental Cube appeared, then instantly split apart and transformed into Ying Yu.

Facing Dai Mubai's full-force attack, Ying Yu merely spat out a bubble, enclosing Li Yu within it.

Li Yu had already learned this move on the journey back. Its name was Pure Water Defense.

Its effect needed no explanation: complete, flawless protection from every direction, with a certain rebounding effect as well.

The reason it had not been very effective against that Ten Thousand Years Vine Soul Beast before was simply because the gap between them had been too great!

But now, the situation had reversed.

In an instant—

The beam Dai Mubai released slammed into the bubble.

However, the bubble formed by Pure Water Defense only dented slightly before suddenly rebounding!

Dai Mubai had never expected such an outcome. Faced with the White Tiger Light Wave bouncing back at him, he only had time to raise his arms in front of himself.

Boom!

Dai Mubai was blasted away by the beam he himself had released and that had rebounded back at him.

Flender hurriedly caught Dai Mubai and asked anxiously, "How are you, Mubai? Are you alright?"

"Mubai!"

"Big Brother!"

The people of Shrek Academy rushed over, all wearing worried expressions.

"I-I'm fine!"

After saying those words, a trace of blood spilled from the corner of Dai Mubai's mouth, and he immediately fainted.

"You've gone too far!"

Zhao Wuji had already been holding back his anger. Now that he saw Dai Mubai injured as well, his fury soared to the heavens, and his entire body erupted with power.

The Vajra Bear martial soul possessed him as he prepared to attack.

Just then—

"Insolence!"

Meng Shenji was the first to summon his Martial Soul, bringing the situation under control.

He then ignored the Shrek group and instead looked fervently at Li Yu as he asked Prince Xue Xing, "Your Highness, who is this?"

In Meng Shenji's view,

Prince Xue Xing had indeed gone too far, and he was furious about it.

But Dai Mubai daring to make a move here was even more against the rules.

Though he was injured now, he had only brought it upon himself.

The woman before them, who had displayed such a terrifying Soul Ring configuration, was far more worthy of attention.

If this woman joined Heaven Dou Royal Academy and received proper training, why would they have to worry about Heaven Dou Royal Academy failing to achieve an outstanding result in the Continental Advanced Spirit Master Academy Elite Tournament?

Prince Xue Xing was equally stunned at this moment.

But before he could answer Meng Shenji's question, Li Yu spoke first.

"Who I am isn't important. What matters is—"

Li Yu swept her cold gaze over the Shrek group. "What, your people hit my younger brother, and you want to simply let it go?

Now, I merely retaliated—no, I was only defending myself—and when your student got hurt as a result, you couldn't take it?

What kind of logic is that?

Could it be that your academy's motto is actually 'double standards'?"

As soon as she finished speaking, Flender, Zhao Wuji, and the others felt their faces burn.

Under Meng Shenji's suppression, they had naturally calmed down as well.

As things stood, Dai Mubai was indeed in the wrong.

But how was this double standards?

They were merely worried about their own student!

Was that wrong?

If they could not even protect their own students, what kind of teachers would they be?

Though that was what they thought, since they had already caused trouble for Meng Shenji, they did not say anything further.

"Younger brother?"

Meng Shenji immediately caught the key term.

The younger brother she referred to could only be Xue Beng.

But when had the Heaven Dou Imperial Family produced such an extraordinary woman?

And judging by her age, she should already have come of age. They were considered high-ranking figures of the Heaven Dou Empire, yet they had never heard a single thing about her!

Did that make any sense?

Could she be Xue Ye's illegitimate daughter?

Countless thoughts raced through Meng Shenji's mind.

"Miss Li Yu is actually this powerful!"

Xue Beng stared at Li Yu's back and muttered to himself, but a sense of inferiority rose within him.

With the talent and strength Miss Li Yu had displayed, was he truly worthy of her?

At that thought, even the joy of Li Yu standing up for him faded somewhat.

"Heh, nothing to say?"

Li Yu sneered. "Your academy thought that having a little strength meant you could do whatever you wanted. Now that you've kicked an iron plate, you've gone silent?"

After a pause, she seemed to realize something. "I heard Yan Yan's team once lost to your team at the Soto Grand Soul Arena. Is that where your confidence comes from?

In that case, why don't you let me see what your team is made of?

If you can defeat me, then so what if I let you join Heaven Dou Royal Academy?"