Bibi Dong and Qian Renxue

Early the next morning.

Everyone gathered in the Hotel's private room to enjoy an exquisite breakfast.

Qin Ming spoke. "Yesterday was an exception. From now on, you must meditate at night instead of sleeping."

"Got it, Teacher Qin." Everyone was clearly still somewhat sleepy, their eyes bleary and their replies listless.

Xiao Wu took a sip of carrot porridge and asked, "Teacher Qin, classes don't officially start until tomorrow. Does that mean we can keep playing in Heaven Dou City for another day?"

Last night's revelry had clearly left the old rabbit wanting more.

Qin Ming nodded. "You can, but you must gather at the Bamboo Forest from before by nine tomorrow morning."

"Yay! Teacher Qin is the best!" Xiao Wu shouted happily.

Zu Zong rolled his eyes at Xiao Wu. "All you know is how to play, you rabbit. Go back and cultivate properly today."

When it came to the greater cause—eating, drinking, and having fun—Xiao Wu feared no authority. "No, I won't! Yesterday, Xiao Zong, you promised to spend the whole day playing with me in Heaven Dou City."

"I never said that. I forgot!"

"You actually dared to go back on your word! Awooo!" Same old recipe, same familiar flavor. With her coquettishness proving ineffective, Xiao Wu bit down on Zu Zong's arm.

"Ah, what a sin! Rabbit, let go already!"

"Won't do!" Xiao Wu's words were muffled by what she had in her mouth.

"Are you letting go or not?"

"I won't let go, you big liar!"

"Hahaha!" Everyone burst into laughter at their scuffle. Even Ye Lingling, who rarely smiled, had the corners of her lips curl upward slightly.

Heaven Dou City Imperial Palace.

A young man who appeared to be around twenty-seven or twenty-eight sat in a pavilion, enjoying breakfast. Though not exceptionally handsome, he had a straight nose and square mouth. His clean blue linen robe gave him a refreshing air. His long black hair was tied with a blue cloth band and hung neatly behind his back. Although his attire was very ordinary, he possessed a unique temperament.

Beside him knelt a middle-aged man in black.

The young man took a sip of tea and said, "Speak. What is it?"

The middle-aged man answered respectfully, "Reporting to Your Highness the Crown Prince, yesterday, His Highness Xue Beng was beaten by two new students at Heaven Dou Academy."

The young man was none other than the current Crown Prince of the Heaven Dou Empire, Xue Qinghe.

"Hehe, my foolish younger brother must have taken the initiative to provoke them again. But who were those two new students? They actually dared to beat the Fourth Prince of the Heaven Dou Empire."

"Reporting to Your Highness the Crown Prince, this subordinate does not know. I only know that they were invited in by Spirit Douluo Meng Shenji. It seems both possess extraordinary talent and are highly valued by the academy's Education Committee. One of them even defeated Dugu Yan of the Imperial Fight Team yesterday. The two of them have now both become members of the Imperial Fight Team."

Xue Qinghe picked up a handkerchief and gently wiped the corner of his mouth, a calm smile appearing on his face.

"Oh? Heaven Dou Academy has gained two more geniuses? Now that is interesting."

After the middle-aged man left, the young man picked up a document from the table, walked out of the courtyard, and gazed up at the sky. He murmured, "So this is the person that woman has watched over for so many years?"

At the same time.

Spirit City, Pope Hall.

A woman sat upright upon the throne at the center of the great hall.

She was not tall. Her brilliant golden ceremonial gown fit her perfectly from head to toe, and its dazzling fabric glittered with the light of over a hundred red, blue, and gold gemstones. The Nine Twists Purple Gold Crown atop her head shone with countless rays of light. In her hand, she held a scepter nearly two meters long and studded with innumerable jewels. Her fair skin and almost perfect features made her seem utterly extraordinary. Most of all, the intangible nobility and holiness she exuded made people unable to resist the urge to bow down and worship her.

A blond girl of about seventeen or eighteen entered the hall and bowed to the woman. "Teacher, the person you asked me to keep an eye on has already joined Heaven Dou Royal Academy."

The noble woman was Bibi Dong, the youngest Pope in Spirit Hall's history. The one bowing before her was Hu Liena, her only disciple.

Bibi Dong nodded. "Mm. Na Na, send some people to protect him in secret. Do not let him come to harm, and do not disturb him."

"Yes, Teacher, but..." Hu Liena clearly wanted to say something, yet after thinking it over, she ultimately did not ask.

Bibi Dong noticed Hu Liena's expression. A rare smile appeared on her face as she said calmly, "You and I are master and disciple. You can say whatever is on your mind."

"Yes, Teacher! I do not understand. That person may be extraordinarily talented, but he is ultimately not one of Spirit Hall's people. Why do you value him so highly?" Hu Liena finally voiced the question that had troubled her for years.

Bibi Dong shook her head and did not answer Hu Liena's question directly. "I will tell you later. You only need to know that he will not become an enemy of Spirit Hall."

Meanwhile, Zu Zong was having a miserable time.

After breakfast, Xiao Wu dragged Dugu Yan along with Ye Lingling and began a frenzied shopping spree. Women had no limits when it came to shopping; they shopped from morning until night, leaving Yu Tianheng and Zu Zong to suffer.

The two of them were practically covered in bags of all sizes. When Zu Zong suggested putting them into a Storage Soul Tool, Xiao Wu and Dugu Yan sternly refused.

In women's words, shopping was only fun when you carried the things you bought yourself.

Zu Zong: Then carry them yourselves!

Yu Tianheng, patting Zu Zong on the shoulder helplessly: Brother, I'm used to it already!

It was nearly evening when the five finally returned to Heaven Dou Royal Academy. That was only because Zu Zong and Xiao Wu had not arranged accommodation; otherwise, the women could have kept shopping even longer.

The student dormitories at Heaven Dou Academy were nothing like the thatched huts at Shrek Academy, where two or three people shared a room. Every student had an independent room, and members of the Imperial Fight Team, as the academy team, even enjoyed separate courtyards.

Now that he had come to Heaven Dou Academy, Zu Zong naturally could not continue sharing a room with Xiao Wu like they had at Nuoding Academy. Even when Xiao Wu gave him those pitiful eyes, Zu Zong remained unmoved.

In Zu Zong's words: We have both grown up. We are no longer children, so we must consider each other's chastity.

Chinjao: Pah! As if you have any chastity to speak of.

Zu Zong, sitting in meditation: Amitabha! Do not disturb me. I must preserve my virgin body and diligently cultivate the Nine Yang Manual. What if things get out of hand?

The next morning, everyone arrived at the Bamboo Forest.

Qin Ming had been waiting there early.

Once everyone had arrived, Qin Ming said, "Originally, I planned to have you spar with one another today, so you could become familiar with the strength of your new teammates. But the academy has made a last-minute decision to arrange for us to go to the Great Soul Arena in Suotuo City to participate in a team Soul Fighting Tournament."

Dugu Yan and the others had long grown accustomed to this level of unspoken arrangement. As long as it did not interfere with their cultivation, they would generally only grumble about it a little and would not refuse.

Dugu Yan curled her lips disdainfully. "Hmph! Another money game for those rotten nobles!"

Zu Zong understood at once. So this was the event that led to the Imperial Fight Team going to Suotuo City for soul fighting and ultimately losing to Shrek Academy in the original story.

Xiao Wu's head was full of question marks as she asked in confusion, "What kind of place is the Great Soul Arena? And what is the money game Sister Yan Zi mentioned?"