Turned Away at the Gate

The golden Main Gate of Heaven Dou Royal Academy glittered beneath the sunlight. Exquisite Martial Soul patterns were carved into the lintel, displaying the noble status of the empire's foremost academy.

Flender adjusted his glasses, their lenses reflecting the gate's radiance. He tried to maintain his smile, but the corners of his mouth had already stiffened.

"Say that again?" Zhao Wuji's rough voice came from behind him. His fierce face had turned red.

The guard captain repeated expressionlessly, "The academy leaders have gone out on an inspection and will not return for three days. Please leave."

Yu Xiaogang, standing beside Flender, frowned slightly. He noticed the flicker in the guard's eyes as he spoke. That detail did not escape his sharp observation.

"Bullshit!" Zhao Wuji stepped forward, seven soul rings flickering into view around him. "We submitted our calling card two months in advance. Is this how Heaven Dou Royal Academy treats its guests?"

Facing the pressure of a Soul Saint, the guard captain's face paled slightly, but he remained standing straight. "Rules are rules. Without an academy writ, no one may enter."

Dai Mubai sneered, cold light flashing in his evil eyes. "How impressive. Dean Flender, it seems Heaven Dou Royal Academy is nothing special after all. Why don't we—"

"Enough." Flender raised a hand to stop Dai Mubai from continuing. His eyes narrowed behind his lenses as he assessed the guard captain's unusual composure. "Captain, may I ask your name?"

"This subordinate's surname is Snow," the guard captain answered neither humbly nor arrogantly, deliberately emphasizing his surname.

Flender's pupils contracted slightly. Snow—the imperial surname of the Heaven Dou Empire. Even if he was only from a distant branch, it still meant he had imperial backing. Flender finally understood why a mere Soul Ancestor-level guard dared to be so unyielding.

"Captain Snow," Flender's voice suddenly softened, "we have come from far away and are indeed rather tired. Could you make an exception, at least let us enter and rest for a while?"

"No." Captain Snow refused without hesitation. "The academy is an important site. Unrelated persons are not permitted to enter."

"Who are you calling unrelated persons?!" Ma Hongjun sprang up, the short red hair atop his head seeming ready to burst into flames. "We're championship favorites for the All-Continent Advanced Spirit Master Academy Elite Tournament!"

The guard captain's lips curled in a faint, barely noticeable sneer. "Shrek? Never heard of it."

Those words were like a spark falling into a powder keg. All seven of Zhao Wuji's soul rings lit up, and the phantom of the Great Vajra Bear appeared behind him. Dai Mubai and Tang San stepped forward at the same time. Even Zhu Zhuqing, usually so calm, had a flash of coldness pass through her eyes.

Yu Xiaogang suddenly reached out and pressed a hand on Flender's shoulders, saying in a low voice, "Something is wrong. They seem especially hostile toward the name Shrek."

Flender drew a deep breath and forcibly suppressed the anger in his heart. More than anyone, he understood what starting a fight here would mean—Heaven Dou Royal Academy stood beside the imperial city. If the conflict escalated, the Imperial City Guards would arrive in moments. By then, let alone the merger, they might not even be able to remain in Heaven Dou City.

"We're leaving." Flender turned around, his voice terrifyingly calm.

"Dean!" several students cried out at once.

Flender did not turn back. He merely waved a hand. "Let's find somewhere to stay first. We'll come again in three days."

After they had moved a hundred meters away from the Main Gate of Heaven Dou Royal Academy, Zhao Wuji finally could not restrain himself any longer and punched the Stone Lion by the roadside. Cracks immediately spread through the hard stone.

"Damn it! I've lived for over fifty years and never taken this kind of insult!" Zhao Wuji cursed. "Flender, when did you become such a coward?"

Flender stopped and slowly turned around. Only then did everyone realize how terrifyingly grim his expression was. A dangerous light flickered in his eyes behind his lenses.

Flender's voice was soft, yet it silenced everyone. "Zhao Wuji, count the hidden sentries across from us."

Everyone was startled. Following Flender's gaze, they finally noticed inconspicuous observation posts spaced along the academy wall, with faint glints reflecting off arrows.

"Seventeen firing positions, with the auras of at least three Soul Emperors," Flender said with a cold laugh. "Not to mention the Signal Flare at Captain Snow's waist. Once it is fired, at least two hundred Imperial City Guards will arrive within five minutes."

Yu Xiaogang nodded. "And the guards' attitude toward us is far too unusual. Even if the leaders were absent, ordinary guards should at least be polite when facing several Soul Saints and Soul Emperors."

"Someone is targeting us," Tang San suddenly said. A flash of purple light vanished from his eyes. "That guard captain's heartbeat clearly sped up when he heard the word Shrek."

Oscar scratched his head. "Then what do we do? Really wait three days?"

Flender sighed. "Let's find somewhere to stay first. Prices in Heaven Dou City are high, so everyone should spend sparingly."

Two hours later, they found a barely adequate little inn in a secluded alley in the western district of Heaven Dou City. Calling it an inn was generous; it was merely several connected houses converted into rooms. The beds were as hard as stone slabs, and the air carried a musty smell.

"This dump costs ten Gold Soul Coins a day?" Ma Hongjun indignantly kicked the creaking bedframe. "In Suotuo City, this price could get us the most luxurious hotel!"

Dai Mubai stood by the window, staring toward Heaven Dou Royal Academy in the distance, his fists slowly clenching. "So this is how the Heaven Dou Empire treats its guests..."

Oscar gently patted his shoulders. "Don't be angry. Once we meet the academy leaders in three days, everything will get better."

"I'm afraid it won't be that simple." Tang San sat on the edge of the bed, turning a hidden weapon over in his hand. "I have a feeling this closed door wasn't a coincidence."

Xiao Wu leaned against him and whispered, "Third Brother, are you saying someone is deliberately making things difficult for us?"

Tang San was about to answer when there was suddenly a knock on the door. Everyone immediately became alert.

Flender asked in a low voice.

A respectful voice came from outside. "May I ask if the esteemed members of Shrek Academy are inside? Someone asked me to deliver something to the three young ladies, Xiao Wu, Zhu Zhuqing, and Ning Rongrong."

Everyone found it strange. They had only just settled in, yet someone had already come looking for them. This made them even more vigilant.

Flender turned his gaze toward the three girls, as though asking, "Do you know anyone in Heaven Dou City?"

The Three Women shook their heads in unison, having no recollection at all.

Flender still decided to let the attendant enter and see what was going on. He replied calmly, "Come in."

The room door was gently pushed open, and a waiter entered carrying three large bouquets of vivid red roses. He then asked softly, "Which three are Young Ladies Xiao Wu, Zhu Zhuqing, and Ning Rongrong? Someone just asked the front desk to send each of them ninety-nine roses and a letter."

Although Xiao Wu, Zhu Zhuqing, and Ning Rongrong were somewhat confused, they still stepped forward and accepted the roses and letters from the waiter.

After handing the flowers to the three women, the waiter suddenly felt that the entire room had become much colder. It was as though some monster had fixed its gaze upon him. His hair stood on end, and he immediately retreated from the room, feeling that if he stayed any longer, he would die without even a place to be buried.