Caught by an Education Committee Member

Hearing a soft knock at the window, he hurried over and pushed it open. Only when he saw Xue Tianxing did he let out a sigh of relief.

"Tianxing, are we leaving now?"

Oscar asked in a lowered voice, his eyes filled with both nervousness and anticipation.

"Yeah. While no one's around, hurry up."

Xue Tianxing nodded, grabbed Oscar's hand, and said to him,

"I'll carry you while we fly. Hold on tight."

With that, Xue Tianxing spread his wings, lifted Oscar into the air, and flew toward the gates of Barak City.

The two soon vanished into the night, racing toward Heaven Dou City.

Not long after they flew out of Barak City, two figures suddenly appeared atop the city wall—Xue Zhe and Liu Tianfeng.

They stood side by side by the battlements, watching Xue Tianxing and Oscar disappear into the distance, their expressions complicated.

Liu Tianfeng turned to Xue Zhe, sounding puzzled.

"You clearly knew he would run away. Why didn't you stop him? You said during the day that you were worried he might be in danger."

Xue Zhe sighed softly. His gaze followed the two tiny figures in the distance, his eyes full of helplessness and affection.

"Uncle Liu, you watched Tianxing grow up too. Don't you know his temperament? That child has had his own mind since he was little. Once he sets his heart on something, not even eight oxen can pull him back. If I forcibly stopped him this time, he definitely wouldn't accept it. Who knows what other ways he might think of to sneak out later? We can't lock him in the palace every single time, can we?"

Xue Tianxing paused, then turned toward Liu Tianfeng again, his tone becoming solemn.

"So this time, I'll have to trouble you, Uncle Liu. Follow him secretly and protect him from the shadows. Don't let anything happen to him. He is the future of the Balak Kingdom. Nothing can go wrong."

Hearing this, Liu Tianfeng waved his hand, a kindly smile appearing on his face.

"You're being too formal. I watched Tianxing grow up. In my heart, he's no different from my own grandson. How could I let anything happen to him? Don't worry. I'll follow them now and make sure he's well protected."

With that, Liu Tianfeng flicked his wrist, and the Frosty Cold Wind Sword instantly appeared in his hand.

He tapped the city wall with the tip of his foot, poured Soul Power into the sword, and rose into the air standing atop its blade. He became a pale blue streak of light, silently following behind Xue Tianxing and Oscar—not too close, not too far, always keeping a distance that allowed him to provide timely aid without being noticed.

On the city wall, Xue Zhe watched Liu Tianfeng disappear into the distance, then looked up at the stars filling the sky. The night wind stirred his robes and tangled the worries in his heart.

He knew children had to learn to grow up on their own. Even if the road ahead was filled with the unknown and danger, all he could do was let go and protect him in silence.

Meanwhile, Xue Tianxing and Oscar had no idea that their "secret escape" had long since been discovered. They flew excitedly toward Heaven Dou City.

Oscar lay on Xue Tianxing's back, watching the fields and forests rush past beneath them. He could not help sighing softly. "Tianxing, flying feels so wonderful!"

Xue Tianxing smiled and sped up.

"Once your Soul Power is strong enough, you can find a flying-type Soul Ring too. Then you'll be able to fly on your own."

"Mm!"

Oscar nodded vigorously, his eyes full of longing.

After traveling at full speed for a day and a night, Xue Tianxing and Oscar finally arrived outside Heaven Dou City.

From afar, Heaven Dou City's walls towered high into the sky, their blue bricks marked by the passage of time. People flowed constantly through the city gates, making it several times livelier than Barak City.

But Xue Tianxing had no intention of entering the city. He took Oscar's hand, avoided the crowds at the gates, and headed straight toward Heaven Dou Royal Academy of Soul Masters southeast of the city.

Before long, an imposing complex of buildings appeared before them. The gates of Heaven Dou Royal Academy of Soul Masters were solemn and majestic, flanked by two stone lions. The academy's name was engraved in gilded letters above the entrance. Beyond it lay broad green fields and antique-style teaching buildings. Students in matching uniforms occasionally passed by, chatting and laughing, full of youthful energy.

Xue Tianxing and Oscar landed in a patch of woods outside the academy and quietly observed the guards at the entrance. Two Soul Grandmaster-level guards stood there, their gazes vigilantly sweeping over everyone coming and going.

Xue Tianxing gestured for Oscar to be quiet. While the guards turned to inspect a carriage, he quickly led Oscar around to a low wall at the rear of the academy.

He circulated his Soul Power and lightly leaped over the wall, then reached down and pulled Oscar up after him.

The two landed behind a cluster of shrubs. Using the branches and leaves as cover, they carefully surveyed their surroundings. On the distant green field, several students were sparring with Soul Skills amid bursts of cheering. Near a flower bed not far away, other students sat on stone benches reading. The scene was peaceful and tranquil.

"What do we do now?"

Oscar asked in a lowered voice, his eyes carrying some nervousness. This was, after all, the Heaven Dou Empire's finest Soul Master Academy. If they were discovered—if their identities were exposed—even if they were not in danger, it would still be a huge hassle.

"Find Dugu Yan."

Xue Tianxing said in a low voice,

"Let's look around the campus first and see if we can run into her."

The two made their way forward along the shadows cast by the teaching buildings.

They avoided patrolling teachers and went around the noisy training grounds. They had practically searched more than half the academy, yet they never saw Dugu Yan.

Xue Tianxing was starting to worry. Heaven Dou Royal Academy of Soul Masters was so large, and there were so many students. Searching like this without any direction was no different from looking for a needle in a haystack.

"This won't work. We need to ask someone."

Xue Tianxing stopped and said to Oscar,

"Let's find a student who looks friendly and ask where Dugu Yan is."

Oscar nodded. Just as he was about to follow Xue Tianxing forward, an aged and stern voice suddenly came from behind them.

"Who are you two little fellows? How did you get into our Heaven Dou Royal Academy of Soul Masters?"

The two were startled and spun around. On a stone path not far away stood an elderly man with graying hair.

He wore a dark blue robe and had a silver badge pinned to his chest. His face was completely expressionless, and his eyes were sharp as blades as he stared fixedly at Xue Tianxing and Oscar. It was clear that he had been watching them for quite some time.

The moment Oscar met the old man's gaze, he panicked. He instinctively shrank behind Xue Tianxing, clutching the corners of his clothes tightly in both hands, unable to say a word.

Xue Tianxing forced himself to remain calm. He stepped forward, shielding Oscar behind him, raised his head to look at the old man, and asked as calmly as possible,

"May I ask who you are? We came here because we have something important to do."

The old man raised an eyebrow, his eyes gaining a hint of scrutiny.

"I am an Education Committee Member of this academy."

He paused, his tone growing heavier.

"Judging by your clothes and age, you don't seem to be students of this academy. Tell me, what exactly are you trying to do by sneaking in here?"

An Education Committee Member?

Xue Tianxing's heart skipped a beat. He had not expected to run into one of the academy's administrators just as he was about to ask someone for information. Xue Tianxing remembered that all three Education Committee Members of Heaven Dou Royal Academy of Soul Masters were Spirit Douluo-level experts.