A Classic of Classics: The Fixed NPC, Xue Beng

"Little Brother Yang, take this token. It belongs to my cousin, Xue Qinghe."

"Take it directly to the Committee Members of Heaven Dou Academy, and you'll be able to enter the academy."

Before leaving, Qian Renxue handed Yang Yuan a gilded token.

"Thank you, Sister Qianxun."

Hearing Yang Yuan's thanks, Qian Renxue added another reminder.

"Oh, right, Little Brother Yang. My identity within the imperial family is rather special, so you mustn't spread it around!"

"Don't worry, Sister Qianxun. Our relationship is known only to heaven and earth, you and me. I won't let a single word slip."

Yang Yuan made the promise in a carefree manner.

How could he not guess what Qian Renxue was worried about?

She was simply afraid that he might let something slip and arouse others' suspicions.

Seeing this, a smile appeared on Qian Renxue's stunningly beautiful face, and only then did she leave at ease.

The next day.

Snake Lance Douluo suddenly came calling.

Looking at Snake Lance Douluo, who had appeared out of nowhere, Yang Yuan asked in confusion, "Senior She, why are you here?"

Snake Lance Douluo tossed a ring to Yang Yuan irritably.

"This is the Storage Soul Tool your Sister Qianxun promised to give you."

Yang Yuan caught the ring with quick hands and sharp eyes, then grinned. "Help me thank Sister Qianxun."

After delivering the Storage Soul Tool, Snake Lance Douluo continued, "There's one more thing your Sister Qianxun asked me to tell you."

"She raised your age by two years. Otherwise, if news of your Innate Level 20 gets out, it won't be a good thing for you."

"Remember: the tallest tree in the forest is the first to be felled by the wind. Better safe than sorry!"

Yang Yuan nodded. After consecutively absorbing two Soul Rings, his body had undergone a Transformation.

Aside from his appearance and temperament, he had also grown noticeably taller. Adding two years to his age would not seem strange.

Snake Lance Douluo smiled in satisfaction at the sight.

They did indeed mean to protect Yang Yuan by doing this, but there was an even more important reason.

They wanted to prevent other forces from recruiting Yang Yuan because he was too outstanding.

Yang Yuan was too young, and his mind was not yet settled.

If he were truly recruited by the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan or the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, they would regret it to death.

After explaining everything, Snake Lance Douluo returned to report back.

Heaven Dou Academy occupied a mountain peak a thousand meters high, with its main campus built atop the summit.

The vast areas around the mountainside and foothills had been developed into various mimicry cultivation environments.

When Yang Yuan arrived at the entrance to the main campus atop the mountain, he directly displayed the gilded token Qian Renxue had given him.

Thus, although Yang Yuan was not wearing the Heaven Dou Academy uniform, the Gate Guard still respectfully allowed him inside.

But only a few steps after Yang Yuan entered the academy gates, an arrogant voice suddenly rang out.

"Stop!"

The instant he heard it, Yang Yuan's mouth twitched.

This really was a classic of classics.

He could tell just from the voice that someone had come looking for trouble!

He just did not know whether the troublemaker was Xue Beng, the fixed NPC of Heaven Dou Academy in every fanfiction.

Theoretically, it should not have been such a coincidence.

After all, there were still six or seven years before Shrek Academy came to Heaven Dou Academy in the original story. Xue Beng might not even have joined Heaven Dou Academy yet.

With that thought, Yang Yuan looked toward the source of the voice.

There were quite a few newcomers, seven or eight in total.

They all appeared to be thirteen or fourteen years old and wore the goose-yellow uniforms of Heaven Dou Academy, radiating an air of lofty arrogance.

When they saw Yang Yuan, their gazes held both envy and disdain.

Someone muttered quietly.

"This guy looks like some pretty boy."

"But judging by what he's wearing, he doesn't look like a noble. How did he end up at Heaven Dou Academy?"

"Are you idiots blind? Didn't you see the token he took out earlier?"

"That was His Highness the Crown Prince's token. Seeing the token is equivalent to the Crown Prince being present in person."

"This pretty boy probably has some connection to the Crown Prince."

"Could he have pleased His Highness the Crown Prince by selling his ass, and that's how he got sent in?"

"Shh! You dare gossip about the Crown Prince? Are you tired of living?"

"What's there to fear? We have His Highness Xue Beng. They're both sons of His Majesty, so who's afraid of whom?"

"Exactly. No one knows who'll have the last laugh!"

At the front of the group, Xue Beng listened to his lackeys' chatter, especially the last two lines.

It felt good, of course. Even though he was a prince with no real power, so many people still supported him.

But when he thought of his two brothers' unexplained deaths and Uncle Xue Xing's warning—

A trace of fear immediately surfaced on Xue Beng's face, and he snorted coldly.

"That's enough. Say less of such things in the future. If the Crown Prince hears it, be careful that I don't put righteousness before family."

After he spoke, the others immediately dared not continue gossiping about the Crown Prince.

Xue Beng stepped forward and sized Yang Yuan up.

Did he not know what kind of person Xue Qinghe was?

By now, everyone in the imperial court knew that Crown Prince Xue Qinghe valued talent and treated worthy men with respect. Anyone he took a liking to was certainly no mediocrity.

This pretty boy before him looked like a country bumpkin, yet he had earned Xue Qinghe's favor. Xue Qinghe had even given him a token and sent him into Heaven Dou Academy.

The implications were obvious.

This brat was definitely a genius Xue Qinghe intended to cultivate heavily.

Thinking of this, Xue Beng's expression immediately darkened.

Damn it, Xue Qinghe already had so many followers, yet he still was not satisfied.

Suddenly, Xue Beng's eyes shifted, and an idea flashed through his mind.

He was a wastrel now anyway, and his reputation was already completely ruined.

Since that was the case, why not carry the act of a wastrel all the way through?

Wasn't Xue Qinghe trying to cultivate a genius?

Then he would trip him up a little. If he could force this genius Xue Qinghe was cultivating to leave, that would be even better.

Surely Xue Qinghe would not trouble him over such a minor matter.

Having figured it out, Xue Beng swaggered toward Yang Yuan with a group of lackeys behind him, his face full of arrogance.

"Hey, you little country bumpkin!"

"Are you even a noble, coming to Heaven Dou Academy?"

Yang Yuan likewise sized up Xue Beng before him.

He had heard every word exchanged by Xue Beng's lackeys just now, which completely confirmed the identity of the person before him.

He had not expected to actually run into Xue Beng, that fixed NPC.

Come to think of it, the original story claimed this guy had always been staining his own reputation and lying low.

But from what Yang Yuan could see—

Xue Beng did not need to stain his reputation or lie low at all. He only needed to be himself.

Thinking this, Yang Yuan gave him a disdainful glance and calmly spat out two words.

"Fucking idiot."

The moment those words came out, Xue Beng and the lackeys behind him froze in place.

"Country bumpkin, do you know who's standing before you?"

"You dare insult His Highness Xue Beng!"

A person beside Xue Beng stepped forward and shouted harshly.

Yang Yuan casually glanced at him and sneered in disdain.

"A good dog doesn't block the road."

After saying that, Yang Yuan stepped forward.

He raised a hand, planted a slap on the person's head, and casually shoved him aside, forcing his way straight past Xue Beng and the others.

Only after Yang Yuan had gone seven or eight meters did Xue Beng react. He immediately gritted his teeth in fury, viciously pointed at Yang Yuan's back, and seized the chance to make a scene.

"He..."

"That damned country bumpkin actually dares to show such disrespect to this prince."

"Someone, get him!"

"Today, I'll make this country bumpkin kneel and apologize to this prince!"

With a loud shout, the lackeys beside Xue Beng immediately leaped forward.

"Rest assured, Your Highness Xue Beng. Leave this country bumpkin to us."

"That's right. A mere country bumpkin dares to insult us?"

"Today, we'll let him know that Heaven Dou Academy isn't somewhere any stray cat or dog can attend."

As soon as they finished speaking, three figures immediately charged at Yang Yuan.

However, just as their fists were about to land on Yang Yuan—

Yang Yuan abruptly turned around as though he had eyes in the back of his head.

Chaotic energy swirled within his Double Pupil, and his voice was icy.

"You really don't know when to stop!"