Teacher Zhao, you're on your own

Ling Chen struggled to his feet and patted the dust off his clothes, a stinging pain radiating from his backside.

Humiliation, this was truly utter humiliation!

Since emerging from Slaughter City, Ling Chen had never encountered such a disgraceful situation. He had shed blood and sweat, but never had he been picked up and tossed out like this.

"Zhao Wuji! A fine Zhao Wuji indeed! I suspect you are itching to be beaten to a pulp by two Title Douluo in a tag-team match!"

Back when Tang San first entered Shrek Academy, it was because they had clashed and Zhao Wuji had been a bit too heavy-handed, leading to him being pinned to the ground and hammered by Tang Hao that very night.

Although Ling Chen had only met Tang Hao once, it was he who had recommended Ling Chen to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. If Ling Chen were to simply vanish now, the consequences for Zhao Wuji once Chen Xin came looking for him would be unimaginable.

To think that the dignified Immovable Bright King would be subjected to a tag-team beating by two of the strongest power-attack Title Douluo—just the thought made Ling Chen feel a phantom pain for Zhao Wuji.

As for why Ling Chen hadn't unleashed his Peerless Domain to prove his identity, it was simply because he assumed Zhao Wuji knew his reputation and was acting under the orders of Dean Flender.

Ling Chen naturally wouldn't use his domain in such a trivial manner, and more importantly, he never expected Zhao Wuji to resort to physical force against him.

Ling Chen clutched his backside and limped away, while the students who had been watching couldn't help but burst into laughter.

"Look at him, the way he's limping, hahahaha!"

"And here I thought he was some big shot; turns out he's just a wild brat. Getting tossed out was Teacher Zhao being merciful!"

Huo Wu and Feng Xiaotian listened to the students' chatter, exchanged glances, and hurriedly ran toward the Dean's office.

That was the personal disciple of Sword Douluo! Ever since Huo Wu and the others had received that one sword strike, the arrogance they once carried had been completely ground away.

They were powerful within Shrek Academy; with the Shrek Seven Devils away, they were the top combat strength of the school.

Yet, with that very strength, they had been flattened by a single strike from Sword Douluo.

Then... what about the other students?

Those few who were just there to watch the chaos—let alone taking a strike from Sword Douluo, even if Sword Douluo just let out a fart, it would be enough to blow them to pieces.

On the other side, Ling Chen was limping toward the Star Dou Great Forest. He couldn't take a carriage; it would only cause secondary trauma to his backside.

His plan for the next phase was simple: join Tang San to rescue Xiao Wu, and then be taken away by Martial Soul Hall.

They say it's best to leave a path open for others so you can meet again later. Since Zhao Wuji had humiliated him like this, Ling Chen would certainly make him pay it back twofold.

Furthermore, he had a second reason for going to Martial Soul Hall: Qian Daoliu.

It was common knowledge that Qian Renxue was the first to become a god, which meant Qian Daoliu was the first Limit Douluo to die.

Ling Chen was considering the Six-Winged Angel for his third martial soul. With an innate full soul power of level 20, it was impossible for Ling Chen not to be tempted by such a monstrous martial soul.

However, it seemed he wouldn't make it in time. By the time his short legs reached the border of the Heaven Dou Empire, Tang San would likely have already returned with a hundred-thousand-year soul ring.

"Hiss... whew, better find a place to rest first!"

Ling Chen wasn't in a rush. He wasn't going to save Xiao Wu to win her heart, but to make Tang San owe him another favor.

A hundred-thousand-year soul beast like Xiao Wu was, at the end of the day, a beast spirit. In the context of Journey to the West, she was no different from the Jade Rabbit; Ling Chen didn't believe this hundred-thousand-year soul beast lacked schemes of her own.

Besides, Ling Chen was currently only a seven-year-old child; love was not something he should be considering. All he needed to do was keep growing stronger.

Shrek Academy, Dean's office.

Flender rubbed his forehead after hearing the account from Huo Wu and the others.

"Old Zhao, you really are a jinx! First you offended Titan, the patriarch of the Strength Clan, then you offended Clear Sky Douluo and Martial Soul Hall, and now you've offended Sword Douluo. Sigh!"

Flender sighed helplessly. He had once watched with his own eyes as Zhao Wuji was beaten black and blue by Tang Hao. Tang Hao had been merciful then, not even using his Clear Sky Hammer.

Flender couldn't guarantee that Chen Xin wouldn't use his Seven Kill Sword. At the thought of the Immovable Bright King being sliced into a thousand pieces, Flender could only express his utter helplessness.

Save him? How? By begging Sword Douluo for mercy? For the sake of Rongrong?

Flender's heart was willing, but his strength was lacking. Even the Golden Iron Triangle only dared to engage in verbal sparring with Ling Chen, and Liu Erlong could at most try to intimidate him.

But Zhao Wuji had gone and slapped the boy's backside three times before tossing him out. If Chen Xin didn't hack him into pieces, it would be a stain on the reputation of Sword Douluo.

Upon hearing of Zhao Wuji's glorious achievements, Feng Xiaotian and Huo Wu clapped repeatedly.

"Impressive, truly impressive! As expected of our Teacher Zhao! We thought we were unlucky for provoking Sword Douluo, but it turns out there's always someone more daring!"

"Sigh! You two go inform Teacher Zhao; I'm going to plead for him."

Flender sighed, summoned his Cat Eagle martial soul, and flew toward the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.

Meanwhile, on the sparring ring.

Zhao Wuji was in the middle of a practice match against seven new students. The feeling of bullying the weak left him beaming; he clearly had no idea that disaster was looming.

"Little ones, put your backs into it! You still have the time it takes for one stick of incense to burn!"

Zhao Wuji stood in the center of the ring, as steady as a mountain. No matter what methods the new students used, they couldn't budge him in the slightest.

Feng Xiaotian and Huo Wu stood on the sidelines, wondering what Zhao Wuji's expression would look like in a moment. He had certainly provoked many people, and it was undeniable that Zhao Wuji might have grown accustomed to it.

But even though he had thought of hiding in Shrek to avoid trouble, it was impossible that he wasn't afraid.

As the last of the incense burned out, the seven students passed the test, and only then did Huo Wu and Feng Xiaotian walk over.

"Teacher Zhao, we have some bad news for you!"

Seeing that the newcomers were Huo Wu and her group, Zhao Wuji's expression shifted slightly. What kind of bad news required a few students to deliver it to him? Shouldn't Flender have come to inform him personally?

"What bad news? I've been perfectly fine at the academy, and I haven't caused any trouble!"

Huo Wu cleared her throat, her face solemn.

"Um, Teacher Zhao, did you just throw a child around seven years old out of the academy?"

Zhao Wuji thought for a moment.

"Right, I do recall throwing a child out. He claimed Dean Flender told him to stay in the faculty dormitory, but I didn't believe him, so I tossed him out."

"Kids these days, really. They don't even bother to draft their lies before telling them."

Huo Wu and Feng Xiaotian exchanged a glance and offered an awkward smile.

"Teacher Zhao, that child's name is... Li Tianyi!"

"What!"

Zhao Wuji was struck as if by lightning, petrified on the spot.

"But... but how could he be at Shrek Academy?"

Zhao Wuji could not comprehend it, nor could he understand. A prodigy like Li Tianyi shouldn't he be staying at the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect?

Huo Wu sighed and spread her hands.

"We don't know either! Dean Flender has already gone to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect to plead for mercy. Teacher Zhao, you had better pray for your own good fortune!"

Upon hearing these words, Zhao Wuji collapsed to his knees, his face a mask of despair.