Facing the eight spoiled brats, Lan Si let out a cold laugh. The instant they summoned their Martial Souls, he activated the fourth level of the Supreme Universe Art and used the newly mastered Flash skill. (PS: This isn't true Teleportation. He's simply so fast that ordinary people see it as teleporting. For details, see the Medium Heaven Realm Water and Fire Judges' Teleportation in The Degenerates.) His figure vanished from the spot and reappeared in front of them in a flash. His fists landed flesh on flesh.
Thud, thud, thud!
A string of blows rang out. The eight were instantly sent sprawling, collapsing to the ground. Some clutched their chests, some their stomachs, and some their groins, all howling in pain.
Everyone stared in stunned silence. The onlookers broke into a chorus of gasps as screams and groans filled the air.
Lan Si glanced at the brats sprawled on the ground, then at Xue Beng, who hadn't gotten far. The corner of his mouth lifted in a teasing smile. He used Flash again, and after a few flickers, he was on Xue Beng's heels.
Hearing his companions' screams behind him, Xue Beng was alarmed. He didn't dare look back, and wished he had another leg as he sped up. Once he found one of the academy's teachers, the other guy wouldn't dare do anything to him. Afterward, he'd go to his uncle, Prince Xue Xing, and get his revenge.
Just then, a voice like a sentence of judgment echoed in his ear. "Your Highness Xue Beng, where do you think you're going?"
Xue Beng froze. In the next instant, a hand clamped down on his left shoulder, holding him fast so he couldn't move another inch. He turned around with difficulty and swallowed. "What do you want? I'm the fourth prince of the Heaven Dou Empire!"
"Nothing much. I just want to loosen Your Highness's muscles a little. Have you ever heard of a move called Front Lotus? You toss someone high into the air, grab his body with his head pointing down, then spin at high speed and smash him toward the ground. Before he hits, I let go—and his head meets the ground at tremendous speed."
Lan Si narrowed his eyes and described, with an innocent look, the Taijutsu move from the anime Naruto in his previous life. He made no effort to lower his voice, and the spectators were all Soul Masters with exceptional hearing.
When they heard Lan Si describe Front Lotus, their eyes widened and they couldn't help but gasp. Good heavens, this guy was ruthless! If Xue Beng took a hit like that, would he even survive? Would Lan Si really dare to kill a prince of the Heaven Dou Empire in public?
"You dare—" Xue Beng's eyes went vacant, his pupils filled with terror. Before he could finish, Lan Si grabbed his shoulder and hurled him into the air, kicking him skyward with a Bicycle Kick. "Watch closely."
Suspended in midair, Xue Beng felt dizzy. From the corner of his eye, he caught Lan Si still standing where he'd been, and his scalp prickled. A devil—this guy was absolutely a devil!
Lan Si stepped back with his left foot, bent his right knee slightly, and braced both hands against the ground with his fingers spread. He vanished with a Flash, then reappeared behind Xue Beng, flying parallel to him.
Just then, a deep voice rang out. "That's enough!" A figure came rushing along the shaded path between the hills. He wore a silver outfit, looked to be around fifty, and had a round face, thick brows, and large eyes. With his hands clasped behind his back, he had the air of a master.
The corner of Lan Si's mouth curled up. So he finally decided to show himself after watching all this.
There was no need to ask. Lan Si had already guessed who he was: Sun Buyu, a teacher at Heaven Dou Royal Academy.
Ever since advancing to Soul Elder and obtaining the Soul-Devouring Eight Spider Lances External Soul Bone, Lan Si had become especially sensitive to Soul Power fluctuations. Aside from a few powerful Soul Elders in the crowd, Sun Buyu, who had been watching from the shadows, hadn't escaped his notice either.
Sun Buyu had seen him clash with Xue Beng and the others, yet hadn't intervened at once. Nearly a month had passed since Lan Si parted ways with Qian Renxue. It was obvious that Sun Buyu had received word from her, disguised as Xue Qinghe.
He had probably wanted to test Lan Si's strength.
He simply hadn't expected things to get so out of hand. If he didn't intervene now, Xue Beng might well lose his life.
Lan Si kicked Xue Beng away, using the force to flip backward in the air before landing steadily. Xue Beng hit the ground face-first and landed in a heap. At least he'd managed to keep his life. He lay there like a dead pig, shaken by the near miss.
Sun Buyu glanced at Xue Beng's ashen face and confirmed that he'd only suffered a few superficial injuries. Then he walked straight over to Lan Si. "You're Lan Si, right? I'm Sun Buyu, a Gold Mentor at Heaven Dou Royal Academy. His Highness the Crown Prince gave instructions: if you came, I could arrange your enrollment directly. Come with me. I'll take you to meet the three members of the Education Committee."
"Sorry for the trouble, Teacher Sun." Lan Si smiled and nodded.
At that moment, several of the brats struggled to their feet. They were in a sorry state, gasping for breath as they helped Xue Beng up. "Teacher Sun, this madman forced his way into Heaven Dou Academy and beat His Highness Xue Beng like this! You can't let him leave!"
"Hmm?" Sun Buyu's expression hardened, and he glared at them. The one who'd shouted immediately fell silent, not daring to say another word. As a Gold Mentor at Heaven Dou Royal Academy, Sun Buyu held considerable status there. Even Xue Beng had to behave himself around him, because behind Sun Buyu stood not only the three Soul Douluo members of the Education Committee, but also Xue Qinghe, the Crown Prince of the Heaven Dou Empire.
He said coldly, "Was what I just said not clear enough? Lan Si is enrolling on the Crown Prince's orders. And that's before we even get to the fact that you picked a fight for no reason. There are so many of you, and you still got beaten by a new student. Aren't you ashamed? Get out of here."
With that, Sun Buyu led Lan Si toward the academy's Education Committee.
Watching Sun Buyu and Lan Si walk away, one of the brats beside Xue Beng asked cautiously, "Your Highness, what should we do? That kid is the Crown Prince's man."
"So what if he is? He dared to beat up a prince of the empire! Come with me to tell Father the truth. And bring my uncle along, too!" Xue Beng snorted. In his view, swallowing the insult went against his spoiled-brat image. Besides, he couldn't stomach it. He'd never been this close to death—not even when facing his unfathomable elder brother.
Meanwhile, Lan Si followed Sun Buyu along the shaded path.
Sun Buyu slowed down to walk beside him and casually asked, "If I hadn't stopped you just now, would you really have killed Xue Beng?"
Lan Si smiled. "You're joking, Teacher Sun. I was only trying to scare him. Xue Beng may be a spoiled brat, but he's still a prince of the Heaven Dou Empire. A quarrel between students is nothing, but if I killed him, there'd be nowhere left for me in the entire Heaven Dou Empire."
Thanks to Ban Yue Wan Ren Gui for the 1,500 Qidian coins!
Thanks to Saving Girls from Tragic Lives for the 1,500 Qidian coins!
Thanks to Raikage Blade for tipping Battle Through the Heavens: Treasure Exchange System 25,000 Qidian coins!
Bonus chapter.
Before you continue