The question was, how could they keep this hidden?
Xuan Zi had wrecked more than half of their palace!
"Don't worry, Yan Shaozhe. I've already spoken to Xue Yao, the emperor of the Dou Ling Empire. He wouldn't dare come looking for trouble with Shrek Academy."
Xuan Zi saw Yan Shaozhe's grim expression and knew what worried him.
It was hardly a big deal.
Since he had stepped in, how could he leave any loose ends?
"As expected of you, Xuan Zi!"
Yan Shaozhe finally felt somewhat reassured.
As long as the Dou Ling Empire did not bring this to Mu En's attention, everything would be fine.
But would they still supply those resources at a ten-percent discount?
The thought made Yan Shaozhe's heart ache.
No. I have to find a way to make up that loss elsewhere.
Yan Shaozhe thought it over. The whole affair had started with the White Tiger Duke Mansion.
Why should Shrek Academy foot the bill for the White Tiger Duke Mansion?
He had to find a chance to make them cover the loss.
Thinking of the White Tiger Duke Mansion brought Dai Yueheng to mind, and his anger flared even higher.
Ever since Dai Huabin had been crippled by the leader of the Clear Sky Sect, Dai Yueheng had gone from having no hope of inheriting the White Tiger Duke title to being its certain heir.
The academy had poured so much effort and so many resources into raising a genius, only to end up making someone else's wedding clothes again.
The more he thought about it, the angrier he became.
"Xiaotao, the next time you face Dai Yueheng in an inner-court match, you can hit him harder."
"Don't ask why. Your teacher has his reasons for this arrangement."
After some thought, Yan Shaozhe decided that an ungrateful wolf like Dai Yueheng deserved at least a lesson.
Especially since he had heard Dai Yueheng had been spending a lot of time with Ning Que lately.
That troubling sign had to be stamped out.
Dai Yueheng could forget about competing in the Soul Master Tournament for Shrek's glory. He could get hurt in a match and spend some time in bed instead.
Once he had given those instructions, Yan Shaozhe finally felt a little better.
Meanwhile, in the Dou Ling Empire.
Emperor Xue Yao gazed at the shattered palace before him, his heart brimming with humiliation and rage.
The imperial family of a nation had been humiliated again and again.
Not long ago, two students had dared challenge his imperial authority outright, grinding his dignity as emperor beneath their feet.
And now, barely any time later, a Titled Douluo had barged into the palace and ordered them to supply twice as many resources as before, at half the price, as an apology.
What crime had the Dou Ling Empire committed?
Had they failed to say they enjoyed being humiliated?
The resources had already been practically given away. Halving the price again while doubling the supply—wasn't that outright robbery?
And after being robbed, they were expected to praise the lords of Shrek for doing such a fine job of it.
But what could he do?
The imperial family's retainers had all been gravely injured. Not one of them was a match for Shrek's elder.
When their strength fell short, they could only obey.
But where were they supposed to find that many resources?
The resources they had supplied before had already met fierce resistance from the empire's nobles. Much of the time, the imperial family had paid out of its own pocket to cover the shortfall.
If they had to supply twice as much now, the nobles certainly would not agree, and the burden would fall on the imperial family again.
Wasn't that forcing them to their deaths?
"Then I simply won't give them those resources."
"If Shrek Academy has the nerve, let them come and kill me!"
Unable to endure it any longer, Xue Yao resolved to stand his ground to the end.
More than that, he would spread word of the affair far and wide.
At worst, he would die!
Back at Shrek Academy, the promotion exams officially began ten days after the new term started.
Naturally, everyone connected to the Nine Treasures Glazed Sect passed.
Huo Yuhao did not reveal his Second Martial Soul as he had in the original story. Still, learning that Dai Huabin had become a cripple left him thoroughly satisfied.
He also realized that only by growing stronger could he do what he wanted, so he spent most of his time cultivating.
Without Zhou Yi's recommendation, he did not go to the Soul Guidance Department. He devoted himself entirely to cultivating and raising his strength.
Together with the academy's compensation after the assassination attempt and the White Tiger Duke Mansion's restitution, he had gained far more resources than in the original story. In just over a year, his Soul Power had reached level 29.
At his current pace, he might even reach level 30 before the Soul Master Tournament.
With their strength, they naturally passed the promotion exams with ease.
Next came a free-for-all, from which the reserve members of the Shrek Seven Devils would be chosen.
Mu Jin had been riding high lately.
Since the term began, the students in her class had made leaps and bounds in their progress.
She was certain that some of her students would earn places among the Seven Devils' reserves this time.
It would be a crowning achievement in her teaching career.
So she paid even closer attention to the children.
Enjoy your triumph. Let's see how much longer it lasts!
Zhou Yi glared at Mu Jin, her eyes full of malice.
All these days, she had held back from going over to gloat in front of Mu Jin, waiting for today.
She wanted that wretched woman dealt a blow at the very height of her triumph.
That would be the sweetest revenge.
"Mu Jin, dare you make another bet with me?"
"Let's bet on whether any of the students you brought back can pass the free-for-all and become a reserve member of the Seven Devils."
Having thought of a way to get back at Mu Jin, Zhou Yi stepped forward and picked another fight.
"No bet."
To Zhou Yi's astonishment, Mu Jin refused without a moment's thought.
"What's wrong, Mu Jin? Are you scared?"
"You don't dare bet with me?"
Zhou Yi jeered at her again.
"One of my students is certain to become a reserve member of the Seven Devils. If you're betting that one of them will succeed, why would I take a bet I know I'd lose?"
"Unless you're betting that none of them will make the reserves!"
"Besides, what do you even have left to wager against me?"
"I won't bother with ordinary trash!"
Mu Jin looked at Zhou Yi with a smile that was not quite a smile.
After clashing for so long, how could she not know what Zhou Yi was thinking?
"Fine. As you said, I'll bet that none of your students becomes a reserve member of the Seven Devils. I'll stake a level-six Invincible Barrier made by the Sun Moon Empire's Mingde Hall."
Zhou Yi looked almost crazed, as if she would sacrifice anything to beat Mu Jin just once.
She had only recently obtained that level-six Invincible Barrier from her husband, Fan Yu.
When worn and activated by a Soul Emperor, it could withstand three seconds of attacks from a Titled Douluo. Its value was immense.
"Agreed. I'll wager a genuine Soul Bone against it."
Seeing that Zhou Yi had taken the bait, Mu Jin agreed at once.
Each woman thought she had the other in the palm of her hand.
Ning Que had just emerged from seclusion and come to watch his younger sister and the others compete. Arriving just then, he heard the bet between the two women.
He frowned slightly, a cold glint appearing in his eyes.
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