Heaven Dou Royal Academy

Several days passed.

Heaven Dou City was the capital of the entire Heaven Dou Empire, as well as its most prosperous and sprawling city.

Towering, sturdy walls of blue stone stretched for dozens of miles, their surfaces covered in the marks of time. Royal swan banners fluttered from the battlements, while heavily armored soldiers patrolled the walls with long halberds in hand.

The city gates were bustling with traffic. Merchants and soul masters from all across the continent flowed in without end, while the soldiers responsible for registration swiftly recorded their information with brushes.

"Heaven Dou City... I missed this place so much. I hadn't been back in ages!"

After the two carriages completed registration, they proceeded along the official road within the city. Ning Rongrong lifted the carriage curtain, revealing her pure and lovely face. Looking at the scene before her, her eyes brimmed with nostalgia and delight.

"We're finally back. I was getting a little scared back in Soto City. Who would have thought that Tang Hao, famous throughout the continent, would be like that—and that he'd even appeared in Soto City?"

"Yanyan, shouldn't you be paying attention to Tang San instead? He's actually the son of the Haotian Douluo."

Ye Lingling's voice was cool yet lightly ethereal. When she mentioned Tang San, a trace of surprise appeared in her beautiful eyes.

"Yeah, Tang Hao..."

Yun Tian nodded faintly, his eyes carrying emotions no one else could understand.

He recalled that Xiao Wu had a golden trait called [Rabbit-Soul Bond].

[Gold · Rabbit-Soul Bond: Once she recognizes someone as worthy of entrusting herself to, she will not hesitate to sacrifice even her own life.]

Would things have been much better if he had taken Xiao Wu with him that day? But no matter what choice he made, Tang Hao remained an obstacle he could never overcome.

If he had taken Xiao Wu with him, the two of them might very well have died outside Notting City.

He could only wait for an opportunity in the future and see whether he could revive Xiao Wu. The trait system contained countless traits; surely one or two colored traits would be capable of resurrection.

For now, his goal was to grow stronger as quickly as possible, then kill Tang Hao.

"Come to think of it, it's strange. Didn't Tang Hao notice that Ah Yin's hundred-thousand-year soul bone had been taken? Could it be that he never went back?"

"Xiaotian? Xiaotian!"

Dugu Yan and the others had just wanted to ask Yun Tian what he thought of Tang Hao when they saw him suddenly sink into thought, unresponsive no matter how they called him.

"Big Brother Yun Tian, were you thinking about Xiao Wu?"

"Yeah. If it hadn't been for me... perhaps Xiao Wu wouldn't have ended up like this..."

"It wasn't your fault, Xiaotian. No one could have expected Tang Hao to appear there. In the end, he was simply too selfish and self-serving."

Yun Tian nodded. He did not reject their comfort, but in his heart, killing Tang Hao had already become his foremost goal.

Everyone chatted along the way, and when the carriages finally came to a stop, they had arrived at Heaven Dou Royal Academy.

Heaven Dou Royal Academy was not located within Heaven Dou City, but in the suburbs northeast of it.

Entering Heaven Dou City had merely been for the convenience of taking the official road, which ran straight through the city and led directly to Heaven Dou Royal Academy in the outskirts.

As everyone stepped down from the carriages, Heaven Dou Royal Academy, nestled amid the mountains, came into view.

The entire mountain range was lush and verdant, with a clear, expansive lake resting at its foot. The academy walls followed the slopes, their bright yellow surfaces paired with glazed tile eaves, looking grand and luxurious.

The academy's main grounds sat halfway up the mountain. Training fields and teaching buildings were scattered across the slopes, while all kinds of mimic cultivation areas dotted the forest.

Though it was close to Heaven Dou City, the surrounding mountains cut off the city's clamor. It truly deserved its reputation as the Heaven Dou Empire's highest-standard noble soul master academy.

"Xiaotian, how are you? Feeling better?"

The moment he stepped down from the carriage, Qin Ming approached Yun Tian and asked with concern.

Yu Feng and the others nearby wore similarly concerned expressions.

"Thank you for your concern, Teacher Qin Ming. I'm fine."

Yun Tian did not brush him off, answering sincerely instead.

"That's good. Let's put training on hold for the next few days and get some more rest. You young ladies and gentlemen probably haven't fully recovered yet either."

Qin Ming smiled as he spoke to everyone. He still had some official matters to handle concerning Zhu Zhuqing and Ning Rongrong. The latter would be simple, but the former...

He did not know whether the Zhu Clan of the Star Luo Empire could be allowed into Heaven Dou Royal Academy. An identity like that was simply too sensitive.

"Student Zhu Zhuqing and Miss Rongrong, come with me to the Education Committee office first."

"Okay."

Zhu Zhuqing and Ning Rongrong obediently nodded.

As they walked up the white jade steps, the tranquil surroundings refreshed the mind. Qin Ming continued introducing Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing to the environment and facilities of Heaven Dou Royal Academy.

Compared to Heaven Dou Royal Academy, Shrek could not even measure up to its toilets. Its cultivation environment was poor, its resources scarce, and it lacked mimic cultivation areas. The only thing it might have had going for it was its teachers.

At least they had Soul Sages to guide cultivation, but with Yu Xiaogang's arrival, even that one advantage had vanished completely.

"Teacher Qin Ming."

Upon reaching the main entrance, the guards recognized Qin Ming and the others at once. After respectfully greeting him, they stepped aside.

"Alright, we'll part ways here. Zhu Zhuqing and Ning Rongrong, come with me."

"Big Brother Yun Tian, this is for you. Look at it after you get back, okay?"

Before leaving, Ning Rongrong suddenly ran up to Yun Tian. She handed him a small pink package, then left with Qin Ming.

"This is..."

"Hmph, that little girl is quite scheming. Come on, Lingling. We'll buy some little gifts too—ones that will definitely satisfy Xiaotian!"

Dugu Yan was displeased by Ning Rongrong's actions. She pulled Ye Lingling along, intending to head back to Heaven Dou City and buy some trinkets for Yun Tian.

After bidding everyone farewell, Yun Tian returned to his room alone. Sitting on his bed, he looked at the pink package in his hand, and a familiar feeling welled up within him.

"This is!"

When he opened it, he found a wooden comb carved from rosewood lying quietly inside. It bore no ornate patterns, simple and warm, carrying a faint woody fragrance.

"Tang Hao, just wait. What you did today will be repaid a hundredfold. I'll make you and the Haotian Sect you're so proud of vanish from this continent together!"

He truly had not expected Xiao Wu's trait to be so fierce. Was it just because he had helped her at Notting Academy?

"That night, Sword Douluo apparently didn't completely cut off Dai Mubai's chance of treatment. In other words, those people from Shrek will still come to Heaven Dou City?"

"Good. Let's see how Liu Erlong beats you all senseless. It's also time to harvest the immortal herbs. I have Dugu Bo's immortal-herb redemption code, so Tang San can go play with his lousy grass that doesn't grant ice-and-fire immunity."

Yun Tian carefully put away the comb, then rose and headed outside. He remembered that Dugu Bo would occasionally stroll around the academy with Prince Xue Xing. As for where they might be, the Education Committee office was the most likely place.