Setting Out for Heaven Dou

Suotuo City, the gate to the Shrek Academy was half-open.

Flender stood in the doorway, an abacus in his hand, his face even more aged than the door itself.

"Two carriages, 320 Copper Soul Coin for travel expenses. Four bags of dry rations, two bags of dried meat, and eight water pouches. Oscar, don't pack that third bag for me, is it full of sausages?"

Oscar, clutching his bag, looked utterly aggrieved.

"Dean, I'm Food System Soul Master. What's wrong with carrying some food with me? We'll all have to rely on me if we get hungry on the way."

Ma Hongjun leaned over and took a sniff; his eyes lit up.

"Xiao Ao, your bag smells like roast chicken."

"Get lost, that's just seasoning."

"Seasonings are fine too."

Flender's brow twitched, and he was about to curse when Yuan Yu, carrying Wine Gourd, sat on the carriage shaft beside him. His White-Clad were blown clean by the wind, Sun Wheel Blade lay across his lap, making him look like a noble young master on a journey, yet his words lacked any air of nobility.

"Dean, stop calculating. If we keep going, the Heaven Dou Royal Academy will be on winter break."

Flender glared at him.

Do you know what poverty means?

Yuan Yu thought for a moment and said, "I know. It's the expression on the Dean every morning when he looks at the money pouch."

Ma Hongjun burst out laughing on the spot, only to be glared at back by Flender.

Zhao Wuji stood by with his hands behind his back, enjoying the spectacle. Qin Ming helped put the luggage away. This time, he was returning to the Heaven Dou Royal Academy not only to teach students but also to take his former teachers to a better place. However, he knew in his heart that the Heaven Dou Royal Academy had many rules and many nobles, and the Shrek students might not be willing to put up with that.

Tang San gave the medicine pouch and Hidden Weapons a final check. Xiao Wu stood beside him, holding the box of the Lovesick Heartbreak Red. Ning Rongrong saw the box and couldn't help but whisper, "Aren't you tired of holding that for so long?"

Xiao Wu shook her head.

"Not tired."

Zhu Zhuqing didn't ask any further questions, simply putting her luggage in the car. Dai Mubai glanced at the horizon and said softly, "Let's go."

There wasn't much to pack up in the dilapidated academy. But as they were about to leave, everyone still turned back for one last look.

The wooden houses were crooked and dilapidated, the playground was full of potholes, and the canteen was in a terrible state. But they fought and were beaten up here, and they also received Immortal Herb here, causing their Soul Power to surge overnight.

Yuan Yu tapped the carriage floor with the scabbard.

"Gentlemen, hold your heads high. We're going to the Royal Academy for a meal, not to beg."

Flender was just starting to feel sentimental when his words completely ruined it.

"Even food costs money!"

Ma Hongjun immediately raised his hand. "Dean, I can eat one less bowl."

Oscar glanced at his stomach.

"Your bowl is equivalent to three bowls for others."

The caravan left Soto amidst the noise. The city gates receded into the distance, the fields along the roadside gleamed in the sunlight, and in the distance, farmers looked up at the group of teenagers. Some recognized them as Shrek students and waved at the carriages.

Qin Ming recounted the situation of the Heaven Dou Royal Academy along the way. The academy was built against the mountain and had the support of the Royal Family. Three Education Committee Members were Soul Douluo- level powerhouses. The academy had everything: Training Ground, simulated training grounds, canteens, and dormitories. As soon as Ma Hongjun heard the word "canteen," he started asking how many meals were served a day.

When Flender heard that "the dormitory is free," his eyes behind his glasses changed.

Zhao Wuji whispered, "Boss, don't make it too obvious."

Flender coughed.

"I'm doing this for the students' sake."

Yuan Yu leaned back.

"I understand. The Dean always puts students before his own finances."

Flender raised his hand to knock on him, Yuan Yu had already slid off the carriage shaft, lightly landing on the roadside with a tap of his toes.

Tang San also raised his head at the same time.

The woods ahead were too quiet.

At this hour, there should be birds chirping in the woods. But after they reached this part of the path, the birdsong stopped, and the wind rustled through the leaves, leaving only a faint whisper.

Dai Mubai pressed down on the White Tiger Wrist Guard, and Zhu Zhuqing took a half step back into the shadows of the trees. Xiao Wu put the box into her bosom, and Ning Rongrong pressed her fingers to her chest, ready to unleash the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda at any moment.

Yuan Yu smiled, his voice low.

"Dean, don't park too close. You'll be heartbroken if you damage it."

No sooner had he finished speaking than three short crossbows flew out of the roadside bushes.

Tang San flipped his sleeve, and three Hidden Weapons flew out. The metal sparked as it Fire Star in mid-air, the crossbow deflected, and embedded itself in the mud beside the wheel.

Zhao Wuji took a step forward, his Soul Power trembled, and the dust beside the carriage was shaken away.

"Come out!"

Seven or eight figures darted out of the woods, their faces covered with cloth, their Spirit Ring lighting up simultaneously. The leader was Soul Ancestor, his Martial Soul resembling a short fork, and the four Spirit Ring beneath his feet spun rapidly.

"Shrek Academy, the Heaven Dou Academy does not welcome you."

Flender frowned as he listened.

Who said that?

The man didn't answer, but with a flick of his short fork, several Soul Master behind him pounced on him simultaneously.

The next moment, Shrek moved.

Dai Mubai's White Tiger Golden Light slammed into the ground, and he charged head-on towards the Soul Elder at the front. The opponent raised his Martial Soul to block, but his feet were entangled by Blue Silver Grass. Tang San did not rush to tighten his grip, but simply let the Blue Silver Grass pull him around the back of his knees. The man lost his balance and was Dai Mubai's palm.

Zhu Zhuqing swept past from the flank, her claws flashing as she slashed open the belt of an Agility-type Soul Master and dragged him to the ground. Xiao Wu followed up, throwing him into a pile of grass with a Waist Bow.

Ma Hongjun opened his mouth and spat out Phoenix Fire Line. After consuming the Cockscomb Phoenix Sunflower, his fire no longer carried that irritating evil aura, and its color was brighter. The fire lines swept across the ground, not burning anyone, but only setting a string of fire points at the feet of several Soul Masters, forcing them to retreat repeatedly.

Oscar shouted beside the carriage, "Recovery Big Sausage! One for each person, first come, first served!"

Just as Ma Hongjun was about to turn around, Yuan Yu tapped his shoulder with the scabbard of his sword.

"Fatty, eat after you're done hitting him."

"Brother Yu, I just want to take a look."

Even a glance is a distraction.

Ma Hongjun had no choice but to hold back and twist the live wire into an even thicker pillar of fire.

Ning Rongrong stood beside the car, Nine-Colored Radiance rising from her palm. She didn't fully reveal the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda, only adding power and speed to Dai Mubai and Zhu Zhuqing. Even so, Qin Ming's gaze sharpened.

The light of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda shouldn't be like this.

Seeing that the situation was not good, the leader of the Soul Ancestor used his short fork to flick the ground, and his fourth Spirit Ring lit up. Several earth spikes emerged from the ground and headed straight for the carriage.

Yuan Yu lightly tapped his feet, and five Spirit Ring rose from beneath his feet. He didn't draw his Sun Wheel Blade; he simply tapped the scabbard downwards.

The Rock Pattern lit up.

The earth spikes shattered as soon as they reached a foot in front of the carriage, as if they had hit a thick wall.

The next moment, Thunder Pattern twitched on his sleeve.

"Thunder Breathing, First Form: Thunderclap and Flash"

A white figure traversed the arena.

All that was heard was a dull thud as a scabbard struck bone. The short fork in the leader Soul Ancestor's hand flew into the air, and he knelt on the ground, his shoulder numb from the scabbard's impact, unable to even muster his Soul Power.

Yuan Yu stopped behind him, bent down and picked up a bronze plaque that had fallen from his arms.

The bronze medal is engraved with the word "Su".

Tang San walked over and glanced at it.

"Cheng Su?"

Qin Ming's expression also darkened.

Flender tucked the abacus into his robes and gave a cold laugh.

"We haven't even arrived at Heaven Dou yet, and someone's already sending us a greeting gift."

Yuan Yu tossed the bronze plaque to Tang San and looked up at the end of the Official Road.

A sliver of cloud parted in the distance, revealing the outline of Heaven Dou City in the thin light.

He Wine Gourd back on his waist and laughed, "Looks like this royal meal smells pretty good even before we've entered the door."