Heaven Dou City Gate

Heaven Dou City is much larger Suotuo City.

High walls stretched out one after another, and outside the city gates, carriages and horses lined up in long queues, with merchant caravans, noble carriages, and Soul Master teams all mixed together. The city guards wore bright armor and checked documents quickly, but they also treated people differently. Ordinary merchant caravans were searched thoroughly, while noble carriages were only glanced at before someone bent down to let them pass.

Shrek's two carriages stood shabbily in the procession.

Especially since the wheels were covered in mud.

Tang San lifted the carriage curtain and looked around for a while, quickly noticing that the processions at the city gate were clearly divided. Noble caravans traveled on the left, and the guards only checked their insignia; ordinary merchants lined up on the right, and their trunks had to be opened one by one. Soul Master teams received slightly better treatment, but they still had to state their academy or family background.

Xiao Wu peeked out and was about to speak when Tang San gently touched her wrist.

"Don't wander off after we get to town, stay with me."

Xiao Wu blinked.

"I'm not a child."

"There are many people in Heaven Dou City."

Tang San didn't explain further, and Xiao Wu didn't press the matter, only clutching the box in her arms tighter. Yuan Yu, seeing this from the carriage shaft, reached out and hung the Wine Gourd behind his waist, conveniently blocking the gazes cast from the noble carriage on the left.

Ma Hongjun leaned against the carriage window, looking at a horse-drawn carriage with gold trim ahead, and couldn't help but sigh.

How much does this car cost?

Oscar stroked his chin.

"According to the Dean's calculations, it's enough to feed our entire college for three years."

Flender, sitting in the front, said coldly, "If you two say another word, I'll make you get out and push the car."

Yuan Yu leaned against the carriage shaft, basking in the sun, and said lazily, "Dean, this carriage is already dilapidated enough. If we push it any further, it'll fall apart, and we'll have to carry our luggage into the city."

"Shut up."

"Good."

He had been silent for a short while when a burst of laughter suddenly came from ahead.

Several young men dressed in the uniforms of the Heaven Dou Royal Academy rode by on horseback. They stopped when they saw the wooden sign on the Shrek carriage. The one in the lead was not old, with Silver Thread embroidered on his collar and an exquisite Short Sword hanging at his waist. He was clearly of noble birth.

Shrek Academy?

He read those words aloud and laughed even louder.

"That's a strange name. Are you here to perform acrobatics in Heaven Dou?"

Ma Hongjun poked his head out.

You're the one who performs acrobatics!

The noble student's smile widened when he saw him.

"Hey Fatty, your school uniform is pretty interesting. Are those patches the school badge?"

Oscar looked down at his clothes and whispered, "You know what, it does look a bit like it."

Dai Mubai kicked his stool.

"Which side are you on?"

The guards at the city gate, seeing the noble students stop, dared not urge them on and could only pretend not to see them. Qin Ming frowned and stepped forward, saying in a deep voice, "Are you students of the Heaven Dou Royal Academy? I am Qin Ming, move aside."

Upon hearing Qin Ming's name, the smiles on the faces of those men faded somewhat.

Qin Ming was quite famous at the Royal Academy, and in his youth he was the pride of the academy; many students had heard of him.

Despite his fame, Qin Ming was ultimately just an academy teacher. Those aristocratic students all had families behind them and were used to being arrogant in the academy. Seeing Qin Ming protecting a group of poorly dressed outsiders, they were even more resentful.

But the leader glanced at the Shrek group's clothes and then saw the Wine Gourd at Yuan Yu's waist, and his courage returned.

"Teacher Qin, I'm just curious. Since when did the Royal Academy start accepting just anyone? These people come from small places, can they really get into the academy?"

Ning Rongrong initially didn't want to pay attention, but upon hearing this, her eyes turned cold.

She raised her hand, and just as the nine-colored light in her palm was about to illuminate, Yuan Yu gently blocked it with the sheath of his sword.

"Don't flaunt your wealth at the city gate."

Ning Rongrong frowned.

"Why?"

"It'll be easy to lure your father here," Yuan Yu said in a low voice. "Then the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect School people will block the city gates, and the Dean will be so scared that he'll raise the tuition."

Ning Rongrong almost laughed out of anger.

Flender, who was ahead, heard this and his face turned as black as the bottom of a pot.

The noble students didn't hear what they were saying, but they saw Yuan Yu stop Ning Rongrong and assumed Shrek was feeling guilty. He rode his horse forward half a step, the horse's hooves almost touching the carriage shaft.

"Boy, who are you?"

Yuan Yu looked up.

"Just passing by."

"Passing by with a knife?"

"Heaven Dou City doesn't allow swords?"

"A regular sword is fine, of course." The man glanced at the Sun Wheel Blade, "But the Royal Academy doesn't accept rogue Soul Master who wield swords to intimidate others."

Yuan Yu looked at him, and after a while asked, "Does your Royal Academy teach how to speak?"

The aristocratic student's face darkened.

"What's the meaning?"

It means the lessons need to be made up.

Ma Hongjun laughed so hard he almost fell out of the car window.

Enraged, the noble student's Spirit Ring lit up, and he actually summoned his Martial Soul at the city gate. His Martial Soul was an Azure-Feathered Eagle, with feathers growing from its arms. Its First Soul Ring lit up, and several wind feathers rushed straight towards Yuan Yu's face.

Qin Ming was about to stop him, Yuan Yu raised his hand.

The Sun Wheel Blade remained unsheathed.

With a light slash in mid-air, the wind feathers were all deflected, striking the stone pier beside the city wall. In the next instant, Yuan Yu's figure appeared beside the horse, the scabbard touching the front of the saddle. The horse was startled but did not fall, only trembled in place, while the noble student was shaken and tumbled off the horse.

He landed right in the dust at the city gate.

The people in line around them quieted down for a moment, then someone couldn't help but burst out laughing.

Yuan Yu sheathed his sword, his tone very sincere.

"See, you're much more composed when you sit down to speak."

The noble student's face turned bright red. Just as the others behind him were about to step forward, a low shout came from inside the city gate.

That's enough.

Qin Ming's face had darkened considerably.

"Those who attack the invited academy members at the city gate will be punished upon their return by going to the Discipline Office."

The students dared not cause any more trouble and could only help their companions to the side. The guards then recognized Qin Ming and quickly let them pass.

The two dilapidated carriages entered Heaven Dou City in this way.

As the wheels rolled over the stone slabs of the city gate, the vendors queuing behind were still chuckling. Some whispered that the boy was bold, while others said that the Royal Academy had lost face this time. Flender sat in front of the carriage, listening to the clattering sounds, tapping his knee with his fingers, and his discomfort subsided somewhat.

Shrek can be broken, but it can't be stepped on to get in.

The city streets were wide, lined with shops selling everything from Soul Tool to medicinal herbs and clothing. Ma Hongjun smelled the aroma of roasted meat and his eyes followed the stalls, while Oscar couldn't help but swallow hard. Flender saw the words "VIP Room" hanging at the entrance of an inn and immediately turned his head away, pretending not to see it.

Yuan Yu looked at the nobles coming and going on the street, and the smile on his face faded a little.

This place is more prosperous Soto, and it's also Soto law-abiding.

But in the hands of some people, rules are just something to use to stop others.

North of the City, the terrain gradually rises. In the distance, mountains and forests stretch endlessly, and a wide mountain road leads into the clouds and mist. Tall buildings can be vaguely seen on the mountainside, their roofs gleaming golden in the sunlight.

Qin Ming reined in his horse and turned to look at the crowd.

"The Heaven Dou Royal Academy is just ahead."

Ma Hongjun looked up at the mountain and opened his mouth.

"So big?"

Flender stared wide-eyed, but remained defiant.

"What's the use of being big? It all depends on the students."

Yuan Yu slung his Wine Gourd behind his waist and laughed, "Then let them see how much noise those from a lousy academy can make in their Training Ground."