Denied Admission, Hunted Down

"Teachers, I came here hoping to study at your academy. I hope you'll accept me."

"Hm? How did you get inside the hall?" Meng Shenji asked, puzzled.

"Prince Xue Qinghe gave me this Crown Prince's Token." Xiao Ran took a golden token from his pocket and handed it to Meng Shenji.

"He said I could use it to enroll at Heaven Dou Royal Academy."

Meng Shenji raised a hand. "The Crown Prince's Token... Yes, it's His Highness's token. Tell us about yourself."

"My name is Xiao Ran. My Martial Soul is a Short Club, and my Soul Power Level is 33," Xiao Ran said calmly.

"Show us your Soul Rings. I need to see your Soul Ring Configuration."

"Then I won't hold back."

As soon as he finished speaking, two purple Soul Rings and one black one lit up around him, one after another.

"Ah! Two Thousand-Year Soul Rings and a Ten Thousand Year Soul Ring!"

All three teachers exclaimed in astonishment.

"A once-in-a-century genius! I've heard stories of Twin Martial Souls, but I've never heard of anyone whose third Soul Ring was a Ten Thousand Year Soul Ring."

"So... teachers, am I qualified now?"

"Just the sort of genius His Highness would send! Xiao Ran, you can go complete your enrollment!" Meng Shenji decided on the spot, determined to secure him.

"Thank you, sir."

Xiao Ran left the hall and headed for the Academic Affairs Office. Just then, a red-brown-haired young man in aristocratic clothes passed him with a group of people.

The young man turned at once. "Hey, you! Who are you? What are you doing at Heaven Dou Royal Academy? Are those rags you're wearing? You're filthy. Go on, get lost! Heaven Dou Royal Academy doesn't take beggars."

Is that Xue Beng? He looks familiar. Xiao Ran searched his memory of the original story.

"What are you staring at? You think you can gawk at a prince? If you don't get out, I'll have someone throw you out."

"A prince? You're Xue Beng?"

"So you do know who I am. That's right, I'm Xue Beng, the Fourth Prince of the Heaven Dou Empire! Leave, or I'll have you charged!"

Meng Shenji saw what was happening and came out of the hall.

"Your Highness. May I ask whether there's some dispute between you and Xiao Ran?"

"Meng, you'd better stay out of this, or I'll strip you of your Chief Seat." Xue Beng held his head high, his arrogance plain to see.

"Prince Xue Beng, I'm only here to study. I want to be a student at Heaven Dou Royal Academy, nothing more. Prince Xue Qinghe gave me this Crown Prince's Token and told me to come. You can take a look," Xiao Ran said calmly.

"Look at what? I don't care who sent you. Get out. Now!"

With a sweep of his arm, Xue Beng knocked the token to the ground.

Wow. This guy's insufferable. Looks like I can't stay at this academy after all. So be it. "Elder Meng, farewell."

"Xiao Ran, wait!"

"Your Highness! Do you know what you've just turned away? He's a once-in-a-century genius! What a waste!" Meng Shenji stamped his feet in frustration.

"Meng Shenji, worry about yourself and stay out of my business!" Xue Beng tossed out the warning, then walked off whistling.

Xiao Ran thought back on what he knew. If I remember right, the Fourth Prince has his reasons. But I can't expose him to his face. I'll have to go along with it.

Poison Douluo Dugu Bo had been among the people following Xue Beng. Once they were some distance away, Xue Beng gave him an order.

"Senior Dugu, you saw that boy just now. I need you to deal with him personally."

Dugu Bo sighed. "Fourth Prince, that boy's Soul Power was unusual. You shouldn't have driven him away so casually."

"Senior Dugu, you can't blame me for this. Get rid of him as soon as you can. Don't underestimate him," Xue Beng said.

"Very well. Leave him to me." Dugu Bo vanished in a flash, leaving only a wisp of green mist that faded where he had stood.

Xue Beng's feelings were a tangle. Blame your fate for making you a genius without giving you the luck to survive.

Outside the academy, Xiao Ran looked back at its magnificent buildings, his heart sinking.

"Damn it! Of all people, I had to run into Xue Beng. And it's such a good academy. Forget it. I've got money, so there's no rush."

"It's getting late. I should find somewhere to rest." Xiao Ran set off for Heaven Dou City.

Buildings stretched across the city, and carriages and horses filled its broad streets. Shops stood shoulder to shoulder. Crowds of pedestrians, nobles, and Soul Masters passed through the bustling streets.

"Heaven Dou City. A city that challenges the heavens. Now that's a name with spirit. To contend with heaven is a joy! To contend with earth is a joy! To contend with people is a joy! What a life!" Xiao Ran declared.

"I, Xiao Ran, will conquer the continent and crush the Divine Realm!" Still smarting from being driven out by Xue Beng, Xiao Ran sounded anything but pleased.

Later, Xiao Ran bought a few grilled fish and a cup of tea on a street in Heaven Dou City.

"Damn, that smells good! Tastes good too. No wonder Huo Yuhao likes grilled fish."

That evening, he checked into a Five-Star Hotel.

"Ah, that's the stuff. This big bed is so comfortable. Too bad Xiao Wu, Zhu Zhuqing, and Rongrong aren't here with me."

Xiao Ran threw himself onto the bed. But as someone who had spent all thirty years of his previous life single, he still couldn't forget what had happened with Xiao Wu and Zhu Zhuqing in the forest that day.

After a bath, Xiao Ran fell asleep and dreamed sweetly.

"Cluck, quack."

The calls of wild chickens and ducks outside woke him. It was already the following morning.

"Oh... ah." Xiao Ran stretched, sprang out of bed, and got dressed, ready to head downstairs and move on.

He bought a new outfit at a shop and picked up a map while he was there.

"Boss, do you have a map to Spirit Hall?"

"Sure do, brother," the shopkeeper replied eagerly.

"How much?"

"Five hundred Gold Soul Coins."

"How much? Five hundred Gold Soul Coins for a lousy map? Have you lost your mind?"

"Young man, this is the most accurate map from Heaven Dou City to Spirit Hall you'll find. No bargaining. You get what you pay for, and I guarantee it'll get you there in the shortest time." The shopkeeper's pitch sounded convincing enough.

"Fine. I'll take it." Xiao Ran gritted his teeth and paid for the map.

Following its directions, he took a side path that led past the Star Dou Great Forest.

"Is this map even right? Where the hell has it sent me? Am I even still in the same country? How did I end up back at the Star Dou Great Forest?" Xiao Ran stared around blankly. He was still too young and had fallen for a scam.

As he walked along the path near the forest, a green figure suddenly appeared a short distance ahead of him.

"You're Xiao Ran? Someone asked this old man to take your life today." Dugu Bo's eyes were sharp, and killing intent radiated from him.

Xiao Ran stared at Poison Douluo, a level 91 expert who had come to kill him. Getting lost had already left his head spinning, and now another enemy had appeared out of nowhere.

"Come on, man. Give me a break!"