A Dispute at the Gate

At this moment, not far from the Heaven Dou Imperial Academy.

Xue Mingyan was currently wandering around with a few of his men, looking furious.

Suddenly, they spotted a few "country bumpkins" looking around at the layout of the buildings within the Heaven Dou Royal Academy behind them.

Immediately, a mocking smile appeared on his face. "Let's go see what's going on." The people behind him hesitated, wanting to dissuade him, but ultimately gave up the idea.

Since Xue Mingyan had been confined by Prince Xue Xing and had finally been allowed to come out today, the other noble children naturally wouldn't want to interrupt their fun.

Besides, those people seemed to be of ordinary status, so I didn't think it mattered.

The others were chatting on the White Stone Steps of the Heaven Dou Royal Academy. Among them, the girl had a cold expression as she looked around, her eyes filled with anticipation.

This person was none other than Zhu Zhuqing.

Zhu Zhuqing walked at the back of the group, her black cloak covering half her face, and her cat ears twitched almost imperceptibly.

Her face remained calm, but her gaze subtly swept across the academy's walls, as if trying to see through what lay within.

His eyes darted around, watching the students come and go, but he was actually looking for someone.

The person who once made her heart race wildly in the forest.

But she didn't show it.

Flender walked at the front, his white robe faded from washing, yet he stood ramrod straight.

Yu Xiaogang, with a notebook between his fingers, frowned slightly, seemingly evaluating the academy's Soul Master training system.

Zhao Wuji crossed his arms, his face showing an expression that said, "I don't care who I like."

The Shrek Seven Devils followed behind, each with a different expression.

Dai Mubai stood with his hands in his pockets, his arrogant, wicked-eyed White Tiger aura written all over his face.

Tang San's gaze was calm, Purple Demon Eyes had already been quietly activated, looking around. Ma Hongjun was whistling, while Oscar was secretly observing the direction of the academy's canteen.

Ning Rongrong took Zhu Zhuqing's arm and whispered, "Zhu Zhuqing, you seem a little nervous?"

"No," Zhu Zhuqing said calmly.

Just then, a flippant voice came from the side.

"Hey, where did this country bumpkin come from, daring to enter the Heaven Dou Royal Academy?"

Everyone looked in the direction of the sound.

A young man in brocade robes walked from the other end of the corridor, followed by several followers.

The boy had an innate sense of superiority in his eyes. His gaze swept over the Shrek students, finally settling on Flender's old white robe, and he let out a sneer.

The one who spoke was Xue Mingyan, who had just seen Shrek and the others.

"Dressed like a beggar, you dare to come here?" He waved his folding fan, his tone dismissive. "Since when has the Heaven Dou Royal Academy become a refuge?"

The pent-up anger, upon seeing these few country bumpkins, had already figured out how to vent it.

Therefore, his first words were sarcastic.

The goal is to gain the upper hand, to make the other party lose their temper and attack him, so that he has a reason to retaliate.

Dai Mubai, who was in the group, suddenly stopped in his tracks.

A cold glint flashed in his evil eyes.

"What did you say?"

"I said..." Xue Mingyan snapped his fan shut and pointed at Dai Mubai, "You bunch of country bumpkins, do you even deserve to step into the gates of the Heaven Dou Imperial Academy?"

The air suddenly became still.

Flender frowned, about to speak, when Dai Mubai had already moved.

The White Tiger Fierce Light Wave without warning, causing Soul Power to surge and the air to explode.

Xue Mingyan's followers screamed and scattered in all directions, while he himself only had time to raise his Soul Power Shield.

Bang!

The shield shattered, and Xue Mingyan was sent flying backward, crashing into a stone pillar. Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth, and his folding fan broke in two.

The entire hall fell silent.

Xue Mingyan clutched his chest, his eyes first filled with disbelief, then blazing with fury.

"You... you dare hit me?!" he roared as he scrambled to his feet. "I am the Prince Xue Xing's Legitimate Grandson! You're finished! You're all finished!"

He staggered, turned, and ran, shouting as he went, "Brother! Brother! You just wait!"

Dai Mubai snorted coldly and flicked his hand, "Noisy."

Tang San frowned and said in a low voice, "Boss Dai, you acted impulsively."

"Why keep this kind of trash around for the New Year?" Dai Mubai said dismissively.

Zhu Zhuqing lowered her eyes slightly, but sighed softly in her heart.

She knew trouble was brewing.

That brainless idiot, it's a good thing he escaped back then.

Over the years, my hatred for Dai Mubai has only grown stronger.

"Let's go find our senior." Dai Mubai completely ignored this and said casually.

Flender and the others gave a wry smile, then remembered that Qin Ming was still there, and decided it didn't matter, after all, he was still just a child.

Fifteen minutes later.

In front of the main gate of the Heaven Dou Royal Academy.

Qin Ming personally stood on the steps to greet him, dressed in a red robe with a gentle smile.

He was followed by several college teachers, making it a rather grand scene.

"Dean Flender, it's an honor to meet you." Qin Ming cupped his hands in greeting. "Grandmaster Yu, Teacher Zhao, fellow students, welcome!"

Flender's expression softened slightly, and he returned the greeting with a cupped hand. "Teacher Qin Ming, you're too kind."

As the two were exchanging pleasantries, a hurried sound of footsteps came from the side.

Xue Mingyan clutched his chest, followed by a boy with an effeminate face... Xue Beng.

The Xue Beng saw this scene from afar and paused slightly.

His gaze swept over the group of simply dressed teenagers behind Qin Ming, and then looked at Qin Ming's personal greeting, and he instantly understood.

Yu Tianheng had previously mentioned that there was a group of oddballs from the "unorthodox academy" who caused the Heaven Dou Team a great loss in the Preliminaries, and Qin Ming had specifically instructed them to go easy on them.

So these are the people.

Xue Mingyan rushed to Xue Beng, furious. "Brother! It's them! That white-haired guy hit me! You need to hurry..."

"Shut up," Xue Beng whispered, gesturing for him to stop making trouble.

He straightened his robes, stepped forward slowly, and put on a perfectly timed smile, "Teacher Qin Ming, are we welcoming a distinguished guest?"

Qin Ming's smile faded slightly upon seeing him, "Your Highness Xue Beng."

"This gentleman in white robes must be Dean Flender of the Shrek Academy, right?" Xue Beng turned to Flender, her tone seemingly polite but actually scrutinizing. "I've heard that Shrek Academy... is quite renowned."

Although Flender didn't know how this person knew about Shrek, he sensed the barb in the man's words and said indifferently, "A small place, not worth mentioning."

Xue Beng smiled, his gaze sweeping over the Shrek Seven Devils, lingering especially on Tang San and Dai Mubai for a moment.

"Teacher Qin Ming," he lowered his voice, "These people... are they the ones who made Tian Heng and the others go easy on us before?"

Qin Ming's face darkened.

What does "Xue Beng" mean?!

After studying the information on the group, Xue Beng became even more dismissive of them, deeming them utterly inferior compared to the Heavenly Apex Class.

If Qin Ming hadn't interfered, would the Imperial Fighting Team have been defeated?

"Your Xue Beng Avalanche," his tone turned cold, "This is a player Qin Ming favored. Are you implying that I shouldn't have favored him?"

Xue Beng's smile froze, but he didn't back down in the slightest. "Does Teacher Qin Ming mean to use Heaven Dou's resources for outsiders, to betray our own side?"

Although Qin Ming has Three Education Committee Members behind him, and he can't openly oppose him, he can still verbally annoy him.

Especially now that Xue Mingyan has been beaten, if this matter isn't investigated, where will his reputation as a "Your Highness" be?

Just as the atmosphere reached a stalemate, a deep voice came from the end of the long staircase.

"What audacity!"

Everyone turned around.

Four figures slowly walked up the long steps.