The Imperial Academy

When Tang Sanmei heard this, she showed no excitement. Instead, her brows drew together, and she stepped back half a pace, putting some distance between herself and Tang Yuehua.

Under Tang Yuehua's stunned gaze, Tang Sanmei turned, walked properly up to Huo Yuhao, bowed with cupped fists, and asked with a grave expression:

"Reporting to Senior Brother! Aunt suggests we go to Heaven Dou Royal Academy. Sanmei wouldn't dare decide on her own. Please decide for us, Senior Brother. Are we... going or not?"

"..."

The inner courtyard fell deathly silent.

Tang Yuehua's outstretched hand froze in midair. Her elegant, composed expression stiffened, and her mind nearly crashed on the spot.

Wait...

You have to ask this boy your own age for permission to go to Heaven Dou Royal Academy?

I'm your aunt!

A senior of the Clear Sky Sect's direct line!

At that moment, Tang Yuehua finally understood why her second brother had written his letter through gritted teeth.

This wasn't brainwashing. She might as well have fallen under some soul-snatching sorcery!

Huo Yuhao watched Tang Yuehua's expression of utter disbelief. Holding back a laugh, he cleared his throat and nodded to Tang Sanmei:

"Heaven Dou Royal Academy has excellent facilities, and its Mimicry Cultivation Environments are top-notch. There's no harm in taking a look."

"Yes! Whatever Senior Brother decides!"

Tang Sanmei immediately beamed and answered brightly.

Tang Yuehua watched the whole exchange unfold as smoothly as flowing water. The corners of her mouth twitched twice, and she silently lit a whole row of candles for her second brother, hidden far away.

Second Brother... you've suffered.

Your daughter might really be handed over to someone else for nothing.

"Ahem..."

Tang Yuehua forced her expression back under control and sighed.

"Never mind. You've had a long, tiring journey. Come upstairs and rest in the suite first. Moonlight Pavilion is quiet and secluded. Xiao Wu, stay here without worry. With Aunt here, no one will disturb you."

"Thank you, Aunt!"

Xiao Wu gave her a sweet, obedient smile.

As Tang Yuehua led them upstairs, Huo Yuhao walked at the back with his head lowered in thought.

They had secured places at Heaven Dou Royal Academy, and Xiao Wu had somewhere safe to stay.

Beyond cultivation, the academy's greatest use to him was that Jade Phosphorous Douluo, whose whole body was steeped in poison.

Early the next morning, the sky was just beginning to lighten.

In the suite on Moonlight Pavilion's top floor, sunlight spilled through the wooden windows onto the floor.

Xiao Wu sat by the bed hugging a pillow, a carrot between her teeth. Her head drooped, and she looked rather glum:

"Cousin, Sanmei, you're really not taking me to Heaven Dou Royal Academy? I'm going to grow mold if I stay cooped up here alone."

"Be good."

Huo Yuhao had changed into neat, clean clothes and was adjusting his bracers. At her words, he looked up, amusement in his voice:

"Have you forgotten what Uncle Tang told you outside the city yesterday? Heaven Dou City's waters run deep. High-level Soul Masters are everywhere. With your restless nature and love of a fight, you'd clash with someone less than fifteen minutes after stepping outside. Stay at Moonlight Pavilion and keep Aunt company. Once we've finished the formalities, we'll bring you the best flower cakes from the south of the city."

At the mention of Tang Hao, Xiao Wu shrank her neck. Though she was bored, she nodded obediently:

"All right... but don't forget my flower cakes, Cousin. I want a double portion!"

"I won't."

Huo Yuhao gave the top of Xiao Wu's head a casual rub, then turned and opened the door.

Outside, Tang Sanmei had already made herself ready and was waiting in the corridor.

She wore fitted blue-and-black clothes, her long hair tied neatly in a high ponytail. A heavy Hidden Weapon pouch hung at her waist, giving her a dashing, heroic air.

The moment Huo Yuhao came out, she bowed:

"Senior Brother, Aunt has prepared the letter of recommendation. The carriage is waiting downstairs."

"Let's go."

Huo Yuhao put his hands in his pockets and strode off.

Tang Yuehua's influence in the Heaven Dou Empire was truly astonishing.

The letter she had written by hand bore the wax seals of both Moonlight Pavilion and the Heaven Dou Imperial Family. It was enough to spare Huo Yuhao and Tang Sanmei every tedious review and admit them directly to Heaven Dou Royal Academy's main campus as specially accepted auditors.

Heaven Dou Royal Academy was not within bustling Heaven Dou City. It sat atop a scenic mountain twenty li outside the city.

With mountains behind it and water beside it, the entire place was covered in Mimicry Cultivation Environments built for all kinds of Martial Souls.

Artificial lakes, caves of volcanic rock, vast primeval forests...

In terms of facilities and resources alone, it truly ranked among the best on the continent.

The carriage stopped before a white marble archway at the foot of the mountain.

Huo Yuhao and Tang Sanmei had barely stepped down and had not yet reached the stairs when a loud, arrogant stream of insults came toward them.

"Well, well. Where did these country bumpkins come from? Can't even afford the academy's guest carriage, yet you dare turn up here in a shabby hired cab?"

Five or six young men in pale yellow uniforms threaded with gold came swaggering down the tree-lined path.

The boy in front looked fourteen or fifteen. He stood a little unsteadily, with a pale face and dead-fish eyes. He swayed as he walked, every inch a wastrel hollowed out by drink and debauchery.

The Heaven Dou Empire's fourth prince, Xue Beng!

To survive under Xue Qinghe's watchful eye, Xue Beng had spent years desperately playing an ignorant, overbearing fool of a wastrel.

Now, with several lackeys in tow, he swept his gaze over Tang Sanmei's pretty, spirited face before settling on Huo Yuhao, who stood with his hands in his pockets. He sneered:

"What are you looking at? Don't you know Heaven Dou Royal Academy only accepts noble elites? Dressed like paupers, and you've come begging at imperial grounds? Get lost! Disturb me, and I'll have both your legs broken and throw you down the mountain!"

The noble lackeys behind Xue Beng burst out laughing too. One after another, they flared their Soul Power, trying to bully the pair with sheer numbers.

Huo Yuhao did not even lift an eyelid. He glanced at Tang Sanmei beside him and said flatly:

"Sanmei, they're in the way."

"Yes, Senior Brother!"

Huo Yuhao did not need to say another word. In Tang Sanmei's eyes, anyone who dared insult her senior brother was handing the King of Hell a pledge of allegiance!

Tang Sanmei stepped into Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track. Her figure became a dark blue afterimage as she shot straight at Xue Beng's face!

"Fuck! She's attacking!"

Xue Beng jumped in fright. He had not expected this country girl to have such a fierce temper.

He might have been pretending to be a wastrel, but he was still a Soul Grandmaster. His Swan Martial Soul possessed him in an instant, and two Yellow Soul Rings rose around him. He was about to retreat and open some distance.

But Tang Sanmei was impossibly fast.

Smack!

The crisp, ringing sound of a slap echoed along the tree-lined path!

Tang Sanmei's palm gleamed with the luster of white jade. There was nothing fancy about the slap; it struck Xue Beng squarely across his pale face!

Xue Beng spun a full turn and a half through the air. Two molars flew from his mouth in a spray of bloody foam before he plunged headfirst into the roadside bushes!

"Your Highness!!"

The noble students behind him nearly lost their souls from fright and moved to summon their Martial Souls and attack together.