I refuse to believe it!

Ning Rongrong lunged at empty air. The smile that had filled her face froze instantly, and she looked at Sunday in disbelief.

Seeing the look in Ning Rongrong's eyes, Sunday raised a fist to his mouth and coughed twice.

"Hmph, I refuse to believe it!"

Ning Rongrong pursed her pink lips, huffed at Sunday, and charged straight at him again.

Whenever Ning Rongrong was about to reach him, Sunday simply turned sideways.

The two went back and forth for ages. Only when Ning Rongrong finally landed on her backside did the farce come to an end.

"Teacher Sunday~ I fell. Come over and help me up, please."

Ning Rongrong looked at Sunday standing by the door, feeling thoroughly frustrated. Am I really that lacking in charm?

At the same time, she continued acting coy with Sunday, hoping he would fall for it.

Sunday saw through Ning Rongrong's tricks at a glance. Compared to a certain Masked Fool who had poured paint into his bed, Ning Rongrong was simply far too green.

"If you have something to say, say it. Stop playing these games."

Hearing that, Ning Rongrong reluctantly got up and patted down her skirt.

"I just wanted to give you a surprise, Teacher."

Sunday's lips twitched. A surprise? Hugging someone and gnawing on them? Well, that certainly would be one.

Ning Rongrong failed to notice his speechlessness. She held out a hand and summoned the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, then ran up to Sunday as though presenting a treasure.

"Look, Teacher. Is there anything different about my martial soul?"

Sunday glanced at it and noticed that Ning Rongrong's Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda had gained two tiers.

"Martial Soul Evolution? That's a good thing. What about your level?"

Seeing Sunday's indifferent response, Ning Rongrong pouted, but still answered honestly.

"I'm already level thirty. Oh, Teacher, could you take me to hunt for a soul ring?"

As Ning Rongrong spoke, her eyes sparkled with stars. This was a rare chance to be alone with him!

Hearing her request, Sunday shrugged nonchalantly.

"As you wish, so long as you don't find it troublesome."

"Really? Wonderful!"

Once Sunday agreed, Ning Rongrong stamped her feet in tiny, delighted steps.

After a while, Osler and Yu Feng also emerged, their eyes burning with fervor as they looked at Sunday.

Both had broken through to Level 40, more than half a year earlier than they otherwise would have.

Breaking through earlier meant they could go further during their golden years, and further still in the future.

Had their status allowed it, they would have taken Sunday as their adoptive father on the spot. This was a debt akin to being given a second life.

A little later, Ye Lingling emerged, followed by the brothers Shi Mo and Shi Mo. Energy surged around every one of them; they had all broken through to Level 40.

"What? You've all broken through to Level 40?"

Ning Rongrong's mood had hit rock bottom. She had been so happy about her breakthrough and the chance to spend time alone with Sunday.

But everyone had broken through, and to a higher level than her at that. It made her look like a clown.

"Good. Since you've all broken through, let's go acquire your soul rings. The sooner you advance, the sooner you can continue cultivating."

They all nodded. Sunday had given them such precious potions; they could not let down his expectations.

"Hahahaha! Mr. Sunday, you certainly made it hard for me to find you."

Just as Sunday was about to take them to the Sunset Forest, a hearty laugh rang out behind him.

"Your Highness."

Upon seeing Xue Qinghe, Osler and the others bowed.

Sunday looked at Xue Qinghe. He certainly moved quickly.

"Your Highness, what brings you here?"

Xue Qinghe smiled and waved a hand at Osler and the others.

"You are all future pillars of our Heaven Dou Empire. There's no need for such formalities."

Then Xue Qinghe turned to Sunday again, a reproachful look in his eyes.

"How can you even ask, Mr. Sunday? I've been looking for you for days."

"I went out to take care of something. You were looking for me because...?"

"Well, Qin Ming's investigation has concluded. The Ministry of Justice has ruled that his cultivation is to be stripped and he is to be reduced to a commoner.

"The Public Hearing will be held tomorrow. After all, this happened at the Heaven Dou Royal Academy, and it is a major incident in the world of education.

"So all the major academies will send representatives, and the Heaven Dou Royal Academy's chief must attend as well."

Sunday nodded. He found nothing inappropriate about Qin Ming's sentence.

He was merely a teacher who had strayed down the wrong path and had caused no actual harm. That meant his punishment could not be too severe.

With Sunday, a Titled Douluo, overseeing matters from behind the scenes, Xue Qinghe and the others would certainly act fairly rather than kill someone just to appease the nobles' anger.

"Why do I have to attend? Can't Meng Shenji and the other two do it?"

Hearing that, Xue Qinghe gave Sunday a strange look.

"You don't know, sir?"

"Know what?"

Sunday was rather bewildered. Wait, I was only gone for less than three days. Had the two great empires gone to war or something?

"Ah, you'll understand once you come with me."

With that, Xue Qinghe gestured for Sunday to follow.

Seeing his gesture, Sunday waved to Osler and the others.

"In that case, take a couple of days to rest and familiarize yourselves with your strength. Once the Public Hearing is over, I'll take you to hunt for soul rings."

"I want to come too."

Seeing that Sunday was about to leave again, Ning Rongrong immediately raised her hand and asked to join them.

At Ning Rongrong's words, Xue Qinghe's expression suddenly grew rather odd.

"Well... of course you can, as long as you don't find it troublesome, little sister Rongrong."

The three boarded Xue Qinghe's carriage together, left the Heaven Dou Royal Academy, and headed into Heaven Dou City.

"What exactly happened that requires Your Highness to invite me there in person?"

Sunday still wanted a clear answer. It was only a Public Hearing, yet a Titled Douluo had to attend personally. He truly could not understand it.

Xue Qinghe smiled.

"Do you still remember Tang San, sir?"

At Xue Qinghe's question, Sunday nodded.

"Of course. That genius with innate full soul power, Tang Hao's son. What about him? Is Tang Hao planning to raid the execution grounds?"

"Of course not. Have you heard of the Strength Clan, sir?"

"Are you saying this has something to do with the Strength Clan, Your Highness?"

Once Xue Qinghe mentioned the Strength Clan, Sunday was no longer surprised. That bunch had no brains at all.

Tai Tan of the Strength Clan was even worse than Yu Yuanzhen and Yu Luomian. The man was practically an imbecile.

Not only was he addicted to playing slave himself, he also made his son, grandson, and entire clan serve as someone else's slaves.

Better still, they had done no shortage of bullying men and abusing women in their everyday lives. They really were a bizarre flower unlike any other.

"That bunch of slaves to the Clear Sky Sect?"

Xue Qinghe first froze at Sunday's words, then nodded belatedly.

"Now that you put it that way, sir, that does seem accurate. Yes, it has to do with them."

As he spoke, Xue Qinghe looked both rueful and angry.

"Families like theirs wouldn't normally be involved in this Public Hearing, but something unexpected happened along the way."

"Tang San?"