"Look at that man. He looks like a dog."
"Enough, stop running your mouth. Let's get back to the academy. I can't wait to see Senior Yiran's External Soul Bone."
"Keep your voice down! Is that something you can talk about so casually? Good thing there aren't any Soul Masters nearby."
Just then, two voices sounded behind Tang Hao.
Tang Hao turned and saw two young men in academy uniforms walking past him.
"Wait."
Tang Hao called out, stopping them.
"What?"
"Want to stand up for yourself? I'd advise you not to make trouble. Hurry home and haul manure."
One of the two spoke.
"What did you just say? An External Soul Bone?"
Tang Hao ignored their insults and questioned them instead.
"What External Soul Bone? I don't know anything about that."
The two young men's expressions changed. They immediately realized that the down-and-out man before them might also be a Soul Master.
Whoosh...
The next instant, they felt a fierce gust rush toward them, followed by searing pain in their abdomens.
Neither could remain standing. They lay on the ground, curled up like shrimp, convulsing uncontrollably.
"I'll ask you one last time. Where are you from? Who has the External Soul Bone?"
"If you don't answer, you'll die."
Tang Hao's voice was ice-cold.
He was not joking.
"I'll tell you! We're from Ten Thousand Beasts Academy. The one who obtained the External Soul Bone is our senior, Meng Yiran. She's also our dean's granddaughter."
"If you know what's good for you, don't make things difficult for us. You might not know this, but when our dean and vice dean join forces..."
Before they could finish, however, Tang Hao interrupted them.
Tang Hao said flatly, "The Peerless Dragon Snake couple can stand against a Titled Douluo when they join forces. I know."
"You know..."
The two were dumbfounded.
Tang Hao paid them no further attention and walked away.
Originally, he had intended to search for Tang San in the Star Dou Great Forest, but now he had to make a trip to Ten Thousand Beasts Academy.
An External Soul Bone-a Soul Bone capable of growing-was unquestionably a treasure among treasures to any Soul Master.
It was several times rarer than an ordinary Soul Bone. Even Tang Hao had thought it existed only in legends.
In the past, I would have let it go.
But now, I carry a blood-deep vengeance. I won't let any opportunity to increase my strength slip away!
An innocent man becomes guilty simply by possessing a precious jade. Dragon Duke and Snake Granny, Meng Yiran, I hope this information is wrong. Otherwise, I'll have no choice but to kill for the bone.
With these thoughts, Tang Hao set off for Ten Thousand Beasts Academy.
Three days later.
As night fell, Ning Rongrong finally led the Shrek Academy group to their destination: Heaven Dou Royal Academy.
"Rongrong, you're absolutely sure this is Heaven Dou Royal Academy?"
Flender checked again and again.
"Of course." Ning Rongrong was utterly certain.
"How much money would it take to build an academy here..."
Flender was dumbstruck.
Nestled against the mountains beside the water, the place boasted beautiful scenery. It hardly looked like an academy-it was practically a paradise hidden from the world.
Ning Rongrong tilted her head and considered it seriously. "Dean Flender, to be honest, money alone isn't enough to establish an academy here. This place is a symbol of royal status!"
"They say a nest of gold or silver is no better than your own doghouse. I don't think this place is even as good as Shrek Academy."
Just then, Zhao Wuji folded his arms and spoke disdainfully.
He disliked places hemmed in by rules and restrictions.
"Hmph, what shameless boasting! Do you really think some doghouse can compare to our Heaven Dou Royal Academy?"
"Where did you country bumpkins come from? Go back where you belong."
Several figures appeared as those words rang out.
All of them wore Heaven Dou Royal Academy uniforms, and they looked at the Shrek group as though they were a bunch of country bumpkins.
Looking at them, Qin Xiao's gaze flickered. That young man surrounded by the others must be Xue Beng, right?
Even though he recognized Xue Beng, he had no intention of intervening directly.
Only after Xue Beng took a beating would he go looking for Xue Xing and Dugu Bo.
And Qin Xiao happened to want a word with Dugu Bo.
Besides, Xue Beng really did have a foul mouth. A beating would be no more than he deserved.
"Hello. We were invited here by Heaven Dou Royal Academy..."
Flender kept his voice as controlled as possible.
"You must be joking!"
"What would our academy invite you here for? To till the fields?"
"Hahaha!"
Xue Beng had already burst out laughing as he spoke.
"Mubai, shut him up."
As soon as Flender spoke, Dai Mubai stepped forward.
It had to be said that Dai Mubai had some skill. In a few swift moves, he knocked several Heaven Dou Royal Academy students to the ground.
"Pfft."
Xue Beng spat out a mouthful of bloody saliva and snarled, "Fine, fine, fine! Do you know who I am?"
Before anyone from Shrek could answer, another voice came from inside the academy.
"Teachers, you've arrived."
Everyone's gazes swiveled toward the voice. A young man with an impressive bearing strode toward them from the academy.
"It's Teacher Qin!"
"Teacher Qin actually called those people his teachers?"
The Heaven Dou Royal Academy students were dumbfounded, staring at the Shrek group in shock.
Qin Ming frowned and glanced at the Heaven Dou Royal Academy students before addressing Flender and the others. "Teachers, please come with me. The academy's three Education Committee members have been waiting for quite some time."
With that, he led them into Heaven Dou Royal Academy.
"Fine, so you're here for an exchange?"
"If you manage to pull it off, I'll write my surname backward!"
Xue Beng cast a venomous look at the departing group, then left the academy himself.
Soon, the group reached the entrance to Heaven Dou Royal Academy's Education Committee building. Three elderly men dressed in black formal robes custom-made by Spirit Hall had been waiting for quite some time.
"Three Soul Douluos have actually come out to welcome us. That's a sincere enough gesture."
Flender was taken aback.
At that moment, everyone felt much the same as he did. The resentment caused by the unpleasant encounter at the academy gates had already vanished.
Flender stepped out from the group and crossed his hands over his shoulders, bowing slightly. "Flender of Shrek Academy pays his respects to you, seniors."
Standing in the middle of the three, the thin, gaunt Meng Shenji strode forward and lowered Flender's hands from his shoulders. "Dean Flender, your presence and guidance bring light to our humble halls. I'm Meng Shenji, head of the Education Committee."
As he spoke, Meng Shenji gestured toward the stout old man on his left. "This is the academy's second-ranking Education Committee member, Soul Douluo Bai Baoshan."
Then he gestured toward the elderly man on his right. "This is the committee's third-ranking member, Soul Douluo Zhi Lin."
Once the introductions were finished, Meng Shenji added, "Everyone, there's no need to stand on ceremony. Come, please step inside."
The Education Committee's interior was very simple, furnished only with the necessities and a few plain green plants for decoration.
After everyone took their seats, they exchanged another round of pleasantries.
At last, Meng Shenji could no longer contain his curiosity. "Teacher Qin Ming tells us that all the students of Shrek Academy are Little Monsters. Might we have a chance to see for ourselves?"
Uh...
Flender froze. The others were easy enough to handle. Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing could simply demonstrate their abilities.
But Qin Xiao...
You want a Titled Douluo to put on a performance for you?
Before you continue