Heaven Dou Royal Academy (revised)

A tremendous crash rang out, and the ground froze over in a blanket of frost!

For ten li in every direction, the temperature plummeted!

Only with the support of Ning Rongrong's Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda had Tang San and Dai Mubai managed to evade that unstoppable strike.

A three-ring Soul Elder whose third soul ring was a Ten Thousand Year Soul Ring-no matter how he tried, Dai Mubai could not connect the cold, stunning girl before him with Tang Yue, who had possessed only half a level of innate soul power.

Tang Yue had been missing for several months. Could she really have advanced more than twenty levels in that time and absorbed a soul ring beyond the age limit?

No, impossible!

Dai Mubai immediately dismissed the thought. "San, she definitely isn't Tang Yue!"

"Brother San!"

With the help of Oscar's Flying Mushroom Sausages, Ning Rongrong, Xiao Wu, and Zhu Zhuqing arrived one after another.

When they heard that Dai Mubai had gotten into a conflict here, they had rushed out of the academy without another word to find him.

Yue?

After landing, Zhu Zhuqing recognized at a glance that the Qian Renyue before her was the missing Tang Yue. She silently called her name but did not say it aloud.

The chill radiating from Qian Renyue, together with the frost coating the ground, instantly told everyone present what had happened.

"Who are you? Why did you attack my brother?"

Xiao Wu was the first to step forward and defend Tang San. Ning Rongrong's enhancement had indeed given Tang San and Dai Mubai ample support, but Tang San had still suffered a minor wound because he had been distracted. Ice spread across his palm, making it difficult to move. It seemed the shaft of an Ice Arrow had grazed him.

Looking at them, Qian Renyue felt nothing in particular. If anything, it was a deep revulsion rising from the bottom of her heart. "It's just a scratch. What, does that already break your heart?"

Beneath her mask, Qian Renyue's lips curved slightly. Her fusion soul skill was not that simple. Once Tang San returned, he would lose a chunk of flesh, if not a layer of skin. They wanted to gang up on her? What a lovely dream.

"A scratch?" Xiao Wu gritted her teeth, her face blazing with anger. She could not tolerate Qian Renyue's indifferent attitude. "Third soul skill, Teleportation!"

Within a hundred-meter radius, Xiao Wu instantly appeared before Qian Renyue. She swung her legs, red light shining from her pink eyes. "Second soul skill, Charm!"

Her movements flowed like clouds and water. In Tang San and the others' eyes, her target had no chance to react. "Xiao Wu, stop!"

Tang San called out, but it was already too late.

Qian Renyue stood motionless, playing along with Xiao Wu. The charm skill only scattered her focus briefly. In reality, she could still move and dodge it, but she did not want to right now. Cold emanated from her pale pink eyes. Beneath her mask, she pressed her lips together lightly, the flames in her palm already prepared.

"Hmph, you're finished!"

Brimming with confidence, Xiao Wu lifted the corners of her mouth in a smile. She was about to unleash her second soul skill and knock Qian Renyue down, but before her kick had even landed, Qian Renyue reached out and seized her slender little rabbit leg!

Hmm, this leg should make a pretty good Spicy Rabbit Leg!

Standing on one foot, Xiao Wu shuddered. She frowned slightly and tried to kick forward, only to find that she could not move at all. Worse, something in Qian Renyue's hand seemed to be scorching her ankle!

Even if the onlookers had been blind, they could have seen that this girl was no ordinary Soul Master. She had easily broken free of Xiao Wu's charm and caught her kick. Such reflexes and strength were worlds apart from the Tang Yue whom Tang San had described. Ning Rongrong hurriedly cast an enhancement soul skill on Xiao Wu. With the boost, Xiao Wu could move her leg, but she still could not break free. Pain crept across her face, and her legs began to weaken. She could barely endure that burning heat any longer!

"Yue! Don't hurt Xiao Wu!"

With his Purple Demon Eye, Tang San could naturally see what Qian Renyue held. As Xiao Wu's expression grew increasingly strained, he hardened his heart and attacked Qian Renyue anyway!

"Third soul skill, Spider Web Restraint!"

A spider web descended from above. Qian Renyue had not expected Tang San to use his third soul skill against her for Xiao Wu's sake. She immediately released Xiao Wu's ankle and unleashed the fusion of her two soul skills again!

A Soft Whip appeared in her hand. Just as the web was about to fall over her, she lashed the whip toward a nearby building. Like a serpent, it wrapped firmly around a pillar. In an instant, Qian Renyue flipped through the air, her high heels striking the building with sharp clicks. Her entire body danced like a silver snake, dazzling the eye!

"Xiao Wu!"

Meanwhile, Tang San unhesitatingly wrapped Blue Silver Grass around Xiao Wu's waist and yanked her back to his side.

"Are you all right, Xiao Wu?" Ning Rongrong caught Xiao Wu in time, keeping her from falling to the ground.

Xiao Wu's legs had gone weak. Even as a hundred-thousand-year soul beast, she could not withstand the blue flame in Qian Renyue's hand. Her body trembled, but she still forced herself to say, "I'm fine."

"..."

Qian Renyue now stood atop the roof. Her mask prevented Zhu Zhuqing from seeing her expression, but she took in every trace of worry on Zhu Zhuqing's face.

"Who exactly is she?" Oscar exclaimed. She had easily read Xiao Wu's movements and evaded Tang San's control. More frightening still, her soul skills could transform. Despite all his years with the dean, Oscar had never seen anyone so unusual!

It was not just Oscar. Even Ning Rongrong, the young lady of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, one of the Upper Three Sects, had never seen or heard of soul skills that could change freely. Moreover, Qian Renyue's martial soul was merely a lotus.

Only when she thought of the lotus did Ning Rongrong realize that this girl might be the person they had seen in Heaven Dou City last time!

"Is that Yue?"

Ning Rongrong's words instantly stirred Oscar's memories as well.

Tang Yue's martial soul was a lotus!

"No, she isn't." Dai Mubai immediately interrupted Ning Rongrong's speculation. "Tang Yue only had half a level of innate soul power. She couldn't possibly advance more than twenty levels in a few short months, let alone have a Ten Thousand Year Soul Ring. She definitely isn't Tang Yue!"

Dai Mubai's confident declaration reached Qian Renyue's ears on the wind. She narrowed her eyes slightly, with no intention of wasting any more time on them. She still had a meal to eat. Running into them every time she wanted to eat-what rotten luck!

Qian Renyue pouted and glanced down at Zhu Zhuqing. Whatever she was thinking, the girl on the roof vanished a moment later, leaving only scattered pink motes of light.

"Yue!"

Tang San moved to give chase, but Dai Mubai reached out and stopped him. "San, don't go. She isn't Tang Yue. Your injury is pretty serious. Let's go back and have the dean treat it first."

"..."

The freezing frost was indeed painful, but that was Tang Yue, his little sister!

"Brother, let's go back first."

Seeing that Dai Mubai's words were useless, Xiao Wu pulled away from Ning Rongrong's support and threw herself into Tang San's arms. He caught her instinctively, only then remembering that he still had Xiao Wu beside him. Xiao Wu would always stay with him.

"All right. Let's go back."

Tang San's expression was complicated, but he still agreed to Xiao Wu's request.

Oscar produced Flying Mushroom Sausages. Each of the six ate one, and they set off toward Shrek Academy.

Above the restaurant, Ling Yuan Douluo had been watching the children's every move. If they dared pester the second young lady again, she would not hesitate to beat all their heads into roasted pig heads.

Ling Yuan had known about Qian Renyue's fight with them. However, when she sent Qian Renyue a voice transmission, Qian Renyue told her to stay out of it, so she had not interfered. Otherwise, she would certainly have shown those little wretches relying on their numbers that their second young lady had someone backing her.

"Sister Ling Yuan."

Qian Renyue flew over and landed beside Ling Yuan Douluo. She watched Tang San and the others fly away, her thoughts unreadable.

"Second young lady." Ling Yuan Douluo looked at Qian Renyue in puzzlement. "That girl who attacked you was a hundred-thousand-year soul beast. Why wouldn't you let me act?"

As a Titled Douluo, Ling Yuan could not possibly have failed to recognize Xiao Wu as a hundred-thousand-year soul beast. Had she acted just now, she could easily have captured that rabbit. A hundred-thousand-year soul beast! Even if they could not absorb the soul ring it yielded, they could absorb its soul bone. Gaining a soul bone for nothing would have made this trip a windfall.

Qian Renyue understood what Ling Yuan Douluo meant. Taking off her mask, she chuckled softly. "I just didn't really want to waste a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring."

At this point, Tang Hao was probably still lurking in the shadows. Though Ling Yuan was a Titled Douluo, she was still far below Tang Hao. There was no need for them to take that risk.

"Yes, your concerns are sound, second young lady." Ling Yuan Douluo nodded without questioning her. "By the way, the restaurant has prepared everything you wanted. Shall we eat now?"

After wasting some strength on Tang San and the others, Qian Renyue really was hungry. She nodded slightly, and the two flew down from the roof together.

Ling Yuan Douluo had chosen the most luxurious restaurant in the entire small town. Its diners were either people of rank or wealthy locals. Qian Renyue followed her inside, and they entered a private room. Ling Yuan ordered a tableful of dishes. Qian Renyue was not picky, and once they had eaten and drunk their fill, they continued on their way.

Shrek Academy

Tang San and the others returned to the academy in a sorry state. Ma Hongjun came to meet them and paled in shock. "San! What happened?"

He turned to his good friend Oscar, who pressed his lips together, unsure how to explain.

"Someone who looked just like Tang Yue injured him," Dai Mubai answered without hesitation. He snorted. "If San hadn't been hurt and we hadn't been rushing back to the academy, I would have taught her a lesson!"

"Someone who looked just like Tang Yue?" Ma Hongjun looked at Dai Mubai. "Couldn't it actually have been Tang Yue? San wouldn't mistake someone else for her."

"Tch! It couldn't have been Tang Yue!" Dai Mubai immediately cut off Ma Hongjun's speculation. "Tang Yue was just a half-level innate good-for-cough! Soul Master. She was just a Soul Master with half a level of innate soul power. She couldn't suddenly reach level thirty-something in a few months. Besides, although this lookalike's martial soul was also a lotus, it was much more unusual than Tang Yue's."

"How so?"

How unusual could a plant-type martial soul possibly be?

Wasn't it still a plant-type martial soul?

"I'll tell you later. I need to report what happened on this trip to the dean now." Dai Mubai glanced at Tang San and waved a hand, finding a casual excuse to leave the academy entrance.

He could not speak freely about Tang Yue in front of Tang San. If Tang San lost his temper, Dai Mubai might not come out of it well. Rather than invite trouble for no reason, he might as well talk elsewhere.

"Oh!"

Ma Hongjun was on fairly good terms with Dai Mubai and understood his meaningful look at once. "I'll go with you, Boss Dai!"

With that, the two friends left the entrance shoulder to shoulder.

Oscar shook his head at the sight. He looked at Tang San, wanting to offer some comfort but not knowing what to say. In the end, he chose silence and helped Tang San back to the boys' dormitory.

Worried about Tang San, Xiao Wu wanted to follow them to the boys' dormitory. Oscar found it awkward to object, but Tang San himself stopped her. His mind was in turmoil. Even if Qian Renyue refused to admit that she was Tang Yue, she was the little sister he had lived with for ten years. He would not mistake her for someone else. He was certain that she was Tang Yue!

It was the first time Tang San had rejected Xiao Wu, and she felt unhappy. Still, seeing his injury, she did not dwell on it too much. Yet whenever she thought of Tang Yue and that girl from earlier, frustration filled her heart. If not for that girl, Tang San would never have been injured. At the root of it all, it was still Tang Yue's fault!

Her jealousy toward Tang Yue deepened, but fortunately, Tang Yue was already dead. Xiao Wu knew that only the living could become the final victor. With Tang Yue gone, no one would compete with her for Tang San. She liked Tang San and wanted to be with him alone.

After several days and nights of travel, Qian Renyue and Ling Yuan finally reached Heaven Dou City.

The Heaven Dou Royal Academy stood in the heart of Heaven Dou City and was directly under the Heaven Dou Empire.

From what Qian Renyue knew, the school had originally been established to train talented high-level Soul Masters for the Heaven Dou Empire. However, as the imperial family continued to invest in it, its facilities improved more and more, while the academy became a place only the children of nobles were qualified to enter.

The students it admitted were either rich or noble, yet few were truly talented. Moreover, its students thought highly of themselves, behaved poorly, and neglected practical combat. The teaching quality was inadequate, and only a handful in the entire academy could actually fight.

If not for its resources being better than those of most places outside Spirit Hall, along with Dugu Yan and the others being there, Qian Renyue would never have considered this place.

Magnificent buildings, ostentatious designs, and glittering courtyards-all proclaimed the extravagance of the Heaven Dou Royal Academy.

Qian Renyue and Ling Yuan stood outside the academy for a while. Ling Yuan had intended to notify the people inside to come and receive Qian Renyue, but Qian Renyue did not want such a grand entrance. She whispered a few words into Ling Yuan's ear. Ling Yuan frowned slightly, worried, but since Qian Renyue insisted, she could say little and tacitly accepted her second young lady's plan.

Before leaving the Heaven Dou Royal Academy, Ling Yuan handed Qian Renyue a note.

Qian Renxue had written it. Its message read: Wishing you smooth sailing.

Qian Renyue did not know what those words meant and paid them little mind. After putting the note away, she followed Ling Yuan's directions to the Education Committee Office.

Crown Prince Xue Qinghe had already arranged everything at the Education Committee Office. Upon seeing the token Qian Renyue presented, Meng Shenji immediately took her to complete the enrollment procedures. Along the way, he introduced the academy's class system and teaching standards.

The Heaven Dou Royal Academy had many students, currently numbering more than five hundred, but over half were children of nobles. To avoid disrupting instruction or offending the nobility, the academy divided them into three levels according to their soul power levels: Heavenly Subtle Level, Heavenly Supreme Level, and Heaven Dou Grade.

Students below level twenty-five were assigned to the Heavenly Subtle Level. Those between levels twenty-five and thirty were assigned to the Heavenly Supreme Level, while those above level thirty belonged to the Heaven Dou Grade.

Heaven Dou Grade students were practically the cream of the entire academy. At present, they were few in number, a small minority.

Seeing how young Qian Renyue was, Meng Shenji had automatically placed her in the Heavenly Supreme Level in his mind. Only when he saw her enrollment form did his eyes widen abruptly, scarcely believing the information written there. "Y-you're a level thirty-two Soul Elder? Y-you're only ten?"

"Mm-hmm." Qian Renyue nodded with a faint smile.

Meng Shenji fell silent. No wonder His Highness the crown prince had recommended this child for admission. Her talent was extraordinary. But why did His Highness still want to...

Meng Shenji's expression grew complicated.

"Then come with me to the Heaven Dou Grade class." Only at that moment did he truly regard Qian Renyue seriously.

Her future is bright! His Highness truly has a sharp eye!

He marveled inwardly.

The two headed toward the classroom, one behind the other. Along the way, Qian Renyue drew the attention of many students.

Of course, it was not Qian Renyue herself that attracted them, but the fact that Meng Shenji was escorting her across the teaching building and toward the Heaven Dou Grade classroom.

"Who is she? Is she new? Which family's young lady is she, going straight into a Heaven Dou Grade class as soon as she arrives?"

"No idea. She looks so young. Is she already a Soul Elder?"

"Did she get in through the back door?"

"..."

The students buzzed with discussion. Meng Shenji heard them but did not intervene. Only Qian Renyue herself could silence them. Status certainly mattered in the academy, but strength always came first. Moreover, Qian Renyue had been personally recommended by Crown Prince Qinghe. With that connection, even ordinary nobles could not afford to provoke her lightly.

"All right, this is your classroom."

Meng Shenji stopped, and Qian Renyue glanced at the classroom.

Class A.

It seemed to be the class Yu Tianheng and the others attended.

She followed Meng Shenji inside, and the previously noisy Class A suddenly fell silent.

Meng Shenji swept his gaze over the students, then led Qian Renyue to the podium. "This is your new classmate, Qian Renyue. Get along with her, and do not make things difficult for the new student. Understood?"

He deliberately stressed his final words. It sounded as though he was warning the existing students, but the meaning buried beneath them carried a different flavor.

Under Meng Shenji's arrangement, Qian Renyue became Ye Lingling's deskmate. Whatever his reason, seating two flowers together was rather interesting.

After arranging everything, Meng Shenji wanted to give Qian Renyue a reminder. But recalling Xue Qinghe's instructions, he left the classroom without saying another word.

Once Meng Shenji left, the classroom grew noisy again. Qian Renyue glanced at Ye Lingling, who was reading, and did not disturb her. She scanned the classroom instead, finally resting her gaze on Dugu Yan and Yu Tianheng.

"Be careful."

Just then, Ye Lingling suddenly spoke. Qian Renyue froze. Before she could react, bang! A student in the classroom mercilessly hurled her into a corner with a soul skill!

A beast martial soul!

"Hmph, transfer student, come fight us!"

There were twenty students in Class A, most of whom had only recently broken through level thirty. They activated their martial souls one after another. In terms of quality, none of their martial souls were poor, and nearly all had three yellow soul rings.

"Tch!"

Powerful soul power pressure swept toward Qian Renyue. Clenching her fists, she rose from the corner and looked up at the students eyeing her like hungry predators. She felt she had most likely stepped into a den of tigers and wolves.

Only then did Qian Renyue suddenly understand why Qian Renxue had wished her smooth sailing.

So this was what she had waiting for me?

Qian Renyue frowned slightly, irritated. Being stabbed in the back by her own people was a truly exquisite feeling.

It was not that she had missed the implication in Meng Shenji's words. She simply had not expected these students to make her fight their entire group alone.

What impressive strength in numbers!

Qian Renyue could not guarantee victory against so many Soul Elders by herself. But this was the academy. Even if they possessed the strength of Soul Elders, they might not go all out. After all, if they truly fought and did not demolish the teaching building, her surname was not Qian.

"Are you planning to gang up on me?"

Qian Renyue spoke without a trace of fear. Rather than disliking transfer students, they were probably acting under Qian Renxue's direction. From what she knew of Guang Ling, he must have told Qian Renxue plenty about her during his visit to Heaven Dou that day. Perhaps that show-off had openly led her straight into a ditch.

"Of course we aren't ganging up on you."

A boy adorned with gold and silver answered. He looked Qian Renyue up and down, a hint of admiration in his eyes. "I heard you're only ten. Are you really a three-ring Soul Elder?"

His words caused an uproar.

"What? She's only ten?"

"No way. How could anyone become a Soul Elder at ten?"

"Does she have innate full soul power?"

"Who is she?"

"..."

The students erupted into discussion. Yu Tianheng and Dugu Yan also looked curiously at Qian Renyue. They exchanged a glance, and after confirming that neither knew her, their interest in the transfer student visibly increased.

The students releasing their soul power had no intention of withdrawing their martial souls. They were indeed surprised to learn that Qian Renyue was only ten, but age was no reason for them to show mercy!

"Come, Qian Renyue. Let us see your strength."

The boy adorned with gold and silver had short blond hair. Wearing golden accessories, he had a handsome face, and an air of nobility and holiness radiated from him. He extended a hand toward Qian Renyue and bowed his head politely.

This was a challenge!

Polite people always made a favorable impression on others. Qian Renyue's eyes flickered. "As you wish!"