Challenge the Imperial Dou Team

"Shrek Academy? Tang San?"

Hearing this, Xue Beng trembled as he forced himself upright. Pointing a shaking finger at Tang Chuan, he gritted his teeth and said, "Fine! I'll remember you! Just you wait!"

With that, he hurriedly covered his face, swollen so badly his features were nearly unrecognizable, and fled toward the Academy gates in panic.

Xue Beng had barely left when a vigorous shout came from the direction of the gates:

"Who is it that dares cause trouble at our Heaven Dou Royal Academy?"

Immediately afterward, a figure strode out from the Academy's main entrance.

He was a middle-aged man dressed in a fitted silver outfit. With his square face, thick brows, and large eyes, he was clearly someone from the Academy's upper ranks.

Seeing him, Tang Chuan remained calm and explained evenly, "Those people attacked first. They blocked my path and insulted me. I was merely defending myself."

The middle-aged man snorted and said in a deep voice:

"Hmph. Even if they attacked first, do you know the consequences of beating nobles?"

Before his words had fully settled, Tang Chuan took a Golden Token from his robes and raised it slightly. Its front was engraved with the character for Xue.

"I came here to enroll. I wonder what consequences I'll face for beating nobles here?" Tang Chuan asked in an exceptionally calm tone.

The middle-aged man's expression changed slightly when he saw the token. His eyes flickered for a moment before he quickly stepped forward. The forcefulness in his demeanor vanished, replaced by much greater respect.

"So you are an honored guest. My apologies, my apologies."

"My name is Sun Buyu, and I am a teacher at Heaven Dou Royal Academy. You must be Tang Chuan, correct? His Highness told me long ago that you might come and instructed me to take good care of you."

Tang Chuan raised a brow and feigned ignorance. "His Highness? Which His Highness?"

Sun Buyu was briefly stunned, then smiled faintly. His tone carried a deeper meaning. "You will naturally find out in the future."

After saying that, his expression abruptly changed. He spun around and glared fiercely at the noble students who had long since been beaten flat and were sprawled on the ground groaning in pain. He shouted angrily:

"You lot, get up and get lost! Haven't you embarrassed yourselves enough?"

The students had already been scared out of their wits. Hearing the scolding felt like receiving a pardon. They scrambled to their feet and limped away into the distance, not daring to look back.

"Young friend Tang Chuan, please come inside."

Sun Buyu turned back toward Tang Chuan, bowed slightly, and made an inviting gesture.

Tang Chuan nodded without another word and followed Sun Buyu into the Academy.

Only after entering did Tang Chuan fully realize the scale of Heaven Dou Royal Academy.

The stone path up the mountain had been carved from White Marble. Every Stone Step bore a different Soul Beast pattern, each one exquisitely crafted.

Breathing in the fresh air, Tang Chuan felt as though he had entered a world filled with plants. The mountain air was not only fresh but also extremely moist. The refreshing sensation soon made him forget his earlier unhappiness.

As they walked, Tang Chuan asked:

"Teacher Sun, after I enroll, what class will I be assigned to?"

"A class?" Sun Buyu was slightly taken aback, then smiled and explained, "The students of Heaven Dou Royal Academy are generally divided into three tiers. Those below Level Twenty-Five belong to the first tier, called the Heavenly Micro Level. Those between Level Twenty-Five and Level Thirty belong to the second tier, called the Heavenly Supreme Level. Those above Level Thirty enter the highest tier, the Heavenly Dou Level."

At this point, his smile faded, and his tone became more serious.

"Although you are His Highness's person, the Academy has its rules. Status is one thing, but strength is what truly matters. When it is time to test your Soul Power and assign your class, everything must be done according to the rules. I cannot make an exception."

"Oh, right. What level is your Soul Power now? And what is your Martial Soul?"

"Oh." Tang Chuan's expression did not change. He replied casually, "My Martial Soul is Blue Silver Grass. As for my Soul Power, I just broke through Level Thirty."

"What?"

Sun Buyu stopped in his tracks and suddenly turned around. He stared at Tang Chuan in astonishment, as though he were looking at a Monster.

"You said... your Martial Soul is Blue Silver Grass?"

"Your Soul Power is Level Thirty? You just broke through?!"

Tang Chuan nodded calmly, as if it were perfectly reasonable.

"Blue Silver Grass... can a Martial Soul like that even cultivate?" Sun Buyu frowned, his gaze complicated as he looked Tang Chuan over from head to toe. He hesitated before saying, "Isn't Blue Silver Grass a standard Waste Spirit? You actually cultivated it to Level Thirty? How is that possible? Could it be a Mutated Spirit?"

"Just luck." Tang Chuan spread his hands and smiled.

After saying that, he spoke no further and continued walking deeper into the Academy.

However, Sun Buyu did not know this.

The Level Thirty Tang Chuan had mentioned was merely a facade meant to mislead others.

In truth, his Soul Power had already broken through to Level Forty-Three.

After escaping Star Dou Great Forest in a sorry state, Tang Chuan rested for only one day before returning. He knew clearly that if he wanted to keep improving, he had to hunt his Fourth Spirit Ring as soon as possible.

This time, however, he had not searched blindly. Instead, relying on the memories he had obtained from the Three-Eyed Golden Lion, he precisely locked onto the habitat of the Jade Swan Clan.

It was an Emerald Green lake rarely approached by humans. Before reaching its vicinity, Tang Chuan used his First Spirit Skill, Simulation, to disguise himself as a Thousand-Year Spirit Beast that was seriously wounded and on the brink of death. At the same time, he controlled his wounds to bleed slowly, using the scent of blood to lure his prey.

Just as expected, before long, a Ten-Thousand-Year Jade Swan followed the scent of blood and flew over.

Jade Swans were naturally kind-hearted. They possessed powerful healing abilities and almost no offensive power. Seeing the Soul Beast grievously wounded and crying in pain, it did not think much of it before swooping down and using its Soul Power to heal it.

At the instant it released its Soul Power.

Tang Chuan suddenly opened his eyes and instantly transformed back into human form. The Dark-Gold Dreadclaw erupted into action!

A flash of cold light streaked through the air, and blood sprayed everywhere.

The Ten-Thousand-Year Jade Swan did not even have time to cry out before dying in an instant.

The body of a Jade Swan contained the purest life force in nature. Such life force could even rival the Gold of Life, making it perfectly suited to serve as Tang Chuan's Fourth Spirit Ring.

In his view, whether it was a Plant Spirit Beast or an animal Soul Beast, as long as its life force was strong enough, it could serve as a Spirit Ring for Blue Silver Grass. When selecting Spirit Rings for a Martial Soul, there was fundamentally no distinction between plants and animals—only the choice of cultivation direction.

Otherwise, if your Martial Soul were a hammer, would you have to find a hammer Soul Beast to kill? If your Martial Soul were a sword, would you have to find a sword Soul Beast? Wasn't that complete nonsense?

At this moment, Tang Chuan's Spirit Ring configuration was purple, purple, black, black.

They came respectively from the Illusionary Hidden Flower, Split Soul Vine, Nine Hearts Begonia, and Jade Swan!

After completing all enrollment procedures, Sun Buyu brought Tang Chuan to the Academic Affairs Office. Flipping through the documents in his hand, he nodded slightly and said:

"I have already registered your information. I plan to assign you to Heavenly Supreme Level Class One. This is the best class in all of Heaven Dou Royal Academy."

Tang Chuan raised a brow slightly before saying, "I heard that there is a team in the Academy called the Imperial Dou Team, whose students are trained by dedicated teachers."

"I wonder if I can join that team?"

Sun Buyu was slightly stunned, and a troubled look immediately appeared on his face.

"Well... the Imperial Dou Team is not under my management."

"To join, you must pass the joint review and receive approval from the Three Education Committee Members."

"This is outside my authority. I have no way to make that decision for you."

Hearing this, a thoughtful look flashed through Tang Chuan's eyes. He then said calmly:

"A review? What kind of review? If I can defeat someone from the Imperial Dou Team... would that qualify me to join?"

"What did you say? You want to challenge the Imperial Dou Team?" Sun Buyu's expression froze. He stood there in a daze, his face filled with shock.