Meanwhile, over in Suotuo City, although Wang Qiye had received the message, he still made a circuit of Shrek Academy.
He was too far from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. Even if he traveled at full tilt, it would take at least a day; these few minutes would make no difference.
Shrek Academy was completely deserted. Who knew where its people had gone?
Once Wang Qiye had confirmed this, he set off at a run toward the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.
Along the way, he suddenly spotted a large number of Heaven Dou Empire troops on the march.
Over at Skywater Academy.
Headmistress Aim Crown and a group of teachers had already surrounded the Shui Bing'er sisters.
"Bing'er, just hand over that Soul Bone. I'm doing this for your own good."
"How can a Soul Bone that's already been absorbed be handed over? Besides, the Pride of Heaven Ranking awarded this Soul Bone to my sister. What right do you have to demand it from her?"
Like a mother hen protecting her chicks, Shui Yue'er spread her arms and shielded her sister behind her. She was so nervous she was on the verge of tears.
Headmistress Aim of Skywater Academy had always been like a mother, caring for and cherishing every student.
On campus, the students would even affectionately call her Headmistress Mom when they saw her.
Whenever she smiled, every student felt as though they were basking in a spring breeze. But whenever she put on a stern face, the combined authority of a headmistress and a mother was more than any student could withstand.
But today, for her sister's sake, Shui Yue'er had thrown caution to the wind. Her legs kept trembling, yet she stood firmly in front of Shui Bing'er.
The headmistress said coldly, "The very fact that commoner Soul Masters like you can enter Skywater Academy to cultivate is a merciful gift from our noble lords."
"From the moment you entered Skywater Academy, you were basking in our noble lords' benevolence. Yet now you have the gall to claim the Soul Bone belongs to you."
"Have you no shame?!!"
"Who was it who taught you two commoners such priceless knowledge? Who bestowed your tuition and meal expenses upon you? Every mouthful you eat, every grain of rice, is a gift from our noble lords. You two really are a pair of white-eyed wolves that no amount of feeding can tame!"
The other students also began condemning them. "Exactly. You'd never have guessed these sisters were so selfish. Isn't it just a Soul Bone? People from little backwater places really haven't seen anything."
Another group of female students desperately tried to persuade them. "Shui Bing'er, hurry and give the Soul Bone to Headmistress Mom. That isn't something people like us can possess. Anyway, once we're old enough, we'll marry into wealthy families and spend our lives peacefully supporting our husbands and raising our children, won't we?"
Conflict showed on Shui Bing'er's face. She had nothing against the life of supporting a husband and raising children that the girl described, but she also wanted to see the scenery higher up on the path of a Soul Master.
Soul Bones were exceedingly precious. If she handed this one over now, would she really have a chance to obtain another in her lifetime?
On one side were teachers whose kindness weighed as heavily as a mountain; on the other were the troops surrounding the academy.
Outside the gates, Viscount Saen of the Heaven Dou Empire was shouting, "Shui Bing'er, you have thirty minutes left to hand over the Soul Bone!"
"Soul Bones are sacred and precious, not something a commoner of your standing can possess. Offer up the Soul Bone immediately, or I will command the army to raze Skywater Academy!"
"Shui Bing'er, are you still refusing to see reason? Hand over the Soul Bone at once. If those rough soldiers break through the gates, Skywater Academy's reputation will be dragged into the mud. Do you want our entire academy to suffer humiliation with you?"
The surrounding Skywater Academy students grew anxious as well. "Shui Bing'er, Shui Yue'er, hurry and hand over the Soul Bone. I don't want those rough soldiers coming in here. If my fiancé, Sir Duka, finds out, he'll definitely break off our engagement."
"Exactly, Shui Bing'er. How can you be so selfish? Just hand over the Soul Bone."
Their homeroom teacher also coaxed her patiently from the side. "Bing'er, I know you've always been a good, obedient child. You should hand over the Soul Bone."
Shui Bing'er closed her eyes in despair, two trails of clear tears falling down her cheeks.
Her right hand trembled violently as she slowly reached into the pocket at her chest and took out a yellow Soul Bone.
"I'll hand it over. I'll hand it over, all right..."
"You can't, Sister! That's your Pride of Heaven Soul Bone!"
Shui Bing'er shook her head in despair. "Yue'er, step aside."
Shui Yue'er still wanted to say something, but Shui Bing'er gently patted her shoulder. "Yue'er, step aside!"
The headmistress's face instantly warmed like the returning spring breeze, revealing a kindly smile. "Shui Bing'er, I knew you were a good student."
Just as Shui Bing'er was about to pass the Soul Bone to Skywater's headmistress, a figure descended from the sky and took it with perfect ease.
"Since you're handing it over, you might as well give it to me."
Shui Bing'er froze, while Skywater's headmistress instantly exclaimed in surprise, "Who are you? How dare you seize our Skywater Academy's Soul Bone! Don't you know Skywater Academy is under the duke's protection?"
Wang Qiye could not be bothered to waste words. He released his Soul Rings, and nine black Soul Rings instantly appeared behind him.
"A T-T-Titled Douluo!"
An uproar instantly erupted within Skywater Academy.
"I'll ask you again. Whose Soul Bone is this?"
But Skywater Academy's headmistress was as frantic as an ant on a hot pan. "Your Excellency, Titled Douluo, you cannot take the Soul Bone. If we cannot hand it over, the soldiers outside will force their way in shortly."
"Then tell me, who's stronger, the soldiers or me?"
Skywater's headmistress answered without thinking. "You are, of course, Your Excellency. But Duke Saos specifically demanded this."
"Then tell me, who's stronger, that Duke Sas-whatever or me?"
Skywater's headmistress answered without thinking. "You are, of course, but... but..."
The headmistress kept stammering "but" for ages without managing another word. Having put away the Soul Bone, Wang Qiye turned to leave.
Watching from the side, Shui Bing'er saw that Wang Qiye had merely appeared, without even lifting a finger, and could easily take the Soul Bone away, whereas she had resisted with all her might and still been forced to hand it over.
Suddenly, she understood.
"Senior! Senior!" Wang Bing'er called loudly.
Wang Qiye looked back and feigned puzzlement. "What, can't bear to part with this Soul Bone?"
"No. Senior, since you've accepted my Soul Bone, could you take us away?"
Before Wang Qiye could say anything, Skywater's headmistress grew anxious. "Shui Bing'er, you're the bride-to-be reserved for our Crown Family. This was agreed upon when you first enrolled!"
"Reserved?"
Before Wang Bing'er could ask anything, Wang Qiye was already growing impatient. He had come here for Wang Bing'er in the first place, but how could he bring up taking her as a disciple himself? If she refused, wouldn't he lose face?
The only reason he had been about to walk slowly out the door was to give Shui Bing'er this opportunity. Otherwise, wouldn't it have been easier to simply take the Soul Bone and leave?
Although Shui Yue'er was purely an extra, Wang Qiye did not mind. They were sister beauties, after all. Taking them as a pair was perfectly reasonable, wasn't it?
With Wang Bing'er secured, Wang Qiye had no time to play out prime-time romantic drama plots with these people.
"Very well. Since I've taken your Soul Bone, I'll lend you a hand."
With one in each arm, Wang Qiye scooped the twin sisters up around their waists and was about to fly into the sky. But who knew what madness had seized the headmistress? She actually dared to lunge forward and tug at him.
"Lord Douluo, you cannot do this! They're the brides-to-be reserved for our Crown Family. Improving the bloodline of our family's next generation depends entirely on them! Lord Titled Douluo, you cannot do this! Lord Titled Douluo!"
A cold snort rang out, and Skywater's headmistress instantly crumpled to the ground.
Wang Qiye realized that he seemed to have been a little too approachable. Even this old woman dared to come and tug at him. If not for the fact that Shui Bing'er had grown up here and had some affection for her, Wang Qiye would have killed her long ago.
With the matter settled, Wang Qiye flew straight into the sky and vanished from sight.
Before you continue