The scene shifted to a mountain range on the outskirts of Heaven Dou City, where the most prestigious and elite institution in the entire Heaven Dou Empire stood—Heaven Dou Royal Academy, its history nearly as old as the empire itself.
It had been over a month since Shrek team enrolled at Heaven Dou Royal Academy. Unlike the original tale, they didn't cross paths with Xue Beng upon their arrival and were successfully admitted to the academy. By the time Xue Beng was informed, it was already too late.
The arrival of Flander and the others was warmly welcomed by Meng Shenji, Bai Baoshan, and the three other members of the education committee.
Three Soul-Saint-level experts and two Soul-Emperors—such formidable strength was considered a pillar of support for any major force.
Tang San, Dai Mubai, Oscar, Ma Hongjun, and Xiao Wu were assigned to the Second Royal's Team. This team differed from the First; its members were mostly haughty nobles, playboys who scorned Shrek team as "country bumpkin".
This situation caused the education committee members considerable distress. Despite the noble disciples' frivolous nature, their families held significant influence in Heaven Dou City and were not to be trifled with.
The Second Emperor's Dou Team's participation in the Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Elite Competition was merely a formality to embellish the reputations of these noble scions.
After much deliberation, the Third Team of Heaven Dou was established, securing one additional spot for Heaven Dou Royal Academy.
Currently, the Heaven Dou Third Team had only five members. Tang San, Dai Mubai, and the rest were tasked with recruiting both regular and substitute members themselves.
Zhao Wuji, a formidable Soul Saint, was appointed as the interim leader of the Emperor Dou Third Team.
"Run, run!"
"Oscar! Hurry up. If you don't run, others will gladly take your place!"
"And you, Tang San! What's the matter? Xiao Wu can run; are you saying you can't even match a girl?"
Zhao Wuji stood at the center of the training field, his martial soul activated. His third soul ring glowed, casting an earthy yellow light upon Tang San, Xiao Wu, and the others.
He continuously exerted his "magic" on everyone, spurring them to run faster.
Hearing this, Tang San, drenched in sweat and his face pale with exertion, bristled at the insinuation. Was he being compared unfavorably to a girl?
He, Tang San...
"Is Zhao Wuji singling me out?" Tang San wondered inwardly, convinced that the gravitational force he and Dai Mubai were subjected to was far less than his own.
And indeed, Tang San's hunch was correct.
Zhao Wuji had singled him out. While the others bore three times the force of gravity, Tang San endured five times; when they faced five times, Tang San was burdened with eight.
Clear Sky Douluo had instructed Zhao Wuji to "take care" of Tang San, which he interpreted as providing "special attention."
He was almost worked to the brink of collapse, yet Zhao Wuji took the directive to heart, ensuring he fulfilled his duty with utmost diligence.
Initially, the leader of the third team would have been at most a Soul Emperor, typically a Heaven Dou-level teacher.
However, the moment Zhao Wuji considered the prospect of mentoring Tang San, he eagerly volunteered to assume the role of the third team's leader.
Meng Shenji and the others believed the bond between master and disciple was strong, which is why Zhao Wuji couldn't bear to part with the children, and thus, they consented.
"Run faster!" Zhao Wuji bellowed at Tang San, contemplating whether to increase his burden.
Heaven Dou Royal Academy was flush with funds, and their training equipment was top-notch.
Yet, if Tang San were to use it, Zhao Wuji preferred the most rudimentary method—manual carrying.
He wanted Tang San to determine firsthand whether his teacher Yu Xiaogan's methods were effective.
With this in mind, Zhao Wuji scanned the playground and noticed a young man staring blankly in his direction.
"You there! Come here!" he commanded.
The young man, taken aback, hesitated before approaching.
"Director Zhao, what can I do for you?" he inquired, puzzled. He had merely come to gauge the strength and talent of the new recruits.
He hadn't anticipated the soul saint's sudden summons.
"I'm tied up here; fetch me a backpack filled with two hundred and fifty kilograms of rocks!" Zhao Wuji instructed.
"Once done, consider yourself owed a favor by me!"
Zhao Wuji squinted, a smirk directed at Tang San.
Wasn't Tang San confident in his teacher's training regimen?
Let's put it to the test.
The young man was momentarily stunned. Was a soul saint's favor so easily secured over such a trivial task?
He pondered briefly before agreeing, considering the potential to earn a soul saint's gratitude over a simple errand.
"Alright, Teacher Zhao, I'll return once the task is complete!"
With that, the young man departed.
Zhao Wuji, fixated on Tang San, belatedly recognized the retreating figure of Xue Beng.
"Who was that?" he wondered aloud.
"Xue Beng??" His mind raced. In the Heaven Dou Imperial Academy, the surname Xue was rare, and only one bore the name Xue Beng.
That was none other than Heaven Dou's fourth prince, Xue Beng!
"Did I just enlist the fourth prince to haul rocks?"
"And he agreed?"
Zhao Wuji shuddered, a chill running down his spine.
"Wait, the rumors suggest he's not the typical wastrel."
The situation perplexed Zhao Wuji, but he didn't dwell on it. After all, he was merely a fourth prince, not the crown prince.
In the Douluo Continent, strength reigned supreme, and as a level 78 attack-type fighting soul saint, Zhao Wuji doubted the prince would take offense over such a minor incident.
A dandy, perhaps, but not a fool.
Eventually, Xue Beng returned, accompanied by two attendants bearing the rock-laden basket.
"Just set it down here. You may leave," Xue Beng instructed, devoid of any thanks.
"Yes, sir," the attendants responded, massaging their shoulders before departing.
Were they tired?
Not particularly.
But it was important to let the "boss" see their effort, ensuring he'd remember this small deed.
"Teacher Zhao, Xue Beng has delivered what you requested," the prince announced plainly.
Zhao Wuji nodded, reassessing his initial impression of the fourth prince.
"Xue Beng, you're the fourth prince, correct? Earlier..."
Before Zhao Wuji could complete his sentence, Xue Beng interjected with a shake of his head, "Teacher Zhao, I may be a playboy, but I'm no fool. To have a soul saint owe me a favor is advantageous. Naturally, I…"