"Fine, I believe you!" Although Xue Beng wanted nothing more than to take revenge, the menacing presence of Cheng Xiao right in his face forced him to back down. He could sense the chilling coldness in Cheng Xiao's eyes, sharp as a blade.
"Heh, as long as you believe me." Seeing Xue Beng's terrified expression, Cheng Xiao flashed a kind smile. Some people were just like that—if you don't beat them, they never learn.
Realizing that Cheng Xiao had no intention of hitting him again, Xue Beng stood up, clutching his now swollen face, which looked like a pig's head. He pointed at Cheng Xiao and began cursing loudly, "Alright, so you're Tang San of Shrek Academy! I'll remember you, you bastard! You're nothing but a wretched brat. Just wait! One day, I'll kill you!"
Before the words even fully left his mouth, Xue Beng bolted, covering his face as he ran. At this moment, he wished he had more legs to run with as he fled frantically from the academy grounds.
Watching Xue Beng run away in a panic, Cheng Xiao's lips curled into a mocking smile. Standing beside him, several shadow soldiers bowed slightly. Among them, the three-eyed demonic ape, the strongest in spiritual power, spoke up.
"My king, should I…"
"No need. It's not the right time yet."
Cheng Xiao waved his hand, rejecting the three-eyed demonic ape's suggestion. Killing a Heaven Dou royal prince in front of Heaven Dou Imperial Academy would cause a lot of trouble.
The three-eyed demonic ape growled softly and gestured to the other shadow soldiers. They transformed into streaks of black smoke and merged back into Cheng Xiao's shadow.
Just as the shadow soldiers returned, a robust voice came from a distance. "Young one, you truly are as clever as His Highness Qinghe said."
A figure quickly approached along a shaded path on the hillside. The man, dressed in silver martial attire, appeared to be in his forties, though his features seemed somewhat aged.
"Uh, and you are?" Cheng Xiao looked at the man walking toward him, feeling puzzled. But what intrigued him more was his comment about being "clever."
"My name is Sun Buyu, and I am a purple-gold instructor here at Heaven Dou Imperial Academy. His Highness Qinghe instructed me to wait for you. When you arrived, I was to take you to meet the three members of the academy's board for enrollment arrangements." Sun Buyu smiled as he approached Cheng Xiao.
Since Qinghe had taken notice of this young man, Sun Buyu could tell that his talent was exceptional. Furthermore, he had witnessed the previous confrontation, so he had a clear understanding of Cheng Xiao's abilities. Otherwise, he wouldn't have treated a stranger with such courtesy.
"How are you so sure that I'm the person His Highness Qinghe is expecting?" Cheng Xiao asked, nodding slightly.
"His Highness mentioned that you would be accompanied by a group of shadow spirit beasts," Sun Buyu replied with a smile. "This must be an ability unique to your Spirit, right? Quite remarkable."
Cheng Xiao chuckled, "You guessed correctly. This is indeed a special ability of my Spirit."
"Your Spirit is truly fascinating," Sun Buyu remarked, then glanced at the unconscious students lying on the ground. With a tone of disdain, he muttered, "What a bunch of useless trash. All this excellent training provided by the academy, completely wasted on you."
"You've been training for over a decade, and yet all of you were beaten by a single new student. You've brought shame to the academy!"
"Sigh…"
Sun Buyu sighed helplessly and ignored the students lying on the ground. He turned to lead Cheng Xiao toward the academy's board of education.
…
Walking along the shaded path behind Sun Buyu, Cheng Xiao breathed in the fresh air and couldn't help but admire the surroundings. Although Heaven Dou Imperial Academy's overall strength wasn't the best, its environment was indeed impressive.
After a while, Sun Buyu slowed his pace, walking side by side with Cheng Xiao. Casually, he asked, "Cheng Xiao, my young friend, how old are you this year?"
"Twelve, I just turned twelve," Cheng Xiao replied.
"Twelve… No wonder His Highness values you so highly." Seemingly understanding something, Sun Buyu turned to look at Cheng Xiao, smiling. "Cheng Xiao, don't worry. His Highness has already given me instructions. In Heaven Dou City, aside from His Majesty Xue Ye, no one will dare touch you. Just focus on your cultivation. I look forward to your performance in the Continental Advanced Spirit Master Academy Elite Tournament two years from now."
Hearing this, Cheng Xiao smiled faintly and said, "Thank you for your confidence in me, Teacher Sun. I will work hard in my cultivation."
As they entered deeper into the mountains, the scale of Heaven Dou Imperial Academy became more evident.
The stone steps leading up the mountain were carved from white marble, each step adorned with intricate soul beast patterns—an example of exquisite craftsmanship.
The late afternoon sun cast a soft red hue on the trees, adding to the tranquility and beauty of the scene.
The air in the mountains was not only fresh but also quite humid. Along the way, Sun Buyu continued to give Cheng Xiao a brief introduction to the history of Heaven Dou Imperial Academy, including its scenic spots. He covered everything he could think of.
The main campus of Heaven Dou Imperial Academy consisted entirely of single-story buildings, resembling a fortress. The outer walls were five meters high and painted bright yellow, making the campus look particularly striking.
Suddenly, Sun Buyu spoke up, "Cheng Xiao, when we reach the board of education, the three elders there may want to test you. They are all Spirit Douluo above the 80th level. The enrollment standards here are quite strict. However, with the token from His Highness, there shouldn't be any issues."
Hearing this, Cheng Xiao smiled and said, "Thank you for the reminder, Teacher Sun."
"Hehe, it's nothing. With His Highness's token, even if you weren't a noble, those three old guys wouldn't dare disrespect you. Besides, with your current strength, no one in the Royal Battle Team would dare challenge you. In the world of Spirit Masters, strength is everything," Sun Buyu said with a smile.
"Well then, let's go. Please lead the way, Teacher Sun, so we can meet the three esteemed elders of the board."
…
The board of education was located in the center of the main campus of Heaven Dou Imperial Academy. It was the largest building in the area, and from the outside, it bore some resemblance to the Spirit Hall.
Upon entering the main campus, Cheng Xiao was taken aback by the sheer opulence. Heaven Dou Imperial Academy looked luxurious from the outside, but the inside was even more extravagant.
Soon, Cheng Xiao and Sun Buyu arrived at the entrance of the board of education.
After knocking lightly, the door slowly opened. Sun Buyu glanced back at Cheng Xiao before leading him inside.
In the center of the board's hall sat three elderly men who appeared to be in their seventies or eighties. They wore black robes embroidered with intricate golden patterns. These robes were a ceremonial garment reserved for Spirit Masters of the Spirit Douluo rank, symbolizing their status.
"Sun Buyu, what brings you to us three old men today?" The central elder stepped forward and spoke indifferently.
Sun Buyu bowed slightly, respectfully introducing Cheng Xiao, "Elder Meng Shenji, I've brought this young man to enroll in Heaven Dou Imperial Academy on behalf of His Highness the Crown Prince."
Upon hearing this, Cheng Xiao also stepped forward, his gaze meeting the three elders, their soul power faintly radiating. Neither humble nor overbearing, he cupped his hands and said with a smile, "I am Cheng Xiao, greetings to the three elders."