Tang San had withdrawn, but the story was far from over.
Upon hearing the voice, Crown Prince Xue Qinghe's eyes flickered with a strange light as he turned his head to look. Three figures were approaching.
The one on the far left was naturally Xue Beng. When he saw Dai Mubai and the others, his face was full of arrogance, and his eyes burned with intense hatred.
However, no one present paid Xue Beng any attention, as everyone knew he was merely the spark that ignited the conflict. All eyes were instead drawn to the other two figures.
In the center walked an elderly man dressed in luxurious robes. He wore a grand yellow robe embroidered with intricate floral patterns that somehow didn't appear cluttered. His graying hair was neatly combed back, and though he was of average height and slightly portly, his dignified appearance commanded respect.
This was Prince Xue Xing, the younger brother of the current emperor of the Heaven Dou Empire.
Of course, the one who truly captured Tang San's attention wasn't Prince Xue Xing, but the man standing to his right.
Unlike Prince Xue Xing, this man was tall and slender, resembling a spear. His hair and beard were an unusual dark green, and his eyes gleamed like emeralds. His entire presence seemed illusory, as if he were a phantom. Though his skin showed signs of age, it was well-maintained, and his features were strikingly handsome.
"Poison Douluo, Dugu Bo," Tang San murmured, his gaze fixed on the man. He hadn't expected to encounter Dugu Bo before even meeting Ning Fengzhi.
With such formidable backing, Xue Beng's demeanor had completely changed from before. Pointing at the Shrek group, he sneered, "Fight now, why don't you? Weren't you all so tough earlier? Weren't you the ones who told me to get lost? Huh? Say something now!"
"You—!" Dai Mubai took a step forward, but the pain from his injuries inflicted by Tang San made him grimace and suck in a sharp breath.
Zhao Wuji, a Soul Saint, wanted to step in and argue, but Dean Flender forcefully held him back, shaking his head. Flender had already realized that the handsome old man's strength was terrifying—far beyond what he and Zhao Wuji could handle.
Prince Xue Xing looked down his nose at Dai Mubai and the others, demanding, "You assaulted the fourth prince of the Heaven Dou Empire and still show no remorse. Do you intend to attack this prince as well?"
Flender clasped his hands politely and replied, "Your Highness, we are from Shrek Academy and were invited to Heaven Dou Academy. It was the fourth prince who provoked us first, which is why we acted."
Hearing this, Prince Xue Xing chuckled coldly. "Oh? Provoked you first? 'Provoked' is such a fitting word. Then what about you all calling the students of Heaven Dou Academy 'trash' and 'garbage'? Does that not count as provocation?"
Oscar instinctively retorted, "We were just stating facts. The students of Heaven Dou Academy really are weak, both in cultivation and combat ability."
Pfft— The moment these words left his mouth, even Prince Xue Xing couldn't help but laugh. Even Tang San and the others shook their heads in disbelief.
Prince Xue Xing, after all, was a seasoned political veteran who had weathered the political arena for years and could still contend with the Crown Prince. He immediately retorted, "Then isn't it also true that your Shrek Academy is obscure and utterly unremarkable? Isn't it true that Xue Beng said you came from the countryside? Isn't it true that your academy lacks the qualifications for the Pan-continental Elite Soul Master Competition and came here to beg for scraps?"
Hearing this, the members of Shrek Academy couldn't help but feel a surge of anger, yet for the moment, they couldn't find a rebuttal.
Seeing Dugu Bo appear, Tang San shook his head helplessly and said, "You've caused trouble. If you have the ability to resolve it, then you can indeed call yourself a genius. But if you cause trouble you can't handle, then you're not just mediocre—you're an idiot."
And it was abundantly clear that Dugu Bo was someone they couldn't afford to provoke, let alone resolve conflicts with. Tang San was fine—he had the bearing of a Young Sect Master, and there was no real enmity between him and Ning Rongrong, just minor squabbles without serious stakes. But Dugu Bo was different. This was the Poison Douluo, a figure whose reputation needed no further explanation.
They could die!
Sure enough, Prince Xue Xing had no intention of settling for minor clashes like Tang San. A flash of killing intent flickered in his eyes as he sneered, "I'm no petty man. Since you also believe you're in the right, fine. You can insult Xue Beng all you want—he'll stand here and take it without retort. In return, as long as you can last five minutes under Dugu Bo's hand, surviving even a single move from him, this prince will wipe the slate clean. You'll receive preferential treatment in the academy from then on."
!!!!
Hearing this, even Tang San and the others frowned. Survive five minutes against a Titled Douluo? And one who specialized in poison at that? Even if they lasted the five minutes, they'd likely succumb to the poison by nightfall.
"Ah, isn't this a bit too harsh?" Dugu Yan, standing nearby, paled in alarm. She hadn't expected things to escalate to the point of demanding Shrek Academy's deaths.
Xue Qinghe, however, found it perfectly normal and said calmly, "Shrek Academy is our academy's competitor. Moreover, you lost to them. Wanting to eliminate future troubles by cutting them off at the root is only natural."
"The martial world isn't just about human relations—bloodshed is part of it too."
"You!" Dai Mubai erupted in fury, taking a swift step forward as if to charge. But at that moment, Dugu Bo opened his eyes, and a chilling gaze settled on Dai Mubai.
The instant his eyes opened, the surrounding temperature seemed to drop sharply. Those were dark green eyes, devoid of any trace of life, exuding not just coldness but a cruel, sinister aura.
Dai Mubai grunted, his entire body shuddering violently before he collapsed silently to the ground, motionless. His face had turned ashen green—clearly poisoned.
At this critical moment, four figures descended from the sky. A green vine shot out like lightning, coiling around Dai Mubai's waist and yanking him back forcefully.
It was naturally Qin Ming, the leader of Heaven Dou Academy, along with three Soul Douluo committee members from the academy.
"Teachers, are you alright?" Qin Ming quickly positioned himself at the forefront. Though his strength was no match for the Poison Douluo, his status alone meant Dugu Bo couldn't casually poison an academy teacher without cause.
Seeing the Shrek members covered in wounds, with even Dai Mubai's face a sickly gray-green, he was utterly dumbfounded. He had been working diligently for the academy, hoping to enhance its strength—how had things turned out like this!
When even the Soul Douluo-level academic committee member appeared,
Meng Shenji, the academic committee member, stood before Prince Xue Xing and said angrily, "Your Highness, you are going too far. These individuals were decided upon as teachers and students after discussions between our academic committee and Teacher Qin Ming. What is the meaning of this?"
Prince Xue Xing replied indifferently, "How am I going too far? Chief Meng Shenji, do not forget that the academy belongs to the imperial family. As its direct administrator, I have the authority over personnel decisions. Moreover, these people assaulted a prince, insulted their peers, and spouted arrogant nonsense. What qualifications do such teachers and students have to enter our Heaven Dou Imperial Academy?"
"If you are dissatisfied, you may lodge a complaint with His Majesty. But until His Majesty relieves me of my position, I still have the final say here."
(End of Chapter)