"As Dean Rumu has said—then may I ask Dean Meng to answer me this: Why is Heaven Dou Academy entitled to bear the title of 'Royal'?"

Prince Xue Xing pressed aggressively, his sharp gaze locking onto Meng Shenji as he continued his questioning:

"Heaven Dou Royal Academy has always only admitted nobles and the children of great clans. What reason could you possibly have to allow these riffraff, these common rabble, into the academy?"

Meng Shenji's face stiffened.

It wasn't that he couldn't think of a rebuttal—it was that he suddenly realized both he and the Crown Prince had underestimated Xue Xing.

Just from the sharpness of his words now, it was clear Xue Xing was no fool, no incompetent hanger-on as they had believed.

In the crowd, Han Feng looked at the arrogant and domineering Prince Xue Xing. He could already guess at the prince's motives—but regardless, this was a terrible move on Xue Xing's part.

Just look at the silent but resentful faces of those around him!

Prince Xue Xing had no idea what kind of power he was provoking.

But to be fair, from his perspective, his reasoning wasn't wrong. Even the calculating Grandmaster wouldn't dare imagine that these fresh-faced children could, within a mere ten years, rise one after another to the level of Titled Douluo—and in the end, all of them ascend to godhood.

To Xue Xing, this was simply about denying the Crown Prince control over Shrek. Even if, ten or twenty years later, these Shrek students grew strong enough to hate him for it—by then, the struggle between Xue Beng and Xue Qinghe for the throne would be long over. He would either be dead or already a Duke of the realm.

In the end, Xue Xing simply underestimated Shrek's potential. He couldn't possibly know that among these eight youths before him, there were already two absolute monsters.

Han Feng cast a sidelong glance at Tang San, his expression subtly strange.

He still remembered—Tang San eventually even took Xue Beng as his disciple. That, Han Feng could never understand.

Even if it was to counter Qian Renxue, even if it was to oppose Spirit Hall, why choose Xue Beng of all people?

There were so many in the royal family—why him?

So what if you're the emperor's direct son? So what if you endured in silence for over a decade? What does that have to do with me? You and I have enmity—if I don't help you, isn't that only natural?

From Han Feng's knowledge of over two thousand years of feudal history in his previous life, a nation's survival rarely hinged on the emperor alone. As long as the monarch wasn't too cruel or incompetent, ministers and the royal house could keep the empire stable.

The last emperor of a dynasty wasn't necessarily the weakest; the founding emperor wasn't necessarily the strongest.

Either way, from today's encounter, Han Feng had gained absolutely no fondness for Xue Beng or Xue Xing.

On the other side, Zhi Lin could no longer hold back. His voice rang cold and stern as the oppressive might of a Contra spread out, locking onto Prince Xue Xing.

"Your Highness, the Crown Prince has been entrusted with the authority to govern in His Majesty's stead. He has delegated all matters of the Royal Academy to us three. We ask that you not make things difficult for us."

The Contra-level pressure made Xue Xing grunt involuntarily.

Though his cultivation was not weak, he was no match for Zhi Lin. Under the pressure, his expression twisted with rage.

"So, you finally mean to tear away all pretense!?" he sneered inwardly, as if certain of victory. Out loud, he forced a mocking smile:

"Trying to use the Crown Prince's name to suppress me!?"

"We wouldn't dare."

Zhi Lin's answer was measured, but the cold indifference in his tone was plain to all.

Xue Xing grinned, baring his teeth.

"Well then! What a fine 'Heaven Dou Royal Academy' this is! And what a fine Zhi Lin! Since I am not qualified to intervene in the academy's affairs, tell me—does this lord have the qualification?"

BOOM!

At his words, a surge of green soul power erupted from behind him, visible to the naked eye. Its oppressive force made the faces of Meng Shenji, Zhi Lin, and Bai Baoshan change drastically.

"Defend!"

Bai Baoshan, as a defense-type Soul Master, reacted instantly. The Celestial Furnace manifested before him, shielding the group. Meng Shenji and Zhi Lin pressed their palms to his back, pouring their soul power into him to help resist.

The green aura swept across the field, leaving devastation in its wake. A nauseating, fetid stench filled the air. When it reached Bai Baoshan, it twisted into a massive venomous serpent, its bloody jaws opening wide to bite down on the Celestial Furnace!

The three men's expressions hardened.

BANG!

The serpent smashed against the furnace and burst apart into smoke. But Bai Baoshan's face went pale, his breathing heavy.

Meng Shenji's eyes narrowed as he spoke solemnly:

"I did not know that His Excellency the Poison Crown was present—please forgive our lack of courtesy."

"Poison Crown!?"

At those words, the pupils of Flender, the Grandmaster, and the others shrank violently.

In this world, there were very few whom Meng Shenji would address as Your Excellency. And with the title "Poison," there was only one—

Poison Douluo, Dugu Bo!

"Heh."

Having his identity exposed, Dugu Bo stepped out from behind Xue Xing. His long green hair draped over his shoulders, his eyes like venomous serpent pupils as he swept a chilling gaze over the three deans.

"You three old relics aren't entirely useless after all."

Meng Shenji forced himself to ask, though he already guessed the answer:

"We did not expect Poison Douluo himself to grace us. What business brings Your Excellency here?"

Dugu Bo sneered, ignoring him entirely. His gaze swept the crowd—then fixed on Tang San.

Xiao Wu, standing at Tang San's side, shuddered violently. But her fears were unnecessary—Dugu Bo had not noticed her 100,000-year spirit beast identity. Instead, he addressed Tang San directly:

"You're the brat who cracked my poison?"

Tang San's heart jolted, but under the suffocating pressure, he could only bow respectfully.

"Yes, Senior. It was I."

"Good."

Dugu Bo's lips curled into a cruel smile. He looked to Flender and declared:

"Hand this boy over to me, and I will permit your Shrek Academy to join the Royal Academy."

"Your Excellency!?"

Prince Xue Xing was stunned. "But just now you said—"

"Are you teaching me how to act?"

Dugu Bo's snake-like eyes flashed with bloodthirst as his killing intent bore down on Xue Xing.

Xue Xing froze, stammering, "I-I wouldn't dare!"

"Impossible!"

Before Flender could even speak, the Grandmaster stepped forward, his voice sharp and uncompromising.

Flender opened his mouth, but the Grandmaster had already spoken for both of them. Their stance was clear—absolutely not!

Zhao Wuji even wanted to shout: What the hell do you want with this little monster!?

Looking to stretch your back?

Dugu Bo's cold gaze swept over them. He seemed unsurprised, almost as if he had expected their refusal. With a flick of his hand, he sneered:

"In that case, then begone!"

"Impossible!"

This time, it was Meng Shenji whose face hardened, his voice firm.

The Crown Prince's regard for Han Feng was obvious to all. Even though none of them understood why the prince had chosen not to meet Han Feng today, he had made one thing absolutely clear—Han Feng was not to suffer the slightest grievance in the Royal Academy. Meng Shenji had even declared a half-day holiday for the entire academy for his sake.

"Oh?"

Dugu Bo raised a brow, clearly surprised that this smiling old fox would stand so firm today.

But his surprise lasted only a moment. Then his prideful voice rang out:

"So, you mean to oppose me?"

"And us as well!"

Bai Baoshan and Zhi Lin gritted their teeth, stepping forward together.

Their support gave Meng Shenji some confidence. He drew a deep breath, his voice heavy:

"Then please, Poison Crown—enlighten us!"

Dugu Bo laughed in fury, his voice like thunder:

"Hahaha! Frogs in a well! Has Heaven Dou so few Titled Douluo that you actually believe the three of you together could defeat me!?"

PS: Read Advance Chapters at patreon.com/c/Shinazuki