The Scripture Pavilion of the Royal Martial Academy has collected numerous cultivation technique classics since the founding of Da Zhen, from both domestic and foreign sources.

For future compensation or patent fees for these techniques, this place serves as his largest repository of materials!

With plans brewing in his mind, Zhu Haomiao strode towards the Martial Arts Academy's Scripture Pavilion with meteoric boldness.

Passing by the Martial Arts Arena, he found it crowded with people cheering and shouting, and Zhu Haomiao glanced curiously, but didn't pay too much attention.

However, he wished to remain low-key, yet his classmates, who enjoyed stepping on him, wouldn't give him the chance.

Noticing Li Lin, the bullied one, a few youths exchanged glances and surrounded him with ill intentions.

"Yo, isn't this the Earl of Pingyang? Rare guest~"

"Tsk tsk, you skip classes every few days. What? Do you look down on us, your classmates?"

...

Facing their sneers and taunts, Zhu Haomiao blinked and hesitated before asking.

"Sorry, who the hell are you?"

Like a cat teasing a mouse, their mocking smiles froze on their faces. They hadn't expected this usually submissive pushover to dare defy them, igniting a mysterious fury in the youths' hearts that blazed instantly.

"Ha ha, inheriting the title really makes a difference; even talking with authority now!"

"But what's so arrogant about being an Earl?"

The lead youth, enraged to the point of laughter, stretched out his hand intending to slap Zhu Haomiao's cheek disrespectfully, but before his palm could touch skin, his wrist was grasped by an iron-clamp-like grip.

Crack~

Grabbing the youth's wrist, Zhu Haomiao gradually increased his strength, bending it downward. Under the other's flushed struggle, he gradually pressed him until he staggered and involuntarily squatted slightly.

"If you don't want that paw, I can help cut it off for you."

Looking down at the youth, Zhu Haomiao said quietly, without a trace of emotional fluctuation.

Feeling the eyes of the companions behind him, unable to accept the humiliation from someone they always looked down upon, the youth, red-eyed from the "great humiliation," roared madly.

"Damn you..."

Bam!

Zhu Haomiao kneed the opponent in the chest and abdomen, instantly kicking the crude words back down his throat. The powerful force sent the youth curling up like a shrimp, sliding across the smooth wooden floor for more than ten meters, stopping only after hitting the railing.

Watching the other writhe and spasm in pain, Zhu Haomiao coldly curled his mouth.

"Trash."

Immediately, he cast his gaze towards the remaining youths, who were now staring in disbelief and terror, devoid of their previous arrogance.

They stared blankly at Zhu Haomiao's face, trying to find even a hint of disguise.

But no matter how they scrutinized, this guy before them was still the same familiar waste of space!

What the hell had happened?

Why did this acknowledged vermin dare to resist?

And more terrifying, he beat Xu Jun senseless without resistance!

Xu Jun was a genius only a step away from classification!

Seeing the ever-changing expressions on their faces, Zhu Haomiao sneered, curling his lips. Not even bothering to argue further, he walked straight through them, heading to the Scripture Pavilion.

Such disdain naturally infuriated the remaining youths, but given Xu Jun's recent lesson, they could only glare venomously at Zhu Haomiao's back, too afraid to speak.

However, the commotion had already attracted the attention of some in the Martial Arts Arena; a robust instructor, seeing Zhu Haomiao, suddenly brightened.

"Eunuch Dong, found a good candidate for the Princess's first training session!"

"Oh? Who might that be?"

A eunuch in luxurious robes, with a moody demeanor, withdrew his gaze from the Martial Arts Arena and leisurely looked at the instructor.

"That one, the son of the Earl of Pingyang, is recognized as the bottom of the barrel in our academy, timid and won't hit back when punched or answer when cursed, barely able to truss a chicken, perfect as a sandbag for the Princess to build confidence."

"Oh?"

Following the instructor's indication, Eunuch Dong saw only a well-featured, thin youth hurrying away, frowning slightly.

Though appearing frail, he exuded a subtle, indescribable energy that didn't seem like someone completely unskilled...

Then, Eunuch Dong's brows relaxed, and he nodded with a smile.

Having some ability is just right; too awful and our clever Princess would know it was arranged deliberately, which wouldn't be ideal.

A bit of a challenge, allowing the Princess to feel the achievement of defeating a "strong enemy" and building confidence, is just right!

"Alright, let it be him."

"Please wait, I'll make the arrangements right away!"

The instructor smiled ingratiatingly and turned to leave.

On the other side, Zhu Haomiao walked absent-mindedly forward, thoughts spinning in his head.

Beating up classmates didn't even cause a ripple of fate...

Indeed, which boy hasn't been in a school fight?

As long as no one is maimed or killed, childish scuffles are all too common...

The Heavenly Dao's tolerance appears quite high; small events won't trigger a reaction, so I can be more open...

Thoughtfully nodding, Zhu Haomiao was halted by a burly man with a robust aura before he could bypass the massive Martial Arts Arena.

"Li Lin, why didn't you attend the last tournament?"

The sudden questioning made Zhu Haomiao stop, a bit troubled, and furrow his brow.

The Royal Martial Academy holds an internal tournament quarterly, somewhat akin to a modern midterm exam.

Such tournaments were nightmare days for Li Lin.

The hormone-driven, eager youths loved to beat him up, trample his dignity, showcasing their prowess and impressing their crushes.

Thus, as the target of 'eat, sleep, and beat up', Li Lin had later taken to avoiding them altogether, making excuses to skip each tournament.

But ultimately, skipping "exams", now caught, he could only admit fault.

"Sorry, instructor; I was seriously ill those days and only recently recovered."

"Every tournament you're either sick or injured; can't you come up with another excuse!"

...

"Coincidentally, there's a new student enrolled; you and she will spar, which will make up for the previous tournament!"

With that said, regardless of Zhu Haomiao's reluctance, the instructor pulled him away unceremoniously.

Emmm... Should I break free?

While fighting peers might pass as normal behavior, openly resisting an academy instructor is a more severe matter, likely causing unnecessary fate disturbances...

Considering the importance of the Royal Martial Academy's Scripture Pavilion, Zhu Haomiao sighed regretfully, abandoning the rebellious idea.

Forget it, might as well have a match.

A good opportunity to show some change, preventing certain idiots from mistaking him for an easy target.