"Lan Yin?" Tang San didn't find this name particularly strange, as the titles of the other six monsters were all related to their Martial Souls.
"Do you know where the students of Shrek Academy are now? Seeing is believing."
Tang San seemed to have precisely pinpointed their weaknesses, as every word he spoke struck right at the heart of the matter.
Upon hearing Tang San's question, the seven members of Heaven Dou Academy displayed a variety of odd expressions.
"They should be arriving soon."
"Maybe they're already here."
"They're here, right?"
Tang San looked puzzled, unable to make sense of their responses. Eventually, Yu Tianheng stepped in to explain.
"What? You're saying your instructor Qin Ming wants the seven members of the Shrek Team to join Heaven Dou Royal Academy?! And not only that, he plans to accept all the current teachers of Shrek Academy, allowing us to personally mentor Shrek's seven members without any interference from Heaven Dou Royal Academy? And when they decide to leave, Heaven Dou Royal Academy has no right to stop them? Not to mention, they have to give up one spot in the Pan-continental Elite Soul Master Competition for the seven members of Shrek Academy?!"
Tang San's eyes widened in shock. No wonder the seven members of Heaven Dou Royal Team looked so uncomfortable when he mentioned Shrek.
This wasn't just about losing a single battle—it meant half their qualification for the Pan-continental Elite Soul Master Competition had been taken away!
Although Heaven Dou Royal Academy had two spots, they originally belonged entirely to the academy's students. More importantly, even with two spots, there was a distinction between the main team and the reserve team. The reserve team typically acted as support, clearing obstacles for the main team to secure the championship—essentially playing a supporting role.
The Pan-continental Elite Soul Master Competition was a high-profile event that drew attention from across the continent. Just participating would significantly boost one's reputation.
Even if Yu Tianheng and his team could still compete, their defeat at the hands of Shrek meant they would inevitably be relegated to the reserve team.
Not only Tang San, but even Xue Qinghe, who had been silently listening nearby, was stunned. Losing one Soul Duel and being replaced—weren't they being discarded just like that?
The Crown Prince Xue Qinghe gently tried to console them, "Well... Instructor Qin Ming is actually thinking about the academy's honor. I don't believe he has any ill will toward you."
Xue Qinghe was sweating bullets. He never expected Qin Ming to make such a move. From a results-oriented perspective, it made sense—academy honor was important, and Heaven Dou Royal Academy's recent performance had been lackluster, so recruiting reinforcements was only natural.
However, the problem was that this decision was extremely unfair—even outright harsh—to Yu Tianheng and his team, who were originally the main team. It was a devastating blow.
"No wonder there are only students here and no instructors. There must be a rift between them now." Tang San finally understood why there wasn't a single teacher accompanying Yu Tianheng and his team when he came to challenge them.
Dugu Yan, standing nearby, snorted coldly. "Hmph! I admit those seven are stronger than us, but I'll never let them join us, let alone allow them to step over me. And to think they want to use us as a stepping stone? Hmph!"
Xue Qinghe keenly noticed something and asked, "What is my uncle planning?"
Dugu Yan's eyes flickered evasively as she said, "I don't know, but His Highness Xue Beng said he'd intervene on our behalf."
At this point, how could Tang San not guess what was happening?
To put it bluntly, it was a matter of interests.
The Shrek Seven had indeed defeated them, but the identities of these seven individuals were absolutely not simple. Being able to enter the Heaven Dou Imperial Academy and join the main team wasn't just about strength—the intricate web of interests was the real factor influencing the spots.
Defeating these seven once and trying to take everything from them was simply impossible. The people backing them would never agree to Shrek's conditions. Having their interests inexplicably damaged, those nobles would never accept it.
And it was clear that the Fourth Prince, Xue Beng, had vested interests with their backers—especially Dugu Yan.
When Tang San heard her surname was Dugu and her Martial Soul was the Jade Serpent, he immediately knew she must be connected to Poison Douluo. And Poison Douluo was the supporter behind the Fourth Prince.
Xue Qinghe smiled wryly and said helplessly, "Although Qin Ming's cultivation talent isn't bad and his teaching quality is top-notch, his political instincts are still too weak. He takes things for granted too easily. Sigh, this might very well harm those people from Shrek Academy."
"Teacher Qin Ming was out for a long time yesterday. I suspect he was making arrangements for a welcoming banquet—probably today."
Hearing this, Tang San's eyes lit up. "Well, what a fortunate coincidence. Let's go take a look."
Even Xue Qinghe became interested. Such clashes of power weren't something one got to witness every day.
And just as Xue Qinghe and the others had anticipated, some inexplicable conflict was indeed unfolding at the gates of Heaven Dou Imperial Academy at that very moment.
"Halt! Who are you people?" A Soul Master around eighteen or nineteen years old blocked Shrek's path. If Xue Qinghe had been there, he would've recognized this person at a glance—none other than his fourth imperial brother, Xue Beng!
An imperial prince blocking their way? This was absolutely fishy!
Flender, the dean of Shrek Academy, said, "We're from Shrek Academy. We've been invited by your Heaven Dou Imperial Academy for an exchange. Lead the way."
A deeply concealed flash of triumph passed through Xue Beng's eyes as he put on a disdainful expression and said arrogantly, "You country bumpkins, here for an exchange? More like beggars who crawled out from somewhere. Get lost. Or we'll resort to force."
Dai Mubai, the Evil Eye White Tiger, moved like lightning. A chilling aura erupted instantly as he kicked Xue Beng flying with a loud thud. Without hesitation, he activated his Martial Soul to intimidate the surroundings.
Three gleaming Soul Rings and level-38 Soul Power made the still-learning, lower-level students too afraid to approach.
Flender remarked, "These are the students of Heaven Dou Imperial Academy? What a pile of trash. I'm already starting to wonder if coming here was a mistake."
Zhao Wuji, another teacher from Shrek Academy, nodded in agreement. "Don't ask me. How would I know? The Royal Fight Team that fought our little monsters to a standstill last time wasn't like this. Guess there's dregs everywhere."
And this scene, by sheer coincidence, was witnessed by Tang San and the others who had just emerged from the academy's Soul Duel Arena.
Xue Qinghe looked at Xue Beng lying on the ground and immediately realized it was intentional. With some surprise, he remarked, "The people from Shrek Academy just attacked like that? Right at the academy gates, in full public view?"
Yu Tianheng and the others were momentarily stunned—the bait had been taken far too quickly, giving Xue Beng the perfect excuse to act.
With some embarrassment, Yu Tianheng explained, "I once heard Teacher Qin Ming mention that he's a graduate of Shrek Academy. He told us that those who dare not stir up trouble are mediocrities. I
suppose this must be part of Shrek Academy's educational philosophy."
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