"Impudent brat!"
Prince Xue Xing's temper had already been stretched thin. Now, provoked by Bai Mu, it finally exploded.
"How dare you insult a prince of the empire! Do you have no respect for the dignity of the royal family?!"
"Or is it that the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School intends to defy Heaven Dou—are you plotting treason?!"
The moment those words fell, the surroundings went deathly silent.
Everyone present was stunned.
Trading insults was one thing, but openly accusing someone of treason was an entirely different matter.
For an instant, it felt as though even breathing too loudly would be a mistake.
"Heh heh heh…"
Bai Mu suddenly laughed.
"Save it, Prince Xue Xing. Don't slap such an enormous label on me."
"Treason? Then tell me—who was it that truly disgraced the royal family?"
His smile carried a sharp edge as he spoke, peeling back secrets few dared mention aloud.
"Who secretly offended external forces, causing the Fourth Prince to suffer repeated setbacks and dragging the royal family's reputation through the mud?"
"Who caused massive losses to the national treasury?"
"And who was it that even the Titled Douluo backing them chose to abandon?"
Bai Mu's gaze locked onto him, each word spoken clearly.
"Prince Xue Xing—aren't all of these things your doing?"
"You—! I—! You—cough!"
Prince Xue Xing's blood surged violently. Unable to suppress it, he actually spat out a mouthful of blood.
"What 'you'? What 'I'?"
Bai Mu cut him off calmly.
"The reason I can stand here today and speak to you like this—don't I owe that to you?"
"All of this is your 'great achievement,' Prince Xue Xing."
Prince Xue Xing's hand trembled as he pointed at Bai Mu, his face ashen.
Flender was stunned. "What… exactly do you mean?"
"When my martial soul had just evolved and I was only Rank 11, I defeated ten of Xue Beng's followers in succession without injury."
Bai Mu's lips curled into a mocking smile.
"I received an invitation from an Education Committee Member to join Heaven Dou Royal Academy as a special student—only to be 'voluntarily' expelled in less than a week."
"From the moment I left the academy, spirit masters followed me in secret. If I weren't who I am today, I would have died at your hands long ago."
"What?!"
Ning Rongrong's eyes widened instantly.
"If they dared to bully you, then I'm not joining either!"
"Me too," Zhu Zhuqing said without hesitation.
"Sorry," Tang San added calmly. "Bai Mu is my brother. I'm withdrawing as well."
Prince Xue Xing's face turned livid.
"You dare slander me like this?! Is this insolence backed by the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School and the Crown Prince?!"
"No, no, no."
Bai Mu shook his head lightly.
In the next instant, his aura surged.
Brilliant rings of light flared beneath his feet—seven spirit rings, shining unmistakably.
"A… Spirit Saint?!"
The crowd erupted in shock.
A Spirit Saint alone was already rare—but a Spirit Saint not even thirteen years old?
Even more terrifying was what everyone knew of him: at Rank 11, he could defeat Rank 20 opponents; at Rank 40, he could battle those at Rank 76.
Now that he had reached Rank 70 and possessed a Martial Soul True Body…
"Does that mean," Flender said hoarsely, "you could now defeat a Spirit Douluo… or even contend with a Titled Douluo?"
"You flatter me, Dean Flender."
Bai Mu smiled faintly, neither confirming nor denying it.
Yet everyone present understood.
Given his ability to fight across realms, he truly might stand on equal footing with a Titled Douluo.
The three Education Committee Members stood frozen, memories flashing through their minds—of the youth who had once entered the academy, now standing at an unimaginable height.
Dai Mubai clenched his fists, unwillingness and complexity warring in his eyes.
Zhu Zhuqing covered her mouth, her gaze shining.
Ning Rongrong lifted her chin proudly.
"So strong…" Tang San murmured.
Yu Xiaogang, meanwhile, stood completely dazed.
He had only recently evolved his martial soul, acquired a spirit ring, and broken through to Rank 34. He had thought he could finally hold his head high—
Only to have reality strike him down instantly.
Less than two months… and Bai Mu had crossed two major realms.
As for Prince Xue Xing, his face was deathly pale. In just four years, the youth he once sought to eliminate had become a Spirit Saint—the strongest of his generation.
Behind him stood the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School and Crown Prince Xue Qinghe.
It felt as though Prince Xue Xing had already lost everything.
"When you walk the world, you talk about strength," Bai Mu said calmly.
"You talk about rank."
"I really don't know what you're being arrogant about all day long."
He retracted his spirit rings and turned to Flender, gesturing politely.
"Dean Flender, please. I'll take everyone to Order Academy now and handle the enrollment."
"Good!" Flender replied without hesitation.
Bai Mu nodded once to the three Education Committee Members and led the group toward Heaven Dou City.
Order Academy soon came into view. The gates had been newly renovated, and the four large characters above them were bold and imposing.
"So this is Order Academy?" Flender surveyed the surroundings and nodded. "Not bad—this scale, right in the city."
"As long as you're willing to join," Bai Mu said with a smile, "you'll serve as Vice Dean."
"The Shrek Elite Class will also be entirely under your control."
"Good, good, good!" Flender rubbed his hands excitedly. "I'll do my utmost."
"Oh, right," Bai Mu added casually, "Dean Flender and Grandmaster both share quite a history with our Dean Erlong."
"Erlong?!" Flender and Yu Xiaogang exclaimed in unison.
"Yes," Bai Mu chuckled. "The famous Golden Triangle, known across the continent."
Yu Xiaogang stopped walking. After a moment of hesitation, he asked softly, "Where… is Erlong now?"
"Dean Liu?" Bai Mu glanced at him meaningfully. "She's recuperating deeper within the academy. Once things settle down, I'll arrange for you to meet."
"For now, let me show everyone around."
Yu Xiaogang nodded, his heart filled with anticipation and unease.
What he didn't know was that, deep within Order Academy, Liu Erlong sat quietly by a window in a newly built residence, gazing at the sky.
Her eyes held complicated emotions—resentment, reluctance, confusion, and an unspoken heaviness.
After a long moment, she turned away and closed her eyes, retreating into silence as the world outside continued to move forward.