"Bai Mu, get out of Heaven Dou!"
Inside the office of the Education Committee, the atmosphere was tense and unusually heated.
…
Bai Mu stood there, his emotions complicated.
Today marked his fifth day at Heaven Dou Royal Academy.
Over the past few days, he had already familiarized himself with the campus. Finding the Heaven Minor division dull and unchallenging, he had begun considering skipping grades.
Whether it was to investigate Dugu Bo's whereabouts or to draw people over to his side, advancing directly to the Heaven Dou division and getting close to Dugu Yan was clearly the best choice.
What he hadn't expected, however, was that before he could even speak, Xue Beng would walk in—followed by a richly dressed elderly man and another old man with green hair.
At first, Bai Mu thought Xue Beng had come to help him with enrollment, as previously agreed.
He never imagined that the moment Xue Beng opened his mouth, he would be ordered to leave the Academy.
"Your Highness Xue Beng, Bai Mu is already a student of Heaven Dou Royal Academy. Please be mindful of your words."
Meng Shenji's expression darkened slightly as he spoke in a low voice.
Xue Beng hunched his shoulders instinctively, then sensed someone behind him and straightened up again.
"Mind my words? I said get out!"
"Chief Meng Shenji," Prince Xue Xing said coldly, "if I remember correctly, academy regulations clearly state that students of Heaven Dou Royal Academy must be of noble birth."
"By admitting a lowly commoner like him, are you trying to defy the Academy's rules?"
"While such a rule does exist, the Academy has precedents for admitting commoner geniuses," Meng Shenji replied, suppressing his anger. "I believe Bai Mu fully meets the qualifications."
"Qualified? Heh."
Xue Xing sneered, his gaze locking onto Bai Mu.
"You're Bai Mu?"
"Yes, Your Highness."
Bai Mu answered calmly.
"You're… quite impressive," Xue Xing said condescendingly. "I formally inform you that from today onward, you are no longer a student of Heaven Dou Royal Academy. Any objections?"
The air in the room seemed to freeze.
…
Bai Mu narrowed his eyes slightly and turned to look at Xue Beng.
Xue Beng was staring back smugly, an undisguised look of mockery curling at the corner of his mouth.
"Your Highness Xue Beng," Bai Mu said evenly, "didn't you say that if I won the spar, you would personally arrange my admission? Why has it turned out like this?"
"That's right. I did say that."
Xue Beng shrugged, smiling viciously. "So I specially found you a new school—the Blue Tyrant Academy in the city. You can report there whenever you want. As for Heaven Dou Royal Academy…"
He deliberately dragged out his words.
"You can get lost now."
…
Bai Mu realized he had overestimated the moral bottom line of certain people.
An agreement made in front of hundreds could be torn up so casually.
That someone like this could become emperor in the original story was truly laughable.
"Prince Xue Xing, this is inappropriate."
Meng Shenji's face darkened completely as he glared at Xue Xing.
"Bai Mu was admitted through a formal test, witnessed by the Academy's outstanding students. His talent is exceptional—a rare genius. How can he be expelled without cause?"
"Talent?"
Xue Xing sneered. "Heaven Dou Royal Academy is full of talent. We don't need one more.
"And I've heard about what happened earlier. While Xue Beng may not have handled it perfectly, he is still the Empire's Fourth Prince and represents the dignity of the royal family. How could he be humiliated so easily?"
"Prince, Bai Mu is a genuine genius with a clean background. Why must he be driven away?"
"Exactly. A seedling like this should be nurtured by the Academy!"
Bai Baoshan and Zhi Lin couldn't help but speak up as well.
A genius with a spotless background—discarding him over momentary anger made no sense at all.
Xue Xing remained unmoved. He merely glanced coldly at Bai Mu.
"Get out. Now."
…
Bai Mu glanced at the green-haired old man behind Xue Xing, who appeared to be resting with his eyes closed, then turned and walked away without a word.
"What if I say he stays?"
Meng Shenji grabbed Bai Mu's arm, his expression icy.
The Heaven Dou Empire's lack of fresh talent is because of parasites like you!
"Chief Meng!"
Xue Xing's heart jolted, but he forced himself to shout, "I am the Dean! Anyone I want gone must go!"
"Is that so?"
The green-haired old man opened his eyes. His gaze, cold and venomous, locked onto Meng Shenji.
"I am Dugu Bo—Poison Douluo."
"The three of you should leave academy matters to the Dean. Don't you agree?"
As he spoke, nine spirit rings lit up one by one—two yellow, two purple, and five black.
"Poison Douluo…"
Meng Shenji and the others' expressions changed dramatically. None of them had expected this unkempt old man to be a Titled Douluo.
'So it really is Dugu Bo.'
Bai Mu felt a surge of joy inside.
But the atmosphere in the room grew increasingly oppressive.
…
The expressions of the three Education Committee members shifted repeatedly, torn by uncertainty.
"There's no need to force things. I'll withdraw voluntarily."
Bai Mu gently freed himself from Meng Shenji's grip.
"Thank you, esteemed members of the Education Committee, for your care and guidance during this time."
"We're sorry, Bai Mu… truly…"
The three looked at him with regret and reluctance.
"There's no need to apologize," Bai Mu said calmly. "I understand."
He neither lashed out nor pleaded. His composed acceptance only deepened their guilt.
"There are some gold coins here—consider it compensation…"
Meng Shenji took out a black card.
"Compensation? What compensation?"
Xue Xing snatched the card away.
"A mere outsider has no right to take resources meant for the Academy's teachers and students."
Bolstered by this, Xue Beng threw over a recommendation letter.
"Take this and hurry over to that commoners' slum—Blue Tyrant Academy—to report!"
…
Bai Mu looked at Xue Xing and Xue Beng, then shifted his gaze to Dugu Bo.
He firmly etched the Poison Douluo's aura into his memory—that chilling spirit power, that unmistakable poisonous presence.
"Please don't tell Aunt Yun Xin about this. I'll explain it to her myself later."
He bowed slightly to the Education Committee members.
"If fate allows, we'll meet again, seniors."
Then he turned and walked out.
His steps were steady. His back, straight.
—
"Blue Tyrant Academy… boring."
After leaving the Academy, Bai Mu casually tossed the recommendation letter aside.
Suddenly, he sprinted down the mountain at full speed and vanished at a bend in the road.
Moments later, several figures appeared at the same spot.
"Where did he go?"
"How did he disappear so suddenly?"
"Damn it! If the kid escapes, how do we explain this to the Prince?"
The black-clad Spirit Master leading them looked grim.
"Enough talk. Split up and search. He's only an eleventh-rank Spirit Master—he can't have gone far."
The group immediately scattered.
In a secluded spot, the invisible Bai Mu watched coldly.
"Xue Xing. Xue Beng. You have chosen death."
His eyes gleamed with killing intent.
After the Spirit Masters finished their search, Bai Mu took one last look at the towering mountain where Heaven Dou Royal Academy stood, released Zygarde, and followed Dugu Bo's aura toward an uninhabited region.
Destination—Sunset Forest.