Douluo Dalu 3: Legend of the White Fox

Luo Guixing, fourteen years old, possesses a space-element martial soul and is ranked seventeenth on the Youth Genius Ranking. He is recognized as the top young genius of Heaven Dou City.

The Youth Genius Ranking is a preparatory list for the Continent's Wind and Cloud Ranking. Anyone who makes it onto the Youth Genius Ranking is almost guaranteed to become a prominent figure on the Wind and Cloud Ranking in the future. This ranking, also known as the Youth Wind and Cloud Ranking, evaluates those under eighteen based on their talent, strength, secondary professions, and soul power levels. Only thirty spots are available on this prestigious list.

Although many extraordinary talents like Xia Yi, Gu Yue, and Wu Jin are not included in the ranking, Luo Guixing's ability to surpass many seventeen- and eighteen-year-olds and place in the top twenty at just fourteen speaks volumes about his exceptional talent and strength.

Every three years, Shrek Academy holds an entrance examination, attracting thousands of applicants. While the academy cannot keep track of every student, prodigies like Luo Guixing always catch the attention of Shrek's teachers. Some inner-court instructors have already considered taking him on as a disciple.

When Xia Yi ambushed Luo Guixing, the onlookers—while outraged by his shamelessness—also began to reassess Xia Yi's strength. Despite the underhanded tactic, the fact that he could incapacitate Luo Guixing so effortlessly shocked even Shen Yi.

Among Shrek's young geniuses, Shen Yi was most familiar with talents like Ye Xinglan. Yet, even Ye Xinglan would struggle to subdue Luo Guixing as swiftly and decisively as Xia Yi did.

Within Xia Yi's age group, only Na'er from Shrek Academy might match this level of ease.

"Bribing your way into Shrek Academy is useless," Shen Yi said coldly, casting a scornful glance at Xia Yi. "Shrek Academy will investigate this thoroughly. If we find out you're lying, we will take appropriate action."

Although Shen Yi was not a pure healing-type soul master, she was skilled in healing techniques. Otherwise, she would not have chosen Life Crystal to craft her battle armor wings.

With her abilities, she could have revived Luo Guixing to confront Xia Yi. However, after seeing the large lumps on Luo Guixing's head and Xia Yi's refusal to put away his Creation Hammer, she decided against it.

Judging by Xia Yi's aggressive stance, if Luo Guixing woke up, he would likely earn another bump on his head before he could even speak.

Even if Shen Yi protected Luo Guixing, without solid evidence, Xia Yi would simply deny everything. Knowing he was lying but being unable to do anything about it left her frustrated.

For now, she decided to let the academy's higher-ups handle the situation.

"Oh, I see," Xia Yi responded casually. He then bent down and removed the storage soul guide from Luo Guixing's wrist.

"What are you doing?" Shen Yi shouted.

"Consider this repayment for the bribe I paid him," Xia Yi said, tossing the storage soul guide into the air and catching it with a grin before walking away without a care.

"Shameless!" Both Shen Yi and the observing Ya Li and Leng Yaozhu gritted their teeth in anger.

When Xia Yi only took the enrollment form and left the rest of Luo Guixing's belongings untouched, they had assumed he still had some moral boundaries.

Seeing him brazenly rob Luo Guixing in front of them shattered that illusion.

As Xia Yi walked off, Wu Jin turned to Gu Yue and asked, "Aren't you worried at all?"

"Worried about him? I'd have to be out of my mind," Gu Yue scoffed. "I'd rather think about what to eat for dinner."

Wu Jin chuckled softly and asked, "Is it because you trust he'll handle everything? Or do you just not care about him?"

"You talk too much," Gu Yue said coldly, shooting him a glare before turning away.

Despite Xia Yi's seemingly flippant demeanor, she had long since learned to trust him.

If even Xia Yi couldn't resolve the problem, there was no point in her worrying.

After returning to his hotel, Xia Yi set an alarm and immediately fell asleep.

As far as he was concerned, the matter no longer had anything to do with him.

Meanwhile, Shrek Academy's higher-ups—especially Sky Phoenix Douluo Leng Yaozhu—were fuming.

"We're paying so much attention to you, and you just go off to sleep? How disrespectful can you get?"

"Wait a minute—his alarm is set for after the Shrek class monitor election. What is he planning?" Leng Yaozhu and Ya Li quickly realized something was amiss.

Ya Li wasted no time reporting the matter to Yun Ming.

"He's just a newly advanced three-ring Soul Elder. Why do you keep worrying about him?" Yun Ming sighed in exasperation. "His scheme to steal Luo Guixing's slot has already failed. What else can he do now besides sleep?"

With the ongoing threat of the Holy Spirit Cult occupying his thoughts, Yun Ming found it tiresome to be constantly bothered about Xia Yi.

"I have a bad feeling about him," Ya Li said gravely.

"So what if he has bad intentions? What can a three-ring Soul Elder possibly do?" Yun Ming dismissed her concerns. "Fine. I'll have Silver Moon Douluo issue an official statement. We'll accuse Xia Yi of robbing a Shrek Academy applicant and ban him from entering the academy through any means. That should settle the matter once and for all."

"No! I was planning to recruit him as my disciple," Ya Li objected immediately.

"It's decided. Let's see what he can do if he's permanently barred from Shrek Academy," Yun Ming said firmly, finally fed up with the endless reports about Xia Yi.

Soon, the news spread like wildfire throughout Shrek City—Xia Yi had not only stolen another applicant's enrollment form but also shamelessly took Luo Guixing's storage soul guide.

The entire city erupted in outrage.

"Shameless! Absolutely shameless!"

"Not only is he shameless—he's stupid! Does he think Shrek Academy is a joke?"

"If it were me, I'd have restrained Luo Guixing after stealing the form."

However, some people began to notice discrepancies.

"Wait, isn't Xia Yi the one who defeated Ye Xinglan three years ago?"

That incident had been widely publicized, dominating the news headlines for days.

"With his talent, why wouldn't he have an enrollment slot?"

"Something doesn't add up…"

"Could it be that Shrek Academy deliberately denied him a spot out of bias?"

"If I were that talented but got rejected, I'd be furious too!"

Sea God Pavilion—

Clouds of mist swirled as Yun Ming, the Pavilion Master, spat out a mouthful of tea. "Damn it! How could I forget about this? Quick, issue a clarification! We can't let people think Shrek Academy is biased or deliberately targeting Xia Yi."

It wasn't that Yun Ming was careless—over the past three years, the Holy Spirit Cult had been rampant, occupying all his attention. The minor incident between Xia Yi and Ye Xinglan had long since slipped from his mind.

"Wait a minute… Could it be that he's using public opinion to pressure us into backing down?" Yun Ming's mind quickly pieced together the situation.

"For someone his age to possess such meticulous thinking is indeed impressive. But he's still too young—if he thinks a little public outrage can force Shrek Academy to cave, he's underestimating us. Let's see how I dismantle your little scheme." Yun Ming snorted coldly.

Without hesitation, he personally issued an official statement. The message emphasized that Shrek Academy had always upheld fairness and impartiality. When awarding examination quotas, the academy not only assessed a soul master's talent but also their character and morality.

As for Xia Yi? According to Shrek Academy's covert investigation, he lacked the necessary moral integrity. This, and not any personal bias, was why he had not been given an examination quota. His recent robbery of a fellow examinee only served as further proof of his unworthiness.

Given Yun Ming's immense reputation, his statement swiftly reversed public opinion. Once again, the tide turned in favor of Shrek Academy.

Outrage against Xia Yi surged anew.

"Exactly! If someone as shameless as Xia Yi can enter Shrek Academy, wouldn't he become a scourge upon the entire continent once he grows stronger?"

"I fully support Shrek Academy's decision not to give him a quota!"

"He's already robbing examinees at his age—if we let him go unchecked, he'll be hijacking military aircraft when he's older! Shrek Academy is right to keep him out!"

And thus, the public scorn for Xia Yi only grew louder.

(End of Chapter)