I've already become a Titled Douluo and now the System shows up?

"Alright, you can leave me here and withdraw."

Qin Xiao paid no mind to the stunned Dai Mubai, waved his hand without turning around, and walked towards the two-story building in front of him.

"Mubai takes his leave."

At the sound, Dai Mubai snapped out of his trance, but did not dare to show the slightest discourtesy and bowed as he backed away.

The small courtyard was simply furnished.

A pavilion, a round table, some basic plants, and a bamboo and rattan rocking chair.

Qin Xiao walked straight to the rocking chair and lay down.

He hadn't forgotten the System's prompt to adjust his condition.

"So, after peering in secret for half the day, don't you intend to come out and meet me?"

He closed his eyes lightly, speaking indifferently.

But no one responded.

"To think you're a Titled Douluo, yet you don't even have the courage to show yourself?"

Qin Xiao spoke again.

This wasn't mere speculation.

In fact, from the moment he displayed his strength at the academy gate, he felt that he was being watched, and it gave him a sense of crisis.

Right now, being in Shrek Academy, even by moving his toes, Qin Xiao knew it must be Tang Hao who was secretly watching.

Especially after Dai Mubai had left, the feeling of being watched intensified, and he really didn't want to pretend to be unaware, opting instead for a direct confrontation.

After all, no one has such a perverted psychology; having an eye secretly watching you is very uncomfortable.

However.

No one still answered his words, and Qin Xiao felt that the sensation of being watched had suddenly disappeared.

"It seems Tang Hao has left?"

"He he, he probably can't gauge my true strength and doesn't dare to confront me directly? Hao Tian Douluo, that's all he is."

Qin Xiao laughed.

In reality, he could guess the reason why Tang Hao was spying on him.

It was nothing more than the possibility that Qin Xiao's existence might pose a threat to Tang San and Xiaowu.

"Dean, up ahead is His Majesty the Thunder Emperor's courtyard. Is there anything we should be cautious about?"

At this moment, footsteps and clamorous voices reached Qin Xiao's ears.

He recognized the speaker—it was Li Yusong, who handled the first hurdle of the entrance exam at Shrek Academy's gate.

Immediately after, another voice spoke, "Just follow my lead when we get in there, those who can speak should say less, and those who can't should remain silent. Remember, do not upset him."

"Yes."

"Don't worry, boss."

Qin Xiao perceived that the visitors must be Li Yusong, Flander, and other teachers from Shrek Academy.

Before long, the disordered footsteps had stopped outside the door.

"Your Highness, Li Yusong requests an audience."

"Shrek Academy's Dean Flanders requests an audience."

"Shao Xin requests an audience."

"Lu Qibin requests an audience."

Outside the courtyard, extremely respectful voices reached Qin Xiao's ears.

To receive a visit from the dean and teachers personally on the first day of enrollment, such an honor I have here, Qin Xiao thought to himself with self-deprecating laughter.

If it weren't for saddling himself with a system full of flaws, he wouldn't have bothered coming here.

"Come in."

Qin Xiao's voice carried outside, and at the same time, he stood up to greet the people walking into the courtyard. It was the least form of respect he could show.

Soon, the four people from Shrek entered the small courtyard.

Qin Xiao had already met Li Yusong, so he only glanced at him before looking towards the next person.

Next to Li Yusong stood Flander, wearing gold-rimmed glasses, his face showing a cunning air.

Following him was Shao Xin, a food-class Soul Master with a slightly plump figure. The last person was an old man with white hair and beard, Lu Qibin, the Star Luo Chess Spirit.

"Dean Flander, if there is anything you need, you can just send someone to notify me. There's no need for such a big fuss. After all, I am now half a student of Shrek."

Qin Xiao said with a smile that seemed warmly welcoming.

What have I done to deserve a visit from a Titled Douluo like this?

Flander smiled bitterly inside, "Your Highness, let me just get straight to the point. The teachers and I came to ask if there's anything we can do to help you?"

There's an old saying that one wouldn't visit a temple without a cause; Flander felt it was very abnormal for someone of such stature to visit his modest "temple."

"It's nothing much, you can think of it as...."

"Playing."

Qin Xiao thought for a moment before giving that answer.

"Playing?"

A bitter smile immediately appeared on Flander's face.

It's easy for Your Highness to say such things. But the pressure on us is still quite significant, isn't it?

Could we possibly choose another place to play?

Flander felt a bitterness that he just couldn't express.

However,

Qin Xiao clearly saw through Flander's thoughts: "Dean Flanders need not be too concerned about me. You can act as if I don't exist. If there's anything I need, I will look for you."

He understood Flander's predicament and spoke to reassure him.

"Well, then."

"Since that's the case, we won't disturb Your Highness's rest."

Whatever the case, Flander finally got a word from Qin Xiao.

At least he knew how to coexist with Qin Xiao now, which was a decent gain.

Seeing an opportunity, he took it, leading Li Yusong and the others to take their leave.

After Flander and the others left, Qin Xiao lay back down on the rocking chair, and before he knew it, he actually fell asleep.

In a flash, it was deep into the night.

[Ding, host's mental state is excellent; mission acceptance is possible.]

In his sleep, Qin Xiao was suddenly woken by the System's voice.

Damn!

Damned System, are you interrupting my sweet dream?

Do you realize the magnitude of your sin?

Qin Xiao was extremely displeased with the System's sudden appearance.

He couldn't remember the last time he had slept so soundly.

Interrupting someone's sweet dream is a grave sin.

Yet, the System paid no mind to Qin Xiao and directly issued the mission.

[Ding, a new task has been distributed.]

[Newbie Guide (Three): Rookie Soul Master, your Martial Soul is weak, your cultivation talents are poor, and you barely made it into Shrek Academy. You must cherish this hard-earned opportunity...]

Are you talking about me?

Qin Xiao felt that what the System was describing was not him at all.

Calling one of the top ten Martial Souls, the Thunder Emperor Spirit, weak?

Saying my talents are poor when I became a Titled Douluo at eighteen?

If I went out and said such things about myself, those so-called geniuses would probably be ashamed enough to want to bash their heads against a block of tofu...

The only thing Qin Xiao felt he barely managed was to hold back from killing Zhao Wuji...

But the System didn't care about him at all.

[Rookie, you need to understand the principle that the early bird catches the worm and hard work can make up for lack of talent. Only by working harder than others can you avoid being far outstripped by other students at the academy.

Mission requirement: Continue to cultivate diligently from midnight to dawn for seven consecutive days.

Mission reward: Soul power rank +1.]

Hmm?

Seeing the System's reward, Qin Xiao's eyes lit up.

Although the System said a lot of nonsense that seemed crazy, the reward was actually quite good.

"Even if I absorb and refine thunder to convert my soul power and improve my cultivation level, it would take me months or even longer to increase one soul power rank. This time, the System's reward of advancing one soul power rank could save me a lot of time."

Qin Xiao's eyes sparkled, and his body honestly moved towards the outside of the courtyard.

Since the System mentioned hard cultivation, he couldn't do it half-heartedly.

He needed to find a place to draw down the thunder for Tempest Body Refinement.

Only then would he be worthy of the word "diligence."