I'm Just Beating Up Noobs, What Can You Do About It?

"Anytime." Lin Chen shrugged and turned to Xiao Wu and Dugu Yan beside him. "Come on, we're going to class."

With that, he led the three of them around Yu Tianheng and continued toward the classroom building.

Yu Tianheng stood where he was, watching Lin Chen walk away, the chill in his eyes growing deeper.

"Brother Yu, that kid's way too arrogant," a student beside him leaned in and said in a low voice.

"Let him be arrogant." Yu Tianheng snorted. "In three days, I'll show him what a real gap looks like."

Lin Chen, already some distance away, naturally couldn't hear him.

Xiao Wu, however, glanced back, then leaned close to Lin Chen's ear and whispered, "Lin Chen, is that Yu Tianheng really strong?"

"He's all right, I guess," Lin Chen replied casually. "The Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Martial Soul is considered top-tier among Beast Martial Souls."

Xiao Wu asked curiously, "Then can you beat him?"

Lin Chen turned his head and rolled his eyes at Xiao Wu, a smile appearing on his face. "If Yu Tianheng were a Soul Emperor, I might lose."

Dugu Yan suddenly laughed when she heard that, while Xiao Wu looked at Lin Chen in confusion. Only Ye Lingling, walking at the very back, let her gaze linger on Lin Chen's back for a moment, her thoughts unknown.

That night, at the Crown Prince's Residence.

Xue Qinghe sat in her study, holding a cup of tea as she looked at the intelligence report that had just arrived on her desk.

It said that Lin Chen would face Yu Tianheng the next day.

"The Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon again," Xue Qinghe muttered. She raised her cup and took a sip, neither sending anyone to inform Lin Chen nor making any arrangements.

After all, given Lin Chen's current strength, let alone Yu Tianheng, even Qian Renxue didn't dare say she could definitely defeat him.

The next day, at the Heaven Dou Royal Academy Training Grounds.

News of the duel had spread throughout the academy the day before, and by the day of the duel, a sea of people surrounded the Training Grounds.

"Yu Tianheng is a level twenty-five Soul Grandmaster with the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Martial Soul. He's one of the notable figures in the advanced division. How long has that Lin Chen even been here, and he already dares accept his challenge?"

"What do you know? I heard Lin Chen has two Thousand-Year Soul Rings, and his first ring was already a thousand years old. He's ridiculously fierce."

"Two Thousand-Year Soul Rings? Really? Doesn't that mean Yu Tianheng is bound to lose?"

"Hard to say. The Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon is the number one Beast Martial Soul under heaven. Fighting above his level isn't out of the question."

The crowd buzzed with discussion, their gazes sweeping back and forth across the center of the Training Grounds.

On the eastern side of the Training Grounds, Dugu Yan, Xiao Wu, and Ye Lingling stood in the front row.

Xiao Wu gripped the railing with both hands and stood on tiptoe to look into the arena, muttering, "Why hasn't it started yet? Why isn't Yu Tianheng here?"

Dugu Yan stood beside her with her arms folded, her face expressionless, but her gaze remained fixed on the entrance to the Training Grounds.

Ye Lingling stood half a step behind the other two, quietly watching the arena.

"Here he comes, here he comes!" After a short wait, the crowd suddenly stirred.

Yu Tianheng entered through the northern entrance to the Training Grounds. Today, he had changed into a tight-fitting black combat outfit, and his short, ink-black hair gleamed coldly in the sunlight.

He walked to the center of the Training Grounds and surveyed the crowd, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly before he turned toward the southern entrance.

"Where's Lin Chen? Don't tell me he's scared."

Before he had finished speaking, the crowd at the southern entrance parted of its own accord.

Lin Chen walked in.

He wore his academy uniform, his steps casual, his face full of confidence and ease.

"Go, Lin Chen!" Xiao Wu was the first to shout, her clear voice standing out in the noisy crowd.

Dugu Yan shouted too, "Don't hold back!"

Lin Chen looked back at the three of them and waved with a smile, then walked into the Training Grounds and stopped opposite Yu Tianheng.

Yu Tianheng looked Lin Chen up and down and sneered. "I thought you wouldn't dare show up."

Lin Chen said calmly, "I think that line suits you better, doesn't it?"

"Good, then." Yu Tianheng flexed his wrists, the smile fading from his face. "Today, I'll show everyone that the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon isn't something you can insult."

"Your uncle said the same thing," Lin Chen replied casually.

Yu Tianheng's face darkened at once.

"You're courting death." He let out a low shout and pushed off the ground, Soul Power surging around him as a mass of blue-purple light rose behind him.

The illusory image of a giant dragon covered from head to tail in blue-purple scales appeared behind him. Its head was raised high, its eyes glared furiously, and fine arcs of blue electricity coiled around its body.

Two yellow Soul Rings rose from beneath his feet, and the presence of a level twenty-five Soul Grandmaster swept across the entire arena in an instant, drawing a chorus of gasps from the crowd.

"So this is the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon? What an oppressive presence..."

"Yu Tianheng is only ten, right? He's already reached level twenty-five in Soul Power. As expected of a direct descendant of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan."

Listening to the discussion around him, Yu Tianheng smiled again and looked at Lin Chen. "Your turn. Let me see those so-called Thousand-Year Soul Rings of yours."

Lin Chen raised his left arm, and silver-white light poured from his wrist.

The Ultimate Armor appeared piece by piece from shoulder to arm, its silver-white plates gleaming coldly in the sunlight.

The pentagonal energy core on his chest shone with a diamond-like brilliance, and two silver wings unfolded behind him, pale golden patterns of light flowing along their edges.

Then, his Soul Rings rose.

Three Soul Rings—purple, purple, and black—rose simultaneously from beneath his feet, and a biting presence swept across the entire arena.

The crowd fell silent for an instant, then erupted in an uproar.

"A three-ring Soul Elder? That's impossible, isn't it?"

"Purple, purple, black! His First Soul Ring is already a Thousand-Year Soul Ring, and his third is a Ten Thousand Year Soul Ring!"

"How old is he? Six? A six-year-old Soul Elder?!"

Across from him, the smile froze on Yu Tianheng's face.

He stared fixedly at the three Soul Rings beneath Lin Chen's feet, his lips parting slightly as his pupils contracted sharply. The oppressive presence of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Martial Soul vanished without a trace before Lin Chen.

He knew Lin Chen was strong, but he hadn't expected him to be this strong.

Three rings against two, Hundred-Year Soul Rings against a Ten Thousand Year Soul Ring.

Yu Tianheng felt the urge to retreat, but with spectators all around him, if he admitted defeat just like that, the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan would lose all face.

He gritted his teeth, forcibly suppressed the unease in his heart, and let out a low shout as he attacked first.

"Blue Lightning Dragon Claw!"

Yu Tianheng swung his right arm out, blue-purple Soul Power gathering in his palm to form an illusory dragon claw. Trailing crackling arcs of electricity, it struck down at Lin Chen's head!

Lin Chen stood still.

The illusory dragon claw thundered toward him. He slowly raised the Ultimate Zero Sword to meet it.

"Boom!"

The dragon claw slammed into Lin Chen's sword, and blue-purple arcs of electricity burst apart, crackling against the Ultimate Armor and striking a shower of sparks.

Lin Chen didn't budge, not retreating even half a step. Yu Tianheng, on the other hand, was driven back three steps by the blow, sweat beading on his face.

Lin Chen tilted his head and asked with a smile, "That's it?"

Yu Tianheng's pupils contracted. Before he could react, Lin Chen had already vanished from in front of him.

"Second Soul Skill, Void Instant Slash."

Silver light flashed, and Lin Chen appeared behind Yu Tianheng, the edge of the Ultimate Zero Sword resting against the back of Yu Tianheng's neck, but he did not thrust it in.

"You lost." Lin Chen's calm voice came from behind him.

Yu Tianheng's entire body went rigid. The chill at the back of his neck kept him from daring to move a muscle, and a fine layer of cold sweat beaded on his forehead.

It was too fast. He hadn't even seen how Lin Chen had gotten behind him.

"No, impossible..." He gritted his teeth, his voice trembling. "How could the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon possibly..."

"Why couldn't it?" Lin Chen withdrew his sword, walked around in front of him, and kicked him.

"Bang!"

Yu Tianheng was sent flying, rolling five or six times across the Training Grounds before coming to a stop, covered in dirt and utterly disheveled.