Bone King VS Dugu Yan

The female staff member smiled again. "Is there anything else I can do for you?"

"I've changed my mind." Dugu Yan shook the documents in her hand and said, "Didn't that guy called Bone King want to challenge me across ranks? Fine. I accept his challenge."

"Yan Yan, why did you suddenly accept?" Not only Yu Tianheng, but everyone present found it quite surprising.

Dugu Yan explained, "I think you were right just now. Since we're unwilling to accept weaker opponents, why should stronger opponents accept us?"

"So, I've chosen to accept Bone King's challenge. I hope that the next time I challenge someone across ranks, a Soul Ancestor will be willing to accept my challenge as well."

As she spoke, a trace of venomous malice appeared in Dugu Yan's eyes. "So what if he has ten consecutive victories? No matter what methods that guy called Bone King has prepared against me, I'll use Jade Phosphor Serpent Poison to tell him that challenging me was the biggest mistake he ever made!"

Seeing that Dugu Yan had been influenced by his words, Yu Tianheng revealed a satisfied smile. His coming to Heaven Dou Royal Academy had been arranged by his grandfather and great-uncle, with the goal of befriending Dugu Yan and gaining the support of Dugu Bo, a Titled Douluo.

But since that was the case, how could merely befriending her be enough?

Only by making Dugu Yan his woman could he ensure that Dugu Bo would always stand by his side.

As the grandson of the Sect Master of the world's third-ranked sect and one of the Twin Stars of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, what woman could Yu Tianheng not have? He had never actively pursued girls.

First, he established a good image in a woman's heart. Then, he gradually became someone she admired. That was how he made women pursue him instead.

Now, the stubborn Dugu Yan was willing to take his words to heart and follow his example by accepting Bone King's challenge. From the perspective of romantic development, this was undoubtedly a good sign.

That night.

Heaven Dou Great Spirit Arena.

The open-air stands surrounding the seventy-meter-wide Central Main Soul Fighting Platform were packed with spectators.

Amid thunderous cheers, every light shone upon the center of the Central Main Soul Fighting Platform.

A male host in a blue-and-gold tailcoat stepped onto the stage. The entire venue immediately fell silent.

"Good evening, everyone. My name is What the Fuck. It is my honor to host tonight's cross-tier Soul Battle challenge at the main Soul Fighting Arena."

"The initiator of this cross-tier Soul Battle is a Three-Ring Soul Elder, while the challenger is a Two-Ring Great Soul Master. I believe everyone is familiar with the two Soul Masters about to take the field."

Glancing at the personal information on the battle board, the host continued in a clear voice, "The initiator is from the Imperial Fighting Team. She is also the team's vice-captain, Dugu Yan, a Level Thirty-Six control-type Battle Soul Elder with the Jade Phosphorous Serpent Martial Soul."

"The challenger is a newcomer who registered for Soul Battles only recently. He calls himself Bone King, possesses the Skeleton Martial Soul, and is a Level Twenty-Nine defense-type Battle Spirit Master."

"This newcomer called Bone King achieved ten battles and ten victories in just five days. His strength is absolutely among the best in Soul Battles at the Soul Grandmaster level. Perhaps it was this record of ten straight wins that gave him the confidence to challenge Soul Elder Dugu Yan across ranks."

"So, will this cross-tier Soul Battle challenge allow him to get what he wants and succeed in challenging her? Let us wait and see. Please welcome both Soul Masters to the stage."

The instant the host's voice faded away—

The two Great Doors on either side of the main Soul Fighting Arena opened simultaneously, and both participants in the cross-tier Soul Battle entered at the same time, walking toward the center of the Soul Fighting Platform.

Entering through the Great Door on the left were the seven members of the Imperial Fighting Team.

Yu Tianheng led the rest of his teammates to the spectator area closest to the Soul Fighting Platform. Only Dugu Yan walked onto the platform, her eyes filled with malice.

Only one person emerged from the Great Door on the right—a Black-Haired Youth who appeared to be seventeen or eighteen. The moment he appeared, the spectators in the stands opposite him were stunned, their eyes full of confusion and indescribable astonishment.

The Black-Haired Youth had delicate features, but his face was somewhat haggard. He looked to be in poor spirits, and a faint chill seemed to radiate from him, giving people a lifeless feeling.

In fact, five days earlier, quite a few spectators wearing Heaven Dou Royal Academy uniforms had already recognized this Black-Haired Youth, whose entire body exuded an eerie aura, as a chef from the Academy Kitchen.

This chef trained every night in the academy's various Mimetic Fields. His strange appearance and temperament made him unforgettable at first sight.

Even more unforgettable were the dishes he cooked. Over the past year and a half, the Academy Kitchen's revenue had tripled because of him.

Food was the people's first necessity. At Heaven Dou Royal Academy, aside from the strong and the elders, this chef, who could prepare all kinds of rare dishes, had also earned everyone's respect. All the students and teachers affectionately called him Master Xia.

Xia Liang had never expected that after transmigrating to Douluo Continent and pursuing cooking as a side profession, he would end up with such a title.

At Heaven Dou Royal Academy, every dish he made would be given the prefix "Master Xia" by the students.

For example, Master Xia's Red Skin Fruit Scrambled Eggs.

And Master Xia's Ramen, which the students abbreviated as Xia Noodles.

Xia Liang had two purposes in entering the Great Soul Arena's cross-tier Soul Battle under the name Bone King. The first was to test the power of the Self-Created Soul Skills he had developed over the years, while also gaining more experience fighting Soul Masters.

The second was to obtain what he wanted by challenging Dugu Yan across ranks.

At that moment, on the Central Soul Fighting Platform.

Dugu Yan and Xia Liang had already reached the center of the Soul Fighting Platform. Their eyes met, and both saw the astonishment on the other's face.

Dugu Yan was astonished because the person before her called Bone King was actually Master Xia from the Academy Kitchen?

Xia Liang was astonished because Dugu Yan had painted both sets of fingernails with emerald-green nail polish. Douluo Continent even has something like that? "What are you looking at?" Dugu Yan suddenly shouted.

Xia Liang smiled. "I'm looking at how much longer you can keep acting so arrogant."

Hearing that, Dugu Yan could not help but laugh. "Master Xia, I don't know why you want to challenge me. But I think that as a chef, you'd be better off staying obediently in the kitchen. The Great Soul Arena isn't a place you should be. Your kitchen knife can't hurt a Soul Elder."

"Thanks for the reminder. However, my kitchen knife will be a little different today."

As he spoke, two yellow Soul Rings lit up around Xia Liang. Black-Purple Ribs encased his body, and an Iron Bone Blade formed in his right hand from a spine and Black-Purple Iron Wire Energy Bodies entwined around it.

At that moment, a cold and eerie aura nearly covered half the Soul Fighting Platform.

The sudden intimidation from the Skeleton Martial Soul's aura caught the unprepared Dugu Yan off guard, frightening her into taking two steps back before she steadied herself.

It seemed that this show of force had enraged her. The teasing gleam in Dugu Yan's eyes instantly became much sharper.

An emerald-green snake shadow flashed behind her and vanished. The next moment, three Soul Rings—two yellow and one purple—appeared around her body, while her legs transformed into a thick emerald-green snake tail.