Heaven Dou Academy, Special Training Begins

Heaven Dou Royal Academy was located in the eastern outskirts of Heaven Dou City, backed by mountains and facing a lake. It covered a vast area, boasted beautiful surroundings and luxurious buildings, and was hailed as the cradle of soul masters in the Heaven Dou Empire—a sacred place coveted by countless noble children and gifted soul masters.

That day, in the academy's highest-level Mimicry Training Ground, the seven main members and three substitute members of the Heaven Dou Royal Academy Team stood neatly in a row. Their faces bore traces of curiosity, defiance, and concealed arrogance.

They were: Captain Yu Tianheng, Vice-Captain Dugu Yan, team members Shi Mo and Shi Mo, the Black Tortoise brothers, Yu Feng of the Ghost Leopard, Osler of the Black Panther, Ye Lingling of the Nine Heart Begonia, as well as the substitute members.

This team was the very same Imperial Dou Team that Ling Yun had crushed with a single punch at the Soto Great Soul Arena. After several months of training, all of them had improved, especially Yu Tianheng, who had broken through level forty and become a Soul Ancestor. His confidence had soared.

At that moment, they were waiting for a "specially appointed coach" whom Sect Master Ning of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect had supposedly invited in person. When the news had arrived, everyone had been astonished. They could not imagine what sort of person could make Sect Master Ning value him so highly.

"I heard this coach is very young, and his strength is unfathomable," Ye Lingling said softly. The mysterious youth she had encountered twice before in Suotuo City and the Soul Hunting Forest surfaced in her mind.

Yu Tianheng snorted. "So what if he's strong? Training depends on methods and experience, not strength alone. I'd like to see what he can possibly teach us." He had never let go of his crushing defeat at Ling Yun's hands.

Dugu Yan curled her lip as well. "Exactly. We're the ace team of Heaven Dou Royal Academy!"

Just then, the training ground's doors were pushed open. Ning Fengzhi entered at an unhurried pace, accompanied by a young man in green robes.

The instant Yu Tianheng, Dugu Yan, Ye Lingling, and everyone else who had met Ling Yun saw the green-robed youth's face, they were struck dumb as if by lightning, frozen where they stood! Their eyes widened like bells, filled with utter disbelief!

"Is... is that him?!"

"Dragon Emperor?! Ling Yun?!"

"How is that possible?! The coach Sect Master Ning invited... is him?!"

Yu Tianheng's face instantly turned livid. He clenched his fists so tightly that his nails dug into his palms. Losing to Ling Yun was the greatest humiliation of his life, and now he was supposed to accept training from his enemy? It was simply an unbearable disgrace!

Dugu Yan's lovely face went pale as well. The look she gave Ling Yun was filled with fear and complicated emotions.

Ye Lingling's beautiful eyes widened, one hand covering her mouth. Amid her shock, however, an indescribable... joy quietly rose in her heart?

The other team members who had never met Ling Yun, such as Shi Mo and Shi Mo, were completely baffled, unable to understand why their captain and vice-captain had lost their composure so badly.

Ning Fengzhi took in their reactions and chuckled inwardly, though his expression remained calm. He announced, "Team members, allow me to introduce him. This is Elder Ling Yun, a Guest Elder of my Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, and also the special training coach I have invited specifically for you. For the next month, you will follow Elder Ling's training arrangements completely. There will be no disobedience!"

A Guest Elder?! An existence on equal footing with Sword Douluo and Bone Douluo?!

This youth who looked even younger than them?!

Now even Shi Mo, Shi Mo, and the others were stunned! This completely overturned everything they knew!

Yu Tianheng abruptly raised his head and said heatedly, "Sect Master Ning! I refuse to accept this! What makes him qualified to be our coach? Even if he's strong, he only has brute force! The Soul Master Tournament tests teamwork and tactics! Does he understand either of those?"

Ning Fengzhi's expression darkened. "Yu Tianheng! This is an order! Elder Ling's strength and knowledge are far beyond anything you can imagine! Do not be disrespectful!"

Yu Tianheng was about to argue further, but Ling Yun waved a hand, stopping Ning Fengzhi. His gaze calmly swept over the Heaven Dou Team before finally resting on Yu Tianheng. "You refuse to accept it?"

Yu Tianheng stiffened his neck. "Yes! I refuse! Unless you can prove that you're qualified to teach us!"

A faint curve appeared at the corner of Ling Yun's lips. "Proof? Simple."

He stepped forward and swept his gaze across everyone. "All ten of you, come at me together. If you can touch even the edge of my clothes, I lose, and I'll turn around and leave immediately. But if you can't even do that, then shut up and accept the training."

Arrogant! Utterly arrogant!

One man was challenging the entire Heaven Dou Royal Academy Team! Even Yu Tianheng, who had just advanced to Soul Ancestor!

Every team member was enraged! This was nothing less than naked humiliation!

"Fine! You said it!" Yu Tianheng laughed in fury. "Brothers, formation! Let him see what we can do!"

"Seven-in-One! Prepare the Martial Soul Fusion Skill!" Yu Tianheng roared. The Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Martial Soul instantly possessed him, and four soul rings blazed brilliantly! Dugu Yan's Jade Phosphorous Serpent, Shi Mo and Shi Mo's Black Tortoises, Yu Feng and Osler's leopard Martial Souls, and Ye Lingling's Nine Heart Begonia all lit up at once! Powerful Soul Power fluctuations connected into one, their momentum astonishing!

This was the combined technique they had painstakingly trained, powerful enough to threaten a Soul King!

Yet, in the face of this overwhelming joint assault, Ling Yun remained standing where he was without moving at all. He did not even release his Martial Soul.

Just as Yu Tianheng and the others' attacks were about to strike him, Ling Yun slowly raised his right hand. He extended one finger and lightly tapped the air.

Bzzzz—!

An invisible, terrifying pressure that seemed capable of freezing souls erupted from his fingertip! It was as if an ancient Dragon God had descended, looking down upon ants!

Before that supreme Dragon Might, Yu Tianheng's Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon let out a mournful cry, and his Soul Power instantly collapsed! Dugu Yan's poisonous mist was directly annihilated! Shi Mo and Shi Mo's tortoise-shell shields trembled violently! Yu Feng and Osler froze as though immobilized! The glow of Ye Lingling's Nine Heart Begonia dimmed!

The ten of them seemed to be pinned beneath an invisible mountain. Their bones creaked throughout their bodies, and they could not move even a single finger! Their faces were filled with absolute terror and horror!

It had only been the release of a trace of his aura! Yet he had completely suppressed the entire Heaven Dou Royal Academy Team!

Even Ning Fengzhi beside them felt his heart tremble, his eyes fixed on Ling Yun in shock. He knew Ling Yun was strong, but he had never expected him to be this strong! This was no longer power at the level of a Soul Elder or Soul Ancestor!

Ling Yun withdrew his finger, and the pressure vanished instantly.

The ten members of the Heaven Dou Team collapsed to the ground as though drained of all strength, gasping for breath. They stared at Ling Yun as if he were a god or demon! Every shred of their arrogance and defiance had been crushed to pieces!

Yu Tianheng's face was ashen. At last, he understood just how vast the gulf between himself and Ling Yun was! It was not something hard work could ever bridge!

Ling Yun looked at the people sprawled across the ground and said calmly, "Now, does anyone still refuse to accept it?"

Dead silence followed.

No one dared answer.

Ling Yun nodded. "Very good. Then the special training begins. First task: weighted running. One hundred laps around the Mimicry Training Ground. Anyone who fails to finish gets no dinner."

His training was destined not to be easy. The "hellish" life of the Heaven Dou Royal Academy Team had begun.