Blue Tyrant Academy

Blue Tyrant Academy

Elsewhere, Blue Tyrant Academy was brightly lit.

Liu Erlong was raising her cup in celebration with the Shrek group, the candlelight making her heroic features appear especially radiant. After several rounds of drinks, she was recounting amusing stories from her travels across the continent with Flander when hurried footsteps suddenly sounded outside the door.

"Headmaster." Yin Shu knocked lightly and entered, bending down to whisper a few words into Liu Erlong's ear.

"What?" Liu Erlong paused with her wine cup in hand, amber liquid rippling gently within it. Her sharp gaze swept across everyone present before she instructed Yin Shu, "Bring him here."

"Yes." Yin Shu bowed respectfully. As he turned, his robes stirred a faint breeze. Amid his deliberately softened footsteps came the faint clink of metal armor.

Flander adjusted the glasses on his nose, his eyes behind the lenses filled with confusion. "Erlong, who's coming?"

The fingers holding Liu Erlong's cup tightened slightly, sending fine ripples through the amber wine. She cast an imperceptible glance at the silent Yu Xiaogang, her voice carrying suppressed anger. "It's Xiaogang's nephew. Tianheng must have heard that you were driven out by Dugu Bo."

As she spoke the last few words, her voice unconsciously lowered. In the candlelight, the corner of her eye could be seen twitching faintly—according to the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect's family records, her father was Yu Tianheng's second granduncle, making her Yu Tianheng's cousin aunt. Yet before Yu Xiaogang, that identity was the secret she least dared to mention.

Light flashed across Flander's lenses as he exchanged a knowing look with Liu Erlong. He lifted his cup and took a concealing sip, only to realize the wine had long since run dry.

Hearing this, indignation appeared on all the Shrek students' faces. With his mouth stuffed full of food, Ma Hongjun mumbled indistinctly, "A weasel paying respects to a chicken." Grease dripped from the corner of his mouth, staining the front of his clothes.

"Exactly!" Oscar immediately echoed. Sneaking a glance at Zhu Zhuqing, he added, "Who knows whether they came to laugh at us?"

Dai Mubai frowned. "Enough, fatty. With all this food, can't you keep your mouth shut?" Having come from the Star Luo Imperial Family, he understood these twists and turns better than anyone—he naturally knew this was not something Yu Tianheng and the others could decide. Besides, he was the one who had beaten them up. Once he learned that Xue Beng was a prince, he had understood that he had been set up.

Xiao Wu sat quietly beside Tang San, appearing to toy with the carrot in her hand, though a trace of lingering fear flashed deep in her eyes. If she had not desperately suppressed her Spirit Beast aura today, being expelled from the academy would have been the least of it. Perhaps everyone in Shrek would have died without even a burial place. Thinking of this, she unconsciously leaned a little closer to Tang San.

Ning Rongrong elegantly sipped her juice. To her, it made no difference which academy she attended. Zhu Zhuqing, meanwhile, had long been mentally prepared.

"Everyone, say a little less," Tang San said softly, patting the back of Xiao Wu's hand reassuringly. A trace of purple flashed through his eyes, but his gaze remained calmly fixed on the doorway.

Upon hearing the news, Yu Xiaogang could not help but furrow his brow. A complicated emotion flashed through his clouded eyes. After a moment of silence, he finally let out a soft sigh.

Before long, Yin Shu led Yu Tianheng into the hall. When the Shrek group's gazes all turned toward him, the usually high-spirited Young Master of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect showed a rare expression of shame.

Yu Tianheng stood before Yu Xiaogang, his Adam's apple bobbing several times, yet he could not say a single word for a long while.

"Sit down and eat first," Yu Xiaogang said slowly, his voice hoarse but gentle. "This is not your fault."

Those words seemed to strike the softest part of Yu Tianheng's heart. He abruptly lifted his head, moisture faintly appearing in his eyes. "Uncle, I've withdrawn from Heaven Dou Royal Academy." He drew a deep breath and dropped to one knee. "Please allow me to cultivate under you!"

The entire hall was shocked. The chicken leg in Ma Hongjun's hand dropped onto the table with a smack. Oscar's eyes widened, and even the usually calm Tang San revealed a look of surprise—who could have imagined that this prominent sect heir would go so far for Yu Xiaogang?

Yu Xiaogang's expression changed sharply. His withered hand slammed heavily onto the table, making the bowls and dishes clatter. "Foolish!"

Flander hurriedly pressed a hand to his shoulder. "Xiaogang, let the boy have something to eat first—"

"Shut up, Flander!" Yu Xiaogang unusually interrupted his old friend harshly, his clouded eyes fixed on the kneeling Yu Tianheng. "You are no longer a child. At your age, do you know what you're doing? You represent more than yourself. Every word and action you make represents the stance of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect!" His voice trembled. "If you cannot endure even this little grievance, how will you shoulder the sect's responsibility in the future?"

Yu Tianheng lowered his head even further, loose hair covering his reddened eyes. "Your nephew knows he was wrong. I'm sorry, Uncle."

"You should not be apologizing to me!" Yu Xiaogang abruptly stood, the hem of his old robe knocking over a wine cup. Amber liquid spread across the tablecloth.

"Enough!" Liu Erlong suddenly slapped the table and rose, fiery red Soul Power flowing around her. "So what if Tianheng withdrew from school?" She pulled Yu Tianheng to his feet, authority gleaming in her phoenix eyes. "Does the Heaven Dou Imperial Family dare to turn against us? I see nothing wrong with Tianheng coming here. This is our own academy anyway. In my opinion, following those spoiled wastrels is what would ruin his future! Isn't Tian Xin doing just fine at Thunder Academy?" She turned toward Yu Xiaogang, her tone suddenly softening. "I'll explain this to those old stubborn fools in the sect."

"Erlong..." Yu Xiaogang stared at her blankly, his unfinished words turning into a long sigh.

Seeing the stubbornness mixed with unease on his nephew's face, Yu Xiaogang ultimately could not bear to criticize him further. He sighed deeply and waved his hand tiredly. "Since you're here, sit down and eat with us."

A flash of joy appeared in Yu Tianheng's eyes, but he still stood there awkwardly. Qin Ming waved at him at just the right moment. "Tianheng, come sit here."

"Teacher Qin." Yu Tianheng hurried over and respectfully bowed.

"No need for formalities." Qin Ming gently patted the empty seat beside him, then said seriously, "But I still have to criticize you a little. Heaven Dou Royal Academy does not lack one teacher like me. If I leave, someone new will naturally take my place. But as the captain, have you considered how your teammates will manage in the future?"

Yu Tianheng's body stiffened at those words. The scene of his defeat at Feng Yao's hands earlier that day surfaced before his eyes. He lowered his head and stared at his fingertips, his Adam's apple moving several times, yet he could not utter a single word—how could he admit that he had not only taken out his anger on his teammates, but had also suffered a crushing defeat before everyone?

Seeing his silence, Qin Ming assumed he was deeply reflecting and softened his tone. "Since you're here, settle in. With Xiao Feng and Yan Yan there, nothing should go wrong with the team."

Those words made Yu Tianheng feel even worse. He mechanically picked up some food before him and chewed as though he were eating wax. Candlelight danced across his lowered lashes, casting trembling shadows.

As Shrek's captain, Dai Mubai felt somewhat guilty at the sight. He raised his wine cup and solemnly said to Yu Tianheng, "When all is said and done, this happened because I acted rashly and dragged you into it."

Yu Tianheng silently shook his head, his fingertips unconsciously rubbing the rim of his cup.

"Welcome aboard." Tang San raised his teacup at the right moment and smiled warmly. A hint of understanding flashed through his Purple Demon Eye, but he considerately asked no further questions.

Yu Tianheng forced out a smile and raised his cup in return. At that moment, Ma Hongjun had already sidled over, his greasy hand landing directly on Yu Tianheng's shoulder. "Brother, you made the right choice coming to Shrek! It's about time you drew a line between yourself and those stuck-up nobles!" As he spoke, he made an exaggerated look of disgust, making Oscar burst out laughing.

With everyone chiming in to ease the situation, the heavy atmosphere in the hall gradually became livelier. Candlelight illuminated one youthful face after another.

Flander adjusted the glasses on his nose, his gaze behind the lenses sweeping over everyone present. The corners of his mouth unconsciously lifted in satisfaction. The world's number one Tool Spirit, the world's number one Beast Spirit, the world's number one support Martial Soul—these top-tier Martial Souls had all gathered at his Shrek Academy. In a daze, he seemed to see Shrek winning the championship on the future tournament stage.

"Ahem." He cleared his throat to hide his excitement. When he raised his wine cup, the liquid rippled with fine waves from the faint tremble of his fingers.

Only Yu Xiaogang remained deeply furrowed, his clouded gaze fixed on Yu Tianheng. He knew this nephew too well—the whitened knuckles gripping the wine cup, the unnatural twitch at the corner of his eyes whenever he forced a smile, and the way his gaze always avoided Yu Xiaogang's. This was definitely not just because he had withdrawn from school.

After several rounds of wine and countless dishes, the night grew late, and the laughter and chatter at the banquet gradually faded.

Just as Liu Erlong was about to instruct the servants to arrange lodging for Yu Tianheng, Yu Xiaogang suddenly spoke. "Tianheng, stay behind." His voice was soft, but it carried an undeniable authority.

Yu Tianheng paused, the fingers around his wine cup unconsciously tightening. He slowly nodded, a trace of unease flashing through his eyes.

"Erlong, go back and rest first." Yu Xiaogang turned to Liu Erlong, his tone becoming gentler. "Tianheng and I have some things to discuss."

Liu Erlong pressed her red lips together, her gaze shifting between uncle and nephew. She nodded lightly. As she turned, her skirt traced a graceful arc—now that both Tang San and Yu Tianheng were at the academy, she no longer needed to worry about Yu Xiaogang leaving without a word.

Moonlight flowed like water over the academy's secluded path. Yu Xiaogang and Yu Tianheng walked side by side, their footsteps echoing over the stone pavement. The night breeze carried the faint fragrance of distant flowerbeds.

The night wind swept through the treetops with a rustling sound. Yu Xiaogang stopped and looked straight into his nephew's eyes. "Today, you lost to Feng Yao?" Though it was a question, his tone was certain beyond dispute.

Yu Tianheng's hand trembled sharply, and his pupils contracted. "Uncle, how did you know?"

"Hmph." Yu Xiaogang's lips twisted into a knowing cold smile. "Do you think those little movements of yours can fool them and fool me?" His withered fingers tapped the stone railing beside the path. "With your temperament, you must have gone looking for Dugu Yan. Most of the Imperial Dou Team have Beast Spirits. Other than Feng Yao—"

Under the moonlight, Yu Tianheng's Adam's apple moved with difficulty. He lowered his head, his voice almost inaudible. "I lost to Feng Yao."

"Tell me about it." Yu Xiaogang leaned against the stone railing, his gray robe fluttering in the night wind. "You had one more Spirit Ring than him. How did you lose?"

A sharp light suddenly burst from Yu Tianheng's eyes as he immediately understood his uncle's intent. He urgently took a step forward, his speech quickening unconsciously. "Uncle, Feng Yao's Soul Power has clearly broken through again over these past two months. I thought I could definitely win with the advantage of four Spirit Rings, but that move of his—"

He took a deep breath and recounted every detail of the battle—how Feng Yao used Zither Sound as the guide and Soul Power as the medium, using strange sound-wave vibrations at the crucial moment when Yu Tianheng was preparing to unleash his fourth soul skill, precisely disrupting the flow of his Soul Power.

"The most terrifying part..." Fear appeared on Yu Tianheng's face. "When those zither notes passed through my body, the lightning power throughout my body felt as though it had been swallowed by something."

Yu Xiaogang's pupils suddenly shrank, turbulent waves surging through his clouded eyes. His withered fingers gripped the stone railing so tightly that his knuckles turned bluish white. Under the moonlight, the bulging veins at his temples were clearly visible.

"Someone actually created a self-created soul skill capable of suppressing a top-tier Beast Spirit?"

Yu Xiaogang lifted his head toward the night sky, the river of stars reflected in his clouded eyes. "I never expected his understanding of Zither Sound to have reached such a level..."

"Uncle, how exactly did he do it?" Yu Tianheng asked unwillingly.

Grandmaster slowly shook his head, his voice hoarse but carrying rare admiration. "From your description, he already showed you mercy. Within that Zither Sound, I can hear at least three entirely different fighting methods—" His withered fingers traced three paths through the air. "Defensive power sufficient to withstand your attacks, control power that obstructed the circulation of your Soul Power, and offensive power capable of tearing through your lightning net. Moreover, the upper limits of these abilities are extremely high. His understanding of his Martial Soul has already surpassed the Martial Soul's own strength."

The night wind suddenly grew stronger, tossing Yu Xiaogang's graying temples. "More terrifying still, he can seamlessly merge these abilities into an even stronger combined force. What you faced was not one Soul Elder, but three Soul Elders working in perfect coordination."

"Then his Soul Power consumption should have been astonishing," Yu Tianheng said, clenching his fists.

"Indeed." Yu Xiaogang nodded faintly. "But do not forget that his Spirit Ring characteristics excel precisely at sustaining Soul Power. With a great number of Soul Power Amplification skills layered together, his control is enough to use these abilities freely." He suddenly smiled bitterly. "An ordinary Spirit Master simply cannot defeat him in a one-on-one fight. Even with one more Spirit Ring than him, your chances of victory are slim."

"Is there truly no way to defeat him?" Yu Tianheng asked dejectedly.

"Even I do not know," Yu Xiaogang said with emotion. "If his understanding of Zither Sound can continue to rise as your Soul Power does, then you will never be able to defeat him. But if, as time passes, he stops progressing, then you will have a chance to surpass him. At this stage, however, his understanding of Zither Sound has already far exceeded that of ordinary people."

Under the moonlight, Yu Tianheng's figure looked exceptionally lonely. Yu Xiaogang looked at his nephew, then seemed to recall something. His gaze shifted toward Shrek Academy, anticipation gleaming in his eyes. In the dormitories over there, a youth with Twin Martial Souls was cultivating. He believed Tang San would certainly be able to defeat Feng Yao in the future.

That's enough words for today. It's about to go premium, and I still have work tomorrow. I'll post a huge batch for everyone during the May Day holiday.