Edge of the Blade Establishes Authority, Dugu Yan's First Appearance

Edge of the Blade Establishes Authority, Dugu Yan's First Appearance

After obtaining the Crystal Gold, Ling Feng did not linger in the noisy auction house. He understood better than anyone that a man could be condemned for possessing a treasure. Moreover, he had revealed himself before both Tang San and Qian Renxue. For now, quietly digesting his gains and integrating into Heaven Dou Royal Academy were his top priorities. He politely declined the auction attendant's eager escort and, using his status as a Silver VIP, slipped away through a hidden passage.

After taking several twists and turns and confirming that he had shaken off every possible tail—including Dark Spider's surveillance—Ling Feng followed the map to the residence Heaven Dou Royal Academy had arranged for him: Cuiwei Garden, an independent courtyard located in the academy's core district, tranquil and elegant.

The courtyard was not large, but its design was exquisite. Pavilions and towers were arranged in pleasing layers, artificial hills and flowing water dotted the grounds, and clusters of slender bamboo swayed in the breeze. Everything spoke of understated, restrained luxury. Clearly, this place had been prepared for students of unusual status or exceptional talent. Ling Feng was very satisfied with it. Peace and quiet meant fewer unnecessary troubles and prying eyes.

After settling in, Ling Feng eagerly took out the heavy slab of crystal. Beneath the lamplight, countless threads of golden light within the cloudy crystal flowed faintly like living creatures, radiating a sharp aura that made one's heart tremble. He sat cross-legged in the center of the quiet room, gathering a thread of exceptionally pure Soul Power at his fingertips, fused with the Will of Judgment and an aura of destruction, then carefully probed it into the crystal.

Sizzle, sizzle, sizzle!

Fine yet piercing cutting sounds rang out at once! The seemingly fragile golden threads erupted with astonishing sharpness the instant they touched Ling Feng's Soul Power. Like countless tiny blades, they frantically sliced apart and pulverized the invading force! If Ling Feng's Soul Power had not possessed such a special nature, far surpassing those of the same rank, and if he had not been prepared, he might have been injured by the Crystal Gold's fierce backlash!

"What a domineering sharpness! No wonder it's the material for making Dragon Whisker Needles!" A trace of admiration flashed through Ling Feng's eyes, but his expression grew even more solemn and focused. He did not dare relax. Drawing upon the faint perception of the Eye of Destiny and his greatly enhanced Spiritual Power, he worked like the most skilled surgeon performing microscopic surgery. His Spiritual Power became the finest probes and tweezers, while his Soul Power became threads of traction, slowly and carefully peeling the incredibly tough, hair-thin golden Crystal Gold threads—each containing terrifying penetrating force—from the fragile crystal substrate.

This was an extremely delicate and mentally exhausting task. Every strand of Crystal Gold possessed its own "will of sharpness"; the slightest carelessness could trigger a backlash or cause it to self-destruct. Ling Feng concentrated completely. Fine beads of sweat formed on his forehead, and his breathing became slow and faint. Time passed quietly. In the jade box before him, a small cluster of golden threads gradually accumulated, glittering with brilliant golden radiance and trembling faintly as though alive. Gathered together, they gave off such a sharp aura that it made one's skin sting.

It was not until the moon stood high in the sky and cold silver light spilled through the window lattice that Ling Feng finally stripped every last Crystal Gold thread from the slab. Looking at the less-than-handful of sharp golden threads in the jade box, enough to make any defensive soul skill tremble with fear, Ling Feng let out a long, slow breath. A powerful sense of accomplishment surged through him alongside the exhaustion of overtaxed Spiritual Power. This Crystal Gold would become a powerful trump card capable of catching enemies off guard in the future!

The following morning, a sea of people had already gathered before Heaven Dou Royal Academy's magnificent arched gates, carved from white marble.

Ling Feng had changed into the academy's signature moon-white uniform trimmed in gold. Its fitted cut made his tall, slender figure appear even more upright, while his handsome features looked all the more spirited beneath the morning sun. Yet the moment he stepped through the academy gates, heavy with the weight of history, he sharply sensed an unusual atmosphere closing in around him.

Students streamed endlessly along the broad, tree-lined avenue. Yet many gazes, open and covert alike, were focused on him. Curiosity, scrutiny, probing, disdain, and even faint hostility intertwined into an invisible net that enveloped him. Whispers buzzed like frogs croaking beside a summer pond. Though deliberately lowered, they still reached Ling Feng's ears with perfect clarity.

"Look! That's him! He arrived yesterday and moved straight into Cuiwei Garden! Even Fourth Prince Xue Beng couldn't get in there when he wanted to live there!"

"I heard Spirit Hall forced him in? The adopted son of Pope Bibi Dong? Heh, what an impressive background! No wonder he got Cuiwei Garden the moment he arrived!"

"What's with that lofty act? At the Royal Auction House yesterday, he spent three hundred Gold Soul Coins on a broken crystal! More money than brains! Just showing off!"

"What is someone from Spirit Hall doing at Heaven Dou Royal Academy? Could he be a spy here to steal our academy's secrets and information on our geniuses?"

"Look at that delicate pretty-boy face. His Soul Power fluctuations aren't even that strong. What real ability could he have? He must be a useless fool stuffed in here through connections!"

The discussions were not particularly concealed, and they reached Ling Feng's ears clearly. He acted as if he had heard nothing and continued down the tree-lined avenue with a calm expression. The academy's factional struggles, the superiority of noble-born students, and their rejection of outsiders—especially someone from the "enemy camp" of Spirit Hall—were all within his expectations. He simply had not expected the news to spread so quickly. Even his purchase of the crystal slab at yesterday's auction had been dug up and embellished. It seemed that Cuiwei Garden's reputation and his identity as the "adopted son of Spirit Hall's Pope" had instantly made him a target for everyone, a lesson that certain people believed needed teaching.

Ding! Academy environmental conflict detected: "A newcomer's initiation."

Options triggered!

Option One: Ignore the provocation, keep a low profile, endure quietly, and leave quickly. Reward: Minor increase in Soul Power cultivation speed for three days.

Option Two: Punish the offenders to warn the rest, intimidate the first bird to stick its head out, and establish authority. Reward: Minor increase in proficiency with a random soul skill (Spear of Judgment/Ice Flame Judgment).

Option Three: Establish authority forcefully and directly challenge a prominent figure in the academy, such as the top student or a noble representative. Reward: Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Bone Aura Disguise Scroll, one-time use. Risk: Exposing too much strength too early, drawing excessive attention from the higher-ups, and disrupting future plans.

Ling Feng did not stop walking. Option One was too weak. It did not fit the persona he wished to establish: someone with a background, but not someone others could bully at will. It would only invite endless trouble. Option Three was too risky and did not suit his overall strategy of accumulating strength and quietly intercepting opportunities. Becoming the center of attention too early was not a good thing.

"Option Two," Ling Feng answered calmly in his mind. Kill the chicken to warn the monkeys, but stop at the right point. It would establish his authority without revealing too much.

Selection confirmed. Target locked: provocateurs at the entrance to the training grounds after the next right turn.

Almost the instant the system prompt faded, a voice filled with mockery and provocation rang out from the intersection ahead. It was deliberately raised so everyone nearby could hear it clearly. "Oh! Isn't this our new 'honored guest of Cuiwei Garden'? Living in the best courtyard and casually spending three hundred Gold Soul Coins on junk—what an impressive display! You just got here, and you're already so eager to open the eyes of us 'ordinary' students?"

Ling Feng looked up. At the fork leading toward the main teaching district and the training grounds, beside the training ground entrance, stood four or five students dressed in the same moon-white uniforms trimmed in gold. The leader was tall and brawny, with short crimson hair sticking up like steel needles. His face carried undisguised ridicule and provocation. With his arms folded across his chest, he blocked the center of the road without the slightest restraint. The Soul Master badge on his chest displayed two rings, marking him as a Soul Grandmaster. His Soul Power fluctuated around rank twenty-eight, making him clearly an assault-type Soul Master. The people behind him were also Soul Grand Masters. They stood with folded arms and amused expressions, eager for a show.

The red-haired student was named Huo Yan, a child of a middling noble family in Heaven Dou City. Hot-tempered by nature, he had always been rather overbearing among his peers due to his decent strength. On top of that, he had ingratiated himself with the child of an influential noble within the academy, making him even more domineering in daily life. Ling Feng, an "outsider" who had arrived and immediately claimed the best resources while acting so "high-profile," naturally became the perfect offering for Huo Yan to prove himself and establish authority.

"Move." Ling Feng stopped, his tone flat and emotionless, as if he were merely driving away a stone blocking the road. He could not even be bothered to spare the other man a glance.

"Move?" Huo Yan acted as if he had heard the greatest joke in the world. He sneered and stepped forward until he was nearly face-to-face with Ling Feng, spittle almost spraying onto his face. His voice was filled with contempt and menace. "Kid! Get this straight! This is Heaven Dou Royal Academy, not Spirit Hall's Temple Mountain! You want to throw your weight around here? First ask whether Grandpa Huo Yan's fists agree! If you know what's good for you, get the hell out of Cuiwei Garden right now! Then kneel and kowtow three times to all the senior brothers here, admit your mistake, and promise to keep your tail between your legs from now on! Otherwise..." He grinned viciously and clenched his fists, his knuckles cracking loudly as the threat became unmistakable.

Before he could finish, Ling Feng moved.

No soul rings lit up. No earth-shaking soul skill erupted. There was only speed—speed at its absolute limit! So fast that Huo Yan and his companions saw only a blurred afterimage on their retinas!

While Huo Yan's arrogant expression was still frozen on his face, a slender, fair hand containing terrifying power shot out like lightning and seized the wrist of his outstretched right hand with flawless precision!

Crack!

The crisp sound of bones being dislocated, sharp enough to make teeth ache, instantly drowned out the surrounding noise!

"Aah—!!!" The vicious grin on Huo Yan's face was immediately replaced by unbearable pain, and he let out a shriek so agonized that his voice changed pitch! He felt as though the bones in his wrist had been crushed by iron pincers! An overwhelming and utterly irresistible force surged through him. His muscular body was effortlessly lifted one-handed by Ling Feng as if he were a chick!

The next moment, before the horrified gazes of everyone present, Huo Yan's nearly two-hundred-pound body was swung through the air by Ling Feng and hurled like a broken sack toward the incomparably hard bluestone wall by the training ground entrance!

Bang—!!!

A dull, heart-stopping crash rang out, accompanied by the scalp-numbing sound of bones shattering! Huo Yan's body slammed against the wall like a flattened frog, then slid limply down its surface to the ground! Blood gushed from his mouth and nose. His eyes rolled white, and he fainted without even managing another groan! His entire right arm twisted at an unnatural angle. His wrist bones had clearly been pulverized, while the bones in his arm were seriously damaged as well!

The entire process, from Ling Feng's attack to Huo Yan collapsing like a puddle of mud, had taken no more than a flash of lightning! It was so fast that no one had even reacted!

Silence fell over the entire area!

The mockery, amusement, and schadenfreude on the faces of the watching students froze instantly. It was as though they had all been turned to stone, leaving only shock and disbelief in their eyes! Huo Yan! A rank twenty-eight assault-type Soul Grandmaster! A ruthless figure with some reputation among the academy's lower-year students! Yet he had been... he had been crippled like discarded trash by a new student who had only just enrolled and had not even revealed a soul ring?!

How was that possible?! Was he a monster?!

Ling Feng stood where he was, without even a wrinkle appearing on his clothes. He slowly withdrew his hand as if he had merely brushed off some dust. His calm gaze swept over Huo Yan's companions, who were already terrified senseless, pale-faced, and shaking like sieves. His voice remained level, but it carried a chill that seemed to freeze their very bones.

"Who else wants me to give up Cuiwei Garden? Or kneel and admit my mistake?"

The moment Ling Feng's gaze swept over them, those students felt as though they had fallen into an Ice Cave. Their bodies turned cold, their teeth chattered, and they could not utter a single word. They could only shake their heads frantically and stagger backward in terror, wishing their parents had given them two more legs so they could flee this fiend immediately!

Ling Feng paid no more attention to these insignificant clowns, as though he had merely swatted away a buzzing fly. He resumed walking down the tree-lined avenue. Wherever he passed, the crowd parted automatically like a tide divided by an invisible force, opening a broad path for him. Every gaze directed his way was now filled with awe, fear, and deep wariness.

Reward issued: Minor increase in proficiency with the soul skill "Spear of Judgment." Its use has become smoother, Soul Power consumption has slightly decreased, and its penetrating force and speed have modestly increased.

Feeling the deeper understanding and control of the soul skill that had appeared in his mind, Ling Feng remained entirely unmoved. His purpose in establishing authority had been achieved. Next, it was time to contact an important target of his trip to Heaven Dou. According to intelligence secretly delivered by Ghost Leopard Douluo, Dugu Bo's granddaughter, Dugu Yan, who was afflicted by the Jade Phosphor Serpent Emperor Poison, was currently recuperating in the Healing Department branch of the academy. She was the crucial link connecting Dugu Bo to the Ice and Fire Immortal Grass.

He passed through the awestruck crowd and headed straight for the area deep within the academy filled with the faint fragrance of medicinal herbs—the Healing Department branch. Yet just as he was about to enter that district surrounded by white buildings, where the air carried the blended scent of Calming Grass and Tranquility Flowers, a graceful figure in purple emerged from within, carrying an unusual air that combined pride and frailty.

The girl was tall and wore a fitted purple Healing Department uniform that outlined her graceful yet somewhat slender curves. Her dark green hair fell like a waterfall, gleaming with a unique luster beneath the sunlight. Her skin had the sickly pallor of someone long eroded by poison, but it did nothing to diminish the delicacy of her features or her stunning beauty. What drew the most attention were her eyes. Her pupils were strangely vertical, like those of a snake, glinting with a demonic, cold, and arrogant light. Yet the fatigue in her brow and a trace of barely perceptible irritation could not be concealed. She seemed to have just finished an unpleasant treatment and was preparing to leave when she ran straight into Ling Feng.

Those demonic vertical pupils casually swept over Ling Feng with the indifference of someone examining an object from above, then passed him by as though he were nothing more than an irrelevant decoration. Without slowing her pace, she was about to walk past him.

Dugu Yan!

Ling Feng stopped. His gaze settled on her pale yet breathtakingly beautiful face, as well as the lingering cold and murky aura between her brows, unmistakably characteristic of the Jade Phosphor Serpent Emperor Poison. An almost imperceptible curve touched his lips, carrying certainty and goodwill. He took the initiative to speak, his voice clear and calm as it reached Dugu Yan's ears.

"Miss Dugu Yan? I've long heard of you. I am Ling Feng. At the request of your grandfather, Senior Dugu Bo, perhaps... I can help ease your suffering from the Jade Phosphor Serpent Emperor Poison."