First Meeting with Yu Tianheng and Dugu Yan

Surrounded by the three Committee Members as if they were stars orbiting the moon, Zhang Bufan left the council hall and headed toward the Imperial Fighting Team's exclusive training area.

Along the way, Meng Shenji and the other two Committee Members were exceptionally attentive, constantly introducing the academy's various facilities and resources, terrified that they might slight this monster with a "Divine Artifact Martial Soul, Soul Power ???."

Zhang Bufan listened halfheartedly, his gaze lingering more on the youthful, beautiful female students they passed by as he conducted professional evaluations in his heart. Those legs are nice. Hmm, that one's temperament isn't bad... Shame none of them can compare to my Huo Wu's little blaze.

Before long, they arrived at a vast open-air Training Ground equipped with extremely advanced facilities. The grounds were paved with tough bluestone, while all manner of Soul Tools for testing strength, speed, and Soul Power intensity stood around the edges. At that moment, seven or eight young people were engaged in high-intensity training.

The flashes of colliding Soul Skills lit up from time to time, and powerful fluctuations of Soul Power filled the air.

Seeing the three Committee Members arrive together, the young people immediately stopped training and swiftly lined up, their expressions respectful. These were clearly the members of Heaven Dou Royal Academy's trump card—the Imperial Fighting Team.

Zhang Bufan's gaze swept across these future "teammates."

At the very front stood a tall youth in a fitted blue outfit. He had short black hair and handsome features, but an arrogance he could not conceal lingered between his brows, while his eyes were sharp as an eagle's. He was the captain of the Imperial Fighting Team, the Young Master of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan—Yu Tianheng.

Beside him stood a voluptuous girl with short dark-purple hair. Her eyes were green and held a strangely alluring beauty. A faint smile, as though laced with poison, rested at the corners of her lips. She was the vice-captain, the granddaughter of Poison Douluo Dugu Bo—Dugu Yan.

Behind them were familiar figures from the original story: the Shi brothers, Shi Mo and Shi Mo, Yu Feng, Osler, and the others.

"Tianheng, Yan, everyone, come over," Meng Shenji said with a smile, beckoning to them.

Yu Tianheng led the Team Members forward and bowed respectfully. "Committee Member Meng, Committee Member Bai, Committee Member Zhi Lin." Yet his gaze could not help settling on Zhang Bufan, who stood between the three Committee Members in strange clothing with a relaxed expression. A trace of confusion and scrutiny flashed through his eyes.

The other Team Members also examined Zhang Bufan curiously. Anyone the three Committee Members had personally brought over with such solemn importance could not possibly be ordinary.

Meng Shenji cleared his throat, barely able to suppress his excitement as he introduced him. "Let me introduce you. This is Zhang Bufan. Starting today, he will be a new member of our Imperial Fighting Team, and he will also be our... secret weapon for the upcoming Promotion Match!"

"A secret weapon?" Yu Tianheng's brows knit almost imperceptibly. He was the captain, yet a new member was joining the team—especially a "secret weapon" so highly praised by the Committee Members—and he had not received even the slightest prior notice? Besides, this guy looked younger than them. How strong could his Soul Power possibly be? A secret weapon?

His pride ensured that his first impression of Zhang Bufan was far from favorable. In his eyes, Zhang Bufan was likely another scion of some great clan sent here to gild his reputation, relying on connections to force the three Committee Members to show him favor.

Dugu Yan, meanwhile, curiously looked Zhang Bufan up and down, flowing light flickering in her green eyes. She felt that this youth was different. His composure and that air of seeming not to care about anything set him apart from every peer she had met. And he was rather handsome, too. She licked her lips, revealing an intrigued smile.

Zhang Bufan took both of their reactions in at a glance, and the Complaint Conference in his mind immediately began.

Oh, so this is Yu Tianheng? Just like in the original story—a smug look like, 'Heaven's first, earth's second, I'm third.' As for his strength... tsk tsk, he hasn't even reached Soul Ancestor, has he? Where does all that arrogance come from? Did Liang Jingru give him the courage? If he weren't a future teammate—temporarily—I'd really like to teach him a lesson with one finger right now.

Dugu Yan... Yeah, her looks and figure are definitely impressive. Too bad she's a poisonous snake, not my type. My Huo Wu is better—spicy and pure, and most importantly... safe. Probably.

Though his inner thoughts were lively, Zhang Bufan merely nodded at them indifferently on the surface, too lazy to say even a word. His attitude was even more arrogant than Yu Tianheng's.

His reaction immediately made Yu Tianheng even more displeased. As the captain and heir of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, Yu Tianheng had always been the center of attention wherever he went. Yet this kid was actually ignoring him so completely?

"Zhang Bufan, right?" Yu Tianheng stepped forward, his tone carrying a hint of challenge. "Welcome to the Imperial Fighting Team. But since you're our secret weapon, I imagine your abilities must be extraordinary. Would you care to show us a little, so that we teammates can get an idea of what you're capable of?"

His words were fairly polite, but the meaning was obvious: if Zhang Bufan wanted to join the team, he had to show some real ability. Connections alone would not do.

The expressions of the three Committee Members changed slightly. Meng Shenji was just about to smooth things over when Zhang Bufan waved his hand.

At last, Zhang Bufan gave Yu Tianheng a proper look. His gaze was calm and unruffled, as though he were looking at some... insignificant object.

"Show you something?" Zhang Bufan's tone was flat, even carrying a touch of boredom. "Not interested. My strength isn't for putting on a performance for you."

Hua!

The moment those words fell, not only did Yu Tianheng's expression darken, but Yu Feng, Osler, and the others behind him also showed displeasure. This guy was far too arrogant! The captain had personally asked to test his ability, yet he gave him no face at all?

The interest in Dugu Yan's eyes only deepened. She loved scenes like this, with both sides at each other's throats.

Yu Tianheng was so angry that he laughed instead. "Good! Very good! It seems Brother Bufan looks down on our little tricks. In that case, when we reach the tournament, I hope your strength can match your arrogance!"

His words now carried obvious anger.

Yet Zhang Bufan seemed not to notice. Instead, he nodded very seriously. "Mm, don't worry. When I fight people like you, I generally don't even need one hand."

"You...!" Yu Tianheng nearly failed to catch his breath. The Team Members behind him glared angrily as well. The Shi brothers clenched their fists so tightly that their knuckles cracked.

Seeing that the atmosphere was about to turn hostile, Meng Shenji hurriedly stepped in to mediate. "Ah, you're all on the same side. You'll get to know each other slowly, slowly! Lord Bufan has traveled a long way, so he must be tired. I'll take you to your accommodations to rest first! Tianheng, continue your training. The tournament is close at hand, so you must not slack off!"

With that, he practically pushed and pulled Zhang Bufan away from the Training Ground.

Yu Tianheng and the others were left standing there, their faces ashen.

"Captain, that kid is way too arrogant!" Osler said indignantly.

"Exactly! Why does he get to be the secret weapon as soon as he arrives? And with that attitude!" Yu Feng echoed.

Yu Tianheng watched Zhang Bufan's departing back with icy eyes. "Hmph. I don't care where he came from. Once we're on the arena, strength will do the talking! If he's all show and no substance, I'll let him know that the Imperial Fighting Team is not a place where he can run wild!"

Only Dugu Yan watched the direction in which Zhang Bufan had vanished, the smile on her lips growing increasingly bewitching. "Zhang Bufan... Interesting, truly interesting. I'm looking forward more and more to your performance in the arena. Don't disappoint me..."

Meanwhile, Zhang Bufan had already gone far away. His heart was completely unmoved; he even felt like eating some otherworldly version of ice cream.

Yu Tianheng really is a firecracker that goes off at the slightest spark. But that's fine. It'll save me the trouble of establishing my authority later. That look in Dugu Yan's eyes... tsk tsk, like she wants to eat someone. Better stay far away from her.

What filled his mind now was how to find an opportunity in the next match to "interact" with Huo Wu in the Audience Seats. As for his teammates' hostility? What was that? Could it be eaten?

Before absolute strength, all interpersonal relationships were paper tigers. Zhang Bufan understood this principle well.