[Skywater City Great Soul Arena · Main Arena]
["Fifteenth match! Dragon God, challenging a level-thirty-three Soul Elder above his rank!"]
[Before the host had even finished speaking, the arena was already swept by a sudden storm!]
["It's over."]
[With those calm words came a—Boom!]
[That small figure moved like lightning, golden dragon claws tearing through the air with a piercing blast!]
[The third soul ring of that level-thirty-three Soul Elder had only just lit up when he was viciously struck by a golden dragon claw carrying unmatched dominance!]
[Bang!]
[The Soul Elder flew away like a kite with its string cut, knocked unconscious by a single slap and sent dozens of meters beyond the arena!]
[Silence! After a deathly stillness came an explosive tidal wave of noise!]
["Dragon God! Dragon God! Dragon God!"]
[The entire venue erupted in thunderous cheers! Every spotlight converged upon that small figure standing proudly with one hand behind his back!]
[At that moment of universal attention, a commotion suddenly broke out at the entrance to the Soul Fighting Arena.]
["Move! Everyone, move aside!"]
[A group of Soul Masters clad in dark-purple uniforms parted the crowd and strode in.]
[The lightning-wreathed emblems on their chests gleamed brilliantly beneath the lights.]
[They were none other than the Thunder Academy team, who had just arrived in Skywater City!]
[Lei Bufan's sharp eyes swept across the arena, and his pupils suddenly contracted.]
["That's... Young Master!!"]
[The instant he confirmed that figure's identity, fervent light burst from Lei Bufan's eyes.]
[Before everyone's eyes, he led his teammates in rushing toward the edge of the arena like a purple whirlwind!]
[The next moment, a sight that left the entire audience dumbfounded unfolded.]
[Rustle!]
[Every member of the Thunder Team dropped to one knee beneath the arena, their movements perfectly uniform, as though they had rehearsed it countless times.]
[Lei Bufan's voice boomed as he poured Soul Power into his shout.]
["Thunder Team Captain Lei Bufan, along with all team members, welcomes Young Master back to the team!!"]
[That cry of "Young Master" exploded like thunder, instantly spreading throughout the venue through the Amplification Soul Tool and drowning out every cheer.]
[In a corner of the stands.]
[Liu Erlong was excitedly waving her hands, just about to applaud and cheer for her newfound close friend.]
["Beautifully done! Dragon God, you're simply too—"]
[But that one cry of "Young Master."]
[Made Liu Erlong's hands freeze in midair.]
[The bright smile on her face instantly stiffened.]
[She stared blankly at the people dressed in purple Thunder Team uniforms.]
[That was the color she hated most in her life.]
[Then she looked toward Yu Xiaotian on the arena, surrounded by the crowd as he slowly removed his golden mask and revealed a handsome yet youthful face.]
[The good friend who had accompanied her through night markets these past few days, listened to her complaints, handed her water, and comforted her.]
["Thunder Academy... Young Master... Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan..."]
[Liu Erlong's lips trembled. Her face went pale in an instant, and all light in her eyes completely died away.]
[No matter how foolish she was, she understood now.]
[The friend who had called her a brother these past few days was actually the eldest young master of that cold-blooded clan that had abandoned her mother?]
[So that "blood connection" had not been a joking pickup line, but a cruel, icy mockery!]
[He was that man's nephew... which meant he was her cousin?]
[Fate had played an enormous joke on her.]
White World.
Thunder Academy.
Seeing himself on the Sky Screen, Lei Bufan did not feel embarrassed in the slightest. Instead, he smugly slapped his thigh.
"See that? That's what you call having good judgment!"
"I recognized at a glance that he was Young Master Yu Xiaotian."
"Ever since Young Master beat me into submission last time, I understood!"
Lei Bufan imparted his life experience to his son.
"Only by clinging tightly to a powerful thigh can you fly higher! This isn't flattery; it's choosing a side! The facts proved that my choice was damn well correct!"
Nearby, Lei Dong.
Watching his old man look so proud of himself.
The corner of his mouth twitched as he could not help remarking.
"Old man, your thick skin has really... completely caught up with the dean's."
Lei Bufan snorted and ignored his son's teasing.
In his view, what was face worth?
Being able to follow Young Master was the highest honor!
White World.
Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan.
Back Mountain's hidden grounds.
At that moment, Yu Xiaotian had just finished sparring with Bibi Dong.
The two were in a subtly post-coital state.
Bibi Dong lounged lazily in Yu Xiaotian's arms and said with a teasing smile.
"Oh my, Lord Dragon God, watching this scene now, don't you feel embarrassed?"
Yu Xiaotian stroked Bibi Dong's silky hair.
His old face reddened slightly, but he soon admitted openly.
"Ahem... looking at it now, it was a little cringey and embarrassing. But..."
A mischievous smile curled across his lips.
"It did feel pretty damn good at the time."
No wonder so many people liked this sort of thing. It really did feel satisfying.
The feeling of welcoming the Dragon King's return was pretty nice!
"Such a rascal~"
Bibi Dong lightly spat at him, though her eyes were full of affection.
Blue Tyrant Academy.
Liu Erlong looked at herself on the Sky Screen, pale-faced and despairing.
She did not feel much turmoil inside, only deep heartache and relief.
"Back then, it really must have felt like the sky had fallen..."
She sighed softly and whispered to that Maiden on the Sky Screen.
"Hang in there, other me."
"Even though it hurts terribly now, and you feel as if the entire world has betrayed you, you must endure it..."
"Because he truly is the best person you will ever meet in this life."
"As long as you get through this misunderstanding, everything afterward will be sweet."
Thinking of everything that happened later.
Thinking of the cousin who always protected her.
An incomparably gentle smile involuntarily appeared on Liu Erlong's face.
Black World.
Spirit Hall.
Bibi Dong sat high upon the Pope's throne.
Looking at Liu Erlong's devastated expression on the Sky Screen, she let out a delighted laugh.
"Ha ha ha, what a wonderful expression."
Malice gleamed in Bibi Dong's eyes.
"That crazy woman Liu Erlong has a day like this too?"
"The person she considered a kindred spirit turned out to be the son of her enemy. That feeling of being toyed with must be wonderful, right?"
"She deserved it, she absolutely deserved it!"
Though it was only Liu Erlong from a Parallel World.
As long as she saw this romantic rival suffer.
Bibi Dong felt refreshed all over, and much of her recent frustration dissipated.
Black World.
Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan.
Yu Xiaogang watched this scene with an anxious, pained expression. Turning to Liu Erlong beside him, he said.
"Er Long! Did you see that? Yu Xiaotian is simply a demon!"
Yu Xiaogang tried to poison her opinion of Yu Xiaotian at this moment.
"He clearly knew your identity in that Parallel World, clearly knew how much you hated the clan, yet he deliberately approached you and became your friend just to humiliate you at this very moment!"
"He was playing you! A person like him is far too calculating, far too terrifying!"
However, the real Liu Erlong merely watched the Sky Screen in silence without saying a word.
She could imagine just how devastating a blow that little Liu Erlong had suffered.
Shrek Academy.
Ning Rongrong, that little gossip expert, was tugging at Dean Flender and relentlessly questioning him.
Before you continue