Yu Cheng's Name

As the face of the Royal Academy, the Imperial Dou Team had performed poorly in major competitions.

Xue Qinghe had resolved to carry out a complete overhaul of the team.

Those spoiled playboys merely padding their résumés were all kicked off the team. The remaining members were all talented heirs from major families.

At the same time, a fiercely competitive system was established within the team.

The captaincy was contested once every month.

The capable rose; the weak fell.

Yu Tianheng possessed the highest Soul Power in the team and was its only Soul Elder. In the previous few elections, he had effortlessly overwhelmed every other member.

This time, however, Dugu Yan had also broken through level thirty.

Yu Tianheng had no confidence that he could defeat her.

"The vice-captain absorbed a piece of ten-thousand-year Whale Rubber. Her third Soul Ring will probably be over two thousand years, won't it?"

The Blonde youth's smile vanished as he spoke seriously.

After Yu Cheng's Theory was published, Whale Rubber had immediately become a hot commodity.

But for members of the Royal Academy, thousand-year and ten-thousand-year Whale Rubber were merely numbers.

"My third Soul Ring is a Thunder Dragon, perfectly compatible with the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Martial Soul, but it's only around thirteen hundred years old."

Yu Tianheng's tone was heavy.

When he absorbed his third Soul Ring, the Whale Rubber Theory had not yet been released.

Otherwise, he would have risked everything to give it a try.

Osler patted the Blonde youth's shoulder. "Boss, Yufeng, the fight hasn't even started yet. Why are you boosting someone else's morale and crushing your own?"

His eyes darted about as he grinned. "I heard Master Yu Cheng is joining the Royal Academy too?"

Yufeng nodded. "Teacher Qin said it was arranged by His Highness the Crown Prince."

"Hmph."

Osler snorted dismissively. "I heard he only has one Soul Ring. He probably got in through the back door."

At that moment, a teasing voice rang out:

"The Imperial Dou Team has seven members. Assault, defense, control, support—every role is excellent. Yet there are two Agility Attack Type Soul Masters..."

"Having a flying-type Wind Chime Bird isn't enough, so you also had to add a Ghost Leopard Martial Soul."

"Osler, who exactly got in through the back door?"

Everyone turned around to see Dugu Yan and Qin Ming standing at the entrance.

Dugu Yan was the one who had spoken.

She wore a short green dress, and her dark purple hair made her look exceptionally valiant.

Simply standing there gave off an eerie feeling.

Or rather, a dangerous one.

Especially when she looked at someone with those emerald-green eyes—it felt like being watched by a venomous snake.

Her presence has become so much stronger! It seems she obtained a Soul Ring that suits her perfectly.

Yu Tianheng thought to himself.

"Vice-captain, how can you slander an innocent man out of nowhere?"

Osler said with a playful grin.

He had long grown accustomed to Dugu Yan's mockery.

He was not ashamed of it—instead, he took pride in it.

He puffed out his chest and said solemnly, "My joining the Imperial Dou Team was an informal arrangement. Can a nobleman's affairs be called getting in through the back door?"

"Hmph."

Dugu Yan gave a soft snort.

"I can't be bothered with you. Master Yu Cheng will soon be joining the Royal Academy. I hope you keep your mouth in check."

Osler froze for a moment.

He looked Dugu Yan up and down as though he were seeing her for the first time.

Dugu Yan usually kept to herself and had few friends besides Ye Lingling.

As the saying went, a person's reputation was like a tree's shadow.

Who on Douluo Continent had not heard Yu Cheng's name?

Yet before Yu Cheng had even joined the academy, Dugu Yan was already defending him?

"Vice-captain, do you know Master Yu Cheng?"

Osler asked uncertainly.

Dugu Yan folded her arms. "I don't know him, but I owe him a favor. You're almost level thirty too, right? You'll understand once you absorb your Third Soul Ring."

Yu Tianheng stepped forward and asked, "Dugu Yan, how many years was your Third Soul Ring?"

"Ahem."

Qin Ming gave a light cough, drawing everyone's attention.

"Yanzi's Third Soul Ring was hunted by me personally. With this soul skill, I believe there isn't a more outstanding Control System Soul Elder than her in all of Heaven Dou City!"

He deliberately kept them in suspense and did not answer Yu Tianheng's question.

"Oh, Teacher Qin, please take pity on us and tell us already!"

Osler said in a comical tone.

Qin Ming smiled and turned his gaze toward Dugu Yan.

Dugu Yan understood at once. "My Third Soul Ring came from a Medusa. It was two thousand two hundred years old."

"Two thousand two hundred years!"

The three of them exclaimed in unison.

Osler and Yufeng's mouths hung open wide enough to fit a fist inside.

Yu Tianheng scratched his hair in frustration, his eyes red. "Two thousand two hundred years—that's nearly a thousand years higher than my Third Soul Ring!"

At that moment, he even felt a little regret.

Why had he cultivated so quickly?

If he had waited until Yu Cheng's Theory was released before hunting soul beasts, he could have absorbed a two-thousand-year soul ring as well.

Damn it!

An extra thousand years did not amount to much across the entire Soul Master stage.

Yu Cheng had also mentioned in his theory that Whale Rubber was of little use when absorbing the fourth ring.

But for Soul Masters below level forty, an extra thousand years on the Third Soul Ring could increase one's overall strength by at least a third!

If one followed Yu Cheng's Theory strictly and consumed a piece of ten-thousand-year Whale Rubber before absorbing every soul ring—

The First Soul Ring could be raised by two hundred years.

The second ring by five hundred years.

The third ring by one thousand years.

That was a full one thousand seven hundred years. Their strength would definitely surpass that of ordinary Soul Masters by double!

"Sigh..."

Yu Tianheng let out a long sigh. It was all too late.

Such was fate!

In the next contest for team captain, he felt certain that he would not be Dugu Yan's match.

"Thankfully, that brat Yu Tianxin hasn't absorbed Whale Rubber either."

Yu Tianheng consoled himself inwardly.

Both were heirs of the sect. If Yu Tianxin's Third Soul Ring exceeded his by a thousand years, Yu Tianheng felt he might as well give up outright.

"Yu Tianheng, there are still half a month until the next contest for team captain. Why wait for another day? How about we spar right now?"

Dugu Yan licked her lips and stared at Yu Tianheng.

As though she were looking at prey.

"Hiss—"

Yu Tianheng sucked in a sharp breath, and his body shuddered involuntarily.

"Then let's do it."

He took a deep breath and spoke in a low voice.

As a disciple of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect, how could he cower before a battle even began?

On the main road.

A carriage rolled along at an unhurried pace.

"My lord, look. Heaven Dou Royal Academy is right ahead."

The coachman spoke.

Yu Cheng poked his head out the window and saw a magnificent structure looming before him.

The towering gates were a full ten meters tall and ten meters wide.

Under the sunlight, they gleamed with golden light.

"We're finally here! After two months in this carriage, my bones are about to fall apart."

Master Yu Cheng jumped down from the carriage and stretched his limbs a little.

Only then did he notice that more than ten people had gathered beneath the school gates, holding up a banner.

"Welcome Master Yu Cheng to the Royal Academy."

Master Yu Cheng froze for a moment. They're welcoming me? Did Qian Renxue arrange this to give me some face?

Master Yu Cheng quickened his pace and hurried over.