Imperial Dou Team's Internal Conflict

Before the academy's main gate, Sun Buyu kept glancing outside.

According to news from the relay station, Yu Cheng should arrive this morning.

He felt somewhat uneasy.

As the Crown Prince's confidant, Xue Qinghe had given him only one task.

Take good care of Yu Cheng.

At the same time, if any other forces approached Yu Cheng, drive them away at once.

"Sigh..."

Sun Buyu sighed inwardly.

Not long ago, Archbishop Salas had personally asked him about Yu Cheng's whereabouts.

Drive away Spirit Hall?

Did a lowly teacher like him have that kind of ability?

"Teacher Sun, hasn't he arrived yet?"

A slightly impatient voice came from nearby.

Sun Buyu turned around and saw Osler holding a red flag, his posture stiff and his expression utterly lifeless.

"I'm the son of a duke, yet I'm here doing this kind of work. This is so humiliating!"

Osler complained.

He was about to say more when he caught sight of Dugu Yan from the corner of his eye and immediately swallowed his words.

Sun Buyu looked at the two of them and secretly laughed.

Originally, he had only planned a simple welcoming ceremony. Yet after hearing about it, Dugu Yan had personally come to welcome Yu Cheng—and had even dragged Osler along as free labor.

Was the Imperial Dou Team's training really that leisurely?

"He's here!"

Sun Buyu's eyes lit up.

At the corner, a carriage slowly came to a stop. The curtain was lifted, and a young man nimbly jumped down.

He was plainly dressed, with handsome features.

Sun Buyu recalled the portrait and confirmed that this person was Yu Cheng.

"Osler, hurry up and wave it!"

Dugu Yan said.

Osler weakly shook the flag, chanting as though reciting scripture, "Welcome, welcome, a warm welcome..."

Unable to stop himself, he grumbled inwardly:

"Dugu Yan has only been captain for a month, and she's already dragging me out to do manual labor. What a display of authority!"

"Boss Tianheng, you have to win the next captain selection battle!"

"No, I need to think of something!"

When Yu Cheng reached the gate, Sun Buyu hurried forward.

"Master Yu Cheng, welcome to the Royal Academy. I'm Sun Buyu, responsible for the academy's daily affairs. If you need anything in daily life, you can come to me anytime."

"Teacher Sun, you're too polite. Just call me Yu Cheng."

Yu Cheng nodded.

If others showed him respect, he would return it tenfold.

Although he had achieved some success, the lesson of Evil Soul Master Yu Cheng still stood before him.

Act with high profile, live with low profile.

"Master Yu Cheng."

Dugu Yan stepped forward.

Her steps were calm and composed. Her dark green fitted outfit outlined her slender figure, while the long legs beneath her short skirt were dazzlingly pale in the morning light.

"I am Dugu Yan, the current captain of the Imperial Dou Team."

She stopped before Yu Cheng and generously held out her hand. "Welcome to the Royal Academy."

Yu Cheng took her hand. It felt slightly cool.

"Hello, Captain Dugu."

He nodded in greeting, his gaze lingering on Dugu Yan's face for a moment longer.

Up close, Dugu Yan's features carried a cool, aloof air, and there was a sharpness between her brows unique to a Battle Soul Master.

Especially those green eyes of hers.

Like a deep pool—calm at first glance, yet upon closer inspection, undercurrents could be seen surging beneath the surface.

Yu Cheng withdrew his hand, information about Dugu Yan flashing rapidly through his mind.

Poison Douluo's granddaughter.

Jade Phosphorous Serpent Martial Soul.

A Control System Soul Master who used poison.

In the original story, the Imperial Dou Team's captain should have been Yu Tianheng...

"Yu Cheng, your enrollment procedures have been completed. The three Committee Members are in a meeting, so I'll show you around the academy first and help you get familiar with the place. How does that sound?"

Sun Buyu's words interrupted Yu Cheng's thoughts.

"Thank you for the trouble, Teacher Sun."

Yu Cheng nodded.

"I'll come too."

Dugu Yan suddenly said.

As soon as her words fell, Sun Buyu froze for a moment, while Osler turned his head in surprise.

Dugu Yan was famously aloof at the academy.

She usually kept to herself. Other than Ye Lingling, she was rarely seen taking the initiative to accompany anyone.

And now she actually wanted to show a new student around the academy?

"Hmph."

Ignoring their astonished expressions, Dugu Yan snorted coldly.

"The Imperial Dou Team's training grounds are in the southwest district. It's on the way."

The three passed through the archway and formally entered the academy.

"The entire mountain belongs to the academy."

Sun Buyu introduced the place as they walked, his tone filled with pride.

"That includes the forest behind the mountain, the lake to the east, and the hilly region to the north. Based on the traits of different Martial Souls, the academy has built dozens of simulated cultivation environments."

Yu Cheng followed the direction of his finger.

In the distance, an artificial lake shimmered beneath the light, with pavilions built upon an island at its center.

Among the forested hills, all manner of strangely designed buildings could be vaguely seen.

"As expected of the Royal Academy."

Yu Cheng murmured in admiration.

With facilities and scale like this, Nuoding Academy's toilets probably couldn't compare.

"There's something even more impressive."

Dugu Yan picked up the conversation.

"A hundred li west of the academy is a Soul Hunting Forest. It contains all kinds of Soul Beasts ranging from ten-year to hundred-year varieties, specifically kept for students to gain practical experience."

"Practical experience?"

Yu Cheng was somewhat surprised.

To ordinary Soul Masters, Soul Rings were extremely precious resources. Entering Nuoding Academy's Soul Hunting Forest required a Spirit Hall permit, and indiscriminate hunting was forbidden.

Yet here, Soul Beasts were merely tools for students' training.

A few Soul Rings meant nothing to them. They might not even cost as much as a single dinner.

"Money really does let you do whatever you want."

Yu Cheng shook his head with a smile.

The three walked for a while longer.

"This is the Imperial Dou Team's exclusive area."

Dugu Yan spoke.

Yu Cheng looked up. The buildings here had hard, sharp lines and exuded a grim, martial air.

"Master Yu Cheng, Teacher Sun, come in with me."

Dugu Yan said.

"Is that appropriate?"

Sun Buyu asked doubtfully.

The Imperial Dou Team's training grounds, tactical discussion rooms, members' dormitories, and private dining hall were all located here.

Non-team members were generally not allowed to enter.

"Teacher Qin isn't here. What I say goes for the Imperial Dou Team."

Dugu Yan declared confidently.

Spirit Hall's Whale Rubber Theory had been released in two versions.

One was an ordinary version that did not include the core data.

The other was a complete version aimed at the major sects, containing a large amount of experimental data. As a core resource, any sect that wanted to obtain it had to exchange benefits for it.

After reading the complete version, Dugu Yan had benefited greatly.

Not only had the age limit of her third Soul Ring been surpassed.

In her opinion, Master Yu Cheng's research into Soul Ring theory was absolutely no worse than Teacher Qin Ming's.

If Master Yu Cheng joined the Imperial Dou Team, then with his wisdom and the members' talent, the Imperial Dou Team would surely make a stunning debut at the next Continental Elite Soul Master Tournament.

That was precisely why Dugu Yan paid such close attention to Master Yu Cheng.

She had already brought the matter before the Committee Members. Master Yu Cheng's visit to the training grounds was merely to familiarize himself with the environment in advance.

The training grounds.

Two groups stood clearly divided.

One side had only six people, dressed differently and standing casually.

Master Yu Cheng recognized one of them as Osler, the one who had been waving a flag at the entrance earlier.

At that moment, Osler was leaning close to a blue-haired youth, whispering something.

The youth stood tall, with neat short blue hair.

He was Yu Tianheng.

More than ten people stood neatly on the other side of the grounds, all wearing identical gold team uniforms and standing ramrod straight.

"Those are the Second Team members."

Dugu Yan explained as her gaze swept over the grounds.

"The Imperial Dou Team is divided into the First Team and the Second Team. The First Team's seven members are the main force, while the Second Team serves as substitutes."

"Once every month, the Second Team gets one chance to challenge a First Team member in the same position. If they win, they exchange identities. Assault Types challenge Yu Tianheng, Agility Attack Types challenge Osler, Yufeng..."

Dugu Yan walked to the center of the grounds, her tone turning stern.

"Does anyone wish to challenge the First Team this month?"

As soon as she finished speaking, none of the Second Team members made a sound.

Dugu Yan turned her gaze toward the First Team. "Does anyone wish to challenge me for the captain's position?"

"Captain, who could beat you in a one-on-one? But I have a suggestion..."

Osler said with a grin.

"Speak."

Dugu Yan's tone remained calm.

Osler glanced back at Yu Tianheng, steeled himself, and said loudly, "The captain's position isn't just about individual strength. It also concerns team command and coordination."

"I propose that today's captain challenge use a three-versus-three team battle format. Let actual combat decide the winner."

Dugu Yan ignored him, her gaze settling on Yu Tianheng.

Yu Tianheng stepped forward.

He stood half a head taller than Dugu Yan. As their eyes met, invisible currents seemed to collide in the air.

"Three versus three?"

Dugu Yan raised an eyebrow, then immediately understood.

Heh, since he couldn't win one-on-one, he was starting to play team tactics?

Yu Tianheng would definitely choose Yufeng and Osler—one Assault Type and two Agility Attack Types. This combination had tremendous explosive power in small-scale team battles.

If she chose the Shi Brothers, Defense Types could only passively take hits against Agility Attack Types.

And Ye Lingling...

If she chose a Healing Type like her, it would practically be giving the match away.

"What a clever scheme."

A trace of chill flashed through Dugu Yan's emerald-green eyes.

"Fine. I accept."

Even at a disadvantage, she still agreed.

Her 2,200-year third Soul Ring was her greatest reliance. As long as the Shi Brothers could hold back even one opponent, she was confident she could fight two against one.

Just as Dugu Yan was about to choose her teammates, the corner of her eye suddenly caught Master Yu Cheng watching from the side.

In an instant, a thought flashed through her mind.

"Master Yu Cheng."

Dugu Yan turned her head. "May I ask what your Soul Power Level is? Would it be convenient for you to reveal the effects of your soul skills?"