Heaven Dou Royal Academy.
This luxurious academy, nestled against the mountains and beside the water and occupying an entire mountain, was less a school than an enormous noble estate.
The roads paved with white marble, the neatly trimmed greenery, and the exquisite sculptures everywhere all displayed the royal family's grandeur and extravagance.
After taking Na'er out for a meal, Xuan Hao left Heaven Dou City with her and headed toward Heaven Dou Royal Academy outside the city.
Since Dugu Bo had already made an appearance, even if he had not truly acted, that was enough to give him a reason.
Dugu Bo wanted to bully him, so naturally, he had to bully Dugu Yan a little too!
After he bullied Dugu Yan, that old bastard Dugu Bo would definitely come looking for him again. But after what happened today, Dugu Bo certainly would not dare act rashly. Even if he did, Ghostly Shadow would be there to handle it.
And as long as Dugu Bo dared come looking for him in secret, he would dare to kidnap Dugu Yan outright!
"Stop!"
Several youths in goose-yellow academy uniforms, each appearing only twelve or thirteen years old, blocked Xuan Hao and Na'er's path.
They sized up the two seemingly noble "children," one older and one younger. Though intimidated by their bearing, their innate superiority as students of Heaven Dou Royal Academy still made them lift their chins.
"This is Heaven Dou Royal Academy. Unauthorized people are not allowed inside. Which family's children are you? This isn't a place for you to play house. Get out of here!"
Xuan Hao stopped. Rather than getting angry, he offered a polite smile.
"Hello, seniors. I heard our academy has a new genius named Yu Tianheng. I want to find him."
"Yu Tianheng?"
The youth in the lead froze for a moment before a trace of awe flashed through his eyes. "You mean that one from the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan?"
Although Yu Tianheng had only been enrolled for a few days, he had truly stormed in like a fierce dragon crossing the river.
Not only was he a direct descendant of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, one of the Upper Three Sects, he was also hailed as the genius of his generation most likely to inherit the position of clan leader.
On his very first day, he had beaten several older students who tried to put him in his place until they were beaten black and blue. Even the academy's three members of the Education Committee thought highly of him.
"What do you want with him?" the youth asked warily.
"Oh, I play with dragons too." Xuan Hao blinked, his sky-blue eyes incomparably clear. "I heard his Martial Soul is the Number One Beast Martial Soul Under Heaven. I admire it greatly, so I came to... spar with him."
"Pfft—"
The youths could not help laughing.
You?
A little brat who looked like he had not even been weaned yet wanted to spar with Yu Tianheng? Played with dragons? More like played with loaches.
"Enough, enough. Stop causing trouble here. Yu Tianheng should be at the Heavenly Micro Level Training Ground right now." The youth waved dismissively. "But he doesn't have time to bother with a little brat like you."
"Thanks."
Xuan Hao did not mind their mockery. Holding Na'er's hand, he swaggered inside in the direction the youth had pointed.
Yu Tianheng and Dugu Yan should be together.
Going directly to Dugu Yan would be a little too deliberate, but finding Yu Tianheng would not seem so deliberate.
After all, he had a Dragon Spirit too. Wasn't it perfectly normal for him to be interested in this so-called Number One Beast Martial Soul Under Heaven?
And wasn't it perfectly normal to want a spar?
Besides, he had to be arrogant!
The more arrogant he was, the less anyone could figure out his background! The less they would dare provoke him!
If he acted cocky for a moment and then suddenly cowered, unable to follow through, he would be finished.
Yesterday, he had beaten Xue Beng. This morning, he had made Xue Beng kneel and apologize. This afternoon, he had come to Heaven Dou Royal Academy to make trouble.
Without a heaven-reaching background and absolute confidence, who would dare do something like that?
Heavenly Micro Level Training Ground.
This place had been specially prepared for freshmen below level twenty-five in Soul Power. Though its rank was not high, its facilities were first-rate.
At this moment, the Soul Fighting Platform was surrounded by students watching the spectacle.
Boom—!
With a deafening blast, a blue-violet pillar of lightning shot into the sky and sent the opponent flying off the platform.
"Thank you for letting me win."
On the platform, a tall, lean youth in fitted combat clothes withdrew his right hand. He had short black hair and eyes as sharp as lightning. Fading electric light still coiled around his body, making him appear exceedingly imposing.
It was Yu Tianheng.
"He's so strong! As expected of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Martial Soul!"
"Even a level twenty-five Beast Spirit Soul Master was instantly defeated in one move. The gap is way too huge!"
The students below the platform discussed animatedly, their eyes filled with awe and admiration.
They were all Soul Grandmasters, yet before Yu Tianheng, they were like paper, unable to take even a single move from him. Was this the true value of the Number One Beast Martial Soul Under Heaven?
"Boring."
Yu Tianheng shook his head, a trace of disappointment flashing through his eyes. Other than its decent environment, the quality of Heaven Dou Royal Academy's students was truly worrying.
Just as he prepared to jump down from the Soul Fighting Platform, a crisp voice suddenly rang out, especially piercing in the quiet training ground.
"Hey, the one playing with electricity."
Yu Tianheng paused and turned toward the voice.
At the entrance to the training ground stood a silver-haired youth who looked only eight or nine years old, his hands in his pockets as he watched Yu Tianheng. Beside him was an equally silver-haired, purple-eyed little girl as adorable as a porcelain doll.
"Were you calling me?" Yu Tianheng frowned slightly.
"Who else? Other than you, who here is crackling with electricity like a giant lightbulb?" Xuan Hao led Na'er over, completely ignoring the looks from the surrounding students as if they were staring at an idiot. He stopped beneath the Soul Fighting Platform and looked up at Yu Tianheng.
"I heard you're from the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan? The one with the Number One Beast Martial Soul Under Heaven?"
"Perfect. I have a Dragon Martial Soul too."
"I want to see whether your lightning dragon is stronger, or whether my dragon... is tougher."
"You want to fight me?"
Yu Tianheng looked as though he had heard a joke. He looked Xuan Hao up and down, then shook his head. "I don't bully children. Come back after you've grown some hair."
With that, he turned to leave.
"It's fine. You don't need to feel burdened." Xuan Hao said. "If you're worried people will say you're bullying someone younger, I can let you have both hands."
"What did you say?" The smile vanished from Yu Tianheng's face, and his gaze turned dangerous.
"What? Both hands aren't enough?"
Xuan Hao sighed, wearing an expression that said, You're so weak. "Then I'll add both feet too. Is that enough?"
"Arrogant!!"
Yu Tianheng was thoroughly enraged.
The Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan's people had proud blood flowing through their bones. He could accept a challenge, and he could even accept defeat, but he could never accept such naked humiliation! Especially not from a child several years younger than him!
"Since you're looking for a beating, I'll grant your wish!"
Yu Tianheng pointed at the Soul Fighting Platform. "Get up here! Today, I'll teach you on behalf of your elders what respect means!"
"Wouldn't it have been better if you'd been this straightforward from the start?"
Xuan Hao released Na'er's hand and lowered his head to instruct her, "Na'er, wait here obediently. Gege will be right back."
"Mm, gege, good luck." Na'er nodded obediently, found a bench farther away, and sat down. She took out a packet of still-unfinished sugar-roasted chestnuts from her pocket and began peeling them.
Xuan Hao slowly walked onto the Soul Fighting Platform and stopped opposite Yu Tianheng.
The two stood facing each other.
Yu Tianheng took a deep breath. Though angry, his good upbringing still allowed him to maintain the basic etiquette of a Soul Master.
"Yu Tianheng, level twenty-four Assault System Battle Soul Master. Martial Soul, Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon!"
"Buzz—"
Two bright yellow Hundred Year Spirit Rings slowly rose from beneath his feet. A powerful lightning aura erupted instantly, while blue-violet arcs of electricity danced around him with crackling sounds.
Xuan Hao merely smiled faintly at his display.
"Xuan Hao."
"Martial Soul, Golden Dragon."
After saying that, he offered nothing more.
No level announcement, no Soul Rings released, and he did not even seem inclined to remove his hands from his pockets.
Yu Tianheng's facial expression instantly turned as dark as the bottom of a pot.
On a Soul Fighting Platform, such behavior had only one meaning—he was looking down on you!
"Good, good, good! Since you're so confident, don't blame me for showing no mercy!!"
Yu Tianheng laughed in extreme anger, electricity flaring in his eyes.
"First Soul Skill, Thunder Dragon Claw!!"
He pushed off the ground, transforming into a streak of blue lightning as he charged at Xuan Hao. His right claw, covered in dragon scales and filled with violent Power of Thunder, fiercely slashed toward Xuan Hao's shoulder.
Although he was angry, he still held back. He did not attack a vital point and merely wanted to teach this arrogant brat a lesson.
However.
Faced with this overwhelming strike, Xuan Hao did not even raise an eyelid.
When Yu Tianheng closed to within five meters of him—
Xuan Hao suddenly opened his mouth.
Second Soul Skill—Golden Dragon Roar!
"Roar—!!!"
Without any warning, a terrifying dragon roar filled with ancient, savage aura exploded across the Soul Fighting Platform like thunder striking level ground!
A visible golden Sound Wave, carrying the utterly pure pressure of a higher Dragon Clan and a powerful Spirit Shock, instantly blasted toward the charging Yu Tianheng!
Boom!!
Yu Tianheng, who had been charging so fiercely, became like a fallen leaf caught in a violent gale before that terrifying Sound Wave.
He only felt his mind buzz, as though someone had smashed his soul with a massive hammer.
Then, the terror buried deep within his bloodline erupted in an instant, causing the Soul Power within his body to collapse immediately!
"Pfft—"
His newly possessed Martial Soul was forcibly dismissed in an instant. His dragon scales receded, and his lightning faded away.
Yu Tianheng rolled his eyes. Before he could even scream, he was blasted away by the Sound Wave, tracing a miserable arc through the air before heavily crashing beneath the Soul Fighting Platform and peacefully falling asleep.
"..."
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