Spiritual Might, Ning Rongrong Comes Calling

"Lu Yan, you won't have any chance in this battle."

Yu Tianheng's voice boomed like thunder, his fighting spirit surging fiercely.

The phantom of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon coiled around him as violent lightning crackled, making him look like a thunder god descended.

Two yellow and one purple—three Soul Rings in the optimal configuration—shone brilliantly as turbulent Soul Power Fluctuations swept outward.

Compared to a month ago, his might had increased by more than several times.

He had secluded himself for bitter cultivation and fused with his Third Soul Ring, all for this day.

Lu Yan seemed not to notice, remaining calm as ever.

"After today," Lu Yan said, a cold glint passing through his eyes,

"you will no longer harbor even the slightest hope of defeating me."

Dream Butterfly, bloom!

Butterfly Wings spread out behind Lu Yan, shimmering with flowing light.

Yu Tianheng's vision blurred as countless scenes of joy, anger, sorrow, and pleasure flashed through his mind like fleeting images, disrupting his breath.

Though it lasted only an instant, it was enough to fill him with shock.

Lu Yan had grown stronger, but so had he.

"Fight!"

Yu Tianheng suppressed the tremor in his heart and roared, determined to reclaim the title of genius that belonged to him.

He immediately unleashed his strongest trump card.

Third Soul Skill: Thunderous Fury.

Crackle—!!!

The lightning no longer scattered outward. Instead, it converged like rivers flowing into the sea, transforming into solid lightning dragons that tightly coiled around his arms and torso.

His muscles swelled beneath the lightning glow, and his Soul Power Pressure soared abruptly, increasing by more than half from its original level.

The terrifying power of a thousand-year soul skill was fully revealed.

In the Audience Seats.

Ye Lingling unconsciously clenched her delicate hand. She did not know where Lu Yan found such certainty.

Still... the Nine Heart Begonia swirled in her palm, ready to heal him at the first moment.

"Lu Yan, this time..." Yu Tianheng pushed off the ground, transforming into a streak of lightning as he charged forward at a speed far beyond before.

"I absolutely will not lose again."

With the enhancement of Thunderous Fury, his speed and strength had already approached the peak of the Soul Elder realm.

Even if Lu Yan used that spiritual technique from before, he would first have to catch him.

Facing this thunderous, overwhelming assault, Lu Yan remained silent. Only within the Depth of Eyes—

A streak of Purple Light flickered like a flame in his pupils.

Target locked on.

Purple Demon Eyes, Soul Impact!

Boom!

Invisible, intangible Spiritual Power condensed into a sharp awl, ignoring Soul Power and lightning defenses as it smashed directly into Yu Tianheng's completely unguarded Sea of Consciousness.

"Ugh, ah—!"

Yu Tianheng's charging figure came to an abrupt halt, as if an invisible giant hammer had struck him squarely on the head.

Just for an instant.

Yu Tianheng's eyes lost focus, his mind turning completely blank.

All circulation of Soul Power, all intent to fight, was utterly interrupted and shattered in that moment.

The dazzling lightning dragons vanished abruptly, and his Martial Soul Possession was forcibly dispelled.

Like a puppet with its strings cut, Yu Tianheng fell straight backward.

However, Lu Yan moved.

With a light flap of his Butterfly Wings, his figure blurred like Gui Mei.

The next moment, Lu Yan had appeared before Yu Tianheng.

Without any unnecessary movement, Lu Yan raised his hand and drove a fist into Yu Tianheng's chest.

Bang!

A dull impact rang out.

As though struck by a battering ram, Yu Tianheng's body bent into a painful arc before he flew backward uncontrollably.

A second later.

He slammed heavily into the wall at the edge of the Soul Fighting Arena with a thunderous crash, then slowly slid down to the ground.

"Pfft—"

Yu Tianheng dropped to one knee and spat out a mouthful of blood, his eyes filled with confusion and disbelief.

Silence!

A deathly silence enveloped the entire Soul Fighting Arena!

"H-How is that possible?!" Yufeng gaped, as though he had seen a ghost.

Osler rubbed his eyes hard. "Y-You're kidding, right? Captain... was defeated in one move?"

"He really won..."

Ye Lingling's red lips parted slightly beneath her veil as she murmured softly.

Then she immediately lifted her skirt and hurried down from the Audience Seats. Victory or defeat aside, treating the captain was her duty.

Even Qin Ming, who was always steady and composed, showed an astonished expression.

Though he was not a Spirit Master specializing in spiritual abilities, his Soul Power Level far surpassed those of the two in the arena.

In that instant just now, he had clearly sensed an eruption of Spiritual Power condensed to the extreme.

Its sharpness and intensity had even made him feel a trace of threat.

"Lu Yan's control over Spiritual Power has reached perfection.

Tianheng... did not lose unfairly."

Qin Ming gave his assessment inwardly.

"The victor, Dream Master!"

The referee's resounding voice finally broke the silence.

It ignited the enthusiasm of every spectator.

"Damn! A one-shot defeat—it was actually a one-shot defeat!"

"Dream Master is invincible! Who still dares question Dream Master's strength?"

"I thought he was so impressive, but he couldn't even take one move from Dream Master! Hahaha!"

Fervent cheers and piercing mockery intertwined.

Yu Tianheng wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth. Listening to the surrounding discussions, his face turned ashen.

He had lost again.

And this time, he had lost faster, more thoroughly, and with even less suspense than before.

Lu Yan turned and left.

He knew clearly that under Soul Impact, he had absolutely no rival within the Soul Elder realm.

There was no meaning in fighting further.

Unless... he challenged a Soul Ancestor.

Over the next few days, Lu Yan ran Heaven.

He continuously tested Dream Butterfly's new abilities on various people.

Joy, anger, sorrow... he experienced every kind of emotion, growing ever more proficient in wielding that power.

The wind chimes rang.

Two graceful figures appeared at Heaven's entrance.

"Xiao Yan, we're not disturbing you, are we?"

Dugu Yan entered with a smile. The young woman had grown even taller, and her pair of long, jade-like legs were particularly eye-catching.

Ye Lingling still followed quietly at her side and gave Lu Yan a slight nod.

Lu Yan smiled gently. "Not at all. I've already received all ten guests for today."

Ever since Heaven had become widely known, he had established new rules, accepting only ten guests each day.

Rather than hurting business, this had made it even better.

To those nobles, rarity was what made something valuable.

Quality mattered, not quantity.

If he did not still need the Emotional Power within people's Dreams to strengthen his Spiritual Power, Heaven might not have needed to remain open at all.

Everything had to center on cultivation.

"Ah?" Dugu Yan pouted in feigned disappointment.

"Then if Lingling and I want to come in the future, will we have to make reservations and wait in line too?"

"You two are naturally exceptions," Lu Yan answered without the slightest hesitation.

"Sister Yan Yan and Sister Lingling can come whenever you want."

Those words immediately made Dugu Yan beam, and even the corners of Ye Lingling's lips beneath her veil could not help but lift slightly.

Here with Lu Yan—they were special.

Lu Yan brought Ye Lingling into a Dream.

Dugu Yan sat to the side, but her gaze unconsciously fell upon Lu Yan's focused profile.

Thinking of the pointed remarks Grandpa Dugu Bo had made recently, two rosy flushes rose on her cheeks, and her heartbeat quickened.

"Jingle, jingle~"

The wind chimes rang.

Dugu Yan came back to her senses and walked outside like the lady of the house.

There, she saw an exquisite young woman in luxurious robes entering, followed by two guards with sharp gazes and steady auras.

It was obvious at a glance that she was of extraordinary status.

"Heaven has already closed for today. Please come again another day," Dugu Yan said politely.

"Closed?" Ning Rongrong curled her lips.

Her gaze passed over Dugu Yan, catching sight of the brilliant glow spilling from behind the screen and the indistinct figure within.

"Isn't there still someone inside?"

"Heaven's new rule is to receive only ten guests per day. All the spots are filled."

Dugu Yan pointed to the wooden sign hanging at the entrance, where the rules were written clearly.

Ning Rongrong was dissatisfied.

She had heard disciples in the sect discussing Heaven, which was why she had come to take a look.

She wanted to see just how wonderful this so-called Heaven truly was.

Having arrived full of curiosity and anticipation, how could she be willing to return defeated?

Ning Rongrong's gaze landed on Dugu Yan, carrying a hint of innate superiority.

"You're the last guest, right?

Give your spot to me, and I'll compensate you with ten Gold Soul Coins."

She was not short of money.

Today, she wanted to experience Heaven.

Dugu Yan frowned. This was not a matter of money.

She would never use Lu Yan as part of a transaction.

Money insulted the relationship between her and Xiao Yan.

"This isn't a matter of money." Dugu Yan's tone turned cold.

"Forget ten Gold Soul Coins—even a hundred or a thousand wouldn't make me give up this spot.

Please leave."

Accustomed to ruling supreme in the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, Ning Rongrong had never been refused by anyone.

"Fine." Ning Rongrong lifted her chin.

"Then I'll offer one thousand Gold Soul Coins for your spot."

"I said I'm not giving it up."

Dugu Yan's patience was exhausted, and her tone hardened.

The girl looked cute, but Dugu Yan truly disliked that lofty attitude of trying to crush people with money.

There was no need to continue this conversation.