Elemental City, Thunder Academy

In the spring of Douluo Calendar 2474, Yu Yuanchen turned eighteen and a half.

After bidding farewell to his family, he set out on another journey. This time, his destination was clear—the unique city built around the five great elemental academies in the heart of the Heaven Dou Empire: Elemental City.

He did not reveal his true appearance. Instead, he made a few simple disguises, making himself look slightly older than his actual age, around twenty or so. His demeanor was steady, his eyes sharp, fitting the image of a promising young Soul Master. Dressed in simple blue training clothes, with his aura restrained to the level of a newly advanced Soul Emperor, he arrived before Elemental City's distinctive gate, decorated with symbols of the five elements, carrying a handwritten letter of recommendation from his grandfather, Yu Boxuan.

Within Elemental City, the architecturally distinct complexes of the five great academies each occupied their own territory. Soul Power Fluctuations of different attributes filled the air, unusually active. Yu Yuanchen headed straight for Thunder Academy in the eastern part of the city.

Thunder Academy's buildings were mostly deep blue and silver-white, with sharp, angular designs. Fine arcs of electricity often flickered between the eaves and pillars. After presenting his recommendation letter, he was quickly led to the office of the academy's dean, Lei Dongtian.

Lei Dongtian was a middle-aged man around fifty, tall and powerfully built, with a resolute face. His short hair stood upright like steel needles, and lightning glimmered in his eyes whenever they opened and closed. His aura had clearly reached the level of an eight-ring Soul Douluo! He accepted the letter and carefully read the handwriting of his teacher, Yu Boxuan, his gaze occasionally falling on Yu Yuanchen, who stood respectfully before him.

The letter spared no praise for Yu Yuanchen, who used the alias "Yu Chen" in it. It described his exceptional talent and unique understanding of Thunder Power, recommending him to teach at the academy due to the ties between their families and hoping he would receive further experience there.

"Yu Chen?" Lei Dongtian set down the letter, his booming voice carrying an echo like rolling thunder. "My teacher speaks very highly of you. However, while Thunder Academy has close ties with the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, teaching qualifications must still be earned through genuine skill. Since you are a Soul Emperor, academy rules require you to pass an assessment before your rank can be determined."

"This junior understands. Please test me, Dean." Yu Yuanchen bowed without servility or arrogance.

"Good!" A trace of appreciation flashed through Lei Dongtian's eyes. "Our academy's practical combat courses place the greatest importance on a teacher's own strength. The assessment is simple. Spar with Lei Bao, the director of our practical combat department, a level-seventy-three Soul Sage. You need not defeat him. As long as you hold out without losing for a quarter of an hour, you will earn the position of lecturer. If you perform even better, your post may be raised accordingly."

"This junior accepts." Yu Yuanchen nodded. An opponent at the Soul Sage level suited him perfectly. He could display his strength while keeping everything under control.

A short while later, at Thunder Academy's central Martial Arts Arena.

Upon hearing that a new teacher was undergoing an assessment and that his opponent was Director Lei Bao, famed for his ferocious offense, many students and teachers without classes rushed over to watch, packing the area around the Martial Arts Arena to the brim.

Lei Bao was already standing in the arena. He was lean and strong, his muscles bulging, his sharp eyes resembling those of a true leopard. The formidable aura of a Soul Sage radiated from him. Beneath his feet, two yellow, two purple, and three black Seventh Soul Ring slowly revolved, bringing immense pressure.

"Kid, the dean sent you to last a quarter of an hour against me? Don't worry, I'll control my strength. I won't make you lose too badly!" Lei Bao grinned, carrying the confidence and slight pride of a Soul Sage.

Yu Yuanchen smiled faintly without saying anything. He simply walked to stand opposite Lei Bao. With a thought, the Soul Power within him began circulating in a special manner, quietly activating the technique the Family Elders had developed to conceal Soul Ring colors. An invisible, faint Soul Power Fluctuation spread over his Soul Rings, cleverly disrupting the refraction of light and the outward manifestation of Soul Power Fluctuations.

The next instant, five Soul Rings rose beneath his feet—two yellow, two purple, and one black!

The standard optimal Soul Ring configuration for a Soul King! He had deliberately concealed his Sixth Soul Ring and all Soul Power Fluctuations belonging to a Soul Emperor, displaying only the Cultivation Level of a Soul King. This was a decision he had made with his grandfather. An eighteen-year-old Soul Emperor was far too shocking and would easily attract unnecessary attention and trouble. Acting as a Soul King was much safer. This technique was not flawless; under the close inspection of a Titled Douluo, it might be exposed. But deceiving Soul Masters at the Soul Douluo level and below would not be a problem.

"Soul King?" Low murmurs rose from the spectators, and many showed surprise or confusion. Although a Soul King this young was extremely rare, how could a Soul King possibly hold out against a Soul Sage for a quarter of an hour? Wasn't the dean's assessment far too harsh?

A hint of surprise flashed through Lei Bao's eyes as well, but he soon laughed. "A Soul King? Kid, you've got courage! Watch out!"

Before his words had even faded, Lei Bao's First Soul Ring lit up. His figure suddenly blurred, becoming like a genuine Blue Lightning streaking through the air with a piercing Sound of Breaking Air as he lunged straight at Yu Yuanchen! He was so fast that many students could barely follow him.

Yet under Yu Yuanchen's powerful Spiritual Power perception, Lei Bao's movements, while fast, were not impossible to trace. His feet shifted, using the improved Dragon Swimming Steps! His body swayed like a willow in the wind, twisting like an Electric Eel, avoiding Lei Bao's pounce at the last possible moment with an incomparably subtle arc. Even the hem of his clothes remained untouched!

"Hmm?" Lei Bao's strike missed, and he let out a soft sound of surprise, withdrawing some of his contempt. He could sense that his opponent's movement technique was extremely strange. It was not merely fast; his Timing Control and grasp of angles were exquisitely precise.

"Second Soul Skill, Thunder Claw Rending the Sky!" Lei Bao roared. His hands formed claws, covered in fierce lightning. His speed increased again as the wind from his claws howled, shrouding Yu Yuanchen's vital points.

Yu Yuanchen still did not meet him head-on. He pushed Dragon Swimming Steps to its limit, leaving afterimages across the Martial Arts Arena. Like a slick, elusive swimming dragon, he weaved and evaded amid Lei Bao's savage assault. Whenever he truly could not avoid an attack, he used his Dragon Transformation right arm—revealing only the arm and carefully controlling the extent of its transformation—to block. His powerful physique, tempered through refinement and supported by Soul Power, always managed to redirect Lei Bao's force with precision, producing dull collision sounds.

He did not use any offensive Soul Skills, instead taking defense and evasion to the extreme. To outsiders, he appeared completely disadvantaged, chased down by Lei Bao and repeatedly placed in danger, as though he would lose at any moment. But only Lei Bao himself knew that despite looking bedraggled, Yu Yuanchen's breathing was steady and his footwork never faltered. Every block and dodge was perfectly timed, dissolving his ferocious force into nothingness. Such control was far beyond anything ordinary!

"Good kid! You've got some skill!" Lei Bao's fighting spirit was roused. His Third Soul Ring lit up. "Third Soul Skill, Thunder Sound Explosion!"

He opened his mouth and released an angry roar. Sound Wave mixed with Thunder Power spread outward as though tangible, carrying powerful dizzying and numbing effects in an attempt to disrupt Yu Yuanchen's movement technique.

Yu Yuanchen frowned slightly. His Spiritual Power guarded his Spirit Platform, easily neutralizing the dizziness. At the same time, he blended an imperceptible trace of Thunder God Power into his Soul Power, forming an extremely thin layer of defense over his body. The numbing effect was greatly weakened as well. Dragon Swimming Steps only paused for an instant before flowing smoothly once more.

Second by second, time passed. In the blink of an eye, more than half a quarter of an hour had gone by. Yu Yuanchen was still "struggling bitterly" beneath Lei Bao's relentless assault, drawing repeated cries of alarm from the watching students. Their gazes toward him shifted from initial doubt to surprise and sympathy.

Unable to win after attacking for so long, Lei Bao was beginning to feel anxious. He was a Soul Sage, after all. If he could not defeat even a "Soul King" within the allotted time, it would be hard to save face.

"Fifth Soul Skill, Leopard Phantom Kill!" he shouted. Black light flared from his Fifth Soul Ring, and his speed instantly soared to the limit. His entire body split into three Lei Bao phantoms, impossible to distinguish as real or false, lunging at Yu Yuanchen simultaneously from different directions and sealing off every route of escape!

This attack had already employed a powerful Soul Skill at the Soul Sage level!

The spectators held their breath, all believing the assessment was about to end.

Yet faced with this killing formation, a gleam flashed through Yu Yuanchen's eyes. He knew he could no longer rely purely on evasion. In a flash of thought, his simulated First and Third Soul Rings lit up at the same time, and immense Thunder Power instantly condensed in his Dragon Transformation right arm!

He did not choose to attack Lei Bao. Instead, he violently slammed the gathered force into the ground beneath his feet!

Boom!

Furious Lightning Power exploded across the ground, forming a ring-shaped shockwave. Dust and lightning filled the air, instantly disrupting the vision and perception of the three phantoms! At the same time, the recoil from the explosion sent Yu Yuanchen flying backward, allowing him to escape the phantoms' combined attack range by the narrowest margin!

As the dust settled, Yu Yuanchen landed some distance away, looking slightly "disheveled." His clothes were stained with dust, and he deliberately made his breathing seem a little hurried, but he still stood firm.

Lei Bao's three phantoms merged back into one. Looking at Yu Yuanchen, who was completely unharmed, his face was filled with shock. He had not expected his opponent to break his Fifth Soul Skill in such a manner!

"Time's up!" the teacher responsible for keeping time announced loudly from the side.

A quarter of an hour had passed!

The Martial Arts Arena fell silent for a moment before erupting into heated discussion! A "Soul King" had actually held out for a full quarter of an hour against Director Lei Bao, a Soul Sage! Though he had seemed miserable, he had endured in the end! His resilience, his Timing Control, and especially his quick wits in breaking the Fifth Soul Skill at the end made everyone look at him in a new light!

Lei Bao withdrew his Martial Soul and gave Yu Yuanchen a complicated look. He walked forward and patted him on the shoulder, his booming voice carrying a hint of admiration. "Kid, not bad! Your movement technique is strange, and your ability to adapt is extremely strong! I, Lei Bao, acknowledge you!"

Seated in the place of honor, Dean Lei Dongtian's eyes also shone repeatedly. Naturally, he could tell that this "Yu Chen" had not used his full strength. His true ability was probably far beyond that of a mere Soul King on the surface. In particular, his bizarre movement technique and his composure and quick wits in dealing with the Fifth Soul Skill were not something an ordinary Soul King could possess. As expected, the person recommended by his teacher was no ordinary man!

"Assessment passed!" Lei Dongtian rose to his feet, his voice ringing through the entire Martial Arts Arena. "From this day onward, Yu Chen shall serve as a practical combat lecturer at Thunder Academy!"

Yu Yuanchen bowed slightly. "Thank you, Dean. Thank you to Director Lei for your guidance."

He had successfully gained a foothold in Thunder Academy, one of Elemental City's five great powers, in a position that was inconspicuous yet sufficient to earn respect. Next, he would use his identity as a lecturer as a stepping stone, beginning his journey of observing and studying the powers of different attributes and exploring the method of Viscera Quenching. The undercurrents of Elemental City would quietly begin to change with the arrival of Teacher "Yu Chen," who concealed his true strength.