Facing Yuan Ling

"Yuan Ling, are you trying to rebel? How dare you say something so treasonous?"

Huangfu Ji and Yuan Ling both turned toward the voice and saw Zhao Yuan arriving at the training ground with more than twenty students.

With Zhao Yuan's group joining in, the two sides were suddenly evenly matched. Even Yuan Ling had to reconsider now. If dozens of them started fighting here, the matter would inevitably blow up.

Crippling Huangfu Ji's Martial Soul was already a major incident that would shake the entire Duchy. Yet with so many people here now...

With this many people, a full-scale brawl seemed like the only option. Only amid the chaos could they cripple Huangfu Ji.

Once Huangfu Ji was crippled, he would no longer be able to remain a Soul Master. At that point, he could only return to the Duke's Mansion and obediently serve as a Puppet, waiting for the right time to hand his position over to the Yuan Family.

Moreover, once Huangfu Ji became useless, those still loyal to him would scatter, perhaps even defecting to the Yuan Family.

"Hey, Yuan, are we fighting or not? Weren't you acting all tough just now?"

"What, now that our people are here, you've chickened out?"

Liu Erlong was already getting impatient. They had waited so long, yet the other side had made no move at all. Were they fighting or not?

Yuan Ling ignored Liu Erlong's provocation and continued staring at Huangfu Ji. He was caught in a dilemma now. What had originally been a perfect plan had somehow been ruined.

He had overlooked that fat Zhao Yuan. That guy had actually called so many people over for Huangfu Ji.

At that moment, Zhao Yuan stood at the front of the crowd, hands on his hips as he smugly looked at Yuan Ling.

"Yuan Ling, you dare disrespect the Grand Duke and say such treasonous things!"

Huangfu Ji spoke up then. "With so many people gathered here, if we start fighting, the academy will be put in a difficult position."

"How about this? We each send out one person for a one-on-one fight."

"Fine." With the way out offered to him, Yuan Ling naturally took it.

"And what if we win?"

Huangfu Ji said, "If you win, I'll leave the academy and return to the Duke's Mansion. I'll never cultivate my Martial Soul again."

Yuan Ling was surprised, while Liu Erlong immediately grew anxious.

"You can't do that! If you stop cultivating your Martial Soul, won't your whole life be over?"

Zhao Yuan was shocked as well. He had not expected Huangfu Ji to go this far. If Huangfu Ji returned to the Duke's Mansion, he would never be able to get out again. Without cultivating his Martial Soul, even the greatest talent would become useless.

"Fine." Yuan Ling smiled. If things could be settled this way, it could not be better.

Huangfu Ji continued, "If we win, you may no longer bully the Work-Study Students. Not only that, you must cover the tuition and living expenses of every Work-Study Student here until they graduate."

Compared to what would happen if he lost, this was nothing at all.

"I agree." Yuan Ling was extremely confident. He did not think Huangfu Ji could possibly be his opponent. Huangfu Ji was a six-year-old Grand Duke whose Martial Soul had only awakened a few months ago. Even if he had obtained his First Soul Ring, he could be no more than Level 11.

Yuan Ling himself was already Level 17.

He could not lose.

The Work-Study Students looked at one another, both pleased and worried.

They were pleased because if they won, they would have no more trouble until graduation and would even receive tuition money.

Their tuition was waived, but with that tuition money and living expenses, they would no longer need to work and would have more time to cultivate.

What worried them was that none of the Work-Study Students could defeat Yuan Ling. Even Han Shuo, the strongest among them, was only Level 12.

Yuan Ling waved his hand, and the people who had come with him immediately retreated, only stopping fifty meters away.

Huangfu Ji glanced at Liu Erlong beside him, signaling for her to retreat as well.

"Beat him up good." Liu Erlong clenched her fist in encouragement.

Huangfu Ji gave a confident snort and shot Yuan Ling a sidelong glance.

"Don't worry. I have no intention of going back to the Duke's Mansion."

As Liu Erlong retreated, the Work-Study Students finally realized that this Puppet Grand Duke intended to fight personally.

Even so, they were still worried. Yuan Ling was eleven, while Huangfu Ji was only six. What if Huangfu Ji lost?

They did not care whether Huangfu Ji returned to the Duke's Mansion or cultivated his Martial Soul. It had nothing to do with them. What they cared about was that if Huangfu Ji lost, they would continue being bullied.

Then, no one would stand up for them again.

Everyone formed a circle, leaving an open space fifty meters wide. Some students watched from nearby, along with several teachers.

Taking a deep breath, Yuan Ling gave a low shout. Yellow light flared across his body, and two pairs of golden wings, thin as membranes, emerged from his back. The front pair was larger while the rear pair was smaller, their veins clearly visible.

At the same time, his eyes turned pitch-black, save for golden points of light at their centers.

This was Yuan Ling's Martial Soul, the Golden Winged Bee, an agility-attack Martial Soul.

After Martial Soul Possession, a yellow Soul Ring rose and pulsed around his body.

"Yuan Ling, Level 17 One Ring agility-attack Battle Soul Master. Martial Soul: Golden Winged Bee."

Huangfu Ji activated his Martial Soul as well. A dragon's roar rang out as golden light burst from his body. Dragon scales covered his form, while a pair of golden Dragon Wings appeared behind his back. His eyes turned dark red, and his muscles swelled, stretching his academy uniform to its limit.

A yellow Soul Ring rose beneath his feet and pulsed around his body.

After Martial Soul Possession, Huangfu Ji's imposing aura completely overwhelmed Yuan Ling's. After all, how could a bee contend with a dragon?

"Damn." Liu Erlong's eyes went wide. This was the first time she had seen Huangfu Ji's Sacred Martial War Dragon Martial Soul.

At that moment, Huangfu Ji looked like a king, making those around him afraid to meet his gaze.

"Huangfu Ji, Martial Soul: Sacred Martial War Dragon. Level 12 One Ring strength-attack Battle Soul Master."

"Go, Grand Duke! Beat him!" Zhao Yuan began cheering.

Huangfu Ji let out a dragon's roar, startling Yuan Ling into taking two steps back. His hands trembled slightly. He was afraid.

He tried hard to steady himself and suppress that fear, but no matter what he did, he could not force it down. What was more, he had not expected Huangfu Ji to have reached Level 12.

Don't be afraid. He's just a Puppet. So what if his Martial Soul is a dragon?

He repeatedly warned himself not to fear Huangfu Ji. What was there to fear from a six-year-old Grand Duke who had been stripped of all real power?

Yuan Ling stepped forward. Then, his wings beat rapidly as he flew into the air. He had to strike first. He held the advantage in Soul Power, and as long as he dragged things out, victory would belong to him.

Huangfu Ji naturally understood that he lacked the advantage in Soul Power, so he wanted to end the battle quickly.

Yuan Ling struck first. His wings vibrated as he dived toward Huangfu Ji.

Seeing this, Huangfu Ji controlled the wings behind his back to shield himself.

Yuan Ling gathered Soul Power in his right fist and slammed it into the golden Dragon Wings. The powerful recoil sent him flying backward.

Seizing the opportunity, Huangfu Ji darted forward. With the speed boosted by the beating of his Dragon Wings, he rapidly closed in on Yuan Ling. Before Yuan Ling could react, Huangfu Ji grabbed his right hand and flung him more than ten meters away.