Liu Erlong (Part 1)

The next day.

After the opening ceremony, the students of the Junior Soul Master Academy had mostly settled down and begun studying and cultivating in earnest.

Compared with the Intermediate Soul Master Academy, the junior academy was not nearly as busy. It mainly provided basic education and taught the fundamental theories of Soul Masters—nothing more than laying a foundation.

Because the Soul Master Academy had few students, only three hundred in total, each grade had only one class of fifty students.

When Huangfu Ji arrived at the classroom, all the students were already there.

Huangfu Ji found a seat in the corner and sat down, with Zhao Yuan beside him.

The girl from yesterday sat three seats ahead and to his left. Most of those around her were Work-Study Students. Compared to last year, when there had been only one Work-Study Student, this year was not bad at all—three had enrolled.

The three sat together, clearly having been ostracized. It was only the first day of school, yet some of the academy's conflicts had already surfaced.

Students born into noble or Soul Master families looked down on Work-Study Students. They believed such people did not deserve to study alongside them and polluted their learning environment, so they naturally targeted them.

There were already few Work-Study Students to begin with. Excluding those who had graduated, there were only eighteen across all six grades, making them a minority. They were often bullied within the academy and could only stick together for warmth.

If they could not even unite, who knew how badly they would be bullied? They might even die without anyone investigating.

The classroom buzzed with noise as students chatted in small groups before the teacher arrived.

Zhao Yuan leaned closer as well. After spending a day together, he had gradually become more familiar with Huangfu Ji and no longer seemed as restrained as before.

"Grand Duke, you need to be careful."

"Hm?" Huangfu Ji looked at him in confusion.

Zhao Yuan said, "I heard that Yuan Ling will target you in the academy."

"Yuan Ling?" Huangfu Ji frowned slightly. He was no stranger to that name.

Yuan Ling was Yuan Hao's son. He was currently a fifth-year student and already a One Ring Soul Master, not far from becoming a Soul Grandmaster.

Huangfu Ji could roughly guess what was going on. Since Yuan Hao had no way of directly making a move against him within the academy, he had his son find a way instead. Wasn't it perfectly normal for students to have conflicts with one another?

It was entirely possible for Yuan Ling or other students to cripple his Martial Soul within the academy, or even kill him. Though they were all children, the oldest students in the academy were only eleven or twelve.

However, these children generally matured early, and as noble-born youths, they had grown used to being arrogant and domineering.

Zhao Yuan lowered his voice again. "Yuan Ling has quite a few lackeys in the academy. As you know, his father now holds the Duchy's military and political power. When the Yuan Family acts outside, they practically conduct themselves as the rulers of the Duchy."

"Not to mention elsewhere—even in our first year, there are several Yuan Family lackeys."

As he spoke, his gaze fell on someone. Huangfu Ji followed his line of sight and, sure enough, saw someone looking their way. The moment that person noticed Huangfu Ji looking back, he immediately turned away and began chatting with the person beside him.

Huangfu Ji nodded. "I do need to be more careful."

Zhao Yuan added, "But don't worry, Grand Duke. We're not pushovers either. The Yuan Family may be powerful, but within this academy, we aren't weak."

His words brimmed with confidence. He would not dare say the same elsewhere, but within the Junior Soul Master Academy, there were still many children from families belonging to the Loyalty Faction. Even here at the academy, they might not be unable to contend with the Yuan Family.

Besides, Yuan Ling was already in his fifth year. Next year, he would enter sixth year, and the year after that, he would graduate.

Once Yuan Ling was gone, he would basically no longer pose a threat to Huangfu Ji.

The corners of Huangfu Ji's lips rose as he glanced at Zhao Yuan.

Was he supposed to fear Yuan Ling?

Once I leave the Duke's Mansion, the world is mine.

I am no longer a bird in a cage or a fish in a net.

The fish leaps in the boundless sea; the bird soars in the lofty sky.

All I need to do now is grow up and come of age.

He knew very clearly that from the moment he left the Duke's Mansion, he would be free. Yuan Hao would no longer be able to restrain him—provided that he did not return to the Duke's Mansion.

One day, he would make Yuan Hao regret it—regret the decision to make him leave the Duke's Mansion.

Zhao Yuan patted his chest and promised, "Rest assured, Grand Duke. I, Zhao Yuan, will follow you."

At any rate, there was nothing more to say. Loyalty! That was all that mattered.

What was this called? Sending charcoal in the snow. Huangfu Ji had no power now, but with his current talent, perhaps he would defeat Yuan Hao in the future and reclaim control of the Duchy. Wouldn't Zhao Yuan soar to greatness then?

His voice was not loud, and the classroom was noisy, so no one else heard him.

Huangfu Ji merely patted him on the shoulder and said nothing. After all, he had nothing right now, and any promise would be empty words. Still, he would not forget Zhao Yuan.

Before long, the teacher entered the classroom, and the previously noisy room immediately fell silent.

The teachers at the Junior Soul Master Academy were generally Soul Grand Masters. Though they were not particularly powerful, they were more than capable of teaching students who had only just awakened their Martial Souls.

The teacher held a textbook and swept his gaze around the room.

"Today is the first day of school. Let's all introduce ourselves first."

After that, the students began introducing themselves one by one.

When it was the girl's turn, Huangfu Ji looked at her.

The girl stood and introduced herself.

"My name is Liu Erlong. My Martial Soul is a Fire Dragon, and my Soul Power is level eight."

When he heard her name, Huangfu Ji's eyes widened.

What did she say her name was?

He looked at Zhao Yuan beside him, wanting to confirm it.

Zhao Yuan said, "She said her name is Liu Erlong."

Liu Erlong. Fire Dragon.

Huangfu Ji was utterly astonished. He had never expected to encounter Liu Erlong here. He could be completely certain that this Liu Erlong was the Liu Erlong he knew of—the illegitimate daughter of Yu Luomian, the second head of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan; Yu Xiaogang's cousin and future lover; and the founder of Blue Tyrant Academy.

No wonder. No wonder.

He nodded in sudden realization. No wonder she had been so hot-tempered in the Cafeteria yesterday, looking ready to fight at the slightest disagreement.

He simply had not expected Liu Erlong to be in their Qingyang Duchy.

"What do you mean, no wonder?" Zhao Yuan asked curiously.

Huangfu Ji shook his head slightly. "Nothing."

"Her talent is very good."

Zhao Yuan wholeheartedly agreed. With Innate Soul Power at level eight, Liu Erlong had a chance of becoming a Titled Douluo in the future.

The other students in the class looked at Liu Erlong in great surprise as well. Innate Soul Power at level eight—the future held limitless possibilities for her.

Quite a few male students looked at Liu Erlong differently now.

Ignoring the surprise of those around her, Liu Erlong sat down. The moment she did, she turned back to glance at Huangfu Ji again.

When it was Huangfu Ji's turn, the teacher simply waved his hand.

"You don't need to introduce yourself."

In his view, most of the students in this class were nobles, and Huangfu Ji was Grand Duke Qingyang, so there was no need for an introduction. If the Dean had not specifically instructed him beforehand, he would have been ready to go up and bow. Even a Puppet Grand Duke was still a Grand Duke.

Huangfu Ji said nothing and simply sat down. Liu Erlong turned back to look at him in confusion.

She did not know Huangfu Ji's identity, nor had she met him before, but that only made her more curious.