Tailong's Provocation

The cafeteria was bustling with noise, Soul Masters of different ages gathered together, the air filled with the scents of food and sweat.

Blue Tyrant Academy's rules were simple and brutal—age didn't matter, only Soul Power.

Soul Master classes, Soul Grand Master classes, Soul Elder classes, all clearly separated.

But today, within the Soul Elder class area, an "outsider" had infiltrated.

Liu Erlong, dressed in neat attire, walked ahead, her brows carrying their usual spirited look. However, when she glanced at the young man beside her, a subtle softness flickered in her eyes.

"This is the cafeteria," she said, her voice clear and bright. "The food is specially formulated according to the cultivation needs of Soul Masters, beneficial for increasing Soul Power and strengthening the body."

Just as she was about to elaborate, an assistant instructor hurried over and whispered a few words.

Liu Erlong's brow furrowed slightly.

"Tiancheng, I have some urgent matters to attend to." She patted Yu Tiancheng's shoulder, her tone gentle but with a hint of instruction. "Familiarize yourself with the place first, don't be shy."

"You're busy, Dean," Yu Tiancheng replied with a smile and a nod.

Liu Erlong swept another glance over the cafeteria before quickly departing.

As soon as her figure disappeared, several gazes silently fell upon Yu Tiancheng.

The young man stood alone at the entrance, his demeanor gentle and refined, a stark contrast to the other Soul Master students around him, who exuded vigorous Blood Essence and boisterous behavior.

Especially the faint fluctuation of Soul Power emanating from him—level twenty-three Soul Power, which, in an area crowded with Soul Elders, was as conspicuous as a candle flame in the dark.

Whispers began to rise from various corners.

"Him? The new guy?"

"His Soul Power is that weak... is he really a Soul Grand Master?"

"I heard his surname is Yu, and the Dean personally arranged for him to be here."

"From the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Family? But this cultivation level..."

"Who knows, maybe he's a distant relative..."

The discussions weren't loud, but they were enough for Soul Masters with keen hearing to pick up.

Yu Tiancheng acted as if he heard nothing and walked directly towards the "General Nutrition Meal" counter.

Just then, a gruff voice, laced with undisguised mockery, boomed from behind him:

"Hey! Newbie!"

Yu Tiancheng turned around.

A short-haired young man over two meters tall, with bulging muscles, stood with his arms crossed, looking him up and down with contempt.

Several equally burly students followed him, appearing to be his subordinates.

From the Strength Clan, Tailong.

"That's the Soul Master class cafeteria over there," Tailong said, lifting his chin, his tone mocking. "This is Soul Elder territory, not a place for you."

Yu Tiancheng's expression remained calm. "I am a freshman in Soul Elder Class One, Yu Tiancheng. The Dean brought me here just now, so I shouldn't have made a mistake."

"Soul Elder Class One? Freshman?" Tailong seemed to hear the biggest joke in the world, letting out two loud laughs. His followers also joined in the laughter. "Kid, what do you think our class is? Anyone can join? The lowest level in our class is thirty-one! You're a level twenty-three Soul Grand Master, what gives you the right?"

He took a step forward, his palm-like hand cracking as he clenched it, his Soul Power subtly rippling.

"Is it because your surname is Yu? Or because you know how to butter up the Dean?"

The cafeteria instantly fell silent.

All eyes focused on them.

Tailong had voiced the thoughts of many—a Soul Grand Master with clearly insufficient Soul Power appearing in the Soul Elder class was already eye-catching.

Now that it was brought up, everyone wanted to see how the newcomer would respond.

Yu Tiancheng quietly looked at Tailong, and after he finished speaking, slowly began:

"So, what do you mean, classmate Tailong?"

"The meaning is simple!" Tailong, seeing the other party seem to "back down," became even more arrogant. He pointed to the back door of the cafeteria. "The sparring arena is behind there! If you're a man, let your strength do the talking! Do you dare to spar with me?"

He grinned, revealing his white teeth. "Don't worry, I'll suppress my Soul Power to level thirty and won't use my third Soul Skill, so no one can say I'm bullying you!"

The pressure instantly fell on Yu Tiancheng.

Countless eyes were on him—contempt, curiosity, indifference, and a few scattered points of sympathy.

Yu Tiancheng remained silent for a moment.

Just as Tailong thought he would find an excuse to refuse and was preparing to hurl more insults, the young man nodded.

"Okay."

Tailong was taken aback.

Yu Tiancheng continued, his voice clear and steady, yet audible throughout the entire cafeteria:

"However, since we're going to spar, suppressing levels and limiting Soul Skills will only hold us back. You are a level thirty-seven Soul Elder, and I am a level twenty-three Soul Grand Master. There is indeed a gap in our levels."

He paused, and amidst the astonished gazes of the crowd, he said word by word:

"How about this, we'll just have three moves."

"Within three moves, if you can make me move half a step from my current position, or force me to use Soul Power beyond my current level to defend—"

Yu Tiancheng raised his eyes, his gaze calm yet filled with an inexplicable certainty:

"Then I'll admit defeat. I'll explain myself to the Dean and leave the Soul Elder class."

"Whoosh—"

A collective gasp echoed through the cafeteria.

Is he crazy?

A twenty-three-level Soul Grand Master dares to say that to a thirty-seven-level Assault-Type Soul Elder?

Tailong's eyes widened, as if he hadn't heard clearly. Then, he burst into laughter, enraged: "Good! Very good! Kid, you're arrogant enough! Three moves it is! I'd like to see how you can withstand my three moves without budging! Don't come crying if you lose!"

Yu Tiancheng, however, acted as if he hadn't heard the taunt. He continued calmly:

"Conversely, if after three moves, I haven't moved from my spot…"

He looked at Tailong, his tone still gentle, but every word was clear, striking everyone's heart:

"Then I'll ask fellow student Tailong to retract his previous remarks about me being a 'connected person' and 'dragging the team down,' and to guarantee that in the future, he will not make unfounded criticisms of any classmates based on their Soul Power Level."

"What do you say?"

"It's a deal." Tailong was already impatient to teach this ignorant brat a lesson. "Now! Immediately! Right away!"

"Alright." Yu Tiancheng nodded, as if he had merely agreed to a trivial matter, and turned to walk towards the back door of the cafeteria.

Tailong snorted coldly and, with a few followers, strode after him.

The cafeteria instantly erupted.

"Quick! Let's go watch!"

"Has this newcomer gone mad? Three moves without moving? Tailong is from the Strength Clan; his physical strength is top-tier among those at his level!"

"Maybe he really has a trump card? Someone the Dean personally brought…"

"What trump card! Twenty-three versus thirty-seven, the gap is too huge!"

Many people, forgetting their meals, got up and rushed towards the passage leading to the sparring grounds behind the cafeteria.

A match that seemed to have a vast disparity in power and peculiar conditions was about to begin.

Does this Yu Tiancheng, only level twenty-three and personally brought by the Dean, truly possess an astonishing reliance, or is he merely putting up a brave front for the sake of his pride?

As he walked towards the sparring grounds, Yu Tiancheng's expression was calm, but his mind was racing.

Strength Clan, Martial Soul: Great Gorilla. A pure strength-type Soul Master, with strong explosive power but insufficient agility. His attacks are straightforward…

Information from his past life flowed through his mind.

This sudden conflict—

Was precisely the first opportunity for him to establish himself in this new academy, in his own way.