39. Can't Even Take One Move!

"Soul Ancestor!"

All the students in the Soul Arena sucked in a breath of cold air, and the place fell utterly silent.

"How is that possible? How old is he?"

Someone finally came to their senses, their face filled with disbelief and confusion.

On the high platform, the four deans simultaneously looked toward Skywater Academy Dean Shui Xinrou. After all, Liu Yanyang had a close relationship with her daughter.

"Dean Shui, forgive my presumptuousness, but how old is Liu Yanyang this year?"

Thunder Academy Dean Lei Ya could no longer suppress his curiosity. At the same time, he felt a faint anger. The duck that had been practically cooked now seemed ready to fly away.

"Seventeen," Shui Xinrou answered leisurely. (P.S. His actual age was twelve!)

She gave an age that everyone could still accept. In any case, under Cheng Ying's interference, none of them could tell that she was lying unless they directly examined his bone age.

As for why no one cared that they could not sense Liu Yanyang's exact Soul Power or age—

Martial Souls and Soul Beasts came in all manner of strange forms in this world. One or two capable of blocking perception were hardly unusual. At most, it merely made them curious.

Hu Yan Zhen, the sect master of the Elephant Armored Sect, gradually lost his curious expression as well.

Originally, he had planned to report this information to the Papal Palace. As the banner placed to monitor the Elemental Academies, it was his duty.

But upon hearing that Liu Yanyang was seventeen, he dismissed the thought.

After all, Spirit Hall's Golden Generation had reached this level at the same age. Moreover, His Holiness the Pope's disciple, Hu Liena, had already broken through Rank 40, and she had only just turned sixteen this year!

After that, he stopped thinking about it and turned his attention to the Soul Arena Platform.

On the platform, Yu Tianxin was horrified, unable to believe what stood before his eyes. Could the plan his grandfather had painstakingly researched truly fail here?

"No!" His heart trembled violently. He could not lose. True Dragons were proud, and his dignity would not allow him to lose.

Then, with a loud shout, the Soul Rings beneath his feet lit up.

"First Soul Skill—Thunder Dragon Claw!"

"Third Soul Skill—Wrath of the Thunder God!"

Blue-violet lightning swirled around the dragon claw on his right hand, while Soul Power surged wildly around his body.

His eyes bloodshot as he stared at Liu Yanyang, Yu Tianxin let out a roar and charged forward, his dragon claw reaching for Liu Yanyang.

"Idiot!" Liu Yanyang shook his head and cursed inwardly.

He had originally intended to kite Yu Tianxin and toy with him, but seeing that he had already entered a berserk state, he instantly lost interest.

Two Soul Rings beneath his feet flashed.

"Second Soul Skill—Po Jun!"

"Third Soul Skill—Unyielding!"

Liu Yanyang's aura suddenly surged, his strength increasing dramatically. A layer of golden light coated the blade of the Dragon Roar Spear.

Holding the spear in one hand, he thrust forward. The spearhead pointed straight at Yu Tianxin's right hand.

Feeling the incomparably sharp chill radiating from the Dragon Roar Spear's tip, along with its unstoppable momentum—

Yu Tianxin recovered some of the reason he had lost. His instincts told him that he could not withstand this strike, but it was already too late.

"Ah!"

A miserable scream rang out.

The blue-violet dragon claw collided with the spear and was instantly pierced through by the sharp tip. Blood immediately poured from it as Yu Tianxin howled in agony.

Seizing the opportunity, Liu Yanyang pulled out the Dragon Roar Spear, swung it one-handed, and slammed it into Yu Tianxin's chest, sending his entire body flying.

He crashed onto the ground below the platform and rolled several times before barely coming to a stop. His chest had already caved in somewhat, and he had passed out completely.

The Soul Arena was so silent that a pin drop could be heard. Everyone was stunned by the sight before them.

Yu Tianxin, one of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Twins, bearer of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon—hailed as the greatest Beast Martial Soul in the world—had been knocked down in a single move.

Even with a Soul Elder fighting a Soul Ancestor, wasn't this victory far too easy?

Shui Xinrou stood up and applauded. Hearing her, the students below began applauding as well.

Thunderous applause filled the venue. Liu Yanyang put away the Dragon Roar Spear, walked straight off the arena, and sat beside Shui Bing'er.

"Sorry. I made the decision on my own and even acted somewhat improperly toward you." Liu Yanyang was a little embarrassed. In that situation, he had needed to seize the initiative, or there really was a chance he would have been attacked by everyone at once.

"It wasn't your fault. It was my problem that led to you being set up by Yu Tianxin. You don't need to apologize." Shui Bing'er shook her head and spoke softly.

Liu Yanyang wanted to say something more, but when he saw that Shui Bing'er had already turned her gaze back to the platform, he sighed softly and closed his eyes to rest.

"Alright, now that the victor has been decided, let today's exchange matches officially begin." That deep, resonant voice rang out once more.

Each academy sent out its own students for one-on-one and two-on-two matches. At the same time, the Five Elemental Academies would also send out their respective teams for friendly sparring matches against one another.

Dusk was approaching, and today's exchange matches were nearly over. Liu Yanyang slowly opened his eyes, just as his gaze met Shui Bing'er's.

"There's a social gathering tonight. Do you want to go?" Shui Bing'er looked at Liu Yanyang and asked softly.

Liu Yanyang thought for a moment, then shook his head, his tone calm.

"No, I'm not very interested in that kind of party. I'll get a good rest tonight; I'm leaving Skywater City tomorrow morning."

"Didn't you promise Mother you'd stay a few more days?" Shui Bing'er asked anxiously.

"I've met all the geniuses from the Five Elemental Academies. My goal has been achieved, so there's not much point in staying."

Shui Bing'er said nothing more, though a trace of disappointment and reluctance flashed through her eyes.

Looking at Liu Yanyang, she took a deep breath. Then, her gaze suddenly hardened, as though she had made some sort of decision.

After the match ended and he bid Shui Bing'er farewell, Liu Yanyang returned alone to Shui Mansion. Once inside the guest room, he flopped straight onto the bed.

Both the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan and Spirit Hall had already begun making moves.

He wondered whether his appearance would alter the course of the story. He had never expected that merely breaking up Yu Tianheng and Dugu Yan—

would give Yu Luo Mian, that double-crosser, hope. He also wondered what the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan's ultimate fate would be.

Since the course of events had already begun slipping out of control, he needed to seize every resource he could as soon as possible and prepare for the future!

The night was deep. In his sleep, Liu Yanyang vaguely heard a sound. He groggily opened his eyes and sensed someone knocking at the door.

He struggled to get up. After all, he had been sleeping soundly, and no one liked being disturbed.

When he opened the door, Shui Bing'er stood outside with her hands behind her back, dressed in a blue sleeveless gown.

"Sorry for disturbing you so late!"

"It's fine. I only just fell asleep."

"There are some things I want to tell you. Could you come to the courtyard with me?"

"Sure." Liu Yanyang nodded. Though he did not know what Shui Bing'er wanted to say, she must have something urgent to discuss if she had come looking for him in the middle of the night.

Following Shui Bing'er at an unhurried pace, he entered the main courtyard and arrived at a secluded spot. There was a large, flat bluish-gray boulder there.

Shui Bing'er sat atop the boulder, and Liu Yanyang sat beside her.

Gazing at the tranquil lake, Shui Bing'er gathered her courage and looked at Liu Yanyang.

"Would you be willing to listen to my story?"