Excessive Humility Is Arrogance

"I heard from the academy teachers that we are the most gifted class Heaven Dou Royal Academy has seen in nearly fifty years."

They were all the same age and were about to become classmates, so the four of them toured the academy together.

Osler's words piqued Dugu Yan's interest, and she asked:

"So, quite a few Geniuses have entered Heaven Dou Royal Academy?"

"Of course. Isn't one standing right in front of you?"

Osler patted his chest, looking immensely pleased with himself.

"Pfft, you call yourself a Genius? You're not even as good as me."

Dugu Yan rolled her eyes. In her mind, aside from Dugu Yang, no one else qualified as a Genius.

Osler's Soul Power Level had reached Level 24, which indeed made him a Genius. However, he was still four levels behind Dugu Yan, so naturally she did not think much of him.

Dugu Yan's words immediately dealt Osler a blow. Dejected, he said:

"Yanzi, does being worse than you mean I'm not a Genius?"

"Exactly, Yanzi. Your Soul Power Level is Level 28. There are only a handful of people your age in the entire empire who surpass you." Ye Lingling chimed in from the side.

As her classmates and close friends, both of them knew just how extraordinary Dugu Yan's talent was.

Yet Dugu Yan did not think she was all that outstanding. Pointing at Dugu Yang beside her, she said:

"Ayang is."

The moment she said that, Ye Lingling and Osler's gazes fell upon Dugu Yang, who had remained silent all this time, with a trace of surprise in their eyes.

To the two of them, Dugu Yan was already a once-in-ten-thousand Genius. They had not expected Dugu Yang's Soul Power Level to be even higher than hers.

"Brother Dugu, what level is your Soul Power?"

Osler moved closer to Dugu Yang and asked.

Dugu Yang pursed his lips, glanced at the expectant Dugu Yan, then gave a helpless smile.

"Level 39."

"So it's Level 39. No wonder Yanzi kept saying you were the number one on the continent before... Wait!"

Osler did not react at first, but once he did, the expression on his face instantly froze.

"Bro... Brother, what did you say your Soul Power Level was?"

"Level 39. Just one step away from becoming a four-ringed Soul Ancestor. You heard him, right?"

Dugu Yan loudly answered for Dugu Yang, shooting him a look that clearly said, I didn't bring it up on my own. Someone else asked.

Dugu Yang shook his head without saying anything more.

Though he did not want to show off, there was simply no way to hide his Soul Power Level.

"Really? You're not messing with me, are you? Level 39? How is that even possible?"

Osler shook his head, utterly incredulous.

Ye Lingling, standing nearby, said nothing. With her face veiled, it was impossible to see her expression at all.

But from the way her eyes stared unblinkingly at Dugu Yang, it was clear that her shock was no less than Osler's.

"It may be impossible for others, but Ayang can do it."

Dugu Yan spoke excitedly. She had always wanted to tell others how outstanding Dugu Yang was.

But she had never had the opportunity. Now that it had come, she naturally would not let it pass.

Osler and Ye Lingling were both Dugu Yan's classmates and close friends, and they knew she would never lie.

That meant Dugu Yang's Soul Power Level truly was Level 39.

Gulp!

Osler swallowed and asked Dugu Yang:

"Brother, then how old are you this year?"

"Eleven," Dugu Yang said.

"He's two months younger than me," Dugu Yan added.

Hiss—

"An eleven-year-old Level 39 Battle Soul Elder! Is he even human?!"

Osler cried out.

"Osler, what do you mean by that?!"

Dugu Yan's beautiful eyes widened as she demanded angrily.

Osler might have been proud, but he did not dare provoke this poison-using young lady. Seeing Dugu Yan get angry, he hurriedly forced a smile.

"Don't misunderstand. I was only marveling at Brother Yang's talent. It's simply beyond comparison for ordinary people like us."

The moment she heard that he was praising Dugu Yang, Dugu Yan's stormy expression immediately cleared.

"That's more like it."

Then she turned to Ye Lingling with a beaming smile.

"Lingling, see? I told you Ayang is the number one Genius on the continent. You believe it now, right?"

"I believe it."

Ye Lingling looked at Dugu Yang and nodded firmly.

Perhaps Dugu Yang's Soul Power Level had dealt a heavy blow to Osler and Ye Lingling, both considered Geniuses by others. The atmosphere became somewhat silent, so Dugu Yang took the initiative to change the subject.

"Osler, didn't you say that this year's class at Heaven Dou Royal Academy had quite a few Geniuses? Other than you, who else is there?"

"Brother Yang, who would dare call themselves a Genius in front of you?"

Osler grinned and flattered him.

"I've only cultivated a little faster. It's nothing special."

Dugu Yang waved his hand, but his words drew Ye Lingling's displeasure.

"Dugu, excessive humility is arrogance."

Hearing that, Dugu Yang was slightly taken aback and looked again at the veiled Maiden.

Although this was his first time meeting Ye Lingling, Dugu Yang still knew a little about her.

As an official team member who would later represent Heaven Dou Royal Academy in the Soul Master Elite Tournament, Ye Lingling's talent naturally far surpassed that of ordinary people.

More importantly, Ye Lingling's Martial Soul, the "Nine Heart Begonia," was exceptionally unique and was hailed as "the miracle among Martial Souls."

This was because this Martial Soul was passed down through a single lineage. At any one time, only two Nine Heart Begonia Soul Masters could be alive; only after one of them died could another possibly appear among their descendants.

Despite being so rare, it had still made a name for itself across the continent, which was enough to prove the power of the Nine Heart Begonia Martial Soul.

Whether it gained one Spirit Ring or nine, Nine Heart Begonia possessed only one soul skill: group healing.

Its healing effect was something even the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda, praised as the Number One auxiliary Weapon Martial Soul in the world, could not match.

"I understand."

Dugu Yang nodded at Ye Lingling. He had indeed been overly humble.

Ye Lingling was left at a loss when Dugu Yang actually took the initiative to admit his mistake. After all, this was their first meeting.

Fortunately, Dugu Yan cut in from the side. "I already told you that you're too low-key. See? Even Lingling noticed it now."

"Osler, hurry up and tell us. Apart from us, what other Geniuses are there among this year's New Students?"

This time, Osler did not say anything else and began:

"Shi Mo and Shi Mo are brothers. They possess the top-tier Defense Type beast Martial Soul, the Black Tortoise, and their Soul Power Levels have reached Level 24."

"There's also a guy named Yufeng. His Martial Soul is the Wind Chime Bird. Like me, he's an Agility Attack Type Soul Master, but his cultivation is a little below mine. He's only Level 23."

"But the most outstanding one is still that fellow with the Number One Beast Martial Soul, the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon—Yu Tianheng. His Soul Power Level is the same as Yanzi's: Level 28."