Hidden Dragon Hall

The next morning, as sunlight bathed Dragon City, Xue Yuheng took Xiao Xiao by the hand and set off for the Dragon Suppressing Mountain Range with Nan Qiuqiu and Xue Qingwu.

The Heavenly Dragon Gate was there.

The Dragon Suppressing Mountain Range stretched across the north of Dragon City, its peaks winding like a coiled azure dragon. The halls of the Heavenly Dragon Gate had been built along the mountainside, hidden among the drifting clouds.

The mountain breeze swept past the copper bells on the eaves, their chimes carrying for miles. The place was utterly peaceful.

From time to time, white-robed disciples hurried along the mountain path, their steps light and swift as swallows.

The gate of the Heavenly Dragon Gate had been forged from a single piece of black iron and carved with coiling thunder-dragon patterns. When two gatekeeping disciples saw the four of them approaching, they immediately crossed their spears to bar the way.

After Xue Yuheng and the others explained who they were, the disciples' expressions changed. They hurriedly bowed and went to report their arrival.

Before long, Yu Tianlong emerged at a brisk pace with several attendants. His white formal attire was as immaculate as ever, but there was a hint of anxiety hidden in his eyes.

He glanced at Nan Qiuqiu. Seeing the girl standing tall, her aura as deep as an abyss, he felt an inexplicable unease. Still, he forced himself to remain calm.

"Nan Qiuqiu, since you've come, follow me to the sect's training ground. Today, we'll settle this once and for all!"

The training ground was already packed with Heavenly Dragon Gate disciples. Seven or eight elders in gray robes sat on the elevated platform, their sharp gazes fixed on Nan Qiuqiu.

Yu Tianlong leaped into the arena. Two Yellow Soul Rings rose from beneath his feet as purple lightning crackled around him. He said confidently, "Come at me. I'll give you three moves!"

Nan Qiuqiu chuckled and leaped into the arena. Two purple Soul Rings rose behind her, leaving the disciples watching in stunned silence.

"How is that possible? Her First Soul Ring is already a thousand years old. Does she eat Whale Rubber like it's rice?"

"Idiot. Soul Rings have a limit to how many years they can be. That's common knowledge in the Soul Master World.

Even if she ate Whale Rubber like rice, she couldn't have a Thousand-Year Soul Ring.

It must be an illusion."

The elders on the platform sat up straight, shock filling their eyes. One bald elder murmured, "The quality of those Soul Rings...and the aura of that Martial Soul. What a powerful dragon-type Martial Soul!"

Nan Qiuqiu paid no attention to the commotion around her. Her First Soul Ring lit up, unleashing the evolved form of Annihilation Light!

Since Yu Tianlong liked to act so high and mighty, she wouldn't hold back.

As the daughter of the Sect Master of the Earth Dragon Gate, Nan Qiuqiu naturally wouldn't let a rumor like that spread about her sect.

If she defeated Yu Tianlong, the rumor would be disproven just as easily.

A black beam shot straight toward Yu Tianlong, seeming to swallow the air in its path.

Yu Tianlong's expression changed drastically. He hurriedly activated his Second Soul Skill, "Thunder Fury."

Purple lightning intertwined to form a shield, but the instant it touched Annihilation Light, it shattered into pieces.

Before he could react, Nan Qiuqiu's Second Soul Ring lit up: Annihilation Dragon Body!

Black dragon scales covered her body as she threw a punch wrapped in the power of annihilation.

Yu Tianlong's body swelled again, growing more muscular. His left arm grew even more monstrous, blue and purple scales spreading from his shoulder to cover the left side of his chest. He looked like a humanoid Tyrannosaurus!

Yu Tianlong didn't hesitate.

Thunder Fury! Thunder Dragon Claw!

His strongest attack, on par with that of a Soul Elder!

The two forces collided.

Yu Tianlong felt an irresistible force hit him. He flew backward like a kite with its strings cut and crashed heavily into a stone pillar at the edge of the training ground, spitting blood.

The elders on the platform looked livid. One of them said in a low voice, "This girl's Martial Soul is bizarre. It completely suppresses the dragon-type Martial Souls of our Heavenly Dragon Gate. We absolutely can't let her leave just like that!"

Yu Tianlong struggled to his feet, humiliated and furious, but there was nothing but wariness in his eyes as he looked at Nan Qiuqiu.

One punch. It had taken her just one punch to defeat him?

His combat experience was unmatched among those of the same level, even in the Hidden Dragon Hall, where geniuses were everywhere!

This was impossible!

Nan Qiuqiu must have cheated!

Just then, a blue-robed disciple at the edge of the training ground stepped forward at an elder's command. His Soul Rings shone with the power of a Soul Elder.

"Girl from the Earth Dragon Gate, I'm Yu Rufeng of the Hidden Dragon Hall. Let me test your skills!"

Nan Qiuqiu had just finished a match, yet she had barely used any Soul Power. She looked toward the elders on the platform and said coolly, "What? Is this how the Heavenly Dragon Gate bullies those weaker than them?"

The First Elder of the Heavenly Dragon Gate had always placed the sect's honor above all else. He glared, stroking his beard. "Girl, as the daughter of Sect Master Nan, you're certainly free to refuse..."

Nan Qiuqiu snorted. What a shameless old man.

Below the platform, Xue Yuheng and the others hadn't expected such a massive sect as the Heavenly Dragon Gate to be so shameless.

Nan Qiuqiu still accepted the challenge.

They exchanged blows for no more than three rounds before Yu Rufeng was forced back by the strange power of annihilation. He withdrew, his face full of reluctance.

Immediately afterward, a second Hidden Dragon Hall disciple leaped into the arena. He was also a Soul Elder, and his moves were fierce. Nan Qiuqiu relied on Annihilation Dragon Body to withstand his attacks and barely won, but cold sweat had already beaded on her forehead.

The third, the fourth... Hidden Dragon Hall disciples took turns challenging her, from Soul Elders to Soul Ancestors. Under the repeated assaults, Nan Qiuqiu's Soul Power rapidly dwindled. Her dragon scales gradually dimmed, and her movements slowed.

When the seventh Hidden Dragon Hall disciple, a peak Soul Ancestor, attacked, Nan Qiuqiu's Annihilation Light had grown so weak it was barely visible. His Soul Skill struck her shoulder, and she staggered back several steps, nearly falling.

"Sister Qiuqiu!" Xiao Xiao cried out and tried to rush forward, but Xue Yuheng held her back. He had his own plans.

Just as the Soul Ancestor prepared to press his advantage, a white figure suddenly darted into the arena.

Xue Qingwu stood in front of Nan Qiuqiu, wearing a moon-white short jacket trimmed with a band of silvery fox fur, with little white-furred boots on her feet.

Her skin was as white as snow, and the corners of her almond-shaped eyes tilted slightly upward. Frost-like lashes framed them, and her nose was small and pert. Her long silver hair was woven into a flower braid, with two crystal hair ornaments pinned into it.

Xue Yuheng lifted his chin slightly, his gaze cool and proud. Two Yellow Soul Rings hovered quietly around her.

That innate air of nobility had already revealed her peerless beauty when she was young.

"You shameless old fools, ganging up on a little girl...

Tsk, what a Hidden Dragon Hall. What a Heavenly Dragon Gate."

Seeing that his opponent was a six-year-old girl, the Soul Ancestor scoffed.

"Where did this little brat come from? You think you can meddle in the Heavenly Dragon Gate's affairs?"

Before he'd even finished speaking, he activated his Soul Skill. A dragon claw wreathed in lightning shot straight toward Xue Qingwu.

Xue Qingwu didn't move. She simply raised a hand and pointed.

The Soul Ancestor's Dragon Transformation body crumbled piece by piece before her fingertip.

The reason the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon had been known as the continent's foremost Beast Martial Soul ten thousand years ago was that it possessed an ability no other Beast Martial Soul did.

Dragon Transformation!

After reaching the Soul Elder level, a Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Martial Soul wielder could transform part of their body into a dragon!

With every increase in rank, they could transform another body part, greatly increasing their combat strength.

As a result, every Soul Master with a Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Martial Soul possessed an extraordinary ability to fight opponents of a higher level.

The Soul Ancestor disciple's expression changed drastically. Before he could react, a powerful force sent him flying. He crashed heavily to the ground, and the icy power had severely damaged his meridians.

The entire arena fell silent.

The elders on the platform could no longer sit still. They all rose, staring fixedly at Xue Qingwu.

A two-ring Soul Grandmaster had defeated a peak Soul Ancestor with one finger, without even using a Soul Skill?

And he was an elite disciple of the Heavenly Dragon Gate, whose body had undergone Dragon Transformation!

Such strength was simply horrifying!

The Hidden Dragon Hall disciples looked at one another. Not one of them dared to step forward.

Xue Qingwu surveyed them and said coolly, "Anyone else want to challenge me? Come at me all at once."

The remaining Hidden Dragon Hall disciples looked at one another. In the end, they gritted their teeth, and seven or eight of them still stepped into the arena, returning to their turn-by-turn assault.

But no matter how fierce their Soul Skills were, they were as fragile as paper before Xue Qingwu. She either sent them flying with a single finger or froze them into ice sculptures.

In less than half an incense stick's time, every young Hidden Dragon Hall disciple present was sprawled on the ground, groaning in pain.

"Impudent!"

A furious shout rang out as a burly figure descended from the sky. It was the Super Douluo and Heavenly Dragon Gate Sect Master, Yu Tingyu, dressed in blue and purple dragon robes.

His gaze swept over the disciples lying across the ground before turning to Xue Qingwu. His eyes blazed with anger, but in the end he didn't make a move against a junior. He simply said in a low voice, "The Heavenly Dragon Gate admits defeat today.

"Nan Qiuqiu, when you return, pass a message to Sect Master Nan for me. The engagement is off. It won't be mentioned again."

Nan Qiuqiu let out a sigh of relief and staggered as she steadied herself against Xue Qingwu's arm. "Thank you, little sister Qingwu."

Xue Qingwu shook her head and returned to Xue Yuheng's side.

Yu Tingyu looked at Xue Yuheng, displeasure written across his face. "Your Highness, the Heavenly Dragon Gate failed to keep its disciples in line today.

"Someone, see our guests out."

As expected, the deal they'd agreed on beforehand had fallen through after all this commotion.

Xue Yuheng smiled faintly and took a step forward. His gaze swept over Yu Tingyu, then fell on a stunning Hidden Dragon Hall female disciple standing not far away who hadn't joined the fight. He spoke slowly.

"Sect Master Yu, there's no need to rush.

"I have a profitable business proposal. Would you be interested in hearing it?"

Standing beside Xue Yuheng, Xiao Xiao watched him unconsciously touch his nose and giggled to herself.

She knew her man far too well. This wasn't about making a deal at all.

He was clearly going to use what happened today to make the Heavenly Dragon Gate pay dearly.