The Young War God

Losing would only cost him ten Mysterious Water Pills. He could go home and wheedle some out of his father next time. But if he won, he'd have someone helping him pursue Jiang Nannan. There was no guarantee it would work, but his chances would surely be much better than if he pursued her alone, right?

As far as he was concerned, the Mysterious Water Pills, worth a fortune outside the sect, were nowhere near as important as Jiang Nannan. Besides, as long as the Xuanming Sect existed, there would always be more pills. But there wouldn't always be someone willing to help him pursue Jiang Nannan.

Xia Linyuan smiled faintly. "You mean it?"

Xu Sanshi agreed without hesitation. "Fine. I'll take your bet."

He had no idea what gave Xia Linyuan, two or three years younger than him, the confidence to make such a wager. But in Xu Sanshi's eyes, this was a sure win!

After all, new students admitted to Shrek Academy each year were generally Spirit Masters or Soul Grandmasters. No matter how monstrous Xia Linyuan's talent was, he couldn't possibly be a three-ring Soul Elder.

But Xu Sanshi would soon learn that he was wrong—and just how spectacularly wrong he was.

More and more students poured into the stands to watch this unprecedented Spirit Fighting match. The spectator area, which could hold three thousand, was packed with students in uniforms of all different colors. Quite a few Outer Court teachers had come as well. There were at least two thousand people by the looks of it.

"Wow!" Huo Yuhao exclaimed at the packed stands around them. "Teacher Xiao Ya, Senior Brother, there are so many people!"

"An underclassman challenging an upperclassman on the first day of school is already unusual, and this is a new student challenging Xu Sanshi, a famous fourth-year student. It's only natural people would come watch."

Though Tang Ya called it natural, she couldn't help grumbling enviously, "Usually, only four or five hundred people come to watch Beibei and Xu Sanshi's matches. With this many people, I bet all the students in the Outer Court's Martial Soul Department are here."

Beibei smiled graciously. "Xiao Ya's right. This is the first time in the academy's history that a new student has challenged an upperclassman above their level. Of course everyone wants to come see the excitement."

"But your classmate is quite something." Beibei paused, then continued slowly, "The name Xia Linyuan sounds very familiar, but I can't remember where I heard it. Still, the fact that he dared to challenge Xu Sanshi right after enrolling means he must have something to back him up..."

Huo Yuhao suddenly said, "Senior Brother, Linyuan is the son of Duke Molong of the Star Luo Empire."

Beibei's body jolted. "He's the legendary Young War God?"

"The Young War God?" Huo Yuhao's voice rose several notes.

He had grown up in an isolated environment and knew next to nothing about what was happening in the outside world.

Beibei nodded. "That's right. At the point where the former Sun Moon Continent and the former Douluo Continent collided, a spatial rift appeared in the Endless Mountains."

"One end of the rift connects to our Douluo Continent. On the other side is a group of Abyssal Creatures, like locusts that leave nothing alive in their wake. Xia Yanqing, Duke Molong of the Star Luo Empire, was ordered to rush to the Endless Mountains and repel their invasion. He's been there for twelve years now."

"Five years ago, his son, Xia Linyuan, went to the Abyssal front. When a first-level Abyssal Tide broke out, he used his unmatched wisdom and courage to lead the soldiers in driving back the Abyssal Creatures, making a name for himself in a single battle. In the many battles that followed, he repeatedly led the soldiers to turn the tide when all seemed lost, reversing situations on the verge of collapse. That was how he earned the title Young War God."

Huo Yuhao's body jolted. He hadn't expected that, at roughly the same age, Xia Linyuan had already accomplished so much. If he hadn't met Teacher Tang Ya, Senior Brother, Brother Sky Dream, and Big Brother Naiya, he might still be struggling to figure out how to obtain even a Ten-Year Soul Ring.

"Yuhao, are you close with this classmate of yours? How did you know he was Duke Molong's son?" Tang Ya asked curiously.

"Uh, well..." Huo Yuhao stammered, unable to get a complete sentence out.

Tang Ya seemed to notice that Huo Yuhao had something he didn't want to talk about, so she tactfully didn't press him. After all, everyone had secrets they'd rather keep to themselves.

"Huo Yuhao!" a voice suddenly rang out, seething with anger. It startled him.

He turned to look. Wang Dong, with Tang Wulin following behind, was striding toward him furiously.

"Why did you come too?" Huo Yuhao asked calmly.

Unlike in the original story, where Wang Dong helped him and that was what softened their relationship, the awkwardness between them had unexpectedly eased after what had just happened.

Tang Wulin and Wang Dong sat down beside him.

Tang Wulin eyed Huo Yuhao with an odd expression.

"Hmph!" Wang Dong snorted. "Next time, if you don't know how to knock, no one will be able to save you."

Huo Yuhao looked helpless. "Come on, it wasn't that bad. I told you my secret too."

Wang Dong flared up. "What do you mean, it wasn't that bad?"

Huo Yuhao said helplessly, "Then when we get back later, I'll let you have another look, okay?"

"Go die!"

Tang Ya's astonished gaze kept shifting between Wang Dong and Tang Wulin, the twin sisters. "Little Yuhao, aren't you going to introduce these two handsome young boys to me?"

Handsome boys? Huo Yuhao felt a little put out, but didn't know how to say anything, so he dutifully replied, "Teacher Xiao Ya, Senior Brother, this is my roommate, Wang Dong. This is Wang Dong's younger brother, Tang Wulin. Wang Dong, Wulin, these two are Tang Ya and Beibei, our seniors."

Wang Dong and Tang Wulin nodded to Tang Ya and Beibei.

Tang Ya's face lit up with delight. "Such pretty little boys! I like them. Little Yuhao, talk them into joining our Tang Sect too."

Huo Yuhao and Beibei: "???"

Beibei couldn't help smiling wryly. "Xiao Ya, don't mess around."

Tang Ya stuck out her tongue playfully, looking adorable.

What they hadn't expected was that, when Wang Dong and Tang Wulin heard the words "Tang Sect," their bodies jolted. They asked in unison, "You're from the Tang Sect?"

Tang Ya didn't understand their reaction, but nodded anyway. "That's right. Though there are only three of us left in the Tang Sect now, and I'm its current sect master. Pretty boys, want to join? I can give you a position as an elder."

Huo Yuhao and Beibei were drenched in sweat.

As the group joked around, in an unnoticed corner, more than a dozen elderly figures watched the Spirit Fighting stage.

Among them were several familiar faces: Qian Duoduo and Yan Shaozhe.

Qian Duoduo chuckled. "Who would've thought something this interesting would happen right as the school year began? A new student challenging a fourth-year. Tsk, tsk."

Yan Shaozhe smiled mysteriously. "Old Qian, how about we have a little fun too?"