The dust settled over the Martial Arts Arena, leaving only Wang Jingang, embedded in the wall and whether dead or alive, and the devastation strewn across the ground.
Sun Buyu, the dean of instruction, looked at the scene before him and swallowed with difficulty. He glanced down at the gradebook in his hand, then at the boy standing there with an air of complete nonchalance. The pen in his hand trembled slightly.
"Yu Tianyu... wins."
"Full marks for this practical exam."
When Sun Buyu made the announcement, the crowd didn't erupt into cheers. Instead, a deathly silence filled with awe settled over them.
He'd crippled a Level 23 defensive Soul Grandmaster with a single kick—and the blow had carried that terrifying corrosive poison, too. This was far beyond anything these first-year students could comprehend. From that moment on, Yu Tianyu was no longer the "Abandoned Disciple" of some great family in their eyes. He was a Demon King they couldn't afford to provoke.
Yu Tianyu paid no attention to the stares around him. He casually waved at Ye Lingling, then strolled off with his hands in his pockets.
The next day, the atmosphere in the classroom grew even stranger.
Dugu Yan had returned after taking two days off.
The moment she stepped into the classroom, her sharp, snake-like instincts told her something was wrong. Her classmates were looking at her strangely, with a hint of excitement, as if they were waiting for a show.
"Sister Yan, something huge happened while you were gone!"
One of her lackeys hurried over to Dugu Yan and embellished the story of what had happened at the Martial Arts Arena the day before. They focused on how Ye Lingling had publicly brought Yu Tianyu medicine, then tenderly treated Wang Jingang (or so the lackey imagined) to clean up Yu Tianyu's mess.
"Ye Lingling?"
Dugu Yan's brows shot up. The lazy look in her snake-like eyes vanished, replaced in an instant by a sharp glint.
She turned to look at the black-clad girl sitting alone in the corner of the classroom, as aloof as ever.
Well, well! She'd only been gone for two days, going home to digest her Soul Power and share the good news with her grandfather, and someone had already stolen her home from under her!
Ye Lingling, who was usually so unapproachable, had actually brought him medicine?
The jealousy in Dugu Yan's heart flared up at once. She and Yu Tianyu hadn't made anything official yet, but in her eyes, he was the only one who could deal with her poison—and the man she'd set her heart on...
"Smack!"
Dugu Yan slammed her palm on the desk and strode over to Ye Lingling, her long legs carrying her forward with a menacing air.
The whole class held its breath.
Here it comes! The Poison Douluo's granddaughter versus the heir to the Nine Heart Begonia! This was the drama of the year!
"Ye Lingling."
Dugu Yan folded her arms and looked down at the girl in her seat, her tone hostile. "I heard you made quite a show of yourself yesterday. Bringing medicine, treating people... What, are you interested in that rascal, too?"
Ye Lingling slowly lifted her head. Her eyes, deep as a still pool, remained calm.
She didn't back down from Dugu Yan's aggressive stance. She merely replied, "We're classmates. We were looking out for each other. What, do you have a problem with that, Dugu?"
"Looking out for each other?"
Dugu Yan laughed in disbelief. "Everyone at the academy knows you're the coldest person around. You won't even talk to a prince, yet you'd care about a newly enrolled 'Abandoned Disciple'? Don't pretend. We're both women. You might fool everyone else, but you won't fool me."
As she spoke, she leaned down and brought her mouth close to Ye Lingling's ear, lowering her voice so only the two of them could hear. "He's mine. I'm the only one who can cure his poison, and he's the only one who can draw out mine. The bond between us isn't something a few lousy pills of yours can compete with."
It was a declaration of ownership—and a blatant provocation.
At last, something shifted in Ye Lingling's eyes.
Draw out poison?
She seized on that key phrase. She didn't know the details, but she could tell that Dugu Yan and Yu Tianyu shared some secret she knew nothing about.
But that didn't make her back down. If anything, it stirred up her own stubborn streak.
"Is that so?"
Ye Lingling closed her book and stood, meeting Dugu Yan's gaze without flinching. "As far as I know, he's single. And if he's single, then anyone has a chance. Besides..."
She paused, her gaze sweeping over Dugu Yan's curvaceous figure as she made her meaning clear. "Some people may have known him longer, but that doesn't mean they're the best match. The Nine Heart Begonia can help him go further. As for Jade Phosphorus Snake Poison... What can it do besides cause him trouble?"
"You!"
Dugu Yan instantly bristled. That had hit her right where it hurt!
Soul Power surged around her. Her dark green hair stirred in a windless room, making it clear she was truly furious. "You want to fight? I'm in!"
"I'd be glad to see what the Poison Douluo's granddaughter is made of," Ye Lingling replied, a flash of light appearing in her hand as her Nine Heart Begonia Martial Soul readied itself.
The two most beautiful girls at the academy stood poised to clash, the air thick with tension.
Just as the situation was about to explode...
A large hand suddenly reached out and, with casual ease...
His left hand settled on Dugu Yan's shoulder, while his right took hold of Ye Lingling's wrist.
"It's barely morning. Why are you both so fired up?"
Yu Tianyu's lazy voice sounded between them.
No one knew when he'd entered the classroom. Now he stood between the two girls, wearing his trademark mischievous grin.
"Yu Tianyu! Let go!" Dugu Yan glared at him, but the Soul Power around her obediently subsided.
"I'm not letting go."
Yu Tianyu not only kept hold of them, but even pulled them closer, forming an extremely suggestive triangle.
First he turned to Dugu Yan, his eyes affectionate but tinged with amusement. "What, afraid someone's going to steal me away? Don't you have more confidence in yourself? Relax. I haven't had my fill of your poison yet. I'm not going anywhere."
Dugu Yan blushed. Half her fierce demeanor melted away, and she muttered, "W-Who said I wasn't confident? I'm just worried some fake goody-two-shoes will trick you!"
Yu Tianyu smiled, then turned to Ye Lingling.
"And you, beautiful Ye. I know I'm irresistible, but fighting over me isn't a good idea. After all..."
He leaned closer to Ye Lingling and murmured, "The Nine Heart Begonia is for saving people, not for getting jealous over a man. I appreciate your feelings. Next time you want to ask me out, just say so. You don't need to be so indirect."
Ye Lingling's ears turned bright red. She tried to pull her hand away, only to discover that Yu Tianyu's grip was astonishingly strong.
"W-Who said I wanted to ask you out?" She could never keep her usually cool facade intact around this shameless rogue.
The boys in the class watched the scene, their hearts breaking.
One girl in each arm!
He really had one girl in each arm!
And not just any girls, but the academy's two most unattainable beauties! Had Yu Tianyu saved the galaxy in his past life or something?
Just as Yu Tianyu was enjoying this double blessing and getting ready to "mediate" further (or rather, flirt with them)...
Suddenly...
An overwhelming aura of thunder surged from outside the classroom without warning.
"Rumble!"
Though the sky was clear, a deep peal of thunder seemed to roll across it.
Even the classroom windows trembled slightly.
Yu Tianyu's eyes sharpened, and his smile vanished at once. He released the two girls and turned toward the door.
That aura...
It was domineering and fierce, carrying the utmost destructive power and the force of thunder.
It was the aura of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon!
And not just any Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon—the bloodline was exceptionally pure and powerful!
"What's going on? Is it thundering?" Pang Hu shrank back in fright.
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