Dugu Yan looked toward Yu Shuangbai.
Yu Shuangbai noticed her at the same time.
That remark, along with her distinctive emerald-green hair and jewel-like snake eyes, instantly told him the identity of this bewitching woman.
The target of his visit to Heaven Dou Royal Academy.
The legendary Soul Elder whose poison was utterly countered by wine: Dugu Yan.
One jug of Realgar Wine, and Jade Phosphorous Serpent Poison became a laughingstock.
"Miss Dugu."
Yu Shuangbai turned to Dugu Yan and spoke.
"Did you need something from me?"
Dugu Yan asked softly.
Perhaps because Yu Shuangbai was so exceptionally handsome, she was quite patient with him.
After all, people were visual creatures.
They tended to be more patient with things that pleased the eye.
"Mm." Yu Shuangbai nodded slightly.
"I'd like to make a deal with you, Miss Dugu."
"Oh?"
Dugu Yan looked a little surprised.
"What kind of deal?"
"The poison in you and your grandfather, Senior Dugu, Poison Douluo."
"Poison?"
Dugu Yan's delicate brows drew together.
Because Dugu Bo didn't want her to worry, he had never told her that the Dugu Family was afflicted with poison.
And because Dugu Yan was still young and her cultivation was shallow, the Jade Phosphorous Serpent Poison was still lying dormant in her body, having caused no real effects.
So she had no idea that she and her grandfather, Dugu Bo, were already afflicted with poison.
That was why Yu Shuangbai's words left her baffled and confused.
"Utter nonsense!"
A furious shout cut off their conversation.
A young man dressed in black robes stepped forward, glaring at Yu Shuangbai.
"You, stop trying to mislead people!"
"Yan Yan's grandfather is the renowned Poison Douluo. How could she be poisoned without knowing it?"
"I say you have ulterior motives!"
Yu Tianheng glared furiously at Yu Shuangbai.
The moment he noticed the brief flash of amazement in Dugu Yan's eyes when she first looked at Yu Shuangbai, alarm bells had rung in his heart.
Yu Tianheng liked Dugu Yan. That was no secret at Heaven Dou Royal Academy.
He had finally gotten to the point where Dugu Yan seemed to be gradually warming to him.
He'd planned to confess before long and win the beauty's heart.
But then Yu Shuangbai had suddenly appeared, specifically seeking out Dugu Yan.
An intense sense of crisis welled up in him.
Though Yu Shuangbai and Dugu Yan seemed to be meeting for the first time, that face of his still made it hard for Yu Tianheng to feel at ease.
As one of the Twin Stars of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan,
Yu Tianheng had always considered himself quite handsome.
But standing before Yu Shuangbai, he couldn't help feeling ashamed by comparison.
He couldn't even bring himself to compare them.
And in Yu Tianheng's eyes, this so-called deal was nothing but a pretext for getting close to Dugu Yan.
So he was like a powder keg, ready to explode at the slightest spark.
"Who are you?"
Yu Shuangbai frowned slightly.
Why was this guy reacting so strongly?
He knew that what he'd said sounded rather unbelievable.
Dugu Yan certainly wouldn't believe it right away.
But who was this guy who'd suddenly barged in?
Why was he reacting even more strongly than Dugu Yan?
Yu Shuangbai keenly sensed Yu Tianheng's hostility toward him.
He couldn't make heads or tails of it.
He'd never had anything to do with this guy before.
"Yu Tianheng, of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan!"
Yu Tianheng lifted his chin with pride.
He had always been proud of his background.
He figured Yu Shuangbai was just some scheming pretty boy, and that hearing the name of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan would scare him witless.
Yet...
Yu Shuangbai showed no fear at all.
On the contrary,
when he heard the words "Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan," his expression turned colder.
That place was where he'd been born, but because of what he'd experienced in his early years, Yu Shuangbai had no fondness for it.
He felt nothing but disgust for that two-faced, heartless clan.
So he could hardly feel any goodwill toward Yu Tianheng, one of the Twin Stars of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan.
Let alone when the guy spoke so aggressively and directed a baffling, inexplicable hostility at him.
Yu Shuangbai had never been one to offer a warm smile to someone who treated him coldly.
His tone turned cold, too.
"If you're wondering whether I have ulterior motives, or whether what I said is true, Miss Dugu can simply ask Senior Dugu."
"As for you..."
"If what I've said is true, and Miss Dugu and Senior Dugu's problem goes unsolved as a result, what responsibility will you take?"
Yu Shuangbai stared coldly at Yu Tianheng.
The chill in his eyes made Yu Tianheng feel a little cold inside.
Was this really the kind of look a boy should have?
But with his pride before the girl he admired, and the dignity of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan at stake, Yu Tianheng clearly couldn't back down.
He couldn't answer Yu Shuangbai's question.
So Yu Tianheng simply changed the subject:
"Stop twisting things around."
"Which of the Four Elements Academies are you from?"
"Our academy doesn't welcome you!"
But before Yu Shuangbai could speak, Shui Bing'er, who had been silent until now, suddenly spoke up.
"Mr. Yu was invited here by our Skywater Academy."
Yu Shuangbai looked at her in surprise.
He clearly hadn't expected Shui Bing'er to say that.
Shui Bing'er met his eyes, then turned her gaze back to Yu Tianheng.
With the dignified composure expected of the Skywater Team's captain, she offered a mild smile.
"Captain Yu, it sounds as though Royal Academy doesn't welcome our Skywater Academy?"
"Of course we do."
Yu Tianheng couldn't possibly say that.
Skywater Academy held a significant position in the empire.
He was only the captain of Royal Academy Team; he had no authority to say that Skywater Academy wasn't welcome.
Feng Xiaotian was more than happy to watch the show unfold.
"Brother Tianheng, you seem to have quite a bit of hostility toward Brother Shuangbai."
"We Soul Masters aren't the sort to settle things with words. Since you're unhappy, why not have a friendly spar?"
At that, Yu Tianheng's eyes lit up.
That was right!
If he couldn't outtalk Yu Shuangbai, surely he could beat him.
He was the greatest prodigy at Heaven Dou Royal Academy, one of the Twin Stars of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan!
Yu Shuangbai looked only about twelve or thirteen. At most, he'd be a Soul Grandmaster.
How could he possibly be Yu Tianheng's match?
So Yu Tianheng promptly issued a challenge:
"Boy, do you dare to fight me?"
"Yu Tianheng, quit fooling around..." Dugu Yan frowned, feeling that his behavior would tarnish the reputation of their Royal Academy Team.
She was about to speak when Yu Shuangbai's icy voice rang out.
"What's there to be afraid of?"
Yu Shuangbai remained expressionless.
He wanted to see just how strong one of the most powerful young members of that heartless clan could really be.
Before you continue