Arriving at Tiandou, Talent and Background, How Can You Compete?

The cultivation of the White Lurking Fish-Wolf was only just over a thousand years.

Therefore, it did not take much effort for Shui Yue'er to absorb it.

She completed the absorption of her third soul ring very quickly.

A brilliant purple soul ring appeared on her body.

Upon hearing that Yu Shuangbai and his companion were going to Heaven Dou City with them.

The girl Shui Yue'er was pleasantly surprised.

Throughout the journey, she held her small face in her hands, her eyes never once leaving Yu Shuangbai's face.

This made Snow Emperor feel displeased.

Although she did not believe a wet-behind-the-ears little girl could pose any threat.

The lovestruck way Shui Yue'er looked at Yu Shuangbai still made Snow Emperor somewhat dissatisfied.

It felt as if something belonging to her was being coveted by another.

It was not until Shui Bing'er let out a cold, warning "Yue'er" that the spell was broken.

Only then did Shui Yue'er sheepishly withdraw her gaze.

However, she was no longer as blatant as before.

Yet, her peripheral vision still drifted toward Yu Shuangbai involuntarily.

This made Shui Rou'er sigh secretly in her heart.

Her good disciple Shui Bing'er was showing an unprecedented level of initiative because of Yu Shuangbai.

As for her lively disciple Shui Yue'er, she was even more excessive; it was as if she wanted to glue her eyes onto him.

Taking a glance at Yu Shuangbai, who was watching the scenery pass by outside the carriage, she noted his sharp, chiseled jawline and his straight, prominent nose.

Even a mature beauty like Shui Rou'er had to admit that she had never seen such a handsome young man.

She could not help but sigh inwardly:

A man of such beauty is a disaster!

Although they each harbored different thoughts.

The journey remained relatively peaceful.

Shui Bing'er would find topics to talk about from time to time, probing to learn more about Yu Shuangbai to satisfy her curiosity.

She thought her indirect questioning was subtle.

But Shui Rou'er saw the clarity in Yu Shuangbai's eyes quite clearly.

She sighed softly in her heart.

Silly girl, he knows exactly what you are doing; he just hasn't called you out on it.

The carriage sped along.

The horses pulling the carriage for Shui Rou'er and the others were not ordinary horses.

They were Red Horses, century-level soul beasts that were relatively easy to tame.

Compared to typical soul beasts, this species possessed much less wildness.

Furthermore, their stamina and speed were among the best for their level.

With a great expenditure of manpower and resources, they could be tamed into excellent modes of transportation.

It was only because the cost of raising them was so high that they were not widely used.

Only people from certain major factions could afford to own them.

Under the gallop of the century-level Red Horses.

It took the group only about a day to arrive at Heaven Dou City.

As the imperial capital of the Heaven Dou Empire.

Heaven Dou City was the undisputed largest city in the empire.

It stood on equal footing with Star Luo City and Martial Soul City.

It could be described as incomparably prosperous.

The Heaven Dou flags flying on the city walls snapped in the wind.

Each one was embroidered with a gold-threaded Swan Emblem; when the wind blew, the entire city seemed as if it were about to spread its wings and take flight.

The city gate was wide enough to accommodate four carriages side-by-side.

It was currently the peak time for merchant caravans to enter the city, and the sound of carriage wheels rumbling over the drawbridge was thunderous.

The central Imperial Avenue was extravagantly wide, its jade-like stone slabs polished enough to reflect one's image.

The sound of silk and bamboo instruments spilled down from the restaurants above, mingling with the crisp clatter of chips falling in the casinos and the rising bids from the auction houses.

All of it melted into a roaring wave of sound, buoying this city as it drifted into the deepening night.

The air was filled with a bustling, clamorous din.

"Is this Young Master Yu's first time in Heaven Dou City?"

Shui Bing'er keenly sensed Yu Shuangbai's subtle reaction and asked with a hint of confusion.

"Yes."

Yu Shuangbai lifted a corner of the carriage curtain, gazed at the scenery outside, and gave a slight nod.

This was indeed his first time visiting Heaven Dou City.

Compared to the frontier cities of the Far North, the difference was like heaven and earth.

The frontier cities of the Far North were not exactly desolate, but they were certainly bleak.

Usually, one would only see stationed soldiers and merchants who came to purchase local specialties to resell elsewhere for a profit.

It was a world apart from the bustling, roaring crowds of the Heaven Dou imperial capital before his eyes.

"It's no problem! My sister and I have been to Heaven Dou City many times before."

Shui Yue'er chimed in enthusiastically from the side.

"We know Heaven Dou City very well; we can go explore together and help you get familiar with the place, Young Master."

Shui Yue'er was not good at hiding her intentions.

Her ulterior motives were practically written all over her face.

"We shall see when the time comes," Yu Shuangbai replied softly, showing little interest.

He lowered the curtain and withdrew his gaze.

Compared to such trivial matters, Yu Shuangbai was far more concerned with his primary objective.

"Dean Shui, may I ask where the Heaven Dou Royal Academy is located?"

"Young Master Yu intends to go to the Heaven Dou Royal Academy?"

Shui Rou'er was taken aback for a moment.

Could things really be such a coincidence?

Was Yu Shuangbai's destination not just Heaven Dou City, but the very same Heaven Dou Royal Academy as theirs?

"Could it be that Young Master Yu is planning to enroll?"

Considering Yu Shuangbai's age, this was the only conclusion Shui Rou'er could draw.

He was indeed at the perfect age to join an advanced Soul Master Academy.

Regardless of the actual quality of the Heaven Dou Royal Academy, its reputation within the Heaven Dou Empire was thunderous.

It stood to reason that this "reclusive young master" would come seeking its fame.

For a moment, Shui Rou'er felt a twinge of envy.

The core members of this year's Heaven Dou Royal Academy class already possessed exceptional talent.

If a reclusive genius like Yu Shuangbai were to join them, they would surely shine brilliantly in the upcoming Continental Advanced Soul Master Tournament!

If not for the fact that Skywater Academy only admitted female students, Shui Rou'er would have been tempted to poach him right then and there.

Yu Shuangbai's masterful control over ice elements had left her green with envy!

Skywater Academy had always been famous for its ice and water element Soul Masters.

Yet, looking across the entire academy, she could not find a single student whose attainments in ice elements could compare to Yu Shuangbai's.

Only those of them in the older generation, relying on the accumulation of cultivation and time, could claim a slight edge.

Sometimes, Shui Rou'er truly could not fathom how Yu Shuangbai cultivated or what kind of terrifying talent he possessed to achieve such astonishing results at his age.

In reality, the reason Yu Shuangbai was able to attain such heights was partly inseparable from his innate talent.

His god-level Ice Dragon King Martial Soul ensured that Yu Shuangbai's efficiency far surpassed that of others.

However, a large part of the reason was his education.

Skywater Academy was already the educational institution with the deepest understanding of ice and water elements in the Heaven Dou Empire.

Yet, their strongest member was merely a Soul Douluo.

Ever since his Ice Dragon King Martial Soul had fully awakened, Yu Shuangbai had been receiving personal instruction from the Ice and Snow Emperors themselves.

How could a Soul Douluo's understanding of ice elements compare to the Ice and Snow Emperors—two Super Douluo, or perhaps even Limit Douluo, who possessed the heritage of over a hundred thousand years?

The gap in talent, combined with an educational background that was essentially worlds apart, meant that even though Yu Shuangbai had wasted nearly two years before his Ice Dragon King Martial Soul awakened, he had still surged ahead with unstoppable momentum!

All these factors were beyond what ordinary people could imagine, so it was only natural that Shui Rou'er could not comprehend them.