Douluo: Starting Out by Clashing with the Grandmaster

This thing was a symbol of strength.

To put it exaggeratedly, if Lu Yu could obtain a Silver Soul Badge as a Soul Grandmaster, becoming famous throughout Douluo Continent would not be a dream.

No matter what, though, he definitely could not give up the reward. He was already planning to apply for early graduation and head to Heaven Dou City, so he might as well start with the Great Soul Arena.

As for when he would be able to obtain the Silver Soul Badge, he could only take it one step at a time if he wanted to achieve that goal.

He had to take the first step first, didn't he?

Withdrawing his consciousness from the system, Lu Yu finally turned his attention to his second soul skill.

Just as he had expected, he had obtained Shadow Clone.

The reason he had chosen the Phantom Beast was that Lu Yu did not currently lack damage or mobility. What he lacked was a means of saving his life.

As for why he had not chosen a defensive soul skill...

I'm a freaking assault-type Battle Soul Master, and you want me to choose a defensive soul skill? Do you think my brain got caught in a door?

Besides, how powerful could a thousand-year defensive soul skill really be?

But Shadow Clone was different.

It could attack or retreat. Unless one was surrounded by multiple enemies, or someone like Lu Yu used absolute strength to break it, it was basically unsolvable.

That was because the Shadow Clone could perfectly replicate even the strength of the original body.

How were you supposed to counter that?

With this soul skill, Lu Yu's ability to preserve his life had greatly improved.

If I can't beat you, can't I freaking run?

Three identical people—let's see which one you chase.

The only issue was that the duration was a little short. Shadow Clone could only last three minutes.

Still, that was enough.

Three minutes.

As long as the gap in strength was not especially large, that was enough time for him to get very far away.

But if the gap in strength was too great...

There was no need to run anyway, since he would not be able to escape.

The other party might not even give him the chance to flee.

He could only see whether he could stall for a little time and wait for rescue to arrive.

Moreover, the clones replicated the original body's strength, so their strength would increase along with his own. They were also very useful for offense.

From then on,

Lu Yu could arrogantly shout,

"I can take on three!"

Although that was still a little inferior to Master Ye, three was not bad either.

"Brother Yu, you're awake?"

The moment Lu Yu opened his eyes, Lu Fei eagerly rushed over.

Looking at his reddened eyes,

Lu Yu could not tell whether he had cried.

Lu Yu smiled, patted him on the shoulder, and comforted him. "Don't worry. It's nothing serious. It's all over now."

Lu Fei nodded hard and tentatively asked, "Brother Yu, why don't we be more conservative when choosing Soul Rings from now on? You really scared me last night."

Lu Yu smiled. "Don't worry. Even if you hadn't said it, I would have done that."

"Hehe..."

Lu Fei immediately grinned, looking a little foolish.

Eve of Departure

Nuoding City.

After returning to Nuoding City, Lu Yu and Lu Fei immediately went to Spirit Hall for their advancement appraisal.

It was not for those few Gold Soul Coins.

Rather, they wanted Spirit Hall to relay their information to Spirit City.

"You're here!"

Ma Xiunuo beamed at the two of them, his face full of kindness, as though they were his own grandsons.

Lu Yu could understand that.

Ever since Lu Yu had joined Spirit Hall, Ma Xiunuo and Su Yuntao had already been promoted. Though they had only risen to a Sub-Hall, it was the most suitable arrangement for them.

Given their cultivation, going to a Sacred Hall or somewhere similar might not necessarily have been a good thing.

This was, after all, a world where strength reigned supreme. If one lacked sufficient strength yet forced one's way upward, one careless offense could lead to death without even knowing why.

Lu Yu smiled. "You can finally be free."

The reason Ma Xiunuo was still in Nuoding City was because of him.

Now that they were preparing to graduate early, Ma Xiunuo could also head to the Sub-Hall. Was that not liberation for him?

"You mean..." Ma Xiunuo looked at Lu Yu with delighted surprise. "You're preparing to graduate early?"

Lu Yu nodded. "We've both already broken through level twenty. There's no meaning in continuing to stay in Nuoding City, so we're preparing to graduate early."

Joy appeared on Ma Xiunuo's face as he hurriedly asked, "Then your second Soul Rings..."

"Mine is two thousand years, and Xiao Fei's is seventeen hundred years." Lu Yu did not conceal anything. What he wanted was for Ma Xiunuo to report it.

Only the more highly the higher-ups valued them, the better treatment they would receive.

They would soon be heading to Heaven Dou City.

That was no small place like Nuoding City. It was full of noble children. If they ran into some brainless young dandy, having no backing really would not do.

Since they had such conditions available to them, they naturally had to make use of them.

Otherwise, what was the point of joining Spirit Hall?

He had no desire to be bullied someday and then pull out some "thirty years east of the river, thirty years west of the river" nonsense.

"Hiss..."

Although he had expected it, when Ma Xiunuo truly heard it from Lu Yu's mouth, he still could not help drawing a sharp breath.

That was freaking monstrous.

The rest was rather simple.

They tested their Soul Power Levels and registered their information.

Before leaving, Lu Yu mentioned Xiao Chenyu and the others.

He hoped Ma Xiunuo could give the people below a heads-up before leaving. If someone caused trouble later, he wanted them to keep an eye on things.

He was mainly worried about the Grandmaster's retaliation.

After all, they had offended the Grandmaster because of him. He could not simply ignore them. Presumably, even Flender and the others would have to give Spirit Hall some face.

Ma Xiunuo naturally agreed without hesitation.

After leaving Spirit Hall, Lu Yu and Lu Fei returned to Notting Academy to report in.

They also submitted their applications for early graduation.

The academy did not say much about it. After all, the two had long since met the graduation requirements.

Back in Dorm Seven,

Xiao Wu and Tang San were still absent.

Speaking of Tang San, Lu Yu did not know whether the guy's brain had been damaged by that beating. Ever since he had spent more than half a month lying in bed, his attitude toward Lu Yu and Lu Fei had clearly undergone a drastic change.

He even seemed a little eager to please them.

But after thinking about it for only a moment, Lu Yu guessed what Tang San was thinking.

So he did not pay him any attention at all.

Still, the two sides had not had any further conflicts since then.

"Brother Yu... Brother Yu..."

The moment the two returned, Wang Sheng and the others immediately stood up.

Lu Yu announced, "I've already applied to the academy for early graduation. The graduation certificates should be issued tomorrow, and we'll probably leave the academy tomorrow."

"Huh?"

Wang Sheng and the others were instantly dumbfounded.

Lu Yu smiled. "All feasts must eventually end. We were bound to part sooner or later. If fate allows it, we'll meet again."

Although they were reluctant to see him go, Wang Sheng and the others had no choice.

Because they knew

Lu Yu and Lu Fei were different from them. Tiny Nuoding City could not hold them back.

Wang Sheng asked, "Brother Yu, how about we have dinner together tonight? We can treat it as a farewell for you."

"Sure." Lu Yu agreed.

As for Xiao Chenyu and the others...

They had graduated long ago and were now studying at more advanced Soul Master Academies. It was said that they were doing quite well there.

After Lu Yu agreed, Wang Sheng immediately ran off to reserve a place.

After resting for a while, Xiao Wu and the others returned.

"Ah, Lu Yu, you're back!" Xiao Wu skipped over.

Lu Yu said, "Let's have dinner together tonight. We're leaving tomorrow."

"Leaving? Going where?" Xiao Wu looked completely confused.

Lu Yu then told her again about applying for graduation.

Xiao Wu's face immediately fell.

Over the years, she had long grown accustomed to having Tang San and Lu Yu's group around her. Now, they were suddenly about to part ways.

It would have been a lie to say she was not reluctant.

"Where will you go next?" Xiao Wu asked somewhat absentmindedly.

"Heaven Dou City for the short term. As for the long term, I don't know yet. We'll see when the time comes," Lu Yu answered vaguely.

"Heaven Dou City?" Xiao Wu murmured to herself, though no one knew what she was thinking.

"Lu Yu, your second Soul Ring..." Tang San also came over.

Whether Lu Yu was leaving did not actually affect Tang San much. He had tried for two years and still had not managed to get what he wanted. There was probably no hope in the future either.

Because Lu Yu was not stupid. He was wary.

Lu Yu calmly asked, "Is it important?"

Tang San stared foolishly at Lu Yu, unable to think of anything to say for a moment.

Was it important?

It was, because he wanted to know just how great the gap between them was. But it was not, because knowing would not change anything.

Lu Yu asked, "How does it feel to take a teacher who is even weaker than you as your master? What has he given you?"

"Oh, right. He gave you a set of bedding."

Before leaving, Lu Yu did not mind giving the Grandmaster a little more trouble.