Old Poison

"How could this be? A Titled Douluo didn't even notice me? Was it him? Did he know I was a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast?" Xiao Wu stared at Qian Yu in disbelief.

Qian Yu nodded at her, signaling that she shouldn't make a sound.

Although she didn't know why Qian Yu was helping her, after spending several years together, her inexplicable fondness for him had only grown deeper.

Xiao Wu unconsciously tightened the little hand Qian Yu held.

In an instant, her cheeks flushed bright red.

"Committee Member Meng, you're doing a fine job managing this academy. In broad daylight, you let someone beat up an imperial prince of the Heaven Dou Empire in public." Prince Xue Xing ignored Meng Shenji and rounded on him instead.

"Uh, Your Highness, I think you've misunderstood. His Highness Xue Beng was injured purely because of a spar between students."

Seeing that he couldn't avoid the issue, Meng Shenji simply changed how he presented it.

"Hm?" Prompted by Meng Shenji, Prince Xue Xing finally noticed Qian Yu, Xiao Wu, and the others.

"Does Heaven Dou Royal Academy admit just any Tom, Dick, or Harry?" As he spoke, Xue Xing nodded to the Green-robed Elder beside him.

The Green-robed Elder understood the signal, and a terrifying green pressure instantly burst forth.

"Dugu Bo, I advise you to watch your methods. Don't offend people you shouldn't." Meng Shenji feared Prince Xue Xing because the prince was the academy's nominal head. Meng Shenji was under his authority, and besides, Ning Rongrong, the little princess of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, was present.

But he wasn't afraid of Dugu Bo. After all, Dugu Bo's granddaughter was still studying at the academy.

"Dugu Bo. So it really is him." Qian Yu tightened his grip on Xiao Wu's hand. Her body, which had trembled when Dugu Bo released his aura, steadied again.

Dugu Bo didn't respond. He continued releasing his aura, starting at level 40.

Zhu Zhuqing, Xiao Wu, and Ning Rongrong were all forced to release their Martial Souls.

"Hm, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda." Dugu Bo silently realized he was in trouble.

Prince Xue Xing also cursed inwardly. He turned and glared viciously at his nephew, Prince Xue Beng.

Qian Yu was still holding on, without even releasing his Martial Soul.

Dugu Bo regretted it for only an instant before turning his attention to Qian Yu.

He withdrew the Soul Power pressure from Xiao Wu, Ning Rongrong, and Zhu Zhuqing, directing it all at Qian Yu instead.

Meng Shenji thought, This is bad. "Your Highness, Qian Yu is a once-in-a-millennium talent for the empire. He's already a level-40 Soul Elder at fifteen."

Meng Shenji hoped Qian Yu's talent would stop Prince Xue Xing and Dugu Bo from taking things any further.

Prince Xue Xing was still hesitating, while Dugu Bo was slightly surprised.

"Level 40 at fifteen. He really is a monster." Without realizing it, Dugu Bo increased the release of his Soul Power.

"Level 45."

The Divine Eye activated again. "Well, well. This Soul Power is good quality, and it's laced with poison, too."

"Kid, are you all right?" The Divine Eye eagerly absorbed the Soul Power Dugu Bo released.

"I'm fine. I'll just have to trouble you again."

The Divine Eye fell silent again, apparently unused to Qian Yu being so polite.

"Level 50." Dugu Bo nodded to himself.

"Level 55." Dugu Bo increased the pressure by five levels at a time, but Qian Yu's expression remained unchanged.

Dugu Bo couldn't help nodding again and again, greatly impressed by Qian Yu's strength. "At this age, with this kind of strength... If he could marry into the Dugu Family, I wouldn't have to worry about Yanzi's safety in the future."

Dugu Bo couldn't help imagining it.

Prince Xue Xing came to his senses as well. "Heh. Since this was an internal dispute between students, I won't get involved any further."

As he spoke, he nodded to Dugu Bo.

Dugu Bo understood and slowly stopped.

Qian Yu, however, was left wanting more.

In that brief moment, he felt the Soul Power circulating through his body had become much smoother, and his Soul Power seemed to be on the verge of a breakthrough.

"Why are you still standing there?" To cover up his embarrassment, Prince Xue Xing gave Xue Beng a vicious kick.

Dugu Bo glanced at Qian Yu, then left with Prince Xue Xing.

"They're finally gone." Meng Shenji and the two instructors exchanged glances and let out a deep breath.

Qin Ming then led Qian Yu and the others to the Heaven Dou Royal Second Team's training grounds.

After Qian Yu and the others left, Meng Shenji gave a few instructions to a guard outside the door. "Go to His Highness the Crown Prince and report what happened today. Just give him a brief account."

At the Crown Prince Xue Qinghe's residence, Meng Shenji's guard knelt respectfully. "Reporting to Your Highness, Heaven Dou Royal Academy has admitted several promising young talents, but they got into a conflict with His Highness Xue Beng..."

After hearing the guard's report, Xue Qinghe tapped his slender fingers against the smooth dragon-head armrest of his chair. "I understand. You may leave."

"The little princess of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect?"

"It seems that was Rongrong. This makes things interesting."

"A level-40 Soul Elder at fifteen." News rarely stirred Xue Qinghe, but this in particular had clearly caught his attention.

"Qian Yu, if only it were you..." Meng Shenji's report had stirred up a memory in Xue Qinghe. He couldn't help thinking of his six-year promise with Qian Yu, and his eyes grew faintly moist...

The Heaven Dou Royal Second Team's training grounds.

Seven team members were sparring there: captain Yu Tianheng, vice-captain Dugu Yan, and team members Shi Mo, Shi Mo, Yu Feng, Osler, and Ye Lingling.

Qin Ming clapped his hands and released his Soul Power as he called to Qian Yu and the others. "All right, all right, gather around."

The seven team members stopped fighting and assembled on one side of Qin Ming, while Qian Yu and the others stood on the other.

The two groups sized each other up, sparks seeming to fly between their eyes.

Qin Ming broke the silence first. "Tianheng, these are our new team members. Take the lead and have everyone introduce themselves so you can get to know one another."

Yu Tianheng was not yet twenty. He had a tall, lean frame, jet-black hair like steel needles, and wore a plain blue outfit. His expression was cold and stern, and a thunderous air of danger hung around him.

The team members all seemed hostile toward Qian Yu and the others, but Yu Tianheng, as captain, kept them in check.

"I'm Yu Tianheng, captain. My Martial Soul is the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon. I'm fifteen, level 33, and a Power Attack System Battle Soul Elder."

Yu Tianheng then turned his gaze to vice-captain Dugu Yan.

Dugu Yan was at the age of her hairpin ceremony. Her figure was slender and graceful, her long jade-green hair loosely pinned up with a silver butterfly ornament. Her green skirt trailed along the ground, and her delicate features were aloof and striking. Her skin was fair as snow, her lips lightly pursed, and a poisonous chill of distance seemed to ripple around her.

She wore the same unfriendly expression as she said, "I'm Dugu Yan, vice-captain. My Martial Soul is the Jade Phosphorous Serpent. I'm fifteen, level 32, and a Control System Battle Soul Elder."

The team members then introduced themselves one after another:

"Shi Mo. My Martial Soul is the Black Tortoise. I'm fifteen, level 32, a Defense System Battle Soul Elder, with two yellow rings and one purple ring."

"Shi Mo. My Martial Soul is the Black Tortoise. I'm fifteen, level 31, a Defense System Battle Soul Elder, with two yellow rings and one purple ring."

"Yu Feng. My Martial Soul is the Wind Bell Bird. I'm fourteen, level 31, an Agility Attack System Battle Soul Elder, with two yellow rings and one purple ring."

"Osler. My Martial Soul is the Nether Ghost Leopard. I'm fourteen, level 31, an Agility Attack System Battle Soul Elder, with two yellow rings and one purple ring."

"Ye Lingling. My Martial Soul is the Nine Heart Begonia. I'm thirteen, level 30, a Support System Tool Soul Elder, with two yellow rings."

Once everyone had finished introducing themselves,

Qin Ming turned his gaze to Qian Yu and the others.

The Heaven Dou Royal Second Team members stared at Qian Yu and his companions with the same hostility.

Qian Yu didn't back down in the slightest.

"I'm Ning Rongrong. I'm eleven, level 26. My Martial Soul is the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda, and I'm a Support System Soul Grandmaster." Ning Rongrong confidently announced her strength first.

"What? The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda Martial Soul..." Ye Lingling and Ning Rongrong met each other's gaze, and every team member turned to look at them.

"Hello, everyone. My name is Xiao Wu. I'm twelve, level 25. My Martial Soul is the Soft Bone Charm Rabbit, and I'm an Agility Attack System Battle Soul Master."

"Hello, everyone. My name is Zhu Zhuqing. I'm eleven, level 27. My Martial Soul is the Hell Spirit Cat, and I'm an Agility Attack System Soul Grandmaster."