The Old Poison

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

Qian Yu nodded at her, signaling her to stay quiet.

Although she didn't know why Qian Yu was helping her, after spending years together, her inexplicable good feelings for him had only deepened.

Xiao Wu unconsciously tightened her small hand, which Qian Yu was holding.

With a whoosh, her face turned bright red.

"Committee Member Meng, your academy management is quite something. In broad daylight, you let a prince of the Heaven Dou Empire get publicly beaten." Prince Xue Xing, ignoring Meng Shenji's words, directly lashed out at him.

"Uh. Your Highness, I think you've misunderstood. Prince Xue Beng's injuries were purely due to a spar between students."

Seeing he couldn't avoid it, Meng Shenji decided to rephrase the issue.

"Hmm?" After Meng Shenji's reminder, Prince Xue Xing finally noticed Qian Yu, Xiao Wu, and the others.

"Are we recruiting any stray cats and dogs at Heaven Dou Royal Academy?" As he spoke, Xue Xing nodded at the green-robed elder beside him.

Receiving the command, the green-robed elder instantly unleashed a terrifying green pressure.

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

However, he wasn't afraid of Dugu Bo, as his granddaughter was still studying at the academy.

"Dugu Bo, it really is him." Qian Yu tightened his grip on Xiao Wu's hand. Xiao Wu's trembling body, which had been shaking due to Dugu Bo's released aura, stabilized again.

Dugu Bo didn't respond, his aura still emanating from level 40.

Zhu Zhuqing, Xiao Wu, and Ning Rongrong's Martial Souls were all forced out of their bodies.

"Hmm, Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda." Dugu Bo inwardly thought something was amiss.

Prince Xue Xing also inwardly cursed, then turned and glared fiercely at his nephew, Prince Xue Beng.

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

Dugu Bo regretted it for only a moment before being drawn to Qian Yu.

He withdrew his soul pressure from Xiao Wu, Ning Rongrong, and Zhu Zhuqing, releasing it entirely onto Qian Yu.

Meng Shenji inwardly thought, "Your Highness, Qian Yu is a rare talent the empire encounters once in a millennium. He's already a level 40 Soul Elder at 15 years old."

Meng Shenji hoped that Qian Yu's talent would stop Prince Xue Xing and Dugu Bo from escalating the conflict.

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

"Level 40 at 15 years old, truly a monster." He unconsciously accelerated the release of his soul power.

"Level 45."

Divine Eye triggered again: "Yoho, the quality of this soul power is good, and it's mixed with potent poison."

"Kid, are you alright?" Divine Eye absorbed Dugu Bo's released soul power with pleasant surprise.

"I'm fine. Just need to trouble you again."

Divine Eye was speechless again, seemingly unaccustomed to Qian Yu being so polite.

"Level 50." Dugu Bo nodded inwardly.

"Level 55." Dugu Bo increased the soul pressure by 5 levels consecutively, yet Qian Yu's expression remained unchanged.

Dugu Bo couldn't help but nod repeatedly, greatly appreciating Qian Yu's strength. "At this age and with this strength, if he could marry into my Dugu family, then Yanzi's safety in the future would be assured."

Dugu Bo couldn't help but fantasize.

Prince Xue Xing also sobered up at this moment: "Heh heh, since it's an internal conflict among students, this prince will not interfere further."

He then nodded at Dugu Bo.

Dugu Bo received the signal and slowly stopped his attack.

Qian Yu, however, felt unsatisfied.

In just this brief moment, Qian Yu felt his entire body's soul power circulating much more smoothly, and his latent soul power was on the verge of a breakthrough.

"Still not leaving?" To cover his embarrassment, Prince Xue Xing viciously kicked Xue Beng.

Dugu Bo glanced at Qian Yu before following Prince Xue Xing away.

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

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

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 today's events. Just a simple explanation is needed."

At Crown Prince Xue Qinghe's residence, Meng Shenji's guard knelt respectfully and said, "Reporting to His Highness the Crown Prince, Heaven Dou Royal Academy has taken in some promising seedlings, but they had a conflict with Prince Xue Beng..."

After hearing the guard's report, Xue Qinghe tapped his slender fingers incessantly on the smooth dragon-headed throne: "I understand. You may withdraw."

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

"It seems to be Rongrong. This is getting interesting."

"A level 40 Soul Elder at 15 years old." While occasional information could stir Xue Qinghe, this piece of news was particularly striking.

"Brother Qian Yu, if only that person were you." Xue Qinghe was stirred by Meng Shenji's report, a memory surfacing that made him think of Qian Yu's six-year promise, his eyes growing faintly moist...

The training grounds of the Heaven Dou Royal Second Team.

Seven team members were currently engaged in combat training: team leader Yu Tianheng, deputy leader Dugu Yan, and members Shi Mo, Shi Mo, Yu Feng, Osler, and Ye Lingling.

Qin Ming clapped his hands, releasing his Soul Power as he addressed Qian Yu and the others: "Alright, everyone, come over here for a moment."

The seven members ceased their combat and gathered on one side of Qin Ming, while Qian Yu and his group stood on the other.

Both sides scanned one another, sparks of friction faintly igniting in their eyes.

Qin Ming was the first to break the silence: "Tianheng, these are our new members. Lead everyone in introducing yourselves so you can get to know each other."

Yu Tianheng was not yet twenty, with a tall, slender 1.9-meter frame, hair like steel needles, and unadorned blue combat attire. His face was cold and expressionless, and an aura of thunderous danger lingered about him.

The members seemed filled with hostility toward Qian Yu and the others, but it was suppressed by Yu Tianheng in his capacity as captain.

Yu Tianheng said: "I am Yu Tianheng (Captain), Martial Soul: Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon, 15 years old, Level 33 Power Attack System Battle Soul Elder."

He then cast his gaze toward the deputy leader, Dugu Yan.

Dugu Yan was at the age of maturity, her figure slender and graceful. Her long emerald hair was loosely pinned with a silver butterfly, and her green skirt trailed on the ground. Her brows and eyes were haughty and cold, her skin whiter than snow, and her lips were lightly pursed, an aura of poisonous aloofness rippling around her.

With an equally unpleasant expression, she said: "I am Dugu Yan (Deputy Captain), Martial Soul: Jade Phosphorous Serpent, 15 years old, Level 32 Control System Battle Soul Elder."

Following that, the members began to report their own information one after another:

"Shi Mo, Martial Soul: Black Tortoise, 15 years old, Level 32 Defense System Battle Soul Elder, two yellow and one purple."

"Shi Mo, Martial Soul: Black Tortoise, 15 years old, Level 31 Defense System Battle Soul Elder, two yellow and one purple."

"Yu Feng, Martial Soul: Wind Bell Bird, 14 years old, Level 31 Agility Attack System Battle Soul Elder, two yellow and one purple."

"Osler, Martial Soul: Nether Ghost Leopard, 14 years old, Level 31 Agility Attack System Battle Soul Elder, two yellow and one purple."

"Ye Lingling, Martial Soul: Nine Heart Begonia, 13 years old, Level 30 Support System Tool Soul Elder, two yellow."

As everyone finished reporting their information.

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

The members of the Heaven Dou Royal Second Team stared at Qian Yu and his group with equally unkind gazes.

Qian Yu, however, did not back down in the slightest.

"I am Ning Rongrong, 11 years old, Level 26, Martial Soul: Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda, Support System Soul Grand Master." Ning Rongrong was the first to confidently declare her strength.

"What, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda Martial Soul..." Ye Lingling and Ning Rongrong locked eyes, and all the other members turned their attention to the two of them.

"Hello everyone, my name is Xiao Wu, 12 years old, Level 25, Martial Soul: Soft Bone Charm Rabbit, Agility Attack System Battle Soul Master."

"Hello everyone, my name is Zhu Zhuqing, 11 years old, Level 27, Martial Soul: Hell Spirit Cat, Agility Attack System Soul Grand Master."