"Xiao Yun, let me introduce you to everyone."
"The one who just spoke is Yu Tianheng. His Martial Soul is the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon, and his Soul Power Level is 29."
"These twin brothers have the Black Tortoise Turtle Martial Soul. The one on the left is Shi Mo—Mo as in ink. He's the older brother, and he's level 27."
"I'm level 28 now!" Shi Mo raised a hand to correct her.
"I'm level 27. My name is Shi Mo, but my Mo means grinding flour."
"Congratulations! You've all broken through. I've also reached level 28. Looks like everyone had a very productive vacation!"
"Not bad!" Shi Mo replied with a simple, honest smile.
Dugu Yan let go of Ling Yun's hand and ran over to the young woman. She pulled her along. "Lingling, you can take off your veil for now! Come on, let my little brother meet you."
Ye Lingling sighed and removed her veil. Her features were breathtaking, and her blue eyes were as deep and boundless as the sky. She nodded at Ling Yun in greeting.
Dugu Yan continued, "Xiao Yun, this is Ye Lingling. Pretty, right? She's a close friend of mine, and she's really clever. Her Martial Soul is the Nine Heart Begonia, and she's a level 25 support-type Soul Master."
"She's a little aloof, but you'll get used to her once you know her."
"Yanyan, now that you've introduced us, shouldn't you tell us who he is?" Yu Tianheng interrupted.
Dugu Yan clearly hadn't finished. She gave him an annoyed look. "What's the rush?"
"Xiao Yun, ignore him!"
"Let me finish telling you about Lingling. Her Martial Soul is incredibly powerful. No matter how many Soul Rings the Nine Heart Begonia Martial Soul absorbs, it only has one Soul Skill: Area Group Healing."
"Even someone gravely injured can be saved, as long as they still have a breath left."
"Injuries are inevitable in Soul Master battles. With Lingling around, there's no need to worry about them."
After introducing her friends, Dugu Yan let go of Ye Lingling and stepped over beside Ling Yun. With a hint of pride, she said, "Let me introduce Xiao Yun. His full name is Ling Yun—Ling as in soaring through the skies, Yun as in clouds. He's now a member of the Dugu Family. His Martial Soul is the Yin-Yang Mirror, and his Soul Power Level is 28."
"What!"
"How old is he?"
"How could he possibly have level 28 Soul Power? That's impossible!"
Yu Tianheng gestured at Ling Yun's height, his face full of disbelief. The twin brothers' eyes went wide, their expressions shifting between shock, incredulity, and doubt.
Ye Lingling's eyes also held a trace of curiosity.
"Xiao Yun, show them! Open their eyes!"
Ling Yun let his Soul Power surge outward, filling the private room with its fluctuations. Yu Tianheng and the twin brothers stared at him as if they'd seen a ghost.
They couldn't tell his exact level, but Soul Power fluctuations this strong were definitely above level 25.
"How is that possible? Even with Innate Full Soul Power, he couldn't have reached level 28 at such a young age!"
"Could he have started cultivating in the womb?"
Watching their faces, Dugu Yan secretly relished their reaction. "Xiao Yun isn't even six and a half yet. Surprised?"
"What?"
Yu Tianheng dug at his ear, thinking he'd misheard.
Judging by his height, Ling Yun looked under nine, but reaching level 28 at nine would already be impossible. And now he'd heard what? Not even six and a half?
"Not even six and a half? What kind of joke is that?"
"Are you saying he awakened his Martial Soul this year?"
"That's right!"
Yu Tianheng looked as if his whole world had turned upside down. Shi Mo and Shi Mo weren't doing any better, and Ye Lingling's eyes widened in shock.
"I must not have woken up yet. I'm still dreaming!"
Yu Tianheng slapped himself. The sharp sting made him realize this wasn't a dream.
"There's no need to doubt it. Xiao Yun awakened his Martial Soul this year. At the time, he only had Innate Full Soul Power. He gained all his remaining Soul Power after awakening."
"As for the secret behind it, there's no need for you to know."
Yu Tianheng's eyes shifted, and his attitude toward Ling Yun did a complete about-face.
He sidled up to Ling Yun and bent forward slightly, wearing a friendly smile as he tried to ingratiate himself. "Xiao Yun, how do you cultivate?"
Ling Yun glanced at him in surprise. He hadn't expected Yu Tianheng to be so shameless, able to bend and stretch. He was quite a character.
Ling Yun leaned back, then took a step and quietly slipped behind Dugu Yan.
His policy was simple: ignore him completely!
Yu Tianheng looked a little awkward, but his skin was thick enough. He acted as if nothing had happened and said, "I was just asking. Don't be nervous."
"I'm a good person!"
Dugu Yan burst out laughing. It was the first time she'd seen Yu Tianheng get put in his place, and she felt embarrassed for him.
Yu Tianheng had been acting as if it didn't matter, but Dugu Yan's laughter made him feel humiliated and angry.
He wasn't stupid. Dugu Yan had said Ling Yun was part of Dugu Manor, and with his Soul Power Level, Ling Yun was someone Yu Tianheng couldn't afford to offend.
He didn't want to get beaten up by Dugu Bo again.
Yu Tianheng shoved every unpleasant thought deep down. There was only one word in his mind now: endure.
The Shi Mo brothers hadn't meant to laugh, but seeing Dugu Yan, they couldn't help themselves.
Even the aloof Ye Lingling had a glimmer of amusement in her eyes, and the corners of her mouth lifted slightly.
Yu Tianheng always acted elegant and composed around them, maintaining the image of a favored young prodigy from the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan.
Seeing him get put in his place was such a rare reversal that they just couldn't hold back.
"You lot! Fine, Shi Mo, Shi Mo—I see you're itching for a beating. You're asking for it."
"I'll knock some sense into you today."
Yu Tianheng looked around and finally turned his wrath on the twin brothers.
"Boss, come on! I'll stop laughing, all right?"
Shi Mo and Shi Mo were speechless. Everyone was laughing, so why pick on just the two of them?
"Enough excuses! This is the perfect chance to see whether you slacked off during the vacation. Come on, to the Soul Fighting Arena."
"Lingling, support me. I'll take on both of them."
The Shi Mo brothers didn't hesitate. They'd had the same idea, which was why they'd both come to the Great Soul Arena the day before school started.
They were talented students in Heavenly Grade Class One at Heaven Dou Royal Academy. Their strength had brought them together.
In a one-on-one fight, the Shi Mo brothers were indeed no match for Yu Tianheng. But if he was taking on both of them, now they were fired up! They didn't get chances like this often.
"Lingling, what do you think? If the boss loses, you'll lose one Soul Fighting point," Shi Mo asked.
Ye Lingling nodded. "It's fine. Soul Fighting points can be earned again. Just give it everything you've got. It's all right if you get hurt."
Ye Lingling had spoken her first sentence. Once she was done, she fell quiet again.
Dugu Yan cut in. "No, that won't do. Soul Fighting points are too hard to earn. Lingling, you're a support-type Soul Master, so you can only earn points by teaming up with others."
"Your Soul Fighting points are undoubtedly the hardest to earn. That would be such a waste."
"I have an idea."
"Tianheng and Xiao Yun can team up, so Xiao Yun can get a feel for the Great Soul Arena. He won't need to fight."
"Xiao Yun doesn't have any points to lose, either."
"Shi Mo and Shi Mo, you two can each face Tianheng. May the best fighter earn the points."
"Is that a good idea? He's too young. He'll attract too much attention."
"Then just have him wear a mask!"
"When you register, say he's nine and list his Soul Power as level 21. A nine-year-old at level 21 is still astonishing, but at least people can believe it."
Before you continue