Emerald Scale Dugu Yan

It was not until sunset that the Imperial Fighting Team concluded their day of training, arriving in the living room under the guidance of their team instructor, Qin Ming.

The gazes of Su Yun Tao and Yang Wudi were instantly drawn to a short-haired woman in blue among the seven members of the Imperial Fighting Team.

She possessed a slender figure and a beautiful face, her spirited short blue hair and emerald-green eyes lending her a unique, striking charm.

"Hey, why are you staring at me!" Dugu Yan said, displeased.

"Yan Yan, do not be rude!" Meng Shenji interjected.

Dugu Yan looked unconvinced but said nothing more. Although she had her grandfather, Dugu Bo, to back her up, she understood that one could not be too arrogant; she usually respected the three committee members. Of course, if she were truly pushed to the limit, even her grandfather could not keep her in check.

"Young Friend Su, Clan Head Yang, allow me to make introductions."

"This is the rising star of our Heaven Dou Royal Academy, Instructor Qin Ming!"

Meng Shenji spread his right hand, gesturing toward the man standing at the front, who appeared to be around thirty years old.

Qin Ming bowed slightly, offering a polite salute.

Su Yun Tao looked at the Qin Ming before him, his heart stirring slightly. He recognized Qin Ming, but Qin Ming would never remember him.

Qin Ming was one of the first students of Shrek Academy, entering at twelve, becoming a Soul Elder at thirteen—the record holder for the youngest Soul Elder at Shrek before the Seven Devils—a Soul Ancestor before eighteen, and a Soul King at twenty-three.

He should be around thirty years old now; in two years, he would meet the Shrek Seven Devils, at which point he would be a level 63 Soul Emperor.

(The year Tang San enrolled in Shrek was the twentieth anniversary of the academy's founding. Even if Qin Ming was in the first batch, twelve years old plus twenty years would make him thirty-two, not the thirty-four stated in the original work.)

Fourteen years ago, when Su Yun Tao had endured great hardship to reach Shrek Academy in hopes of enrolling, it was Qin Ming who had collected his precious twenty Gold Soul Coins, followed by the experience of being treated like dirt by Zhao Wuji.

"Su Yun Tao, level 51 Soul King, martial soul Gale Two-Headed Wolf." Su Yun Tao calmly lit up his soul rings.

Seeing that Su Yun Tao, who looked barely older than themselves, was actually a Soul King, the members of the Imperial Fighting Team nearly cried out in surprise. Even Dugu Yan, whose background was known to be ironclad, was deeply moved.

Qin Ming also quickly activated his soul rings in response.

"Qin Ming, level 59 Soul King, martial soul Blazing Gray Wolf."

Watching the incredibly calm Qin Ming, a smile touched the corner of Su Yun Tao's mouth. In truth, he understood that the experience he considered a deep humiliation was not even worth mentioning in the eyes of the Shrek Academy crowd; his name was not even worth remembering to people like Zhao Wuji.

Soon, Meng Shenji finished the introductions, and with magnanimity, he granted Su Yun Tao's request to let Qin Ming and the others go rest, leaving only Dugu Yan behind.

Although the three committee members were present, Su Yun Tao knew they had already given him enough face; it was impossible for the granddaughter of a Titled Douluo to meet with him entirely alone.

"Hey! You guy in the blue-gold mask, what exactly do you want with me!" Although Dugu Yan was shocked by Su Yun Tao's strength, she was still very repulsed by his act of keeping her behind.

Su Yun Tao smiled, "Miss Dugu, I actually wish to see your grandfather."

Dugu Yan retorted sharply, "If you want to see him, go find him yourself!"

Su Yun Tao waved his hand, "Regrettably, I cannot find him, so I have no choice but to come to you."

"Fine, fine, I get it." Dugu Yan turned to leave, "I'll find a chance to bring you to him in a couple of days."

Su Yun Tao remained composed and said slowly, "Miss Dugu, you misunderstand. I actually want you to have your grandfather, Dugu Bo, come to Heaven Dou Royal Academy to see me."

As these words fell, the entire room went silent.

"Arrogant!" Dugu Yan stopped in her tracks, turned around, and sneered.

Meng Shenji frowned, "Young Friend Su, Dugu Bo is not like the three of us. He is not only a true Titled Douluo, but he also has a very eccentric personality."

Su Yun Tao naturally had his reasons for doing this. In fact, Su Yun Tao had a principle: he never took unnecessary risks. When seeking immortal herbs and obtaining soul rings, he had no other choice; to defy the heavens and change his fate, he had to take desperate measures.

When he sought the immortal herbs and soul rings, his life had essentially been in the hands of Tang Hao and the Titan Giant Ape, and he had only managed to escape unscathed through careful, advance planning.

In fact, when meeting Yang Wudi in Star Luo City, Su Yun Tao had sufficient leverage. If things went wrong, he could instantly trigger his hundred-thousand-year soul skill, Thunder Strike; he was confident he could severely injure or even kill Yang Wudi, who only had the defenses of a Soul Sage.

Moreover, while in Star Luo City, as long as he engaged in a brief skirmish, his hundred-thousand-year soul skill would attract the garrison of the Star Luo Empire. If all else failed, he could simply remove his mask and defect to the Star Luo Imperial Family!

The reason Su Yun Tao chose to meet Dugu Bo at Heaven Dou Royal Academy was, naturally, because he did not want to place his fate in Dugu Bo's hands. Entrusting one's future to another's morality was a foolish act!

Su Yun Tao had to see Dugu Bo first to see what kind of person this Dugu Bo was in this timeline before he would leave the Heaven Dou Royal Academy, as only within the academy did he have the power to protect himself.

With his current strength, even relying on his hundred-thousand-year soul skill, Thunder Strike, he could not kill a Titled Douluo, but he had enough confidence to hold his own for a time.

Although he was unwilling to join any faction that would restrict him, if it truly came to that point, he would make the choice most advantageous to himself.

Su Yun Tao said calmly, "Miss Dugu, if you see Mr. Dugu in the next two days, just tell him that the fated person has arrived."

At these words, Dugu Yan, the three committee members, and Yang Wudi were all left bewildered.

"Su Yun Tao, what do you mean?" Dugu Yan asked, confused.

Su Yun Tao said solemnly, "Nothing much. This should be considered a promise between your grandfather and me. Four years ago, I agreed to one thing with him, and today I have come to fulfill that past vow."

The group frowned deeply. Although they were confused by his words, Su Yun Tao's expression was highly convincing.

"Fine!" Dugu Yan said with some gravity, "Although I don't understand what you're saying, I will go home tonight, but I cannot guarantee whether my grandfather will come tomorrow."

"Tomorrow? That Old Poison Dugu Bo will definitely come running over tonight!"

Su Yun Tao smiled, "Just delivering the message is enough, Miss Dugu."