It was not until sunset that the Imperial Fighting Team finished their training for the day. Led by their instructor, Qin Ming, they came to the living room.
Su Yuntao and Yang Wudi's eyes were instantly drawn to a short-haired woman in blue among the seven members of the Imperial Fighting Team.
She was slender and pretty, with a spirited crop of blue hair and a pair of emerald-green eyes that gave her a distinctive charm.
"Hey, why are you staring at me?" Dugu Yan asked irritably.
"Yan Yan, mind your manners!" Meng Shenji said.
Dugu Yan looked unconvinced, but said nothing more. Though she had her grandfather, Dugu Bo, to back her up, she understood that one shouldn't throw one's weight around too much. She greatly respected the three educational committee members in her daily life, though if she really got worked up, even her grandfather couldn't control her.
"Little Friend Su, Patriarch Yang, allow me to introduce everyone."
"This is Qin Ming, one of the rising stars of our Heaven Dou Royal Academy!"
Meng Shenji extended his right hand toward a man standing at the front, who looked to be around thirty years old.
Qin Ming gave a slight bow and greeted them politely.
As Su Yuntao looked at Qin Ming, his thoughts stirred. He knew Qin Ming, but Qin Ming wouldn't remember him.
Qin Ming had been among the first students of Shrek Academy. He entered the academy at twelve and became a Soul Elder at thirteen, holding the record as Shrek Academy's youngest Soul Elder before the Seven Devils. He became a Soul Ancestor before turning eighteen, then a Soul King at twenty-three.
He should be around thirty now. He would meet the Shrek Seven Devils two years later, when he would be a level sixty-three Soul Emperor.
(The year Tang San entered Shrek Academy was the academy's twentieth anniversary. Even if Qin Ming was among the first students, he should have been thirty-two—twelve when he enrolled, plus twenty years—not thirty-four as the original work stated.)
Fourteen years ago, when Su Yuntao had endured great hardship to reach Shrek Academy and try to enroll, Qin Ming had taken his precious twenty Gold Soul Coins. After that, Zhao Wuji had looked down on him, treating him like a pig or a dog.
"Su Yuntao, level fifty-one Soul King, Martial Soul: Gale Two-Headed Wolf." Su Yuntao calmly released his Soul Rings.
The Imperial Fighting Team nearly cried out in shock when they saw that someone so young, who seemed barely older than themselves, was actually a Soul King! Even Dugu Yan, whose background was famously as solid as an iron wall, was deeply moved.
Qin Ming quickly released his Soul Rings in response.
"Qin Ming, level fifty-nine Soul King, Martial Soul: Blazing Gray Wolf."
Looking at Qin Ming's utterly calm expression, Su Yuntao smiled. He knew that the experience he had regarded as a great humiliation was nothing worth mentioning to the people at Shrek Academy. To Zhao Wuji and the others, his name hadn't even been worth remembering!
Soon, Meng Shenji had finished introducing everyone. Then, generously acceding to Su Yuntao's request, he sent Qin Ming and the others off to rest, leaving only Dugu Yan behind.
Though the three educational committee members were present, Su Yuntao knew that they had already shown him great respect. There was no way they would let the granddaughter of a Titled Douluo meet with him alone.
"Hey! You, the guy wearing the Blue-Gold Mask, what exactly do you want with me?" Though Dugu Yan had been shocked by Su Yuntao's strength, she was still very displeased that he had asked her to stay behind alone.
Su Yuntao smiled. "Miss Dugu, actually, I'd like to meet your grandfather."
Dugu Yan retorted, "If you want to see him, go find him yourself!"
Su Yuntao waved a hand. "Unfortunately, I can't find him, so I can only come to you."
"Fine, fine, I get it." Dugu Yan turned to leave. "In a couple of days, I'll find a chance to take you to him."
Su Yuntao remained composed and said slowly, "Miss Dugu, you've misunderstood. I want your grandfather, Dugu Bo, to come here to Heaven Dou Royal Academy and meet me."
As soon as he said this, the entire room fell silent.
"How arrogant!" Dugu Yan stopped and turned back with a cold laugh.
Meng Shenji frowned. "Little Friend Su, Dugu Bo isn't like the three of us. He's not only a true Titled Douluo, but also an eccentric."
Su Yuntao had his reasons for doing this. He had a principle: never take risks lightly. When it came to obtaining Immortal Herbs and acquiring Soul Rings, he'd had no choice. If he wanted to defy fate and change his destiny, he had to take desperate measures.
When obtaining Immortal Herbs and acquiring Soul Rings, his life had been in Tang Hao and the Titan Giant Ape's hands. Only his advance preparations had allowed him to escape unharmed.
When meeting Yang Wudi in Star Luo City, Su Yuntao had also had enough to rely on. If things went wrong, he could unleash the Hundred Thousand Year Soul Skill, Thunder Strike, in an instant. He was confident he could severely injure or even kill Yang Wudi, whose defensive abilities were only at the Soul Sage level.
And since he was in Star Luo City, a little fighting from someone with a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Skill would be enough to draw the Star Luo Empire's garrison troops. If all else failed, Su Yuntao could simply take off his mask and join the Star Luo Imperial Family!
As for why Su Yuntao had chosen to meet Dugu Bo at Heaven Dou Royal Academy, it was naturally because he didn't want to put his life in Dugu Bo's hands. Entrusting his future to someone else's sense of morality was foolish!
Su Yuntao had to meet Dugu Bo first and see what kind of person this Dugu Bo was in this timeline. Only then would he leave Heaven Dou Royal Academy, because it was the only place where he could protect himself.
With his current strength, even if he relied on the Hundred Thousand Year Soul Skill, Thunder Strike, he absolutely couldn't kill a Titled Douluo. But he was confident he could hold out for a while.
Though he wasn't willing to join any faction and let it restrict him, if things truly came to that, he would make the choice most advantageous to himself.
Su Yuntao said calmly, "Miss Dugu, if you see Mr. Dugu in the next couple of days, tell him that someone destined to meet him has arrived."
At this, Dugu Yan, the three educational committee members, and Yang Wudi were all at a loss.
"Su Yuntao, what do you mean?" Dugu Yan asked, confused.
Su Yuntao said solemnly, "Nothing much. You could say it's an agreement between your grandfather and me. Four years ago, I promised him something, and today I've come to fulfill that promise."
Everyone frowned. Though they were completely in the dark, Su Yuntao's expression was deeply compelling.
"All right." Dugu Yan grew somewhat serious. "Though I don't understand what you're talking about, I'll go home tonight. But I can't promise that my grandfather will come tomorrow."
"Tomorrow? That old poison, Dugu Bo, will come scampering over tonight!"
Su Yuntao smiled. "Just pass along the message, Miss Dugu."
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