Lan!

Xue Qinghe's gentle smile remained unchanged, as if the awkward topic from a moment ago had never occurred.

He gestured forward with an elegant motion.

"The friendly match is about to begin; let us head to the arena first."

"Please."

Lan nodded slightly and stepped forward to follow.

The two walked side by side, with their two distinct teams trailing behind them.

Xue Qinghe seemed extremely interested in Lan; he turned his head, his gaze resting softly on Lan's sharp, angular profile.

"I hear Brother Lan hails from the Far North?"

"Mm."

Lan's response was extremely brief.

"The wind and snow there must truly temper one's will."

There was a hint of sentiment in Xue Qinghe's tone.

"It's alright."

Lan remained as sparing with his words as ever.

Xue Qinghe was not annoyed, merely chuckling softly before falling silent.

He knew that for a person like this, excessive verbal probing would only invite resentment.

Yet, that tremor originating from his bloodline grew increasingly distinct within his heart.

The central arena of Skywater Academy was already bustling with people.

It was a massive open-air stage paved with hard bluestone, sturdy enough to withstand the full-force display of a Spirit Emperor-level expert.

Below the stage, the students of Skywater Academy packed the surrounding area until it was impenetrable.

"Look! It's His Highness the Crown Prince!"

"Who is that person beside the Crown Prince? So cold and aloof, so handsome!"

"That's the new special recruit of our academy, and the new captain of our Skywater Team!"

Amidst the chatter, the two teams took their positions on opposite sides of the arena.

Xue Qinghe did not take the stage, instead walking to the head of the guest seats and sitting down with a smile, his gaze locked firmly on Lan.

A middle-aged spirit master referee stepped into the center of the arena, his voice booming like a bell.

"This friendly match will be a seven-on-seven team battle."

"Now, both teams, announce your names and spirits!"

As the referee's voice fell, Yu Tianheng, the captain of the Heaven Dou Royal Team, stepped forward first.

He held his head high, his presence imposing as he stared directly at Shui Bing'er opposite him.

"Heaven Dou Royal Team, Captain, Yu Tianheng!"

"Spirit, Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon!"

Following him was Dugu Yan.

She tossed her dark green hair, a curve forming at the corner of her lips.

"Vice-Captain, Dugu Yan."

"Spirit, Jade Phosphorous Serpent!"

"Shi Mo, Spirit, Black Tortoise!"

"Shi Mo, Spirit, Black Tortoise!"

"Yu Feng, Spirit, Wind Bell Bird!"

"Osler, Spirit, Ghost Leopard!"

Finally, a cold, clear female voice rang out; she stood at the very back of the formation, appearing somewhat delicate.

"Ye Lingling."

"Spirit, Nine Heart Begonia."

The seven members of the Heaven Dou Royal Team finished their introductions, each possessing an extraordinary aura, with spirit power fluctuations all between the thirtieth and fortieth ranks.

It was the Skywater Team's turn.

Shui Bing'er stepped forward, her cold temperament like an ice-mountain lotus.

"Skywater Team, Captain, Shui Bing'er."

"Spirit, Ice Phoenix."

"Yu Hairou, Spirit..."

The girls from the Skywater Team announced their names one by one.

Finally, only Lan remained, standing quietly at the end of the line.

All eyes, including Xue Qinghe's in the VIP box, instantly focused on him.

Under the intense gaze of everyone, Lan slowly raised his eyes, his gaze calmly sweeping over the Heaven Dou Royal Team opposite them.

His thin lips parted, his voice steady, without a trace of emotion, yet it clearly reached everyone's ears.

"Lan."

Just one word.

No title, no spirit.

This simple word, however, was like a massive stone thrown into a calm lake, causing the expressions of everyone on the Heaven Dou Royal Team to change in unison.

Yu Tianheng's pupils contracted sharply.

The arrogance on Dugu Yan's face instantly vanished.

Even Ye Lingling, at the very back, subconsciously tensed her body.

An invisible pressure emanated from the young man named "Lan."

The members of the Heaven Dou Royal Team became extremely vigilant in an instant.

This person is strong!

This was the first reaction in all their hearts.

Just as the atmosphere grew heavy, Shui Bing'er's clear and cold voice rang out again.

She looked at Yu Tianheng and the others, who were facing a formidable enemy, and said calmly:

"You don't need to worry."

"Captain just wants to see our strength."

"Until you defeat us, Captain won't make a move."

These words were like pouring a ladle of cold water into boiling oil, instantly igniting the entire venue.

The faces of the Heaven Dou Royal Team members first showed astonishment, which was then replaced by dissatisfaction.

How arrogant!

What did this mean?

Yu Tianheng's face instantly turned red, and he laughed in extreme anger.

"Good! Well said, Skywater Team!"

"Are you completely disregarding us, using us as practice targets?"

The teammates behind him also glared with anger.

Only two were exceptions.

Ye Lingling quietly took a step back, protecting herself better at the rear of the team.

Her beautiful eyes were fixed on Lan, and she was secretly vigilant in her heart.

What if the opponent didn't play by the rules and directly attacked her, a support-type soul master?

It was better to be careful.

On the other side, Dugu Yan was sizing up Lan with great interest.

There was no anger in her emerald green eyes, only a growing curiosity.

What a mysterious person.

Just standing there, he seemed out of place with the entire world.

Who exactly was he? And what was his strength?

Yu Tianheng's gaze swept over Dugu Yan, and seeing her look of keen interest, the fire in his heart burned even hotter.

Curiosity?

He sneered inwardly, curiosity is often the beginning of affection.

Unacceptable!

Yu Tianheng said no more, and took a step forward, causing the hard bluestone arena to tremble.

"Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon, possess!"

With a roar, crackling electric light exploded wildly around him, blue-purple dragon scales instantly covered his entire body, his arms transformed into ferocious dragon claws, and a wild and unparalleled aura surged to the heavens.

His entire being seemed to grow taller, like a humanoid ferocious beast.

"Third Soul Skill, Thunder Fury!"

Yu Tianheng swung his claws forward, and several thick, snake-like lightning bolts, carrying a destructive aura, roared and pounced towards the six members of the Skywater Team opposite them.

Facing this peerlessly overbearing attack, Shui Bing'er's expression remained unchanged.

"Ice Phoenix, possess!"

With a cold, delicate shout, pure white wings suddenly unfurled behind her back. The ice-crystal feathers shimmered with a chilling light, making her appear increasingly ethereal, like a goddess atop a snow-capped mountain.

"Second Soul Skill, Ice Ring Armor!"

She lifted her hands slightly, and six crystalline ice rings appeared out of thin air, precisely encircling her and her five teammates, transforming into a thin layer of ice-blue armor.

Boom!

Lightning and ice armor collided with a deafening roar.

Violent lightning power splattered in all directions, and the arena was filled with flying sparks and ice shards.

Crack!

The ice armor on Shui Yue'er's body was the first to reach its limit, spiderweb-like fissures spreading across it as if it would shatter completely the next second.

"Such powerful strength!"

She couldn't help but gasp, her face turning slightly pale.

Shui Bing'er's face sank.

Such pure defense consumed far more Soul Power than attacking.

Moreover, the opponent's Soul Power Level was already higher than hers, and he was using a high-potency third soul skill.

She could not drag this out any longer.

She had to end the battle quickly! She had to concentrate her strength to take out the strongest, Yu Tianheng!

"Yue'er! Xue Wu! Move!"

Shui Bing'er made a prompt decision and issued the order.

Shui Yue'er, Xue Wu, and the other two power-attack and agility-attack team members received the command and immediately flanked Yu Tianheng in the center of the arena from four directions.

Seeing this, Yu Tianheng did not retreat but advanced instead, a domineering grin spreading across his lips.

"Well come!"

He actually took the initiative to charge straight into the encirclement of the four!

For a time, the light of soul skills flickered on the arena, and the sounds of intense collisions were incessant.

The dominance of the Blue Electric Tyrant Dragon Martial Soul was revealed in full at this moment.

Dragon claws swung, and lightning flashed.

In just a few breaths, accompanied by several stifled groans, four figures were sent flying back one after another, crashing heavily onto the edge of the arena and losing their ability to fight.

In the blink of an eye, only the sisters Shui Bing'er and Shui Yue'er remained of the Skywater Team on the arena.

"Haha! Captain is mighty!"

On the side of the Heaven Dou Royal Team, Yu Feng, Osler, and the others wore relaxed smiles.

"The captain is about to take them all out by himself."

"It looks like we've got this win in the bag!"

In the guest seating area, Xue Qinghe watched this scene, a flash of realization passing through his gentle eyes as he shook his head slightly.

Skywater Academy was going to lose.

Except for the boy named Lan, the gap in strength between the others and the main force of the Heaven Dou Royal Team was still a bit too large.

His gaze drifted past the two sides confronting each other on the field and landed on the boy who had not moved from the very beginning.

Lan remained standing at the very back of the team, quietly watching everything on the field.

There was no anxiety or worry on his face, only a profound stillness.

A meaningful arc curled at the corners of Xue Qinghe's mouth.

Then, next...

Let me see exactly what your strength and your true colors are.