Lan!

Xue Qinghe's warm smile didn't change in the slightest, as if that awkward topic had never come up.

He gestured ahead, his posture graceful.

"The friendly match is about to begin. We should head to the arena first."

"Please."

Lan gave a slight nod and started after him.

They walked side by side, with the two clearly distinct teams following behind them.

Xue Qinghe seemed extremely interested in Lan. He turned his head, his gaze gentle as it settled on Lan's sharply defined profile.

"I've heard that Brother Lan comes from the Far North?"

"Yeah."

Lan's reply was brief to the extreme.

"The blizzards there must be quite a test of one's will."

There was a hint of emotion in Xue Qinghe's voice.

"It's all right."

Lan remained as sparing with words as ever.

Xue Qinghe wasn't annoyed. He merely chuckled and said nothing more.

He knew that with someone like Lan, too many probing questions would only breed resentment.

But the stirring deep in his blood grew ever clearer.

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

It was a vast, open-air platform paved with hard bluestone, large enough for Soul Emperors to unleash their full strength.

Below the arena, Skywater Academy's students crowded every side until there was barely room to move.

"Look! It's the Crown Prince!"

"Who's that beside His Highness? He's so cold and handsome!"

"That's the new special-enrollment student at our academy—and the new captain of our Skywater Team!"

Amid the chatter, the two teams took their places on opposite sides of the arena.

Xue Qinghe didn't join the match. Instead, he went to the foremost seat in the guest section and sat down with a smile, his gaze fixed on Lan the whole time.

A middle-aged Soul Master referee stepped onto the center of the arena, his voice booming like a bell.

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

"Both sides, announce your names and Martial Souls!"

At the referee's words, Yu Tianheng, captain of the Heaven Dou Royal Team, stepped forward first.

He stood tall and proud, his imposing gaze fixed on Shui Bing'er across from him.

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

"Martial Soul, Blue Electric Tyrant Dragon!"

Dugu Yan followed.

She tossed her long, dark-green hair, a faint curve playing at the corner of her mouth.

"Vice-Captain, Dugu Yan."

"Martial Soul, Jade Phosphorous Serpent!"

"Shi Mo, Martial Soul, Black Tortoise!"

"Shi Mo, Martial Soul, Black Tortoise!"

"Yu Feng, Martial Soul, Wind Bell Bird!"

"Osler, Martial Soul, Ghost Leopard!"

At last, a cool female voice rang out. She stood at the very back of the team, looking somewhat delicate.

"Ye Lingling."

"Martial Soul, Nine Heart Begonia."

The seven members of the Heaven Dou Royal Team had finished their introductions. Each of them looked formidable, their Soul Power fluctuations all around the thirtieth or fortieth level.

It was the Skywater Team's turn.

Shui Bing'er stepped forward, her cool demeanor like a snow lotus atop an icy mountain.

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

"Martial Soul, Ice Phoenix."

"Yu Hairou, Martial Soul..."

The girls of the Skywater Team introduced themselves one by one.

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

Everyone's eyes, including Xue Qinghe's from the guest section, instantly focused on him.

Under the gaze of the crowd, Lan slowly raised his eyes and calmly swept his gaze over the Heaven Dou Royal Team.

His thin lips parted. His voice was steady and utterly unruffled, yet it carried clearly to every ear.

"Lan."

Just one word.

No rank, no Martial Soul.

That simple word landed like a boulder dropped into a calm lake, and every member of the Heaven Dou Royal Team changed expression.

Yu Tianheng's pupils suddenly contracted.

The arrogance vanished from Dugu Yan's face.

Even Ye Lingling, standing at the very back, tensed unconsciously.

An invisible pressure spread from the boy named Lan.

The Heaven Dou Royal Team's members instantly went on high alert.

This man was strong!

That was the first thought in every one of their minds.

Just as the atmosphere grew tense, Shui Bing'er's cool voice rang out again.

Looking at Yu Tianheng and the others, who were on their guard as if facing a formidable enemy, she said calmly:

"You don't need to worry."

"Our captain just wants to see what we're capable of."

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

Her words were like a bucket of cold water splashed into boiling oil, instantly setting off an uproar.

The members of the Heaven Dou Royal Team looked stunned at first, then their expressions turned to displeasure.

How arrogant!

What was that supposed to mean?

Yu Tianheng's face flushed bright red. He laughed in fury.

"Good! Very good, Skywater Team!"

"So you don't take us seriously at all—you want to use us for practice?"

The team members behind him glared at the girls just as angrily.

Only two were exceptions.

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

Her beautiful eyes stayed fixed on Lan, wariness rising in her heart.

What if the other side played dirty and attacked me, a support-type Soul Master, out of nowhere?

Better to be careful.

On the other side, Dugu Yan studied Lan with keen interest.

There was no anger in her emerald-green eyes, only an even deeper curiosity.

What a mysterious person.

He's just standing there, yet he seems completely out of place in the world.

Who is he, really? And just how strong is he?

Yu Tianheng glanced at Dugu Yan. Seeing her intrigued expression, the fire in his heart burned even hotter.

Curious?

He sneered inwardly. Curiosity was often the start of liking someone.

I won't tolerate this!

Yu Tianheng said no more. He strode forward, making the hard bluestone platform tremble.

"Blue Electric Tyrant Dragon, possess!"

With a furious shout, crackling lightning erupted all over him. Blue-violet dragon scales instantly covered his body, his arms transformed into savage dragon claws, and a violent, unstoppable aura soared into the sky.

He seemed to grow taller, becoming a ferocious beast in human form.

"Third Soul Skill, Thunder Fury!"

Yu Tianheng slashed both claws forward. Several thick, serpentine bolts of lightning, carrying an aura of annihilation, roared toward the six members of the Skywater Team.

Faced with this domineering attack, Shui Bing'er remained calm.

"Ice Phoenix, possess!"

With a cool shout, pure white wings unfurled behind her. Her crystalline feathers glimmered with a chilling light, making her seem ever more ethereal, like a goddess from a snow-capped mountain.

"Second Soul Skill, Ice Ring Armor!"

She raised both hands. Six translucent ice rings appeared out of nowhere and settled precisely around her and her five teammates, transforming into a thin layer of pale blue armor.

Boom!

Lightning and ice armor collided with a thunderous crash.

The wild force of the lightning splattered in every direction, as bolts of light and ice shards filled the arena.

Crack!

The ice armor around Shui Yue'er was the first to give way. Web-like fissures spread across it, as if it would shatter completely the next instant.

"That's incredible strength!"

She couldn't help crying out in alarm, her face paling slightly.

Shui Bing'er's expression darkened.

Pure defense like this consumed far more Soul Power than an attack.

Besides, her opponent's Soul Power Level was higher than hers to begin with, and he was using a mighty third Soul Skill.

She couldn't let this drag on.

She had to end the fight quickly! They had to focus their strength on taking down the strongest one, Yu Tianheng, first!

"Yue'er! Xue Wu! Go!"

Shui Bing'er made her decision on the spot and issued the command.

Shui Yue'er, Xue Wu, and the other two assault- and agility-type team members sprang into action, surrounding Yu Tianheng from four directions.

Seeing them move, Yu Tianheng didn't retreat. Instead, he charged forward, a domineering grin spreading across his face.

"Just what I wanted!"

He actually charged straight into their encirclement!

For a time, Soul Skill lights flashed across the arena, and the sounds of fierce clashes rang without pause.

The dominance of the Blue Electric Tyrant Dragon Martial Soul was on full display.

Dragon claws swept through the air, lightning flashed.

In just a few breaths, several muffled grunts sounded, and four figures were sent flying one after another. They crashed heavily at the edge of the arena, unable to continue fighting.

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

"Haha! The captain's incredible!"

On the Heaven Dou Royal Team's side, Yu Feng, Osler, and the others smiled in relief.

"The captain's almost taken out the whole team on his own."

"Looks like we've got this one in the bag!"

Watching the scene from the guest section, a glimmer of understanding crossed Xue Qinghe's warm eyes. He shook his head gently.

Skywater Academy was going to lose.

Aside from that boy named Lan, the others were still far behind the main members of the Heaven Dou Royal Team.

His gaze passed over the two sides facing off in the arena and came to rest on the boy who hadn't moved once from beginning to end.

Lan still stood at the back of his team, quietly watching everything unfold.

There was no panic or worry on his face, only stillness.

A meaningful smile curved Xue Qinghe's lips.

Well, then...

Let me see your strength—and what you're hiding.