Dugu Yan, Are You Trying to Make Me Look Bad?

After leaving Holy Soul Village, Qin Yao spent seven days traveling before finally reaching Heaven Dou City once more.

After several days on the road, even his current physique felt somewhat worn out.

Qin Yao reined in his aura. He tied his long purple-silver hair behind his head with an ordinary cloth band, and his black outfit patterned with dark purple wasn't particularly eye-catching in the crowd. Still, his exceptionally tall stature and striking looks drew quite a few glances from passersby.

Ignoring their curious stares, he planned to find a quiet inn, get some proper rest, and then head to Sunset Forest to absorb the Blue Silver Emperor Right Leg Bone he had just acquired.

As he strolled along the broad streets of Heaven Dou City, a commotion not far ahead caught his attention.

It wasn't quite an argument, more like an entanglement.

Qin Yao hadn't intended to get involved, but when he recognized one of the people, he stopped in his tracks.

She was a young woman in a purple-black outfit trimmed with silver. Her dark green hair hung loose, and her eyes were long and narrow. It was Dugu Yan.

"What's she doing here?" Qin Yao thought, surprised.

More than half a month had passed since he left Sunset Forest. By now, she had probably obtained her Fourth Soul Ring.

There was another young woman beside Dugu Yan.

She was slender and wore black, with a thin black veil covering her face so that her features couldn't be seen clearly.

A waterfall of blue hair fell down her back. Most striking of all were her equally blue eyes, clear as still water.

Qin Yao's thoughts stirred.

Nine Heart Begonia, Ye Lingling.

One of the top auxiliary Martial Souls on Douluo Continent, passed down through a single bloodline, with no more than two Nine Heart Begonia Soul Masters ever existing at the same time in any generation.

He hadn't expected to run into two members of the Imperial Fighting Team at once today.

A man stood in front of the two young women, blocking their way. He looked agitated.

He seemed to be in his early twenties, with a slender build and short black hair.

He wasn't exactly handsome, but he had a straight nose, a square jaw, and hard features. His blue outfit was plain, without any extra ornamentation.

The Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan's Yu Tianheng.

Qin Yao identified him almost instantly.

He stood where he was, watching with interest.

Then Dugu Yan's cool, impatient voice rang out.

"Yu Tianheng, I've made myself perfectly clear. I've withdrawn from Heaven Dou Royal Academy. There's no future for us. If you keep pestering me, don't blame me for what happens next!"

Each word rang out clearly, carrying a note of absolute resolve.

Once she had decided to withdraw, she had already made up her mind. At the academy, Ye Lingling was now the only one she still kept in touch with.

Though Ye Lingling's Nine Heart Begonia Ye Clan held a title of nobility in the Heaven Dou Empire, it hadn't joined any faction. So her relationship with Dugu Yan remained as close as ever.

Yu Tianheng clearly couldn't accept it. He stepped forward and demanded, his emotions running high:

"Yanzi! Why are you suddenly withdrawing? Are you in some kind of trouble? Tell me! We'll work it out together!"

His voice brimmed with confusion and anxiety.

"Trouble? What trouble could I possibly be in?"

Dugu Yan's voice cooled. She didn't want to waste any more time entangled with Yu Tianheng here.

She had made her decision to withdraw only after giving it careful thought.

Ever since her grandfather, Dugu Bo, had pledged himself to Qin Yao, she was no longer simply a student at Heaven Dou Royal Academy.

She belonged to Spirit Hall's Holy Son.

Her grandfather had specifically warned her not to reveal that identity without Qin Yao's permission.

For one thing, her grandfather still owed Prince Xue Xing of the Heaven Dou Empire a favor. Until she had repaid it, she couldn't afford to burn that bridge outright.

More importantly, the future of her and her grandfather rested entirely in the hands of His Highness the Holy Son. They had to tread carefully and avoid bringing him any unnecessary trouble.

So when Yu Tianheng pressed her for answers, she couldn't explain—and she didn't want to.

"My affairs are none of your concern, Yu Tianheng. Move aside." Her voice held a distinct note of distance.

Ye Lingling, standing beside her, tugged at her sleeve and whispered:

"Yanzi, don't be like that. The captain's only worried about you."

"Worried?" Dugu Yan gave a self-mocking curl of her lips. "Is he worried about me, or about the grandfather behind me? Who can say?"

Dugu Yan knew how much of Yu Tianheng's pursuit of her came from the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan's desire to win over Poison Douluo.

Perhaps she wouldn't have cared before, but now she had chosen a side.

At her words, Yu Tianheng's face darkened. He took a deep breath, forcing down his anger.

"Yanzi, after all these years, did none of it mean anything? Just because of my family, are you going to deny everything about me?"

Qin Yao, standing a short distance away, took it all in.

He was rather pleased with Dugu Yan's response.

Decisive, and clear-headed.

Once you chose a side, you had to be ready to cut off the past.

Dragging things out only caused trouble.

When Yu Tianheng looked ready to keep pestering her, Dugu Yan lost the last of her patience.

"Get out of my way!"

Her sharp rebuke rang out, undisguised anger in every word.

The next moment, a powerful surge of Soul Power erupted from within Dugu Yan!

Her purple-black outfit fluttered in the wind, and her dark green hair streamed wildly as the Jade Phosphorous Serpent Emperor possessed her in an instant!

Yellow, yellow, purple, purple.

Four Soul Rings rose and circled her body.

A Soul Ancestor!

Yu Tianheng's pupils shrank. He hadn't expected Dugu Yan not only to withdraw from school without a word, but to have broken through to level forty as well!

He himself was only a level thirty-seven Soul Elder.

"Captain! Yanzi! Don't fight!" Ye Lingling cried, her face pale as she hurriedly stepped between them.

But Dugu Yan had rebuked him in front of everyone, and her strength was far beyond his. The pride Yu Tianheng took in being heir to the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan was thoroughly inflamed.

"Fine! A Soul Ancestor, is it?" Yu Tianheng laughed in fury. "Let's see what makes you think you can order me around!"

"Roar!"

A deafening dragon's roar rang out. Blinding blue-purple lightning burst from within him, enveloping his entire body in an instant.

Yu Tianheng's right arm swelled rapidly, covered in thick blue-purple dragon scales. His right hand transformed into a ferocious dragon claw.

Yellow, yellow, purple.

Three Soul Rings rose as well.

"First Soul Skill, Thunder Dragon Claw!"

Without hesitation, Yu Tianheng launched a fierce, unrestrained attack. His enormous lightning dragon claw tore through the air with a shrill whistle, heading straight for Dugu Yan's face.

Dugu Yan furrowed her brows. She hadn't expected Yu Tianheng to attack without warning.

She lightly tapped the ground with her toes and drifted backward as her First Soul Ring lit up.

"First Soul Skill, Jade Phosphorous Red Poison!"

A layer of faint red mist spread from her body, boosting her speed and reflexes. She narrowly dodged the blow.

The Thunder Dragon Claw slammed into the ground, gouging five deep furrows into the hard stone street.

Dugu Yan felt frustrated. Her Third and Fourth Soul Skills were too powerful, and both carried the Jade Phosphorous Serpent Emperor's poison. If anyone was exposed to it, the consequences would be disastrous.

If she accidentally poisoned the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan's heir to death in the streets of Heaven Dou City, she'd have a serious problem on her hands.

But if she didn't use her Third and Fourth Soul Skills, she couldn't gain much of an advantage against the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Martial Soul, famed for its overwhelming offense and explosive power.

For the moment, Dugu Yan could only keep dodging, unable to fight freely.

"Second Soul Skill, Thunderbolt!"

Yu Tianheng pressed his advantage. The serpent-shaped lightning surrounding him exploded, transforming into countless tiny bolts that covered every avenue of escape.

Driven back again and again by the barrage, Dugu Yan was inevitably struck by several bolts, each sending a wave of numbness through her body.

The people on the street had already fled in fright, leaving a wide open space.

Ye Lingling stamped her foot anxiously from the sidelines, but there was nothing she could do.

Qin Yao watched, his brows slowly drawing together.

A level forty-two Soul Ancestor was getting pushed around by a level thirty-seven Soul Elder?

And she was fighting so timidly, afraid to commit!

Since when did anyone get to bully someone under his protection?

Just as Yu Tianheng's Third Soul Ring lit up and he prepared to use his amplifying Soul Skill, "Thunder Fury," to secure victory, Qin Yao appeared in front of Dugu Yan in an instant.

"Second Soul Skill, Lion's Fang."

His voice was calm, yet everyone present felt their hearts tighten.

The figure raised his right hand. A ball of deep purple fire appeared out of thin air in his palm, so dense it was almost black, then instantly coalesced into a roaring lion's head.

Yu Tianheng had no time to react.

The purple fire lion's head shot from his hand, traced a strange arc through the air, and struck Yu Tianheng square in the chest.

There was a muffled boom.

The blue-purple lightning enveloping Yu Tianheng was instantly swallowed and extinguished by the purple fire.

The scales on his vaunted Dragon Transformation right arm shattered one after another. It was as if an ancient Ferocious Beast had slammed into him head-on. Blood sprayed from his mouth, and he flew more than ten meters before crashing heavily to the ground. He struggled twice, then passed out.

A one-hit kill!

The entire street fell silent.

Everyone was stunned by the sudden turn of events.

Ye Lingling clapped a hand over her mouth. Her clear blue eyes were filled with shock.

Dugu Yan stood frozen too, staring at the tall figure before her, unable to react for a moment.

She knew that figure all too well.

That dark purple hair, that black outfit patterned with dark gold—His Highness the Holy Son!

What was he doing here?

A rush of joy filled Dugu Yan's heart, followed by a sudden, inexplicable sense of grievance.

Had he seen how badly Yu Tianheng had cornered her?

Qin Yao slowly turned around, his face devoid of emotion.

He ignored Yu Tianheng, unconscious on the ground, and Ye Lingling, still too stunned to move.

Qin Yao's gaze settled on Dugu Yan.

Just as Dugu Yan thought he might offer her a few words of comfort, a cold voice sounded in her ear.

"A Soul Ancestor, and you let a Soul Elder push you around? Dugu Yan, are you trying to make me look bad?"