The Leopard · Osler

Dugu Bo scanned the surroundings to ensure they were alone before lowering his voice. "A year ago, the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, one of the Upper Three Sects, sent a disciple here named Yu Tianheng. He is the grandson of their Sect Master, Yu Yuanzhen, and is known alongside Yu Tianxin—the grandson of the clan's second-in-command, Yu Luomian—as the 'Blue Lightning Twin Stars.' He is highly suspicious."

"You must understand that the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan has always remained neutral, supporting neither of the two great empires. For generations, their direct-line disciples have either been trained within the sect or sent to the Thunder Academy they founded. For a hundred years, there has never been a precedent for one entering the Heaven Dou Royal Academy."

"I originally thought the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan had changed their strategy and intended to curry favor with the Heaven Dou imperial family."

"After all, Ning Fengzhi, Sect Master of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, has become the teacher of Crown Prince Xue Qinghe, and the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect has openly supported the Heaven Dou Empire. They are clearly looking to expand their influence through the royal family, and I assumed the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan was simply unwilling to fall behind, hence sending Yu Tianheng here."

"It also avoids the negative influence of competition by keeping him away from the other strong heir candidate, Yu Tianxin, at the same academy."

"But recently, I've noticed something wrong. Ever since Yanyan advanced to the Tianzhu Level, she has inevitably spent less time with Lingling, who is still at the Tianwei Level, and Yu Tianheng has begun to frequently watch Yanyan in silence."

Dugu Bo's expression turned stern. "I suspect the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan wants to use him to get close to Yanyan and, through her, rope me into their camp."

"Therefore, I need you to protect Yanyan and keep a close eye on Yu Tianheng. He is a member of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan; as long as he doesn't cross the line, do not provoke him. Just keep a strict watch for me!"

Dugu Bo certainly had his own selfish motives. Yu Tianheng was, of course, an excellent choice; his family background and talent were top-tier, making him a natural match for Dugu Yan.

However, the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan was known for being overbearing and exclusionary, and the Dugu family consisted only of the two of them.

As a Title Douluo, Dugu Bo knew Yanyan would not suffer while he was alive, but he feared she would be bullied once he was gone.

In the past, Dugu Bo would have been annoyed at most and wouldn't have interfered, but now there was Xing Tian.

Dugu Yan had a favorable impression of Xing Tian, and while Xing Tian was nominally a relative of Ye Renxin, he was actually an orphan—the perfect candidate. Dugu Bo only needed to wait for him to grow up.

Yet, Xing Tian felt both helpless and speechless; Dugu Bo was essentially asking him to be Dugu Yan's shield.

Furthermore, this was a matter of offending the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan. Although he wasn't yet familiar with the soul master factions of the Douluo Continent or the significance of the Upper Three Sects, the name alone sounded like trouble.

He wasn't afraid, but it was a nuisance, and if things went wrong, it could implicate the Ye family.

What left him truly speechless was that Dugu Yan was only eleven, and Yu Tianheng was likely the same age. Were people on the Douluo Continent really this precocious?

There was no helping it; Dugu Bo was his benefactor and a Title Douluo, someone he would need to rely on in many ways, so he could only agree: "Alright."

"Hahahaha, that's good. If you have any questions in the future, feel free to ask me. And your Soul Ring—as long as it isn't a hundred-thousand-year one, leave it to me!"

Dugu Bo patted Xing Tian's shoulder with satisfaction, nearly making the boy lose his footing.

After a few more casual words with Dugu Bo, Xing Tian officially entered the dormitory. A handsome youth with short golden hair, a lithe build, and dressed in black was currently meditating on his bed.

This was Xing Tian's roommate, Osler.

Seeing Osler meditating, Xing Tian didn't disturb him and simply began to organize his bed and personal belongings.

Once Xing Tian was finished, Osler woke from his meditation. He was surprised to see someone else in the room, but quickly understood. "You must be my new roommate, right?"

"Yes, I'm Xing Tian."

"What a cool name."

Osler's eyes lit up with envy, which quickly turned into dejection.

"Why didn't my parents give me a domineering, cool name? 'Osler' sounds like a background character!"

He then looked puzzled. "I feel like I've heard that name somewhere before..."

Suddenly, Osler's dejection vanished, and he jumped off the bed, full of energy.

"My martial soul is a Ghost Leopard, Innate Soul Power level seven. I just turned ten, and I'm a level 22 agility-attack system battle soul master. You can just call me 'Leopard'."

Xing Tian was stunned by Osler's fickle and erratic personality. He had never met anyone like this before and thought to himself that life might be quite exhausting; perhaps he shouldn't have accepted Dugu Bo's request.

Still, he replied politely: "Alright. My martial soul is a Dark Evil Spirit Mantis, Innate Full Soul Power, eight years old, level 21 power-attack system battle soul master."

Osler instantly froze in place, his jaw dropping as if it were about to dislocate; his mouth was wide enough to fit several eggs.

He stood there for a long time, looking as if his soul had left his body. He drifted back to his bed, face-planted into his pillow, spun three hundred and sixty degrees, and wrapped himself in his quilt like a spring roll, a small dark cloud seemingly hovering over his head.

"What's wrong with you?"

"Ugh..."

Osler let out a weak, spiritless sigh: "Comparing yourself to others will only kill you... Don't talk to me, let me be alone for a while..."

Xing Tian thought to himself: Then I'll go find Lingling and give her a surprise.

He headed toward the dormitory door, but was interrupted by Osler, who turned to look at him with a resentful expression. "Where are you going? Are you just going to abandon me?"

Xing Tian frowned, tilting his head in confusion: "Didn't you say you wanted to be alone?"

Osler looked like a scorned woman: "I didn't tell you to leave. Besides, aren't I allowed to complain? And anyway, you've crushed my spirit like this, and you're two years younger than me—can't you at least comfort me?"

Xing Tian couldn't bear to look at him. Osler was clearly handsome, and at first glance, he had seemed like the cold, aloof type, but now he was acting like a petty, resentful wife.

"I don't know how, and I don't want to!"

Xing Tian refused flatly and tried to walk out again: "I have someone to find."

Osler sprang up, tore off his quilt, and suddenly became bright and sunny, with no trace of gloom left.

"Who are you looking for? A boy or a girl?"

Osler looked curious, then, as if he had guessed something, pointed at Xing Tian with a sly grin: "A girl! Good lad, you've already hooked up with a female classmate on your first day."

"Who is it? Tell me, I promise I won't say a word!"

Osler struck a pose as if swearing an oath, but seeing Xing Tian ignoring him, he actually lunged, threw himself on the floor, grabbed Xing Tian's leg, and began kicking his legs wildly.

"Oh, come on, just tell me! If you tell me, I'll forgive you for crushing my spirit earlier."

Osler peeked at Xing Tian, then began to throw a tantrum again: "Tell me!"