Poison Outbreak and Arrogance: Dugu Yan's Challenge

Heaven Dou Royal Academy has been in an uproar these past two days.

Whether in the Mimicry Training Ground, the cafeteria, or even the dormitories of the advanced classes, the focus of every student's discussion is one person.

Xue Yao.

This child, who has just turned six, has practically become a legend within the academy.

"Have you heard? That six-year-old freshman was not only personally conferred the title of Viscount Sky Wind by His Majesty, but he also moved into Villa No. 1!"

"That's nothing. My cousin helps out in the Academic Affairs Office, and he said that Chief Meng Shenji personally gave Xue Yao a Purple Gold Card. He doesn't even have to attend classes in the academy!"

"Damn, for real? So arrogant at six years old?"

"You bet. The instructors are already calling him the number one genius of Heaven Dou in private. They say his future achievements will definitely reach the level of a Title Douluo."

Rumors have a way of becoming distorted as they spread.

Especially when the title of "number one genius" is slapped onto a six-year-old brat who has just enrolled and barely shown his face.

Some are curious, some are envious, and naturally, some are extremely displeased.

In the academy's high-level zone, the poison-type Mimicry Training Ground.

A faint layer of purple mist permeates the air, carrying a hint of a pungent, fishy sweetness.

A young girl with short, ink-green hair and a figure already beginning to show graceful curves is sitting cross-legged in the center of the training ground.

Her name is Dugu Yan. She is eleven years old, and her background is terrifyingly formidable.

She is the granddaughter of the current Poison Douluo, Dugu Bo.

At eleven, her soul power has already reached level 19.

She is only one step away from breaking through to become a level 20 Soul Grand Master.

Before Xue Yao arrived, Dugu Yan was the recognized pride of Heaven Dou Royal Academy, the pearl held in the palms of all the instructors and students.

But now, all the limelight has been stolen by that six-year-old brat.

"Hoo—"

Dugu Yan opens her eyes and exhales a long breath of pale green, turbid air.

Her brows are tightly knitted together. Her beautiful face reveals a trace of unnatural paleness.

Irritation. Extreme irritation.

For the past two days, she has felt a tightness in her chest. Every time she circulates her soul power, a needle-like stinging pain shoots through her ribs.

Her fingertips are also faintly tinged with an abnormal blue-purple hue.

She knows this is a side effect brought on by her family's martial soul, the Jade Phosphorous Serpent: poison backlash.

Although her grandfather, Dugu Bo, has given her medicine to suppress the toxicity, as her soul power grows higher, the pain from this backlash has become increasingly frequent.

The physical discomfort, combined with the gossip outside about the "number one genius," has made this young lady's temper like a powder keg ready to explode at the slightest touch.

"Sister Yan, have you heard?"

Outside the training ground, a few noble students who usually follow in Dugu Yan's footsteps approach.

One of the boys lowers his voice and says, "That Xue Yao hasn't attended a single class in the last three days. He hides in the Viscount Mansion every day, acting so arrogant."

"Exactly. Everyone says his talent is the greatest in history. Even you, Sister Yan... have been overshadowed by him."

"Bang!"

Dugu Yan slams her palm against the ground. The bluestone slab beneath her cracks instantly.

She stands up, her emerald-like eyes flashing with a dangerous light.

"Number one genius? Is he worthy?"

Dugu Yan sneers.

"A six-year-old brat who just awakened his martial soul. Even with Innate Full Soul Power, at most he's only level ten-something."

"Does he really think he can walk sideways through Heaven Dou Royal Academy just by relying on His Majesty's favor?"

She is currently suppressing a surge of pent-up anger with nowhere to vent.

The words of these followers have completely ignited her competitive spirit.

"Let's go." Dugu Yan tosses her short, sharp hair.

"Sister Yan, where to?" The followers are stunned for a moment.

"To Villa No. 1."

Dugu Yan narrows her eyes, a cold, sharp arc forming at the corners of her mouth.

"This young lady wants to see for herself today just how much weight this so-called number one genius really carries!"

Half an hour later.

At the core area of Heaven Dou Royal Academy, in front of the Viscount Mansion.

Dugu Yan brought several followers, blocking the main gate with an aggressive aura.

This spectacle instantly attracted many students passing by.

"Look, look! That's Dugu Yan!"

"Why did she come to Villa No. 1? Is she here to cause trouble for Xue Yao?"

"Sister Yan is a genius who reached level 19 at eleven years old. Now that all the spotlight has been stolen by a freshman, could you endure that?"

The crowd of onlookers grew larger. Everyone stretched their necks, wearing expressions eager to see the drama unfold.

Dugu Yan stood in the center of the main gate with her arms crossed.

She lifted her chin and gave a wink to one of the followers beside her.

The follower understood immediately and stepped forward. He shouted at the tightly shut gate at the top of his lungs: "Xue Yao! Come out!"

"Our Sister Yan wants to see you! Don't hide inside like a coward!"

The voice was loud, echoing through the spacious street.

However, it was quiet inside the gate. There was not a single sound.

"Not coming out?"

A trace of impatience flashed in Dugu Yan's eyes.

The evil fire within her, triggered by toxins, was burning brighter and brighter.

"Hum--"

A powerful wave of soul power erupted from her body.

Dazzling green light flickered.

A faint, looming phantom of a giant green serpent coiled up behind her.

At the same time, a bright yellow century-old soul ring slowly rose from beneath her feet.

Level 19, the pressure of a peak Spirit Master!

The surrounding students watching the show were forced to retreat repeatedly by this soul power, which carried a faint, fishy scent.

"Xue Yao! I'll count to three. If you don't come out by then, I'll tear this damn door down!"

Dugu Yan's voice was crisp, yet it carried an undeniable air of dominance.

Just as she prepared to start counting.

"Creak--"

The heavy mahogany gate finally opened slowly.

All eyes instantly converged on it.

Inside the gate.

Xue Yao was wearing loose white loungewear, his hands tucked into his pockets.

He had just finished the final test of "Wind Arrow" in the Mimicry Training Ground and was preparing to take a shower when he heard the noise outside, which sounded like a vegetable market.

"In broad daylight, are you calling for spirits?"

Xue Yao yawned, lazily lifting his eyelids.

His gaze swept over the swarming crowd outside and finally landed on Dugu Yan, who stood at the very front.

Dark green short hair, green eyes, and delicate yet aggressive features.

And that extremely conspicuous Jade Phosphorous Serpent Martial Soul behind her.

"You are Xue Yao?"

Dugu Yan looked up and down at the little boy who was a head shorter than her.

He looked quite fair and clean, but there wasn't even a hint of soul power fluctuation radiating from him. He looked just like an ordinary person.

This is it? The number one genius?

"The one and only," Xue Yao replied indifferently.

He looked at Dugu Yan and suddenly frowned slightly.

Possessing the soul of an adult, combined with the vast amount of knowledge he had crammed in the library, his eye for detail was extremely sharp.

He saw the abnormality in Dugu Yan at a glance.

Although this girl was aggressive, her breathing was somewhat rapid.

There was an almost imperceptible dark blue ring around her lips. Although her arms were crossed, her fingertips were trembling slightly.

These were signs of toxins attacking the heart and backlashing against the meridians.

She's quite sick, Xue Yao muttered to himself.

"I heard you are the number one genius of Heaven Dou?"

Dugu Yan let out a cold snort, her chin lifting slightly. "Others might fear your status as a Viscount, but I certainly don't. Today, I am here to challenge you!"

"Challenge me?"

Xue Yao was amused.

An eleven-year-old girl, running to his doorstep to stir up trouble out of jealousy.

The scene looked ridiculous no matter how he viewed it.

"That's right! A soul duel!"

Dugu Yan pointed at Xue Yao. "If you lose, you must admit in front of everyone that your title of 'Number One Genius' is nothing but hot air! And from now on, whenever you see me at the academy, you are to take a detour!"

The surrounding students gasped in unison.

That was far too ruthless.

For a noble genius, admitting publicly that their reputation was a sham was worse than death.

"Oh."

Facing the aggressive Dugu Yan, Xue Yao responded with nothing but calm.

Then, he looked at Dugu Yan and asked slowly:

"And what if I win?"

"You win?" Dugu Yan acted as if she had heard the greatest joke in the world.

"If you can win against me, then I, Dugu Yan, will call you Big Brother at the academy! If you tell me to go east, I will never go west!"

Dugu Yan was full of arrogance.

She possessed absolute confidence. A level nineteen soul master fighting a six-year-old child who had just awakened his spirit—she could win with her eyes closed.

Moreover, no one of her rank dared to take her Jade Phosphorous Serpent poison head-on.

"Calling me Big Brother won't be necessary. I have no interest in taking on a little sister."