I'm not here to discuss with you this time, I'm here to inform you

Heaven Dou Royal Academy.

The magnificent gate was constructed from massive bluestone, with walls standing five meters high. It rose imposingly, grand and majestic, delivering a powerful visual impact.

The surface was carved with lifelike patterns of soul beasts, and the surrounding area was inlaid with brilliant gemstones that shimmered in the sunlight, adding a touch of opulence.

The lintel was engraved with the six vigorous and powerful characters for "Heaven Dou Royal Academy," which commanded a sense of intense pressure when one looked up at them.

It was truly worthy of being the best academy in Heaven Dou.

Heaven Dou Royal Academy was established within a towering mountain that occupied two distinct environmental zones.

Surrounded by dense, towering trees, the entire campus spanned hundreds of miles, exuding an overall sense of heavy solemnity.

At this moment, Lin Chuan was standing before the school gate at the mountainside.

Beside him, two guards clad in armor and clutching long spears stared at the outsider with serious, focused expressions.

"Sir, do you have an invitation?"

"If not, you cannot enter."

Lin Chuan shook his head and said:

"I am here to find someone. What is the procedure?"

Hearing that he was here to find someone rather than to pick a fight, both guards relaxed, their tension dissipating.

With their strength as Soul Elder, the attempt they had made earlier to inspect the youth before them had not revealed the opponent's strength, but instead made them feel as if their hearts were being gripped by an invisible giant hand.

That sharp, stabbing pain was incredibly real.

It made the two men dare not be negligent, yet they still performed their duties impartially, albeit with a much more polite tone.

"If you wish to find someone, sir, you may state their name—whether they are a high-level or intermediate student—and we will send someone inside to relay the message."

Lin Chuan nodded and deliberated:

"I am looking for Dugu Yan."

"The Dugu Yan whose grandfather is Dugu Bo, with the Jade Phosphorous Serpent martial soul. She should be quite famous in your academy."

"Please have her come out to see me. At any cost. Tell her I am here to challenge her if that's what it takes to get her to come out."

To ensure his trip would not be in vain, Lin Chuan flipped his right hand.

A burlap sack appeared in his palm as if by magic, and he handed it to one of the guards with a gentle smile.

It contained about a dozen Gold Soul Coin, intended as a favor to ensure the man would help him properly.

"No, no, sir, there is no need to be so formal. We will do our best to help you call her out."

Seeing this, the guard who was more experienced quickly stopped his colleague, who was foolishly reaching for the bag, and spoke in a panic.

He had noticed the antique-style ring on Lin Chuan's index finger from the start, but hadn't paid it much mind.

Who would have thought that the sudden appearance of a bag of money in the youth's previously empty palm meant it was a Soul Tool for storage.

Having encountered many high-ranking officials and nobles, he knew a thing or two about storage Soul Tools.

One had to know that storage Soul Tools were extremely rare these days.

Not to mention that a single cubic meter of space cost tens of thousands of Gold Soul Coin, and such Soul Tools weren't something one could acquire simply by having money.

The youth before them was definitely not simple, so taking the money was out of the question.

There were times when money could be taken, and times when it absolutely could not!

What if it turned into "severed-head money" one day!

"Sir, please wait under the shade of the trees. We will send someone to call her immediately."

To provoke such a person would lead to a death so mysterious one wouldn't even know where they died; the consequences were more terrifying the more he thought about it.

In an instant, even his form of address changed, a world of difference from before.

Lin Chuan couldn't be bothered to say anything more; he returned the money to his storage Soul Tool, turned to walk toward the shade of the trees opposite the gate, and waved his hand behind him, signaling them to hurry.

The guard who had been stopped was also signaled to go call his colleague.

After he entered the hall to the side, two more armored men walked out a few minutes later.

However, those two headed into the academy, while the previous guard returned to his post at the gate, eyes fixed forward.

While waiting, Lin Chuan leaned against a tree trunk and closed his eyes to doze.

In his mind, he was calculating how to use Dugu Yan to threaten Dugu Bo, and how to ensure the man would stop harboring any other crooked thoughts.

Dugu Yan was the key to the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.

But he had heard Chrysanthemum Pass speak of this before.

Dugu Bo was an old stubborn fool, suspicious by nature, extremely ruthless in his actions, and full of underhanded tricks. Dugu Bo was immune to both soft and hard tactics, narrow-minded, and never left loose ends—he would certainly cut the weeds and dig up the roots!

It was only after learning of this situation that Lin Chuan had not gone directly to find Dugu Bo.

Instead, he had come to Heaven Dou Royal Academy to find a backup plan.

Even if they had reached an agreement, he did not believe Dugu Bo would truly let his guard down around him.

Perhaps he was harboring murderous intent, waiting for a single opportunity to strike him down; he was a vicious wolf that could lash out at any moment.

Chrysanthemum Pass's description of him as ruthless was no less than that of a crazed murderer; he cared nothing for face and did not mind bullying the weak. When faced with someone who threatened his own existence, his first instinct was to strangle them in the cradle.

Lin Chuan had no intention of following the plot Tang San took in the original work.

Sigh, as expected, playing the villain suits me better.

As he sighed, Lin Chuan looked up and spotted a young girl walking into the academy.

She had striking cyan-blue hair tied into a high ponytail, the strands fluffy and lustrous, with a few loose wisps framing her face.

Her features were exquisite, her eyes a light cyan that echoed her hair color, carrying a hint of cunning amusement. The corners of her mouth were slightly upturned, giving her a lively yet slightly haughty temperament.

The sleeveless cheongsam top perfectly outlined her delicate and graceful figure, her slender waist flowing and full of charm.

While he was still stunned, the girl trotted out the gate.

Her phoenix eyes caught sight of Lin Chuan under the shade of the trees, and her dark brows furrowed imperceptibly, though she still walked up to him, her tone turning cold:

"You're looking for me?"

Indeed, the person who had arrived was Dugu Yan. Lin Chuan nodded:

"I have some matters to discuss with your grandfather, and I'm troubling you to act as a mediator."

Hearing this ridiculous statement, Dugu Yan scoffed:

"You want to talk to my grandfather? What, do you want me to act as a mediator because you're afraid of being beaten to death by him?"

"If you're afraid, then don't come looking for me or my grandfather, otherwise, I'll make you regret it!"

Lin Chuan pursed his lips, his eyes calmly watching Dugu Yan, who was showing signs of impatience and disgust, and said indifferently:

"I am not here to negotiate with you, but to inform you."

He had already considered this situation; since the other party wouldn't listen, he would just drag her along by force.

If soft tactics didn't work, then he would use hard ones.

The next second.

Under Dugu Yan's annoyed gaze, Lin Chuan extended his right hand unhurriedly, his expression calm.

A massive hand made of soul power condensed, instantly gripping Dugu Yan's fair neck.

Slowly, he lifted her entire body into the air.

Feeling her breath cut off, Dugu Yan began to struggle desperately in shock, but it was to no avail.

Instead, the exertion only made her feel more suffocated.

The sensation of suffocation squeezed her chest, and Dugu Yan fearfully tried to dissipate the soul power hand around her neck, but it was futile.

Gradually, she lost her strength, the suffocation in her chest causing her pretty face to flush a deep red.

It was only then that Lin Chuan loosened his soul power slightly.

The soul power hand opened a small gap, allowing Dugu Yan to find relief, and she began to gasp for air, her eyes gradually turning red.

"You... I will make my grandfather kill you!"

"You disgusting royals, even if I die, I will never marry into your family! You want me to trap my grandfather into serving you? That will never happen in this lifetime!"

"You had better kill me now, otherwise I will never let you or those around you have an easy life!"

Dugu Yan's hateful voice was laced with grievance, and she finished these words almost in a sob.

Afterward, two lines of clear tears slid down her cheeks, yet her gaze remained fixed on Lin Chuan like an angry venomous snake; the hatred in those eyes was chilling.

Lin Chuan's expression was strange, but he couldn't be bothered to refute her.

The person in his hands now was nothing more than a venomless snake with no ability to resist; although she had fangs, she couldn't bite him.

He saw no need to pay attention to Dugu Yan's roaring; it had no lethality and posed no threat to him at all.

It was like a person walking down the road, who wouldn't bother to pay attention to the provocation and roaring of an ant.