Blazing Fire Academy, Huo Wu!

Only after hearing Dugu Yan's ambitious declaration did Li Jingzhe realize that this woman had actually quit the first team to join the Heaven Dou Second Team, truly intending to fight her way from the qualifiers and advancement rounds all the way to the finals.

Good grief...

Li Jingzhe's expression turned peculiar: "Seeking out hardship for no reason?"

"You're the one seeking out hardship..."

Dugu Yan rolled her eyes: "This young lady wants to better temper the Thousand Spider Poison Hand!"

"Is that so?"

Li Jingzhe raised a brow: "If I recall correctly, that Yu Tian Heng of your team is currently vying with Yu Tianxin for the position of the next patriarch of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, right? He'd let you go to the second team? Doesn't he care about the results?"

"Hmph, don't you mention him to me!"

Dugu Yan snorted coldly, her pretty face frosting over.

Seeing Dugu Yan's attitude, Li Jingzhe immediately understood... it was clear that Yu Tian Heng hadn't wanted this at all, but she had insisted on it.

If she insisted, he would just give in... no...

Had the two of them had a falling out?

But why would she think of going to the second team?

Doesn't the second team consist entirely of good-for-nothing playboys?

Just how depressed must this woman be to go and group up with that lot?

Li Jingzhe looked Dugu Yan up and down; he didn't believe a word of her nonsense about tempering the Thousand Spider Poison Hand.

In his mind, the plot regarding the Soul Master Tournament surfaced involuntarily...

The Heaven Dou Second Team...

"Hmm? Come to think of it, didn't the Heaven Dou Second Team face Tang San and his group in the very first match?"

Li Jingzhe said, lost in thought.

"What Tang San? What face off?"

Dugu Yan was stunned, looking at Li Jingzhe in bewilderment.

She did harbor the thought of clashing with Tang San, but she had no idea if she would encounter him, or when.

Yet, had this guy just said that the Heaven Dou Second Team would meet Tang San and his group in the first match?

No...

The tournament hadn't even started, and the drawing of lots hadn't even taken place; what on earth was he talking about?

Just as she was about to press him for an answer.

Creak—

The doors of the Scripture Depository were gently pushed open!

Li Jingzhe and Dugu Yan both looked toward the sound. A woman of exquisite beauty walked in, glancing around.

With fair skin, delicate features, and long wavy hair cascading down to her waist in the dark red color of dried blood, she wore a gold-red team uniform, making her as eye-catching as a ball of flame!

Li Jingzhe sized up the newcomer.

At this time, dressed like this... Blazing Fire Academy? Could it be...

Just as he tried to overlap the person before him with the image in his memory... Swish!

A fair palm waved before his eyes.

"What? Can't pull your eyes away? Do you like this type?"

Dugu Yan looked at him teasingly. Even she had to admit, this girl was truly stunning; even she had been momentarily dazzled.

She nudged Li Jingzhe with her elbow, giving him a wicked look: "Pavilion Master, how about this... you give me a Self-Created Soul Skill like the Thousand Spider Poison Hand, and this young lady will help you play matchmaker, how about it?"

"Get lost!"

Li Jingzhe snapped back to reality, retorting irritably: "You have nothing better to do all day? If you have nothing to do, don't get in the way of my business!"

"I do have something!" Dugu Yan said righteously.

"Speak!" Li Jingzhe looked impatient.

Dugu Yan reached out a hand toward him.

"What?" Li Jingzhe asked.

"A Self-Created Soul Skill, the kind that allows for quick mastery... I said it the moment I walked in!"

"Do you think I'm joking?"

Dugu Yan grew anxious again... although she had secured the chance to join the second team, the strength of the second team was truly unwatchable. Including substitutes, there were sixteen people, yet the strongest was only level thirty-five. To reach the finals with a lineup like this?

Stop joking!

But she had left the first team to join the second specifically to prove that even without Yu Tian Heng, she could still make it to the finals!

Li Jingzhe waved his hand to stop her: "What quick-mastery Self-Created Soul Skill... I don't have anything like that here!"

"That Thousand Spider Poison Hand..." Dugu Yan still refused to give up.

Li Jingzhe said speechlessly, "Didn't I tell you already? The Thousand Spider Poison Hand is fast for you to cultivate only because of the cultivation boost provided by your Innate Poison Body... If your toxins hadn't been dispersed, it would have been even faster."

Seeing this, Dugu Yan couldn't help but feel a bit disappointed, but then she heard Li Jingzhe continue, "I really don't have any soul skills that offer instant success, but then again..."

"But what?"

Dugu Yan's eyes lit up... She knew this bastard was deliberately stringing her along, but since he said that, there must be something good.

Li Jingzhe slowly held up five fingers, "Five million Gold Soul Coin for one level of soul power. No side effects, no overdrawing of potential or vitality, and no damage to your foundation... I can increase your soul power by as much as you can pay for. As long as you can afford the price, reaching the Title Douluo rank isn't impossible!"

Pfft—

Dugu Yan rolled her eyes, "Do you think I believe you?"

How could such a thing exist in this world!

If he said he could increase soul power by one or two levels without side effects, she might believe him for the sake of the Thousand Spider Poison Hand!

But... increase soul power by as much as she pays?

Isn't that just nonsense?

Is he trying to trick her like a fool?

Li Jingzhe leaned back into his chair, "Believe it or not, that's up to you."

Dugu Yan's eyelids twitched... Here he goes again!!

The last time this guy used this line, it was when she didn't believe that the Innate Poison Body existed in this world.

Could what he said be true?

As the granddaughter of Poison Douluo, she knew a thing or two about pharmacology. Reason told her it was impossible; such a thing couldn't exist in the world. Any method to rapidly increase soul power came at the cost of overdrawing potential and vitality.

But...

This guy, or rather the force behind him, had even produced a Self-Created Soul Skill as profound as the Thousand Spider Poison Hand. Could this soul power-increasing item also be real?

She hesitated, her heart feeling as if two little people were arguing—one saying it was impossible, the other saying she should try it.

"You wait, I'll come back later!"

Dugu Yan dropped these words and turned to leave, having arrived in a fit of rage and departing in a hurried rush.

From joy to sorrow, the ups and downs she had experienced from last night until now left her completely unaware that a pair of eyes had been watching her the entire time—watching this seed player from the Heaven Dou Royal Academy's first team who was guaranteed a spot in the finals.

Li Jingzhe watched Dugu Yan's retreating back, the corners of his mouth curling into an arc... This thing has potential!

He was selling items from the System Mall at five times the price. If this worked out and he made a name for himself, he feared it wouldn't be long before he could afford the Vermilion Fruit!

I really am a business genius, tsk...

Li Jingzhe thought to himself, unaware that Huo Wu, hiding behind the bookshelf, felt her heart about to jump out of her throat!

She held the Blazing Blade manual in her hands, appearing calm on the surface, but her heart was pounding... She had originally just come to see what kind of shop could make the granddaughter of Poison Douluo run back and forth so tirelessly, but she never expected to overhear such earth-shattering news!

In fact, she had noticed this suddenly appearing pavilion and Dugu Yan's frequent visits since last night...