Conflict

The Blood Fiend Divine Thunder Halberd Martial Soul surged almost instinctively.

The Thunder-Struck Pines around them seemed to sense a more compatible presence of lightning. Arcs of electricity along their trunks gave off a low, rumbling hum.

The arcs that had been drifting toward Yu Tianheng abruptly stalled. Then, as if they had found a new target, they all turned and rushed toward Jiang Lin.

That wasn't all. The power of heaven and earth throughout the Thunder-Struck Forest shifted noticeably as well. The streams of energy that had been converging on Yu Tianheng seemed to be wrenched around by an invisible hand, tilting in great waves toward Jiang Lin.

A visible ripple of energy even formed in the air, spreading outward from Jiang Lin.

Yu Tianheng's eyes snapped open.

The phantom Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon behind him let out a low growl, and the fluctuations of Soul Power around him briefly fell into disarray.

Frowning, he peered through the arcs between the pines at the unfamiliar youth standing at the edge of the forest.

The boy looked to be in his teens, with delicate features and ordinary silver-gray clothes. He didn't look like a student of the academy.

Yet as soon as he stepped inside, he had pulled at least thirty percent of the power of heaven and earth in the Thunder-Struck Forest toward himself.

Yu Tianheng's brow furrowed even more deeply.

The Thunder-Struck Forest had always been his. With the domineering nature of his Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Martial Soul, he usually kept other students with lightning-type Martial Souls firmly suppressed when they came to cultivate. They could barely claim any of the energy.

But today, this boy hadn't been suppressed at all. Instead, the moment he walked in, he had torn a huge piece of the pie right out of Yu Tianheng's hands.

And the other boy wasn't even deliberately cultivating. He was simply walking in, while the lightning-type energy rushed toward him of its own accord.

"Stop."

Yu Tianheng rose from beneath the pine tree and crossed his arms, sizing up Jiang Lin with a scrutinizing gaze.

"Who are you? What year are you in? I've been using the Thunder-Struck Forest lately. Don't you know that?"

Jiang Lin stopped and met his gaze. "Oh? Is the Mimicry Cultivation Ground at Heaven Dou Royal Academy the private property of your Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan?"

"Of course not."

Yu Tianheng's brows lifted slightly as he looked Jiang Lin over once more.

"But my strength entitles me to exclusive use of the best cultivation environment."

"So there really is a rule like that..."

Jiang Lin didn't continue, but there was a hint of eagerness in the way he looked at Yu Tianheng.

Yu Tianheng was a little uncertain, too. With his keen eye, he still couldn't discern the youth's Soul Power cultivation.

But judging by Jiang Lin's young face, he was probably no more than a Soul Grandmaster.

By rights, someone with that level of cultivation should have been so overwhelmed by the pressure of his Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon upon entering the Thunder-Struck Forest that he could barely take a step.

But the exact opposite was happening. The other boy's Martial Soul wasn't being suppressed at all. Instead, it was competing with his Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon for energy—and competing fiercely.

To contend head-on with his Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon for lightning-type energy, the other boy's Martial Soul couldn't be an ordinary lightning-type one. It had to be a top-tier Martial Soul of at least the same level.

Then there was the boy's composure in front of him. It wasn't an act, but a steadiness that seemed to come from deep within.

"Interesting."

Yu Tianheng folded his arms and raised his chin slightly. "Since you're not from the academy, how did you get in?"

"Does that have anything to do with you?"

"Heh. If you got in through some underhanded means, then as a member of Heaven Dou Royal Academy, it's my duty to throw you out."

Yu Tianheng's voice was haughty.

The Mimicry Cultivation Ground at Heaven Dou Royal Academy was very effective. Many Soul Masters outside the academy had never once enjoyed such a cultivation environment in their entire lives.

As a result, Soul Masters from commoner families or minor noble houses would generally come to Heaven Dou Royal Academy just to use its Mimicry Cultivation Ground.

The young ones became students, while the older ones applied for teaching positions.

That was why Heaven Dou Royal Academy had such a strong faculty.

Of course, most of the second-generation heirs didn't see things that way. Most were only there to polish their credentials.

At Yu Tianheng's words, displeasure flashed in Jiang Lin's eyes.

He was clearly trying to keep the cultivation ground all to himself.

In that case, Jiang Lin would just have to accept the treatment that had been offered to him.

"Heh. You needn't trouble yourself over how I got in. But that rule about strength granting exclusive use... sounds good."

Yu Tianheng froze for a moment, then laughed.

He looked Jiang Lin over again, his eyes taking on a playful glint. This youth who had appeared out of nowhere had just repeated his rule to his face, yet his tone was as calm as if he were stating a fact.

"Fine."

Yu Tianheng stepped in front of Jiang Lin.

He was a little taller than Jiang Lin and looked down at him. Behind him, the phantom Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon coiled slowly, blue lightning flashing in its eyes.

"Since you agree with the rule, that makes things easy. Want to use this Thunder-Struck Forest? Fine. First, prove you're worthy."

Jiang Lin said nothing, simply watching him in silence.

"According to Heaven Dou Royal Academy's rules, the priority for using a Mimicry Cultivation Ground can be decided through Soul Fighting."

Yu Tianheng rolled his wrists, his knuckles cracking several times. "Since you're not a student here, I won't bully you. If you can stay on your feet for three moves, I'll split the Thunder-Struck Forest with you. Otherwise, find somewhere else."

He spoke casually, as if arranging some trivial matter.

As far as he was concerned, it really was no big deal.

The youth before him looked a few years younger than he was and had an unfamiliar face. He wasn't wearing Heaven Dou Royal Academy's uniform and had no sect insignia. Most likely, he was some minor noble's son who had come to mooch off the cultivation grounds with a letter of recommendation.

There were plenty of people like that at Heaven Dou Royal Academy. Usually, they were mediocre, and a little pressure from his Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon was enough to make them behave.

The boy's Martial Soul being able to compete with him for the power of heaven and earth was strange, but a Martial Soul was one thing, cultivation rank another. He didn't believe that some unknown youth could cause much trouble for him.

After hearing Yu Tianheng, Jiang Lin didn't reply right away.

He glanced around the Thunder-Struck Forest at the pines charred black by lightning and the arcs dancing in the air, then looked back at Yu Tianheng. His voice was still calm. "Three moves is too many."

"What do you mean?" Yu Tianheng frowned.

"I mean," Jiang Lin said, fixing his gaze on Yu Tianheng again, "one move is enough."