Conflict

The Blood Fiend Divine Thunder Halberd martial soul stirred, almost as if by instinct.

The surrounding Thunder-Struck Pine trees seemed to sense a more compatible lightning-attribute presence, and the arcs of electricity on their trunks began to emit a low, humming drone.

The arcs that had been drifting toward Yu Tianheng suddenly stalled, then, as if having found a new target, they all turned and surged toward Jiang Lin.

Not only that, but the heaven and earth elemental energy throughout the entire Thunder-Struck Forest shifted noticeably at this moment—the energy flow that had originally been converging toward Yu Tianheng was forcibly diverted by an invisible hand, tilting in large swathes toward Jiang Lin's position.

A visible ripple of energy even formed in the air, spreading outward with Jiang Lin at its center.

Yu Tianheng opened his eyes abruptly.

The phantom of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon behind him let out a low dragon roar, and the soul power fluctuations around his body became slightly chaotic.

He frowned, his gaze piercing through the arcs of electricity between the pines to land on the strange youth at the edge of the forest.

The youth looked to be only in his teens, with delicate features and wearing ordinary silver-gray casual clothes; he did not look like a student of the academy.

Yet, this very youth had dragged away at least thirty percent of the heaven and earth elemental energy in the Thunder-Struck Forest the moment he stepped inside.

Yu Tianheng's brow furrowed even deeper.

The Thunder-Struck Forest had always been used by him, and given the domineering nature of his Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon martial soul, other lightning-attribute students who came in to cultivate were usually suppressed so thoroughly that they could barely snatch any elemental energy at all.

But today, not only was this youth not suppressed, but the moment he entered, he had forcibly torn a large piece of the cake right out of his hands.

Moreover, the other party wasn't even deliberately circulating his power—he was simply walking inside, and those lightning-attribute elements had rushed toward him of their own accord.

"Stop."

Yu Tianheng stood up from beneath the pine tree, arms crossed over his chest, his gaze scanning Jiang Lin with scrutiny.

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

Jiang Lin stopped and met Yu Tianheng's gaze: "Oh? Could it be that this Mimicry Cultivation Ground at Heaven Dou Royal Academy is the private property of your Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon clan?"

"Of course not."

Yu Tianheng's eyebrows arched slightly, his gaze sweeping over Jiang Lin once more.

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

"So there is such a rule..."

Jiang Lin did not continue, but there was an eager look in his eyes as he watched Yu Tianheng.

Yu Tianheng was also feeling somewhat uncertain; with his discernment, he was actually unable to gauge the soul power cultivation of the youth before him.

But looking at Jiang Lin's young face, he figured he could be at most a Soul Grand Master.

Logically, someone with that level of cultivation entering the Thunder-Struck Forest should have been rendered unable to move an inch by the pressure of his Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon.

But the reality was the exact opposite; the other party's martial soul was not only unsuppressed, but it was actively fighting his Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon for energy, and doing so quite fiercely.

To be able to compete head-on with his Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon for lightning-attribute elemental energy, the other party's martial soul was definitely not an ordinary lightning type; it was at least a top-tier martial soul of the same level.

Added to that was the composed demeanor the youth displayed when facing him—it wasn't faked, but a calmness rooted in his very bones.

"Interesting."

Yu Tianheng folded his arms, his chin lifting slightly. "Since you aren't 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, I have an obligation to kick you out."

Yu Tianheng's tone carried a sense of arrogance.

The Mimicry Cultivation Ground of Heaven Dou Royal Academy was highly effective, and many soul masters in the outside world had never enjoyed such a cultivation environment since birth.

This led to soul masters from commoner backgrounds or minor noble houses coming to Heaven Dou Royal Academy just to use these facilities.

The young ones became students, and the older ones applied to be teachers.

This was also the reason why Heaven Dou Royal Academy's faculty was so formidable.

Of course, most second-generation heirs didn't see this; they mostly just came here to gild their reputations.

Hearing Yu Tianheng's words, a trace of displeasure flashed in Jiang Lin's eyes.

He clearly just wanted to monopolize this cultivation ground.

Since that was the case, Jiang Lin would simply have to accept this treatment that had been delivered to his doorstep.

"Heh, don't trouble yourself over the means by which I entered, but... the rule that one can enjoy exclusive use if they have the strength—that's not bad..."

Yu Tianheng was slightly stunned, then laughed out loud.

He looked Jiang Lin over again, his gaze filled with more playfulness—this youth who had appeared out of nowhere was actually repeating his own rule to his face, his tone as calm as if he were stating a fact.

"Good."

Yu Tianheng stepped in front of Jiang Lin.

He was slightly taller than Jiang Lin, looking down from above as the phantom of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon slowly coiled behind him, blue electricity flashing in its dragon eyes.

"Since you also acknowledge this rule, then that makes things easy. You want to use this Thunder-Struck Forest? Fine, prove you have the qualifications first."

Jiang Lin did not speak, merely watching him quietly.

"At Heaven Dou Royal Academy, the rules dictate that priority for using the mimicry training grounds can be decided through soul duels."

Yu Tianheng flexed his wrists, his joints popping with a crisp sound. "Since you aren't a student of this academy, I won't bully you. If you can stand firm within three moves, I'll share half of the Thunder-Struck Forest with you. Otherwise, look elsewhere."

His tone was casual, as if he were arranging some trivial matter.

In truth, he did not consider this a big deal at all.

The youth before him looked a few years younger than himself and was entirely unfamiliar. He wasn't wearing the standard Heaven Dou Royal Academy uniform, nor did he bear any sect emblem; he was likely just the scion of some minor noble family who had brought a recommendation letter to sponge off the training grounds.

Such people were not uncommon at Heaven Dou Royal Academy. They were usually mediocre in strength and would behave once suppressed by the pressure of his Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon.

Although it was strange that this youth's martial soul could snatch away the heaven and earth essence energy, a martial soul was one thing, and rank was another. He did not believe an unknown youth could stir up any trouble under his hand.

Jiang Lin did not respond immediately after hearing Yu Tianheng's words.

He turned his head to survey the Thunder-Struck Forest, observing the pine trees charred black by lightning and the electric arcs dancing in the air, before looking back at Yu Tianheng. His tone remained indifferent: "Three moves is too many."

"What do you mean?" Yu Tianheng frowned.

"I mean," Jiang Lin said, fixing his gaze back on Yu Tianheng's face, "one move is enough."