A Lesson

Xuan Qing pondered for a moment, deciding that some verification was in order, and immediately set off for the Heaven Dou Imperial Palace.

Zi Ji sensed his aura receding from the room and followed him out.

The guards on the perimeter of the palace clearly recognized Xuan Qing, as Dugu Bo and the others had personally escorted Xue Qinghe back just yesterday.

A guard stepped forward, about to salute.

"Spare the formalities. Please announce me; I am here to see His Highness the Crown Prince."

The guard dared not delay and hurried off to report.

Before long, Xue Qinghe rushed out, his face etched with confusion.

"Brother Xuan Qing, why have you come so suddenly? Is something the matter?"

"I would like to invite His Highness to watch a grand performance. Zi Ji, head to the Heaven Dou Royal Academy."

Zi Ji nodded, using her soul power to lift Xuan Qing and Xue Qinghe as they soared into the sky. The trio moved with great speed, arriving at the Heaven Dou Royal Academy in the blink of an eye.

Dugu Bo was already hiding in the shadows; he was stunned to see Xuan Qing bring Xue Qinghe along, but he did not ask any questions.

"Old Poison, come out. Let's head to the VIP lounge to wait over some tea."

As the group arrived at the VIP lounge, Xue Qinghe remained completely bewildered.

"Brother Xuan Qing, what on earth is happening? What kind of performance did you bring me here to see?"

Xuan Qing took a sip of tea and spoke unhurriedly.

"Someone intends to do us harm."

Xue Qinghe frowned and asked.

"You aren't joking, are you? You can sense such things in advance?"

Dugu Bo also looked at Xuan Qing with suspicion; although he trusted him, this matter was simply too bizarre.

Xuan Qing glanced at Xue Qinghe.

"His Highness should know that a Six-Winged Angel increases its cultivation by slaying Fallen Ones, right? Then, would you care to guess if my Azure Dragon Martial Soul possesses a similar ability?"

Qian Renxue felt a jolt in her heart. How could she not know the abilities of the Angel Martial Soul? The Martial Soul Hall's slaughter of the Fallen Ones was inextricably linked to that very power.

"My Azure Dragon is naturally gifted with the ability to commune with spirits, ward off evil, and perceive malice. Just now, the Azure Dragon within me issued a warning, indicating that someone harbors malice toward us—and it is quite intense."

"Although Zi Ji is by my side, few people know of her."

"Old Poison is a Title Douluo; who would dare harbor malice toward him now?"

"That leaves only myself and Dugu Yan. Since that is the case, why not bring us both together and see who shows up?"

Upon hearing this, Xue Qinghe's expression turned grave.

If what Xuan Qing said was true, then this was a major issue.

Anyone daring to make a move against Xuan Qing was certainly no minor character.

Dugu Bo was convinced as well.

He knew Xuan Qing was not one to shoot without a target, and the Azure Dragon Martial Soul was indeed mysterious; it was not strange for it to possess such an ability.

The group waited in the VIP lounge.

They waited from morning until noon, and from noon until afternoon.

Dugu Bo began to grow restless.

"Kid, could your perception be wrong? It's been two hours, and there isn't even a shadow of anyone."

Xue Qinghe added, "Indeed, could there be a mistake?"

Just as the two were doubting, Xue Qinghe's confidant hurried in and reported in a low voice.

"Your Highness, Your Excellency Dugu, people from the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan have arrived. They are currently at the academy plaza, claiming they are here to take the granddaughter-in-law of Sect Master Yu Yuanzhen home."

"There are quite a few of them. Yu Luomian is leading the group, accompanied by twenty guards and four Soul Saints, with the rest all being above the Soul Emperor level. It is a luxurious lineup; they are clearly prepared."

The expressions of those in the room shifted.

Yu Luomian was the younger brother of Yu Yuanzhen, an eighty-eighth-level Soul Douluo with a high status within the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan.

For him to lead a team personally, and with such a formidable lineup, it was certainly not as simple as just picking someone up.

"Look, here they come. Let's go and meet this Elder Yu."

The group walked out of the VIP lounge and arrived at the academy plaza.

When Yu Luomian saw Xue Qinghe, he offered a slight bow.

"Greetings, Your Highness."

"Elder Yu is too polite. May I ask what brings Elder Yu to the Heaven Dou Royal Academy?"

Yu Luomian smiled.

"I am here under the orders of the Sect Master to take my grand-nephew's fiancée home. Tianheng and Dugu Yan are deeply in love, and both families have discussed finalizing the marriage."

He looked toward Dugu Bo.

"Your Excellency Dugu is here too? That's perfect, you should know about this matter."

Dugu Bo was shaking with rage.

"I know my ass! That piece of trash Yu Tianheng is worthy of my granddaughter? Why don't you go take a piss and look at what kind of pathetic state you're in."

Yu Luomian's expression turned cold.

"Dugu Bo, I respect you as a Title Douluo, but don't be ungrateful. You will agree to this marriage whether you want to or not."

Xuan Qing spoke up from the side with a beaming smile.

"Old Poison, since when did you start just running your mouth? Just turn them into human sticks and send them back to the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan. A Title Douluo is still a Title Douluo, no matter how weak."

The words were arrogant, but they hit the mark for Dugu Bo. He had been so blinded by anger that he'd forgotten his own superior strength.

Yu Luomian looked at Xuan Qing, his eyes lighting up.

The intelligence reports said this youth was Xuan Qing, the one with the Azure Dragon Martial Soul. Perfect, he could wipe them all out at once.

"This must be young friend Xuan Qing, right? Truly a talent. My Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan loves talent above all else. If you are willing to join us, we will treat you with the position of an elder."

"As for Dugu Yan, marrying Tianheng is no disgrace. Although she is a Jade Phosphorous Poison Dragon, she is ultimately just a sub-dragon. Matching her with a direct descendant of my Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan is a step up for her."

"What does my young friend think? Join our clan and your future will be boundless. Otherwise..."

He paused, his tone turning icy.

"Otherwise, as large as Heaven Dou City is, I fear there will be no place for you to hide. Dugu Bo cannot protect you."

"There is nothing the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan wants that we cannot obtain. You are a smart man; you should know how to choose."

This was a blatant threat: join or die.

Xuan Qing was holding back so much he could barely stand it.

"Old Poison, they're threatening your granddaughter, what are you still hesitating for? If something happens to her, you'll be a lonely old man. Why are you still afraid of them?"

Hearing this, Dugu Bo finally snapped back to reality. That's right, he only had one granddaughter to protect; why should he be afraid?

The phantom of the Jade Phosphorous Serpent Emperor emerged behind him, and nine soul rings—two yellow, two purple, and five black—lit up beneath his feet as he charged at Yu Luomian, his full momentum unleashed.

Yu Luomian's face changed drastically.

"Stop him! Quickly!"

Twenty men swarmed forward, four Soul Saints in the lead with sixteen Soul Emperors behind them. While they couldn't defeat a Title Douluo, they could certainly stall him for a while.

Yu Luomian himself turned his gaze toward Xuan Qing and Dugu Yan. As long as he captured these two, he wasn't afraid that Dugu Bo wouldn't stop.

Just as he was about to move, Xuan Qing called out softly.

"Zi Ji, the results of our previous practice can be brought out now."

Zi Ji stepped forward, blocking the path in front of Xuan Qing and Dugu Yan.

Her gaze was icy, and the pressure of the Hell Demon Dragon King instantly enveloped the entire academy.

Xuan Qing had been having her practice simulating a soul master; unless a Peerless Douluo checked her at point-blank range, no one would be able to tell she was a soul beast.

In the eyes of everyone who looked as if they had seen a ghost, nine soul rings—one yellow, two purple, four black, and two red—rose beneath her feet.

The terrifying aura emitted by those last two red hundred-thousand-year soul rings swept across the scene, leaving everyone present unable to catch their breath.