Douluo: One Man Returns, Heaven-Defying Seal Smashes Tang San to Death — Part 23

"Tap... tap..."

Sitting on the grass by the lake, Lu Yu suddenly heard a faint set of footsteps.

Turning his head, he saw the girl in the black dress walk over and sit beside him, silently gazing at the lake.

Lu Yu was slightly taken aback. This girl had always been elusive, making no sound when she walked and revealing not the slightest trace of her presence.

Yet this time, he had heard her footsteps.

Or perhaps...

She had done it deliberately?

Shaking his head with a smile, Lu Yu said nothing and offered no greeting, merely watching the lake in silence.

Suddenly, his gaze sharpened, and a faint blue light flashed through his eyes.

From his perspective, a talisman was being drawn before him!

Summoning God Talisman, second layer!

But it came to an abrupt stop just after the talisman head was completed.

Even so, Lu Yu was still pleasantly surprised.

Over the past three years, he had failed to comprehend the Summoning God Talisman, yet not long after arriving at Heaven Dou Royal Academy, he had comprehended the first layer. Just now, he had even touched upon the threshold of the second layer.

Was it because he had balanced work and rest? Or because of the environment?

Or perhaps...

Lu Yu tilted his head slightly, his eyes flickering.

There was something strange about this girl in every way. Could she have influenced him somehow?

Thinking back, when he had first entered a state of enlightenment, this girl had been hiding in the shadows the whole time.

After pondering for a moment, Lu Yu asked, "What's your name?"

"Ye Lingling." The girl continued looking at the lake, her voice cold and clear.

Hearing that name, Lu Yu froze.

Ye Lingling?

A Nine Heart Begonia soul master?

How could it be her?

Wasn't she only at three rings?

This...

Something wasn't right!

In the original story, Ye Lingling had been practically invisible. Aside from fighting Shrek Team once in the Battle Soul Arena as a member of Imperial Dou Team, she had been eliminated as soon as she appeared in the Soul Master Competition.

The only thing memorable about her was her martial soul.

Nine Heart Begonia was an exceptionally special martial soul, with only one inheritor in each generation.

Across the entire Douluo Continent, only two Nine Heart Begonia soul masters could exist at the same time.

Only after one of them died could another descendant possibly appear and awaken the Nine Heart Begonia martial soul.

No matter how many soul rings were added, the Nine Heart Begonia martial soul had only one ability and one soul skill: area-wide group healing!

The degree of healing could be controlled at the soul master's will. The higher one's cultivation, the more soul rings one had, and the more Soul Power one expended, the stronger the healing effect!

Upon reaching the level of a Title Douluo, one could regenerate severed limbs and even save someone with only a single breath left!

But this was also what puzzled Lu Yu the most...

Since the Nine Heart Begonia martial soul had only a single healing ability, how had she avoided his spiritual power detection?

And in the original story, Ye Lingling had only been a Three-Ring Soul Master when she participated in the Soul Master Competition.

That meant...

Ye Lingling's current realm could not possibly exceed three rings!

For a moment, Lu Yu could not see through this girl at all.

"And you?" At that moment, the girl's cool voice interrupted Lu Yu's thoughts.

Coming back to his senses, Lu Yu rose to his feet and said, "Lu Yu."

With that, he turned and left.

Ye Lingling looked back at his departing figure, then withdrew her gaze after a moment.

The next morning, at dawn.

The entire Heaven Dou Royal Academy became lively once again. The mountaintop buzzed with voices, and the original six arenas had become eight.

Lu Yu's first opponent was a Three-Ring Soul Master at level thirty-seven, yet he still could not force Lu Yu to reveal his martial soul.

Lu Yu's physical body was simply absurd. Relying on physical strength alone, he was invincible among those of the same realm. Even Soul Ancestors would struggle to gain any advantage against him in close combat.

Only a three-ring soul master with a top-tier martial soul who went all out from the very start could barely have a chance of fighting him.

After the first round ended, sixteen people had been eliminated.

To Lu Yu's surprise, his opponent in the second round was actually Yu Tianheng!

The heir of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, and Yu Xiaogang's nephew!

Thinking of Yu Xiaogang's self-important manner, and how that guy had wanted to use him as a negative example to teach Tang San back at Nuoding Junior Soul Master Academy...

The previously uninterested Lu Yu instantly woke right up!

Stepping onto the arena, Yu Tianheng said solemnly, "Yu Tianheng, level thirty-five Assault Type Battle Soul Master! Martial soul: Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon! Please instruct me!"

Lu Yu said flatly, "Lu Yu, Soul Elder."

Yu Tianheng frowned. He seemed to sense the hostility coming from Lu Yu and was somewhat confused.

He didn't seem to have offended him, did he?

Seeing the confusion on his face, a faint smile flashed through Lu Yu's eyes.

Young man... blame your uncle if you must!

When you ran with the wrong crowd, you had to pay the price sooner or later!

As the referee announced the start of the match, Yu Tianheng activated Martial Soul Possession. His right arm instantly transformed into a dragon claw, with three soul rings circling around it!

Dragon Transformation!

The innate ability of Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon soul masters!

After reaching level thirty, every additional soul ring could transform one part of the body into that of a dragon!

With a heavy stomp, Yu Tianheng charged directly at Lu Yu. The moment he reached him, all three soul rings lit up at once!

First soul skill—Thunder Dragon Claw!

Second soul skill—Thunder's Might!

Third soul skill—Wrath of Thunder!

Wrath of Thunder was an enhancement-type soul skill, while the other two were purely offensive soul skills.

Yu Tianheng clearly knew how formidable Lu Yu was. He went all out from the very beginning, launching his strongest attack!

This scene drew cries of surprise from many students below the arena. After all, the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon was known as the continent's number one beast martial soul, one of the finest martial souls on the entire continent. This had also made Yu Tianheng a favorite to win the championship.

Yet no one had expected Yu Tianheng to erupt with his full strength from the outset against Lu Yu, who had not even revealed his martial soul!

But Lu Yu still had no intention of revealing his martial soul. He merely stood where he was, slowly raised his hand, and threw a punch!

"Bang!"

His fist collided with the dragon claw, and streak after streak of lightning carried by the claw instantly swept across Lu Yu's entire body.

At the same time, the terrifying force of Lu Yu's punch sent Yu Tianheng flying backward, where he crashed down near the edge of the arena.

Yu Tianheng's Martial Soul Possession was forcibly dispersed by that blow. The dragon transformation on his right arm rapidly receded, and his entire arm was soaked in blood as it hung limply at his side.

His face pale, he struggled to his feet and stared at Lu Yu in utter shock.

Electric light crackled around Lu Yu's body, yet the lightning did not harm him in the slightest.

Lu Yu slowly stepped forward, lightning flowing across his body as though the god of thunder himself had descended.

"Am I seeing things? That was the full-force strike of a Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Soul Elder!"

"Good heavens... the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon martial soul is renowned for controlling lightning! Yu Tianheng's Power of Lightning actually couldn't hurt Lu Yu!"

"Junior Lu Yu is so handsome! I'm in!"

The students in the spectator seats immediately erupted, and the eyes of some female students even sparkled with little stars.

Lu Yu was already tall and strikingly handsome. Now, bathed in lightning, his aura seemed even more otherworldly.