Lin An, however, didn't feel much of anything.
On the contrary, a faint, eager excitement stirred in his heart.
Back in Ming Capital, no one had ever dared lay a hand on him.
Whether they were geniuses or teachers, everyone treated him with deference and respect.
Even their sparring matches felt like staged performances, as if they were afraid of so much as chipping his skin.
But he was a support-type Soul Master.
That didn't mean he didn't want to fight.
He lowered his head and looked at his hands.
Fair, slender, and bony, yet far too delicate.
And yet those very hands were now clenched slightly, the knuckles whitening.
At last, he could have a real, no-holds-barred fight.
The corner of his mouth lifted before he could stop it.
Gu Yue stood beside him and caught that fleeting smile.
She followed Lin An's gaze to the arena, then looked back at him.
The boy looked as if a gust of wind could knock him over.
Her brows drew tighter and tighter.
That's it?
And he still wanted to fight?
Tang Wulin stood on the other side, sneaking a glance at Lin An.
A rare look of anticipation lit up his exquisite face, his eyes bright as fallen stars.
Tang Wulin's heart gave a thump, and his Adam's apple bobbed.
He wanted to say something, but swallowed it back down.
"Hey! What's with those looks?"
Lin An suddenly spoke.
His voice turned cold, carrying a clear note of displeasure.
"Do you look down on me?"
Lin An snorted.
The next moment, two purple Soul Rings abruptly rose from beneath his feet.
Thousand-year Soul Rings spun and surged.
Surging Soul Power swept outward like a tide.
Seven-colored radiance burst from his body, rainbow light rippling as it transformed the gray morning playground into a dazzling spectacle.
Noble, elegant, sacred.
Framed by the seven-colored glow, his already unrealistically exquisite face looked too beautiful for the mortal world.
Every sound on the playground vanished.
A wrist guard slipped from someone's hand and hit the ground.
Someone's mouth hung open, forgotten and unclosed.
Someone else unconsciously took half a step forward, then froze in place.
Nearly a hundred gazes pinned themselves to Lin An, unable to move away.
Gu Yue's mind went completely blank.
Her pupils dilated slightly, and her breathing stopped.
It was as if an invisible hand had seized her heart in a crushing grip.
So beautiful.
My wife is so gorgeous.
I want to go lick him.
Her body reacted faster than her mind.
Her foot had already stepped forward, her whole body leaning toward him.
Unconcealed ardor burned in her violet eyes.
"Level 22."
Lin An's voice was cool and steady.
He glanced over his classmates as his Soul Power perception silently spread outward.
Level 11, level 12, level 11, level 10...
One after another, their auras registered—pathetically weak.
Lin An's confidence settled.
He lifted his chin slightly, a self-assured smile curving his lips.
"Even though I'm a support-type Soul Master, at level 22 in Class Five—"
He paused, sweeping his gaze over the stunned faces.
"Surely I won't get beaten by someone ten levels below me, right?"
No matter what, a ten-level gap was a ten-level gap.
The quality of his Soul Power, the age of his Soul Rings, his physical enhancements—he outclassed them in every way.
He was sure to win this fight.
Come on.
At last, he'd get to experience the kind of fight he wanted: trading blow for blow.
But just as he stepped forward to head toward the draw table, a pair of arms reached around him from the side and pulled him into an embrace.
Gu Yue held him tightly.
Her chin rested on top of Lin An's head, and her long silver hair fell around them, enveloping him completely.
The body in her arms was unbelievably soft.
A faint, cool fragrance drifted into her nose, and her heart gave a sudden flutter. Her arms tightened around him.
"No matter what happens in a moment, don't be afraid."
Gu Yue leaned close to Lin An's ear, her voice low and firm.
Her fingers lightly touched Lin An's Soul Tool.
A flash of silver light passed, and the Reverse Scale appeared in midair before settling securely in Lin An's arms.
The scale felt cool to the touch, its surface shimmering like starlight. It weighed heavily against his chest.
Lin An raised a hand without expression and precisely pushed away Gu Yue's face as she leaned toward him.
His palm pressed against her exquisite cheek and shoved her away without mercy.
Gu Yue's lips were squished into a pout, but she continued to hum incoherently.
"This damn woman..."
Lin An's voice held restrained irritation.
So what if she took liberties with him—but now she wanted him to cheat, too?
Did she think he was the sort of person who cheated?
He casually smacked away Gu Yue's hand where it rested on his waist.
With his other hand, he grabbed the Reverse Scale in his arms and stuffed it back into his Soul Tool in one smooth motion.
"Stay out of it."
Lin An snorted and brushed at imaginary wrinkles on his clothes.
"This is a fight for real men."
"I'm just worried about you!"
Gu Yue grew frantic, her voice rising as anxiety filled her violet eyes.
"If things really get bad, surrender. Do you hear me?"
She was nearly beside herself with anger.
Did this little rascal have any idea how frail his body was?
She'd felt it even through his clothes when she hugged him just now.
His frame was slender, and he had next to no muscle.
His Soul Power was strong, but his physical fitness was barely any better than an ordinary person's.
No, he was softer than a girl, and...
Her face suddenly flushed, and she gave her head a fierce shake.
And he still wanted to fight?
And he still called it "a fight for real men"?
Even if he piled on every support-type Soul Skill and stacked up every attribute enhancement, the foundation of his body would still be the same.
Against even a slightly ruthless Power Attack System Soul Master, one punch could break through his defenses, and the second would put him flat on the ground.
Gu Yue clenched her fists, her nails digging into her palms.
No.
Whoever he drew, she'd keep her eyes fixed on them.
In the blink of an eye, the draw was over.
Several simple arenas had been set up across the playground, their white boundary lines glaring beneath the gray morning sky.
Students headed in twos and threes toward their assigned arenas.
Some were so nervous their palms were sweating; others rubbed their hands together, eager to get started.
"I'm up in the first round?"
Lin An looked down at the number on his draw slip, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly.
He turned toward his assigned arena, walking at an unhurried pace.
The hem of his white shirt fluttered gently in the wind.
The seven-colored radiance had yet to fade completely, still swirling around him. Each step seemed to carry him across the light.
Several students waiting beside the arena instinctively moved aside to make way.
Their gazes followed his back, their expressions varied.
Lin An took his place on the arena and waited for a while.
Only then did a burly boy emerge from the crowd and clamber slowly onto the platform.
"Hello, my name's Lin An. Level 22, Martial Soul: Rainbow Dragon."
Lin An introduced himself according to the rules, giving a slight nod. His tone was calm.
"I look forward to your guidance."
At that, the burly boy's mouth twisted into a cold sneer.
"Lin An?"
He bit down hard on those two words, undisguised hostility churning in his eyes.
"I know you. The day you enrolled, the dean personally carried your luggage... The number one backdoor admission, right?"
He looked Lin An up and down.
His gaze paused on Lin An's exquisite face, then swept over his slender shoulders.
The mockery on his face deepened.
"Tell me, if I beat you—"
He grinned, showing a row of yellowed teeth.
"Will you cry to your mommy and complain?"
Before you continue