I haven't even made a move yet, and you've already come knocking

Fang Xuan was different from Tang San. Tang San only pretended to have no backing, while Fang Xuan truly had none.

He had been scraping out a living on the streets since he was very young, and he possessed every bit of the mannerisms one picked up in the marketplace.

He spoke to people like people, and to ghosts like ghosts.

As for someone like Tang San, half man and half ghost, he could just curse at him directly.

Not only would that save him from wasting words, it would also feel good first.

"Young man, you've got quite the temper. I heard you were the one who beat up my students last time, right?"

A deep, muffled male voice came from the crowd. Then, a towering figure built like a giant bear appeared before everyone.

"Allow me to introduce myself. I am Zhao Wuji, currently a teacher at Heaven Dou Royal Academy. You and I should be considered colleagues."

Before coming here, Zhao Wuji had investigated Fang Xuan thoroughly. He had come here specifically for Fang Xuan.

Zhao Wuji crossed his arms over his chest and looked down at Fang Xuan with a smile on his face, though his eyes brimmed with arrogance.

After all, Fang Xuan was only a Soul King, while he was a genuine Soul Sage.

Even if Fang Xuan was a genius, he was still a genius who had yet to fully mature. As things stood, Zhao Wuji could crush him to death with ease.

Under normal circumstances, he would never choose to offend a future powerhouse.

But Fang Xuan had provoked an important figure, so Zhao Wuji could only say sorry.

"It was me. What, are you here to stand up for them?"

"No, no, no. They were simply inferior in skill, and they have no one to blame but themselves. I only came this time to spar with you."

Zhao Wuji smiled, revealing a mouthful of white teeth. The meaning behind his words could not have been clearer.

You beat them because they were inferior in skill, but if I beat you, wouldn't that mean you were inferior in skill too?

There had never been any fairness between Soul Masters. The weak were simply beneath the strong.

"You want to fight me?"

Fang Xuan saw through Zhao Wuji's little scheme and laughed.

Good lord, what kind of day was this? Were they lining up to die?

He had not even gone looking for trouble with these people yet, but they had already lost their patience.

Did he really look that easy to bully? Could just anyone come and step on him?

"Don't worry. For the sake of fairness, I'll suppress my Soul Power to your level. I guarantee I won't bully you."

Seeing that his intentions had been seen through, Zhao Wuji hurriedly added the condition, as though afraid Fang Xuan would run away.

At that moment, Ye Lingling tugged at Fang Xuan's sleeve and shook her head at him.

Zhao Wuji was hardly an obscure figure, and he had been at Heaven Dou Royal Academy for quite some time.

Dugu Yan was also someone with a strong love for gossip, so she had naturally pried into many matters, including quite a few things about Zhao Wuji.

He was a genuine Soul Sage, while Fang Xuan was currently only a Soul King.

No matter how outstanding he was, the gap of two major realms lay between them like an insurmountable chasm.

Moreover, Soul Sages possessed Martial Soul Avatars. Their combat strength marked an enormous dividing line among all Soul Masters.

"Don't worry, it's a minor issue. Trust your husband."

Fang Xuan looked at Ye Lingling's worried little face, gently patted the back of her hand, and smiled to reassure her.

Then he turned to Zhao Wuji and accepted his challenge without the slightest hesitation.

"Fine. Then let me see just how strong Zhao Wuji, the Immovable Bright King, truly is."

At his words, the smile on Zhao Wuji's lips widened. He had been worried Fang Xuan would refuse.

"But it's not very interesting if it's just the two of us fighting."

Fang Xuan's eyes flickered as he looked at Tang San and Ning Rongrong nearby, smiling.

"I hear the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda's support abilities are formidable. My wife's Nine-Heart Begonia is also quite strong. Why don't the two of you have a match as well?"

The moment Fang Xuan finished speaking, the entire place fell completely silent.

If they had merely been watching a show before, then things were beginning to spiral out of control now.

"Kid, what are you trying to do?"

Zhao Wuji's expression darkened. The task he had received was to teach Fang Xuan a lesson and, if possible, find an opportunity to cripple him outright.

But Fang Xuan was not playing by the rules now, dragging Ning Rongrong into this as well.

It looked like an ordinary match, but in truth, they were competing for the title of the continent's number one support-type Martial Soul.

The Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda had always called itself the number one support-type Martial Soul, while the Nine-Heart Begonia could be said to be its only competitor.

If the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda won, its reputation would remain intact. If it lost, Zhao Wuji could not bear the consequences.

"Don't be so nervous. It's only a match. If you're afraid, we can fight our own battle, and they can fight theirs."

Fang Xuan had intended this from the start. After all, he had never fought in coordination with anyone before; fighting alone was the style he was accustomed to.

Ye Lingling had already made her plans. With Dugu Yan there, she surely would not suffer any loss.

"Fine, let's fight. Do you think I'm afraid of you?"

Before Zhao Wuji could say anything, Ning Rongrong had already impatiently agreed.

The sight made Zhao Wuji's vision go dark.

He might have been reckless, but he was not stupid. The other side was clearly setting a trap for them.

If they won, there would be no benefit. If they lost, their reputations would be utterly ruined.

To do something so foolish just to vent a momentary grudge—he truly had to admire a brainless idiot like Ning Rongrong.

If not for her having such a good father, Zhao Wuji would have wanted to go over and slap her twice.

But with things having reached this point, there was nothing he could change. He could only silently accept it.

In the end, Zhao Wuji would duel Fang Xuan, while Ning Rongrong and Tang San would face Ye Lingling and Dugu Yan.

At this point, the matter had completely blown up. Yet strangely, even now, no one stepped forward to stop it.

Even Dugu Bo, who normally would have come by to visit at a time like this, was nowhere to be seen.

Elsewhere, within Heaven Dou Imperial Palace.

Ning Fengzhi had brought Gu Rong and Chen Xin to Xue Qinghe's residence to play a game of chess with him.

The chess game was complicated, and the two sides were temporarily evenly matched.

Dugu Bo stood behind Xue Qinghe, his eyes fixed directly on Chen Xin and Gu Rong before him.

Originally, he had little contact with this Crown Prince. It could even be said that they were unfamiliar with one another.

Before Fang Xuan appeared, Xue Ye had been the only person in the Heaven Dou Imperial Family who could summon him.

Now that Fang Xuan had sided with Xue Qinghe, as his master, he had naturally chosen to stand with Xue Qinghe as well.

This only made Xue Qinghe's already stable position even more unshakable.

However, Ning Fengzhi's sudden visit today had caught both Xue Qinghe and Dugu Bo somewhat by surprise.

Ever since recruiting Fang Xuan, Ning Fengzhi had rarely appeared in Heaven Dou City.

For him to arrive uninvited today, he clearly had some agenda.

Neither Xue Qinghe nor Dugu Bo knew what had happened at Heaven Dou Royal Academy, but both vaguely sensed that something was amiss.

"Teacher, what guidance brings you here today?"