On the other side.
Dugu Yan had also tracked down Dugu Bo in the imperial palace at the first opportunity.
"Grandpa, you have to protect Lin Yan!"
"This happened because of me. If you just sit back and do nothing, how am I supposed to keep showing my face at the academy?"
The girl clung to Dugu Bo's arm and shook it incessantly. Her voice was pleading and coquettish, and anyone who saw her like that would feel their heart soften.
However...
Dugu Bo, who had always doted on his granddaughter, acted completely out of character today, wearing a troubled expression.
"Yan Yan..."
"That's the youngest genius in the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan! How am I supposed to protect him?"
"Do you know how much a genius matters to the legacy of an entire sect?"
Dugu Bo had already heard the whole story from the girl.
Now his brows were knitted into a knot, his expression so ugly it was hard to imagine it getting any worse.
Who could have guessed that Yu Tianheng would be crippled by a child who had only just awakened his Martial Soul?
He'd originally planned to have his granddaughter marry into the family. That way, after he died, Dugu Yan would have a powerful backer when she married into the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan.
But now... sigh~
"I don't care! Waaaah!"
When Dugu Yan saw that Dugu Bo wouldn't agree, she immediately wiped her eyes and complained.
"I told you I didn't like Yu Tianheng, but you insisted I try getting to know him."
"If you'd listened to me and let me turn him down from the start, none of this would've happened."
"Anyway, you have to stand up for Lin Yan, or I won't recognize you as my grandfather anymore."
What? She wouldn't recognize him as her grandfather anymore?
Since ancient times, it was always the elders who said such things to the younger generation. Yet today, with Dugu Bo, it was the other way around.
Dugu Bo stared wide-eyed at the girl. Her eyes were full of indignation, and her serious expression made it seem like she really meant it. He couldn't help feeling a little panicked.
Just who was this Lin Yan? On his very first day at the academy, he'd already stolen his precious granddaughter's heart.
Dugu Bo grew more and more irritated. Just then, a warm male voice suddenly came from outside the door.
"Senior Poison Douluo!"
The grandfather and granddaughter, still tugging at each other, looked toward the voice together. The newcomer was none other than Xue Qinghe, Crown Prince of the Heaven Dou Empire.
Dugu Bo raised his eyes in surprise.
"Your Highness?"
Xue Qinghe smiled slightly. Without bothering to check whether his presence was welcome, he walked straight into the room.
"Senior, I heard that Yu Tianheng of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan was injured. I happened to be passing by and thought I'd invite you to visit him with me."
At those words, Dugu Bo immediately smelled a scheme.
The reason he'd refused Dugu Yan's request just now was that he didn't want to get mixed up in this mess.
That was the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, one of the Upper Three Sects and a force renowned across the continent.
Their clan's genius had been crippled. Who knew how furious Yu Yuanzhen would be? Anyone dragged into this at a time like this would be in for a world of trouble.
Dugu Bo was just a lone wanderer. He had no desire to get involved in this mess.
He immediately refused.
"That boy's injured. Why come to me instead of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan?"
Dugu Bo's manner was icy.
But Xue Qinghe didn't mind at all and continued to explain.
"You can't put it that way. This matter arose mainly from the conflict between Yu Tianheng and Miss Dugu Yan."
"As Dugu Yan's grandfather and a guest of the imperial family, you can't let relations between the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan and the imperial family deteriorate."
As he spoke, Xue Qinghe looked at Dugu Yan.
"Miss Dugu Yan, don't you agree?"
Xue Qinghe's gaze was sharp. His expression seemed both to ask a question and to remind Dugu Yan that she couldn't wash her hands of this matter.
But even without that pointed look, Dugu Yan would still have supported Lin Yan.
The girl grabbed Dugu Bo's arm again and began shaking it, pleading with him.
"Grandpa~"
Before long, they arrived at the Ye Family in Heaven Dou City.
Xue Qinghe and Dugu Bo hurried over with Dugu Yan. As soon as they stepped through the gates of Ye Mansion, they saw the three members of the Education Committee and several others gathered in the courtyard, including the Ye Family's clan head.
Xue Qinghe stepped forward first to greet them.
"Three members of the Education Committee, Clan Head Ye."
"How is the situation?"
The group turned at the sound of his voice. When they saw Xue Qinghe, they returned his greeting, and Clan Head Ye, Ye Rou'er, explained.
"Not good."
"The high temperature of the flames forcibly destroyed the meridians in that child's body, and his dantian was damaged as well."
"I can save his life, but I can't guarantee that his cultivation foundation will remain intact."
At this, Dugu Bo and Xue Qinghe exchanged a glance. They both saw a hint of trouble in each other's eyes.
Neither spoke first, so Ye Rou'er continued.
"Simply put, his talent has been ruined."
"He used to be a genius with innate Soul Power of level nine. Now... his talent may only be equivalent to innate Soul Power of about level five, or even lower."
Hearing this, Xue Qinghe finally let out a small breath of relief.
His cultivation speed had only been affected somewhat? Then it wasn't too serious. That was still better than being completely crippled.
He then asked, more as a formality than anything else,
"There's really no way to make up for it?"
Ye Rou'er shook her head slightly.
"There might be, but this humble wife can do nothing more."
And with that, the matter was settled.
Xue Qinghe and Dugu Bo realized that things weren't as bad as they had imagined. Yu Tianheng had indeed been badly injured, but fortunately, his meridians hadn't been completely destroyed.
That was surely thanks to Bai Baoshan stepping in just in time.
In that case, there was nothing to worry about.
Soul Masters were bound to get injured when sparring. No clan on the continent could guarantee that its descendants would have smooth sailing, cultivate to their limits according to the talents they showed during Martial Soul Awakening, and then serve the sect.
Even geniuses with Innate Full Soul Power faced the risk of dying before they could grow up.
That was simply an undeniable fact.
Yu Tianheng had indeed been injured, and the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan did indeed hold an extraordinary position.
But Lin Yan had merely sparred with someone as normal, and the imperial family and Dugu Bo had a say in the matter too.
With the two sides at odds, Xue Qinghe's side at least had reason on its side!
After all, Yu Tianheng had started this.
Thinking this over, Xue Qinghe's tightly furrowed brows relaxed a little.
He looked at the three members of the Education Committee.
"Where's Lin Yan?"
The three members exchanged glances for a long while. At last, Bai Baoshan looked up at Xue Qinghe and said,
"In another room."
"He seems to know he's caused trouble. After I brought him here, no matter how much I called, he wouldn't come out."
"So..."
Xue Qinghe waved his hand.
"Take me to him first."
Before long, they reached the room where Lin Yan was staying.
Xue Qinghe dismissed the others.
"Go take care of Yu Tianheng first. Leave this to me."
The three members of the Education Committee were afraid they might be held partly responsible, so they hurriedly backed away and left.
Dugu Bo, however, remained where he was.
Xue Qinghe looked up in surprise.
"Senior Poison Douluo, aren't you going?"
"He's already been crippled. What's the point of going?"
Dugu Bo gave a cold snort.
"Right now, I'm more curious what your future personal guard is capable of. How did he manage to cripple Yu Tianheng, a user of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Martial Soul?"