Battle Against Skywater Academy

The Heaven Dou Royal Academy's training grounds were even livelier on the second day than they had been yesterday.

News of Bai Yi defeating the combined teams of Godwind Academy and Blazing Fire Academy had spread throughout Heaven Dou City.

Nearly twice as many people had come to watch today's matches. The stands were full, and quite a few people were even standing in the aisles.

Three people sat in the best seats in the stands.

In the middle sat a middle-aged man in his early forties. He had refined features and wore a moon-white robe, reclining casually against the back of his chair.

The master of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, Ning Fengzhi.

Beside him sat a white-haired old man with a lean frame. His gaze rested placidly on the arena, his face devoid of any unnecessary expression.

Sword Douluo Chen Xin.

In front of Ning Fengzhi sat a girl of about ten. She wore a goose-yellow dress and looked as delicate as a doll. Her large dark eyes sparkled, and her slightly upturned lips carried a hint of spoiled charm.

She tilted her head as she watched the arena, her legs swinging back and forth as though she did not take today's events too seriously.

Ning Fengzhi lowered his head and glanced at his daughter.

"Rongrong, didn't you say you wanted to see what the geniuses outside were like? Watch carefully today."

Ning Rongrong turned her head. "When did I say that?"

"Last night. After hearing about Bai Yi, you asked me three times."

"I was just curious." Ning Rongrong stubbornly insisted, "It wasn't because I wanted to see how impressive he was."

Ning Fengzhi smiled and did not argue.

He knew his daughter too well.

She had been doted on ever since she was young. Everyone in the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect spoiled her, while outsiders had always treated her with flattery and ingratiation.

She had seen quite a few geniuses, but she had never truly admired anyone.

Because in her eyes, no matter how strong those geniuses were, they would still have to treat her politely in the end.

As the owner of the Seven Treasures Glazed Pagoda and the inheritor of the continent's number one support martial soul, she had grown accustomed to looking down on others from above.

Ning Fengzhi raised his hand and pointed toward the arena.

"Then take a look at the person standing beside Bai Yi."

Ning Rongrong followed her father's finger.

Bai Yi was stretching his wrists by the edge of the arena. Beside him stood a blue-haired girl in black, her face covered by a black veil as she quietly remained at his side.

Ning Rongrong blinked. "Who's that?"

"Ye Lingling. The inheritor of the Nine Heart Begonia."

Ning Rongrong's gaze shifted.

Of course she knew about the Nine Heart Begonia.

It was a support-type martial soul as famous as the Seven Treasures Glazed Pagoda, and it was also a top-tier inheritance.

She sat up a little straighter and looked again at the blue-haired girl.

Ye Lingling stood beside Bai Yi, with less than an arm's length separating them.

When Bai Yi lowered his head to straighten his cuff, Ye Lingling tilted her head slightly to look at him before withdrawing her gaze.

"I heard the two of them have been almost inseparable these past two years."

Ning Fengzhi's voice came from above her head.

"Ye Lingling rarely teams up with anyone else at the academy. She only works with Bai Yi."

Ning Rongrong said nothing.

She felt a little uncomfortable inside.

She had always believed that, as the holder of the continent's number one support martial soul, any assault-type soul master should take the initiative to curry favor with her.

Yet the inheritor of the Nine Heart Begonia had voluntarily chosen to stand beside that boy named Bai Yi. Bai Yi had not begged for her help; she had chosen him herself.

Ning Rongrong said,

"So what? I'm no worse than her. Besides, he's just a genius. I've seen plenty of those."

Ning Fengzhi smiled and said nothing more.

In a corner of the distant stands, a middle-aged man in a dark green robe leaned against the railing.

He was tall and gaunt, with faintly emerald light glimmering in his eyes.

No one noticed him. He had stood there for a long time, his gaze fixed on the black-haired boy in the arena.

He had not originally planned to come today.

After returning yesterday, Dugu Yan had told him a great deal about Bai Yi.

She said that Bai Yi had defeated both Yu Tianheng and her when he first enrolled, and that she had never beaten him in the two years since.

Although she often complained about him in front of Dugu Bo, she had also become much more diligent in her cultivation.

Dugu Bo had not taken it seriously at first. It was merely children squabbling.

But one thing Dugu Yan said had piqued his interest.

That guy had a Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Ring.

Dugu Bo had lived for so many years, yet he had never seen such a configuration.

He had taken his granddaughter's words to heart and come specifically to see for himself today.

And perhaps find an opportunity to teach this brat a lesson, letting his beloved granddaughter vent some of the frustration she had built up over two years of losses.

When Bai Yi stood in the center of the arena, Dugu Bo's gaze lingered on him for a while.

That golden rod martial soul did seem extraordinary, but it was not what Dugu Bo was focused on.

What he was watching was Bai Yi's body.

The boy's stance, breathing, and eyes all revealed an unusual bearing.

"No wonder Yan'er can't beat him. That composure alone is anything but ordinary."

Dugu Bo muttered quietly.

At the center of the training grounds, the seven girls from Skywater Academy had already formed up.

They wore ice-blue uniforms, and as they stood in a row, they resembled seven water-blue flowers in different poses.

Shui Bing'er, who stood at the very front, was around one meter sixty-five tall.

Her long aqua-blue hair cascaded down her back. Her features were exquisite, her expression calm, and her entire presence exuded a cool, steady air.

Shui Yue'er stood half a step behind her.

The two looked alike, but Shui Yue'er's brows and eyes held more liveliness and cheer.

Behind them were Qiu Ruoshui, Gu Qingbo, Shen Liuyu, and Yu Hairou.

As they stood together, their ice-blue uniforms glowed softly in the morning light.

The spectators at the edge of the arena stirred.

"Skywater Academy is here! Shui Bing'er is leading them!"

"Their uniforms are so pretty."

"That blue-haired girl is Shui Bing'er, right? She's really beautiful."

"Shui Yue'er is adorable too. She's much livelier than her sister."

Bai Yi stood on the other side of the arena, listening to the commotion around him.

Skywater Academy's lineup really was suited to being an idol group. Just standing there was enough to draw countless eyes.

Still, he steadied himself and looked toward the formation opposite him.

Shui Yue'er had already taken two steps forward. Smiling brightly, she waved at Bai Yi.

"Hello! You're Bai Yi, right? I'm Shui Yue'er, and this is my sister, Shui Bing'er."

She shifted slightly, gesturing toward Shui Bing'er behind her.

Shui Bing'er gave Bai Yi a slight nod.

"Hello. I'm Shui Bing'er, the team captain. Although you and Ye Lingling defeated people from Blazing Fire and Godwind Academy yesterday, I still hope you can lead a full team against us."

Bai Yi swept his gaze across the members of the Skywater Team.

"My name is Bai Yi. I'm sorry, but I'm not used to cooperating with others. It would only affect my performance."

Shui Yue'er covered her mouth in surprise.

"Wow! Are you always this arrogant? That's so cool."

Shui Bing'er rubbed her sister's head.

"Alright, stop swooning. Hurry up and get into formation."

Shui Yue'er retreated and took her place beside Shui Bing'er.

As she stepped back, she glanced at Bai Yi once more.

He really was quite handsome, even more spirited up close than when she had seen him from afar yesterday.

What a pity they had to fight today. She wondered whether he would go easy on her just because she was a girl.

Ning Rongrong could not help complaining from the stands.

"He says he isn't used to cooperating, yet he always keeps Ye Lingling by his side. What a hypocrite!"