Yu Tianheng Refuses to Accept It!

While Lu Xiao and Xiao Wu were tidying their respective rooms, the entire Heaven Dou Royal Academy had already erupted.

The news that Lu Xiao had been appointed captain of the next Heaven Dou Royal Academy team was like a massive boulder crashing into a tranquil lake, stirring up enormous waves!

In a courtyard within Heaven Dou Royal Academy, the similarly built Shi brothers, Shi Mo and Shi Mo, were venting indignantly to the young man before them.

Before them stood a young man dressed in an unadorned blue fitted outfit.

There was little expression on the youth's face. He was the publicly acknowledged number one genius of this year's Heaven Dou Royal Academy—Yu Tianheng.

He looked at the two of them and slowly said, "Shi Mo, Shi Mo, what did you come to see me about?"

"Tianheng! The education committee actually suddenly appointed Lu Xiao as the captain of the team competing in the next Soul Master Tournament!"

Shi Mo's face was full of disdain. "Who the hell is this Lu Xiao? What makes him qualified to be captain?"

Shi Mo added from the side, "I heard from that useless prince Xue Beng that Lu Xiao is only nine years old. Appointing him as captain—aren't they just fooling around?"

Yu Tianheng looked to be in his teens. He was slender and over 1.8 meters tall, with neat black short hair standing upright like steel needles.

Hearing Shi Mo's words, a trace of dissatisfaction flashed through his eyes as well. "Let's go! We'll meet this captain of ours!"

Yu Tianheng flicked his sleeve, a glint of lightning flashing in his eyes.

As the publicly acknowledged strongest genius of this generation at Heaven Dou Royal Academy and the direct heir of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, he had originally been everyone's first choice for captain!

Just as Shi Mo was about to leave, he suddenly said, "Tianheng, should we call Dugu Yan too?"

Shi Mo's eyes shifted as he reminded him, "That's right, Tianheng! You've been pursuing Dugu Yan for so long. If she sees you crush this parachuted squad captain, maybe she'll think even more highly of you and agree to be with you..."

"Shi Mo, go find Dugu Yan!"

At the mention of Dugu Yan, Yu Tianheng's usually indifferent face softened somewhat.

He was the future heir of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan and had to put the clan's development first.

Although the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, the Clear Sky Sect, and the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect were collectively known as the "Upper Three Sects," its top-tier combat power fell short of the other two sects.

At present, the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan had only one Title Douluo: the clan leader, Yu Yuanzhen.

If he could win Dugu Yan's heart, his clan would gain another Title Douluo-level powerhouse, giving them greater confidence when facing other forces!

Shi Mo nodded and quickly dashed toward Dugu Yan's residence.

Not long after.

Shi Mo returned in a hurry, running back into the courtyard with regret on his face. "Tianheng, Dugu Yan went to see His Majesty the Poison Douluo. She isn't in the academy right now!"

Yu Tianheng pondered for two seconds before decisively saying, "No need to wait."

"Let's go!"

Yu Tianheng immediately set off, leading the Shi brothers out of the small courtyard.

The three of them marched aggressively down the bustling academy streets, heading straight for Lu Xiao's courtyard.

By now, discussions throughout the academy about Lu Xiao being parachuted in as captain had already reached their peak.

Students gathered in small groups along both sides of the roads, with rumors flying everywhere.

"Did you hear? The new captain, Lu Xiao, is supposedly not even nine years old!"

"Nine? At that age, he probably hasn't even absorbed his second Soul Ring yet. What gives him the right to command the entire Heaven Dou team?"

"That's even more ridiculous! Could this brat possibly be stronger than Yu Tianheng?"

The noisy discussions poured endlessly into his ears. Every word questioning Lu Xiao only amplified Yu Tianheng's confidence and arrogance.

After noticing Yu Tianheng's intentions, many students eager for a spectacle began following behind the trio, watching from afar.

Word spread from one to ten, then ten to a hundred. The crowd following them grew larger and larger, surging toward Lu Xiao's courtyard in a vast procession!

At this moment, inside the small courtyard.

Lu Xiao and Xiao Wu were roasting a hundred-year-old pig-type Soul Beast over a fire.

Just as Yu Tianheng's group approached, Xiao Wu's ears twitched. She quietly said, "Lu Xiao, it sounds like a huge group of people is coming this way."

Lu Xiao remained calm as he leisurely said, "They're probably dissatisfied because I was appointed captain!"

The moment his words fell, the courtyard's wooden gate was violently shoved open with a bang.

Yu Tianheng stepped into the courtyard first, pale blue lightning crackling around him as he radiated pride.

The brothers Shi Mo and Shi Mo stood behind Yu Tianheng to his left and right. The two muscular men, each over two meters tall, projected an oppressive presence, dark yellow Soul Power slowly circulating across their bodies.

A dense crowd of onlooking students packed the courtyard entrance and the outside of its walls. Absolute silence reigned as everyone's eyes focused on the five people in the courtyard.

"You're Lu Xiao?"

Yu Tianheng spoke, his voice cold and stiff. "The academy appointed you captain of the Heaven Dou team for the Continental Elite Tournament. I, Yu Tianheng, refuse to accept it."

Lu Xiao stopped turning the roasting rack, raised his eyes to look at him, and calmly said, "So?"

"I challenge you!"

Yu Tianheng's eyes brimmed with fighting spirit!

"We challenge you too!"

Shi Mo and Shi Mo stepped forward, puffing out their chests and flexing their muscles as they glared at Lu Xiao with ill intent!

Xiao Wu instantly rose to her feet, her legs tensing slightly as she prepared to step in and stop them.

Lu Xiao raised a hand to gently hold her back, then slowly stood up.

He swept his gaze over the three of them and chuckled. "There's no need to waste time one-on-one. The three of you—come at me together."

The moment those words fell, the entire place erupted!

The students watching from the entrance immediately exploded into heated discussion.

"One against three?"

Yu Tianheng frowned slightly. Although he was unhappy about Lu Xiao being parachuted in, he was not the sort to bully others with numbers.

He had the pride of a family heir. "Isn't it a bit too much of a joke for you to take on the three of us alone?"

"Dealing with the three of you, I'm enough on my own."

Lu Xiao smiled faintly. Bronze radiance bloomed from his body, and the instant his Body Martial Soul possessed him, an overwhelmingly oppressive wave of Soul Power swept through the entire courtyard.

Three Soul Rings of clearly distinct colors slowly and steadily rose beneath his feet, revolving around his body!

Purple! A thousand-year Soul Ring!

Purple! A thousand-year Soul Ring!

Deep, pitch-black! A ten-thousand-year Soul Ring!

Purple, purple, black!

What kind of monstrous Soul Ring configuration was this?!

From Yu Tianheng and the other two to every student watching beyond the wall, the entire scene fell into dead silence!

The common knowledge of Soul Master cultivation was etched into every Soul Master's mind, yet this nine-year-old boy before them had shattered all of their understanding!

"H-how is that possible..."

Shi Mo's eyes widened like bronze bells. "A thousand-year first Soul Ring, and a ten-thousand-year third Soul Ring! How could such a Soul Ring configuration even exist?!"

Even someone as proud as Yu Tianheng felt his emotions churn violently.

At that moment, he finally vaguely understood why the academy's three Education Committee members had made an exception and handed the captain's position to Lu Xiao.

With this kind of talent and strength, there was no need for any backdoor arrangements at all!

Ignoring everyone's shock, Lu Xiao said calmly, "If you beat me, you decide who becomes captain. But if you lose, then from this day onward, the three of you will obey my commands unconditionally."