Qin Qi and the others arrived at Heaven Dou Royal Academy's dedicated Soul Master sparring grounds. The venue was enormous.
There were ten arenas in total, each large enough for two teams of Soul Masters to fight a group battle.
However, because Heaven Dou Royal Academy was an aristocratic academy—put simply, all show and no substance—few people came here for actual combat.
But today was somewhat unusual. Quite a few people had gathered here to watch the battles.
"Dragon's Claw!"
As the boy on the arena, with a lightning-shaped mark on his forehead, defeated his opponent, cheers immediately erupted from the surrounding crowd.
"That guy is seriously strong. Isn't that already three consecutive victories?"
"Even though he's arrogant, there's no denying his strength!"
"There probably isn't anyone in our academy who can beat him, right?"
The surrounding spectators looked at the boy on the arena and began discussing him.
"Hmph."
Hearing the crowd's discussion, the boy on the arena gave a proud snort.
"Who else wants to challenge me? Step forward. I'll take you all on!"
"If no one dares to come forward, then from today onward, I, Yu Tianheng, will be the boss of this academy!"
Yu Tianheng was only in his teens, yet he was already a two-ring Soul Master. He indeed had the right to be proud.
"Yu Tianheng, the genius of this generation of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, is known as one of the Blue Lightning Twins."
"It's said that he's already been designated as the clan's next patriarch."
Xue Beng stood beside Qin Qi. After looking around and confirming that there were no spies sent by his eldest brother, he spoke softly.
"Yu Tianheng..."
Qin Qi knew of Yu Tianheng, a genius with the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon, the world's number one Beast Martial Soul.
He also knew from the original story that Yu Tianheng would come to Heaven Dou Royal Academy, but he was still puzzled.
"Xue Beng, why did someone from the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan come to Heaven Dou Royal Academy?"
"Why aren't they cultivating in their own clan or at Thunderclap Academy, their affiliated academy?"
"Why come specifically to Heaven Dou Royal Academy instead of any other academy?"
Qin Qi felt that Yu Tianheng's arrival did not seem like a random choice. Could this be an investment by the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan?
"I don't know, but I don't think the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan intends to grow closer to our Heaven Dou."
"The Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan has always been unbearably proud. They're hostile toward Star Luo, and their relationship with us isn't good either."
"They've also clashed with Spirit Hall many times and have little contact with the Seven Great Sects."
"They're completely isolated. Trouble is bound to come in the future."
After saying that, Xue Beng immediately fell silent. He nervously looked around, fear showing in his eyes.
"You're still not calculating enough. You just can't resist showing off what you know to others."
"But this time, you're talking to me, so it doesn't matter. If someone else hears you next time, you'd better watch your life."
Qin Qi smiled and lightly chopped at Xue Beng's neck with his hand. Others would have thought he was joking.
But Xue Beng knew it was no joke. His father, the Emperor, had four children in total, and his second and third brothers were already dead.
Only by playing the fool had he survived until now. If anyone saw through his act, then he might truly die!
"Qin Qi... I really feel fortunate to have met someone like you."
Xue Beng looked at Qin Qi gratefully. Ever since he discovered that his eldest brother might kill him—
He had lived every day in constant fear. Everyone around him had been sent by his eldest brother to test him.
He could not trust anyone. He had no one to talk to, and his heart was lonely and desolate.
But after meeting Qin Qi, he had finally found someone he could occasionally talk to.
"All right, quit whining. Nobles are such a pain."
"By the way, isn't the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect on good terms with you? Why haven't they sent anyone to study at the academy?"
Qin Qi was rather curious about this. He had been at the academy for years, yet he had never seen a disciple of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.
"The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect is just a group of merchants. Merchants pursue profit. What they value is my eldest brother, and the one they're investing in is also only my eldest brother."
"In their eyes, Heaven Dou Royal Academy is nothing."
Although Xue Beng had always pretended to be foolish, he had been born into the imperial family. Influenced by what he saw and heard, he had naturally learned such etiquette and political schemes.
While Qin Qi and Xue Beng were talking, Ye Lingling had been standing in the shadows of a distant corner.
She seemed to dislike lively crowds and preferred staying alone in gloomy corners.
"Hey, does anyone else want to challenge me?!"
Yu Tianheng was growing more valiant with every battle. While Qin Qi and Xue Beng had been talking, he had already achieved five consecutive victories.
"Well, how about letting me give it a try too?"
Qin Qi suddenly raised his hand and spoke.
"You... aren't you too young? How many rings do you have?"
Yu Tianheng looked at Qin Qi. Qin Qi was only seven years old, while he himself was already in his teens.
If he fought Qin Qi, wouldn't that just be bullying a child?
"I'm a one-ring Soul Master, but I'm pretty strong."
Qin Qi smiled and walked onto the arena step by step. Looking at Yu Tianheng before him, he spoke.
"Fine, then. To make up for it, I'll let you have three moves!"
"Remember my name. I'm Yu Tianheng. My Martial Soul is the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon, and I'm a two-ring assault-type Beast Martial Soul Master!"
Two yellow Soul Rings emerged behind Yu Tianheng. Lightning coiled around him as he spoke with a serious expression.
"I'll introduce myself too. My name is Qin Qi. My Martial Soul is Little Bug. One ring. I don't know what type of Soul Master I am."
Qin Qi smiled and reached out to stroke the Strength-Eating Immortal Gu on his shoulder.
He had named his Martial Soul Little Bug, and Little Bug was what his teacher had registered it as.
"That's your Martial Soul... You have a Detached Beast Martial Soul?!"
Looking at Qin Qi, Yu Tianheng immediately thought of his uncle, Yu Xiaogang.
"That's right, a Detached Beast Martial Soul. Mr. Yu Tianheng, are you ready? I'm going to attack."
"I should warn you, I'm really strong."
Qin Qi gave him a friendly warning.
"You're going to attack me yourself? Fine, then. I'll stand right here and let you hit me."
Yu Tianheng smiled somewhat disdainfully. Just a seven-year-old child, a one-ring Soul Master.
How strong could he possibly be? And he even had a Detached Beast Martial Soul. If it were a possessed Beast Martial Soul, Yu Tianheng might have taken him somewhat seriously.
But he understood Detached Beast Martial Souls all too well. This kind of Martial Soul basically provided no enhancement to a Soul Master's body.
In other words, Qin Qi's punch would at most carry the strength of a seven- or eight-year-old.
"Here I come."
After saying that, Qin Qi threw a punch. The punch blasted the air with an explosive roar.
"Huh?!"
In that instant, Yu Tianheng realized something was wrong. He wanted to defend himself, wanted to dodge, but it was too late!
A tremendous force comparable to that of a Soul Master with peak strength at level thirty struck Yu Tianheng directly in the stomach.
In an instant, Yu Tianheng was sent flying!
"He flew really far. Even farther than that Xue Beng kid, huh?"
Qin Qi looked toward the flying Yu Tianheng. Though the Strength Path had declined, the feeling of every punch landing solidly on flesh was truly wonderful.
"Decided. This move will be called the distance killer move—Farewell for a Thousand Miles!"
Qin Qi nodded, feeling that he had come up with an incredibly good name.
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