Proving Himself with Strength

"Get lost!"

The moment Dugu Yan finished speaking, the two young noblewomen finally could not hold on any longer. After leaving behind one last harsh remark, they hurried away in disgrace.

After all, Xue Beng's example was right before their eyes. They did not have the nerve to act wild in front of an already enraged Dugu Yan.

They had only dared to insult Dugu Yan earlier because they had not truly believed she would attack girls like themselves. But now, it seemed that Dugu Yan really was no pushover. Just as the rumors said, she was a thoroughly sinister snake girl.

"What a fine show."

Yun Chen casually waved a hand as he strolled out from a nearby passageway. A teasing smile curled at his lips, as though he had just watched the performance of a lifetime.

"Who are you?"

Dugu Yan warily retreated two steps and coldly questioned Yun Chen. Her vigilance had risen to its peak, because the instant Yun Chen appeared, every part of her body had sounded an alarm.

Yun Chen appeared utterly defenseless, full of openings. Yet Dugu Yan had the distinct feeling that if she made a move, she would certainly die.

It was a snake's instinct.

"Just a passerby."

Yun Chen answered carelessly, paying no attention to Dugu Yan's guarded expression. He acted as though he had known her for ages, as if they were close friends.

"Don't come any closer! Stay away from me!"

Yun Chen took two steps forward. Dugu Yan sharply shouted at him and backed away two more steps, keeping a certain distance between them. At the same time, purple soul power began to circulate around her, like a vicious venomous snake ready to strike at any moment.

"Alright, alright. I won't come any closer."

Yun Chen raised both hands in an exaggerated gesture of surrender. On the surface, he appeared to be yielding, but the faint smile on his face exposed just how confident he was.

This made Dugu Yan quite irritated. Prideful as she was, no one had ever looked down on her like this before.

Looking at this outrageously handsome guy before her, Dugu Yan wished she could rush up and scratch his face to pieces.

"May I ask why you have come here today, sir? Did you come merely to watch this little woman make a fool of herself?"

Dugu Yan gave a cold snort. Still, she was rather curious about why Yun Chen had suddenly appeared here, as well as his true identity.

"Of course not. I merely happened to witness this scene."

"Oh, right. Let me introduce myself. My name is Yun Chen, and I am from the Crown Prince's Residence."

Dugu Yan visibly froze for a moment. Her mind then raced as she searched through her memories for the name Yun Chen. Clearly, that name had appeared in her memory rather frequently.

She looked at Yun Chen in surprise.

"You're Yun Chen? The genius from the Crown Prince's Residence?"

"Yes, that would be me."

A trace of suppressed emotion flashed across Dugu Yan's face, but she quickly returned to normal. Though she still looked at Yun Chen with some displeasure, her initial wariness and hostility had faded considerably.

"It seems His Highness Yun Chen is quite free, to have the time to come watch a little woman like me make a fool of herself."

Dugu Yan's tongue was still as sharp as ever. She refused to yield in the slightest, immediately seizing the chance to retort the moment she learned Yun Chen's true identity.

Hearing her unyielding jab, Yun Chen felt black lines creep across his face. He was somewhat speechless toward this venomous snake of a girl.

"Miss Yan, I already told you. I did not come here on purpose to laugh at you. I was simply passing through and happened to see what was going on."

"Hehe, passing through? As if I'd believe that."

Dugu Yan sneered twice. Her expression said it all—undisguised skepticism.

"Fine. Let's just say I came here on purpose."

Yun Chen helplessly spread his hands. He had not forgotten the real reason he had come, nor did he want to keep arguing with Dugu Yan over this matter.

"Since His Highness Yun Chen came here intentionally, then this little woman has a request."

Before Yun Chen could speak first, Dugu Yan took the initiative to raise the subject, which surprised him somewhat.

After all, he had not yet figured out how to bring it up to Dugu Yan. Who would have thought that she would take the initiative herself? He naturally wanted to hear what she had to say.

Yun Chen tilted his chin at her, signaling for her to continue.

"I, Dugu Yan, have heard that His Highness Yun Chen is one of the foremost geniuses in the Heaven Dou Empire. You possess Innate Full Soul Power and are said to be a future pillar of the empire. Yet I am somewhat unconvinced."

At that point, a burst of golden light flared in Dugu Yan's eyes. Her fighting spirit was clearly soaring.

"Oh? You're unconvinced?"

Yun Chen's interest was piqued as well. He raised an eyebrow, and his Golden Eyes instantly erupted with a radiance like the blazing sun, inspiring fear in all who saw them.

"That's right! I am unconvinced. That is why I have come today to seek His Highness Yun Chen's guidance—to see whether you truly deserve the reputation of being a pillar of the empire."

Dugu Yan did not avoid Yun Chen's terrifying Golden Eyes. Instead, she stared straight at him. Though her entire body had begun to tremble, she still stood her ground.

"Hehe, interesting!"

"Dugu Yan, I accept your challenge."

Yun Chen did not waste words. A girl had already taken the initiative to challenge him; if he, a grown man, kept hemming and hawing, it would be truly disgraceful. That was not Yun Chen's style, so he naturally accepted.

"So, when?"

"Right now."

Yun Chen had intended to ask when they should arrange the fight, but Dugu Yan had no sense of fair play at all. She directly demanded they begin on the spot, and before Yun Chen could agree or refuse, she had already made her move.

"Martial Soul, Jade Phosphor Snake. Level 24 control-type battle Soul Grandmaster!"

In the next instant, two yellow soul rings slowly rose from beneath Dugu Yan's feet. At the same time, emerald poison mist spread the moment she released her martial soul.

Yun Chen helplessly shook his head. He had never expected this innocent-looking little girl to fight so underhandedly.

"Hmph! Yun Chen, Martial Soul, Golden-Haired Lion Mastiff. Level 37 assault-type battle Soul Elder!"

Under Dugu Yan's stunned gaze, three soul rings—yellow, purple, purple—slowly rose beneath Yun Chen's feet. Behind him, the terrifying phantom of a lion mastiff let out a fierce roar toward the heavens, making the entire forest tremble.

Dugu Yan indeed felt the pressure brought by Yun Chen's martial soul. Worry plainly appeared on her face, but she quickly curled her lips into a smile.

"Hmph! What can you do, no matter how strong you are, once you're under my poison?"

As though answering Dugu Yan, Yun Chen did not move. He simply allowed the poison to invade his body. Under Dugu Yan's shocked gaze, Yun Chen remained completely unharmed.

He even had the leisure to raise an eyebrow at her.

"How is that possible?"

Dugu Yan cried out in shock.

"Your poison is pretty mediocre."