Famed Throughout Heaven Dou Academy

Dugu Yan and Ye Lingling exchanged a few pleasantries before Dugu Yan said, "You two keep looking around. I have something to take care of, so I'll be leaving first."

"Take care, Sister Yan," Ye Lingling replied.

Qi Dao stood to one side. Throughout the entire exchange, there was no melodramatic scene where his domineering aura spilled out and won Dugu Yan's favor.

Perhaps Dugu Yan's strongest impression of him was simply that he had defeated Osler and had overestimated himself enough to challenge a teacher.

Qi Dao was in no hurry, despite how much he wanted to obtain immortal herbs through Dugu Yan.

After Dugu Yan left, Ye Lingling introduced her. "Her name is Dugu Yan. She used to be in our Heavenly Subtlety Class One too, but she broke through to Rank 26 last semester, so she advanced to the Heavenly Ultimate Grade."

Qi Dao asked, "You seem to be quite close with her?"

Ye Lingling replied, "When I first came to Heaven Dou Academy, Sister Yan took very good care of me."

"I see!"

"Alright, I'll take you to the Mimicry Zone now!"

"You'll need to find an area suited to your own cultivation."

"Much appreciated!"

Crown Prince's Residence, study.

Xue Qinghe sat behind the desk, reclining lazily in her chair.

A middle-aged man stood in the middle of the study as well.

Xue Qinghe asked indifferently, "How has Qi Dao been doing at Heaven Dou Academy these past two days?"

Knowing that the Crown Prince valued Qi Dao, the middle-aged man immediately reported everything he knew.

Xue Qinghe's slender fingers tapped against the armrest. Once she had heard the report, her fingers stopped tapping.

"A Rank 22 Soul Grandmaster challenged a Rank 47 Soul Ancestor?"

"Heh, that kid really doesn't know how to keep a low profile."

"But if that's the case, I'm afraid quite a few factions will take notice of him."

"After you leave, spread the news that Qi Dao has pledged allegiance to me. Don't let someone else poach him."

The middle-aged man replied respectfully, "Yes!"

With that, he turned and withdrew.

Elsewhere.

The news that Qi Dao had defeated Osler with a single sword strike and forced Zhou Huan back continued to spread throughout Heaven Dou Academy.

Defeating Osler was not much of a big deal. At most, it would only circulate among the Heavenly Subtlety Grade students.

But forcing Zhou Huan back was entirely different!

Everyone knew that Zhou Huan was a Rank 47 Soul Ancestor.

To force him back, one would at least have to be a Soul Ancestor too, right?

Of course, most people did not believe it at all.

Even though everyone in Heavenly Subtlety Class One swore it was true, others still believed Zhou Huan had been forced back by Qi Dao's sword only because he had held back and been careless.

Perhaps he had not even used thirty percent of his strength.

Zhou Huan did not step forward to explain either. After all, it would not sound good if word got out that a dignified Soul Ancestor had been driven back by a Rank 22 Soul Grandmaster.

The three education committee members, however, came to question him after hearing about the matter and learned the truth from him.

For a time, the three committee members were even more excited.

Given Qi Dao's age, it was basically impossible for him to participate in this Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Tournament.

But if he participated in the next tournament, he would definitely become a trump card.

Heavenly Ultimate Class One training ground.

A tall young man dressed in a fitted blue outfit was fiercely battling two other young men in the center.

Lightning danced around the young man in blue, and every punch carried the power of thunder.

His attacks were incredibly fierce, forcing the two men opposite him back again and again.

Suddenly, his first soul ring lit up.

In an instant, lightning flashed.

Yu Tianheng raised his right hand and slammed it toward the two men opposite him.

A massive Thunderclap Dragon Claw condensed in midair, then viciously struck down at the two of them.

First soul skill, Thunderclap Dragon Claw!

Bang!!

The two men were instantly sent flying. Their Martial Soul Possession-enhanced bodies were covered in charred marks, and their auras weakened considerably.

Among the watching crowd, many female students let out shrieks.

"I knew Tianheng would be the one to win in the end."

"Exactly! So what if he fought two opponents alone? Tianheng is invincible among Soul Grandmasters."

At that moment, someone said rather inappropriately, "Tianheng is indeed impressive, but he may not truly be invincible among Soul Grandmasters."

The moment he said that, a female student immediately glared at him.

"Have you ever seen a Soul Grandmaster stronger than Tianheng? Stop talking nonsense."

Another person chimed in, "Exactly. Tianheng is the strongest among Soul Grandmasters. No objections accepted."

Within the crowd, Dugu Yan looked at Yu Tianheng approaching from afar and smiled. "Tianheng, it seems that even after transferring to a Heavenly Ultimate Grade class, you're still very popular."

Yu Tianheng was handsome, but his expression was blank and his face carried a faint stiffness.

He was deliberately imitating his favorite uncle from childhood, Yu Xiaogang.

Hearing Dugu Yan's words, Yu Tianheng remained calm.

As a direct descendant of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan and a person of extraordinary talent, he had essentially been raised as the clan's next patriarch. How could he possibly be interested in ordinary pretty faces?

Among the younger generation of women, Dugu Yan was the only one who caught his eye.

The only regret was that Dugu Yan possessed the Jade Phosphorous Serpent Martial Soul rather than a dragon-type Martial Soul.

Even if he wanted to pursue her, his father and grandfather might not agree.

A partner concerned the purity of the next generation's bloodline. As a direct descendant of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, he could never make his own decisions regarding marriage.

Just as Yu Tianheng's thoughts drifted, a voice suddenly pulled him back, catching his attention.

A male student envied the attitudes the other female students had toward Yu Tianheng, so he could not help saying something.

"Yu Tianheng is strong, but I know someone who, if he were at the same rank as Tianheng, might not be stronger than him, but certainly wouldn't be weaker either."

As soon as he finished speaking, someone immediately asked.

"Then who is it?"

"Don't you know about the major incident that happened at the academy these past two days?"

"What major incident?"

Those who were unaware looked over in confusion and curiosity.

"You seriously don't know? A newcomer named Qi Dao from Heavenly Subtlety Class One not only defeated Osler with one sword strike, but also challenged Teacher Zhou Huan. Even Teacher Zhou Huan suffered at his hands."

Zhou Huan was a somewhat well-known teacher at Heaven Dou Academy. In particular, many people in Heavenly Ultimate Class One had once studied in his class.

So when they heard this news, no one believed it at first.

The highest-ranked Heavenly Subtlety Grade students were only Rank 25. How could one of them possibly make Rank 47 Zhou Huan suffer?

It was simply absurd.

Yu Tianheng heard the name as well and let out a derisive laugh, paying it no mind.

Even he did not dare claim that he could make Zhou Huan suffer.

Let alone a student below Rank 25.

It was probably just someone grandstanding again.

Dugu Yan, however, showed a trace of surprise upon hearing the name. It reminded her once more of the handsome young man she had seen outside the main campus.

At the time, Ye Lingling had told her that Qi Dao had not only defeated Osler with one sword strike, but had also challenged Zhou Huan.

But she truly had not known that Qi Dao had done more than challenge Zhou Huan—he had even made Zhou Huan suffer during the challenge.

Yu Tianheng happened to notice the surprise on Dugu Yan's face and immediately asked, "Yan, do you know this Qi Dao?"

Dugu Yan's expression had already returned to normal. She smiled lazily. "I happened to meet him yesterday when I ran into Lingling on the road. He's quite a handsome little guy."

Yu Tianheng raised an eyebrow.

"Hm?"