Sun Emissary

Two years later.

Heaven Dou Empire, Heaven Dou City, Great Spirit Arena.

A Great Spirit Master-level match was about to begin.

"Brother, you don't look like a local. Did you come to Heaven Dou City to study?"

"Hm? No, I'm a Sun Emissary fan. I came all this way specifically to watch the match."

Two lavishly dressed nobles began chatting at the entrance.

"Sun Emissary? What rank of Spirit Master is he?"

"A Great Spirit Master."

"A Great Spirit Master? Brother, have you never seen anything good before? Come on, I'll take you to watch a Spirit Elder match."

As he spoke, the local noble prepared to drag the other man toward the main spirit arena.

Instead, the other man wrapped an arm around his shoulders.

"Seeing how hospitable you are, let me show you something good instead."

"Hey, brother, brother, talk all you want, but leave me some air."

The two arrived at the Great Spirit Master-level spirit arena with their arms around each other's shoulders.

Then the local noble noticed that the Great Spirit Arena staff were selling black crystal lenses.

"What are those things?"

"They protect your eyes. But there's no need to buy them—I happened to bring two pairs."

As he spoke, the visiting noble pulled two exquisite black crystals from his robes and handed one over.

"Is that really necessary? Even a Spirit Elder battle wouldn't hurt your eyes."

Though he said that, he still accepted the other man's kindness.

Then, as a black-haired youth who looked only around twelve and wore a white mask entered the arena—

A thunderous cheer suddenly erupted from the stands.

"Sun Emissary!"

"Solar Flare!"

"Damn, isn't this Sun Emissary guy just a Great Spirit Master? Why does he have so many supporters?"

The local noble was startled by the overwhelming cheers.

At the same time, he widened his eyes and prepared to watch the spirit battle closely.

The black-haired youth's opponent soon entered as well. He was a Great Spirit Master who already possessed a Bronze Spirit Battle Badge.

He was also somewhat popular at the Heaven Dou Spirit Arena.

"How about a wager? I'm betting on Sun Emissary to win."

Just as the referee announced the rules, the visiting noble beside him suddenly spoke.

"Heh, I'm not falling for that."

"Don't be such a bore. Your little brother has only just arrived and doesn't know which girls in Heaven Dou City are the juiciest. Won't big brother give me some pointers?"

"Oh? What are you proposing?"

"If little brother wins, big brother can take me around to appreciate Heaven Dou City's local customs. Of course, little brother will cover the costs."

"And if I win?"

"Little brother will treat big brother."

"Good! Since little brother is so generous, I certainly won't hold back."

The two chatted happily, even starting to consider whether they should share the same girl later.

Below, the referee announced the start.

The black-haired youth's hands immediately turned into dragon claws as he charged at his opponent.

Yet no spirit rings appeared.

"Don't underestimate me!"

The other man activated his martial spirit as well. His hands transformed directly into owl wings, and as he flapped into the air, he began attacking the youth with his claws.

After dodging the youth's attack, he taunted him again.

"It's useless. Every one of your movements is beneath these eyes of mine."

At the same time, his second yellow spirit ring flashed.

An inexplicable gleam appeared in his pupils.

"Right now, my eyesight is twenty times that of an ordinary person!"

That was his strategy: attack from the air, use trash talk to disrupt his opponent's mindset, then win with a final blow.

Then he noticed the youth's lips curl upward, as though he were suppressing a laugh.

Feeling as if he had somehow become the one being mocked, he dove down from the sky.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

Eagle claws and dragon claws clashed rapidly. Relying on his ability to fly, he dispersed most of the force behind the attacks.

Unfortunately, the other party's scales were truly tough.

He had failed to inflict any effective damage.

"Hey, I'd advise you to turn off your spirit skill."

The youth opposite him spoke for the first time since the match began.

"Oh? Are you finally scared?"

"No. I'm afraid you'll go blind."

Then he saw brilliant spirit power gathering atop the black-haired youth's dragon claws.

The surrounding audience also seemed to have started cheering.

"Solar Flare! Solar Flare!"

What the hell?

Would I be afraid of this Solar Flare?

So instead, he focused his gaze on the other party's hand, preparing to see what sort of move it was.

Then...

"Whew! That brightness really is intense."

Even with the black crystals on, tears began streaming from the local noble's eyes.

"Right? It's a shame that guy over there isn't too bright. I remember one match where Sun Emissary used Solar Flare more than twenty times. I couldn't even hold out until the end."

The visiting noble seemed somewhat nostalgic for that sensation.

After all, the unexpected thrill was surprisingly exhilarating.

"Yeah, he actually got taken out in one shot."

The black-haired youth's opponent had ignored the warning and was now rolling across the ground with his hands over his eyes.

The Great Spirit Arena staff quickly rushed onto the stage to treat him.

"So this round counts as little brother's win?"

"Of course. Come on, this time big brother's treating."

The youth who had just appeared was naturally Yu Yuan, who had only just turned eight.

After drawing Yu Xiaogang's blood two years ago, Yu Yuan had no shortage of ways to learn knowledge due to the existence of the Temporal Saint Dragon.

Moreover, while his existence was not particularly important to the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan—

It would still be troublesome if he were discovered, so he had not enrolled in a junior academy.

However, considering the various resources needed for cultivation, as well as the different metals consumed while studying spirit tools,

Yu Yuan ultimately chose to earn some gold spirit coins from time to time at the Great Spirit Arenas in various cities.

But ever since he had repeatedly observed it a year ago—at the cost of being blinded by flashes countless times—and successfully learned the Golden Dragon's Solar Flare—

Things had changed.

To avoid exposing his external martial spirit,

he fought every spirit battle by using Dragonification himself.

And Solar Flare was simply too useful in close combat.

Especially against opponents with exceptional eyesight, one flashbang was enough to end the fight immediately.

It was simply powerful without being underhanded.

So Yu Yuan used it very often.

Then, because the move was so distinctive and highly entertaining,

some audience members became Yu Yuan's fans.

They even gave him the nickname Sun Emissary.

The spirit arena quickly discovered the business opportunity and took the initiative to approach Yu Yuan for a partnership.

Simply put, they wanted him to use Solar Flare a few more times during his spirit battles.

Then the spirit arena could conveniently sell sunglasses.

As for why eight-year-old Yu Yuan's build looked like that of a twelve- or thirteen-year-old,

it was because the Temporal Saint Dragon bloodline allowed him to mature faster into the state most suitable for cultivation.

At the same time, it extended the duration of that state.

Simply put, he grew quickly but aged slowly.

"This one ended a little too quickly."

"Couldn't be helped. I warned him."

Yu Yuan received a share of the profits from the Great Spirit Arena's sunglasses sales.

So he would usually take the initiative to remind his opponents to protect their eyes.

After all, if he used it a few more times, audience members without sunglasses would be the ones unable to endure it.

If it ended in one move, sales naturally would not be high.

"All right, I'm leaving first. I'll come to you again next time."

Yu Yuan would not come fight spirit battles every day. He still had important matters to attend to.