Dugu Yan

The simulated training grounds were one of Heaven Dou Royal Academy's core training facilities.

The entire complex covered a vast area and was divided into several zones with different attributes, each containing a number of separate training rooms.

"This is the simulated training grounds," Ye Lingling introduced as they walked.

Xiao Wu looked around curiously. "There are so many zones. Can you train in any of them?"

"That depends on whether your Martial Soul's attribute is compatible."

Ye Lingling smiled. "If you put a fire-attributed Soul Master into an ice zone, that wouldn't be training. It'd be torture."

The three continued onward, passing through one zone after another as Ye Lingling occasionally pointed things out and explained them.

When they passed the simulated training area for plant-type Soul Masters, Tang San's footsteps slowed slightly.

Even through the walls, he could faintly sense an incomparably pure aura of nature. The feeling was even stronger than when he had first entered a forest and resonated with Blue Silver Grass.

"Third Brother?"

Noticing something was off, Xiao Wu tugged at his sleeve. "What's wrong?"

Tang San came back to himself and shook his head. "Nothing. It's just that the aura in these plant-type training rooms is far richer than I imagined. Now I finally understand why Teacher insisted on sending us here to study."

"Of course. Our academy's simulated training grounds are among the best on the entire Douluo Continent."

With that, Ye Lingling led the two deeper inside.

Just as the three were nearing the exit of the simulated training grounds, a pungent, sickly sweet smell suddenly drifted over, making Xiao Wu frown.

"What's that smell? It's so strong!" Xiao Wu pinched her nose.

"It's the training zone for toxic environments."

Ye Lingling paused and explained, "They simulate an environment filled with deadly poison inside. Ordinary students generally don't dare get close, so let's hurry past."

Before she could finish speaking, the door to a training room ahead was pushed open from within.

A tall figure stepped out.

She was a girl of about fourteen or fifteen, with long emerald-green hair falling to her waist. Her face was cold and striking, and her brows carried an arrogant air that warned strangers to stay away.

Most eye-catching of all were her vertical snake pupils, shimmering with green light and inspiring fear at a glance.

The girl spotted Ye Lingling immediately, and the chill in her expression eased somewhat. "Lingling? What brings you here today?"

"Yanyan!"

Seeing who it was, Ye Lingling's eyes brightened with surprise. "I didn't expect to run into you here. Oh, these are two new junior students. I'm showing them around the academy."

"New students?"

Dugu Yan's gaze fell on Tang San and Xiao Wu as she looked them over from head to toe.

Although people on Douluo Continent matured at an absurd rate, the age gap of seven or eight years was right there for anyone to see. Tang San and Xiao Wu were clearly still children.

Moreover, both of them were dressed rather plainly. No matter how she looked at them, they seemed to be of commoner birth.

"Lingling, does the academy accept just anyone now?"

Dugu Yan raised an eyebrow. "They're so young. I'm afraid they aren't even Soul Masters yet, are they?"

"Yanyan, you've misjudged them."

Ye Lingling smiled faintly. "These two are genuine peerless geniuses. Especially Tang San—he's eight years old this year and already a level twenty-four Soul Grandmaster."

"Eight years old, level twenty-four!"

Dugu Yan's pupils contracted slightly, and for the first time, her gaze turned serious.

She had always been a favored daughter of heaven. She awakened her Martial Soul at six and had become a level twenty-nine Soul Grandmaster by fourteen. She was one of the academy's foremost geniuses, yet this eight-year-old child was already in the same realm as her.

"And what about this little girl?" Dugu Yan could not help asking.

"Of course she's a Soul Grandmaster too!"

"There's another expert!"

Dugu Yan's voice suddenly rose several pitches.

Looking at the two children before her, who were barely half her age, Dugu Yan instantly lost her composure.

"Have I been wasting my life all these years?"

"Yanyan, there's something even more outrageous!"

Ye Lingling stepped forward and linked arms with Dugu Yan, whispering into her ear, "Tang San's second Soul Ring is purple!"

"What!"

Dugu Yan instantly clutched her chest, feeling her blood surge violently.

She had been fiercely competitive since childhood and had always believed herself to be a favored daughter of heaven. Only today did she learn what it meant that there was always someone greater.

"Then this little girl isn't also...?"

"Not that one. There can't possibly be that many monsters, right?"

"Phew... thank goodness."

At that thought, Dugu Yan's eyes shifted. She took two steps toward Tang San. "Soul Power levels are one thing on the battlefield. Actually fighting is another. So, little brother, do you have the guts to fight me?"

"Yanyan, this...!"

Ye Lingling's expression changed, and she was about to stop her, but Tang San gently held her back.

"It's fine, Senior Sister."

Tang San smiled slightly and looked at Dugu Yan. "Since Senior Sister has so graciously invited me, I would be disrespectful to refuse."

The sparring ground was an open space outside the training zone.

Dugu Yan rolled her wrists, and two Soul Rings lit up beneath her feet in succession—the standard two-yellow-ring configuration of a Soul Grandmaster.

As the Jade Phosphorous Serpent Martial Soul possessed her, a layer of dark jade Soul Power glowed around her body, while the shadow of a massive emerald serpent vaguely appeared behind her.

"Are you ready, little brother?"

Dugu Yan curled her lips. "Don't fail to withstand even one move."

Before her words had faded, she opened her delicate mouth and spat out a cloud of dark green poison mist.

Tang San's expression did not change. His first Soul Ring lit up beneath his feet. [Blue Silver Evergreen]!

A faint blue light rose from beneath his feet as both his strength and Soul Power began to climb in tandem.

Dugu Yan did not waste words, directly driving the Jade Phosphorous poison mist toward Tang San.

Facing the attack, Tang San calmly raised a hand and flung out three emerald-green Soul Power seeds.

[Seed Bomb]!

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Three muffled explosions erupted within the poison mist, and the energy shockwaves instantly scattered it.

"Good kid!"

She wiped the dust splashed onto her face, the fighting spirit in her eyes growing even fiercer.

This time, she no longer held back. The Soul Rings beneath her feet truly began to flash.

She spat out another mouthful of poison mist, but this time it was no longer dark green. Instead, it carried a strange, ghostly blue hue.

Tang San tried the same tactic, throwing out another three Soul Power seeds.

The explosions rang out, but this time the poison mist was only shaken loose slightly before quickly gathering back together as before.

"It's useless, Junior Brother!"

Dugu Yan's voice came from the other side of the poison mist. "This poison is my Soul Skill this time. It won't be so easy for you to break it!"

Tang San frowned slightly and lifted a leg, preparing to retreat.

However, the training ground was limited in size, and Tang San was soon backed into a corner.

The poison completely enveloped Tang San. A wave of dizziness instantly rushed into his mind, accompanied by bursts of numbness that made his muscles feel as though they would not obey him.

"How is it, Junior Brother?"

Dugu Yan slowly emerged from the poison mist. "My Jade Phosphorous Serpent poison is pretty good, isn't it? Your Soul Power must already be circulating sluggishly. Does it feel like you have strength but can't use it?"

Tang San said nothing. He merely looked at her quietly.

"Not good!"

Seeing Tang San's eyes, alarm bells blared in Dugu Yan's heart!

Before she could react further, several thick blue vines burst from the ground and skillfully bound the girl before them.

"Senior Sister, you were still too careless!"

Enduring the numbness in his muscles, Tang San forcibly unleashed his second Soul Skill. [Ironwood Body] activated!

The Blue Scale Silver Pattern Grass suddenly swelled, its vines hardening and thickening like ironwood as they bound Dugu Yan so tightly that she could barely breathe.