Aftermath: Pressure from a Soul Douluo

Early in the morning, Tianlin awoke from meditation and exhaled a mouthful of turbid air. This was the more impure portion of his Soul Power. With the Nüwa Emperor Meditation Method, he could cultivate while sorting through it, and in the end, all the Soul Power he cultivated would be exceptionally pure.

"Whew, that felt great. Those bastards yesterday were annoying, but they weren't completely useless." Feeling the considerable increase in his Soul Power, Tianlin's mood improved considerably.

After battling so many people in one go yesterday, he had nearly exhausted all his Soul Power. Following a night of meditation, not only had he recovered, but he had also broken through to level nineteen. One more level, and he could hunt for his second Soul Ring.

What delighted him even more was that his Seven Kill Swordplay had finally reached the beginner stage. It turned out that comprehending the sword intent of the Seven Kill Swordplay did not necessarily require killing someone; all he needed was the intent to kill.

Yesterday, when Tianlin had resolved to kill those people, overwhelming killing intent had naturally gathered around him. When he used Killing Intent Spreads, it had flowed a hundred times more smoothly than during his usual practice, and its power had been far greater as well.

Knock, knock, knock! Just as Tianlin was about to leave, a hurried knock sounded from outside. Opening the door, Tianlin found his homeroom teacher, Zhou Yan.

"Teacher Zhou, why are you here so early? It's not even time for class yet. Don't worry, I won't be late."

"What class are you still talking about? Do you know you've caused a huge mess?" Zhou Yan was frantic. "Last night, did you cut off Chu Jie's and O'ldo's ears? They sent word to their families overnight, and now both families have come to the Dean's Office to make trouble."

"So it's that. What's there to be afraid of? They were the ones who provoked me yesterday. Besides, at Heaven Dou Royal Academy, they wouldn't dare run wild so casually, would they?" Tianlin was completely unafraid.

"You... do you know who came? Chu Jie isn't too bad. His father is only the city lord of some small city, with Soul Power merely at the Soul King level. But O'ldo's family is different. His grandfather, O'lf, is one of Balak Kingdom's foremost experts, the head of the O' Family, and an eighty-first-level Soul Douluo. I heard he dotes on his grandson greatly. He also happened to be in Heaven Dou City these past few days to visit him, so he definitely won't let this go." Zhou Yan did not know Tianlin's identity, but it was clear that she was genuinely worried about him. As a teacher, she did not want such a promising student to be ruined like this.

What worried her even more was that among the academy's three Education Committee members, only Bai Baoshan was present today. The other two had gone to the palace to see His Majesty. Bai Baoshan was famously kindhearted, and she feared he would not be able to keep O'lf in check.

"Don't worry, Teacher Zhou. Since they want to deal with me, I'll go meet them!"

Seeing that Tianlin was completely unmoved, Zhou Yan could only say, "Forget it, what's done is done. Tell me everything that happened last night exactly as it occurred. Don't leave out a single detail. We can't overlook any information that might help you."

"Alright. Last night..."

As they walked, Tianlin recounted the events. Zhou Yan's eyes lit up after hearing him out. No matter how she looked at it, the other side was at fault in yesterday's incident. At most, Tianlin could be considered to have used excessive force in self-defense. If so, as long as she did her best to mediate, perhaps Tianlin would receive no more than a severe disciplinary punishment.

The two soon arrived at the Dean's Office. Before they entered, they heard an elderly voice roaring furiously inside.

"Bai Baoshan, I entrusted my grandson to Heaven Dou Royal Academy, and this is how you looked after him? His ears are gone!"

"Mr. O'lf, please calm down first. When Tianlin arrives, we can carefully review what happened." Bai Baoshan's honest-sounding voice rang out, seemingly trying hard to persuade him.

The three Education Committee members in the Dean's Office were all very powerful, but they shared one flaw: all three were too kindhearted. In Tianlin's view, any one of them was stronger than that old man named O'lf, so why did they have to be so accommodating toward him?

"Hmph, just wait until that little bastard gets here."

O'lf had just been about to curse when Tianlin shoved open the door. "Hey, old man, I'm here. What do you want to do about it?"

There were four people in the Dean's Office: Bai Baoshan and O'lf, the victim O'ldo, and Tianlin's other teacher, Ye Ping.

At Tianlin's arrogant words, they all turned to look at him.

Zhou Yan was startled and hurriedly said, "I'm sorry, Mr. O'lf. He's only a child and doesn't know better. Please forgive his disrespect."

O'lf was a Soul Douluo, someone Tianlin absolutely could not afford to provoke. This was not the time to confront him head-on.

"Teacher Zhou, there's no need to apologize to him. Because I know that even if I knelt and admitted my mistake, he still wouldn't let me go. Isn't that right, old man?" Tianlin glanced at O'lf with disdain.

At those words, the enraged O'lf calmed down instead. As expected of the head of a great family, he could control his temper. "Hehe, brat, you're right. I never intended to let you go today. Tell me, how do you want to die?"

As he spoke, O'lf slowly circulated his Soul Power. A Sunflower appeared in his hand, while eight Soul Rings—two yellow, two purple, and four black—lit up around him.

He actually intended to strike directly. He had already learned from his grandson that Tianlin was merely a commoner. Though he did not know why Tianlin had been admitted into Heaven Dou Royal Academy, which accepted only nobles, O'lf was a duke and a Soul Douluo. Even if he killed this commoner, would the royal family really turn against him over a dead man?

Behind him, O'ldo looked at Tianlin smugly. His meaning was obvious: Dare provoke me? This is the outcome. I originally only planned to cripple you, but since you don't know what's good for you, pay with your life! "Stop right there!" Zhou Yan stepped in front of Tianlin. One white, one yellow, and two purple Soul Rings appeared around her, while a pair of dazzling wings extended from her back. This was her Martial Soul, the butterfly.

"A mere Soul Ancestor dares stand in my way?" O'lf sneered, then his Soul Power erupted. Against a Soul Ancestor, he did not even need to use a soul skill. Soul Power alone was enough to crush her until she could barely breathe.

"Teacher Zhou, don't be impulsive. That little bastard brought this upon himself. It isn't worth getting hurt for him!" Ye Ping, who had been watching from the sidelines, immediately grew anxious. It was obvious that he liked Zhou Yan.

"Teacher Ye, Tianlin is not a little bastard. He is my student. There are still many things about last night that haven't been made clear. How can you place all the blame on my student based solely on Mr. O'lf's one-sided account?" Zhou Yan suddenly became firm. Her strength might be lacking, but she would not retreat at a time like this.

"Mr. O'lf is a Soul Douluo. Would he falsely accuse a child? You should stay out of this. Come over here quickly." Ye Ping's meaning was equally obvious. On one side was a Soul Douluo; on the other was a commoner with Soul Power only in the teens. Did right and wrong even matter? Choosing a side was what mattered.