The Threat of Yu Tianheng and Dugu Yan; Royal Fight Team Appears

The atmosphere in the Dean's Office grew increasingly tense. Seeing that Zhou Yan refused to appreciate his kindness, O'lf became enraged. "Hmph, since you insist on dying alongside your student, this old man will grant your wish."

"Enough!" At that moment, a Heaven Star Furnace blocked the way before Tianlin and Zhou Yan. Bai Baoshan had finally stepped in. No matter how much of a pushover he usually was, he could not stand by and watch the students and teachers of his academy be bullied like this.

Two yellow, three purple, and three black Soul Rings pulsed around him. In terms of Soul Ring configuration, he was actually slightly inferior to O'lf. Even though his Soul Power was higher, if they truly fought, his chances of victory might not be absolute.

Seeing Bai Baoshan make his move, O'lf also withdrew his Sunflower. After all, Bai Baoshan's Heaven Star Furnace possessed an incredibly high level of defense, comparable to that of a Titled Douluo. O'lf would not gain any advantage in a short fight.

Bai Baoshan turned back and said, "Tianlin, O'ldo just said that he sought you out last night for a fair spar. He had clearly admitted defeat, yet you still refused to let him go and forcibly cut off his ear. Is that true?"

"Of course it's false. Yesterday, he brought a group of people to gang up on me. There were even Heaven Tier students among them. I was outnumbered and had no choice but to go all out in self-defense. In the end, I couldn't hold back in time and cut off their ears. Senior Ye Lingling can testify to this!" Tianlin was not afraid of them, but neither would he allow himself to be falsely accused.

"Oh, is that so? Then Teacher Zhou Yan, please bring Ye Lingling here." Hearing Tianlin's words, Bai Baoshan became much more resolute. "O'lf, before the truth is clear, I will not allow you to touch Tianlin."

Upon hearing this, Zhou Yan immediately left the Dean's Office. Meanwhile, high in the sky, a white-haired man revealed a faint smile. He had been there for quite some time, yet even the two Soul Douluo within the Dean's Office had failed to detect him. This showed just how terrifyingly high his cultivation had reached.

Before long, Zhou Yan returned. Ye Lingling came with her, along with Qin Ming.

Qin Ming had already been promoted to a Heaven Tier Teacher, and the class he taught happened to be Ye Lingling's class.

"Lingling, you're here. Did you witness what happened in the grove last night? Could you explain it in detail?" Ye Lingling was only an eleven-year-old girl, and Bai Baoshan feared that she might be nervous, so he spoke as gently as possible.

"Yes, last night..." Ye Lingling was just about to tell the truth.

Suddenly, O'lf interrupted, "Wait. Student Ye Lingling, before you speak, I hope you will carefully recall what happened last night. I hear that your Nine Heart Begonia line is passed down through a single heir and that your family is not very powerful. As long as you truthfully testify for my grandson, I can, on behalf of the O' Family of the Balak Kingdom, promise to support your family."

O'lf's words were both a threat and an inducement. He was subtly telling Ye Lingling that the side she chose today would determine whether her family lived or died.

"What do you mean? Are you threatening my student?" Qin Ming immediately grew displeased. The Blazing Fire Wolf possessed him as he glared fiercely at O'lf.

"Hmph, Qin Ming, don't judge a gentleman by your petty standards. Which ear of yours heard Lord O'lf threatening Ye Lingling? My lord is merely asking Lingling to tell the most 'truthful' version of events, so that Young Master O'ldo's grievances will not have been suffered in vain." Ye Ping was nothing more than a lackey, but O'lf was very satisfied with this lackey of his.

"This teacher understands righteousness. This is the kind of virtue a teacher of the Royal Academy should possess. If Teacher Ye ever comes to my Balak Kingdom, I will certainly treat you well."

Ye Ping was overjoyed. O'lf's words were clearly an attempt to recruit him. That was far better than being a mere teacher at the academy. He hurriedly said gratefully, "Thank you, my lord."

Then, he turned his lecherous gaze toward Zhou Yan. "Teacher Zhou, Qin Ming is merely a commoner. He won't amount to much in the future. You should come over to my side instead. I'll definitely treat you well."

"Hmph, you disgust me. Do you know why I like Qin Ming? It's not just because his talent is greater than yours. It's because he is a wolf who does not fear the powerful, a man with a righteous heart. And you, your character is exactly like your Martial Soul. You're both nauseating bootlickers!" Zhou Yan snapped.

Tianlin looked at Zhou Yan in surprise. He had not expected Teacher Zhou to be so skilled at insulting people. Moreover, she seemed not to have realized that she had just confessed to Qin Ming.

When had Qin Ming, a lone wolf all his life, ever experienced something like this? Tianlin felt that after hearing Zhou Yan's words, Qin Ming's fiery red Blazing Fire Wolf had somehow become even redder.

Bai Baoshan, meanwhile, looked at Ye Ping with an unfriendly expression. Was this man saying he wanted to jump ship right in front of him? Not wanting to work here was one thing, but using academy students as stepping stones for advancement had touched his bottom line.

At that moment, Ye Lingling stepped forward and said to O'lf, "My family's future has its own course. There is no need for Senior to concern himself with it."

"Last night, O'ldo led people in attacking Tianlin. They even intended to cripple his Soul Power. That was why Tianlin fought back and accidentally injured O'ldo."

Her account was exactly the same as Tianlin's. With the truth now clear, Bai Baoshan said angrily, "O'lf, what else do you have to say? Tianlin is only seven years old. O'ldo, a grown man, brought a group of people to gang up on a child. Are you saying he wasn't even allowed to resist?"

O'lf's expression became incomparably ugly. He knew that he would gain nothing today. At the very least, with Bai Baoshan present, it was completely unrealistic for him to make a move against Tianlin.

He shot Tianlin and Ye Lingling a vicious glare. "Very well, boy, little girl. You got lucky today. But I hope you stay in the academy forever. After all, the tallest tree in the forest is the first to be toppled by the wind. Outside, geniuses like you are easily snuffed out—especially you, little girl."

Compared to Tianlin, he hated Ye Lingling, that ungrateful little girl, even more. He had already decided that once he returned, he would have his family strike at Ye Lingling's family with full force. He would make sure the Nine Heart Begonia line was utterly wiped out.

"Lingling's safety need not concern a Soul Douluo such as yourself. We will protect her." At that moment, six people suddenly entered through the doorway—five boys and one girl, all around eleven or twelve years old.

The leader had a cold expression and a tall, slender build. More importantly, besides the emblem of Heaven Dou Royal Academy, he wore the clan insignia of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan on his chest.

"My name is Yu Tianheng. My grandfather is named Yu Yuanzhen. I convey my grandfather's greetings to Senior."

After Yu Tianheng spoke, the only girl also stepped forward. "My name is Dugu Yan. I am Lingling's best friend. On behalf of my grandfather, Dugu Bo, I also convey greetings to Senior."

Yu Yuanzhen. Dugu Bo. Upon hearing those two names, O'lf immediately broke out in a cold sweat. Yu Yuanzhen was the clan leader of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, one of the Upper Three Sects, and a level ninety-five Titled Douluo.

Dugu Bo was known as the Poison Tyrant of the World. Though he was currently only level ninety-one, once his poison was unleashed, it could instantly turn an entire city into a lifeless wasteland where not even grass could grow.

He could not afford to offend either of those two. He had not expected Ye Lingling to have the backing of both the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan and Dugu Bo. No wonder she had not feared his threats at all.

Now, Ye Lingling was untouchable.

Tianlin looked curiously at the six of them. Together with Ye Lingling, they were the Royal Fight Team from the original story, weren't they? They were still young, with levels around twenty-five, and were only Heaven Tier students. Yet from the looks of it, they had already become very close friends.