Heaven Dou Royal Academy

Jun Xuehan listened to She Long's words and nodded lightly. "All right, Uncle She Long. I understand."

With that, Jun Xuehan walked straight out of the courtyard and headed toward Heaven Dou Royal Academy. She Long merely smiled as he watched Jun Xuehan's departing figure, saying nothing more.

A crude arena had already been set up within Heaven Dou Royal Academy, with spectator stands directly in front of it. Xue Ye sat in the seat of honor at the top of the stands, waiting for the match to begin.

There were three seats on either side of Xue Ye. On the left sat Ning Fengzhi, Sect Master of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, one of the Upper Three Sects. On the right sat Crown Prince Xue Qinghe and Prince Xue Xing.

A girl of around six, dressed in a white gown with delicate features and tender skin, climbed onto Ning Fengzhi's lap and asked, "Dad, weren't we here to watch something exciting? What's so exciting about this place?"

Hearing the girl's voice, Ning Fengzhi slowly said, "Rong Rong, don't talk nonsense. Sit properly." As he spoke, Ning Fengzhi gave Xue Ye an apologetic smile.

Xue Ye merely waved a hand dismissively, with no intention of speaking.

Ning Rongrong stuck out her tongue at Ning Fengzhi, then looked at the elderly man beside him. "Grandpa Sword!"

The elderly man wore a snow-white robe. His beard and hair were entirely white, while his silver hair was neatly combed behind his back. His features were ancient and unadorned, yet his face was as tender as a baby's, and his expression was indifferent. The moment he heard Ning Rongrong's voice, a gentle smile appeared on his face. He reached out and picked her up. "Fengzhi, Rong Rong is still young. It's only natural for her to be lively. There's no need for you to be so strict with her."

Ning Fengzhi gave a bitter smile. "Uncle Sword, you'll spoil Rong Rong like this."

Chen Xin said disapprovingly, "Spoil her? Who says so? Our Rong Rong is so obedient. How could she possibly be spoiled?"

Ning Rongrong nodded along and said, "That's right, Grandpa Sword is the best." As she spoke, she rubbed her little head against Chen Xin, looking exceptionally well-behaved.

Before long, everyone turned their attention toward the entrance. Jun Xuehan, dressed in white with his silver hair neatly tied behind him and a cold expression on his face, walked unhurriedly into Heaven Dou Royal Academy.

"This... the one challenging Heaven Dou Royal Academy is actually a child? How could he possibly succeed?" Ning Fengzhi shook his head lightly, immediately losing interest in the match.

After all, Heaven Dou Royal Academy had Soul Elders and Soul Ancestors. A child so young, no matter how gifted he was, could at most be a Soul Master. There was simply no way he could succeed.

"He's... he's so cute! Why does he look like an oversized porcelain doll?" Ning Rongrong stared at Jun Xuehan's face, as though little stars had appeared in her eyes.

"Putting everything else aside, this little fellow's looks truly are flawless. But compared to our Rong Rong, he's still just a little lacking." Chen Xin held Ning Rongrong in one arm and spoke with great seriousness.

"Really, Grandpa Sword?" Ning Rongrong blinked her big eyes a few times and turned to look at Chen Xin.

"Of course. In Grandpa Sword's heart, our Rong Rong has always been the prettiest." Chen Xin nodded lightly, speaking as though it were only natural.

Meanwhile, scattered chuckles rose from below the spectator stands. Clearly, no one took Jun Xuehan seriously. Xue Ye, seated in the place of honor, closed his eyes confidently to rest, while Prince Xue Xing yawned and propped his head up with one hand as he quietly watched the scene below.

A referee-like figure stepped onto the Competition Stage, swept his gaze over both sides, and said, "Following discussion by Heaven Dou Royal Academy, this match will consist of five rounds. Whichever side wins three rounds first will win this match. However, remember this: no serious injuries are permitted on the Competition Stage. Stop once a point has been made."

"If you have any objections to Heaven Dou Royal Academy's arrangements, you may raise them, and we will make revisions." The referee turned his gaze toward Jun Xuehan and asked.

Jun Xuehan walked straight onto the Competition Stage and shook his head lightly. "No need to change anything. This is fine. It's quite fair."

The referee nodded slightly. "All right. Since you have no objections, the match officially begins. Contestants, enter the stage."

Below the spectator stands, Yu Tianheng stared intently at Jun Xuehan. Just as he was about to step forward, a voice sounded. "Captain, let me handle a child like him. Looking at him, he might not even be weaned yet."

Yu Tianheng closed his eyes upon hearing that voice. "Osler, don't underestimate him. I fought him at the Heaven Dou Great Spirit Arena. I lost."

Osler raised a hand and dug at his ear, disbelief filling his eyes. "Captain, what did you say? You fought him in the Soul Arena, and you lost? Captain, don't joke with me."

Yu Tianheng shook his head lightly. "Do I look like I'm joking? In any case, be careful. Just don't underestimate him."

The contemptuous look on Osler's face vanished, replaced by a solemn expression. "Don't worry, Captain. I won't underestimate him."

Osler walked onto the Competition Stage with a serious expression. Looking at Jun Xuehan ahead of him, he said, "Osler, martial soul: Ghost Leopard. Level 21, Two Rings, Agility Assault System Battle Soul Master. Please enlighten me!"

Jun Xuehan released his martial soul, and the Silver Dragon Spear appeared in his hand. A yellow soul ring lit up beneath his feet. He had no intention of announcing his martial soul and attacked Osler directly.

He truly had no fondness for the habit of announcing martial souls before a fight. Once a martial soul was released, it was not as though the opponent could not see it. Was there really any need to explain it in such detail? Watching Jun Xuehan charge straight at him, Osler could not help but feel a trace of anger. How much did this guy look down on him, to not even announce his martial soul?

Osler moved, leaving streaks of afterimages across the Competition Stage as he charged directly toward Jun Xuehan.

Jun Xuehan narrowed his eyes as he watched the afterimages before him. Predicting Osler's path, he swung the spear in his hand into an Upward Slash to the left. Osler, who had just moved over, was sent flying by the Silver Dragon Spear. The spear then struck down from above, lashing Osler's body and sending him flying off the Competition Stage, where he crashed heavily onto the ground.

Everything happened too quickly. Before anyone around them could react, they saw Osler seemingly crash into the silver spear on his own, then get sent flying. The battle was over.