One Shot Kill

"Boom—!"

A deafening explosion rang through the sky, like a thunderclap erupting from level ground. A visible shockwave spread outward from the point of collision, ripping up the stone slabs beneath them and sending shards of rock flying like bullets, forcing the surrounding spectators to retreat.

Then, before everyone's disbelieving eyes, the imposing, menacing Lightning Dragon Claw was torn apart, shattered, and obliterated by the spear light as easily as if it were made of paper, leaving not even a trace behind.

The spear light did not slow, carrying an unstoppable force as it slammed viciously into Yu Tianheng's chest.

"Pfft—!"

Yu Tianheng spat out a mouthful of blood, which arced through the air. His entire body flew backward like a kite with its string cut, tumbling several times before crashing heavily to the ground. He slid another seven or eight meters before coming to a stop, leaving a long trail of blood behind him.

A large patch of dragon scales on his chest had shattered, blood pouring from wounds deep enough to expose bone. He lay on the ground, struggling several times without managing to get up, twitching uselessly like a fish out of water.

One move.

Just one move.

The foremost genius of Heaven Dou Royal Academy, the direct heir of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, could not even withstand a single strike from Lin Ming's spear.

The entire training ground fell deathly silent. One could have heard a pin drop.

Everyone stared blankly at the scene, their minds utterly empty, as though they had lost the ability to think.

Yu Tianheng lay on the ground, gazing up at the sky with hollow, dazed eyes filled with despair and confusion.

Why?

Why had this happened?

He clearly possessed the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon, a top-tier Martial Soul. He had never suffered defeat among his peers. He had clearly used all his strength...

Why could he not even take one strike from Lin Ming's spear?

He could not understand it.

Struggling, he turned his head and saw that Lin Ming had already put away his spear and was walking side by side with Dugu Yan toward the dining hall.

The two chatted and laughed as their figures gradually receded, as though that earthshaking battle had merely been some trivial matter—not even worth a second glance from him.

"Pfft—" Yu Tianheng spat out another mouthful of blood. His vision went dark, and he fainted on the spot.

"Senior Yu Tianheng! Senior Yu Tianheng!"

"Quick! Get him to the infirmary! He's badly injured!"

"Go get a healing-type Soul Master!"

The training ground descended into chaos as the students hurriedly lifted Yu Tianheng and raced toward the infirmary.

Meanwhile, Lin Ming and Dugu Yan had already gone far away.

On the third floor of the dining hall, in a private room by the window.

Lin Ming and Dugu Yan sat facing each other, with the table covered in exquisite dishes.

The braised soul pig trotters gleamed a rich red, their sauce fragrant and thick, sprinkled with bright green scallions that whetted the appetite at a glance. The steamed dragon carp was white as jade, garnished with shredded ginger and scallion segments, sizzling softly after hot oil was poured over it.

It gave off an enticing fresh aroma. The stir-fried phoenix tail mushrooms were tender and smooth, paired with green and red peppers in vivid colors and a fragrance that filled the air. The reishi-braised pork rib soup was clear, with several red dates and goji berries floating within, giving off a faint medicinal scent.

Besides that, there was braised beef, sweet-and-sour pork, broccoli with garlic, cold mixed wood ear mushrooms... an entire table packed full. Every dish was a signature specialty of Heaven Dou Royal Academy's dining hall, complete in color, aroma, and taste.

Lin Ming did not stand on ceremony. He picked up his chopsticks and began eating heartily.

He had been in this world for thirteen years. For the first ten, he had lived from one hungry meal to the next; being able to eat his fill had already been a luxury, much less hoping for delicacies like these.

Although he no longer lacked food or drink after joining the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, he had never eaten dishes this refined.

On top of that, he had recently broken through repeatedly, soaring from Level 23 all the way to Level 36. His body's demand for energy was immense, and he devoured this meal with complete satisfaction, sweeping through it like a storm.

"This dining hall really does taste good." Lin Ming praised it as he ate, his mouth stuffed full enough that his words came out somewhat muffled. "

It's even better than the food at the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. These braised pig trotters are cooked so soft they melt in your mouth, and this steamed dragon carp is unbelievably tender."

Dugu Yan sat across from him, propping up her cheek as she watched him eat. Her eyes were full of amusement, and a gentle curve rested on her lips.

"As long as you like it. If you want to eat here in the future, just come find me. I'll treat you. My grandfather is a Titled Douluo, after all, and I have more allowance than I could ever spend."

"How could I accept that?" Lin Ming said he felt embarrassed, but his chopsticks never paused as he picked up another piece of braised beef and stuffed it into his mouth.

"What's there to be embarrassed about?" Dugu Yan said seriously, sincere light shining in her violet eyes.

"You saved my life, freed me from the poison tormenting me, and even evolved my Martial Soul into the Jade Phosphorous Serpent Emperor. What does treating you to a few meals amount to compared to such a debt? Even if you wanted to eat for the rest of your life, I'd be willing to treat you."

Her words carried a hint of ambiguity. Lin Ming's hand paused halfway through picking up food, and he looked up at her.

Dugu Yan realized what she had said, and her cheeks flushed faintly like ripe apples. She hurriedly lowered her head to drink tea, pretending nothing had happened, but the crimson at the tips of her ears betrayed her thoughts.

Lin Ming smiled without exposing her and continued focusing on his meal. Things like this were best left unspoken; saying them outright would only make things awkward.

During this meal, Lin Ming alone finished eight bowls of rice, six dishes, two bowls of stewed soup, and a dessert afterward. When it came time to pay, the number announced by the server made several nearby tables of students gasp.

"Hello, your total is one hundred Gold Soul Coins."

One hundred Gold Soul Coins was absolutely a huge sum for an ordinary student.

After all, a typical Heaven Dou Royal Academy student only had a little over a dozen Gold Soul Coins for monthly living expenses. One hundred Gold Soul Coins could cover more than half a year of expenses.

But to Lin Ming, that amount was not worth mentioning. Ning Fengzhi gave him one million Gold Soul Coins' worth of cultivation resources every month. He could not possibly spend it all.

If the most expensive dishes on the dining hall menu had not only cost this much, he might even have ordered a thousand-Gold-Soul-Coin imperial feast.

Lin Ming casually pulled out a bag of Gold Soul Coins from his Soul Tool and tossed it onto the table. "Keep the change."

The server's hands trembled as he held the bag of Gold Soul Coins. This gentleman was far too generous!

As Dugu Yan watched Lin Ming pay with such effortless flair, the admiration in her eyes deepened. Women were naturally drawn to strength; it was instinct carved into their bones.

Lin Ming had not only saved her and her grandfather's lives, but he also possessed a god-tier Martial Soul. He had one-shot Yu Tianheng with his spear, displaying absolute strength that crushed everyone of his generation, and he was generous and lavish without the slightest stinginess. How could a man like that not make one's heart stir?

Just as the two were chatting happily, the door to the private room was suddenly pushed open.

A pink figure stood in the doorway, her little mouth pouting and her eyes slightly reddened, like a wronged little rabbit that inspired pity at first sight.

"You two..."

Who else could it be but Ning Rongrong?

She had just finished cultivating and eagerly run over to find Lin Ming for lunch, only to search the entire dining hall without finding him.

She asked several students, and someone said they had seen Lin Ming and a purple-haired girl head into a private room on the third floor. Only then did she come looking for them.