Yan's Provocation: Kneel Down and Call Me Dad?

Several hours later, night quietly fell.

Ning Chen slowly opened his eyes, his gaze sharp.

He rose to his full height and stretched his limbs. His entire body crackled, and the pain that had wracked him earlier had completely vanished. He even felt more invigorated than before.

"Very good."

Ning Chen clenched his fist, feeling the surging power within him, and sneered.

"Yan, was it?"

"I hope you can entertain me for a little while."

With that, his figure vanished from the residence, racing toward Spirit Academy.

Spirit Academy.

As Spirit Hall's foremost institution for cultivating core talents, it gathered gifted youths from across the continent.

Though it was already late at night, the academy remained brightly lit, with students diligently training everywhere.

The moment Ning Chen's tall figure appeared at the academy gates, he immediately drew the attention of many people.

"Look! It's His Highness the Holy Son!"

"His Highness the Holy Son is back? Didn't he disappear?"

"Nonsense! His Holiness the Pope said a few days ago that His Highness the Holy Son had merely gone out to train!"

"Oh my god, His Highness the Holy Son is so handsome..."

For a moment, the surrounding students stopped what they were doing, their gazes converging on Ning Chen, their eyes filled with awe and admiration.

Ning Chen had long grown accustomed to such discussion. Expressionless, he headed straight toward the Soul Fighting Arena deep within the academy.

His purpose in coming here was clear: to find Yan.

At that moment, a crisp, pleasant voice tinged with surprise came from nearby.

"Young Master!"

Ning Chen paused and turned toward the voice.

A young woman in an emerald-green dress was jogging toward him, her face brimming with delight.

She was tall and breathtakingly beautiful, her long black hair gently swaying as she ran. It was none other than Dugu Yan.

"Young Master, you finally came!"

Dugu Yan ran up to Ning Chen, her eyes sparkling as she made no attempt to hide her joy at seeing him.

She had been worrying over her grandfather, but the instant she saw the person she had been longing for, all the troubles in her heart vanished.

"Why are you here?" Ning Chen asked her gently.

"My grandfather... Chrysanthemum Elder took him to the Elder Hall to register. I was bored staying alone at my residence, so I wanted to take a stroll around the academy," Dugu Yan said somewhat shyly.

She had actually come to see whether Ning Chen was here. She had not expected to be so lucky as to truly run into him.

"Mm." Ning Chen nodded, then asked,

"How does it feel being at Spirit Hall? Have you adjusted?"

"I have! Of course I have!"

Dugu Yan hurriedly nodded, her smile radiant.

"The teachers at Spirit Hall are especially kind to Yanyan. After learning that my martial soul was the Jade-Scaled Venom Flood Dragon, they even specially made a training plan for me! And the cultivation resources here are so much better than those at Heaven Dou Imperial Academy!"

"And Grandpa just sent me a message. He said he has officially joined the Elder Hall and become an elder of Spirit Hall! He's so happy!"

Dugu Yan chattered away, sharing her joy with Ning Chen.

Seeing how genuinely happy she was, Ning Chen's mood improved as well.

It seemed bringing the grandfather and granddaughter to Spirit Hall had indeed been the right decision.

"That's good." Ning Chen reached out and naturally ruffled her hair, speaking softly.

"If you encounter any difficulties, or if anyone dares to bully you, make sure to tell me immediately. Understand?"

"Mhm, mhm!"

Dugu Yan's pretty face reddened at his intimate gesture. Her heart felt as sweet as honey as she obediently nodded.

Young Master... is he worried about me?

He treats me so well...

Just as the atmosphere between them grew warm and ambiguous, a voice full of hostility and provocation rang out at the worst possible moment.

"Ning Chen! I didn't expect you to actually dare show up!"

"I thought hearing about my challenge would scare you into hiding like a turtle!"

Before the voice faded, a burly young man with short fiery-red hair strode over from nearby.

With every step he took, scorching heat radiated from his body. His eyes were locked firmly on Ning Chen, filled with undisguised fighting intent and hostility.

It was Yan, another core member of Spirit Hall's Golden Generation.

Yan's gaze fell upon Ning Chen, and when he saw the smiling Dugu Yan standing beside him, the flames of jealousy in his eyes burned even hotter.

Why was this Ning Chen always surrounded by so many beautiful women?

First Nana, and now another one!

What a damned womanizer!

Today, I'll crush him beneath my feet in front of everyone!

I'll let Nana, and everyone else, see who the true number one among Spirit Hall's younger generation is!

Ning Chen looked at the posturing Yan and merely spat out a few words.

"A defeated opponent like you thinks I'd fear you?"

That casual remark made Yan freeze instantly.

Yan's face immediately flushed red, veins bulging one after another across his forehead.

"You!"

He clenched his fists tightly and said viciously,

"Ning Chen! Don't get cocky! Things are different now! I'm not the person I used to be!"

"Today, I'll wash away my past humiliation!"

"Is that so?"

Ning Chen finally gave him a proper look, as though he were nothing more than a clown jumping about.

"I'll be waiting."

Yan was thoroughly enraged by his contemptuous attitude. He roared and pointed at Ning Chen's nose.

"Ning Chen! What's the point of merely fighting? Dare to make a bet with me?"

"Oh?" Ning Chen finally showed a hint of interest.

"Interesting. Let's hear it. What kind of bet?"

He wanted to see what new trick this fool could come up with.

Yan looked at Ning Chen, revealing a cruel, smug smile as he enunciated each word. "Very simple!"

"Today, whichever one of us loses must kneel before the winner, kowtow, and call the other person Dad three times in front of everyone in the academy!"

"Well? Do you dare?!"

He stared fixedly at Ning Chen, his eyes filled with crazed provocation.

He refused to believe that Ning Chen could maintain that damned calmness under a wager like this!

He had already planned it all out in his heart.

Although he had always been unable to defeat Ning Chen before, he had now broken through to level forty-eight! His soul power had increased tremendously!

And Ning Chen was only level forty-four.

Today, he had absolute confidence that he could defeat Ning Chen!

He could barely wait to see Ning Chen kneeling before him, crying miserably as he called him Dad!

When the time came, he would see whether Nana would still look at Ning Chen differently!

Hearing the wager, the surrounding students watching the scene instantly erupted.

"Holy shit! They're going that far?!"

"The loser has to kneel down and call him Dad? That's way too ruthless!"

"Has Yan gone insane? Where did he get that confidence?"

Even Dugu Yan, standing beside Ning Chen, could not help frowning. She tugged lightly on his sleeve and whispered,

"Young Master, don't bet with him. This wager is too humiliating."