Ice Crystal Snow Lotus

Yu Tianheng smiled.

It was a smile of acceptance, tinged with self-mockery, but above all, relief.

"Accept it? There's no question of accepting it or not."

He watched the sun slowly sink toward the horizon, his voice calm.

"Dugu Yan, you know, ever since I was little, people have called me a rare genius of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect. Among my peers, I've almost never met a true rival. I thought I would keep pulling ahead like that until I stood at the pinnacle of the continent."

He paused and turned toward the training grounds.

"But today, Her Highness showed me what a true genius looks like. A twelve-year-old Soul Ancestor, a ten-thousand-year fourth soul ring, exquisite control over her soul skills... those are all things I can't achieve."

"There's no shame in losing to her."

Yu Tianheng's gaze grew resolute.

"On the contrary, I'm glad. Glad I could meet such a powerful opponent while I'm still so young, someone worth chasing after."

He looked at Dugu Yan and said earnestly, "Dugu Yan, didn't we join Heaven Dou Royal Academy to become stronger? Now we have such a powerful captain to lead us. Isn't this the best opportunity we could ask for?"

Dugu Yan stared at him in a daze.

After a long while, she finally nodded gently.

"You're right."

She drew a deep breath, and her first genuine smile in days appeared on her face.

"Let's become stronger together."

"All right."

They exchanged a smile and walked side by side toward the setting sun.

Meanwhile, in the training grounds, Snow White stood alone on the arena platform with her eyes closed, feeling the soul power surging through her body.

In the battle just now, she had actually used less than half her strength.

Not because she had