Plotting for the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well

The Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well lay deep within Sunset Forest, an exceedingly concealed treasure land.

In the original story, it had been the lair of Poison Douluo Dugu Bo, hidden behind layers of poison formations and illusions. Outsiders simply could not find the entrance. To enter the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, Dugu Bo was an obstacle that could not be bypassed.

And the best way to get close to Dugu Bo was through his granddaughter—Dugu Yan.

Dugu Yan was a student of Heaven Dou Royal Academy and also a frequent visitor to Heaven Dou Great Soul Arena. She had gained some renown among the younger generation.

If he could reach Dugu Bo through her, then find a way to earn that old poison freak's trust, entering the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well would not be difficult.

"Heaven Dou Royal Academy..." Xiao Lin put away the map and looked into the distance. "Then I'll head to Heaven Dou City first."

Heaven Dou City was one of the most prosperous cities on Douluo Continent and the capital of the Heaven Dou Empire.

When Xiao Lin stood before Heaven Dou City's sixty-meter-tall gates, even with all he had seen, he could not help but marvel inwardly—It's huge.

Xiao Lin followed the crowd into the city. He first found an inn to settle into, then began gathering information about Dugu Yan.

However, the information he received surprised him somewhat. Dugu Yan had not been at the academy these past few days; she had gone to Heaven Dou Great Soul Arena to compete.

"A soul arena..." Xiao Lin stroked his chin, a flicker of interest flashing through his eyes.

He had been wondering how to draw Dugu Yan's attention. Now, it seemed the opportunity had delivered itself right to his door.

Heaven Dou Great Soul Arena was located in the heart of Heaven Dou City. It was an enormous circular structure that covered a vast area, grander and more imposing than any stadium Xiao Lin had seen in his previous life.

Before he even drew near, he could hear earthshaking shouts and cheers from within. A fierce match was clearly underway.

Xiao Lin entered the soul arena's lobby, and a wave of heat mixed with the smell of sweat and blood washed over him.

The lobby was packed with people, filled with Soul Masters who had come to watch or compete. He walked to the registration counter, where a middle-aged woman in uniform was handling registrations. When she saw Xiao Lin, her eyes noticeably lit up.

"Handsome boy, here to sign up for a match?" the middle-aged woman asked with a beaming smile, her tone growing much warmer.

"Mm." Xiao Lin nodded. "It's my first time here. Please help me register."

"Of course, of course!" The middle-aged woman briskly pulled out a form. "Name? Age? Martial Soul? Soul Power Level?"

"Xiao Lin, sixteen years old. Martial Soul: Nine Phoenix Ceremonial Flute. Level thirty-eight Soul Elder."

Xiao Lin had deliberately added a few years to his age.

The middle-aged woman filled it out quickly, then asked, "And what will your alias be?"

An alias?

Xiao Lin thought for a moment, and a thought suddenly flashed through his mind. He smiled faintly. "Xiao Ding."

"Xiao Ding?" The middle-aged woman repeated it, writing the two characters onto the form before handing him an iron badge.

"This is your soul fighting badge. Your starting rank is Iron Soul Fighter. You'll gain points for every victory, and once you have enough points, you can advance. Good luck, handsome boy."

Xiao Lin accepted the badge, thanked her, and turned toward the contestants' passage.

The arrangements for his first match came down quickly.

Xiao Lin stood in the contestants' waiting room, looking at the matchup chart on the wall, and could not help raising a brow.

His opponent was a Soul Master codenamed "Demon Wolf," level thirty-eight, with the Demon Wolf Martial Soul. He was one level higher than Xiao Lin, and judging from both his alias and Martial Soul, he was likely a highly aggressive opponent.

"Running into this kind of opponent in the first match... that's not very lucky."

A Soul Master waiting nearby saw the matchup chart and gave Xiao Lin a sympathetic look. "Demon Wolf is a ruthless one. He's already won eight straight matches at the Iron Soul Fighter rank, and he hits especially hard. The last opponent who fought him spent two months in the hospital before getting out. Kid, you'd better pray for yourself."

Xiao Lin merely smiled and said nothing.

Before long, a staff member came to notify him that it was time to enter the arena. He straightened his robes and strode into the soul arena.

The soul arena was a massive circular ring roughly fifty meters in diameter, surrounded by towering stands packed with spectators. Lights converged upon the ring, illuminating the entire venue as brightly as day.

The air was thick with tense excitement, and the spectators' shouts were deafening.

The moment Xiao Lin stepped onto the ring, the stands abruptly fell silent for an instant.

His appearance was simply too outstanding. Dressed in a green robe, with ink-black hair, deep jade eyes, and features as refined as a sculpture, he looked like someone who had stepped out of a painting. He was utterly out of place amid the rough, savage atmosphere of the soul arena.

"Wow—the newcomer is so handsome!"

"Which family's young master is he? He's way too good-looking!"

"What good is being handsome? He'll look good crying after he gets beaten up."

"His opponent is Demon Wolf... it's over, it's over. That face is going to get smashed up."

The audience buzzed with discussion. Some were amazed, some regretful, and some delighted by his misfortune.

At that moment, Xiao Lin's opponent also stepped onto the ring.

He was a burly man with his upper body bare, revealing bronze skin and crisscrossing scars. His arms were as thick as tree trunks, and his knuckles were large and covered in calluses.

A scar ran diagonally across his face from his forehead to his chin. Together with his sinister eyes, it gave him an entirely ferocious air.

"Hehe, pretty boy, your luck isn't very good." Demon Wolf licked his lips, revealing a mouthful of yellow teeth. "I love beating up pretty little things like you. When I smash up that face of yours, don't start crying."

Xiao Lin gave him an indifferent glance and said nothing.

The referee stood in the middle of the ring and raised his right hand. "Both sides, prepare—begin!"

The instant his words fell, Demon Wolf let out a roar. His body suddenly swelled, dense gray fur bursting from beneath his skin as his hands transformed into sharp claws. His entire body entered a half-bestial state.

He kicked off the ground and charged at Xiao Lin like a cannonball, his claws shrieking as they tore through the air and went straight for Xiao Lin's face!

This claw strike was both swift and ruthless!

A wave of startled cries rose from the stands. Many people instinctively shut their eyes, unable to bear the sight of that handsome face being torn apart.

Yet Xiao Lin only let out a soft sigh.

"Such a waste of time."

His figure suddenly became illusory.

Two trails of blue-gold sound waves emerged beneath his feet. It was as though he were stepping on invisible strings, sending ripples through the air.

He lightly stepped to the side. A crisp musical note burst beneath his foot, and he vanished from Demon Wolf's claws like a wisp of green smoke.

Demon Wolf's claw struck nothing. Driven by inertia, he staggered several steps forward, an incredulous expression appearing on his face.

Where was he?!

The next second, a green figure appeared at his side.

Xiao Lin held the Nine Phoenix Ceremonial Flute in his hand. Its body became a sharp sword, piercing toward Demon Wolf's ribs with a fierce whistle through the air!

Jade Flute Swordsmanship—First Form, Flute Cry Shakes the Nine Heavens!