Yu Tianheng Picks a Fight

Xiao Lin politely declined the three education committee members' requests to take him as a disciple, explaining that he already had a teacher and could not conveniently take another.

Although Dream Divine Machine and the other two were somewhat disappointed, they did not force the matter. They merely said that Xiao Lin could come to them at any time if he encountered any problems in his cultivation, and the three of them would guide him together.

For a genius who had reached rank forty-eight at the age of thirteen, the three Soul Douluo naturally did not begrudge him their goodwill.

Afterward, Xiao Lin completed his enrollment procedures with Dugu Yan accompanying him.

With a grand wave of his hand, Dream Divine Machine directly assigned Xiao Lin a standalone courtyard as his dormitory. The courtyard was not large, but it was quiet and elegant, with complete facilities. At Heaven Dou Royal Academy, only the most outstanding genius students could enjoy such treatment.

Dugu Yan lived next door, and the two agreed to have dinner together at the cafeteria that evening.

At dusk, the two walked side by side down the academy's tree-lined path. The lingering rays of the setting sun filtered through gaps in the leaves, casting mottled patches of light and shadow across the ground.

A gentle breeze carried waves of floral fragrance, and the academy's scenery was beautiful and pleasant.

"By the way, do you know about the Mimicry Training Grounds?" Dugu Yan asked as they walked.

"That's one of Heaven Dou Royal Academy's greatest advantages. The Mimicry Training Grounds can simulate the environment most suitable for cultivation based on your Martial Soul's attributes. For example, if you have a fire-attributed Martial Soul, you can cultivate in a fiery environment. The efficiency is several times higher than ordinary meditation."

Xiao Lin's eyes lit up. "There's a place like that?"

"Of course!" Dugu Yan proudly lifted her chin. "Heaven Dou Royal Academy has spared no expense in this area. The Mimicry Training Grounds have eighteen separate zones, covering all kinds of common Martial Soul attributes. Your Nine Phoenix Ceremonial Flute should have both sound-wave and fire attributes. When the time comes, you can try the corresponding zone. Your cultivation speed will definitely increase by quite a bit."

Xiao Lin nodded, silently calculating. If he could use the Mimicry Training Grounds to accelerate his cultivation, he should be able to break through to rank fifty before the Continental Advanced Spirit Master Elite Tournament began—perhaps even higher.

The two chatted as they walked and soon arrived at the cafeteria. Heaven Dou Royal Academy's cafeteria was enormous, with a rich variety of dishes that also tasted quite good. Xiao Lin was eating heartily, unaware that trouble was quietly brewing.

After dinner, Xiao Lin returned to his small courtyard, ready to wash up and rest. Yet the moment he pushed open the courtyard gate, he discovered an uninvited guest inside.

It was a young man who looked seventeen or eighteen. He was tall and powerfully built, with short blue hair standing straight up like steel needles.

His sharply defined face carried an unruly air, and his blue eyes were currently fixed coldly on Xiao Lin, their gaze filled with obvious hostility.

Xiao Lin froze for a moment, certain that he did not know this person.

"Who are you?" he asked. "Did you enter the wrong courtyard?"

The blue-haired young man did not answer. Instead, he strode up to Xiao Lin and looked down at him, his voice icy. "Are you Xiao Lin?"

"That's me." Xiao Lin frowned. "What do you want?"

"My name is Yu Tianheng." The blue-haired young man announced his name with a hint of pride in his tone. "Yu Tianheng of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan."

Xiao Lin suddenly understood.

Yu Tianheng, the direct heir of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, a genius student of Heaven Dou Royal Academy, and the captain of the Imperial Fighting Team in the original story.

"Oh, so it's Senior Yu." Xiao Lin spoke blandly. "May I ask what you wanted with me?"

Yu Tianheng stared at him and said each word deliberately. "I want you to stay away from Yan'er."

Xiao Lin raised an eyebrow. "Why?"

"Because she is mine." Yu Tianheng's tone carried an overbearing certainty, as if it were only natural. "We grew up together as childhood sweethearts. You're an outsider who just arrived, so you'd best not meddle between us."

Xiao Lin was speechless after hearing that. This damned romance continent—could there not be something besides romance?

He was only thirteen.

"Senior Yu, I think you've misunderstood." He spoke calmly.

"I don't have that kind of interest in Dugu Yan. I came to Heaven Dou Royal Academy to study and cultivate, not to fall in love. Besides, I'm only thirteen. I have no interest in thinking about such things."

Yu Tianheng's expression eased slightly, but he remained wary. "Is that true?"

"It's true." Xiao Lin spread his hands. "If you don't believe me, there's nothing I can do about it."

Yu Tianheng fell silent for a moment before saying, "Fine, I believe you. But you must leave Heaven Dou Royal Academy."

Xiao Lin's smile froze.

"Why?" His voice turned cold. "I've already said that I have no interest in Dugu Yan. Why do you still want me to leave?"

"Because your very existence is a threat," Yu Tianheng said coldly.

"I can tell from Yan'er's attitude toward you. She has never been this close to any other boy. Even if you have no such thoughts, as long as you remain by her side, something will happen sooner or later."

"So you want me to leave?" Xiao Lin narrowed his eyes slightly, and a dangerous edge entered his voice.

"That's right." Yu Tianheng did not back down. "Leave Heaven Dou Royal Academy, and I can give you a sum of money—enough for you to live well at another academy."

Xiao Lin was silent for a moment, then he smiled.

It was a very cold smile.

"Get lost."

Xiao Lin uttered only one word. His tone was calm, as though he were shooing away an annoying fly.

Yu Tianheng's face instantly turned livid.

Who was Yu Tianheng? The direct heir of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, the publicly acknowledged number one genius of Heaven Dou Royal Academy. Wherever he went, people fawned over him and treated him with awe.

And now, a freshman who had only just enrolled had actually told him to "get lost" to his face. How could he tolerate that?

"You're courting death!" Yu Tianheng roared as Soul Power erupted from his body.

Blue-violet lightning burst from within him, crackling as it formed a dazzling suit of lightning armor over his body.

His eyes transformed into vertical pupils, fine blue scales emerged across his skin, and his hands became sharp dragon claws with arcs of electricity dancing around his fingertips.

Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Martial Soul, possession!

Two yellow and two purple Soul Rings rose beneath his feet, slowly revolving around his body and radiating a powerful aura.

Rank forty-four Soul Ancestor, Yu Tianheng.

The commotion quickly drew the attention of nearby students. It was the break after dinner, and many students were strolling through the academy and chatting. Hearing the noise, they all gathered around.

"Isn't that Senior Yu Tianheng? Who is he confronting?"

"Seems like that freshman who arrived today... What was his name again? Xiao Lin?"

"Xiao Lin? That freak who reached rank forty-eight at thirteen?"

"Damn, no wonder Senior Yu Tianheng came personally. So he ran into an opponent!"

"They're going to fight! Hurry and get people over here to watch!"

More and more spectators gathered, and before long, Xiao Lin's small courtyard was surrounded so tightly that not even water could pass through.