The Clown Yu Tianheng, Dugu Yan's Heart

Everyone eagerly anticipated the impending duel—the long-established number one genius of Heaven Dou Royal Academy against a monstrous new student. It was bound to be an exceptionally thrilling battle.

Yu Tianheng ignored the chatter around him. His eyes remained fixed on Xiao Lin, his voice carrying suppressed fury.

"I'll give you one last chance—leave Heaven Dou Royal Academy, and I'll pretend none of this ever happened."

Xiao Lin sighed, seeming somewhat helpless.

"Tell me, do you really think I'm that easy to push around?"

He raised a hand, and the Nine Phoenix Ceremonial Flute appeared in his grasp out of thin air. The flute was entirely jade-green, gleaming with a warm luster beneath the setting sun. The patterns of nine phoenixes were lifelike, as though they might spread their wings and fly away at any moment.

Immediately afterward, four Soul Rings rose beneath his feet.

One yellow, two purple, and one black.

When that profound black Ten Thousand Year Soul Ring appeared before everyone's eyes, the watching crowd instantly erupted.

"Black! A Ten Thousand Year Soul Ring!"

"His fourth Soul Ring is already ten thousand years old?! How is that possible?!"

"My God... I thought it was just a rumor when I heard it. It was actually true!"

"Senior Yu Tianheng only has two yellow and two purple rings, but he has one black... That ring configuration completely crushes his!"

Yu Tianheng's expression turned even uglier.

He had not known beforehand that Xiao Lin's Soul Ring configuration was so terrifying. He had merely heard that another man had appeared at Dugu Yan's side, and in a moment of impulse, he had come looking for him.

Now that he saw the Ten Thousand Year Soul Ring on Xiao Lin, he realized that he might have kicked an iron plate.

But with the arrow on the string, he had no choice but to fire. If he backed down now, how could he ever hold his head high at Heaven Dou Royal Academy again?

"So what if you have a Ten Thousand Year Soul Ring?" Yu Tianheng gritted his teeth. "A fight isn't decided just by looking at Soul Rings!"

He launched the first attack.

"First Soul Skill—Thunderclap Dragon Claw!"

Yu Tianheng slammed his right foot into the ground and shot toward Xiao Lin like a cannonball. Dazzling lightning gathered around the dragon claw of his right hand, tearing through the air with a shrill howl as it went straight for Xiao Lin's chest!

The strike was both swift and vicious. Empowered by lightning, his speed had reached an astonishing level. An ordinary Soul Ancestor would not even have time to react.

Yet Xiao Lin merely took a light step to the side.

Two bluish-gold trails of sound waves appeared beneath his feet. With the crisp burst of a musical note, his body glided away like Gui Mei, effortlessly evading Yu Tianheng's lethal claw.

Yu Tianheng's claw missed, but he did not lose heart. His body spun with the momentum, and his left claw swept toward Xiao Lin with even fiercer lightning!

Xiao Lin evaded it again with ease. His body drifted like a willow catkin in the wind, elusive and unpredictable. No matter how savage Yu Tianheng's attacks became, he could never touch even a corner of Xiao Lin's robes.

"Are you only capable of dodging?!" Yu Tianheng grew more agitated as the fight went on, and his attacks became increasingly frenzied.

Thunderclap Dragon Claw, Thunderous Might, Wrath of Thunder... He unleashed one Soul Skill after another. Under his control, blue-violet lightning writhed like a swarm of dancing serpents, sealing off the space around Xiao Lin layer by layer.

But Xiao Lin's footwork was simply too bizarre. Every time, he dodged Yu Tianheng's attacks at the very last instant, as if he had anticipated all of his movements in advance.

"It's not that I only know how to dodge. You're just too slow." Xiao Lin's voice came from behind Yu Tianheng, carrying a hint of mockery.

Yu Tianheng whirled around, only to see Xiao Lin standing three steps behind him, watching him calmly. Even his breathing was steady.

"Have you had enough?" Xiao Lin asked. "If you have, then it's my turn."

He raised the Nine Phoenix Ceremonial Flute to his lips and blew softly.

"Third Soul Skill—Ambush from Ten Sides!"

A rapid, tense melody poured forth. Centered on Xiao Lin, visible ripples began appearing in the air within a hundred-meter radius.

The ripples intertwined, forming an invisible net that enveloped Yu Tianheng within it.

Yu Tianheng's expression changed instantly.

He felt his senses being severely disrupted by an invisible force. Xiao Lin was clearly standing not far ahead, yet he had the illusion that his opponent was beyond the horizon.

The scenery around him began to blur and twist, and he could not even accurately tell which direction was which.

"What kind of Soul Skill is this?!" Yu Tianheng paled in shock and hurriedly circulated his Soul Power, attempting to break through the invisible net.

But at that moment, several invisible arrows condensed in the air and shot toward him from different directions!

Yu Tianheng hurriedly swung his dragon claws to block them, but the arrows seemed to have eyes, attacking from all sorts of tricky angles and leaving him hard-pressed to cope.

Worse still, he discovered that the Soul Power within his body was circulating more and more sluggishly, as if something had bound it.

"This can't go on!" Yu Tianheng clenched his teeth, a resolute glint flashing through his eyes.

He suddenly mobilized all the Soul Power in his body and unleashed his strongest attack.

"Fourth Soul Skill—Blue Lightning Divine Dragon Rush!"

Blazing lightning burst from his body, condensing into a massive lightning dragon around him. The dragon raised its head and let out a deafening roar, then pounced fiercely toward Xiao Lin with the force to destroy heaven and earth!

This attack contained all of Yu Tianheng's Soul Power. Its might was enough to level a small hill!

The crowd cried out in alarm and hurriedly retreated, afraid of being caught in the blast.

Yet Xiao Lin showed no trace of panic as the lightning dragon bore down on him.

He lowered the Nine Phoenix Ceremonial Flute and held it horizontally in his hand like a sharp sword.

Then he moved.

Jade Flute Swordsmanship—Third Form, Flute Shatters the Firmament!

Xiao Lin transformed into a streak of green light. Holding the Nine Phoenix Ceremonial Flute like an unsheathed sword, he charged straight at the lightning dragon and thrust forward!

The flute collided with the lightning dragon, producing an earth-shattering boom!

Blue-violet lightning scattered in every direction, blasting blackened craters into the ground. Violent shockwaves spread outward, forcing the onlookers back again and again.

When the dust settled, everyone saw a sight that left them dumbfounded.

Yu Tianheng was kneeling on one knee, blood at the corner of his mouth and his face pale as paper. His Blue Lightning Divine Dragon Rush had been shattered by Xiao Lin's single strike, and the remaining lightning had left several charred marks across his body.

Meanwhile, Xiao Lin still stood where he was. His green robes fluttered in the wind, his aura steady, as if that attack had been beneath notice.

The difference between them was obvious.

The entire area fell silent.

Everyone stared blankly at the youth in green, with only one thought in their hearts—he was terrifyingly strong.

Just then, a green figure pushed through the crowd.

"Xiao Lin! Are you all right?" Dugu Yan hurried to his side, looking him over with a face full of concern. "Are you hurt?"

When Xiao Lin saw Dugu Yan, his eyes shifted. He suddenly clutched his chest and put on a weak expression. "Sister Yan... I... I think I suffered some internal injuries..."

"What?! You're injured?!" Dugu Yan immediately panicked and hurriedly supported him. "Where are you hurt? Is it serious? Should we find a healing-type Soul Master?"

"It's fine... I'll be better after resting for a while..." Xiao Lin said weakly, deliberately leaning a little closer against Dugu Yan.

You want me to stay farther away from Dugu Yan, do you? I refuse!

Seeing this, Yu Tianheng felt a tightness in his chest and nearly spat out another mouthful of blood.

You shattered my strongest Soul Skill with one strike, and now you were telling me you had internal injuries?

Did you even look at who was bleeding?!