Young Genius Rankings: The Battle for Supremacy!

"Golden Dragon, take this."

Gu Yuena handed him a small golden orb.

"What's this?"

"Some of the Sky Dream Ice Silkworm's million-year energy. I extracted enough to keep you cultivating for a while."

Gu Yuena smiled, affection shining in her eyes.

"I need a little more time to recover. After that, I'll come find you."

With those words, Gu Yuena kissed Lu Ming on the lips. Warmth swept through his body, and the power of the Golden Dragon King bloodline stirred.

"A parting gift. Go on!"

Lu Ming nodded. The Flying Thunder Wings spread behind him, with Xiao Wu on his left and Little Rui on his right!

Any man—or woman—who saw him like that would cough up blood on the spot.

Lu Ming's cultivation had soared. With the golden orb of Sky Dream Ice Silkworm energy to keep him going, his speed had increased dramatically.

He returned to Heaven Dou Royal Academy in just a few hours.

Even an ordinary Titled Douluo couldn't match that speed.

"Xiao Xiao!"

After a month apart, Lu Ming had missed her terribly. He wrapped his arms around her fair neck and pressed his round head against her cheek.

"All right, all right!"

Xiao Xiao fondly rubbed Lu Ming's head, her voice so gentle she sounded as though she were soothing a child.

Xiao Wu and the Three-Eyed Golden Lion refused to be left out. One came from each side, and the four held each other tight.

Only when Xiao Xiao's back began to sweat did she firmly pull Xiao Wu and the Three-Eyed Golden Lion away. Lu Ming clung on for a few more moments before reluctantly letting go.

"Look!"

Xiao Xiao's smile was as sweet as a flower in spring.

Lu Ming took what she offered with a puzzled look. The corners of his mouth rose slightly.

"These papers from the Imperial City Soul Arena aren't bad. They make me sound downright legendary."

"Oh, you!"

"It's only been a month, yet your Soul Power has reached level 53. What have you been doing all this time?"

Xiao Xiao tapped Lu Ming's forehead with a slender finger and looked at him curiously.

Lu Ming flushed and fidgeted, unable to get the words out...

"Xiao Xiao, My Lord has been cultivating with the Silver Dragon Lord. That's why he improved so quickly!"

Lu Ming was too embarrassed to say it himself, so Xiao Wu did it for him. She wasn't called the Hundred-Thousand-Year Rogue Rabbit for nothing.

"Oh!"

Xiao Xiao drew the word out, a knowing smile on her lips.

That little rabbit's asking for it. I'll hang her up and give her a beating tonight!

Lu Ming kept the thought to himself.

"Xiao Xiao, I still need to ask about something at the Imperial City Soul Arena. I'll be going."

Lu Ming smiled awkwardly and pulled Xiao Wu toward the Soul Arena.

Before going in, though, he had to change back into women's clothes and appear as the Golden Dragon Princess.

At the Imperial City Soul Arena, in the manager's office,

"Golden Dragon Princess, you're finally here! I haven't heard from you in a month. I was worried sick!"

The manager sprang up to greet her and hurried to brew a pot of good tea.

"You mean you were worried your cash cow had run off!"

The Golden Dragon Princess was joking.

The manager scratched his head and laughed awkwardly. She was right!

Since the Golden Dragon Princess had arrived, the Imperial City Soul Arena's revenue had multiplied dozens of times. Even other Soul Arenas had seen a huge increase.

She hadn't fought a single match in the past month, yet revenue had kept climbing. The manager could have bowed to her in gratitude!

"By the way, didn't you join forces with the Two Great Empires and Spirit Hall to establish the Young Genius Rankings? I hear the rewards are generous!"

The manager nodded at once.

"We owe that to His Highness Xue Qinghe of the Heaven Dou Empire! If he hadn't personally approached the Star Luo Empire and Spirit Hall, our Imperial City Soul Arena could never have pulled it off!"

"I'm telling you, Golden Dragon Princess, His Highness Xue Qinghe is a breath of fresh air in the royal family. He's warm and considerate, impeccable in his dealings between the two nations, and beloved by our people."

The manager glanced around and lowered his voice.

"They say His Highness Xue Qinghe has never been in a relationship. He doesn't fool around, either. Would you like me to arrange a meeting with him?"

The Golden Dragon Princess's smile stiffened for a moment.

Well... she's a woman, and she's still undercover in the Heaven Dou Empire...

"No need. I know His Highness Xue Qinghe."

The Golden Dragon Princess shook his head and declined with a smile.

The manager wasn't especially surprised. His Highness Xue Qinghe had gone to such lengths to help her; surely they were friends.

He only wondered whether their relationship might go further.

The Golden Dragon Princess was stunning and powerful;

His Highness Xue Qinghe was refined and noble.

To the manager, they were a match made in heaven.

"How are the Young Genius Rankings determined?"

Lu Ming asked.

The rewards for the top ten on the Young Genius Rankings were extremely generous.

Even tenth place would receive a Ten Thousand Year Soul Bone and two million Gold Soul Coins. First place would receive three soul bones and ten million Gold Soul Coins!

The rankings would be updated every three years, and the first contest for a place on them would begin next month!

There were rewards below the top ten as well. With so much on offer, no one would pass up the chance to try.

That was why Lu Ming wanted to know how the rankings worked.

The manager explained readily. "Golden Dragon Princess, rankings are calculated from each fighter's individual win rate in the Soul Arena."

"The higher your win rate, the more points you earn and the higher you rank."

"Of course, individual matches alone would be dull, so we'll introduce matches against multiple opponents. You can fight two, three, four, five, six, or seven at once."

"The more opponents you face, the more points you earn. That should suit you perfectly, Golden Dragon Princess."

The Golden Dragon Princess took a sip of tea and nodded. He also told the manager he had advanced to Soul King.

The manager was stunned. So the Golden Dragon Princess had disappeared to cultivate in seclusion and break through—but wasn't that speed outrageous?

Anyone under twenty-five could enter the Young Genius Rankings, just as with the All-Continent Advanced Soul Master Elite Tournament.

Lu Ming walked back with a spring in his step. First place on the Young Genius Rankings was as good as his.

At the door to Lu Ming's private suite,

Xiao Wu walked straight into Lu Ming's solid back. Her head throbbed.

The Golden Dragon Lord was far too hard!

"Ah!"

Xiao Wu cried out.

Lu Ming bound her delicate hands with rope and hoisted her into a tree.

Her pink outfit pulled slightly taut, showing off her lovely figure. Her long, straight legs were clad in pink stockings.

Lu Ming approached slowly, a wicked smile on his face.

"My Lord... Xiao Wu isn't ready yet."

Does the Golden Dragon Lord have some strange preference?

Panic showed on Xiao Wu's face. She didn't understand, but she would respect it.

"Not ready? Am I supposed to wait until you are?"

Lu Ming snapped a twig off a small tree.

Smack! Smack! Smack!

The thin switch struck Xiao Wu's backside, making her howl in pain.

At last, he had his revenge. That little rabbit needed to be hung up and beaten!

"Still going to run your mouth? Still going to run your mouth? Still going to run your mouth?"

Lu Ming kept striking her with the switch. A moment later, Xiao Xiao rushed over.

With a flick of her finger, she freed Xiao Wu from the tree!

"Come with me!"

A cold glint flashed in Xiao Xiao's eyes. She took Lu Ming firmly by the hand and led him into the room.

"Xiao Xiao, it was my fault for talking too much! Please don't hit My Lord!"