Chapter 37: Tuoba Xi Is Shocked: Dugu Bo, Why Did You Force Your Way into the Holy Dragon Sect? Dugu Bo: It's a Misunderstanding!

"Elder Dugu, you're underestimating what Holy Dragon Academy has to offer."

Yin Changqing smiled gently and took up the explanation.

"Holy Dragon Academy isn't some ordinary clan school.

It used to be the rather well-known Beast Advanced Soul Master Academy."

"Beast Academy?!"

Surprise flashed through Dugu Bo's eyes. "You mean that long-established academy led by the Beast Clan? The one that ranked among the best in the Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Elite Tournament?"

"That's right!"

Pride entered Yin Yu's eyes as he explained.

"The Beast Clan was renowned throughout the Soul Master world. After weighing the state of the continent, the entire clan chose to join our Holy Dragon Sect.

Generations of the Beast Clan have passed down all manner of fierce, powerful Beast Spirits. Their foundations run deep.

After they joined us, Sect Master Tuoba Xi discussed it with the rest of us supreme elders, and we decided to take over Beast Academy in its entirety."

Yin Yu paused, then continued with growing fervor.

"We didn't stop at taking it over. Over the next several years, the Sect poured tens of millions of Gold Soul Coins into expanding and reorganizing the academy!

We tripled the size of the Beast Mimicry Training Grounds and added the Dragon-Type Mimicry Sanctuary, which is unique to the Holy Dragon Sect.

The former academy's dean, vice dean, and dozens of experienced senior Soul Master instructors all stayed on.

The Sect also stationed three Soul Sage elders with real authority at the academy as honorary deans and specially appointed instructors."

"Today, Holy Dragon Academy brings together top instructors in dragon-type and beast-type spirits, assault, agility, control, and more.

In the purity of its mimicry training environments and the abundance of its teaching resources, it's every bit the equal of the facilities at Heaven Dou Royal Academy—facilities hamstrung by nobles and bureaucrats!"

Dugu Yan's beautiful eyes shone with delight.

"I had no idea it had such a history!

I've heard of Beast Academy. Its coordinated Beast Spirit tactics were famous throughout the Soul Master world.

If it's as Uncle Yin says, the training environment there must be far more focused than at Emperor Team Academy!"

Yin Changqing smiled at Dugu Yan and added:

"Yan Yan.

Senior Dugu Bo's spirit has evolved from the Jade Phosphorous Serpent Emperor into the top-tier Beast Spirit, the Jade Phosphorous Flood Dragon Emperor.

That proves the dragon bloodline in the Jade Phosphorous Serpent spirit is exceptionally strong. Your spirit could develop in the same direction one day.

No one at Heaven Dou Royal Academy knows how to guide the physical tempering of a flood-dragon-type spirit.

But at Holy Dragon Academy, the Sect has the continent's most comprehensive training texts on lesser-dragon and beast-type spirits, as well as the Dragon Might Mimicry Gravity Tower.

If you train there, you'll progress at least fifty percent faster than you would at Emperor Team Academy."

At that, Dugu Bo's last misgivings vanished. He clapped his hands in praise.

"Good!

What an academy Holy Dragon Academy has become!

I was worried that leaving Emperor Team Academy would cost Yan Yan the chance to train systematically with a team.

But it seems Heaven Dou Royal Academy isn't fit to carry Holy Dragon Academy's shoes!"

Dugu Bo turned to Dugu Yan, his expression solemn.

"Yan Yan, once we've settled in at the Sect, I'll personally write to Heaven Dou Royal Academy and formally request your withdrawal from its three instructors.

From then on, you'll devote yourself to training at Holy Dragon Academy and grow alongside the Sect's young talents!"

"I'll do whatever you and the young master decide, Grandpa!"

Dugu Yan agreed without hesitation, her face bright with eagerness to prove herself.

As they spoke, the group passed through layer after layer of guard posts and landed directly before Heavenly Dragon Hall on the Holy Dragon Sect's main peak.

The dozens of White-Armored Earth Dragon disciples guarding the hall recognized Yin Yu and Yin Changqing. They dropped to one knee in unison and called out respectfully:

"Welcome back, Supreme Elder!

Welcome back, Young Master!"

"Rise."

Yin Yu waved a sleeve, and a deep, gentle surge of Soul Power lifted them to their feet.

Then he strode into the council hall with Dugu Bo and his granddaughter.

At the center of the hall, Tuoba Xi held a dossier, his brow furrowed as he reviewed secret reports sent in by the Sect's branches across the continent.

Hearing footsteps outside and the disciples' greetings, Tuoba Xi set down the dossier and looked up with a pleased smile.

"Yin Yu, Changqing, you're finally back!

Did you find an opportunity for Changqing on this trip—"

His words cut off as his gaze swept past Yin Yu. When he saw Dugu Bo and Dugu Yan walking in side by side behind him, he froze.

The smile stiffened on Tuoba Xi's face. His eyes went wide, and the Golden Feather Pen slipped from his hand, struck the desk with a clatter, then rolled onto the floor.

"D-Dugu Bo?!"

Tuoba Xi rubbed his eyes. He almost thought he had been reviewing dossiers for so long that he was seeing things.

He shot to his feet. His Soul Power tensed on instinct, and a defensive aura from his White-Armored Earth Dragon spirit began to surface. Disbelief and wariness filled his face.

"Poison Douluo?!

What... what are you doing here?!

Don't you keep to yourself in Heaven Dou City and serve as Prince Xue Xing's honored guest?

Why have you forced your way into the heart of my Holy Dragon Sect?!"

Tuoba Xi even wondered whether Dugu Bo had come for the Golden Earth Dragon King Spirit Bone he had failed to snatch from him.

At the sight of Tuoba Xi bracing for a fight, utterly at a loss, Yin Yu threw back his head and laughed.

"Hahahaha!

Father, put away your Soul Power!

Look at you! You're the master of an entire Sect, yet your eyes are about to pop out of your head!"

Tuoba Xi's mouth twitched. He looked at Yin Yu, who was still laughing.

Then he looked at the perfectly composed Yin Changqing before finally fixing his gaze on Dugu Bo.

What disturbed Tuoba Xi even more was what his keen senses detected about Dugu Bo as he stood in the middle of the hall.

The cold, savage aura and nauseating stench of death that used to cling to him were gone!

In their place was a deep, powerful presence, carrying a faint draconic pressure that made even Tuoba Xi, a level 91 Titled Douluo, feel an inexplicable dread.

"What... what's going on?"

Utterly baffled, Tuoba Xi turned to Yin Yu.

"Yin Yu, what exactly have you been up to?

How did you manage to bring Poison Douluo back with you?!"

Seeing Tuoba Xi so completely thrown, Dugu Bo felt a private flicker of satisfaction, along with a touch of emotion.

He stepped forward. Rather than acting cold and aloof as usual, he cupped his fists in a remarkably courteous greeting.

"Sect Master Tuoba, it's been some time.

I haven't forced my way in. I came back to the Sect with Brother Yin and the young master."

"Young... young master?!"

The title struck Tuoba Xi like a bolt from a clear sky, leaving him thoroughly bewildered.

"Wait!

Dugu Bo, who are you calling young master?!

You're a Titled Douluo, and you've always been proud and impossible to get along with. Since when did you acknowledge a young master?!"