Lightning Against Lightning

When Yu Tianheng proposed a one-move challenge, Qin Ming frowned.

"Tianheng."

Yu Tianheng did not look back.

"Teacher, I know what I'm doing."

Yuan Yu had already stepped onto the Dueling Platform.

He did not release his Spirit Rings.

He simply held his sheathed Sun Wheel Blade.

The Spirit Arena lights fell on him, making his white clothes stand out.

The spectators who had complained that he was not fighting had fallen silent.

A level fifty-five Soul King.

Twelve years old.

Three consecutive wins in the Soul King Division.

No matter how much people talked about those things, seeing him on the Dueling Platform made a stronger impression.

Only when Yu Tianheng stood face-to-face with him did he truly feel the gap between them.

Yuan Yu had not released his Spirit Rings, yet he seemed utterly steady.

As though his blade waited in its sheath for his opponent to make the first move.

Xiao Wu shouted from the edge of the platform, "Yuan Yu, don't hurt him too badly."

Yuan Yu looked back.

"Do I look like that kind of person?"

"Sometimes," Ma Hongjun said.

Yuan Yu glanced at them.

They both fell silent at once.

Opposite him, Yu Tianheng summoned his Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Martial Soul again.

He had just fought a match and had used up a fair amount of Soul Power.

But he had to make this move.

Not to win.

To learn how wide the gap was.

The pride of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan would not let him hear of a twelve-year-old Soul King without even testing him.

Yuan Yu did not smile.

"One move?"

"One move."

"I'll only use the Thunder Pattern."

Yu Tianheng's gaze sharpened.

"Good."

Below the platform, Dugu Yan folded her arms.

"He's that confident?"

Qin Ming shook his head.

"He's letting Tianheng save face."

Dugu Yan said nothing more. She stared at the blade in Yuan Yu's hand.

Ye Lingling raised her eyes too.

She had been quiet until now, but she watched intently.

No one understood injuries better than a Healing Soul Master.

She wanted to see whether Yuan Yu's strike would hurt Yu Tianheng.

If it did, she would be ready to act at once.

Purple-white Thunder Patterns began to glow along the Sun Wheel Blade.

No five Spirit Rings.

No five-colored elements.

Only lightning.

Lightning surged around Yu Tianheng's right arm.

His third Spirit Ring lit up.

Thunderous Fury.

He poured all his remaining Soul Power into his right arm.

"Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon. Yu Tianheng."

Yuan Yu gripped the hilt.

"Sun Wheel Blade. Yuan Yu."

The host did not dare interrupt.

This move was no longer an official match.

It was more like two young men testing each other.

Yu Tianheng moved first.

He stepped forward, and lightning burst from his right arm.

Blue-violet lightning shot straight at Yuan Yu.

Purple-white lightning flared beneath Yuan Yu's feet.

"Thunder Breathing: First Form."

"Thunderclap and Flash."

His figure did not vanish completely.

This time, he did not use his full speed.

He met the attack head-on.

The sheath, wreathed in purple-white lightning, tapped the outside of Yu Tianheng's right arm.

The two bolts of lightning collided.

Boom!

Lightning exploded across the Dueling Platform.

Yu Tianheng's right arm went numb.

His lightning had not been crushed.

But it had been cut open.

Yuan Yu's lightning slipped in like a thin thread, following the weakest point in his Soul Power.

Yu Tianheng's heart tightened.

He had seen powerful fighters.

There were plenty of people stronger than him in the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan.

But Yuan Yu's strike was different.

He had not overwhelmed Yu Tianheng with stronger lightning or the power of a Soul King.

He had found a single opening and sent his lightning through it.

If this had been a fight to the death, it would not have been only Soul Power that was cut open.

A heartbeat later, Yu Tianheng retreated three steps.

Yuan Yu stood where he was.

The edge of his white robe lifted in the wind from the lightning, then settled again.

The Sun Wheel Blade was still sheathed.

The entire arena fell silent.

Yu Tianheng looked down at his right arm.

It was still numb.

But Yuan Yu had not injured him.

He had stopped at the point of contact.

Yu Tianheng withdrew his Martial Soul and said earnestly, "I lost."

Yuan Yu let the Thunder Patterns fade.

"You're not weak."

Yu Tianheng looked at him.

"But I'm still far behind."

"For now."

Yuan Yu smiled.

"That might not always be true."

Yu Tianheng looked up.

Those words felt better than any consolation.

He nodded.

"We'll fight again someday."

"Sure."

Below the platform, Ma Hongjun opened his mouth.

"That's it?"

Oscar said, "What else did you want to see? Lightning strike half the Spirit Arena?"

Xiao Wu said, "If Yuan Yu really went all out, Dean would have to pay for the damage."

"So he can't go all out," Flender said at once.

Everyone turned to look at him.

Flender was not embarrassed in the slightest.

"Frugality is a virtue."

"Dean's getting awfully practiced at saying that," Ning Rongrong murmured.

Tang San watched Yuan Yu on the Dueling Platform, thoughtful.

He could tell Yuan Yu had held back.

What interested him was how that strike had found an opening.

Lightning was such a violent force, yet Yuan Yu had wielded it with frightening precision.

Tang San looked down at his own hands.

Hidden Weapons worked the same way.

No matter how much force he used, it was useless if he missed a vital spot.

Finding the right point was the most efficient way to fight.

After the match, Qin Ming brought the Imperial Fighting Team over.

He first bowed to Flender.

"Dean, Teacher Zhao, I've learned a great deal tonight."

"Oh, spare me that. Your students aren't bad either," Flender said.

Qin Ming smiled.

"They still have a long way to go."

Yu Tianheng did not argue.

After Yuan Yu had driven him back with one move, he could hardly disagree.

Dugu Yan, however, kept staring at Tang San.

"That antidote you used isn't something an ordinary apothecary could make."

"I learned a little at home," Tang San said.

Dugu Yan narrowed her eyes.

"They taught you that at home too?"

Tang San offered no further explanation.

Xiao Wu immediately stepped in front of him.

"Why are you asking so many questions?"

Dugu Yan glanced at Xiao Wu.

The girl had moved to protect Tang San so quickly, as if one more question was one too many.

Dugu Yan gave a soft snort and ignored her.

Yuan Yu came over, blocking Dugu Yan's view.

"You've tested your poison, and we've had our lightning clash. That's enough for today, isn't it?"

The Rosy Cloud Pattern glowed faintly.

Yuan Yu sensed no killing intent from her.

She was simply interested in Tang San's antidote.

"Tang San, I'll remember you," Dugu Yan said.

"And I'll remember Jade Phosphorous Serpent venom," Tang San replied calmly.

Standing behind them, Ye Lingling said softly, "Let's go, Yanzi."

Dugu Yan looked away.

As the Imperial Fighting Team left, Qin Ming lingered a step behind.

He said quietly to Flender, "Dean, I'll stall Heaven Dou Royal Academy for as long as I can."

Flender glanced at him.

"Don't get yourself caught up in it."

Qin Ming smiled.

"I know."

Yuan Yu heard that, and the Rosy Cloud Pattern flashed again.

Qin Ming meant it.

But things would not be that simple.

The Black-Clad Man had vanished from the rear entrance to the VIP section.

Azure Luan stood above them. "Lost him?"

Ling Yuan looked displeased.

"Someone was waiting for him. He knew the route."

Yuan Yu looked up.

"It's fine."

Yuan Yu took out the Snow-Character Token.

"We still have a lead."

Azure Luan glanced at the token.

"The snow character doesn't necessarily point to the Xue Family."

"I know," Yuan Yu said.

"Or to the Heaven Dou Imperial House."

"I know that too."

Ling Yuan frowned.

"Then why are you still holding on to it?"

Yuan Yu spun the token between his fingers.

"Someone handed me a lead, so I might as well follow it. If it's real, I'll catch the culprit. If it's false, I'll catch whoever planted it."

Azure Luan said nothing more.

The Rosy Cloud Pattern flashed on the blade.

He was headed in the right direction.

Elsewhere, Dugu Yan stepped out of the Spirit Arena and glanced back.

She said quietly, "There's something wrong with that poison Tang San used."

Yu Tianheng asked, "What are you going to do?"

"Tell my grandfather," Dugu Yan said.

Ye Lingling glanced at her but did not try to dissuade her.

The night wind swept through Suotuo City.

Yuan Yu stood at the Spirit Arena entrance, the Rosy Cloud Pattern on his Sun Wheel Blade still glowing faintly.

The Sixth Trial was not over.

And the real hand behind it all had yet to show itself.