Back to the academy, Gu Yue in the arena

The luxurious carriage slowly came to a stop, the gate quietly opened, and two figures stepped down from the carriage one after the other.

"Crown Prince so much, Your Highness, for sending us here!"

Dugu Yan smiled and said to Xue Qinghe inside the carriage.

Inside the carriage, Xue Qinghe gave a forced smile, simply nodding slightly. Then, her gaze shifted to Tang Shan standing beside the carriage, her voice softening. "If you encounter any difficulties, please speak freely. Senior She will secretly protect you."

Tang Shan nodded gently. "Your Highness, please rest assured."

Xue Qinghe opened his mouth, as if he wanted to say something, but didn't know where to begin. Finally, he took a deep breath and put on his usual gentle smile again, "Then I'll be going now."

"Have a safe journey, Your Highness."

Tang Shan responded in a deep voice.

Xue Qinghe didn't speak again, but simply raised his hand and waved. The Porcupinefish Douluo immediately turned the carriage around, and the wheels started turning, heading towards the direction of Heaven Dou City.

Tang Shan watched Xue Qinghe's car disappear completely from sight before turning around and stepping into the gate of the Heaven Dou Royal Academy.

"Wait for me!"

Dugu Yan's soft call followed closely behind, and she quickly caught up, walking side by side with Tang Shan.

On the other side, inside the carriage, Xue Qinghe had long since lost her gentle demeanor. She leaned against the soft brocade cushions, her eyes slightly closed, but her brows were tightly furrowed, and an almost imperceptible melancholy surrounded her.

The Porcupinefish Douluo sat in the front driving the car, remaining silent throughout, yet he observed the Young Master's emotional changes. He roughly understood the reason: Tang Shan had recovered from his illness today and finished instructing the Body Soul Master. He had planned to return to the academy alone, but before he could leave, Dugu Bo's granddaughter, Dugu Yan, suddenly came to the Crown Prince's Residence.

When he saw Dugu Yan again, the Porcupinefish Douluo was truly surprised. In just a few days, the girl had undergone a complete transformation. Her former radiance had been replaced by a captivating charm and aloofness. Every move she made exuded a unique allure, leaving a deep impression on him.

The three Douluo of the Spirit Hall had long seen through the Young Master's feelings for Tang Shan. Even the Snake Lance Douluo, who initially insisted that "the two were just in a purely cooperative relationship," silently agreed with the Porcupinefish Douluo's guess after witnessing Xue Qinghe and Tang Shan's daily interactions.

With his beloved right before him, yet suddenly a familiar and now even more stunningly beautiful young woman appeared beside him, how could the Young Master not be wary? But he had to maintain his identity Crown Prince and couldn't reveal his feelings in the slightest, which was truly frustrating.

What concerned Xue Qinghe even more was that Dugu Yan's visit was specifically to invite Tang Shan to ride in Dugu Bo's carriage to the academy, and her reason was perfectly plausible. "I've been cultivating these past few days and have discovered many subtle changes the Ninefold Bloom brings to the body. Why don't we travel together and discuss them?" As for the specific changes, she didn't elaborate, only insisting that there were changes.

Ah.

How could Xue Qinghe be willing to "steal" someone right in front of her? But seeing the obvious temptation in Tang Shan's eyes, she knew that if she didn't do something, Dugu Yan might really succeed. After struggling with her inner thoughts, she finally relented and let Dugu Yan get on her carriage.

Recalling Dugu Yan's charming smile when she got off the carriage, Xue Qinghe couldn't help but grit her teeth: If I were to shed this Crown Prince's attire and meet you as a woman, I might not lose to you.

The Angel Big Sis had to admit that after consuming the Ninefold Bloom, Dugu Yan's appearance was now unparalleled in the world, second only to her own, making her her greatest threat.

This threat, of course, stemmed from the fear that Dugu Yan, with her beautiful appearance, would use her charms to seduce Tang Shan, one of his most trusted lieutenants.

Could this Immortal Herb really have such a youthful and radiant effect? A strange light flashed in Xue Qinghe's eyes, and he made up his mind: once he returned, he would immediately consume the Cockscomb Phoenix Sunflower.

As soon as Tang Shan and Dugu Yan stepped into the gates of the Heaven Dou Royal Academy, they were met with a barrage of strange gazes.

This is understandable, as the two are already outstanding in appearance and easily attract attention. Moreover, they are legendary figures in the academy. Dugu Yan moves like Gui Mei and can easily hide her figure and disappear from everyone's sight with her Second Soul Skill. Tang Shan is even more amazing. Back then, with the cultivation of Two-Ring Soul Grandmaster, he defeated Xu Siyue, who was the number one student at the time and is now a Heaven Micro Grade teacher.

"You... are Dugu Yan?"

An uncertain voice came from behind.

Tang Shan and Dugu Yan subconsciously turned around and saw Ning Guang, dressed in a purple school uniform, standing not far away, his gaze fixed on Dugu Yan, full of hesitation.

Ning Guang.

Tang Shan recognized the other person at a glance; it was Ning Fengzhi's son, the future witch's older brother.

"Senior Ning Guang." Dugu Yan nodded slightly, her tone still as indifferent as ever.

"You've changed so much!"

Ning Guang quickly stepped forward and approached the two of them, his expression of astonishment deepening.

"By chance, I obtained a rare and precious herb. After undergoing a transformation, I became what I am today." Dugu Yan had anticipated being asked about her appearance and had already prepared her explanation. After all, such an obvious change was impossible to hide, and this excuse wasn't exactly a lie, since the Immortal Herb was indeed a rare and precious herb.

"Tsk tsk, this is going to be good." Ning Guang clicked his tongue, his tone tinged with amusement.

Although Dugu Yan was beautiful, she hadn't yet reached the point of being a femme fatale; there were few in the academy who could rival her.

At that time, her fame was mostly earned through her strength—either the reputation of the Dugu Family for their deadly poison, or her elusive Second Soul Skill. In addition, she always stayed close to Tang Shan, so even if there were admirers in the academy, no one dared to approach her easily.

But things are different now. Her appearance has undergone a complete transformation, making her the most stunning woman in the entire hospital, and she's likely to spark a wave of interest in pursuing her.

So what?

Dugu Yan's voice remained calm, but she secretly glanced at Tang Shan beside her, hoping he would react.

At this moment, Tang Shan's attention was not on the conversation between the two. His gaze was fixed on a group of students gathering in the same direction not far away, and he could faintly hear their discussions.

"Ning Guang, what's going on with all these people gathered over there?" Tang Shan turned his gaze away and asked Ning Guang.

Ning Guang slapped his forehead, suddenly realizing, "Look at my memory! I was so busy talking to you guys that I almost forgot the important matter. Yu Tianheng and Xie Fei are going to spar with a newly recruited student, and a lot of people in the academy went to watch the excitement. I just happened to run into you guys on my way there."

"Oh? A new student? Daring to challenge both Yu Tianheng and Xie Fei at the same time?" Dugu Yan immediately became interested, her tone filled with curiosity.

"I don't know the specifics, but I do know that he was a genius specially recruited by three education commissioners. Moreover, it's rumored that the three commissioners have submitted an application to His Majesty, hoping to give this new student the same special training and treatment as the three of you," Ning Guang explained.

Tang Shan was somewhat surprised upon hearing this.

It's important to understand that it was no easy feat for him, Dugu Yan, and Yu Tianheng to obtain special training slots from the academy.

Strictly speaking, he was the only one who truly earned a spot solely based on his own talent—of course, this was also largely due to the fact that he was under the command of Crown Prince Xue Qinghe.

Dugu Yan relied on her grandfather, Poison Douluo Dugu Bo, for his status; Yu Tianheng, on the other hand, depended on the foundation of the Blue Lightning Tyrannosaurus Clan and the prestige of his grandfather, who was the sect leader.

Of the three spots, two were purely based on connections, and one was half based on talent and half on support.

"What is the newborn Martial Soul? What is its Soul Power Level? How strong is it?" Dugu Yan was most concerned about its strength and pressed for an answer.

"It seems to be a dragon-type Martial Soul, but I'm not sure what kind of dragon it is. Its Soul Power isn't low; it's already at the Soul Elder level. However, its Soul Ring Configuration is just the standard yellow, yellow, and purple set, nothing special."

"Dragon-type Martial Soul?"

Tang Shan's brow furrowed slightly, a black-haired figure flashing through his mind. He thought to himself, "Could it be her? If it's Gu Yue, then this is getting interesting. But isn't her Martial Soul Elementalist? Is she giving up the act?"

"Even Soul Elder might not be able to win," Dugu Yan pondered. "Yu Tianheng himself possesses Thousand-Year Soul Ring, and Xie Fei's Rubber Elephant Martial Soul has formidable defense. Coupled with their years of tacit understanding as partners, they are not so easy to deal with."

"Let's go see what's going on," Ning Guang suggested.

Dugu Yan turned to look at Tang Shan, clearly seeking Tang Shan opinion.

Tang Shan was also curious about the identity of the new student, so he nodded and agreed.

The three of them walked together toward the playground.

On the arena, Yu Tianheng stood with his arms crossed to one side, his face cold and his aura unapproachable.

Xie Fei, standing beside him, looked extremely embarrassed, his expression filled with awkwardness and helplessness.

"Brother Yu, how about we just let this matter go?" Xie Fei rubbed his hands together and said in a low voice.

"Forget it?" Yu Tianheng glanced at him sideways and said irritably, "Fatty, you've been beaten up like this, and you don't even dare to get revenge?"

"It's not that I was afraid—it's just that I was really in the wrong back then." Xie Fei scratched his head, his tone somewhat ambiguous. "The way I looked at that senior was indeed a bit rude, so I deserved to get beaten up."

"Even if you were rude, she shouldn't have hit you so hard, right? If the healing department teacher hadn't arrived in time, your arm would probably be ruined." Yu Tianheng's tone remained icy.

Xie Fei opened his mouth, as if to say something, but in the end it turned into a soft sigh, unsure how to refute.

A slender figure stood quietly on the other side of the ring, becoming the focus of everyone's attention.

The girl wore the same purple school uniform as everyone else, the tight fabric outlining her shapely figure. Her long, black hair cascaded down to her waist like a waterfall, and a gentle breeze made the strands flutter, adding a touch of liveliness.

Her appearance wasn't strikingly beautiful, but she possessed a refined and ethereal charm. Her eyes, clear as obsidian, held a natural purity, and she curiously surveyed the surroundings of the arena, seemingly unconcerned about the upcoming sparring match.

This young girl was none other than Gu Yue.

She really didn't take this competition seriously. In her eyes, Yu Tianheng and Xie Fei's strength was at most comparable to Hundred-Year Soul Beast, and they weren't worth her taking seriously at all.

Especially Xie Fei; when they met again today, the way he looked at Bi Ji still carried disrespect. If Di Tian hadn't been absent, Xie Fei's family would probably have been expelled from Heaven Dou City long ago.

However, the teaching staff of the Heaven Dou Royal Academy is not bad. The arrival of the healing department teacher was timely, saving her from having to ask Bi Ji to treat Xie Fei after she injured Xie Fei, which would have been annoying for no reason.

"I'll give you one more chance. Apologize to Xie Fei, and this matter will be considered closed. Otherwise, you won't have the choice when it comes to taking action later."

Seeing Gu Yue's bored and dismissive attitude, Yu Tianheng raised an eyebrow and reminded her again.

He wasn't one to bully the weak, but this freshman, though specially recruited by three education committee members, must have exceptional talent. However, judging from her nonchalant demeanor, she was probably just like those pampered aristocratic students, possessing only Soul Power but lacking practical combat experience.

If a fight really breaks out, it wouldn't be good if she got hurt.

"Are you perhaps afraid?"

Gu Yue finally withdrew her gaze from all around. Hearing Yu Tianheng's words, she looked up at him, a hint of curiosity flashing in her clear black eyes. Her gaze inadvertently swept over the top of his head, and she thought to herself: Another person whose fate has been changed.

Despite Gu Yue's obvious provocation and her strange behavior of staring at the top of his head instead of looking at him, Yu Tianheng did not get angry.

Three years of dedicated practice had honed his mind to an unparalleled level of composure, making it difficult for external disdain and provocation to easily sway his emotions.

If it weren't for the fact that Xie Fei, his classmate of many years, was the one who was injured, he would never have taken the initiative to get involved in this matter.

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