Dugu Yan's Doubts

That evening, the academy's notice board displayed the list of eight finalists from the Heavenly Supreme Level.

Students crowded around the board to see the results.

"Move over. You're blocking my view."

"What, you're the only one allowed to look?"

"..."

"See? I told you our academy would come through. There's only one Star Luo Empire exchange student among the final eight," someone said proudly after reading the list.

But others sounded worried. "That exchange student named Dai Zhuang is incredibly strong. He beats his opponents bare-handed without even releasing his Martial Soul."

"What are you afraid of? Are you saying an academy as big as Heaven Dou Royal Academy has no one who can handle a mere exchange student?" The speaker was Xue Beng.

That was right. Even now, Xue Beng had not left the academy.

Dai Xuanyu's dismissive attitude toward him earlier that day had infuriated him.

So he decided to use the advantages of his spoiled-playboy disguise to stir up some resentment against Dai Xuanyu.

It would not conflict with the persona he had built for himself anyway.

Naturally, Xue Beng threw himself into it.

Causing trouble within Xue Qinghe's sphere of influence to weaken his power and all that—

Xue Beng had plenty of experience with it. He had done it countless times over the years.

"Congratulations, Dai Zhuang. You made the final eight." Looking at Dai Xuanyu, Dugu Yan offered her congratulations as well.

She still believed that taking part in the midterm assessment and placing high would be bad for him.

But things had reached this point. All she could do now was wish him well.

After all, Dugu Yan had already said everything she could to dissuade him.

Dai Xuanyu smiled. "Congratulations to you too, Sister Yan."

"If we end up facing each other tomorrow, go easy on me."

After spending over a month together, and with Dai Xuanyu pretending to be a year younger than her,

Dugu Yan had grown used to him calling her "Sister Yan."

At his words, Dugu Yan said with a complicated expression:

"If we really do become opponents, give it everything you've got. Make me accept my defeat wholeheartedly."

First, he had defeated Zhou Cang in an instant with his bare hands, without releasing his Martial Soul. Then, in several matches today, he had done the same.

Few people dared question Dai Xuanyu's strength anymore.

After all, everyone had seen the results he had achieved today with their own eyes.

In truth, Dugu Yan had wanted to test herself against him ever since he defeated Zhou Cang in an instant.

That desire had only grown stronger after she told her grandfather about it.

Over the past month or so, Dugu Yan had never found a chance to spar with him.

But she had always believed that, as someone who wielded poison, she was different from his other opponents. She might be able to beat him.

After today's matches, however, her confidence had begun to waver.

That afternoon, she had watched Dai Xuanyu ignore an opponent's poison and finish him off in a single move.

Granted, that opponent's poison was nowhere near the Dugu Family's Jade Phosphorous Serpent Poison.

Even so, Dugu Yan could not deny that her resolve had wavered.

Having someone like him in my year might actually be nice. At least I won't have to think about taking first place every day.

As she looked at Dai Xuanyu's face, her thoughts drifted far away.

The quarterfinals had not even begun, yet Dugu Yan was already certain that Dai Xuanyu was the strongest student in their Heavenly Supreme Level year.

He might even be a match for the Heaven Dou Grade.

After all, he had yet to use his Martial Soul or unleash a single Soul Skill.

"Sister Yan, what are you looking at? You're completely lost in thought." Dai Xuanyu waved a hand in front of her face.

"N-nothing." Dugu Yan came back to her senses and hurriedly turned her face away.

Before Dai Xuanyu could say anything else, she blurted out, "I need to go rest up," and hurried off.

Looks like my efforts over the past month weren't wasted. Dai Xuanyu watched her leave.

In the world of Soul Masters, the strong were revered.

Female Soul Masters, too, naturally admired strength.

A genius like Dai Xuanyu was bound to attract plenty of girls.

Over the past month or so, more than one female student had sent him flirtatious looks. Some had even boldly handed him love letters.

Quite a few old friends made the final eight.

On his way back, Dai Xuanyu thought about the names on the list.

Besides Dugu Yan, there were quite a few familiar faces.

Yu Tianheng, Yu Feng, Osler, and the brothers Shi Mo and Shi Mo, for instance.

All of them were now students in the Heavenly Supreme Level year.

And then there was Ye Lingling, who had not made the list.

It made sense when he thought about it. They were just the right age.

First, they would make a name for themselves at the academy and become reserve members of the Heaven Dou Team.

After the next Continental Advanced Soul Master Elite Tournament ended, they would prepare for the tournament after that as seeded competitors.

They would also form the Imperial Fighting Team outside the academy and hone themselves through battles at the Great Soul Arena.

The question is, who'll be left out in the end?

Since Heaven Dou Royal Academy had agreed to let its exchange students take part in the selection, Dai Xuanyu had no intention of holding back.

And to prevent anyone from going back on that agreement later,

Dai Xuanyu had already asked his imperial uncle to write to his imperial father, so the matter could be settled beyond dispute.

Academy affairs would remain academy affairs, and affairs of state would remain affairs of state.

If exchange students earned places at their host academy, they could represent it in the tournament.

It was a way to close the loophole in the rules allowing exchange students to try out for their host academy's team.

Osler or Yu Feng could be in trouble. Two names came to Dai Xuanyu's mind.

Barring any surprises, his arrival would push one of them off the team.

True, Yu Tianheng's role on the original Imperial Fighting Team overlapped with Dai Xuanyu's.

But the final roster would be decided through an overall assessment.

With Yu Tianheng's strength, there was no way he would be the one cut.

Yu Feng and Osler, on the other hand, were the weakest of the group, and neither was irreplaceable.

Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, you'd better not cross me.

Dai Xuanyu only hoped Yu Tianheng would behave himself in the future.

If he dared set his sights on Dugu Yan, Dai Xuanyu would show him no mercy.

In fact, as for Yu Tianheng and Dugu Yan getting together in the original story,

Dai Xuanyu suspected the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan must have had a hand in it.

After all, a relationship with Dugu Yan would bring enormous benefits to both Yu Tianheng and the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan.

The clan simply had no idea that a catastrophe awaited them, one that would wipe them out.