The Dueling Platform.
As the Heaven Dou Empire's nominally foremost Soul Master Academy, it stood at the pinnacle.
Its teaching resources and facilities were naturally second to none.
The Dueling Platform used for sparring between students was particularly lavish.
It was a four-sided arena built on a broad expanse of open ground, incorporating forests, streams, hills, and various other types of terrain.
Whatever type of Soul Master someone was, they could always find a battle environment that suited them.
"Woohoo! Get him! That's the strength of the top student in the year for you!!"
"No wonder the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon is recognized as the strongest beast martial soul. He finished the fight in just a few moves."
The spectator stands around the Dueling Platform were bustling, with cheers rising one after another.
Watching the brown-haired young man win so effortlessly, everyone praised him.
But when three figures appeared, everyone's attention instantly shifted to them.
"Huh? Aren't those Dugu Yan and Ye Lingling? Did they come to watch Yu Tianheng fight?"
"Probably not? Don't you see the boy beside them?"
"That boy doesn't look like a student at our academy!"
"Juicy gossip! This is definitely juicy gossip! A mysterious handsome boy has appeared beside Dugu Yan!!"
Compared to the boys' enthusiasm for combat, the girls were more interested in gossip.
Seeing Dugu Yan and Ye Lingling following a boy, they immediately erupted with excitement.
Quite a few people were secretly gloating, too, convinced that a good show was about to unfold.
After all, who didn't know that Yu Tianheng was pursuing Dugu Yan?
Now that a boy had suddenly appeared, a storm of blood and carnage was bound to follow!!
"Strange... why is everyone looking at me and smiling?"
Lin Mo swept his gaze around and muttered in bewilderment.
He could understand the girls smiling at him.
After all, his looks really could hold their own, especially his crimson-gold eyes.
But why were the boys grinning foolishly at him, too?
He wasn't some bearded little girl, and he didn't have any peculiar tastes like that.
The three approached the arena just in time to see the fight end.
"Huh? Yu Tianheng is here, too? This could be a little troublesome."
Spotting Yu Tianheng, Ye Lingling spoke quietly.
She also glanced at Dugu Yan beside her and found that she was frowning slightly as well.
They had only wanted to show their junior what the Heaven Dou Imperial Academy had to offer.
They hadn't expected to actually run into someone they knew.
This might end up causing trouble for their junior.
"Huh? Lingling and Yanzi? What brings you here? Did you come to cheer me on..."
Yu Tianheng walked toward them, looking somewhat surprised as he stepped forward to greet the two girls.
But before he could finish, he spotted the boy beside them and froze.
His first impression was that the boy was handsome!!
Then an overwhelming sense of danger surged into his heart!
Still, he composed himself in a mere instant.
"And who is this fellow beside you?"
Yu Tianheng looked at the youth and asked curiously.
He was certain that the person before him was not a student at the Heaven Dou Royal Academy.
"He's Teacher Qin Ming's junior, which makes him our junior, too. You're not allowed to bully him, understand?"
Dugu Yan stepped in front of the boy and warned him with a serious expression.
Ye Lingling said nothing, but she nodded slightly as well.
"So he's Teacher Qin Ming's junior. Why would I bully him?"
After learning who the boy was, Yu Tianheng instinctively breathed a sigh of relief and smiled.
Although the boy was a little more handsome than he was, his strength certainly couldn't compare.
He wasn't much of a threat!!
While the two were talking, Lin Mo had already begun copying cards.
[Target: Yu Tianheng] [Dragon Transformation talent: Grants the ability to directly transform parts of the body into dragon form without manifesting a martial soul or soul rings!!] [Storage Soul Tool: Obtain one Storage Ring with a capacity of fifteen cubic meters!] [Third soul ring: Obtain a soul ring from a 1,720-year-old Purple Lightning Earth Dragon!!]
Seeing the first option, a flash of delighted surprise crossed Lin Mo's crimson-gold eyes.
He hadn't expected such an unexpected windfall!!
Giving him this was like giving a tiger wings!
He wouldn't even need his martial soul to possess his body. He could walk right up and claw someone's heart out!!
Without a second thought, he copied the first and third options!
Just as Lin Mo was secretly rejoicing, something happened.
A questioning voice came from beside him.
"Junior, would you like to spar with me on the Dueling Platform?"
Yu Tianheng stepped forward and took the initiative to invite him.
After all, he wanted to see for himself.
This genius had come from the same academy as Teacher Qin Ming.
Just how strong was he?
"A match? I'll pass."
Lin Mo hesitated briefly, then shook his head and declined.
After all, the other boy wasn't weak, but sparring with him wouldn't accomplish anything.
If Yu Yuanzhen, the leader of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, came over to spar, that would be different.
Then he might be interested.
"W-why?"
Rejected outright, Yu Tianxin asked in confusion.
Could the boy be afraid that he would bully him?
"Pfft... hahaha! Our junior's soul power is rank forty-one. You're probably just too weak, so he can't be bothered to fight you."
Dugu Yan couldn't help laughing.
The girl's voice was clear and pleasant.
But to Yu Tianxin, it sounded like a thunderclap out of a clear sky!
Before he could react, however, the surrounding students had already erupted.
"W-what? Did I hear that right?!"
"Rank forty-one soul power? How is that possible?"
"He looks eight or nine years younger than me. How could he be a Soul Ancestor?"
Everyone's gaze fell on Lin Mo.
Disbelief, astonishment, and a host of other complicated expressions flashed across their faces like masks being swapped.
Yu Tianheng's pupils contracted slightly, and he instinctively looked at Ye Lingling.
When he saw her nod gently, he was left utterly dumbfounded.
But soon, an unyielding determination surged into his heart.
The honor of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon would not allow him to back down!!
"Phew... Junior-no, Lin Mo. I've never fought a Soul Ancestor before. I hope you'll agree to spar with me!"
Yu Tianheng took a deep breath and spoke in a low voice, his gaze resolute.
For the youth before him to possess such terrifying strength at such a young age, he had to have something extraordinary about him.
An opponent like this was worth fighting!!
To persuade Lin Mo to agree, he added:
"If you win, I'll lend you my private Mimicry Training Ground for three months-no, half a year!!"
To secure a chance to fight him, Yu Tianheng was going all out.
He was offering to lend out his own private training ground.
After all, across the entire Heaven Dou Royal Academy, there was something worth noting.
At present, only he and Dugu Yan had training grounds reserved exclusively for them.
The reason was simple: identity and status determined everything.
"A Mimicry Training Ground? Sounds interesting. All right."
Hearing that there was something to gain, Lin Mo hesitated briefly before agreeing.
After all, the other boy had invited him with such sincerity.
It wouldn't feel quite right to refuse.
Besides, helping others fulfill their wishes was what a gentleman did.
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