Chen Xuanqing strolled along at ease, admiring the academy's picturesque scenery.
Verdant mountains rose and fell in overlapping layers, like a landscape painting rendered in rich ink and vivid colors.
When Chen Xuanqing reached the mountainside, a figure suddenly blocked his path.
Chen Xuanqing looked closely and saw a handsome young man standing before him.
The young man had blond hair that gleamed in the sunlight. Tall and muscular, with clearly defined lines, he carried an extraordinary air.
His gaze was sharp, sweeping repeatedly over Chen Xuanqing as though trying to ascertain his identity.
"Who are you? You don't look like a student of Heaven Dou Royal Academy."
Something stirred in Chen Xuanqing's mind. This young man seemed far from ordinary, so he cupped his hands in greeting and said politely, "I'm here to see Dugu Yan, a student of Heaven Dou Royal Academy. We have some private matters to discuss."
At those words, the young man raised his brows slightly, a trace of interest crossing his face.
He smiled. "Oh? So you're here to see Dugu Yan. I happen to be her teacher, Qin Ming. May I ask what brings you here?"
Chen Xuanqing felt a surge of delight. He hadn't expected to encounter Qin Ming here, the second-greatest genius on the Douluo Continent-now the third.
In the original story, Qin Ming's talent had initially been established as only slightly inferior to Tang Hao's, already at a height ordinary soul masters could gaze up at but never reach. Yet later on, he had been reduced to a mere background character.
Chen Xuanqing cupped his hands and smiled. "Hello, Teacher Qin. I'm a friend of Dugu Yan's. We have something to discuss in person. Could you please help me see her?"
Qin Ming nodded and said with a smile, "Since you're Dugu Yan's friend, you're no outsider. Come with me. I'll take you to her."
With that, Qin Ming turned and walked ahead, with Chen Xuanqing following close behind.
The two chatted along the way, and Qin Ming showed considerable interest in the purpose of Chen Xuanqing's visit.
Chen Xuanqing also took the opportunity to ask Qin Ming about various matters on the Douluo Continent, and their conversation proved quite pleasant.
Before long, Qin Ming led Chen Xuanqing along a winding path and finally arrived at the academy's training ground.
The training ground was bustling with activity. Members of the Imperial Fighting Team's first and second squads were sparring, the atmosphere tense and fierce.
Yu Tianheng stood at the center of the training ground in white battle robes, like a god of war descended to earth.
His blue lightning tyrant dragon martial soul radiated overwhelming might as it lunged ferociously at his opponent.
Dugu Yan stood to one side, her martial soul, the Jade Phosphorous Serpent Emperor, slithering beside her and emitting an eerie green glow that sent chills down the spine.
Shi Mo and Shi Mo were twins who worked together seamlessly. Both possessed black tortoise martial souls, and with their minds in perfect accord, the defenses they built were difficult to breach.
Yu Feng and Osler specialized in ranged attacks and support respectively, their roles being to pin down their opponents and launch surprise attacks.
As for Ye Lingling's nine heart begonia martial soul, it was downright broken, arguably the strongest support-type martial soul of all.
Chen Xuanqing stood to one side, quietly observing the Imperial Fighting Team's sparring. Against the first squad, the second squad could only suffer instant defeat.
Noticing Chen Xuanqing's expression, Qin Ming asked with a smile, "What do you think of my students?"
Chen Xuanqing nodded and said admiringly, "Teacher Qin, your students are all outstanding. Their martial souls each have distinctive strengths, they work together seamlessly, and their abilities are exceptional. Yu Tianheng and Dugu Yan in particular have astonishingly powerful martial souls."
Hearing Chen Xuanqing's praise, Qin Ming broke into a proud smile.
He knew full well that all his students were exceptionally gifted. With proper nurturing, they would surely become some of the Douluo Continent's foremost experts.
Just then, the Imperial Fighting Team's sparring reached its climax.
Yu Tianheng let out a furious roar, and his blue lightning tyrant dragon martial soul erupted with power, forcing his opponents back again and again.
Dugu Yan seized the opportunity to attack, the Jade Phosphorous Serpent Emperor's deadly poison all but impossible to guard against.
Their imposing presence enveloped the entire training ground, and the second squad was defeated in an instant by the pair's explosive assault.
Standing at the edge of the training ground, Qin Ming watched the Imperial Fighting Team's growth and couldn't help feeling a trace of gratification.
Then Qin Ming turned and called to a young woman nearby, "All right, take a break! Dugu Yan, come here for a moment. Your friend is looking for you."
Dugu Yan had been focused on her training. Upon hearing Qin Ming's voice, she withdrew the soul power in her hands and looked in puzzlement at Chen Xuanqing beside him.
She searched her memory, but no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't remember ever meeting this person.
Dressed in long black robes, Chen Xuanqing wore a faint smile as he looked calmly at Dugu Yan. "Miss Dugu Yan, could we speak in private?"
Although puzzled, Dugu Yan nodded and followed Chen Xuanqing to a relatively secluded spot beneath the trees.
She glanced around, making sure no one else was nearby, before asking quietly, "Who are you? How come I didn't know we were friends?"
Chen Xuanqing smiled slightly. "Miss Dugu Yan, my name is Chen Xuanqing. I came to tell you something important. I can cure the poison afflicting your Dugu Family. If you don't want the Dugu Family's line to die out, ask your grandfather to come find me at Spirit Hall."
Hearing this, Dugu Yan couldn't help growing angry. Her grandfather's title was Poison Douluo, and few could match her family's knowledge of poisons. The man before her was far too arrogant.
After finishing, Chen Xuanqing turned to leave. Then, seemingly remembering something, he suddenly turned back to look at Dugu Yan.
"Oh, one more thing," Chen Xuanqing said blandly. "Tell Ye Lingling that I, Chen Xuanqing, have set my sights on her nine heart begonia martial soul. And my habit is this: if I can't have something, I would rather destroy it."
At those words, a chill rose in Dugu Yan's heart.
She knew Ye Lingling's nine heart begonia martial soul was exceedingly rare, and Chen Xuanqing's words filled her with an unsettling sense of menace.
Dugu Yan took a deep breath and nodded, indicating that she would relay Chen Xuanqing's words to Ye Lingling.
Seeing this, Chen Xuanqing nodded in satisfaction, then turned and left.
Before long, Chen Xuanqing's figure faded into the shade of the trees, leaving Dugu Yan standing alone, lost in thought.
Just then, Yu Tianheng approached, a trace of puzzlement stirring in his heart.
He stepped up and asked with concern, "What's wrong, Yanyan? Who was that guy? Why do I get the feeling he came with bad intentions?"
The worry in Yu Tianheng's eyes warmed Dugu Yan's heart, but she shook her head and said distractedly, "Nothing. Perhaps I found the wrong person. He's just a stranger. It's nothing serious."
Watching Dugu Yan's evasive gaze, Yu Tianheng understood that she might not have told him the truth.