Golden Lion Battles Thunder Dragon

Dugu Bo was merely a nominal guest advisor of the Heaven Dou Empire and accepted none of its orders. Xue Ye had never thought highly of him, and most of the time, it was Xue Xing who mediated between them, preventing any conflict from erupting between Dugu Bo and Xue Ye.

Now that Xue Xing had betrayed Dugu Bo, Dugu Bo had lost his ally within the Tian Dou Royal Family. Coupled with Yu Yuanzhen's promise, sacrificing one Titled Douluo in exchange for the support of one of the Upper Three Sects, Xue Ye made his choice after considering it for only one night.

To prevent Dugu Bo from retaliating against the Heaven Dou Empire should he somehow survive, Xue Ye not only summoned the academy's three Soul Douluo-level education committee members to assist, but also dispatched two Soul Douluo-level royal consecrates to join the all-out siege against Dugu Bo.

By evening, the sun was nearing the horizon.

The distant sky glowed orange-yellow, while layered mountains surrounded the area, wisps of thin mist rising where they intersected.

Above the Nine Stars Hall branch, whose construction had only just begun to take shape, the winds suddenly howled and clouds surged.

"Where is Dugu Bo?"

A voice filled with immense authority rang out. It was Yu Yuanzhen. The terrifying pressure of a level ninety-five Titled Douluo erupted in full, its shockwaves sweeping through the area like a hurricane, sending fallen leaves and stones flying and bending the lush vegetation all in one direction.

Dugu Bo was the first to emerge. He likewise unleashed the pressure of a Titled Douluo and faced Yu Yuanzhen from afar.

Immediately afterward, Yang Wudi and Ye Renxin, who happened to be at the Nine Stars Hall branch, hurried over upon hearing the commotion and took their places behind Dugu Bo.

It was currently vacation, and Ye Lingling and Dugu Yan were there as well. Hearing the disturbance, they came out together with Xiao Yu and happened to see Meng Shenji, Bai Baoshan, and Zhi Lin standing behind Yu Yuanzhen.

"Three Education Committee members, what does this mean?"

Dugu Yan was the least calculating of them all and immediately spoke up.

A flicker of shame immediately crossed Meng Shenji and the other two's faces. After all, they were Dugu Yan and Ye Lingling's teachers. As their elders, yet helping outsiders deal with their students' seniors, they had truly let down the respect their students held for them.

However, they were not only teachers of Heaven Dou Royal Academy, but also subjects of the Heaven Dou Empire. With an imperial order in hand, they could only obey.

"Yu Yuanzhen, what do you intend by bringing so many people here?"

Dugu Bo's cold gaze swept over Meng Shenji and the other two, who did not dare answer Dugu Yan. Their presence meant that the Heaven Dou Empire had chosen the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan over him, abandoning him in the process. His heart turned cold. After steadying himself, he fixed his eyes on Yu Yuanzhen, who stood at the front, and spoke in a deep voice.

Yu Yuanzhen snorted coldly and said bluntly, "Old Poison, we're both straightforward men, so I won't beat around the bush. Hand over that brat named Xiao Yu, along with the secret treasure that evolved your granddaughter's Martial Soul, and I'll leave at once. I won't harm a single hair on you or your granddaughter's head!"

Yu Tianheng!

Dugu Bo immediately flew into a rage. Yu Yuanzhen had set his sights on Xiao Yu for no reason other than to obtain the secret behind his ability to absorb Spirit Rings beyond his rank. Xiao Yu's Ten Thousand Year Spirit Ring had only been displayed at Heaven Dou Royal Academy, and the matter of his granddaughter's Martial Soul Evolution was likewise known only to people from the same academy as her. Other than Yu Tianheng, who was also at Heaven Dou Royal Academy, who else could have informed Yu Yuanzhen?

What a waste of all the praise his granddaughter had once given Yu Tianheng before him. He had even considered bringing the two together, hoping to find his granddaughter someone she could rely on in the future.

Seeing that Dugu Bo remained silent for so long, Yu Yuanzhen could wait no longer. "Old Poison, I don't have much time to let you think."

"Impossible!"

Dugu Bo quickly came to his senses and refused without hesitation. "Brother Xiao has shown my Dugu family a grace as great as remaking us. Don't even think of harming a single hair on his head!"

"Then there's nothing left to discuss!"

Yu Yuanzhen shouted coldly and struck first. Activating his Martial Soul Avatar, he transformed into a massive Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon and ordered the eight Soul Douluo he had brought, "I'll hold back Old Poison. Hurry and deal with the others!"

"Eight Soul Douluo. Yu Yuanzhen, what a grand display. It seems you're determined to leave this old man here as well!"

Dugu Bo sneered. Unfortunately for Yu Yuanzhen, all his calculations had led him to kick an iron plate today.

His Seventh Spirit Ring lit up as Dugu Bo likewise activated his Martial Soul Avatar. Yet his enormous serpent body, dozens of meters long, did not charge toward Yu Yuanzhen. Instead, it lunged straight at the three Soul Douluo education committee members of Heaven Dou Royal Academy led by Meng Shenji. "Old Dragon, your opponent isn't me!"

"Sixth Spirit Skill, Thunderbolt Strike!"

Just as Yu Yuanzhen froze upon hearing Dugu Bo's words, a roar like that of a lion and tiger sounded from midair. In an instant, countless bolts of lightning converged into a single point, compressed into an ultra-high-density sphere that blasted forth like lightning in the form of an energy ball.

Yu Yuanzhen's expression changed. He immediately activated the skill of his left arm Soul Bone, the defensive Soul Bone skill Thunder Guard. Strands of lightning formed a spherical shield that collided with the energy ball in midair. The violent energy clash ultimately erupted into an explosion, and countless wisps of purple-blue smoke swirled before Yu Yuanzhen, concealing his figure.

Smoke without injury was an unchanging law. Aiolia had never expected to kill a level ninety-five Titled Douluo with a single Sixth Spirit Skill. He stood where he was with his hands behind his back, quietly waiting for Yu Yuanzhen to emerge.

After a long while, the smoke dispersed, revealing Yu Yuanzhen's burly body. At that moment, Yu Yuanzhen's expression had turned grave. Which Titled Douluo was not arrogant by nature? Yet Dugu Bo had left him to another person and chosen instead to deal with several Soul Douluo education committee members. That could only mean that the person before him was also a Titled Douluo, and one stronger than Dugu Bo.

"May I ask your esteemed name? I am Yu Yuanzhen, clan leader of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan. Would you be willing to give this old man some face today? The Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan would be endlessly grateful!"

When facing an unknown Titled Douluo, Yu Yuanzhen's first instinct was to tempt him with benefits. So long as he could persuade this Titled Douluo to remain neutral, everything would be fine.

"Nine Stars Hall, Aiolia!"

Aiolia cast Yu Yuanzhen a cold glance. "There is no need for further nonsense. Xiao Yu is the Young Master of my Nine Stars Hall. You dared harbor ill intentions toward my Young Master. Today, there can only be battle!"

As he spoke, Aiolia also activated his Martial Soul Possession. A brilliant golden lion appeared behind him, and nine Spirit Rings rose one after another: two yellow, two purple, four black, and one red.

Ten Thousand Year Spirit Ring!

Seeing that red Spirit Ring, Yu Yuanzhen's pupils abruptly contracted. Regret spread through his heart, and he cursed himself for being too careless, for acting before thoroughly investigating Xiao Yu's background.

But it was too late for regret now. He had already come knocking at their door. There was no longer any possibility of reconciliation between the two sides, so he could only press on.

Although the other side had two Titled Douluo, he had brought eight Soul Douluo with him. Dugu Bo was among the weakest of Titled Douluo; several Soul Douluo joining forces might not necessarily lose to him.

With a roar, Yu Yuanzhen, transformed into a giant dragon, moved. His enormous body shot into the sky before diving toward Aiolia.

Aiolia activated his Martial Soul Avatar. The golden lion raised its sharp claws and fired a light sphere at the dragon charging toward it.