The Price of Provocation

"Old Dragon, look around. Do you still want to keep fighting?"

Dugu Bo's slightly gloating voice suddenly rang out. Yu Yuanzhen, who had been focusing all his strength on dealing with Aiolia, was startled and hurriedly retreated several steps to widen the distance between them. Only then did he realize that the eight Soul Douluo he had brought had all lost their ability to fight.

At this moment, Milo and Dugu Bo slowly rose into the air, taking positions behind Aiolia to his left and right as they stared menacingly at Yu Yuanzhen.

Once he saw the situation clearly, cold sweat streamed down Yu Yuanzhen's forehead. The threat of death filled his heart. If this continued, he might very well die here. Sensing that things had gone badly, Yu Yuanzhen turned to flee.

"Clan Head Yu, a monk may run, but the temple cannot."

At that moment, Xiao Yu's cold voice rang out. "The Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan has a grand estate. In a while, I'll bring some people for a visit to True Dragon Mountain!"

"Boy, how dare you!"

Yu Yuanzhen halted and turned to look at Xiao Yu, his eyes brimming with terrifying killing intent.

"Clan Head Yu, why the fuss?"

Xiao Yu curled his lip disdainfully. "We're all smart people. We both know exactly what you brought so many Soul Douluo here for today. What, you're allowed to try to kill me, but I'm not allowed to return the favor? Don't be such a hypocrite!"

A flash of embarrassment crossed Yu Yuanzhen's face. He steadied himself and said, "Boy, I admit that I underestimated you, but don't get too smug. My Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan has stood on this continent for a thousand years, and we have no shortage of allies. If you truly dare to strike ruthlessly against the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, you will become the enemy of the entire continent!"

Yu Yuanzhen's words were half true and half false. The Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan had been famous for so many years and did indeed have many allies. At the very least, Ning Fengzhi, who had always claimed that the Upper Three Sects shared a common bond, would certainly step forward.

But claiming that they would become the enemy of the entire continent was clearly just Yu Yuanzhen bluffing. Relying on their status as one of the Upper Three Sects, disciples of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan had run rampant across the continent over the years. Quite a few Soul Masters bore grudges against them. Furthermore, Yu Yuanzhen had attacked Xiao Yu first. Even if Xiao Yu truly slaughtered the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragons until blood flowed like rivers, he would still have reason on his side.

Xiao Yu did not currently want to strike ruthlessly against the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan. For one thing, he did not know the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's stance. If the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect fully sided with the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, then Sword Bone Two Douluo plus Yu Yuanzhen, with Ning Fengzhi's support, could make three Titled Douluo fight like six. He truly would not be able to handle them, though given Ning Fengzhi's temperament, that possibility was unlikely.

Secondly, Xiao Yu did not yet want to lose his advantage of foresight. If he truly destroyed the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan now, the powers of the entire Douluo Continent would undergo a massive reshuffling, and Spirit Hall's most important Soul Hunting Operation would likewise change significantly. That would severely affect Xiao Yu's future plans.

However, Yu Yuanzhen had brought a group of people to seize his opportunity and take his life. If he did not teach Yu Yuanzhen a lesson, would they really think Xiao Yu was so easy to bully?

"Yu Yuanzhen, for the sake of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan's thousand-year legacy, I'll spare you today!"

Xiao Yu spoke coldly. "However, you brought a group of people to deal with me. If I simply let you all go, wouldn't that tell everyone that there are no consequences for attacking me, Xiao Yu?"

"What do you want?"

Yu Yuanzhen spoke in a low voice. The moment Xiao Yu said that, he understood. Xiao Yu merely wanted to extort something from him.

Xiao Yu pointed at Yu Yuanqing and the other two, who were still rolling around on the ground in pain. "There are three Soul Douluo from your Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan here. Trade one Ten Thousand Year Soul Bone for each Soul Douluo, three Ten Thousand Year Soul Bones in total. Oh, and they must all be Soul Bones over thirty thousand years old!"

"Three Soul Bones over thirty thousand years old!"

Yu Yuanzhen's expression turned extremely ugly. He was a dignified Titled Douluo, yet he only possessed three Ten Thousand Year Soul Bones himself. Grinding his teeth in fury, Yu Yuanzhen said, "Boy, your appetite is too large! No matter how wealthy my Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan is, we can't possibly produce three Soul Bones over thirty thousand years old at once!"

"That's your problem. Yu Yuanzhen, I'll give you one month. Whether you steal or rob during that month, one month from now, I want to see what I asked for. Otherwise, I wouldn't mind bringing some people to True Dragon Mountain for a visit!"

Xiao Yu remained expressionless. Since Yu Yuanzhen had already intended to kill him, there was no need for him to be polite. "Since you dared to make a move against me, you should be prepared to pay the price. If it's too easy, you probably won't remember the lesson!"

"Fine. I'll deliver the Soul Bones in one month!"

The situation was stronger than the man. Yu Yuanzhen could only grit his teeth and agree before turning and flying away.

After watching Yu Yuanzhen leave, Aiolia, Milo, and Dugu Bo slowly landed. Xiao Yu glanced at Meng Shenji and the other two, who were still half-petrified, and said calmly, "Education Committee Member Meng Shenji, I hold no grudge against the Heaven Dou Empire. What explanation do you have for today?"

Meng Shenji's face was filled with regret. Like Yu Yuanzhen, he had never expected that an unknown youth would have such a terrifying force behind him. Now that they were at Xiao Yu's mercy, for the sake of the Heaven Dou Empire as well as the lives of himself and his two old companions, he could only place all the blame on Yu Yuanzhen. "The Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan is powerful, and Yu Yuanzhen personally came to the academy. We old fellows were intimidated by his strength and made the decision to follow him here. Now that we have fallen into Young Hall Master Xiao's hands, kill or torture us as you please. We only ask that Young Hall Master Xiao not vent his anger on the royal family!"

The corners of Xiao Yu's lips lifted slightly. Meng Shenji truly was a diehard loyalist of the Tian Dou Royal Family. Even at this point, he was still thinking of keeping the Tian Dou Royal Family uninvolved. However, Xiao Yu could not be bothered to expose him. He had even let Yu Yuanzhen go, so why make things difficult for several Soul Douluo far weaker than himself? The Nine Stars Hall still needed to develop within the Heaven Dou Empire for a long time.

"I don't care whether the Tian Dou Royal Family knew about this or not. The fact remains that you followed Yu Yuanzhen here with the intention of harming me. Since you did it, you must pay the price. I can let you return first. Tell the Tian Dou Royal Family that they also have one month. Trade five Ten Thousand Year Soul Bones for the five Soul Douluo. Otherwise, I wouldn't mind going to Xue Ye's bedchamber to collect them myself!"

Xiao Yu said coldly, "For the sake of you being Ling Ling and Yan Zi's teacher, I can give you a discount. The Soul Bones only need to be over ten thousand years old!"

"Five Ten Thousand Year Soul Bones? The royal family truly can't produce them!"

Meng Shenji looked as though he wanted to cry but had no tears. If the Tian Dou Royal Family could casually produce five Ten Thousand Year Soul Bones, they would not have failed to win over even a single Titled Douluo.

"Then exchange them for items of equal value. Heavenly treasures, rare metals, Soul Tools, Gold Soul Coins—any of those will do."

Xiao Yu also understood the Heaven Dou Empire's current situation. "The current black-market price for a Ten Thousand Year Soul Bone is five million Gold Soul Coins. One month from now, I want to see items worth a total of twenty-five million Gold Soul Coins. Otherwise, bear the consequences yourselves!"