Having just experienced the pleasures of first love, Dugu Yan was exhausted and had fallen into a deep sleep in Yu Tianheng's arms.
Yu Tianheng, on the other hand, was full of energy and showed no signs of fatigue. If it weren't for the health of Dugu Yan, he could have fought for another three hundred rounds.
This physical condition must be attributed to his Martial Dao training.
Martial Dao training, simply put, is about tempering one's body and making one's physique stronger. It is reasonable to transcend the world with one's flesh and blood and have physical strength far exceeding that of ordinary people.
It seems I need to practice more diligently in the future.
Yu Tianheng lay in bed, thinking about what to say when he saw Xue Qinghe the next day.
Moonlight streamed in through the half-open window, casting dappled silver shadows on the bed. Yu Tianheng, his head resting on his arm, gazed up at the canopy ceiling, the warmth of their embrace still lingering in his chest.
Dugu Yan nestled in his arms, her breathing long and even, her hair glistening with fine beads of sweat.
He instinctively tightened his arms, pulling her closer to his embrace. The girl's hair Entanglement his fingertips, carrying the unique cool fragrance of the Ice Jade Grass, a scent that created a strange contrast with her intimate posture as she unconsciously nuzzled against his neck in her sleep.
When Yu Tianheng looked down, he happened to see her slightly furrowed brows—even in her sleep, she still had a stubborn air about her.
Yu Tianheng looked at the sleeping girl in his arms with a complicated expression. Although he did have some ulterior motives when he first approached her, after spending time together, Yu Tianheng found that Dugu Yan was indeed a good girl. Apart from being a bit arrogant, she was fine in every other way and a woman worth spending a lifetime with.
Now that they have a relationship, their fates are intertwined.
I must protect her no matter what; it's a responsibility I must shoulder as a man.
With this thought in mind, Yu Tianheng lowered his head, gently kissed the girl's forehead, then closed his eyes and began to rest.
The next morning, Yu Tianheng opened his eyes. After a night's sleep, he had fully recovered. Thinking of his agreement with Xue Qinghe, the crown prince of the Heaven Dou Empire, Yu Tianheng got up and dressed. The rustling noise woke up Dugu Yan.
"Hmm... Tian Heng?" Dugu Yan rubbed her sleepy eyes and sat up, her short purple hair hanging messily over her shoulders, her emerald green eyes still misty. She yawned sleepily, her voice still languid, "Where are you going so early?"
Yu Tianheng paused, turning to look at the person curled up in the brocade quilt. A few stray hairs still clung to the girl's eyes, her nose was red, and her appearance was less sharp than usual. He reached out and tucked the scattered quilt around her, his fingertips brushing against the back of her cold hand. "I have things to do. You rest well. I'll bring you a gift when I get back!"
As he spoke, he didn't forget to give her a light kiss on the cheek.
Dugu Yan nodded obediently, then lay her head on the pillow, her hair spreading out like silk. "Then you go, I'm exhausted from last night, I need to rest today, I don't even want to cultivate..." Her voice trailed off, muffled by the blankets, growing softer and softer.
Yu Tianheng paused in fastening his belt, a smile unconsciously playing on his lips. He instructed, "Then you should rest well. I'll be back as soon as possible."
After saying that, Yu Tianheng opened the door and left.
Meanwhile, a commotion erupted within the Heaven Dou Royal Academy.
The thrilling duel that took place in the Heaven Dou Imperial Palace last night, as the first rays of sunlight pierced through the clouds, spread like wildfire throughout Heaven Dou City and its surrounding areas.
" Yu Tianheng, Four-Ring Soul King, fought against Pei Han, Five-Ring Soul King, and the former actually defeated the latter with overwhelming force. Even more bizarrely, Yu Tianheng, the young patriarch of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, actually possessed a ten-thousand-year Soul Ring as his fourth Ten Thousand Year Soul Ring!"
The news spread like wildfire, and since Heaven Dou Royal Academy, as a noble academy, had no shortage of noble children, many people attended last night's banquet and witnessed the final result of the battle. Indeed, as people said, Yu Tianheng won.
Upon learning this result, everyone, including most of the instructors at the Heaven Dou Royal Academy, was utterly astonished.
It is astonishing that another peerless genius has emerged in the Soul Master World. In the years to come, Yu Tianheng does not perish prematurely, he will surely become Titled Douluo and lead the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan to a wider world!
Yu Tianheng paid no heed to the amazement and praise of the crowd. Instead, he rushed to Heaven Dou City as quickly as possible. However, he did not go directly to the palace to meet Crown Prince Xue Qinghe. Instead, he went to the Blue Lightning Martial Arts Hall located in the outer city.
Upon arriving at the martial arts school, Yu Tianheng immediately ordered someone to summon the school's master Mu Qing, saying that he had important business to discuss with him.
A moment later, Mu Qing, dressed in a black training uniform, hurried over and bowed respectfully to Yu Tianheng: "Greetings, Master. May I ask what brings you here?"
Yu Tianheng said, "I've come here to take you somewhere and meet someone along the way."
"Huh?" Mu Qing was slightly taken aback after hearing this.
"Master, I don't understand. Please explain."
Yu Tianheng didn't mince words, saying directly, "This time I'm going to the Heaven Dou Imperial Palace to meet Crown Prince Xue Qinghe. He values my talent and the power behind me, and wants to win me over. He'll definitely offer very generous terms. If it were anyone else, they would be overjoyed. However, my family is prominent and has a strong background. Although it can't compare to the Heaven Dou Empire, which controls a vast territory, my Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan has a deep foundation and doesn't lack anything from the royal family. After thinking it over, I do need the royal family's help, but I'll need your assistance then."
"Pack your things now, and come with me to the palace."
Mu Qing immediately agreed, "In that case, let's set off. I don't have much to pack."
Yu Tianheng nodded and immediately led Mu Qing to the Heaven Dou Imperial Palace.
The midday sun scorched the white marble steps, and Yu Tianheng and Mu Qing stood side by side in front of the vermilion gate of the Heaven Dou Imperial Palace. The four large characters " Heaven Dou Imperial Palace " on the gilded plaque were so bright in the sunlight that it was hard to open one's eyes. Two rows of knights held jewel-encrusted lances, and their snow-white silver armor rose and fell slightly with their breath.
They saw someone approaching the palace gate.
The leading knight took half a step forward and roared, "Who goes there, daring to approach the palace without permission?" As he spoke, a wary look peeked out from the gaps in his visor. The knights behind him simultaneously held their lances horizontally, the clanging of metal echoing in the empty square.
Yu Tianheng unfastened a jade pendant from his waist, which gleamed faintly in the sunlight. It was a token given to him by Xue Qinghe the night before when he left. Holding the pendant up, Yu Tianheng loudly proclaimed to the knight, " Yu Tianheng of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, summoned by His Highness the Crown Prince."
The knight commander's pupils contracted sharply as the rumor of Yu Tianheng defeating Five-Ring Soul King with Four-Ring last night exploded in his mind.