"What, are you actually thinking of hitting me?"
Yu Tianheng continued to provoke him.
Lei Long forced down the anger in his heart and sneered. "To be honest, I really do want to teach you a harsh lesson. It's just that Teacher Wang is stopping me, and I can't very well refuse to give him face."
"But you just wait, Yu Tianheng. Teacher Wang can protect you for a while, but he can't protect you forever. Sooner or later, I'll show you what happens to those who offend me."
Yu Tianheng laughed as well. "There's no need to wait. I'll give you that chance right now. Didn't you want a one-on-one fight? Fine. If you've got the guts, follow me to the training grounds. I'll show you what it means to overestimate yourself."
Lei Long was about to agree on the spot.
But Wang Ruohua stopped him. "No!"
Lei Long was displeased. "Why not, Teacher Wang?"
"You saw it yourself. I wasn't the one who issued the challenge; he was. I have no reason to turn it down."
Wang Ruohua glanced at Lei Long and said coldly, "Lei Long, can't you show a little grace? Just look at the gap between your Soul Power Level and Yu Tianheng's. You're level 39, and he's level 31. That's a full eight levels apart. Is there any point in fighting?"
"Or are you looking for an unfair victory, Lei Long?"
At those words, the Heaven Dou Royal Academy students watching all nodded. Though both were Three-Ring Soul Masters at the Soul Elder level, the gap between their Soul Power was too great. If they fought, Yu Tianheng would undoubtedly lose!
"This..." Lei Long was at a loss for words. Anger had gone to his head, and he hadn't considered that.
"No matter!"
Just then, Yu Tianheng stepped forward and said, "Lei Long, since you think my cultivation is too low and people would call it an unfair victory if you beat me, let's set the fight for a year from now."
"One year from today, in the academy arena, a one-on-one Soul Master duel. The loser kowtows and apologizes. Do you dare or not?"
A flicker of surprise crossed Lei Long's eyes, followed by a look of sheer arrogance. "Why wouldn't I dare? A year from now, don't you go hiding like a turtle in its shell."
He knew Yu Tianheng was exceptionally gifted in Martial Soul cultivation. At just twelve, he had reached the Three-Ring Soul Elder level. Given a few more years, he might even surpass him.
But in the short term, he was definitely no match for him.
In a year, Lei Long might have broken through the level 40 bottleneck, while Yu Tianheng would still be hovering in the low thirties.
He glanced at Yu Tianheng again and scoffed. "Let's see how many levels you can break through in a year!"
"You don't need to trouble yourself over that. Just remember to show up when the time comes."
"Whoever doesn't show up is a dog!"
With that, Lei Long left with his lackeys, without looking back.
Seeing this, Wang Ruohua frowned deeply and looked at Yu Tianheng with concern. "Tian Heng, how could you be so impulsive? Lei Long's strength is not to be underestimated. You may be exceptionally talented, but a single year is far too short. You..."
Yu Tianheng waved a hand, stopping Wang Ruohua. "It's fine. I know what I'm doing, Teacher Wang. You don't need to say any more."
To be honest, if Wang Ruohua hadn't intervened, he could have strung Lei Long up and beaten him with his current strength. Setting the fight for a year later was just for show.
Seeing how unconcerned Yu Tianheng was, Wang Ruohua was furious.
Arrogant brat!
If you weren't the young master of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, and the three education committee members hadn't told me to take special care of you, do you think I'd want to meddle?
Since you're so confident, go ahead and fight!
I'd like to see how you fare against Lei Long a year from now.
Be careful you don't get too arrogant and take a great tumble. If it really comes to kowtowing and apologizing, don't say I didn't try to stop you.
The matter was settled for the time being, but it soon caused a great uproar in the academy.
The next day.
Students crowded three layers deep around the Heaven Dou Royal Academy's bulletin board, leaving no room to squeeze through. Everyone's eyes were fixed on a brand-new notice, which proclaimed in large, eye-catching letters: Yu Tianheng and Lei Long would meet in a stunning showdown one year from now!
In an instant, the entire academy erupted.
"Lei Long is actually going to fight Yu Tianheng? That's huge news."
"Lei Long is the son of Lei Zhan, a marshal of the Heaven Dou Empire. He awakened his family's inherited Martial Soul, the Saber-Toothed Tiger, at six. He's astonishingly gifted and has a chance of becoming a Four-Ring Soul Ancestor before he turns twenty-a true genius."
"Yu Tianheng is no ordinary person either. He comes from the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan and had Innate Full Soul Power. He's a once-in-a-century prodigy who became a Three-Ring Soul Elder at just twelve. His talent is far greater than Lei Long's. Their fight is sure to be spectacular!" a student said excitedly after reading the notice.
The news spread like wildfire to every corner of Heaven Dou Royal Academy. In classrooms, students had no mind to pay attention to their lessons, whispering among themselves about the upcoming battle between the two. Some favored Yu Tianheng, but more threw their support behind Lei Long, believing his chances of victory were greater. After all, the gap between their Soul Power Levels was plain to see.
That gap couldn't be bridged by talent alone.
Several days later, Song Guan came to Yu Tianheng's residence.
When Yu Tianheng saw him, he got straight to the point. "Have you found out who spread the news?"
Song Guan nodded. "I have. It was Lei Long himself. He ordered his lackeys to spread word throughout Heaven Dou Royal Academy about his fight with you a year from now. It's gone beyond the academy too. Quite a few people outside, including in Heaven Dou City, have heard about it."
"Looks like he's building hype!"
Song Guan knew full well that for the news to have spread from Heaven Dou Royal Academy throughout Heaven Dou City in such a short time, someone must have been carefully pushing it along behind the scenes. They were clearly building hype for the duel.
"A beautiful move," Song Guan murmured to himself, a flicker of admiration in his eyes. He knew that a highly anticipated battle was not merely a contest of strength, but also a stage for various factions to vie against one another in secret.
The faction behind Lei Long was made up of the Heaven Dou Empire's highest-ranking nobles. They presumably wanted to use this opportunity to make Lei Long's name truly famous and establish his standing in the Soul Master World.
As for Yu Tianheng, as the young master of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, he likewise could not afford to lose this fight. The clan's honor and prestige rested on his shoulders.
"Brother Tian Heng, this campaign may look simple, but every move has been carefully planned." Song Guan narrowed his eyes slightly, quickly sorting through the stakes in his mind.
"Oh? Let's hear it!" Yu Tianheng asked curiously.
"On one hand, as the news spreads, the pressure on both of you will grow by the day. During the coming year of cultivation, whoever can withstand that pressure and raise his strength to new heights will be more likely to win the duel."
"On the other hand, the direction of public opinion is also crucial. The amount of support each of you receives may affect your respective states of mind, and could even influence the outcome of the duel to some extent."