Meanwhile, Dugu Yan began to voice her own opinion.
Ye Lingling said nothing, but her tense little face made it clear that she was already on the same side as Dugu Yan.
"You've all got the wrong idea. It's not what you think. She saw me with the three of you, thought I was a scumbag, and wanted to teach me a lesson."
Yu Tianheng kept it brief and explained what had happened.
"Really?"
The three women's tones and looks were remarkably alike, and they clearly didn't quite believe Yu Tianheng.
"Of course it's true. When have I ever lied to you?"
"We'll believe you this once. She'd better pray she doesn't run into us in the tournament, or I'll make her pay!"
Dugu Yan waved a fist.
She looked as though she couldn't wait to stage the spectacle of the rightful wife beating up the mistress.
"It's getting late. We should head back."
Yu Tianheng glanced at the sky. Normally, today's matches should have ended by now.
They could find out which team they would face tomorrow!
"Boss, this is bad! Something big happened!"
Yu Tianheng had only just returned to their lodgings when he heard someone shouting.
Shi Mo and the other two came running over in a panic.
They looked as though they'd seen a ghost.
"What is it?"
"We're facing Blazing Fire Academy tomorrow!"
At those words, Yu Tianheng's eye twitched twice.
Was it really such a coincidence?
When Yu Tianheng said nothing, Shi Mo and the other two felt their hearts sink even further.
It was the first time they had ever seen their boss like this.
"It's all right, boss. Tomorrow, I'll do my best to create openings for us to attack!"
Yu Feng swallowed and tried to keep his voice steady.
"Boss, Shi Mo and I will give it everything we've got too. Holding off their attacks won't be a problem!"
"That's right, boss, you have to believe in us!"
Looking at the three of them before him,
Yu Tianheng couldn't help smiling.
"Don't worry, that's not what I'm concerned about. I already ran into some people from Blazing Fire Academy today."
"Huh? Boss, you weren't hurt, were you?"
Shi Mo immediately stepped forward, wanting to check Yu Tianheng for injuries.
"Get lost! What's there to feel up between two grown men?"
Yu Tianheng kicked Shi Mo in the chest to keep him at a distance.
"Boss, why don't you tell us exactly how strong they are? That way we can get ready for tomorrow!"
Yu Feng produced a pen and paper from somewhere, looking like a good student ready to pay close attention in class.
"Hmm... honestly, they're nothing special. Don't put too much pressure on yourselves. Just stay calm. If things go wrong, I'll step in."
Huo Wu and Huo Wushuang had been unable to fight back against Yu Tianheng.
That didn't mean the same would be true against Shi Mo and the others.
"By the way, boss, did you run into that little pepper? I heard she's more than just a little pretty!"
Shi Mo suddenly changed the subject.
It was as if he had forgotten how afraid he'd been of Blazing Fire Academy.
"I did. She's pretty decent-looking. When we face them tomorrow, you can get a closer look."
Whatever else might be said, if Huo Wu didn't have that temper, she would definitely be a top-class beauty.
Shi Mo hurriedly waved his hands and even took two steps back.
"Forget it. I heard someone stared at that little pepper's chest last time, and she nearly gouged his eyes out!"
Those words eased the tense atmosphere considerably.
At noon the next day, the first match was Heaven Dou Royal Academy against Blazing Fire Academy.
The stands were already packed.
The spectators wanted to see just what kind of person the young clan leader of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan was, the one who had fought seven people at once at the academy.
As the two teams entered the arena, the crowd's cheers rose one above another.
On Blazing Fire Academy's team, Huo Wu and Huo Wushuang were already the two with the lowest Soul Power.
After all, they were still young enough to have a chance to participate in the next Soul Master Tournament.
This time was really just practice for them.
Leading the team was Huo Shan, a level forty-five Battle Soul Ancestor whose Martial Soul was the Fire Lion.
The others were all above level forty as well.
They were extraordinarily strong.
"When the match starts, do as Wushuang said and pin down Yu Tianheng first. That's all we need to do."
Huo Shan loosened his limbs and began laying out their battle plan.
In his eyes, aside from Yu Tianheng, no one on the Heaven Dou team could pose any threat to them.
"Go!"
The moment Huo Wu saw Yu Tianheng, rage churned in her chest.
With a low shout, she sent the red fire shadow behind her charging forward first.
The other team members did the same, heading toward Yu Tianheng with all their might.
"Nine Treasures Turn Into Glazed Glass, Nine Treasures Have Names! First: Strength! Second: Speed!"
Ning Rongrong reacted quickly, chanting her soul incantation as two beams of light flew toward the brothers Shi Mo and Shi Mo.
"Second Soul Skill! Absolute Defense!"
"Second Soul Skill! Heaven and Earth Become a Shield!"
With a roar, the two of them stood directly in front of Yu Tianheng.
Possessed by their Black Tortoise Martial Souls, they sought to withstand the attacks of everyone from Blazing Fire Academy!
"Third Soul Skill! Jade Phosphor Purple Poison!"
"Third Soul Skill! Arrow of Swiftness!"
Dugu Yan and Yu Feng didn't hesitate either, immediately unleashing their strongest Soul Skills.
From the very start, the two teams were set on meeting force with force.
"Second Soul Skill! Heavenly Fire Meteors!"
Huo Shan let out a low shout, and his Fire Lion Martial Soul erupted with a deafening roar.
Countless fireballs formed in the air and hurtled toward Yu Tianheng and the others.
"Is that all? It's not even as good as a casual move from boss!"
Yet, unexpectedly, the less-than-agile Shi Mo brothers dodged the falling fire meteors with extraordinary ease.
Even when they were hit, it didn't affect them much.
All of this was thanks to Yu Tianheng's special training earlier.
Restricted by the purple poison mist, the members of Blazing Fire Academy, who had originally joined forces, had no choice but to scatter.
"Yan Yan, now!"
At Yu Tianheng's command, Dugu Yan immediately understood. Her body seemed to turn into a streak of green light.
She headed straight for Huo Wu.
In the past, Dugu Yan had been developing toward becoming a control-type Soul Master.
But now that her Martial Soul had evolved, every aspect of her was closer to an agility attack-type Soul Master!
Yu Feng hurried after her, coordinating with Dugu Yan's movements.
"Vixen! Die!"
Dugu Yan opened her mouth and spat out a cloud of purple poison mist, but this time, the mist actually transformed into a small dragon.
With a deep dragon roar, it sped straight toward Huo Wu.
If that little dragon touched her, the consequences would be even more terrifying than being caught in the poison mist!
"Second Soul Skill: Blazing Fire Tramples Heaven!"
Beside Huo Wu, a level forty-one Soul Ancestor with a Fire Horse Martial Soul was the first to react.
He wanted to help Huo Wu take the blow head-on.