Heaven Dou Royal Academy (4)

Beside the seat of honor in the great hall, Yu Tianheng stood surrounded by a group of noble scions. He wore a fitted outfit embroidered with silver, and his handsome face bore an innate pride between the brows. As the young clan master of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, he had been the undisputed leader of this year's freshmen, until Lin Chen's arrival upset that unspoken order.

"Brother Tian Heng, that kid is Lin Chen," Yu Feng said quietly beside him. "I hear he came from a backwater academy like Nuoding. A commoner, too. Who knows how he managed to scrape his way to level thirty-five?"

Holding a wineglass, Yu Tianheng swept an indifferent glance over Lin Chen, an almost imperceptible sneer curling his lips.

The Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan had passed down its legacy for a thousand years and prized innate aptitude and birth above all else. In his eyes, even if a commoner Soul Master had been lucky enough to reach a higher level, the quality of his Martial Soul and the finesse of his Soul Skills would be nowhere near those of an orthodox clan disciple. He was merely a self-taught nobody who could never gain entry to the halls of refinement.

Dugu Yan scoffed at his side. Dressed in dazzling red, she wore a spoiled arrogance in her eyes. "Any stray cat or dog can become a core disciple now? Heaven Dou Academy really has less and less regard for standards. A country bumpkin thinks he's fit to sit with us?"

She was the granddaughter of Poison Douluo Dugu Bo. Pampered since childhood and looking down on everyone, she particularly disliked commoner Soul Masters with no backing.

With that, she took Yu Tianheng by the arm and walked straight toward Lin Chen and Xiao Wu. Seeing this, the noble scions around them stopped talking, waiting for a good show.

"So you're Lin Chen?" Dugu Yan raised her chin, her tone somewhat provocative. "I hear you're a level thirty-five Soul Elder? Why do I find that so hard to believe? You didn't force your level up with some drug, did you?"

Xiao Wu immediately stepped in front of Lin Chen and glared at her. "What nonsense are you spouting? Brother Lin Chen earned all his strength through his own cultivation!"

"Oh, the little girl is quite protective of her own." Dugu Yan raised a brow. "What, am I wrong? What sort of decent genius could come out of a place like Nuoding?"

Yu Tianheng spoke then, his tone flat but brimming with superiority. "Lin Chen, I've heard much about you. I'm Yu Tianheng, from the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan. Heaven Dou Academy isn't like the countryside. For Soul Masters, it's not just level that counts, but also the foundation of their Martial Souls and their clan's legacy. Some shortcuts may get you moving fast, but they won't necessarily take you far."

On the surface, his words were a warning, but in truth they mocked Lin Chen's lowly origins and questionable foundations.

Laughter erupted around them. The noble scions chimed in, their eyes full of mockery.

Lin Chen finally looked up and swept his gaze over Yu Tianheng, his voice calm and unruffled. "The Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan-I've heard much about it. But I've heard that the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon wins people over through strength, not by using birth to lord it over them. If you think my foundations are lacking, Young Clan Master Yu, we can settle it on the training grounds another day. Getting the better of someone with your tongue doesn't make you a hero."

His words were neither yielding nor harsh, but they left Yu Tianheng stymied, his face darkening. He hadn't expected this commoner youth to be so sharp-tongued, utterly unfazed by his clan status.

"Fine." Yu Tianheng sneered. "Then I'll wait and see just how capable you really are."

With that, he swept his sleeves around and left with Dugu Yan and the others. Before leaving, Dugu Yan shot Xiao Wu a vicious glare, clearly holding a grudge.

Xiao Wu pursed her lips. "What awful people, throwing their family's weight around to bully others."

"Just a bunch of jumping clowns," Lin Chen said indifferently. "We'll be assigned to classes in a few days. There'll be plenty of chances to shut them up."

He raised his juice and took a sip, looking past the crowd toward the depths of the hall. He knew tonight's little conflict was merely an appetizer. The advanced class was full of hidden dragons and crouching tigers. Yu Tianheng, Dugu Yan, Ye Lingling... these favored children of heaven from the original story would soon learn what it meant to be crushed by true talent.

Three days later, the freshmen's class assignments were officially announced.

The freshmen of Heaven Dou Royal Academy were divided into eight classes, and naturally, Lin Chen and Xiao Wu were not assigned to an ordinary freshman class.

Although they weren't nobles, they had been assigned to Heaven Dou Class One, the academy's highest-ranked advanced class. It accepted only the fifteen best students in the entire year, received the greatest share of resources, and had the strongest instructors. It was a true gathering place for geniuses.

Lin Chen glanced at the list: Yu Tianheng, Dugu Yan, Ye Lingling, Yu Feng, Shi Mo, Shi Mo, Osler, Lin Chen, Xiao Wu... Sure enough, all the familiar names were there.

"This is great, Brother Lin Chen! We're in the same class!" Xiao Wu happily looped her arm through his.

By the time they reached the Class One classroom, more than half the students were already seated. Yu Tianheng sat in the middle of the front row, Dugu Yan beside him. Yu Feng and the Shi Mo brothers sat in the back, while Ye Lingling, dressed in white and carrying a cool, aloof air, sat in a corner.

When Lin Chen and Xiao Wu entered, the classroom quieted down at once. Several gazes turned toward them in unison, some curious, some hostile, and some appraising.

The instructor soon walked in. He was a Soul Emperor expert around forty years old, surnamed Qin, with a stern expression.

"All of you who made it into Class One are standouts among your peers. But getting into Class One doesn't mean everything is settled. The student in last place is eliminated every month, and anyone who can't keep up will automatically get the hell over to an ordinary class." Instructor Qin swept his gaze over them and got straight to the point. "For today's first lesson, we'll spar to assess your abilities. Everyone will take the stage in order. Stop before anyone gets hurt, and let me see your true level."

The students below were eager to have a go. Yu Tianheng's gaze was especially sharp. He had been waiting for this day, and it was the perfect chance to take Lin Chen down a peg in public.

The sparring proceeded in ascending order of Soul Power Level.

Yu Feng's Wind Chime Bird, the Shi Mo brothers' Black Tortoises, Ye Lingling's Nine Heart Begonia... The geniuses took the stage one after another, each with their own strengths. Ye Lingling's support and healing abilities in particular drew gasps of admiration the moment she used them, worthy of a top-tier support Martial Soul.

Soon, it was Yu Tianheng's turn.

He leaped onto the training platform and abruptly released his Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Martial Soul.

Amid a deep dragon's roar, violet lightning coiled around him. Three Soul Rings-yellow, yellow, and purple-slowly rose, while the Soul Power fluctuations of a level thirty-four Soul Elder spread outward, exuding an overwhelming pressure.

"Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon, Yu Tianheng." He cupped his fists, his gaze fixed directly on Lin Chen below the platform. "I challenge Lin Chen. I've long wanted to experience the brilliant techniques of a commoner genius."

The classroom erupted at once.

"Here it comes! Yu Tianheng is challenging Lin Chen!"

"Now this will be a good show! An orthodox clan disciple against a self-taught genius-who'll win?"

"Do you even have to ask? Yu Tianheng, of course! The Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon is a top-tier Beast Martial Soul, invincible against others of the same rank!"

Instructor Qin looked at Lin Chen. "Lin Chen, do you accept the challenge?"

"Why not?"

Lin Chen walked slowly onto the platform and stood opposite Yu Tianheng. He didn't release his Martial Soul, merely standing with his hands behind his back and a calm expression.

"Putting on airs." Yu Tianheng snorted and instantly activated his First Soul Skill. "First Soul Skill, Thunder Dragon Claw!"

Lightning flared, and a dragon claw formed from thunder and lightning struck fiercely at Lin Chen with a sharp crackle. The Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon's lightning had immense offensive power. Anyone struck by it would not only suffer grievous injuries but also be paralyzed.