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"Yanyan, detoxify them. Lingling, treat their injuries," Ye Lan commanded.
In moments, a purple mist began to rise from the seven members of Elephant Armor Academy. The venomous haze spiraled toward Dugu Yan, who absorbed it into her body. Following this, a gentle rain of white and pink petals from the Nine-Heart Begonia brought the soul duel to a graceful close.
Countless spectators were mesmerized by the shower of petals. They had not only witnessed a spectacular match but had also received a stunning floral finale as a bonus.
"This ticket was worth every single coin!"
"I'm a fan of Heaven Dou Royal Academy for life!"
"Seriously, how could anyone still doubt a team this incredible?!"
"Hey, where did that obnoxious guy who was badmouthing the Royal Academy go?"
"He must have run off with his tail between his legs!"
Boom— The once-clear sky was suddenly swallowed by storm clouds, plunging the world into a gloomy twilight.
A black-haired man with ordinary features walked aimlessly beneath the churning clouds, his head bowed.
Crack!
A bolt of lightning tore through the sky, followed a moment later by a clap of thunder. The sudden storm sent pedestrians scurrying for shelter under awnings. Raindrops the size of beans began to fall in sheets. The man didn't react, his gaze fixed on his black shoes as he shuffled forward, one step at a time.
The strength displayed by Heaven Dou Royal Academy had clearly crushed his spirit. He could think of no way to counter Ye Lan's "Shield-Poison-Heal" system. While his Eight Spider Lances could absorb the Jade Phosphor Purple Toxin, Tang San knew the key wasn't the poison. It was the shield, the heal, and the fact that they never took damage. The "poison" could be substituted with any form of attack—lightning, flame, or anything else.
As he walked, a pair of cloth shoes entered his field of vision.
He looked up and met a pair of eyes filled with heartfelt pain.
A sting of emotion reddened Tang San's nose. "Teacher!" he cried out.
"Xiao San, what is it? Just a few days ago, you were brimming with confidence. Why do you look so lost now?" Yu Xiaogang asked.
"Teacher, I see no hope of defeating Heaven Dou Royal Academy. I'm afraid I'll disappoint you in this year's Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Tournament. We can't win," Tang San said, his head hanging low.
"Xiao San! You disappoint me greatly! Can you not withstand a single setback? So what if we lose? As long as we have the courage to face our enemies, we can stand up again no matter how many times we fall!" Yu Xiaogang said heatedly.
"Teacher, I…" Tang San lowered his head, silent.
Yu Xiaogang looked at his disciple with a complex expression. He was excellent in every way, but he was too proud, too fixated on winning. He didn't know the reason for Ye Lan's sudden rise, nor could he replicate the growth path of Ye Lan's Blue Silver Grass. By now, Tang San's own Blue Silver Grass was already set on the poison-control path he had designed. As a Soul Ancestor, it was impossible to change its attributes; he had to see this path through to the end.
Since the Blue Silver Grass could no longer compete with Ye Lan's, their only hope lay in the Haotian Hammer. For now, the priority was to restore his disciple's confidence.
"Tell me," Yu Xiaogang said, "why do you see no hope of defeating Heaven Dou Royal Academy?"
Tang San explained the Shield-Poison-Heal system and how the Royal Academy's members seemed completely immune to injury.
Hearing the explanation, Yu Xiaogang's scalp tingled. It was a virtually unbeatable strategy; no wonder Tang San was in despair. But to maintain his image in his disciple's eyes, he put on a confident facade.
"Xiao San, is that all it takes to break your spirit? Remember, there is no invincible soul skill in this world. I believe the reason they take no damage is one of Ye Lan's defensive soul skills. Didn't you say his third soul ring is always lit? That must be it."
Tang San's eyes lit up. "Teacher, is there a way to break it?"
"Defensive skills always have a limit. And since you said none of them get hurt, it must be a group defense skill. Therefore, you just need to use a large area-of-effect soul skill to shatter it!" Yu Xiaogang declared, stumbling upon half the truth by sheer luck.
If Ye Lan had heard this "solution," he would have scoffed. Break Life Link with an AOE attack? He'd have to ask Ye Lingling's Nine-Heart Begonia for permission first.
"Teacher! You're right! There's no such thing as an invincible soul skill! If we can find the weakness in Ye Lan's technique, we can definitely defeat Heaven Dou Royal Academy!" Tang San's gloomy expression vanished.
"By the way, Teacher, do you know what the Killing God Domain is?" Tang San asked, thinking of his first trial from the Asura God. He didn't intend to tell his teacher about the trials; Yu Xiaogang was only a Great Soul Master. He couldn't possibly know about the affairs of gods.
"The Killing God Domain? I've heard the Haotian Douluo possesses it, but I don't know how one obtains it. I do know a fair bit about domains, however. Generally, only Titled Douluo can wield them. They are a unique type of ability, separate from soul skills." Yu Xiaogang revered Tang Hao and had gathered every piece of information he could about him.
"I see," Tang San said, disappointed. He had hoped the Asura God's trial would be his chance to turn the tables, but it seemed to be a distant dream. Who knows when he would ever become a Titled Douluo.
"Xiao San, don't aim so high so quickly. Take it one step at a time. Wait until you are a Soul Sage, or even a Soul Douluo, before adding rings to your Haotian Hammer. You will become the assault-type Titled Douluo with the most optimal soul ring configuration on the entire continent!" Yu Xiaogang advised.
Tang San nodded. He knew his teacher was right, but as long as Ye Lan stood above him, his heart could not find peace.
"I understand, Teacher. As for your request to study how the Eight Spider Lances extract life force and soul power, I haven't made any progress," Tang San admitted.
"Don't worry, take your time. You are my only disciple; your cultivation is the highest priority." Yu Xiaogang patted his shoulder and retrieved a dry robe from his soul tool, draping it over him. A warmth spread through Tang San's chest, and the turmoil in his heart gradually subsided.
A few days later, at the Heaven Dou Royal Academy training grounds.
"Yu Feng, you've been out of control these past few days! Are you just toying with the other advanced academies?" Oslo laughed.
"Look who's talking. Didn't you use your fourth soul skill on a mere Soul Elder? These other academies can't compare to the Four Element Academies. They may be geniuses among commoner soul masters, but there's a huge gap between them and the top-tier academies," Yu Feng replied.
"If you two keep this up, you're going to ruin our academy's reputation!" Yu Tianheng said, exasperated.
"Captain, you have the nerve to lecture us? You're a Rank 49 with the continent's number one beast martial soul, the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon, and you open every match with your ultimate move! The other teams don't even get a chance to show what they can do! And Ye Lingling has to patch them up afterward," Oslo retorted playfully.
"That's still better than your games of cat and mouse. Look at how steady Shi Mo and Shi Mo are," Yu Tianheng shot back.
"I'm a leopard, what do you expect?" Oslo waved a hand dismissively.
"And I'm a little bird that flies!" Yu Feng added with a shrug.
"Alright, that's enough. Look over the file for tomorrow's match. This opponent is several tiers above the ones we've faced so far," Qin Ming interjected, handing out the documents.
Thunderclap Academy:
Yu Tianxin, Martial Soul: Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon, Rank 43 Assault-type Battle Soul Ancestor.
Lei Dong, Martial Soul: Thunder Spider, Rank 43 Control-type Battle Soul Ancestor.
Lei Tian, Martial Soul: Thunder Eagle, Rank 42 Assault-type Battle Soul Ancestor.
Lei Mie, Martial Soul: Thunderlight, Rank 41 Assault-type Battle Soul Ancestor.
Lei Jiu-zhong, Martial Soul: Thunder Umbrella, Rank 38 Assault-type Battle Soul Elder.
Xiao Yunjù, Martial Soul: Thunder Pearl, Rank 38 Control-type Battle Soul Elder.
Lu Chen, Martial Soul: Thunder Fork, Rank 37 Assault-type Battle Soul Elder.
Past Performances: …
"Oh? An old acquaintance of the captain's. Now this should be interesting!" Oslo grinned.
"What's interesting is that he is the challenger," Yu Tianheng smiled.
"Ye Lan, what's the plan for tomorrow? This opponent is tricky—a full team of lightning-attribute soul masters. Their attacks are incredibly ferocious, even more violent than fire. Every team that has faced Thunderclap Academy has been wiped out almost instantly. Only Godwind Academy managed to beat them by using their flight advantage to stay out of reach," Qin Ming summarized.
Ye Lan thought for a moment, then laid out his plan. "Tomorrow's lineup will be me, Shi Mo, Shi Mo, Yu Tianheng, Dugu Yan, Ye Lingling, and Ning Rongrong."
"Ye Lan, is this another new tactic?" Xiaoxue's eyes sparkled.
"That's right. Tomorrow, the world will witness Heaven Dou Royal Academy's true team fighting system!" Ye Lan announced, his voice filled with excitement.
"I can't wait for tomorrow, Teacher!" Zhu Zhuqing said, her eyes shining with admiration.
"You wicked woman, if you beg me, I might just give you a buff tomorrow," Ning Rongrong smirked at Dugu Yan.
"In your dreams! I'd rather get struck by lightning and die than beg you!" Dugu Yan shot back through gritted teeth.
"Rongrong, be nice," Ye Lan said, tapping her lightly on the head.
"Sister Lingling, heal me, that hurt! Ye Lan is a mean man!" Ning Rongrong cried out theatrically, hugging Ye Lingling's arm. Ye Lingling just smiled as a flower petal drifted down and landed gently on Ning Rongrong's head.
"It's another day of commentating on a Heaven Dou Royal Academy match, ladies and gentlemen! Let's hear it for the captain of the Royal Academy, YE LAN!"
"YU TIANHENG!"
"And now, let's welcome the challengers! THUNDERCLAP ACADEMY!"
"YU TIANXIN!"
"A friendly reminder for our audience—Thunderclap Academy's captain is Yu Tianheng's cousin! How will this battle of bloodlines end?"
"LEI DONG!"
In the VIP box, a new figure had joined Ning Fengzhi, Platinum Bishop Salas, and Emperor Xue Ye: a weathered man in black and gold armor, his black hair streaked with white, his expression stern.
Ning Fengzhi was surprised. "Patriarch Yu Luomian, what an honor. What brings you all the way from the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan to watch the preliminaries in Heaven Dou City?"
Yu Luomian chuckled. "Today, Thunderclap Academy faces Heaven Dou Royal Academy. My good-for-nothing grandson, Tianxin, is competing, as is my grand-nephew, Yu Tianheng. I came to see how Tianheng fights. His rate of growth is astonishing, far surpassing my own grandson's."
Although they were both heads of Upper Three Sects, Yu Luomian was exceptionally polite to Ning Fengzhi. This was because, thanks to Ye Lan, Yu Tianheng's strength and rank had earned him unanimous recognition within the clan. As a result, they were eager to befriend Ye Lan to repay him for cultivating their successor. Everyone knew that the young sect master of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect was Ye Lan's student, and their relationship was famously ambiguous. Because of this connection, relations between the straightforward Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan and the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect had warmed considerably.
"Yu Tianxin is certainly not lacking. He will at least become a Soul Douluo in the future, with a chance of reaching the Titled Douluo realm. It is only Yu Tianheng's meteoric rise that makes him seem slow. Calling him 'good-for-nothing' is surely self-deprecation, Patriarch Yu," Ning Fengzhi offered objectively.
"May your auspicious words come true, Sect Master Ning. And this is all thanks to 'The Scholar' Ye Lan. I never imagined Tianheng would have the good fortune to befriend him," Yu Luomian laughed, clearly delighted. It was a pity the clan had no girls of a suitable age, or they would have sent one to the Royal Academy to get close to Ye Lan.
This train of thought brought his daughter, Liu Erlong, to mind.
A quiet sigh escaped him. Because of Yu Xiaogang, he hadn't spoken a word to his daughter in decades. During holidays and festivals, he would only watch her from a distance.
As Yu Luomian was lost in thought, a familiar figure appeared on the stage below. The man had cropped hair, a weary look in his eyes, and a full, untidy beard, exuding an air of gloom.
Yu Xiaogang? What is he doing here?
Ning Fengzhi was equally surprised. Noticing Yu Luomian's confused expression, he quietly explained, "Patriarch Yu, Grandmaster Yu Xiaogang is the current leader of Shrek Academy. Perhaps he has some instructions for Yu Tianxin?"
"Shrek Academy? I've never heard of it," Yu Luomian said, looking at Ning Fengzhi.
"Shrek Academy was formerly known as Lanba Academy," Ning Fengzhi replied, feigning ignorance. He focused his soul power into his ears, curious to hear what Yu Xiaogang was planning.
The moment he heard the explanation, Yu Luomian's hand clenched, crushing the armrest of his chair into dust.
YU XIAOGANG! How dare you show your face before Erlong again! Has their sinful affair been rekindled?
On the stage, Yu Tianxin was discussing strategy with his teammates when someone suddenly appeared before him. The man wore plain clothes, his hair and beard were unkempt, and his eyes bore a slight resemblance to his father's.
The former number one theoretical Grandmaster, Yu Xiaogang?
Although Yu Tianxin couldn't understand how his uncle—a mere Great Soul Master with a farting-pig martial soul—had ever earned such a title, he suppressed his disdain and spoke. "Uncle Xiaogang?"
"Hahaha, Tianxin, I can't believe you recognize me. I only saw you a few times when you were an infant," Yu Xiaogang said, trying to sound friendly.
"Is there something you need? Our match is about to begin," Yu Tianxin asked directly.
"Time is short, so I'll be blunt. If you want to defeat Heaven Dou Royal Academy, you must use an extremely powerful, large-area offensive soul skill," Yu Xiaogang stated.
"We have our own strategy. If we use yours, our soul power won't last long," Yu Tianxin replied dismissively.
"I would not lie to you. The secret to why they don't take damage is Ye Lan's third soul skill. Only a large-area attack can break it. And among the Four Element Academies, who has the strongest area attacks? Our Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan's Thunderclap Academy," Yu Xiaogang insisted.
Yu Tianxin was silent for a moment. He wasn't sure if his uncle was right, but the man had once held the title of the continent's number one Grandmaster. Perhaps his advice had some merit.
"Fine. I'll start with our standard strategy. If it doesn't work, I'll try yours," he conceded.
Yu Xiaogang nodded. This way, he could use Thunderclap Academy to test Ye Lan's third soul skill.
"Uncle Xiaogang," Yu Tianxin asked, "why are you telling us their weakness? If we win, doesn't that hurt Shrek Academy's chances?"
Yu Xiaogang replied without batting an eye, "Shrek Academy has a grudge with Heaven Dou Royal. Besides, I am a member of the Blue Lightning Clan. I don't want to see Thunderclap Academy lose!"
Across the stage, Yu Tianheng stared at Yu Xiaogang in surprise. He hadn't expected him to advise Tianxin just to get at the Royal Academy, but he wasn't worried. No strategy would work. Captain Ye was the true master of tactics. In his eyes, Yu Xiaogang's "Grandmaster" title was a joke; "The Scholar" Ye Lan was the only master he acknowledged.
"Yu Xiaogang, what are you doing on the stage?" Ning Rongrong snapped. "It's not Shrek Academy you're fighting!"
Yu Xiaogang shot her a cold glare. "What I do is none of your business. As a traitor to Shrek, you have no right to question me!"
Ning Rongrong's words were venomous. "Hmph, if Zhuqing and I hadn't left, we would have been ruined by you lot. Do you have any idea how much your academy's reputation stinks now? Shrek Academy is a latrine, which must be why you can't smell your own stench!"
"I won't waste my breath on a traitor. Just you wait. Tianxin will deliver your reckoning!" Yu Xiaogang said, flicking his sleeve and turning away. He knew exactly how foul Shrek's reputation was; he had no rebuttal.
Black lines appeared on Yu Tianxin's forehead. Can't Shrek and the Royal Academy keep their feud to themselves? Don't drag Thunderclap Academy into it! This useless uncle of his was truly unreliable. Was this his idea of helping, by drawing their ire?
"Preliminary Tournament, First District, First Arena, morning session! Heaven Dou Royal Academy versus Thunderclap Academy—BEGIN!" the referee shouted the moment Yu Xiaogang was off the stage. Any longer, and he would have had him forcibly removed.
Instantly, fourteen pillars of soul light shot into the sky. On one side, a kaleidoscope of colors; on the other, Thunderclap's light was uniformly blue and crackling with electricity.
"Big Brother Tianxin! Show me what you've got!" Yu Tianheng charged forward, instantly completing his Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon possession. Both arms transformed into blue-violet talons, surrounded by two yellow and two purple soul rings and sheathed in blue-white lightning.
"Tianheng!" Yu Tianxin was not to be outdone. His arms also dragonized, his soul rings matching his cousin's: two yellow, two purple.
From opposite sides of the stage, two lightning-wreathed figures rushed toward each other.
"Nine Treasures Glazed Tile—First: Strength! Second: Speed! Third: Soul!" Ning Rongrong chanted rapidly.
Yu Tianheng's speed surged. With a 40% boost to all three attributes, his fighting spirit soared. In that moment, he felt invincible.
Seeing the sudden spike in Tianheng's aura, Yu Tianxin's pupils contracted. His first soul ring flashed instantly. "Thunderclap Dragon Claw!"
The lightning on his talons erupted, forming arcs of electricity that slashed toward Yu Tianheng.
But Yu Tianheng charged on as if he hadn't seen it. As lightning-attribute soul masters, they both knew their resistance to lightning was high. Such skills would do damage, but the soul power cost was disproportionate to the effect. Furthermore, thanks to Ye Lan's hellish training, Tianheng's physical conditioning was far superior. He was five soul ranks higher than Tianxin and had Rongrong's 40% buff on top of that. In other words, with his physical strength alone, Tianheng could crush him.
The moment the Thunderclap Dragon Claw hit Tianheng, the damage was instantly transferred to a stalk of Blue Silver Grass at Ye Lan's feet. Aside from a slight numbing sensation, Tianheng felt no pain at all.
Yu Tianxin had expected to halt his cousin's charge, but Tianheng was completely unaffected. A blur of afterimages, his own dragon claw lashed out at Tianxin's chest.
Tianxin hastily crossed his arms to block.
Bang!
He was sent flying back more than ten meters. Tianheng's strength was terrifying.
Is he really a Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon soul master? Isn't our martial soul famed for its lightning power? Why is his physical strength so immense? Even with the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda's buff, he shouldn't be this strong! As he flew through the air, his mind was in turmoil.
Racing alongside him, Lei Dong (Thunder Spider) saw his captain thrown back. He immediately used Thunder Cover to enhance his cellular activity and lunged at Tianheng's flank.
"Thunder Wall!" Lei Mie (Thunderlight) activated his second soul skill, erecting a barrier to block Tianheng's retreat.
"Thunder Feathers!" Lei Tian (Thunder Eagle) unleashed his second soul skill, sending a shower of electrified feathers down from above.
On the other side, as soon as Dugu Yan completed her possession, her fourth purple soul ring flared. She activated the Poison Dragon War Armor, transforming into the venom-dragon cavalier. Before Lu Chen (Thunder Fork), Lei Jiu-zhong (Thunder Umbrella), and Xiao Yunjù (Thunder Pearl) could close their pincer attack on Tianheng, she charged forward and crashed into their path.
(End of Chapter)