Huo Wu: What do you mean by 'good show'?
Feng Xiaotian explained in a low voice: "These past few years, Spirit Hall has been trying to win over the Four Elemental Academies—except for Thunderclap Academy. Our Godwind Academy and Blazing Fire Academy, along with Tianshui Academy, don't have powerful backers behind us."
"But Elephant Armor Academy is different. Though they don't have the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan like Thunderclap Academy, they are backed by the Elephant Armor Sect—one of the Seven Great Sects. When Spirit Hall tried to recruit them, their attitude was too forceful, even threatening, which left the Elephant Armor Sect displeased."
Huo Wu frowned, pondering. "You mean this is a test? Did the Elephant Armor Sect instruct them to probe the Spirit Academy team?"
Feng Xiaotian smiled mysteriously. "Exactly."
Huo Wu arched a brow. "So whether Spirit Hall resists or yields, the Elephant Armor Sect first wants to gauge Spirit Academy's strength before deciding their stance."
By now, the Golden Generation had halted in their tracks.
All eight of them turned their eyes toward Hu Yanli.
At the same time, most of the hall had turned their gazes on the Golden Generation as well, watching like spectators waiting for a fight to break out.
Between Elephant Armor Academy's table and the staircase to the second floor sat only Tianshui Academy. With nearly every gaze upon them, and Hu Yanli's mocking words still hanging in the air, the Golden Generation truly found themselves in a tough spot.
"You just said what?"
Before Su Linfeng could respond, hot-tempered Yan exploded. "Who are you saying hasn't grown their hair yet?!"
"I wasn't talking about you."
Hu Yanli looked stiff, glancing at Yan with disdain. "Why are you taking it personally?"
His confidence—born of being both an academy genius and a sect heir—was obvious.
After all, every team here represented either an empire or a great sect. None was ordinary. Every youth carried the arrogance of their circle. Hu Yanli was no exception.
"You…" Yan seethed.
"What, you? Is this the attitude of Spirit Academy's people?" Hu Yanli sneered.
"Yan, enough."
Su Linfeng finally spoke. "This isn't the tournament stage. If you've got temper to vent, save it for the arena!"
Then he cast a cold glance at Hu Yanli.
Just one glance—and the words Hu Yanli had been about to say suddenly stuck in his throat. Looking into Su Linfeng's eyes, his heart skipped.
This person…
So strong!
Terrifyingly strong!
In that instant, his spirit seemed to quiver instinctively, his martial soul trembling under the unseen pressure. That single look was enough to make him swallow his retort.
And seeing Su Linfeng speak, Yan could only grit his teeth and fall silent.
The Golden Generation all acknowledged Su Linfeng as the core of their team. Their growth was tied to his guidance. Though Yan and Xie Yue were older, they respected him as an elder brother.
Without him, they would never have reached their current achievements. So his words carried more weight than even their instructors at Spirit Academy.
Even Yan, who adored Hu Liena and knew she liked Su Linfeng, still admitted only Su Linfeng was worthy of her. He had reached a new realm of "devoted follower" logic.
"Yan."
Su Linfeng calmed him with a glance, then turned to Hu Yanli with a polite smile. "All who come are guests. Spirit Hall treats everyone with respect. And age doesn't define strength. Since you doubt us, then we'll settle it in the tournament."
It was courteous, leaving Hu Yanli room to step down.
The hall fell silent. The matter could have ended there.
But Hu Yanli, proud heir of the Elephant Armor Sect, refused to lose face with so many watching.
"Fine then! Just you, pretty boy?"
He sneered at Su Linfeng. "I hope we meet in the finals. I'll personally snap those skinny legs of yours."
"Bastard!"
Before Su Linfeng could react, Hu Liena was already furious. Her fox-like eyes flared, twin beams of light piercing toward Hu Yanli.
Youthful fire—
Even Su Linfeng hadn't expected her to lash out.
But Hu Yanli had gone too far, deliberately provoking them. And truth be told, wasn't youthful impulsiveness the mark of youth?
Hu Liena was only fifteen. To hear Su Linfeng mocked as a "pretty boy" was something she simply couldn't endure.
From the moment he had started provoking them, Hu Yanli had been suppressing his own temper. Now, with her striking first, he seized the chance.
A mental attack?
Hu Yanli's lips curled as a yellow light flared at his brow.
Both of them grunted almost simultaneously. Hu Liena staggered back a step, while Hu Yanli himself was forced back three steps before regaining balance.
Such a powerful spiritual force!
A Spirit Bone?!
Both thought the same in shock, their faces pale with surprise.
"Nana!"
"Boss!"
Both teams cried out at once. Hu Yanli's teammates leapt to their feet, releasing powerful soul force that shattered the table before them.
The Golden Generation did the same, instantly shifting into formation around Hu Liena.
The clash was a hair away from erupting into full battle.
"Enough!"
At that moment, a tremendous pressure blanketed the hall.
In an instant—
The air itself seemed sucked away, a crushing flame-like aura forcing the spirit power of both teams back into their bodies.
Over a hundred competitors from both empires instinctively shot to their feet, eyes snapping toward Su Linfeng.
Hu Yanli's mouth fell open in shock. "Th-this is… a Domain…"
Not just a Domain. It was the absolute suppression of a divine beast spirit.
A God Domain—vast, majestic, unshakable.
The suffocating pressure was no different from what a Title Douluo would unleash.
Such a domain—
How could it belong to a mere fifteen-year-old boy?
Meanwhile, on the hotel's second floor—
The Heaven Dou Royal Academy team, the Star Luo Royal Academy team, Crown Prince Xue Qinghe, Poison Douluo Dugu Bo, and every instructor and leader—
all stared wide-eyed in shock.
Title Douluo?!
That was their first thought.
In an instant, windows were thrown open. Countless gazes looked down upon Su Linfeng.
Each with their own thoughts—
Dugu Bo: So it's that little monster.
Dugu Yan: Linfeng? His cultivation has advanced again… this aura feels just like a Title Douluo's.
Davis: Since when did Spirit Hall have someone this monstrous? He… he's…
But only Crown Prince Xue Qinghe reacted differently.
The moment she saw Su Linfeng, her body trembled. Her pupils contracted sharply.
Why… did he feel so familiar?
His age, his features—
Too much like the younger brother she had longed for, the one she hadn't seen in nine years.
At the same time—
Su Linfeng too sensed the familiar aura. He couldn't help but glance upward, meeting the dazed gaze of Xue Qinghe.
Eighteen years old now.
The little golden-haired brat… had grown into a full golden-haired youth.