"See? Even your cousin is kept in the dark!"
Ning Rongrong said with a pout.
Dugu Feng smiled. Yu Tianheng sure knew how to play the field!
Dugu Yan was chatting with Ye Lingling when she suddenly turned around as if sensing something, her gaze locking onto Dugu Feng.
Feng Ling and Feng Li had secured the best viewing spots near the Soul Duel Stage, close enough for Dugu Yan to immediately recognize Dugu Feng when their eyes met.
She knew exactly who he was.
Dugu Feng had been back at the academy for some time now, frequently seen with Ning Rongrong, becoming quite the campus celebrity. Even in the advanced division, Dugu Yan had heard the rumors—though this was her first time seeing him in person.
Why? Why wasn't he dead yet?
Grandfather had said he'd succumb to poison once he reached the Great Soul Master realm. According to reports from the junior academy, Dugu Feng's Soul Power Level was already nearing Soul Expert—long past when the poison should have taken effect. If it had, why was he still alive?
And his father, Dugu Shuo—how had he lasted this long?
It unsettled Dugu Yan, though she wasn't sure why she felt this way, why she wished for their deaths by poisoning. But she simply couldn't stand the Poison Cultivation Lineage.
Perhaps it was tied to Grandfather's suffering and her father's death.
If Grandfather said he'd succumb, then he wouldn't last much longer.
Dugu Yan seethed silently.
Every interaction with Dugu Yan only reinforced Dugu Feng's belief that her hostility stemmed from Dugu Bo's influence.
If not for the old poison master's meddling, why would Dugu Yan despise the Poison Cultivation Lineage so much?
Old Poison, you killed my grandfather. The grudges of the past mean it's our lineage that should seek vengeance against you. Yet here you are, acting like the victim.
A cold resolve settled in Dugu Feng's heart—it was time to give the old man something to worry about.
As Dugu Feng pondered, the duel on the stage had already begun.
Yu Tianheng, with a Soul Power Level of 36, faced opponents like Dugu Yan and Shi Mo at 35, while Yu Feng and Oslo lagged at 34. Match after match, none could best him.
The only one who gave Yu Tianheng any trouble was Shi Mo, wielder of the Black Tortoise Martial Soul—a beast-type. Upon activating his Martial Soul Avatar, he could summon two massive dark-red Tortoise Shell Shields, their edges razor-sharp.
These shields functioned like weapons for a Tool Soul Master, serving both as defensive barriers and spinning blades. When set into motion, their sheer destructive force even gave Dugu Feng pause—few Weapon Souls could compare.
Yet even Shi Mo fell to Yu Tianheng. As for Oslo and Yu Feng? They stood no chance.
"Yu Tianheng! Yu Tianheng! Yu Tianheng!"
The stands erupted in cheers, celebrating his victory as the academy's Soul Duel champion.
"The real show's about to start!" Ning Rongrong excitedly patted Dugu Feng's arm.
On stage, Yu Tianheng raised his hands, basking in the applause before gesturing for silence. Then—a dazzling spectacle unfolded.
Ten black dots appeared in the sky. Dugu Feng's violet eyes flashed as he clearly saw that they were actually ten flying Soul Masters.
These flying Soul Masters soared above the Soul Duel Stage, then scattered cascades of roses from the sky.
Yu Tianheng leaped up, catching the roses mid-air.
Electric light surged around his body as each cascade of roses landed precisely on the Soul Duel Stage, eventually forming a massive heart shape.
"Dugu Yan! Dugu Yan!"
"Dugu Yan!"
The entire spectator stands erupted in excitement.
"Go on, Yanzi!" Ye Lingling beside Dugu Yan urged softly.
"Ah!"
Dugu Yan gasped in surprise, only now snapping out of her daze.
Yu Tianheng's persistence had long been evident to Dugu Yan, who had planned to accept his courtship at an appropriate time.
She never expected Yu Tianheng to surprise her like this.
Who wouldn't be moved by such a grand gesture?
Moreover, both their statuses were extraordinary—one being the future heir of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Family, the other the granddaughter of the Jade Phosphorous Douluo.
Today's event would surely spread through Heaven Dou City's aristocratic circles.
As the cheers grew louder around her,
Dugu Yan stepped onto the Soul Duel Stage with excitement, standing before the heart-shaped roses.
She raised her head to speak but first caught sight of Dugu Feng smiling from the stands.
Grinning, she declared, "Yu Tianheng, I know you've been pursuing me, but I have one condition!"
Yu Tianheng was momentarily stunned. He had thought that with his championship glory and this public confession, Dugu Yan would be moved to tears.
He hadn't anticipated any conditions.
"Yanzi, for you, I'd climb mountains of blades and cross seas of fire—I'm willing to try anything!"
Yu Tianheng recovered quickly, making a solemn promise.
Below the stage, Dugu Feng already sensed trouble.
Dugu Yan had glanced at him just now—was she about to stir up trouble?
"I'll agree to be your girlfriend if you defeat my younger brother, Dugu Feng!"
Dugu Yan's clear voice rang out as she pointed toward the front row of the spectator stands.
Yu Tianheng also looked at Dugu Feng and immediately relaxed. Was that all?
He knew Dugu Feng's cultivation level—approaching Soul Expert.
Meanwhile, he himself was a thirty-six ranked Soul Expert.
They differed by an entire major realm and one Spirit Ring.
Clearly, Yanzi just wanted an excuse to save face. If she accepted his confession outright, wouldn't that seem too forward?
Yu Tianheng believed he'd guessed Dugu Yan's intentions correctly.
He gestured toward Dugu Feng in the stands.
"Defeat him! Defeat him!"
"Defeat him! Defeat him!"
The planted cheerleaders below resumed chanting. Though there'd been a twist, wasn't drama more entertaining this way?
Ning Rongrong shot a suspicious glance at Dugu Feng, now wondering if there was something between Dugu Yan and him.
An uninformed observer like Yu Tianheng might think this was just Dugu Yan's way of saving face.
But she knew their relationship was far from harmonious.
Dugu Yan clearly wanted to embarrass Dugu Feng.
"Dugu Feng, what exactly did you do to your cousin to make her hate you so much?"
Ning Rongrong's curiosity was piqued. She'd come to watch the show, only to find it centering on Dugu Feng.
"My cousin doesn't actually like Yu Tianheng," he replied, glancing at Ning Rongrong before turning to Feng Ling and Feng Li beside him.
"Since Yu Tianheng is the future heir of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Family and keeps pestering her relentlessly, she couldn't refuse him easily and had to push the matter onto me."
"Looks like I have no choice but to help my cousin out!"
Dugu Feng sighed and stood up directly, walking toward the Soul Duel Stage.
Cousin, oh cousin, you shouldn't have provoked me!
Ning Rongrong looked completely bewildered.
If I hadn't been with you all this time, I might have actually believed that.
(End of Chapter)