"Shout it with me—Dugu Feng must win! Dugu Feng must win!"
From the spectator stands, Ning Rongrong stood up.
She looked even more excited than Dugu Feng himself.
Feng Ling and Feng Li, along with the students from the primary academy behind them, naturally obeyed Ning Rongrong without question.
They all followed her lead and began chanting.
"Defeat Yu Tianheng! Dugu Feng must win!"
The voices grew louder and more unified.
The students from the advanced academy, who had originally come to support Yu Tianheng, glared furiously at the primary academy group.
But when they saw Ning Rongrong leading the charge, their defiance quickly withered.
Most of them shamelessly joined in with Ning Rongrong's chants.
Within moments, the cheers for Yu Tianheng were completely drowned out.
At the front of the stands, Dugu Yan's face darkened with frustration and anxiety.
It wasn't just Ning Rongrong's support that troubled her—it was the stalemate on the Soul Duel Stage.
Yu Tianheng had unleashed his Second Soul Skill, the powerful offensive move Thousand Jun of Thunder, and his Third Soul Skill, the amplifying Thunder Fury, yet he still hadn't managed to overwhelm Dugu Feng.
She knew all too well how potent Dugu Feng's toxins were. A prolonged stalemate meant the poison was taking effect—was Yu Tianheng really going to lose?
Beside her, Ye Lingling could only sigh helplessly.
She was also privy to the truth—Dugu Yan had been on the verge of accepting Yu Tianheng's courtship.
But things had gone awry when they'd tried to humiliate Dugu Feng on stage.
Now the situation had spiraled out of control.
Dugu Feng was usually so composed—was there a deeper meaning behind his actions? Ye Lingling pondered this thoughtfully.
On the Soul Duel Stage.
Dugu Feng's body occasionally flickered with serpentine arcs of electricity—evidence of Yu Tianheng's thunderous strikes.
His mind and body both tingled with numbness.
But Yu Tianheng wasn't faring much better—a faint purple hue had begun to spread across his skin.
He was forced to divert a significant portion of his lightning energy inward to purge the toxins.
Yet Dugu Feng remained standing despite the paralyzing shocks, leaving Yu Tianheng stunned.
How could he be this strong?
Dugu Feng's physical resilience played a part, but more importantly, his External Soul Bone and Core Pearl allowed him to channel the lightning into these two focal points.
This was how he endured.
"Yu Tianheng, it's over!"
Dugu Feng snorted coldly. "Poison Burst Technique!"
His second soul ring flared to life.
Yu Tianheng let out a piercing scream.
A series of muffled explosions erupted within his body.
At this moment, he completely lost control over the toxins ravaging him.
The thunderous energy on the Soul Duel Stage abruptly dissipated.
"You've lost," Dugu Feng declared.
The might of his Second Soul Skill was undeniable—had he wished to kill, the toxins could have ended Yu Tianheng's life then and there.
Yu Tianheng staggered, barely able to stay upright.
Seeing this, Dugu Yan rushed onto the stage.
"Hurry up and heal him!" she barked.
"Yanzi, I lost. I won't bother you anymore—you can focus on your cultivation in peace."
Yu Tianheng responded icily, refusing her concern.
Humiliation had turned to anger.
If Dugu Feng was this powerful, how could Dugu Yan, his own cousin, not have known?
By arranging this duel, she must have wanted him to fail—to back off, or even to be publicly humiliated.
If she wanted to reject him, why do it in front of everyone?
Dugu Yan, you are truly heartless.
Yu Tianheng felt that today was the most humiliating day of his life.
Dugu Feng smiled as the Emerald Dragon Snake landed on Yu Tianheng, swiftly neutralizing the poison.
"Sis, I didn't disappoint you!"
"Shut up! I'll have Grandfather kill you!"
Dugu Yan was furious, her icy gaze fixed on Dugu Feng.
"Pfft—"
Yu Tianheng suddenly spat out a mouthful of black blood.
"Dugu Yan, stop pretending. Wasn't it you who sent him onto the stage?
Wasn't it you who made him fight me in the Soul Duel?
I, Yu Tianheng, was outmatched and lost the duel.
It was my delusion—I was unworthy of you, Dugu Yan.
But in your heart, did you really think I was the kind of person who would bully others with power?
The kind who would cling shamelessly?
Dugu Yan, from today onward, I won't pester you for even a second!"
Yu Tianheng stood up abruptly and strode off the Soul Duel Stage.
His retreating figure was filled with desolation and resolve.
The entire Soul Duel Arena fell into dead silence. Everyone had come for a show, but they ended up witnessing a real drama.
No one dared to laugh now.
They were all afraid of earning the hatred of either Yu Tianheng or Dugu Yan.
"Sis, I won't disturb you anymore. I'm off to train!"
Seeing his goal accomplished, Dugu Feng decisively leaped off the stage and sped toward the foot of the mountain.
Only Dugu Yan remained on the Soul Duel Stage.
She felt wronged—deeply wronged.
She had only wanted to embarrass Dugu Feng a little. How had things escalated like this?
Unable to hold back any longer, tears streamed down her face.
"Grandfather, Dugu Feng bullied me!
He bullied me!"
Sobbing, Dugu Yan ran off the stage.
Ye Lingling hurried after her. Sigh, Yanzi has really suffered a huge loss this time.
Dugu Feng raced down the mountain and immediately returned to the Dugu Mansion in Heaven Dou City.
Ruining the relationship between Dugu Yan and Yu Tianheng had been his plan the moment she targeted him.
He couldn't let Dugu Yan have her way so easily.
Given the opportunity she handed him, how could Dugu Feng not seize it?
Moreover, Yu Yuanzhen's actions last time clearly showed he had ulterior motives toward the Dugu Family.
How could Dugu Feng allow their alliance to continue?
If it did, the Dugu Family would have no secrets left from Yu Yuanzhen.
Dugu Feng arrived at the ancestral hall and found Dugu Shuo deep in cultivation.
"Father, today at the Royal Advanced Soul Master Academy's Soul Duel, Yu Tianheng took the chance to confess his feelings to Dugu Yan."
He recounted the events in detail.
Dugu Shuo's expression remained calm. "Second Uncle has spoiled Yan Yan far too much. How could she possibly be with Yu Tianheng?
Feng'er, you did well!
I'll go talk to Second Uncle and settle this properly!"
Without hesitation, Dugu Shuo stood and strode out.
Dugu Feng was stunned. Father is being so domineering—is he serious?
He quickly said, "Father, let me go with you!"
"Wait here. Don't worry—the family's strength is a deterrent to others, and it's a deterrent to Second Uncle too. He wouldn't dare do anything to me!"
Dugu Shuo's tone brooked no argument as he left the mansion.
Meanwhile, in another Dugu Mansion...
Heart-wrenching sobs echoed through the hall.
Dugu Yan was tearfully recounting Dugu Feng's despicable actions to Dugu Bo.
"Grandfather, kill him for me. I want him dead!"
Her voice dripped with hatred.
Dugu Bo patted her shoulder repeatedly. This was the first time his granddaughter had cried so bitterly since Dugu Xin's death.
It pained him deeply.
"Wait here. I'll go catch that brat right now so Yan Yan can vent her anger!" Dugu Bo said coldly.
He was not one to tolerate insults.
Whoever dared to bully his granddaughter would face his retaliation, no matter who they were.
But as for killing Dugu Feng, Dugu Bo clearly had no such intention—he only planned to let his granddaughter properly vent her frustration.