Chapter 27: Heaven Dou Imperial Academy — The Calm Storm
The gates of Heaven Dou Imperial Academy loomed high, gilded metal and jade inlaid with intricate carvings that spoke of status and power. Students bustled in and out, some in crisp uniforms that screamed nobility, others carrying books and sparring gear.
Two figures approached the entrance — a tall boy and a girl walking side by side. Both looked no older than twelve.
Yet every step the boy took carried a weight that made people instinctively move aside.
Chen Dugu — lean, sharp-eyed, his aura calm but suffocating to anyone sensitive to spirit energy. By his side, Dugu Yanyan kept pace, holding her chin a little higher than usual. She could feel the stares on them, and it made her both nervous and proud.
"...So many people staring," she muttered, glancing up at her brother.
"They'll get used to it," Chen replied evenly. His tone carried no arrogance, just quiet certainty — a simple fact.
Inside, the registrar flipped through their recommendation letters. When his eyes landed on the evaluation from the Spirit Hall examiner, his hands trembled.
Name: Chen Dugu
Age: 12
Spirit Rank: 42
Fourth Spirit Ring: 10,000 years (Verified)
The man looked up sharply, eyes darting between the calm boy in front of him and the neat, almost clinical handwriting on the letter. "Y-You…" He swallowed. "Special Class. Immediately."
Even the supervising instructor, a Rank 50 Spirit King, hesitated when shaking Chen's hand. There was something unnerving about a child whose spirit pressure felt denser than most adults.
By the time they reached the training grounds, the whispers had spread.
"Rank forty-two? At twelve? Impossible…"
"Look at his uniform… that's the poison valley crest, isn't it?"
"Who is that girl with him? She's… pretty, but why's she holding his arm like that?"
Chen ignored every word, his eyes sweeping across the grounds. He wasn't here to impress anyone. He was here to grow stronger.
The Special Class training hall was quiet when Chen and Yanyan stepped inside. The room smelled faintly of polished wood and medicinal incense, a sign of the academy's resources for healing after sparring sessions.
A dozen students turned to look.
Some looked curious.
Some looked annoyed.
One or two looked openly hostile — their pride bruised by the rumors already circling the campus.
Chen ignored them all.
---
The instructor, a lean man in his thirties with sharp brows, stepped forward. His spirit power, a solid Rank 58, rolled off him like heat, commanding respect from every student. Except Chen.
"New additions to the Special Class," the man said, his voice brisk. "This is Dugu Chen. Rank 42. Age: twelve. Fourth ring: verified ten-thousand-year ring."
The room froze.
Even those trying to look uninterested snapped their heads toward Chen. Rank forty-two was rare enough at his age. A ten-thousand-year fourth ring? That was unheard of.
"And this," the instructor continued, gesturing to the girl standing straight-backed beside him, "is Dugu Yanyan. Rank 27. Age: twelve. Her control over poison is exceptional. You'd do well not to underestimate her."
Yanyan blushed slightly at the praise but kept her expression composed.
---
A tall boy with lightning-blue hair stepped forward — Yu Tianheng, heir of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon clan, and clearly the class's golden boy.
"So," he said with a smirk that didn't reach his eyes, "the rumored prodigy finally shows up."
His gaze flickered to Yanyan for just a second longer than it should have.
Chen saw it.
His golden eyes sharpened, though his expression stayed unreadable. "Is there something you want?" His voice was quiet but carried a weight that made the room still.
Tianheng blinked, then chuckled, trying to shake off the invisible pressure. "Relax. Just welcoming the new blood."
Chen didn't answer. He simply turned his gaze back to the instructor as though Tianheng had ceased to exist.
---
"Pair up for assessment sparring," the instructor announced. "I want to see what our new members can do."
When Chen stepped into the ring, the murmurs grew louder.
"Think he's all talk?"
"No one that young could really—"
The words died when Chen summoned his martial soul.
A serpentine shadow, translucent but radiating oppressive poison and warped spatial energy, curled around him like a living storm. The fourth ring — black with a faint red core — pulsed ominously.
His opponent, a Rank 34 power-type student, charged. Chen didn't move until the last second.
Then —
Shhhhkk!
A jet of acidic water cut through the air, controlled with surgical precision. It didn't hit flesh — Chen angled it perfectly to stop an inch from the other student's throat, the hiss of corrosion in the wood beneath making the boy freeze mid-step.
Silence.
Then the instructor's voice, low but certain: "Control… perfect. Power… frightening. Welcome to the Special Class, Dugu Chen."
Alright, let's continue with post-training interactions to introduce the future team bonds and Ye Lingling.
As the sparring sessions ended, the instructor dismissed the class. The usual hum of chatter filled the hall again, but this time the whispers about the "Poison Grandson" carried a new tone — a mix of wariness and respect.
While Chen calmly cleaned his hands with a cloth Yanyan handed him, three figures approached.
The first was a calm girl with long black hair tied with a white ribbon, her demeanor gentle but reserved. She wore the academy uniform neatly, her posture perfect. This was Ye Lingling, heir of the Nine-Hearted Begonia clan.
The second was a tall boy with cropped brown hair and sharp eyes — Osler, a control-type spirit master.
The third, a smaller but stockier boy with an easy grin, introduced himself as Jiang Zhu, an auxiliary support spirit master.
Ye Lingling was the first to speak. Her voice was quiet but carried a strange firmness.
"Dugu Chen. Dugu Yanyan. My name is Ye Lingling. I wanted to welcome you both… and to ask if you're open to forming a team."
Yanyan blinked, surprised by the directness. "A… team?"
Lingling nodded slightly, her dark eyes studying Chen for any reaction. "Your poison techniques and control, combined with my healing… our compatibility is very high. With a few more members, we could build a balanced team. One that could dominate the academy rankings — and maybe even compete in the Continental Advanced Spirit Master Tournament in the future."
Osler smirked. "Basically, we're saying we want to win — and you two are the key to that."
---
Chen considered her words. His expression didn't change, but Yanyan, who'd grown up with him, could read the flicker of thought in his golden eyes.
Finally, Chen nodded once. "We'll see. Prove to me you're worth trusting first. Then we'll talk team."
Lingling's lips curved in the faintest of smiles — not offense, but respect. "Fair enough. You'll see."
The next morning, the newly-formed group met on one of the academy's training grounds. The early sun bathed the courtyard in a warm glow, but the air was thick with tension — the kind that came when strangers were about to test their strength together.
Chen stood with his hands behind his back, scanning the group with sharp, calculating eyes. Beside him, Yanyan stretched lazily, looking far more relaxed.
"Alright," Chen said evenly, his tone calm but carrying an authority that made even Osler straighten unconsciously. "First, I need to know exactly what you can do. Show me your spirit skills. Real ones — not the watered-down academy demonstrations."
Osler, the control-type, summoned his Steel Serpent Vine, a series of metallic vines that lashed across the ground with surprising agility. Jiang Zhu called forth his Iron Bear Totem, a supportive ability that enhanced defense and strength for allies. Ye Lingling's Nine-Hearted Begonia bloomed softly in her hands, its petals glowing faintly with restorative energy.
Chen watched without expression, his Library of Heaven's Path quietly flipping pages in his mind, cataloging every strength and flaw.
When it was his turn, Chen didn't hold back. Poisonous mist curled around him like a living thing, and then — with a mere flick of his wrist — a stream of acidic water hissed across the training ground, carving a deep line in the reinforced flooring. The others froze, eyes wide, suddenly understanding why the academy had been whispering about him since the day he arrived.
"Lesson one," Chen said flatly. "If you hesitate in a real fight, you die. I don't carry dead weight. You want to be my teammates? Then learn to keep up."
The session began brutally. Chen pushed them to their limits, orchestrating mock battles against summoned beasts from the academy arena. Yanyan fought fiercely by his side, her venom-coated strikes coordinating almost instinctively with his.
Osler found himself constantly on the defensive, struggling to keep his vines intact against Chen's acid streams. Jiang Zhu barely kept up with buffs and emergency shields, and Lingling worked tirelessly to heal bruises and cuts, her calm expression never faltering.
By the time the session ended, all of them were drenched in sweat.
"You're merciless," Osler muttered, collapsing to the ground.
"No," Chen corrected sharply, standing tall and unruffled. "I'm realistic. Out there, the enemy won't wait for you to get comfortable. Remember that."
Even so, there was a spark in the group's eyes — something that hadn't been there before. Respect. Determination.
The training ground fell into an exhausted silence. Osler sprawled on the ground like a corpse, Jiang Zhu leaned heavily against a training post, and even Lingling, who hadn't moved much, wiped faint sweat from her brow.
Chen, as always, looked perfectly composed. But Yanyan elbowed him lightly, her grin teasing.
"Really, gege? You train them like they're about to fight a Titled Douluo."
"They won't improve if they're coddled," Chen replied coolly, though his gaze softened slightly as it passed over the group. "But… you all did better than I expected."
Osler groaned but managed a grin. "Better than expected? From you, that's practically a compliment."
Yanyan laughed and flopped down beside Lingling, who quietly offered her a petal of the Nine-Hearted Begonia to soothe her sore muscles.
"Thanks, Lingling-jie," Yanyan said brightly, genuine warmth in her voice. "Your healing is amazing. Without you, I'd probably still be twitching on the floor."
Lingling gave a small, almost shy smile. "It's nothing. I'm just… glad to be useful."
"Useful?" Chen finally stepped closer, his voice calm but serious. "Your ability isn't just useful. It's vital. Don't underestimate yourself, Lingling. In the field, your strength will keep this team alive."
The quiet conviction in his tone made her blink, caught off guard. Slowly, she nodded. "...Thank you, Chen."
Jiang Zhu, meanwhile, broke the tension with a booming laugh. "Well, at least now I know why everyone says you two are monsters. If I stick with you, maybe some of that insanity will rub off on me."
"Don't bet on it," Yanyan quipped, tossing her brother a sly look.
But despite the teasing, the group relaxed. Laughter began to ripple through the team — tired, genuine laughter that hinted at the beginning of trust.
Even Chen, though he didn't laugh, allowed himself the smallest of smiles. He had seen enough in this single day: this group, rough and unpolished as they were, could become something formidable.
High above the training grounds, hidden within the watchtower's shadows, a pair of golden eyes observed every move.
Qian Renxue — disguised as the academy's crown prince — stood with arms crossed, expression unreadable.
"Impressive," she murmured, her tone soft but carrying a razor edge.
Chen's precision in combat, his brutal efficiency, and his terrifying control over that corrosive water skill had not escaped her notice. He fought like someone decades older, someone who had tasted life and death and come out sharper for it.
Beside him, Dugu Yanyan was no less striking, her poison techniques refined beyond what any twelve-year-old should have been capable of. The siblings moved like a single unit, as if their instincts were linked.
A faint smirk curved her lips.
"Monsters… born of the poison valley," she whispered. "But monsters that could change the balance of power, if guided properly."
The thought of recruiting them flashed through her mind — the Dugu siblings serving the Angel line of Spirit Hall would be a coup. But just as quickly, the vision shattered.
She could still feel the oppressive weight of Dugu Bo's killing intent from their last encounter.
"Not yet," she muttered, tightening her grip on the railing. "Not while that old poison serpent breathes. To touch what he protects… is to invite death."
Still, her eyes lingered on Chen longer than she intended, watching the way he subtly guided his new teammates, never boastful, never careless.
"Stay sharp, little snake," she whispered under her breath, a strange gleam in her gaze. "The game hasn't even begun."
High above the academy grounds, Qian Renxue lingered in the shadows a little longer, the crisp night air brushing against her golden hair beneath the illusionary light of her disguise.
"The boy's strength grows too quickly," she murmured, her voice just above a whisper. "And that sister of his… poison and talent refined beyond reason."
She closed her eyes briefly, recalling the venomous aura of Dugu Bo, the Poison Douluo himself, whose killing intent still lingered in her bones from their brief encounter.
To recruit them now would be suicide.
But to ignore them?
Equally foolish.
"They'll be powerful allies… or dangerous enemies." Her tone was sharp, contemplative. "For now, let them grow. Let the world watch. When the time is right, I'll make my move."
With that thought, she turned and disappeared into the darkness, her steps silent as if she had never been there at all.
Elsewhere — Poison Valley Residence
The next morning, Chen leaned casually against the courtyard fence, arms crossed, eyes scanning the mission scroll in his hand.
"A routine subjugation mission," he muttered, handing it to Yanyan. "Escort and eliminate a group of mid-level beasts threatening a merchant caravan route."
Yanyan grinned. "Sounds easy enough. A good warm-up for the team."
Their teammates arrived one by one, excitement buzzing in the air.
Osler was practically bouncing. "Our first mission as a team! Finally, some action!"
Jiang Zhu carried a calm smile, though his grip on his staff was a touch tighter than usual.
Lingling, ever quiet, checked her satchel of herbs and recovery elixirs twice over, her nerves obvious but contained.
Chen, observing them, nodded faintly. "Remember the basics. Communication and discipline win battles, not brute strength." His gaze swept over each of them. "If something feels off, you fall back. No heroics."
"Yes, captain," Osler said with an exaggerated salute, earning a laugh from Yanyan and a rare, subtle smirk from Chen.
Later — Training Yard Before Departure
They gathered once more, running through final drills. Chen unleashed a controlled burst of his acidic water skill, the liquid hissing as it ate through a reinforced steel dummy. The sight drew a chorus of impressed — and slightly horrified — murmurs from the others.
"...Remind me never to make you mad," Jiang Zhu muttered.
"You shouldn't be making him mad in the first place," Yanyan quipped, flipping her hair smugly.
The tension broke with laughter, but there was a shared undercurrent of resolve. They were no longer just classmates thrown together in a special class — they were a team now, preparing to face the world beyond the academy walls.
---
Night Over Heaven Dou City — Spirit Hall Safehouse
Qian Renxue sat in the candlelit chamber, reports spread across the table before her. Every word on those pages pointed to the same conclusion:
> Chen and Yanyan — unprecedented talent, combat proficiency beyond their years, and a bond that made them nearly impossible to isolate.
Her gloved fingers traced the map marking their latest movements.
"Already preparing for their first field mission…" she murmured, eyes narrowing.
She could almost hear her own father's voice demanding that they be recruited or eliminated before they grew beyond control.
But she remembered Dugu Bo.
The aura of a Titled Douluo who would burn the world for his family.
"Not yet," she whispered. "They need to believe they're free. When the time is right, I'll offer them a choice."
Her golden eyes sharpened.
"And if they refuse…"
---
Poison Valley — Morning
The courtyard was buzzing with restrained excitement.
Chen stood at the center, mission scroll in hand, while Yanyan twirled her spear impatiently.
"Our target is a pack of Thunderclaw Wolves near the merchant route," Chen explained, his voice calm but authoritative. "Low coordination, strong speed. If we're careful, this is an easy clear."
Osler cracked his knuckles with a grin. "Easy clear sounds like easy money."
Yanyan rolled her eyes. "Try not to trip over your own ego."
The others gathered — Jiang Zhu with his quiet focus, Ye Lingling checking her medical supplies, and even the normally quiet assistant instructor assigned to watch over their group.
Chen scanned the team once more, his eyes sharp but approving.
"This isn't training anymore," he said evenly. "Mistakes here will cost lives. Watch each other's backs, and follow the plan."
Yanyan smirked, falling in line beside him. "We've got this, gege."
---
Training Ground — Final Drills
Before they set out, the team ran one last set of drills.
Chen summoned his acidic water, shaping it with practiced precision into thin, pressurized streams that hissed as they melted reinforced targets. The air filled with the sharp, metallic tang of dissolving steel.
Osler whistled low. "I know you said you were holding back in sparring, but… damn."
"Control over power," Chen said simply, dismissing the acidic streams into harmless mist.
Lingling, quiet in the corner, studied him with thoughtful eyes. The level of precision he displayed wasn't normal for someone their age — or even many graduates of the academy.
---
Spirit Hall Watchers
From a distant vantage, a disguised agent watched the departing group through a scope-like artifact, recording every movement into a spirit jade.
By nightfall, that report would sit on Qian Renxue's desk, confirming what she already suspected:
These children weren't simply talented.
They were becoming dangerous.
---
Thunderclaw Wolf Hunt – First Mission
The forest was eerily quiet.
No birds, no rustling—just the hum of electricity that clung to the air like static.
Chen crouched low, his sharp gaze following the faint tracks embedded in the soft earth.
"Three adults. Two juveniles," he murmured, fingers brushing the marks. "They're circling back to their den. Perfect chance for an ambush."
Yanyan leaned on her spear, smirking.
"Perfect chance to show off, you mean."
Osler cracked his neck. "Let me guess, I'm bait."
Chen's lips twitched. "No. You're the shield. Keep the juveniles occupied while Yanyan handles the flanks. Lingling—stay behind me. Your healing range is enough to cover the team."
The healer nodded silently, clutching her storage pouch.
The Ambush
The wolves came fast—blurs of silver and white electricity tearing through the underbrush.
"Positions!" Chen barked.
Osler slammed his armored fists together, intercepting the lead wolf with a grunt, his body glowing as his defensive skill flared. Sparks danced across his skin, but he held firm.
Yanyan moved like lightning herself, spear dancing in deadly arcs. Her thrusts were sharp, precise, keeping one wolf pinned while her brother worked his magic.
Chen closed his eyes for a split second, feeling the water in the air and in the soil. His fourth ring glowed—acidic water, honed from hundreds of hours of training. Thin streams of corrosive liquid hissed through the air, slicing into one wolf's leg before evaporating into a harmless mist.
"Push it left!" he ordered.
Yanyan responded instantly, feinting to the wolf's blind spot and driving it straight into Chen's line. Another acidic burst followed, burning through its protective fur and forcing the beast down.
Tension and Growth
The juvenile wolves were quicker than expected. One broke through Osler's guard, teeth snapping inches from Lingling before Chen's third skill—spatial blink—activated.
In an instant, he was there, one arm around Lingling's shoulder as the wolf's jaws snapped shut on empty air.
A single wave of his second skill—poison burst—sent a cloud of toxic mist flooding the ground, forcing the beast to retreat.
"Eyes up," Chen said flatly, his tone calm but edged. "This isn't a classroom."
Lingling swallowed hard and nodded, silently patching Osler's lightning burns as the fight raged on.
Victory
Minutes later, the last wolf collapsed, its body steaming from a combination of poison and precision strikes.
Chen exhaled slowly, letting the tension drain from his shoulders. His fourth ring dimmed, and the acidic water dissolved into harmless mist.
"Good teamwork," he said, his tone even but approving. "But we're too reactive. Next time, we take the initiative."
Yanyan grinned, spinning her spear onto her back.
"Next time, we let me lead the charge."
Chen shot her a flat look.
"Next time, we win faster."
Osler groaned, leaning on a tree. "Remind me why we're following a twelve-year-old?"
"Because," Yanyan said with a teasing grin, "my brother doesn't miss."
Lingling, quiet as ever, just stared at Chen—at the calm, controlled way he commanded the battlefield—and thought, Not normal. None of this is normal.
Return to the Academy
The moment Chen and his team stepped through the academy gates, all eyes turned.
Blood-spattered clothes. Faint scorch marks on Osler's armor. The sharp, acrid tang of poison still clinging to Chen's robes.
Whispers spread through the training yard like wildfire.
"Is that the new special class team?"
"They went on a live hunt already? At their age?"
"Wait, they're all under thirteen, right?"
Yanyan, of course, soaked in the attention like sunlight, twirling her spear with a satisfied grin.
"Feels nice being famous," she whispered to Chen.
He ignored her, walking straight toward the reporting office with his usual calm.
Instructor's Office
Instructor Li Jian's brows shot up when he saw the report.
"A full pack of Thunderclaw Wolves? At your level?"
Chen's reply was simple. "We coordinated."
Osler coughed. "By coordinated, he means he ordered us around like chess pieces."
Yanyan smirked. "And it worked."
The instructor studied the young poison wielder for a moment, eyes narrowing with something between caution and curiosity. "Your methods are… precise. Dangerous, even. You'll need to rein that in during academy-sanctioned missions."
Chen only nodded. "Understood."
Recognition & Jealousy
By the next morning, their names were everywhere.
Students whispered in the dining hall.
Senior teams eyed them with thinly veiled hostility, while others looked at them with awe.
"Did you hear? They took down a Thunderclaw pack in less than half an hour."
"The boy—Dugu Chen, right?—they say he can teleport. And poison. And control water."
"No way. That's just rumors."
Lingling, ever quiet, ate her breakfast in silence. Yanyan basked in the attention. Osler tried—and failed—to avoid the stares.
Chen?
He simply sat with his tea, expression unreadable. To him, the noise didn't matter. Results did.
Subtle Tensions
Not everyone was happy.
Senior students—especially Yu Tianheng and his group—watched from afar, their eyes sharp with competitive fire.
"A year ahead of schedule and already stealing the spotlight," Tianheng muttered to his teammates. "Let's see how long that lasts."
Yanyan noticed the looks, but Chen didn't so much as glance their way. His focus was elsewhere—on refining the team's formation and preparing for their next mission.
Special Class Training Grounds – Strategy Session
The training field was quiet except for the soft hum of spirit power in the air. Chen stood in the center of the chalk-marked circle, arms folded, while the rest of the team gathered around him.
Yanyan leaned on her spear, smirking. "Here we go, everyone. Prepare yourselves for another lecture from Captain Perfection."
Chen didn't rise to the bait. He raised a finger and summoned a shimmering water diagram in the air, replicating their formation during the Thunderclaw Wolf hunt.
"First issue," he began, voice calm but sharp. "Osler's shield placement. You blocked the lead wolf, but your angle exposed Lingling to flanking strikes. If that wolf had been a stronger beast—say, a Thunderclaw Alpha—you'd be dead."
Osler flushed, clenching his fists, but Chen didn't pause.
"Second, Yanyan."
She blinked innocently. "Me? I was flawless."
"You broke formation twice chasing the wounded wolves. Your speed is excellent, but reckless movement creates gaps in our defense. If you want to hunt solo, do it without a team."
Yanyan groaned but didn't argue.
Chen turned to Lingling last. "Your support is precise, but you hesitate to push your limits. Your timing needs to tighten by two seconds. That hesitation costs lives in higher-level fights."
Lingling simply nodded, her quiet gaze steady.
Planning the Next Steps
Chen clapped his hands, dissipating the water construct.
"Our next drills will focus on cohesive movement and layered defense. I'll run you through ten formations until they're muscle memory. Once we stop tripping over each other, we'll add live-combat simulations."
Osler grumbled, "Do you ever rest, Chen?"
"Rest is for after you're dead," Chen replied without missing a beat, earning a snort of laughter from Yanyan.
Unexpected Respect
Despite their complaints, something shifted in that session.
Osler's stance grew sharper.
Lingling began pushing herself harder in healing precision.
Even Yanyan—though still teasing—started sticking closer to the formation during practice.
Chen didn't praise them. He didn't need to. His quiet nod at the end of the session was enough.
Time-Skip Training Montage
Days turned into weeks.
Every morning, the special class training grounds echoed with the clash of weapons, bursts of spirit power, and Yanyan's colorful swearing whenever Chen called for "one more round."
Formations sharpened — what had started as clumsy coordination turned into seamless teamwork. Osler's shield now flowed like water, intercepting threats without exposing their backline.
Lingling's healing evolved — her hesitation vanished, her activation speed cutting down by a full two seconds. She could now stabilize serious wounds mid-battle without breaking her calm expression.
Yanyan honed her control — though her spear still danced like a wild flame, she learned to anchor herself to the team, her thrusts and sweeps now timed perfectly with Chen's precise calls.
Chen didn't simply train them physically. Using the Library of Heaven's Path, he identified flaws in their techniques and corrected them with surgical precision, often leaving his teammates stunned at his insight.
Even Dugu Bo, watching from the shadows a few times, found himself smirking. "That brat… he's more of a monster than I thought."
Team Bonding
Between grueling sessions, the group began to bond.
Osler stopped grumbling at Chen's orders and started calling him "captain," albeit grudgingly.
Lingling shared quiet smiles during breaks, passing him water without a word.
Yanyan… well, she still teased him constantly, but there was a new note of respect in her banter.
By the end of the second month, they weren't just classmates. They were a unit.
First Mission: The Fangtooth Forest
The sun hung low as the carriage rattled to a stop at the edge of Fangtooth Forest.
Their instructor, an elderly Soul Emperor named Master Xu, turned to the team with a grave expression.
"Your objective is simple," he said. "Track and subdue a rampaging Ironback Fangtooth Boar — estimated 2,000-year-old cultivation. This is your assessment for entry into the academy's competitive squad roster. Don't disappoint me."
Yanyan twirled her spear, eyes alight. "Finally, something fun."
Chen ignored her excitement, his sharp gaze sweeping the treeline. The poisonous mist of the forest didn't bother him, but the faint traces of spiritual energy told him enough — there were more than just one or two beasts lurking in these woods.
"Stay close," he ordered, voice calm but edged with authority. "Lingling, you're backline. Yanyan, stay on my left. Osler, hold formation."
No one argued.
The Battle
They found the boar an hour in — a hulking, tusked monster, easily five meters long, with armored scales glinting under the dappled light. It snorted, pawed the ground, and charged the moment it sensed their presence.
"Osler, shield up!" Chen barked.
The shield-bearer braced himself just in time to absorb the first impact, the ground trembling from the beast's strength. Yanyan darted in from the side, her spear flashing, but the beast's hide was too thick.
"Positions," Chen said, voice icy calm.
His fourth ring lit up, and acidic water materialized, swirling around his hands before shooting forward in a spiral. The corrosive liquid struck the boar's flank, eating through its scales in sizzling arcs.
The beast roared in pain, staggering.
"Now!" Chen shouted.
Yanyan leapt, spear glowing with poison, driving it deep into the weakened spot. Osler followed up, slamming his shield into its jaw, while Lingling's glow surged — ready to heal any backlash.
Minutes later, the beast crashed to the forest floor, twitching but defeated.
Aftermath
Master Xu stepped out from the shadows, expression unreadable.
"You worked as a unit," he said at last. "Better than most adults I've trained. But don't get cocky — one mistake out here, and you're dead."
The team exchanged exhausted but exhilarated looks.
For Chen, it wasn't excitement that filled him — it was calculation. Every movement, every flaw he'd seen today, logged away to refine their next session.
Yanyan wiped her spear and grinned at him.
"See, little brother? Flawless victory."
He just shook his head, but there was a ghost of a smile at the corner of his lips.
---
Tournament Arc Setup
Weeks passed, and their flawless mission record started spreading across the academy. By the time the notice for the upcoming Continental Advanced Spirit Master Tournament was posted, everyone already knew the name Poison Fang Team — a nickname they hadn't chosen, but it stuck thanks to Chen's poison-based techniques and Yanyan's aggressive spearwork.
Even senior students were wary; no one wanted to spar against them without a healer on standby.
---
One evening, while the team rested in their private training room, an official summons arrived.
They were to represent their academy in the preliminary rounds — their first real chance to step into the continental stage.
Yanyan whooped with excitement.
"Finally! Let's show those so-called geniuses what real strength looks like!"
Chen said nothing, simply flipping the letter shut, but his mind was already racing. He wasn't thinking about victory — he was thinking about exposure. Too much attention meant trouble, and trouble often meant Spirit Hall.
And yet… a small part of him itched for the challenge.
---
The arena buzzed with noise, banners waving in the stands as students and nobles gathered to witness the first round of the tournament. Most eyes were on the famous seeded teams — but whispers followed another name.
"The Poison Fang siblings are here."
"I heard their captain can kill a beast with a single strike of poison."
"And his sister? A spear prodigy. Don't get close, or you won't live to regret it."
Chen ignored the chatter, standing with arms crossed at the edge of the waiting area. His gaze swept the battlefield like a predator assessing terrain. His spirit rank: 42, just weeks past his fourth ring breakthrough. Yanyan beside him twirled her spear casually, her rank: 28 proudly displayed as her golden serpent martial soul glimmered faintly in the sunlight.
Behind them, Ye Lingling quietly prepared her medical supplies, while Osler and the two auxiliary members checked their equipment. They weren't the flashiest team in the academy, but every one of them trusted Chen's leadership — and trusted Yanyan to back him up when it counted.
The Match Begins
Their first opponents were a well-balanced team from a mid-tier academy: a shield warrior, two assault-types, and a support spirit master. Not weak, but far from a real threat.
The referee raised his hand.
"First round — begin!"
The other team surged forward, clearly aiming to overwhelm them early.
Chen's eyes narrowed. "Formation Two," he said calmly.
The Poison Fang team moved like a machine. Osler and the secondary attacker flanked wide, drawing aggro. Yanyan darted straight through the middle, her spear lancing with controlled ferocity — a serpent dancing through tall grass.
Then Chen moved.
"Fourth Soul Skill: Acid Torrent!"
A hiss echoed through the arena as a wave of shimmering, corrosive liquid surged across the ground, cutting the enemy's advance in half. The shield warrior raised his defense instinctively, but the acidic water sizzled against his barrier, eating through it like paper.
The crowd gasped.
"Is that… water?!"
"No — poison! Look at the smoke!"
Calm Precision
"Lingling," Chen ordered without looking.
"On it," she murmured, releasing a soft healing wave to refresh Yanyan as she pressed her advantage.
With their formation shattered, it was over quickly. Yanyan's spear swept the legs of their speed-type, pinning him down, while Osler knocked the opposing support master unconscious with a clean strike.
Chen's eyes met the enemy captain's. The man froze — some primal part of him recognizing the predator behind that calm gaze. He surrendered without a word.
Aftermath
The crowd erupted as the announcer declared:
"Winner — Poison Fang Team!"
Back in the waiting room, Yanyan grinned, jabbing her brother in the ribs.
"See? Easy. I told you we'd crush them."
Chen only raised an eyebrow.
"They were never a threat," he replied, but a faint smile tugged at his lips.
Osler chuckled from his corner. "Still, a clean win is a clean win."
Lingling didn't speak, but her quiet nod carried her approval.
That night, whispers turned into rumors, and rumors into awe. The Poison Fang team wasn't just a curiosity anymore — they were contenders. And Chen, despite his desire to stay in the shadows, could feel it:
every eye was turning toward them.