"Now, everyone cultivate on the spot! In half an hour, we will begin live combat training. Anyone who dares slack off will go stand beside the volcano crater and train there!"
"Yes, Headmaster!"
The students responded in unison, their faces filled with both excitement and nervous anticipation. They immediately sat cross-legged, seizing the time to absorb the fire-element soul power still lingering in the air.
The sea of flames on the training grounds gradually subsided, but the scorching heat and the killing aura in the air grew several times denser than before.
At the same time, within the estate of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, the atmosphere in the discussion hall was unusually complex.
The clan's Grand Elder, Yu Luomian, Liu Erlong's father, sat upright in the seat of honor. His grizzled beard fluttered without wind, and excitement and pride gleamed in his eyes.
On the discussion table before him, the tea in his cup trembled faintly from the surging soul power within his body.
"Good! Good! Worthy of being my, Yu Luomian's, daughter!"
Yu Luomian slammed his palm onto the table. Cracks instantly spread across the solid wooden surface.
"From Level 72 straight to Level 77, and all soul ring age limits increased by four hundred years. With such fortune, even the heavens are favoring our Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan!"
The clan elders seated below echoed his words, their faces full of joy.
The Second Elder, Yu Mingmian, stroked his beard and smiled. "Grand Elder, although Erlong's temper is a bit fierce, her talent is truly top-tier."
"Now that she has received the ranking's blessing and her strength has surged to a Level 77 Soul Sage, among the backbone generation of the entire continent, there may be no one who can match her."
"With her here, the prestige of our Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan will surely rise to another level!"
The Third Elder, Yu Fengmian, nodded in agreement. "That's right."
"More importantly, Spirit Hall City is ambitious and expanding everywhere. With Liu Erlong's strength greatly increased, she can serve as a solid shield for the clan."
The Fourth Elder, Yu Leimian, added with a trace of solemnity in his voice, "Spirit Hall City has tested our clan's bottom line many times before. Now that we have Erlong as a trump card, they will likely restrain themselves somewhat."
The smile on Yu Luomian's face slowly faded, his gaze growing deep. "Everything you say is correct, but we cannot let our guard down."
He paused before continuing.
"You all know Erlong's personality. She is straightforward, fiery, and hates evil. Now that her strength has surged, she is likely to act even more impulsively."
"Spirit Hall City is treacherous and cunning. The Star Luo Empire has only just risen, and the Heaven Dou Empire is also making moves in secret. One careless step could bring catastrophic disaster upon the clan."
"Moreover, the appearance of the ranking is far too strange. It can freely raise soul power and enhance soul rings. The power behind it is unfathomable. Erlong gaining such enormous benefits may not necessarily be a good thing."
"A tall tree catches the wind. She has already become the focus of attention for all factions across the continent. Those who covet our clan will surely direct their spears at her."
The Second Elder frowned slightly. "The Grand Elder's words make sense. Then how should we respond? Should we send people to Blue Tyrant Academy and have Erlong restrain her temper a bit?"
"No."
Yu Luomian waved his hand. "The reason Erlong has achieved what she has today is precisely tied to her fiery nature. Forcing her to restrain herself would instead affect her cultivation state of mind."
A calculating glint flashed through his eyes. "What we can do is escort her from behind."
"Pass down my order. Dispatch three Soul Douluo elders to immediately take up residence at Blue Tyrant Academy. They are to secretly protect Erlong's safety while also restraining her behavior, preventing her from impulsively provoking forces she should not provoke."
"Additionally, closely monitor the movements of Spirit Hall City, the Star Luo Empire, and the Heaven Dou Empire. If any abnormal activity targeting Erlong or our clan is discovered, report it at once."
"Yes, Grand Elder!"
The elders bowed in unison, then turned and departed.
Yu Luomian looked out the window in the direction of Blue Tyrant Academy, his eyes filled with complicated emotion.
"My daughter, I hope you can understand your father's painstaking intentions. Do not let this opportunity turn into a calamity."
At that moment, within Blue Tyrant Academy, three elderly men dressed in the attire of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan quietly descended. Their soul power was fully restrained, yet they faintly radiated the pressure of Soul Douluo-level experts as they seamlessly blended into the academy's guard forces.
Liu Erlong was not completely unaware of this. She sensed the familiar fluctuations of her clan's soul power and the corner of her mouth lifted into a barely perceptible smile.
She knew that her father ultimately could not let go of her.
She did not expose it, instead turning and walking into her cultivation chamber.
Having just broken through to Level 77 and with her soul rings significantly enhanced, she needed to familiarize herself with this surging power as soon as possible and bring it fully under control.
Inside the chamber, the fire element was so dense it was almost tangible. Liu Erlong sat cross-legged as the Fire Dragon martial soul was released once more. Six crimson, translucent soul rings slowly rotated beneath her feet. Scorching soul power surged and flowed through her body, repeatedly washing through her meridians and consolidating her realm.
At the same time, reactions from all major forces across the continent were even more intense than when Zhu Zhuyun had entered the ranking.
...
Within the Pope's Palace of Spirit Hall City, Bibi Dong's expression had darkened to the extreme. Killing intent in her crimson eyes was almost tangible, and the gemstone atop the Papal Scepter emitted a strained hum under her grip.
"The Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan. Liu Erlong."
Bibi Dong enunciated each word slowly, her voice icy to the bone.
"Another variable. A Level 77 Soul Sage with a mutated Fire Dragon martial soul, and her soul rings have been enhanced by four hundred years. If this woman is allowed to grow, she will become the greatest obstacle to Spirit Hall City's unification of the continent!"
Ghost Douluo, Gui Mei, stood amid rolling shadows, his voice sinister. "Your Holiness, Liu Erlong has a violent temper and many enemies. Now that her strength has increased greatly, she will surely become even more flamboyant."
"We might be able to kill with a borrowed blade. Stir up those forces that have grievances with her and let them deal with Liu Erlong while we reap the benefits."
Chrysanthemum Douluo, Yue Guan, who had just broken through to Level 96, was brimming with confidence. He stepped forward and said, "Your Holiness, I believe there is no need for such trouble."
"Liu Erlong is strong, but she is ultimately only a Level 77 Soul Sage. I am now a Level 96 Titled Douluo. If I personally take action, I can surely kill her and eliminate future troubles forever."
"No!"
Bibi Dong rejected it sharply. "You have only just broken through. Your soul power has yet to fully stabilize, and the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan has a deep foundation. There are surely Titled Douluo guarding them."
"If you act and become entangled by them, and the Heaven Dou Empire or the Star Luo Empire takes the opportunity to strike, the consequences would be unthinkable."
She paused, a vicious glint flashing through her eyes.
"What Liu Erlong cares about most is Blue Tyrant Academy and those students, as well as her useless cousin, Yu Xiaogang. We can start from these two points."
"Pass down my order. Have the spies lurking near Blue Tyrant Academy secretly plan an 'accident.' Destroy Blue Tyrant Academy's cultivation resources, then spread rumors claiming it was done by the Star Luo Empire or the Heaven Dou Empire. Enrage Liu Erlong and force her to take the initiative."
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