Time flowed quietly.
That day, atop the dueling platform—
"Dugu Feng! You don't respect our class leader, you don't follow the rules of our class. Today, I, Feng Ling, and my second brother Feng Li, will challenge you on behalf of the entire class! We'll make sure you learn that at the Heaven Dou Royal Elementary Academy, we have discipline!"
Feng Ling stood proudly, a blue longsword of light whirling around him.
Beside him, Feng Li did the same.
Three months had passed, and their sword control had advanced considerably. Where before they fumbled, now they wielded with style, the flair alone enough to make the young girls below the stage swoon.
Behind them stood Ning Rongrong, her Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda floating at her side, rainbow light cascading like an immortal's halo. She carried herself like a little fairy princess, but her eyes—bright with pride—locked tightly on Dugu Feng.
"Rules?" Dugu Feng asked mildly. "Funny… Teacher Ge never mentioned any rules."
Rules? He'd been here three months, and no one had ever told him anything about class regulations.
"The class leader's word is the rule! How could you not know that? Today you'll pay for your ignorance!" Feng Li sneered, pure lackey energy spilling from every pore.
Dugu Feng was speechless. The way you two lick boots in broad daylight, don't you even feel embarrassed?
Ning Rongrong, on the other hand, looked smug, clearly reveling in the attention.
"A challenge is fine," Dugu Feng drawled, "but last time we agreed that there has to be stakes. Here are my terms."
With a flick of his wrist, a folded sheet of paper flew from his hand. Infused with soul power, it straightened midair and drifted toward the three across from him.
That little display alone silenced the stage.
A bad feeling prickled Ning Rongrong's chest, but she forced herself to stay calm and opened the note.
"One million gold soul coins?"
"A custom Eight-Treasure Soft Armor crafted by Master Lou Gao?"
"Ten-thousand-year whale rubber!?"
"Ten inner cores from ten-thousand-year serpent soul beasts!?!"
Her eyes widened with each line.
By the time she finished, Feng Ling and Feng Li were both scowling.
"Dugu Feng! Has your clan gone mad with poverty? To dare open your mouth like a lion! Admit it! You just want that ten-thousand-year whale rubber. Shameless!" Ning Rongrong snapped.
The arena erupted with whispers.
Ten-thousand-year whale rubber? That was… outrageous.
All eyes turned to Dugu Feng, expressions ranging from shock to… admiration?
Brother's too bold. Can a body even withstand that?!
"Come now," Dugu Feng said smoothly, voice tinged with mockery. "A noble duel without stakes? What's the point? And what's the matter, don't you have confidence? Do you already expect to lose?
"And if you win, you won't have to pay a thing. At most, the value is ten million gold soul coins. Is that really so much?"
The way he spoke, calm and almost surprised, left them looking like the ones being unreasonable.
Ning Rongrong's gaze sharpened. She didn't actually care about the wealth, her clan sat atop the continent's riches.
What she cared about was… why was Dugu Feng so confident? He must have a hidden trump card.
Logically, she should back down. But emotionally—she couldn't.
It was the gambler's itch: even knowing the odds were bad, the urge to roll the dice burned hotter than reason.
Ten million to expose Dugu Feng's true strength… worth it.
She lifted her chin, gritted her teeth, and declared, "Fine! We'll duel. I don't believe you've grown that much stronger in just three months!"
The Feng brothers exchanged glances, resolve hardening. This time, they couldn't lose.
"Feng Li, Martial Spirit: Wind Sword, Rank 12, One-Ring Tool Soul Master!"
"Feng Ling, Martial Spirit: Wind Sword, Rank 12, One-Ring Tool Soul Master—en garde!"
"Ning Rongrong, Martial Spirit: Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda, Rank 13, One-Ring Support Soul Master!"
"Dugu Feng, Martial Spirit: Jade Phosphor Serpent, Rank 14, One-Ring Battle Soul Master."
The introductions ended, spirit rings rising one after another.
All had advanced a level since last time.
Ning Rongrong's brows twitched. Damn it! He's pulled ahead again!
Before she could speak, she lifted into the air, stepping lightly onto a sword of blue light.
With her standing above, a glittering pagoda in hand, rainbow radiance poured down as she called:
"Seven Treasures Glazed Tile, first: Strength!"
Twin beams of light enveloped the Feng brothers.
At the same time, sixteen blades of light spiraled into the air, forming a perfect circular sword array with the brothers standing back-to-back in its core.
This was their confidence: Sword Flight.
Up in the sky, they could whittle Dugu Feng down with impunity.
"Even if you release your poisonous mist, it won't reach us!" Ning Rongrong shouted proudly.
She had waited three long months for this moment. To soar above, to look down, to watch Dugu Feng choke on defeat.
The image of him, calm and unruffled last time, still burned her pride.
This time, she'd break it.
The Feng brothers too basked in the awed murmurs of the crowd. They didn't attack immediately—they wanted to savor his fear, his shock, his despair.
But Dugu Feng simply looked up, expression serene.
Indeed, if he were still limited to his first-stage technique, his mist would be useless.
But these three weren't the only ones who'd grown in three months.
His Jade Phosphor Poison had reached its second stage.
"If you won't move," he said quietly, "then I will."
A single yellow ring rose beneath him as his spirit power surged.
He raised his hands.
Poison raced through his meridians, condensing in his palms until—
Thin, needle-like beams of violet light burst forth.
Twelve in total.
The Six Meridian Divine Sword of his past life's memory… except doubled. He had both hands, after all.
His creation: Jade Phosphor Twelve Fingers.
Excitement surged in his chest. This would be his first real battle using it.
Twelve streaks of poison shot skyward.
"A self-created skill?!" Feng Ling and Feng Li gasped.
Their swords trembled as twelve of them broke formation, diving to meet the incoming beams.
But the moment they clashed, the brothers' eyes widened.
The needle-thin beams carried terrifying force.
Their sword projections shattered instantly.
And still twelve more beams screamed upward—
Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!
Explosions of light and venom lit the sky, purple and blue colliding, refracting under the sun into dazzling arcs of color.
The crowd below roared in astonishment. Nearly the entire academy had gathered now, unable to look away.