"Shout along with me! Dugu Feng will win! Dugu Feng will win!"
On the stands, Ning Rongrong suddenly stood up.
Her excitement seemed even greater than Dugu Feng's himself.
Feng Ling, Feng Li, and the students from the Primary Academy behind her all obeyed without hesitation, echoing her call.
"Defeat Yu Tianheng! Dugu Feng will win!"
The voices grew louder and louder, more and more synchronized.
The students of the Advanced Academy, who had originally been cheering for Yu Tianheng, glared angrily at the Primary Academy group.
But once they saw that the one leading the chant was Ning Rongrong, their anger instantly deflated...
One after another, they shamelessly joined the chant.
In mere moments, Yu Tianheng's supporters had been completely drowned out.
At the front of the stands, Dugu Yan's face turned darker and darker, anxiety flashing across her eyes.
It wasn't only because of Ning Rongrong's interference, but because of the battle on the stage.
Yu Tianheng had already unleashed his second soul skill, the strong attack Thunderclap, and his third soul skill, the amplification Thunder's Fury.
Yet even with both unleashed, he still hadn't been able to crush Dugu Feng.
She knew all too well how deadly Dugu Feng's poison was.
A stalemate meant the poison was working its way in.
Could it be… Yu Tianheng was about to lose?
Beside her, Ye Lingling looked helpless, almost amused.
She also knew the truth. Dugu Yan had originally intended to accept Yu Tianheng's pursuit.
But she should never have dragged Dugu Feng into this just to embarrass him.
Now the situation was spiraling out of control.
Dugu Feng has always been calm and steady. For him to act like this… does he have a deeper purpose? Ye Lingling wondered to herself.
On the stage, arcs of lightning danced over Dugu Feng's body, the result of being struck by Yu Tianheng's thunderous power.
His body and spirit both carried a faint paralysis.
But Yu Tianheng didn't look any better. His body was faintly tinged with violet.
He was forced to channel a great deal of his lightning into expelling the venom within.
What shocked him the most was how Dugu Feng could still stand firm in the midst of his paralysis.
How is he this strong?
Part of it was Dugu Feng's physical strength, but the true secret lay in his external soul bone and his mysterious Pearl of Pills.
All the lightning that entered his body was diverted into those two, allowing him to endure.
"Yu Tianheng! this ends now!"
Dugu Feng's eyes turned icy cold. "Second soul skill—Poison Explosion!"
His second soul ring flared to life.
"Arghhh!" Yu Tianheng let out a miserable scream.
His body shook violently as muffled explosions echoed within him.
At that instant, he could no longer suppress the venom in his veins.
The lightning that had surrounded the stage dissipated in an instant.
"You've lost."
Dugu Feng's calm voice cut through the silence.
If he hadn't held back, this single strike could have killed Yu Tianheng outright.
Yu Tianheng staggered, barely able to stay on his feet.
From below, Dugu Yan's expression changed drastically. She rushed up onto the stage.
"Hurry and treat him!" she snapped.
"Yan, I've lost."
Yu Tianheng's face was ice cold as he forced the words out. "From now on, I won't bother you again. Focus on your cultivation."
Shame and rage twisted in his chest.
Dugu Feng's strength? There was no way Dugu Yan didn't know!
So why had she arranged this duel?
It could only be to humiliate him, to force him to retreat, to make him lose face before everyone.
Dugu Yan, you're truly ruthless.
Today, he had suffered the greatest humiliation of his life.
Dugu Feng only smiled faintly.
The Jade Serpent Dragon slithered onto Yu Tianheng, dispelling the venom.
"Cousin, I didn't let you down."
"Shut up! I'll have Grandpa kill you!"
Dugu Yan's voice trembled with fury, her icy gaze locked on Dugu Feng.
"Pfft—"
Yu Tianheng suddenly spat a mouthful of black blood.
He glared at Dugu Yan bitterly.
"Stop pretending, Dugu Yan. Wasn't it you who told him to go up there?
Wasn't it you who arranged for us to duel?
I, Yu Tianheng, lost fair and square. I was the one overreaching, unworthy of you, Dugu Yan.
But in your eyes, am I really the kind of man who throws his weight around?
The kind who clings shamelessly?
From today on, I won't chase you ever again!"
With that, he forced himself upright, staggered a few steps, and walked off the stage.
His back was bleak, his figure filled with desolation.
The entire arena fell into utter silence.
They had come to watch a show—and they had certainly seen one.
But now, not a single person dared to laugh.
All feared drawing the hatred of Yu Tianheng or Dugu Yan.
"Cousin, I won't disturb you any longer. I'll return to my cultivation."
Dugu Feng, satisfied his goal was achieved, leapt from the stage and swiftly disappeared toward the foot of the mountain.
Leaving only Dugu Yan behind, standing alone on the stage.
Her heart felt unbearably wronged.
She had only wanted to see Dugu Feng humiliated.
How had it turned into this?
Tears welled in her eyes.
Grandpa, Dugu Feng bullied me! He bullied me!
Crying, she fled the stage.
Ye Lingling hurried after her, sighing softly.
This time, Yan has truly suffered a loss.
——
Meanwhile, Dugu Feng sprinted down the mountain and straight back to the Dugu Clan's mansion in Heaven Dou City.
From the very moment Dugu Yan had provoked him, he had already decided that he would ruin her and Yu Tianheng's relationship.
He couldn't allow her to grow complacent.
She had given him the opportunity, and he had seized it without hesitation.
Besides, Yu Yuanzhen's earlier actions clearly revealed his designs on the Dugu Clan.
If Dugu Yan and Yu Tianheng united, wouldn't the Dugu Clan's every secret lie exposed before Yu Yuanzhen's eyes?
Never!
Entering the ancestral hall, Dugu Feng found his father, Dugu Shuo, deep in cultivation.
"Father, today at the Royal Advanced Spirit Master Academy, Yu Tianheng tried to use the duel to confess to Dugu Yan…"
He recounted the entire matter.
Dugu Shuo's expression remained calm, but his words were ice cold.
"Second Uncle spoils Yan far too much. How could she possibly be with Yu Tianheng?
Feng'er, you did the right thing!
I'll go find Second Uncle and confront him at once!"
He rose to his feet decisively, striding for the door.
Dugu Feng blinked.
Father… are you serious?
"Father, let me go with you!"
"You stay here." Dugu Shuo's tone left no room for argument. "Remember...our clan's strength is not only a deterrent to outsiders, but also to those within.
Second Uncle won't dare act recklessly."
With that, he stepped out of the mansion.
——
At the other Dugu mansion.
The sound of sobs filled the air.
Dugu Yan knelt in the hall, tears streaming down her face as she poured out her grievances.
"Grandpa, you have to kill him for me! I want him dead!"
Her voice dripped with venom.
Dugu Bo gently patted her shoulder, heart aching.
Since her father Dugu Xin's death, this was the first time his granddaughter had wept so bitterly.
His chest felt as though it were being torn apart.
"Don't cry, Yan. Grandpa will bring that brat here right now and let you vent your anger!"
Dugu Bo's voice was cold as frost.
He was not a man who endured slights.
Whoever dared bully his granddaughter, no matter who they were, he would retaliate.
As for killing Dugu Feng outright?
That, perhaps not.
But letting his granddaughter vent her fury?
On that point, Dugu Bo would never show mercy.