Inside the elegant meeting hall of Tianshui Academy, tension lingered beneath the soft fragrance of sandalwood incense.
At the head of a long table sat the dean, a striking woman in her thirties wearing a flowing blue gown, her hair pinned in a regal style. Despite her calm smile, her eyes carried sharp authority.
On either side of her were seven or eight senior faculty members, older female soul masters, all high-ranking figures of Tianshui Academy.
Lower at the table sat Shui Bing'er, captain of the academy's renowned team. Her composed, icy beauty made her the pride of the academy—and the focus of many eyes.
The dean's voice was steady yet probing. "Bing'er, has there been any change in Lu Yuan's… behavior lately?"
Every ear turned attentively.
Bing'er sighed softly, shaking her head. "None. He's still the same. Drinking all day… none of us have seen him actually cultivate."
A ripple of discomfort ran through the room.
If not for witnessing his overwhelming strength at the Heaven Dou Cup final, she herself would find it impossible to associate that drunkard with the word "genius." And ever since he arrived, he had done little to dissuade her impression—lounging, grinning, drinking… and winking. Always winking.
The dean chuckled faintly, though her eyes stayed sharp. "I see. We expected as much. Still, keep a close watch. Sometimes the strangest habits hide the deepest truths."
She let her tone soften. "And for now, keep this matter secret. When we understand his cultivation method, we'll let your squad test it first."
"Understood, Dean." Bing'er bowed politely, though in her heart she muttered gloomily, Since when did our team become guinea pigs?
As she left, the murmurs began.
"Dean, Lu Yuan's cultivation speed is incomprehensible. There must be a hidden secret to it. This is not the pace of a normal soul master."
"Normal? He's no normal soul master. He's a freak!"
"Even if he started with innate full soul power, no one should be advancing this quickly. Contra-strength at his age without even reaching Soul Emperor? Ludicrous!"
The strongest elder present leaned forward, her wizened gaze steady. Elder Mo, the academy's ultimate pillar. "Two days ago, I tried to test him myself. Without his Martial Soul released, I couldn't see through him at all."
A rustle of surprise traveled the room.
"Not even you, Elder Mo?"
That was a shocking admission. Elder Mo had been their sharpest eye, her perception unrivaled within Tianshui. If she couldn't judge his depth, then Lu Yuan's strength had completely broken conventional hierarchy.
She nodded solemnly. "Mark my words—his level may not yet be Soul Emperor, but he's close. Yet his combat power already crushes Contra. Levels alone cannot measure this one."
Her words hushed the table.
A fourteen-year-old, already nearly at Soul Emperor? In Douluo's history, such things belonged more to myth than reality. One could only imagine what kind of monster might emerge when he matured fully.
Still, the greatest question stung them all.
"What is his secret? How does he cultivate so terrifyingly fast?"
No one spoke. No one had an answer. At first, they had thought time and observation would reveal the truth—that every soul master harbors some private cultivation tricks. But days turned into weeks, and all anyone ever saw was… drinking. Drinking, laughing, flirting, drinking again.
They had even suspected Mengshenji of hiding methods from them, but no—Tiandou would never suppress such a heaven-defying system out of pettiness. And the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan? If they had discovered it, the continent would have already been shaken by new prodigies.
Yet here at Tianshui, their board of education sat helpless, scratching their dignified heads bald, with nothing but wine fumes and confusion to show for it.
…
On the sunlit cobbled paths of Tianshui's campus, Shui Yue'er wandered lazily, twisting a lock of hair between her fingers.
Her daydream ended abruptly when a strong hand yanked her off the walkway and pressed her against a wall.
"Ah—!" She gasped, face paling, only to freeze at the familiar scent of liquor wafting before she even turned her head.
She looked up in dismay. "…Lu Yuan! What are you doing now?!"
Slamming one palm above her head, his grin was mischievous, dangerously playful. His blurred, glassy eyes still gleamed like sharpened stars.
"Tons… tons… tons… haaa!" He drained another swig and exhaled warmly against her cheek. "Yue'er, long time no see."
Shui Yue'er nearly choked. "…Long time? Didn't we just meet half an hour ago?!"
"Oh? Did we?" His brows furrowed. "Too many beauties here, hard to keep track!"
"…You—!" She wanted to scream, but her cheeks betrayed her.
From the side, passing girls giggled and whispered.
"Look, Shui Yue'er got pinned to the wall again…"
"I'm jealous."
"Stop it, he's the only guy here and you're drooling over him too?!"
"Heard his strength went up again. They say he's already close to Soul Emperor."
"Impossible!"
Yet their eyes sparkled anyway. Because in truth, within this sea of women, Lu Yuan was the loudest, brightest flame. Whether they hated him or adored him, every gaze ended up following him.
Because he was the only man in Tianshui Academy.
He blinked at Yue'er, suddenly producing a jar and shoving it toward her. "Little beauty, drink?"
Her lips pressed tight. She shook her head wildly. Drinking inside Tianshui was a crime punished heavily.
"Oh, right. No booze inside campus." He thought aloud, then leaned closer, voice dripping with temptation. "Then let's slip out. Just a little flower wine. What do you say?"
He produced a wildflower behind his back with a flourish, waving it like a prize.
Her heart pounded. His blurry half-drunken eyes were still strangely piercing, a heat that made her flush from neck to ears.
"D-during class days… romance is forbidden," she stammered.
"Romance?" He smirked. "Relax. We're not dating—we're just going out for a drink."
Just a drink. Just a laugh. Just leaning close under lantern lights… her heart wavered.
At last she pressed her index fingers together, whispering, "…Fine."
His grin spread. "Good. Then bring Bing'er too—we'll all go together."
Shui Yue'er froze. Her world shattered instantly.
Her lips parted wordlessly, then shut again. The corners of her smile collapsed.
This bastard! He wasn't inviting me at all—he's trying to hook my sister!
Hefting his wine jar, Lu Yuan threw an arm around her shoulder cheerfully. "Come on now, Yue'er, don't pout. Sharing wine is sharing friendship. Isn't it nice to drink together?"
She stomped her foot in fury, her blush deepening till her ears turned crimson.
Why, oh why, was this infuriating drunkard the most powerful boy in all of Douluo?!
…
In the dean's office, quiet returned. The leaders of Tianshui still whispered of secrets, still dreamed of finding Lu Yuan's method.
But across the campus, in shadowed courtyards and behind closed halls, a different truth burned:
The girls of Tianshui, one by one, were being drawn into his whirlwind.
And neither wine… nor hearts… would survive untouched.
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