Ning Rongrong froze for a moment, then her face flushed red.
She struggled against the weight pressing down on her shoulders, glared at Lin Chen, and said in a childish yet fierce voice, "You'd better apologize to me right now! Give me back the 500,000 gold soul coins you stole from me! Otherwise, I'll never let you off the hook for the rest of my life!"
Upon hearing this, Lin Chen chuckled and turned to look at the Soul Saint Guard Commander standing guard beside him.
His tone was calm but tinged with a hint of teasing: "Soul Saint, it seems your young lady's brain hasn't been properly protected."
A look of extreme embarrassment flashed across the Soul Saint Commander's face, and a vein throbbed on his forehead.
He lowered his head, not daring to meet Lin Chen's gaze, and could only plead with Ning Rongrong in a low voice, "Miss, please don't be impulsive... I... I can't beat him."
"What?!"
Ning Rongrong was struck dumb, her hair standing on end. She stared wide-eyed at the Soul Saint Commander in disbelief, then turned to Lin Chen, her mouth agape as if she could fit an egg in it. "What did you say? He's a Soul Venerable? You can't even beat a Soul Venerable?"
In her mind, a Soul Saint was an existence that could crush a Soul Venerable. This guy in front of her was just a Soul Venerable who had just made his mark in the Soul Arena. How could her own guard commander, who was a Soul Saint, be so restrained?
The Soul Saint Commander was so embarrassed he wanted to disappear, and could only remain silent. How could he dare to say that the extreme lightning of the young man before him was too strange, and that it also faintly exuded a mysterious aura that even Soul Saints feared? The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School never did anything without certainty, and he dared not act rashly, so he could only admit defeat.
Seeing this, Lin Chen couldn't help but chuckle and gently tapped Ning Rongrong's forehead with his fingertip: "Silly girl, it's not that he can't beat me, it's that he doesn't dare to make a move. He doesn't know if I have any powerful backing, and he doesn't know if I'm worth the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School's efforts to win me over, so naturally he won't easily break ties with me."
Upon hearing this, a hint of surprise flashed in the Soul Saint Commander's eyes, and his gaze towards Lin Chen became more inquisitive. He hadn't expected this young man to be so insightful, able to pinpoint his concerns so clearly.
Ning Rongrong, however, failed to grasp the underlying meaning, believing Lin Chen was spouting nonsense, and remained sullen. She bit her lip, her emerald eyes filled with resentment, and suddenly glared at Lin Chen, her tone icy and chilling: "Don't be so smug! Tell me, if I kill you now, and then kill everyone here, do you think Ning Fengzhi will find out?"
The moment those words were spoken, the atmosphere in the alley instantly plummeted to freezing point!
The Soul Saint Commander and the four Soul Emperor guards behind him suddenly changed color, stepping forward to block Ning Rongrong. Their soul rings lit up instantly, and the pressure of a Soul Saint suddenly erupted as they shouted sharply, "Be on guard! Protect the young lady!"
They were terrified! How dare the young lady try to kill a powerful expert who could crush a Soul Saint? And she even dared to threaten to kill them to silence them? If she really angered Lin Chen, not only would the young lady be in danger, but the entire Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School's guard force would be wiped out!
Seeing this, Lin Chen couldn't help but burst into laughter, laughing so hard he almost fell over. The purple-gold lightning even pulsated slightly with his laughter: "Alright, alright, don't be nervous. I'm not that stupid to offend the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, which is ranked second among all sects in the world."
He changed the subject, raised his chin at the Soul Saint Commander, and said with a hint of mockery, "You'd better hurry up and take your silly young lady back. Otherwise, she might come up with some shocking idea later, and even if Ning Fengzhi comes in person, he might not be able to save her."
As soon as Lin Chen finished speaking, the Soul Saint Commander had already grabbed Ning Rongrong, who was still kicking and crying, and turned to walk out of the alley, but was suddenly stopped by Lin Chen's words, "Wait a moment."
He stopped abruptly, and the four Soul Emperor guards behind him immediately reactivated their Soul Rings, which intertwined in yellow, purple, and black. The terrifying pressure of a Soul Saint quietly enveloped them, and their cold faces were full of vigilance as they asked in a deep voice, "Sir, is there anything else?"
Lin Chen casually released Zhu Zhuqing, who was still being pressed against the wall. The girl rubbed her wrist, which had been gripped so tightly it was red, her silver hair slightly disheveled. Her cool eyes were still fixed on him, but they held less of the previous venomous hostility, only a hint of probing.
Lin Chen raised his chin and said calmly to the Soul Saint Commander, "Nothing else, just take her and this person back together. She's a friend of your young lady, we can't leave her here to fend for herself."
The Soul Saint Commander's tense expression eased slightly, and his anxious heart relaxed a little. He nodded slightly to Zhu Zhuqing, signaling her to follow.
Just as the group was about to turn and leave, Zhu Zhuqing suddenly spoke, her voice clear and cold yet carrying an undeniable seriousness, calling out to Lin Chen, who was walking away: "What's your name?"
Lin Chen paused, glanced back at her, a mocking smile playing on his lips, and asked, "Why should I tell you?"
Zhu Zhuqing pursed her lips, her fair cheeks flushing slightly, but she wasn't disturbed by his teasing. She persisted in asking, "Then where should I look for you?"
She is a genius, and she may have a lot of interactions with Lin Chen in the future. She can't be completely unaware of his name and where he is.
Lin Chen flicked the swirling purple-gold lightning between his fingertips, chuckled, and said with a casual yet confident tone, "If nothing unexpected happens, I will go to the Heaven Dou Royal Soul Master Academy. If you want to come find me, go there."
As soon as he finished speaking, he said no more. His figure flickered and transformed into a streak of purple-gold lightning. He used the Lingbo Weibu technique to its fullest extent and disappeared into the deep night of the alley in an instant, leaving only a faint fragrance of lightning.
Zhu Zhuqing gazed in the direction he had left, a complex light flashing in her cool eyes, and silently memorized the name "Heaven Dou Royal Soul Master Academy".
Seeing this, the Soul Saint Commander didn't delay any longer. He grabbed Ning Rongrong, who was still crying and shouting for her money back, and took Zhu Zhuqing with him. They quickly left the alley and headed towards the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School's secret stronghold in Soto City.
Lin Chen turned and left, but didn't go far. Instead, he went straight back to the small hotel where he had stayed.
He hurried upstairs, quickly glanced around his room—aside from a few changes of clothes and a small number of personal soul tools, there was nothing of importance to take. He simply packed a small bag, checked out of the room at the front desk, and headed towards the most luxurious Soto Hotel in Soto City.
Lin Chen knew perfectly well that students from the Heaven Dou Royal Soul Master Academy would never stay in cheap inns when they went out for training. Given their status and the academy's financial resources, a top-tier place like the Soto Grand Hotel was the place they would stay.
Before long, a grand hotel, entirely constructed of white jade, with carved beams and painted rafters, exuding an air of luxury, came into view.
As soon as Lin Chen stepped into the hotel lobby, he narrowed his eyes slightly.
A spiritual force far surpassing that of a Soul Douluo and no weaker than that of a Title Douluo was quietly enveloping the entire hotel, clearly a security measure set up by the academy. However, this spiritual force was completely exposed to Lin Chen's Blue Silver Domain.
He silently activated his Blue Silver Domain, completely concealing his aura, like a speck of dust blending into the air. He moved lightly through the corridor and quickly located Dugu Yan's room—his spiritual power probed along the veins of the Blue Silver Domain, clearly capturing the fluctuations of soul power within the room.
Lin Chen swayed, leaped up, and clung to the windowsill like a falling leaf. With a flick of his soul power, he pushed open the half-closed window and silently slipped inside.
The room was empty, the bedding was neat, and the tables and chairs were clean, indicating that someone had just left.
Lin Chen chuckled helplessly and shook his head.
It seems that Dugu Yan and the others haven't returned yet; he's arrived early.
Since it was a girl's room, Lin Chen didn't want to wander around, so he turned around and sat down on the sofa in the living room, gently stroking the purple-gold lightning with his fingertips, quietly waiting for Dugu Yan and her group to return.
Time passed slowly, and in about fifteen minutes, footsteps and conversations could be heard in the hotel corridor.
Lin Chen's gaze narrowed slightly, and he restrained his aura, listening quietly.
Soon, the door was pushed open, and Dugu Yan walked in first, followed by Yu Tianheng, Yu Feng, Oslo, the Shi brothers, and Ye Lingling. The seven of them were still the full members of the Heaven Dou Royal Team, but their complexions were much better than when they were in the Soul Arena, obviously because the Soul Saint Guards had taken care of them.
At the very front of the group followed a tall and handsome young man.
The young man was about twenty-seven or twenty-eight years old. He wore a well-tailored blue robe with gold trim, the collar of which was embroidered with the emblem of the Heaven Dou Royal Soul Master Academy. He had a jade belt around his waist, his long hair was tied back, and he had a handsome face with gentle eyes and a calm, scholarly air.
He moved with unhurried steps, a faint fluctuation of soul power surrounding him. Though he didn't deliberately release his soul rings, he gave off an unfathomable aura. His gaze swept across the room, carrying both the gentleness and scrutiny of a teacher—it was none other than Qin Ming, a core instructor at the Heaven Dou Royal Soul Master Academy!
He was the one who led the Shrek Seven Devils to participate in the Continental High-Level Soul Master Elite Competition in the original work, and also the mentor of the younger generation of Soul Masters in the Heaven Dou Empire.
The members of the Heavenly Dou Royal Team immediately bristled upon seeing Lin Chen.
Yu Tianheng clenched his fists, his knuckles turning white, and blue lightning flickered around his body. He couldn't wait to go forward and fight again. Dugu Yan's emerald eyes revealed a cold light, and the venom of the Azure Phosphorus Serpent was already brewing at her fingertips. Oslo, Yu Feng, and the others also showed anger on their faces, gritting their teeth. They were about to speak and shout, but Qin Ming raised his hand and stopped them steadily.
Qin Ming waved his hand, signaling the students to calm down. His gaze gently fell on Lin Chen, and his tone was steady but with a hint of scrutiny: "Young friend, what brings you here so late at night?"
Lin Chen smiled faintly, his gaze sweeping over the crowd as he slowly spoke, "You must be from the Heaven Dou Royal Soul Master Academy, right?"
Upon hearing this, Qin Ming's eyes suddenly turned solemn, and his gentle aura slightly subsided. He asked in surprise, "How did you know our identities, young friend?" He believed that his group had concealed their whereabouts and had never revealed the academy's name to the outside world. It was truly strange that the other party could see through them at a glance.
Lin Chen chuckled lightly, his tone relaxed: "At first I was just guessing, but now I can confirm it. To have such top-notch talent and stay in the most luxurious hotel in Soto City, only the core students of the Heaven Dou Royal Soul Master Academy in the entire Heaven Dou Empire have such treatment."
Upon hearing this, Qin Ming's surprise and doubt faded somewhat, replaced by admiration. He nodded, "Young friend, your observation skills are exceptional. So, what is your purpose in coming here?"
Lin Chen suppressed his smile, his expression turning serious, and said, word by word, "My goal is very simple: to enroll in the university."
"Enrollment?"
Qin Ming froze on the spot, his eyes widening in shock. His composure was instantly replaced by astonishment, and he even doubted whether he had heard correctly. This top expert who could single-handedly crush the Heaven Dou Royal Team and control the ultimate lightning was actually going to study at the Heaven Dou Royal Academy?
"That's right, it's about going to school." Lin Chen nodded, his tone firm. "And by the way, preparing for this year's All-Continent High-Level Soul Master Elite Tournament. I've always hated trouble and don't want to build a team from scratch, so I plan to join your Heaven Dou Team 1 directly."
Qin Ming suddenly realized what was happening, his shock turning into understanding, followed by a surge of ecstatic joy.
With the ultimate lightning martial soul, his combat power crushes his peers. If such a genius were to join the Heaven Dou First Team, not to mention the Heaven Dou Empire Division, even if they were to compete in the entire continent's major tournaments, the Heaven Dou First Team would have the strength to win the championship!
Qin Ming immediately stopped hesitating, cupped his hands and smiled, "Alright! I will set off for the Heaven Dou Royal Soul Master Academy tomorrow, please come with us!"
He looked at Lin Chen with eager eyes: "May I ask your esteemed name, young friend?"
Lin Chen's eyes flickered slightly, and he casually gave an alias: "You can call me Lin Yuan."
Qin Ming remembered the name well, and smiled as he cupped his hands in greeting: "Young friend Lin Yuan, from now on we will be classmates!"
Yu Tianheng, Dugu Yan, and the others looked at each other in astonishment.
They never expected that the opponents who had just been utterly crushing them in the Soul Arena would become their teammates and join the Heavenly Dou Team.
This turn of events is truly unbelievable!
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