Chapter 37: First Arrival at Elemental City, Thunder Academy
In the spring of 2474 of the Douluo Calendar, Yu Yuanchen turned eighteen and a half.
Bidding farewell to the Family, he set off on his journey once again.
His goal this time was clear—Elemental City, a special city established in the center of the Heaven Dou Empire, with the five great Elemental Academies as its core.
He did not reveal his true Face, instead using a simple disguise to make himself look slightly older than his actual age, appearing to be in his early twenties.
His temperament was steady, and his gaze was sharp, fitting the image of a promising young Soul Master.
Dressed in a simple blue martial outfit with his aura restrained to the level of a newly advanced Soul Emperor, and holding a handwritten recommendation letter from his grandfather, Yu Boxuan, he arrived before the distinctive city gates of Elemental City, which were decorated with the symbols of the five elements.
Inside Elemental City, the building complexes of the five great academies, each with distinct styles, occupied their own areas.
The air was filled with fluctuations of Soul Power of different attributes, appearing exceptionally active.
Yu Yuanchen headed straight for Thunder Academy, located in the east of the city.
The buildings of Thunder Academy were primarily deep blue and silver-white in color, with sharp angles, and faint electric arcs often crackled between the eaves and pillars.
After presenting the recommendation letter, he was quickly led to the office of the Dean, Dean.
Dean was a middle-aged man around fifty years old, tall and sturdy with a resolute Face.
His short hair stood up like steel needles, and faint lightning flickered within his eyes as they opened and closed.
His aura had astonishingly reached the level of an eight-ring Soul Douluo!
He took the recommendation letter and carefully read the handwriting of his teacher, Yu Boxuan, his gaze occasionally falling on Yu Yuanchen, who stood respectfully below.
The letter was full of praise for Yu Yuanchen (using the Alias "Alias" in the letter), describing his exceptional talent and unique insights into the Thunder God Power.
Due to his connections with the Family, he was recommended to teach at the academy, hoping he would gain experience.
"Alias?" Dean put down the letter, his voice resonant with a thunder-like echo.
"My teacher thinks very highly of you in this letter. However, although Thunder Academy has a close relationship with the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, teaching qualifications must still be earned through true ability.
Since you are a Soul Emperor, according to academy rules, you must pass an assessment to determine your position."
"This Junior understands. Please proceed with the assessment, Dean." Yu Yuanchen bowed, neither servile nor overbearing.
"Good!" A flash of appreciation appeared in Dean's eyes.
"For the academy's practical combat courses, a teacher's own strength is most important.
The assessment is very simple: spar with the director of our academy's practical combat department, the level 73 Soul Saint, Lei Bao.
You don't need to win; you just need to last for a quarter of an hour under his attacks without being defeated to obtain the instructor qualification.
If you perform better, your position can be adjusted upwards."
"This Junior will comply." Yu Yuanchen nodded.
A Soul Saint-level opponent was exactly what he wanted; it would allow him to demonstrate his strength while remaining within his controllable range.
A short while later, at the central martial arts arena of Thunder Academy.
Hearing that there was an assessment for a new teacher and that the opponent was Director Lei Bao, known for his fierce offensive style, many students and teachers who were free rushed over to watch, packing the area around the arena tightly.
In the arena, Lei Bao was already standing.
He had a lean and tough build with bulging muscles, and his eyes were as sharp as a real leopard.
His body exuded the formidable aura of a Soul Saint, and seven Soul Rings—two yellow, two purple, and three black—slowly rotated beneath his feet, bringing a powerful sense of oppression.
"Kid, the Dean asked you to last a quarter of an hour against me? Don't worry, I will control my strength and won't let you lose too badly!" Lei Bao grinned, carrying the confidence and a hint of arrogance of a Soul Saint.
Yu Yuanchen smiled slightly without saying much, simply walking to the opposite side of Lei Bao.
His mind stirred, and his Soul Power circulated in a special way, quietly triggering the technique developed by the Family Elders to hide Soul Ring colors.
An invisible, faint fluctuation of Soul Power covered his Soul Rings, cleverly interfering with the refraction of light and the manifestation of Soul Power.
The next moment, five Soul Rings rose from beneath his feet—two yellow, two purple, one black!
The standard optimal Soul Ring configuration for a Soul King!
He deliberately hid his sixth Soul Ring and his Soul Emperor-level Soul Power fluctuations, showing only the cultivation of a Soul King.
This was a decision he had made after consulting with his grandfather; an eighteen-year-old Soul Emperor was too shocking and easily attracted unnecessary attention and trouble.
Operating as a Soul King was safer.
This technique was not perfect and might be exposed under the careful investigation of a Titled Douluo, but it was not a problem to deceive a Soul Douluo or lower-level Soul Master.
"A Soul King?" Low murmurs rose from the crowd of onlookers, many revealing expressions of surprise or confusion.
Although such a young Soul King was extremely rare, how could a Soul King last a quarter of an hour under a Soul Saint?
Wasn't the Dean's assessment too harsh?
A flash of surprise also crossed Lei Bao's eyes, and then he smiled and said, "A Soul King? Kid, you have courage! Be careful!"
Before the words had faded, Lei Bao's first Soul Ring lit up.
His figure suddenly blurred, like a real bolt of blue lightning, bringing a piercing sound as it tore through the air, charging straight at Yu Yuanchen!
The speed was so fast that it dazzled many students.
However, under Yu Yuanchen's powerful Spiritual Power perception, although Lei Bao's movements were fast, they were not untraceable.
His footsteps moved, using the improved Swimming Dragon Steps!
His figure was like a willow swaying in the wind, and like a lightning eel twisting, dodging Lei Bao's pounce with an extremely subtle and exquisite arc at the very last moment, not even brushing his clothes!
"Huh?" Lei Bao missed his strike and let out a soft sound of surprise, withdrawing a trace of contempt from his eyes.
He could feel that the opponent's movement technique was extremely strange; it wasn't just simple speed, but a grasp of timing and angles that was perfect.
"Second Soul skills, Thunder Claw Ripping the Sky!" Lei Bao roared low, his hands forming claws covered in sharp lightning, his speed increasing again.
The claw wind whistled, enveloping all of Yu Yuanchen's vital points.
Yu Yuanchen still did not take it head-on, executing the Swimming Dragon Steps with full force, leaving trails of afterimages on the martial arts arena, moving and dodging through Lei Bao's fierce offensive like a slippery, elusive Dragon.
Occasionally, when he couldn't avoid it, he would block with his Dragon-transformed right arm (only revealing the right arm and controlling the degree of Dragon transformation).
His tempered, formidable physique, combined with Soul Power, could always cleverly deflect Lei Bao's attack force, emitting dull collision sounds.
He did not use any offensive Soul skills, only taking defense and evasion to the extreme.
To outsiders, he was completely at a disadvantage, chased and beaten by Lei Bao, in constant danger, as if he would be defeated at any moment.
But only Lei Bao himself knew that although the opponent looked disheveled, his aura was actually steady, his steps were not in the slightest chaotic, and every block and dodge was perfectly timed, neutralizing his fierce force into invisibility.
This level of control was definitely not something an ordinary person could have!
"Good kid! You've got some skills!" Lei Bao's Battle Intent was aroused, and his third Soul Ring lit up.
"Third Soul skills, Thunder Sound Explosion!"
He opened his mouth and let out a roar, the sound waves mixed with the Thunder God Power, spreading out like a physical substance, carrying a strong dizziness and paralysis effect, attempting to interfere with Yu Yuanchen's movement technique.
Yu Yuanchen frowned slightly, his Spiritual Power guarding his Martial Soul, easily counteracting the dizziness effect.
At the same time, he integrated a trace of imperceptible "Thunder God Power" into his Soul Power, forming a thin layer of defense on his body surface, which greatly reduced the paralysis effect.
The Swimming Dragon Steps only stalled for a moment before recovering their fluidity.
Time passed second by second, and in the blink of an eye, half a quarter of an hour had passed.
Yu Yuanchen was still "struggling to support himself" under Lei Bao's fierce attacks, drawing gasps from the watching students, whose gazes toward him changed from initial suspicion to surprise and sympathy.
Lei Bao had been attacking for a long time without success, and he felt a bit anxious.
After all, he was a Soul Saint; if he couldn't even take down a "Soul King" within the stipulated time, he would really lose Face.
"Fifth Spirit Ability, Thunder Leopard Phantom Kill!" He roared, his fifth Soul Ring shining with black light, his speed instantly soaring to the limit.
His whole body turned into three indistinguishable Thunder Leopard phantoms, pouncing on Yu Yuanchen simultaneously from different directions, blocking all his evasion routes!
This strike had already used a powerful Soul skills of a Soul Saint level!
The onlookers held their breath, all believing that this assessment was about to end.
Facing this inescapable situation, a flash of brilliance crossed Yu Yuanchen's eyes.
He knew he could no longer purely evade.
In a flash of thought, his first and third Soul Rings (simulated) lit up simultaneously, and the majestic Thunder God Power instantly condensed on his Dragon-transformed right arm!
He did not choose to attack, but instead slammed the condensed power violently into the ground beneath his feet!
"Boom!"
The violent Thunder God Power exploded on the ground, forming a circular shockwave.
Dust and lightning filled the air, instantly interfering with the vision and perception of the three phantoms!
At the same time, the reaction force of the explosion pushed Yu Yuanchen's body flying backward, narrowly escaping the range of the phantoms' combined attack!
The dust settled, and Yu Yuanchen landed in the distance, looking slightly "disheveled," his clothes stained with some dust, and his breath deliberately appearing somewhat rapid, but he still stood steadily.
Lei Bao's three phantoms merged into one, and looking at the unharmed Yu Yuanchen, his Face was full of shock.
He didn't expect the opponent to break his Fifth Spirit Ability in such a way!
"Time is up!" The teacher responsible for timing announced loudly from the side.
A quarter of an hour had passed!
The area around the martial arts arena was quiet at first, and then erupted into heated discussion!
A "Soul King" had actually managed to hold out for a full quarter of an hour under the Soul Saint-level Director Lei Bao!
Although he looked disheveled, he had ultimately held out!
This resilience, this grasp of timing, and especially the quick wit to break the Fifth Spirit Ability at the end, all made people look at him with new eyes!
Lei Bao retracted his Martial Soul, looked at Yu Yuanchen with a complicated expression, walked up and patted him on the shoulder, his voice loud but carrying a hint of admiration: "Kid, not bad! Your movement technique is strange, and your adaptability is extremely strong! I, Lei Bao, approve of you!"
Dean, who was sitting in the main seat, also had eyes full of brilliance.
He could naturally see that this "Alias" had far from exhausted his full strength, and his true strength was likely not as simple as a surface-level Soul King, especially that strange movement technique and the calmness and quick wit in dealing with the Fifth Spirit Ability at the end, which were definitely not something an ordinary Soul King could have.
Someone recommended by his teacher was indeed not a Mortal!
"Assessment passed!" Dean stood up, his voice spreading throughout the entire martial arts arena.
"From today on, Alias is an instructor for our Thunder Academy's practical combat course!"
Yu Yuanchen bowed slightly: "Thank you, Dean, and thank you, Director Lei, for your guidance."
He had successfully established a foothold in Thunder Academy, one of the five major powers of Elemental City, in a position that was not eye-catching but enough to earn respect.
Next, he would use this instructor status as a springboard to begin his journey of observing and learning the power of various attributes and exploring the method of tempering the five internal organs.
The waves of Elemental City would quietly change due to the arrival of this "Alias" teacher who had hidden his true strength.
Want To Read More Chapters? Check Out 80+Advanced Chapters At PA Treon
patreon.com/SloppyGuy