The Measure of a Genius
Yao Xuan's spiritual search, guided by the Eye of Insight, was not a broad sweep but a targeted hunt for specific energy signatures. He found Gu Yue first, a logical outcome of their deep resonance. Her silver-dragon aura stood out in the forest's green tapestry like a calm, cold star. She was standing atop a moss-covered boulder, surveying the terrain with detached efficiency. When his presence registered, she turned, and a flicker of relief so subtle only he would notice passed through her eyes before they returned to analytical scanning.
Xu Xiaoyan was nearby, looking slightly nervous but determined, her stellar elemental affinity making her shine like a beacon to his enhanced senses. Tang Wulin was a steady, warm furnace of strength, his aura solid and unyielding. Xie Xie was the hardest to pin down—a flickering shadow—but Yao Xuan's perception caught the unique, sharp-edged quality of his soul power.
Within three minutes, the five of them stood together in a small clearing, a unit reconstituted. No time for lengthy greetings. A nod from Yao Xuan, a confirming glance from Gu Yue, and they moved.
It was Tang Wulin, with his sharper instincts for living opponents, who first spotted the bulky figure ahead. "Someone's there. Big."
Yao Xuan's Eye of Insight activated, layering information over his vision. The data streamed in: Soul Power Level 37. Physique density: extremely high. Martial Soul signature: ursine, heavy-earth and metal attributes. Designation: Yang Nianxia. Threat assessment: moderate (high raw power, predictable attack patterns). Emotional state: conflicted, wary.
'The Dark Gold Bear,' Yao Xuan identified silently, recalling the original timeline's details. A top-tier offensive martial soul. A ranker on the Spirit Pagoda's Young Genius list. Yet, compared to the threats Yao Xuan had faced and the legacy he carried, it was a localized talent, not a continental storm.
Yang Nianxia saw them and hesitated, his broad shoulders tensing. The earlier classroom defiance was gone, replaced by the wariness of a combatant assessing a superior force. He spoke first, his voice a low rumble that fit his frame. "Classmate Yao Xuan. About earlier... I was out of line. I apologize."
His words were stiff but genuine. This was not Le Zhengyu's brand of arrogance; this was the pride of a strong individual recalibrating his understanding of the world.
Yao Xuan stopped, his team fanning out slightly behind him in a loose, non-threatening formation. "The matter is closed," Yao Xuan replied, his tone neutral. "We are all here to learn and grow. If you need forging work in the future, my services are available. At the standard rates, of course." It was a peace offering, but a professional one, establishing a boundary of mutual respect, not favoritism.
Relief washed over Yang Nianxia's face. "Thank you."
"However," Yao Xuan continued, a spark of intent lighting his golden eyes. "Since we have met, let us have a duel. A test of skill, between classmates." He made it sound like an academic exercise, but the underlying challenge was clear: Let's see what a 'Young Genius' is made of.
Yang Nianxia's wariness sharpened into focus. He hadn't expected this. His eyes flickered over Yao Xuan's team—the beautiful, unreadable girl; the solid Tang Wulin; the sharp Xie Xie; the supportive Xu Xiaoyan. "You want to challenge me? Just you?"
"Just me," Yao Xuan confirmed, taking a step forward. Gu Yue gave a barely perceptible nod. She understood this wasn't just about competition points; it was about establishing hierarchy, measuring a potential future ally or rival on a field that mattered to him.
"Very well!" Yang Nianxia's competitive spirit, momentarily dampened by apology, reignited. He wouldn't back down from a direct challenge. He stomped his right foot.
The ground shuddered. His body erupted in a dark golden radiance, swelling with terrifying density. His height surged past 2.5 meters, his skin taking on a metallic, dark gold sheen. His arms thickened into pillars of power. Three perfect purple soul rings rose behind him—a testament to his own excellent foundation. The air grew heavy with the aura of primal strength and unyielding defense.
Simultaneously, Yao Xuan moved. His transformation was different—less about increasing mass, more about condensing sublime power.
"Ancestral Dragon Possession."
"Ancestral Dragon Overlord Body."
A soft, nine-colored luminescence enveloped him, resolving into a layer of exquisite, interlocking dragon scales that gleamed like polished gemstones. His hands and feet elongated into formidable, razor-clawed dragon limbs. He did not grow taller; he became denser, more real, as if the world around him was a painting and he was the only fully realized subject. Behind him, four soul rings rose—all a profound, deep purple, the fourth so dark it was nearly black, whispering of the ten-thousand-year power it contained.
The contrast was stark: dark gold brute force against multicolored, refined draconic majesty.
Yang Nianxia's eyes widened a fraction at the sight of the four purple rings. The information was a cold shock. Level 42? Four purple rings? The math was terrifying. But he was committed. With a roar that echoed through the trees, he charged. He was surprisingly fast for his size, a dark golden avalanche aimed to crush.
Yao Xuan didn't charge. He stood his ground, the new soul power vortex in his heart spinning with calm efficiency. His Eye of Insight analyzed the charge: center of gravity slightly forward, right shoulder leading, left arm prepared for a wide grab. Predictable.
At the last possible moment, Yao Xuan sidestepped with fluid grace, his movement a blur of nine-colored light. Yang Nianxia's thunderous charge passed by him. As the giant bear passed, Yao Xuan's dragon-clawed hand shot out, not to strike, but to tap—a precise, almost gentle impact on Yang Nianxia's lower back, right over a cluster of nerves the Eye of Insight highlighted as a stability nexus.
It was like hitting the off switch on a machine. Yang Nianxia's forward momentum didn't stop, but his coordinated strength faltered. He stumbled, his charge becoming a lumbering, off-balance stagger that crashed into a thick tree trunk with a sound like a gong.
The tree cracked. Yang Nianxia grunted, shaking his head, more stunned than hurt. He turned, his dark gold eyes blazing with confusion and dawning respect. That hadn't been a contest of power. It had been a surgical demonstration of precision over might.
"Again!" Yang Nianxia growled, this time more cautious. He didn't charge. He advanced, each step shaking the ground, his arms held up in a powerful guard.
Yao Xuan smiled slightly. This was more interesting. He decided to give Yang Nianxia the power test he likely wanted. Instead of evading, Yao Xuan stepped forward, his own right claw drawing back.
"Ancestral Dragon Sky-Splitting Strike."
He didn't use the full, ranged version. He condensed the principle into his claw. A golden arc of light sheathed his limb as he met Yang Nianxia's powerful, swinging arm.
CLANG!
The impact sounded less like flesh and more like two legendary metals colliding. A shockwave of air blasted outwards, flattening ferns in a circle around them.
Yang Nianxia skidded back two meters, his boots carving trenches in the soil, his dark gold aura flickering violently. His arm, where the claws had met, throbbed with a deep, resonant ache. He stared at Yao Xuan, who had not moved an inch from the point of impact.
The message was delivered. In raw power, refined and amplified by soul skills, Yao Xuan was also superior.
Yao Xuan let his martial soul recede, the scales and claws melting away. The intense aura vanished, leaving just a calm, handsome boy standing in the forest. "A good defense," he commented. "The Dark Gold Bear lives up to its reputation."
Yang Nianxia slowly let his own possession fade, shrinking back to his normal size. The fight was clearly over. He looked at Yao Xuan, then at the observing team, his earlier defiance completely gone, replaced by a gritty acceptance. "You… are on a different level. The Young Genius list… it feels inadequate for someone like you."
"It's just a list," Yao Xuan said, waving a hand dismissively. "The real measure is here, in this academy, and in the battles to come." He offered a hand. "No hard feelings. We may be on the same team one day."
After a moment's hesitation, Yang Nianxia took the offered hand, his grip firm. "Yeah. Maybe." He nodded to the rest of the team, his gaze lingering on Gu Yue for a respectful second before looking away, then turned and lumbered off into the forest, a defeated but not broken opponent.
The points were better. The strategic victory—potentially neutralizing a future obstacle and gaining a measure of respect from a strong peer—was worth far more.
Gu Yue approached Yao Xuan's side. "Efficient. You didn't just beat him; you gave him a lesson he can learn from. He will not be an enemy."
"That's the idea," Yao Xuan said softly, meeting her eyes. "Ready to find the others? The real competition is just starting."
With their team united and their first significant encounter a decisive, pedagogical victory, they moved deeper into the simulated forest, the dynamics of the first-year class subtly but permanently shifted.