Chapter 73: You Shouldn't Have Provoked Me!
"See that? Your cousin is the only one in the dark!"
Ning Rongrong pouted with amusement.
Dugu Feng chuckled. "Yu Tianheng sure loves putting on a show."
On stage, Dugu Yan was speaking with Ye Lingling when she suddenly turned her head as if sensing something—her eyes landed squarely on Dugu Feng.
Feng Ling and Feng Li had chosen seats close to the battle arena, the perfect vantage point, and the distance wasn't far.
The moment Dugu Yan saw Dugu Feng, their eyes met.
Recognition flashed instantly.
Dugu Feng had long returned to the academy and, with Ning Rongrong always at his side, he had quickly become a campus figure. Even students at the Royal Advanced Academy had heard of him.
But this was their first encounter since.
Why? Why isn't he dead yet?
Grandfather said he would suffer a poison outbreak once he reached the Soul Grandmaster stage.
But word from the Junior Academy said his soul power was approaching Soul Elder now. He should have long since succumbed!
If his poison had erupted, how could he still be alive?
And his father, Dugu Shuo—how was he still holding on?
A chilly discomfort welled up in her chest.
She couldn't explain it—why she somehow wanted them to die from poison.
But she detested that poisonous bloodline—perhaps because of her grandfather's misfortune and her father's death.
If Grandfather said they couldn't last, then they shouldn't.
Her thoughts turned bitter, her resentment simmering.
From the way she looked at him, Dugu Feng could guess the feelings behind her gaze.
He could see Dugu Bo's hatred reflected there clearly.
Were it not for her grandfather's influence, would Dugu Yan really despise the Poison Branch so fiercely?
Old monster, Dugu Feng thought coldly. You killed my grandfather, yet you act like the victim?
If revenge was ever due, it was his Poison Branch that deserved it—not Dugu Bo's.
His eyes narrowed. Seems I'll have to give that old man something to keep him busy.
As these thoughts stirred, the match on the battle platform began.
Yu Tianheng, level thirty-six, faced Dugu Yan, Shi Mo, Shi Mo's brother, Yufeng, Ao Si Luo, and others.
None could match his power.
His only challenge came from Shi Mo, the Black Tortoise spirit user.
After activating his Spirit Possession, Shi Mo manifested two massive dark-red tortoise shell shields edged with razor-sharp ridges.
The shields weren't just defenses—they spun and smashed like deadly weapons, rotating with terrifying speed.
Even Dugu Feng had to admit, their force rivaled powerful tool spirits.
Even so, Shi Mo still couldn't withstand Yu Tianheng's strength.
The others, Ao Si Luo and Yufeng, fell even faster.
"Yu Tianheng! Yu Tianheng! Yu Tianheng!"
The crowd roared his name as he claimed victory after victory.
"Here comes the good part!" Ning Rongrong whispered excitedly, tapping Dugu Feng's arm.
Yu Tianheng stood on the arena, raising both hands to bask in the cheers before motioning for silence.
Then the spectacle began.
Ten dark dots appeared in the sky—Dugu Feng's violet eyes caught the details first—ten flying soul masters.
They descended gradually, scattering a storm of rose petals from the air.
Yu Tianheng leapt upward, grabbing handfuls midair, lightning sparking along his arms.
Petals rained down across the stage, forming a vast heart-shaped pattern over the floor.
"Dugu Yan! Dugu Yan!"
The audience shouted her name with deafening enthusiasm.
"Go on, Yan!" Ye Lingling urged softly.
"Ah!" Dugu Yan gasped—finally realizing what was happening.
She'd long known Yu Tianheng's persistence, and in truth, had planned to accept him sooner or later.
But this grand, theatrical confession took her by surprise.
How could anyone not be moved by such a romantic display?
A union between the future heir to the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan and the granddaughter of the Emerald Phosphor Douluo—the entire Heaven Dou aristocracy would sing of it.
As cheers swelled, Dugu Yan stepped onto the stage, stopping at the heart's center.
She looked up gently, about to speak—then caught sight of Dugu Feng in the stands, observing with a faint smile.
Her lips curved slightly before she said aloud, "Yu Tianheng, I know you've pursued me for a long time. But I have one condition!"
Yu Tianheng froze.
He had expected his victory and confession to move her to tears—but instead, she gave him a condition?
Still, he quickly answered with gallant seriousness, "For you, I'd cross any fire or sea—whatever the challenge, I'll face it!"
Down below, Dugu Feng felt a twinge of unease.
That little glance earlier—could she really be up to something?
"As long as you defeat my younger cousin, Dugu Feng," she said clearly, pointing toward the front of the audience stands, "I'll agree to be your girlfriend!"
All eyes shifted instantly to Dugu Feng.
Yu Tianheng blinked, then exhaled in relief. So that's all?
Dugu Feng's name he knew well—reportedly near Soul Elder rank by now.
But Yu Tianheng himself was already one, level thirty-six.
A one-ring difference. No real threat.
He concluded that Dugu Yan merely wanted to make things less awkward—to save face rather than accept him outright in public.
Yu Tianheng smiled confidently, gesturing toward Dugu Feng.
"Defeat him!"
"Defeat him!" the crowd echoed, eager for more drama.
Ning Rongrong glanced sideways at Dugu Feng, suspicion in her eyes.
This can't be good. She knew well that Dugu Yan detested him—the "condition" was no friendly jest.
Unaware, Yu Tianheng thought this merely romantic theater.
But Ning Rongrong saw clearly—Dugu Yan wanted to humiliate him.
"Dugu Feng, what did you ever do to your cousin to make her hate you this much?" she asked curiously.
"My cousin doesn't truly like Yu Tianheng," Dugu Feng replied evenly, glancing at her and then at Feng Ling and Feng Li beside them.
"She's only using me as an excuse.
Yu's the Blue Lightning Clan's future heir—and annoyingly persistent. She can't reject him outright—so she's pushing the problem onto me.
Seems I'll have to do her a little favor."
With a sigh, he stood, stepping toward the arena.
Cousin… you really shouldn't have provoked me.
Ning Rongrong stared at him, dumbfounded.
If she hadn't been with him every day these past months, she might almost have believed he planned this from the start.
(END CHAPTER)
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