Faced with Lin Mu's blatant mockery, Yu Tianheng's face was a mask of astonishment and disbelief. As the most outstanding genius of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, the strongest attack-system beast-type clan on the continent, he had never been looked down upon so dismissively.
The man before him looked to be at most twenty-three or twenty-four years old. No matter how high his talent, Yu Tianheng assumed his Soul Power was likely only at the Soul Ancestor level. What right did he have to sneer at the heir of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan?
"Arrogant fool!"
Dugu Yan was the first to explode. Her emerald-green pupils burned with fury. This stranger had not only insulted her team but also her man. As the granddaughter of the Poison Douluo, Dugu Bo, she had never learned the meaning of the word "restraint."
Seeing Dugu Yan about to strike, Qin Ming inwardly cried out in alarm. He quickly stepped forward to block her path, his voice dropping an octave. "Yanzi, stand down! Do not be rude!"
Qin Ming's gaze swept over his disgruntled students. He spoke with a gravity that made them pause. "Teacher Lin Mu's strength is far above mine. Under his guidance, you will finally unlock your true potential and achieve results the Heaven Dou Royal Academy has never seen before."
"Stronger than you?" Yu Tianheng's pupils dilated.
As the top student of the academy, he considered himself the gold standard of talent. He could accept someone being slightly better, but someone only a few years older being stronger than a Soul Emperor? It defied his reality.
Of the entire Royal Fighting Team, only Ye Lingling, standing silently at the back, kept her clear, glassy eyes fixed on Lin Mu. There wasn't a trace of doubt in her gaze, only the quiet recognition of a promise being kept.
Lin Mu saw the arrogance etched into their faces and smiled faintly. He looked directly at Yu Tianheng.
"I'll give you one chance," Lin Mu said unequivocally. "Use your strongest attack. If you can even leave a scratch on me, Teacher Qin will stay as your leader. If not... then you should shut up and follow my orders."
Yu Tianheng was taken aback, then glanced at Qin Ming. Seeing the former leader nod in silent agreement, the young dragon made his decision. With his Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Martial Soul and Level 39 Soul Power, he didn't believe he couldn't at least bruise this man.
"Teacher Lin Mu, please forgive me for being heavy-handed!"
Yu Tianheng's eyes narrowed, and his Soul Power erupted. A draconic roar echoed through the grounds as his right arm transformed, swelling with muscle and covered in scales, turning into a formidable dragon claw wreathed in crackling blue lightning. Three rings, two yellow, one purple, spun around him.
"Third Soul Skill: Thunderous Fury!"
The lightning around him intensified, turning into a blinding azure cage that boosted his attack power and lightning attribute to their peak.
"First Soul Skill: Thunderous Dragon Claw!"
He threw a full-force punch. The fist, carrying a raging thunderbolt, roared toward Lin Mu's chest like a dragon emerging from the sea. It was a strike so violent that even a Soul Ancestor would not dare to take it head-on without a defensive skill.
Lin Mu remained stationary. He didn't dodge. He didn't summon his armor. He didn't even release a Soul Ring.
BANG!
A muffled thud rang out. The Thunderous Dragon Claw, powerful enough to shatter boulders, was caught firmly in Lin Mu's bare palm. The violent lightning crackled and hissed against his skin, but it couldn't singe a single hair.
Yu Tianheng's eyes shook. He felt something he had never felt before: absolute suppression. His Martial Soul was the pinnacle of beast-type martial souls, yet in this man's grip, it felt like a flickering candle.
Before he could process the shock, Lin Mu's leg shot out.
Thud!
Yu Tianheng felt an unimaginable force slam into his gut. He was sent flying backward like a kite with a broken string, tracing a long arc through the air before crashing heavily into the dirt ten meters away.
The arena went deathly silent.
"Tianheng!" Dugu Yan screamed, her anger reaching a breaking point. "Bastard! I'll kill you!"
Her third Soul Ring lit up. She opened her mouth and spewed a thick cloud of purple poisonous mist. It spread rapidly, the pungent, corrosive stench filling the air as it surged toward Lin Mu.
"A fit of impotent rage," Lin Mu's voice whispered through the mist.
His figure blurred, vanishing from Dugu Yan's sight. He reappeared instantly in front of her. With a decisive movement, he kicked her away as well, sending her tumbling through the dirt to land right next to Yu Tianheng.
The entire process was so swift and clinical that it left the rest of the team paralyzed with fear. Lin Mu was ruthless, he didn't care about clan status, and he certainly didn't care about chivalry. A kick was a kick, whether it was to a clan heir or a beautiful girl.
Yu Feng, Oslo, and the others swallowed hard. They were suddenly very grateful they hadn't spoken up.
"Does this man even know how to treat a lady?" Xue Qinghe wondered, a strange glint in his eyes. He had been considering a honey trap to secure Lin Mu, but seeing how he handled Dugu Yan, he realized he might need a more sophisticated approach.
Only Tang San and Xiao Wu remained calm. They knew their Master had already been extremely gentle.
Two minutes passed before Yu Tianheng managed to stagger to his feet. He clutched his chest, his gaze toward Lin Mu completely transformed. The arrogance was gone, replaced by a deep, shivering awe.
Lin Mu hadn't used a Martial Soul or a single Soul Ring, yet he had caught a full-power draconic strike and ended the fight in two moves. Even Teacher Qin Ming couldn't do that.
"Teacher Lin Mu..." Yu Tianheng bowed deeply, his voice raspy. "We were blind. We are completely convinced of your strength."
"Good. Now that you've found some humility, let's get to work," Lin Mu said calmly. He gestured to Tang San and Xiao Wu. "From today onward, these two are officially joining the Royal Fighting Team. They will train with you, and they will participate in the Soul Master Competition by your side."
All eyes turned to the two youngsters. They looked fresh-faced and far younger than the rest of the team. The veterans couldn't help but wonder: 'If the teacher is this much of a monster, what kind of strength do this two possess?'