Elsewhere, inside a quiet villa, Xie Yue and Hu Liena arrived to meet Yan.
"Captain," Yan said lazily, swirling the red wine in his glass, lounging on the sofa with a confident smile. "The Heaven Dou Imperial Academy just sent word. Three days from now, they've arranged a duel for me. My opponent is Dugu Feng of the Dugu Clan, supposedly the strongest student in the entire academy.
"Once I defeat him, all of the so-called geniuses of the Heaven Dou Empire will be beneath my feet!"
Xie Yue chuckled, shaking his head. "Seems like you're the one stealing the spotlight this time."
Yan grinned, eyes glinting arrogantly. "What can I say? You two are too strong. You're the Church's trump cards for the next Continental Soul Master Tournament. Sending you out now would be overkill."
As he spoke, his gaze drifted, more than once toward Hu Liena.
Xie Yue ignored his glance and sat down calmly. "We just met Dugu Feng at the academy gates," he said flatly. "His spirit power is far below yours, but don't underestimate his poison.
"According to the Spirit Hall archives, he has an impressive record. He's fought plenty of duels both inside and outside the academy. He's beaten the Feng brothers, Yu Tianheng, even faced off against the Black Tiger Sect's Hei Tian and Zhu Family's Zhu Zhuqing. Every match ended in his victory."
Xie Yue's tone deepened. "That fight with Yu Tianheng was a leap across entire realms. He won despite the difference in power.
"And during that fight, his second spirit ring was revealed to be a thousand-year ring...which should be impossible for a second ring.
"That alone tells us his physical strength is exceptional. His most used ability is the 'Jade Phosphorus Violet Poison', a toxin that bursts from his hands like a blade, fast and lethal. Yan, if you can't finish him quickly and let his poison spread across the stage, you might just trip and fall in the gutter."
Though Xie Yue had shown disdain for Dugu Feng earlier, he had clearly done his homework. He knew the man's every recorded move.
Hu Liena added softly, "Brother, you missed one thing. All of his recorded duels were before he became a Soul Elder. No one knows what his third spirit skill is."
Yan gave a short laugh, eyes burning red from his Martial Soul's influence. "Captain, Nana—you both make fair points. But don't you think you're overestimating him?
"He's hiding his third ring? Fine. My fourth one hasn't been shown either.
"The best way to deal with a poison master is to NOT give him room to breathe. I'll bury him in flames before he takes a step."
He stood abruptly, his scarlet eyes blazing like twin embers, every inch of his body radiating fiery arrogance and confidence.
Xie Yue and Hu Liena exchanged a glance and smiled faintly. They didn't argue.
Their reminder wasn't born out of fear of Dugu Feng but because this battle mattered.
The Pope's command was clear: Yan was to display the might of Spirit Hall in Heaven Dou City, to crush the pride of the Empire's younger generation.
The world needed to remember—Spirit Hall is the true temple of strength.
Failure was not an option.
But truly fearing Dugu Feng? Hardly. The gap between them was over ten levels. Even with a thousand-year second ring, Dugu Feng shouldn't have any chance.
Three days later.
The crowd roared like thunder.
Dugu Feng stepped into the arena and froze.
The duel stage before him was enormous, three times larger than any normal battle platform.
"This is… massive," he muttered, almost speechless.
No wonder the duel was delayed for three days, they'd built a brand-new arena. A circular platform over a hundred meters in diameter, open-air and glinting under the sunlight.
The academy's three deans had gone all out.
He could practically feel their silent spite toward Yan.
The Flame Lord's attributes were fire and earth, which were both heavy, both slow.
And this vast arena gave Dugu Feng all the space he needed to spread his toxins freely.
He sighed softly. This wasn't exactly how he wanted to fight… but he understood.
This wasn't just his battle, it was Heaven Dou Academy's honor on the line.
To the north, towering spectator stands overflowed with nobles and students.
And among them someone familiar.
"Brother Xue, you came too?" Dugu Feng smiled as he walked over.
Qian Renxue's golden eyes gleamed faintly, her tone calm yet encouraging. "Brother Feng, this duel has the entire city watching.
"You're representing the Empire. Whether you win or lose, your courage alone is already victory enough. You're facing someone twelve levels above you, so don't pressure yourself too much."
Her voice was soft but firm, filled with a quiet strength.
Dugu Feng looked at the arena, eyes sharpening. "If battle was only about spirit power, we might as well skip the fight and compare numbers.
"As a Soul Master, every victory is earned through resolve and courage. That's my pursuit."
He turned and strode toward the arena, back straight, steps unwavering.
Qian Renxue's gaze lingered on him, admiration flickering in her eyes. Why isn't this one part of Spirit Hall?
Across the field, Yan walked up to the opposite platform.
His crimson hair fluttered behind him, his very posture radiating arrogance.
"Come," he said coldly. "Let me show you the difference between us."
He didn't wait for the referee's signal. His tone was proud, his stance domineering. He wanted to crush Dugu Feng under absolute power.
Today, he would burn the Empire's pride to ashes in front of all Heaven Dou.
Dugu Feng's eyes gleamed violet.
His family's pride flared within him—the Dugu Clan would rise from this moment onward.
"Please," he said curtly.
A thunderous roar of soul power exploded from him, pressure radiating across the field—a sharp, commanding aura forged through countless battles.
It was the aura of a victor, the will of someone who had faced death and won.
Even Yan faltered slightly. He hadn't expected such intensity from someone so far below him.
Dugu Feng's spirit flared.
Three spirit rings—yellow, purple, purple—rose around him, soul power humming through the air.
Twin streams of purple mist gathered in his palms—Jade Phosphorus Violet Poison, reaching its third form.
Toxic vapors shimmered like faint violet lightning, spreading along his arms, crawling across his body.
He advanced step by step, calm yet unstoppable.
Yan snorted. "Flame Rock Form!"
His second spirit ring flared to life.
Dark-red fire burst from his body, heat distorting the air. His shirt disintegrated, muscles bulging as his skin hardened like volcanic stone. His height surged past three meters.
He looked like a living fortress, like one of the Elephant Armored Sect's titans.
The sheer heat of him warped the air.
Then, with a feral grin, he said, "It's over, Dugu Feng."
Four spirit rings—two yellow, two purple—rose around him. The fourth ring flared.
He didn't intend to test the waters. Whatever tricks Dugu Feng had, Yan would erase them in one overwhelming blow in a storm of fire and fury.