"It's you?"
If it were anyone else, Huo Wu might've accepted defeat and left gracefully.
But Yang Fan was different!
She recognized him—the one who'd outbid her for the Flame Dragon Gall Herb at the Tian Dou Auction House.
Yang Fan's eyebrow twitched.
Damn!
She remembered him.
He'd only shown his face twice in Tian Dou City—both times at that auction house.
"Hey—" Huo Wu stepped forward. "Last time at the auction, I lost because I lacked funds. Can you spare half your Fire Spirit Root?"
Fire Spirit Root—a common restorative herb fire-attribute soul masters used after expending soul power.
It was no surprise that the Blazing Flame Academy wanted it.
Yang Fan shook his head.
He understood their need—but he needed it more.
This was the cultivation path—who the hell yielded to others?
Just because she was pretty didn't grant her special privileges.
"You…" Huo Wu frowned.
Used to being doted on by her clan, she rarely faced rejection. But lacking justification, she couldn't voice her frustration.
"I see you're a soul master too," she challenged. "How about a duel at the Soul Duel Arena?"
"If you lose, sell us half your Fire Spirit Root. If we lose, Blazing Flame Academy will provide you with other herbs."
"And don't worry—we won't bully you!" she added firmly. "We'll match your soul master rank exactly."
Fair and reasonable!
Yang Fan had assumed Huo Wu was unreasonable—but this proposal was flawless.
"Do you have Blazing Flame Heart Mushroom?" he countered.
Huo Wu's expression shifted instantly.
That herb was rarer than Fire Spirit Root—a staple for elite fire-attribute soul masters.
From these requests, she deduced Yang Fan was likely fire-attribute too.
"No? Or are you just scared?" he pressed.
As a top-tier academy, could Blazing Flame really lack such a basic fire-attribute herb?
Yang Fan hoped this fiery girl would rise to the bait.
"Wait!" she declared. "If we lose, we'll give you two Blazing Flame Heart Mushrooms. But if you lose, you hand over all your Fire Spirit Root."
Provoked but not reckless, Huo Wu set the stakes.
"Deal!"
Yang Fan had nearly walked away—but this offer was too tempting to refuse.
"Let's go to the arena now. Based on your rank, we'll field an equal opponent," Huo Wu said, her personality as blazing as her martial soul—decisive and unhesitant.
"No need," Yang Fan declined. "We'll fight here."
The arena required registration—exposing his identity to spectators. Tian Dou City teemed with informants; drawing attention risked exposure.
"I've just become a Soul Grandmaster—about your level. You'll do," he stated.
"Here?" Huo Wu blinked. "Me?"
She never expected such casual terms—or to be chosen personally. Her duels were always prearranged, staged battles. Impromptu outdoor fights? Unheard of!
Huo Wushuang, ready to stop his sister's impulsiveness, now thought: This is settled.
His sister was a Level 28 Soul Grandmaster—peerless in her tier.
Moreover, he secretly scorned noble heirs as hollow showpieces propped up by resources.
And truthfully—most students at Tian Dou Royal Academy had never stepped into an arena or soul beast forest.
Yet Yang Fan claiming Soul Grandmaster status still shocked him.
A noble youth advancing this fast? This was unprecedented in Tian Dou City!
"Ready?" Yang Fan asked. "I'm coming!"
The apothecary owner assumed Yang Fan joked.
Who'd duel inside a shop? Broken herbs meant compensation!
But when Yang Fan's Dou Qi surged, the owner realized: This brute means business.
Yang Fan's aggressive stance ignited Huo Wu's fighting spirit.
Her long legs blurred forward. Soul rings flared, flames erupting around her.
At five meters, Yang Fan thrust a palm strike—
Air warped violently. Colliding energy screeched like grinding metal.
Huo Wushuang's heart leapt to his throat.
An outsider sees clearest!
From afar, he knew his sister was doomed.
Before he could intervene—she crashed to the floor.
"You lost," Yang Fan said coolly. "I'll collect the Blazing Flame Heart Mushrooms from Blazing Flame Academy this afternoon."
He left, herbs in hand, utterly nonchalant.
Too easy!
He'd used only 30% strength to crush Huo Wu.
Last time they dueled, she'd given him trouble. Now? A joke.
"Sister, are you hurt?" Huo Wushuang rushed to her. Relief washed over him when he saw no injuries.
Hmph!
Huo Wu slammed a fist into the ground. The shockwave rattled shelves, jars clinking wildly.
She channeled all her frustration into that punch.
This duel felt like a dream—a crushing helplessness swallowing her whole.
She hadn't even acted before losing!
"Let's go," Huo Wushuang sighed.
He'd seen Yang Fan's true prowess.
Defeating Huo Wu without damaging a single shelf? That took precision—and power.
Where did he come from?
Not one of the Five Elemental Academies. Not Tian Dou Royal Academy either—Yu Tianheng's enrollment two years ago had been trumpeted for months. If this youth were from there, rumors would've spread like wildfire.
Huo Wushuang couldn't place him.
But his view of noble heirs had shifted slightly.
Not all were hollow showpieces…
Though he never imagined Yang Fan was far beyond a mere Soul Grandmaster.
After all—who in the Douluo Continent would believe a child under ten was already a Soul Elder?
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