Chapter Forty-Three: Encountering Fire Dance Once Again

Time flew by swiftly, and three months passed in the blink of an eye.

In this period, Xiao Yu, along with his teammates Yi Hui, Eden, Zi Long, and others—including Du Gu Yan and Ye Lingling—made full use of their advantages to intensify their cultivation. Everyone’s strength surged rapidly. At present:

Xiao Yu, level 45, Power Attack Soul Sect.
Eden, level 43, Control Soul Sect.
Yi Hui, level 43, Power Attack Soul Sect.
Zi Long, level 42, Power Attack Soul Sect.
Cang Mo, level 39, Power Attack Soul Grandmaster.
Yuna, level 38, Agility Attack Soul Grandmaster.
Mi Yi Mei, level 38, Support Soul Grandmaster.
Xie Wu, level 36, Agility Attack Soul Grandmaster.
Yi Ao, level 33, Power Attack Soul Grandmaster.

After Du Gu Yan's martial soul evolved into the Azure Scale Jiao, she abandoned her previous poison-based control path, choosing instead to leverage the strengths of Jiao-type soul beasts and switch to the Power Attack route. Her soul power now stood at level 38, which would have been her level four years later when she encountered the Shrek Seven at the Soto City Grand Soul Battle Arena.

Ye Lingling likewise reached her four-year-later level, standing at level 35, Support Soul Grandmaster. One had to admit, the immortal herbs were truly a heaven-defying modifier for soul masters on their cultivation journey.

Moreover, with the intentional publicity from the Nine Heart Begonia family, and after witnessing the role soul devices played in soul master battles, the nobility of Heaven Dou City flocked to buy them. Sales of soul devices skyrocketed, and the Nine Star Hall could now be described as earning gold by the day.

However, what piqued Xiao Yu’s curiosity was that, according to Ye Renxin, the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect had also sent people to contact him. Yet Xiao Yu had never seen anyone from the sect place an order, leaving him uncertain of their intentions.

Still, Xiao Yu remained as steady as a mountain. The bait had been set, and he refused to believe that a soul device capable of providing self-defense to Support Soul Masters wouldn’t tempt Ning Fengzhi.

As for the branch construction, the area near the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well originally belonged to Du Gu Bo. With Du Gu Bo’s status in the Heaven Dou Empire, who would dare meddle in his territory?

Seeing everything fall into place, Xiao Yu finally relented to Ye Lingling’s persistent requests and agreed to accompany her to Heaven Dou Royal Academy.

Heaven Dou Royal Academy was situated outside Heaven Dou City, not far from Sunset Forest. Nestled among mountains and waters, the campus boasted beautiful scenery and comprehensive facilities. Were it not for the academy's poor atmosphere and the Empire’s upper echelons being deeply corrupt, Xiao Yu might have seriously considered Ye Lingling’s suggestion.

“Brother Xiao Yu, timing is everything!”

Ye Lingling, face aglow with excitement, acted as Xiao Yu’s guide, introducing the various facilities along the way. Just as they reached the Soul Battle Arena, she said, “Today, Blazing Fire Academy and Divine Wind Academy are here for an exchange. Brother Xiao Yu, let’s go take a look!”

Blazing Fire Academy and Divine Wind Academy? Xiao Yu nodded lightly. Both were among the Five Elemental Academies of Heaven Dou Empire, formidable opponents second only to the Spirit Hall Academy, and had given Shrek Academy a tough time in the future soul master tournament. It was the perfect opportunity for him to size up their strength ahead of time.

“Ah, Xiao Yu, so you’re here!”

Before Xiao Yu could approach the soul battle stage, a chilly voice rang out, and a fiery red figure suddenly blocked his path. Xiao Yu paused, taken aback. Standing before him was an exceptionally tall young woman in a golden-red dress, her dark red hair framing a strikingly beautiful face.

Before Xiao Yu could react, two young men stepped up behind her. The one on the left wore a mask and a refined robe of blue and silver. But when Xiao Yu glimpsed the man on the right, his heart involuntarily skipped a beat, a memory nearly forgotten suddenly resurfacing.

The man on the right was of average build and appearance, yet his eyes burned with intense light. His shoulders were broad, and his golden-red team uniform gave his otherwise unremarkable face an imposing aura. Wasn’t he Huo Wushuang, whom Xiao Yu had briefly encountered in the Star Dou Forest?

Then the woman blocking his way must be Huo Wu, and the refined youth on the left was most likely Feng Xiaotian, the most successful of the "wind hounds" from Douluo’s infamous second batch.

When Xiao Yu first met Huo Wu in the Star Dou Forest, she had only been eight years old. They had not met since, and five years had wrought great changes. Xiao Yu hadn’t recognized Huo Wu at first, but Huo Wushuang, nearly twelve at the time, had barely changed—soul masters matured early—so Xiao Yu recognized him at a glance.

With this realization, Xiao Yu instantly recalled the past incident. Back then, not wanting Heaven Dou Empire’s top Blazing Fire Academy to form a bad impression, he had somewhat perfunctorily promised Huo Wu he would visit the Blazing Fire Academy’s affiliated intermediate soul master academy after graduating from the elementary academy. Honestly, if not for seeing Huo Wu and Huo Wushuang today, he would have completely forgotten the promise made four or five years ago.

“So it’s Miss Huo Wu; it’s been a long time!”

Since he had failed to keep his word, Xiao Yu felt a bit embarrassed, forcing a smile as he addressed Huo Wu.

“Aha, so it really is you!”

Huo Wu herself had been uncertain; after all, Xiao Yu had been only eight years old at the time. Five years had changed him as well. Yet Huo Wu’s senses were sharp—Xiao Yu’s martial soul possessed a strong dark attribute, a rare trait on the continent. Moreover, Ye Lingling hadn’t lowered her voice while speaking to Xiao Yu, letting Huo Wu catch his name and prompting her to stop him and probe. She hadn’t expected it to be him after all.

Hearing Huo Wu’s words, Xiao Yu silently regretted it. Five years had changed them both; he should have feigned ignorance.

“Brother Xiao Yu, who is she?”

At that moment, Ye Lingling suddenly took Xiao Yu’s arm, staring at Huo Wu with undisguised hostility. The gentle girl’s eyes seemed to spark with fire.

“Cough, cough,” Xiao Yu cleared his throat and said to Ye Lingling, “This is Miss Huo Wu from Blazing Fire Academy. We met once in the Star Dou Forest while hunting soul rings—barely friends, I suppose.”

“Friends? Who’s your friend?”

Soul masters with fire attributes rarely had mild tempers. Huo Wu’s face was frosty as she retorted coldly, “Would a friend deceive and break promises? Tell me—why did you suddenly break your word after promising me? I even sent people to inquire at your elementary academy!”

“Brother Xiao Yu, what did you promise her?”

Watching Huo Wu, who looked like a wronged lover, Ye Lingling tightened her grip on Xiao Yu’s arm, twisting his muscle sharply, and asked with a hint of displeasure.