Faced with suspicion, the usual trope would be to argue logically, fail to convince anyone, escalate the conflict, and then cause a massive stir—complete with face-slapping and dramatic reversal.
Lin Xiao was very tempted to follow that script.
But… he feared Dugu Yan and Ye Lingling would think he'd lost his mind. Worse, his random impulse today might become an eternal black mark in their memories—something they'd laugh at him for the rest of his life.
So, he held himself back.
He summoned his martial soul.
Behind him, two soul rings rose into view—one hundred-year ring for his first spirit ability, and a thousand-year ring for his second. The Dean of Discipline was so shocked he nearly lost his footing.
"A thousand-year second ring?"
"Seven years old and already a Grandmaster? Not even in full years?!"
The dean trembled with excitement, completely speechless.
He had seen talented students before—but a child who had just awakened their martial soul and was already at Grandmaster level? Unheard of.
And then he glanced at the registration form and saw the words: Evil Fire Phoenix.
He didn't even need to know what it meant.
Just seeing the word "Phoenix" was enough.
Any martial soul with "Phoenix" in its name was never weak.
His mind was buzzing with just four words:
"Once-in-a-lifetime genius!"
His first instinct was to report this directly to the Three Deans.
After all, the Heaven Dou Imperial Academy was part of the royal establishment. If he could bring in someone like Lin Xiao, he'd be handsomely rewarded—and maybe even promoted.
But…
Dugu Yan saw right through him.
She casually said, "Of course he's a genius. Why else would my grandfather and the head of the Ye Clan take him as a disciple?"
The dean froze.
"…This boy is the disciple of Poison Douluo and the Ye Clan's matriarch?"
Dugu Yan rolled her eyes.
"Why do you think we brought him here?"
Only then did the dean realize the full picture.
Of course! Lin Xiao had been personally recommended by Ye Qingxian herself—how could he not be connected to her?
A once-in-a-generation genius, already under someone else's wing…
It felt more painful than watching a goddess fall into someone else's arms.
The dean's heart rose and fell like a rollercoaster. He stood there looking utterly dejected.
Dugu Yan didn't care.
She grabbed Ye Lingling with one hand, Lin Xiao with the other, and walked away without another word.
This guy? Trying to "poach" Lin Xiao right in front of them?
If her grandfather caught wind of that…
He'd "educate" him personally!
But even as they left, the dean was unwilling to let it go.
He was about to report Lin Xiao's arrival to the deans—when a young assistant came running up, holding a letter.
"Dean! A message from Poison Douluo."
The dean's heart skipped a beat.
He opened the envelope and read the letter.
In it, Dugu Bo explicitly warned the deans: Lin Xiao was his disciple. Don't get any ideas.
Furthermore, the letter added:
"Lin Xiao attending the academy is a privilege for you, not the other way around. Those useless teachers in your faculty better keep their hands off him and not mess up his training."
Blunt.
Overbearing.
Classic Dugu Bo.
But the man had earned the right to be this arrogant.
He was the only honorary elder of the Heaven Dou royal family, and the only Title Douluo loyal to the Empire. Even Emperor Xue Ye held him in high regard.
The Heaven Dou Imperial Academy?
Too small to contain that old monster.
The dean sighed bitterly and took the letter to the deans' chamber.
Meanwhile, Dugu Yan and Ye Lingling were showing Lin Xiao around the campus—classrooms, cafeterias, pools, sports fields, combat arenas, and…
…the simulated cultivation environments.
Everything else was just a quick tour.
Lin Xiao mostly commented on how rich and lavish the academy looked.
Only the simulated environments sparked genuine curiosity.
The Heaven Dou Academy attracted nobles not just for its wealth, but because it boasted the best artificial cultivation zones on the continent. These environments could simulate soul beast habitats—allowing soul masters to train in ideal conditions.
Lin Xiao gave it a try.
He found it impressive—they could simulate tundras, swamps, volcanoes, forests, and more.
Dugu Yan trained fastest in the jungle.
Ye Lingling thrived in a sea of flowers.
Lin Xiao, naturally, trained best in volcanic lava zones.
But… how to say this?
It still couldn't compare to the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.
In that moment, he lost interest.
The Heaven Dou Academy might be luxurious, but for training? He'd rather go back to Sunset Forest.
In terms of speed, the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well absolutely crushed these simulations. As for space—no matter how big the combat arena was, it couldn't compete with actual mountain ranges and cliffside valleys.
At this point, the only thing left that Lin Xiao was genuinely looking forward to…
Was the library.
Backed by the imperial archive, it was said to hold a vast collection of rare books.
Just as he was about to ask Dugu Yan and Ye Lingling to take him there—
A black-haired boy appeared ahead.
About fifteen years old, sharp features, confident aura—his entire presence screamed arrogance and raw power.
"Dugu Yan. Ye Lingling."
Ye Lingling's face looked calm, but inwardly, she was incredibly nervous around strangers.
Dugu Yan frowned slightly.
Of course she recognized him: Yu Tianheng, direct heir of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, the strongest of the third generation disciples, and a rising star at the academy.
Still young, and already a Soul Elder.
But why was he approaching them?
Yu Tianheng didn't waste time.
"I want to invite you both to join my team—the Emperor Team—to compete in the upcoming Continental Soul Master Tournament."
"I've seen your poison, Dugu Yan, and your healing, Ye Lingling. Combined with my unstoppable Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon, we'd be unstoppable."
"With the three of us, why wouldn't we aim for the championship?"
Dugu Yan blinked, a bit surprised.
She hadn't expected this.
There was still over a year left before the tournament.
And yet Yu Tianheng was already recruiting.
His thirst for victory was intense.
In the past, she might have accepted. She didn't have much going on, and joining a strong team sounded fun—especially with Lingling around.
But now…
She glanced at Lin Xiao.
"Not interested," she said flatly.
She really didn't have the time.
And even if she wanted to compete—why would she join Yu Tianheng's team?
Wouldn't it be more fun to form one with Lin Xiao instead?