"Of course!"
Ye Yu smiled faintly, his handsome face full of confidence.
"My grandfather, Aunt Ye, Uncle Ling, and I went to the Star Dou Great Forest together. We hunted down a 90,000-year-old Demon Willow."
"After absorbing its soul ring, I've already broken through to the Soul Emperor realm."
"Also, back at the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, I successfully condensed the Soul Core I told you about."
"In terms of soul power quality, I'm now already at the Titled Douluo level."
"Yanyan, you can think of me as a Titled Douluo who only happens to have six soul rings."
"A-Yu, you're amazing!"
Hearing about Ye Yu's accomplishments, Dugu Yan was filled with joy. Her bright emerald eyes sparkled like stars as she threw her arms around him and planted a kiss on his cheek.
"Hmph, always kissing your little lover—what about your grandfather?"
Off to the side, Dugu Bo grumbled sourly, as if he'd swallowed a whole basket of lemons.
"Mwah!"
Dugu Yan giggled, let go of Ye Yu, and skipped over like a mischievous elf to Dugu Bo, grabbing his large hand and giving him a kiss on the cheek too.
"How could I ever forget you, Grandpa?"
"Don't let your imagination run wild!"
"You and A-Yu are both the most important people in my heart!"
As the three of them walked together toward the parlor, Dugu Yan seemed to recall something and exclaimed excitedly:
"Oh right! There's some good news I haven't told you and A-Yu yet!"
"Oh? What good news?" Dugu Bo asked curiously.
"Well, it's already the end of Douluo Calendar year 2642, right?"
"That means there are only two years left until the Continental Advanced Spirit Master Academy Elite Tournament."
"To prepare for the tournament, the academy has started forming a team for the competition."
"Both A-Yu and I have been selected for the Heaven Dou First Team!"
Dugu Yan beamed with pride and excitement.
"That's only natural!"
Dugu Bo gave a dismissive wave of his hand.
"For so many tournaments now, Heaven Dou Imperial Academy's First Team hasn't even made it to the finals—they've always stopped at the top eight."
"This time, with you, A-Yu, and Lingling on the team…"
"A-Yu's official level is Soul Ancestor, and both you and Lingling are Soul Ancestors too."
"As long as those three deans haven't lost their minds, of course they'd pick the three of you."
"As for the rest of the team, that brat Yu Tianheng is probably one, along with the two lads from the Black Tortoise Turtle Clan."
"The others… I don't know much about."
"Grandpa, you guessed it all correctly!" Dugu Yan exclaimed, full of admiration.
Ye Yu: "…"
The next morning
Now that he had successfully condensed his Soul Core and obtained his sixth soul ring, Ye Yu planned to continue his cultivation at the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.
He resumed nurturing the Blue Silver Grass and Ah Yin using his Inner Core Technique, while also refining his spear techniques and exploring the newly acquired external soul bone, Demon Willow Fluff.
And since the academy had officially begun forming the Heaven Dou First Team to prepare for the upcoming tournament...
Ye Yu knew something important:
This year, the Spirit Hall would offer three ten-thousand-year spirit bones as prizes for the tournament champions.
Among them was the Wisdom Skull Bone, which Ye Yu felt suited him very well—at least as a temporary goal.
So, of course, he would participate in this tournament.
After arriving at Heaven Dou Imperial Academy with Dugu Yan, Ye Yu joined the preparations for the upcoming tournament.
Given the competition's stakes—tied to the honor of the academy, the royal family, and even the entire Heaven Dou Empire—it had become the top priority. All classes were suspended.
Together with Dugu Yan and Ye Lingling, Ye Yu headed directly to the academy's Board of Education Office.
According to Dugu Yan, today the three deans—Meng Shenji, Bai Baoshan, and Zhi Lin—would introduce the teacher responsible for leading the Heaven Dou First Team's special training.
"Meng Shenji, Bai Baoshan, Zhi Lin!"
Arriving at the office with Dugu Yan and Ye Lingling, Ye Yu greeted the three education committee members respectfully and politely.
Besides the deans, another young man in his twenties was present, dressed in the Heaven Dou Imperial Academy instructor's uniform. He had short orange hair, stood tall and proud, and was quite handsome.
Also seated on the sofa were five others:
Yu Tianheng
Two large, brawny young men with honest, down-to-earth appearances
A slender, silver-haired youth with a laid-back, dashing air
And another black-clad, slender youth with cold eyes and a stern expression
"Ye Yu, you've arrived!"
Meng Shenji, Bai Baoshan, and Zhi Lin warmly welcomed the trio and invited them to sit on the vacant sofa.
The Buddha-like Bai Baoshan even poured them each a cup of hot tea with a beaming smile.
Their hospitality was no surprise—after all, Ye Yu, Dugu Yan, and Ye Lingling were all Soul Ancestors.
Based on past experience, with just a bit of effort from the three of them, Heaven Dou's First Team could easily break into the top eight.
And Ye Yu's overwhelming strength when he crushed Yu Tianheng during that earlier academy duel had left a deep impression.
The three deans had full confidence in him.
Yes, they knew Ye Yu had chosen an extreme path—pushing his Blue Silver Grass martial soul to the limits of the life attribute, which could be powerful but situational.
It had its counters.
But aside from elemental nemeses like fire and wind, Ye Yu's martial soul was extremely potent in nearly all matchups.
For a trump card like that, they'd be foolish not to treat him with care and respect.
Show respect to talent, and loyalty will follow.
"Hehe, now that all our Heaven Dou First Team's core members are present,"
"Let me introduce your instructor!"
Meng Shenji stroked his long white beard and smiled as he gestured to the orange-haired young man beside him.
"This is Teacher Qin Ming. He'll be in charge of leading your team in special training from now on."
"Don't let his age fool you—he's already broken through to the Soul Emperor level!"
"This year, Teacher Qin Ming is only thirty-four years old!"