Chapter 44: Yu Tianheng’s Despair

Surrounded by a crowd of onlookers, Ye Yu and Yu Tianheng stood facing each other on an open space in the academy's main training field, about ten meters apart.

Before the duel began, Ye Yu focused his mind and dispersed the Blue Silver Spirit Jade Vine Tree not far away—formed earlier from countless intertwined spirit vines.

In that instant, the tree exploded into a shower of shimmering blue-silver light.

From its "canopy," a group of male and female students—tied up like dumplings by the vines and beaten black and blue—came crashing to the ground like overripe fruit, each landing with a heavy thud and eating dirt.

They looked utterly wretched, groaning and crying out in pain.

Yet neither Yu Tianheng, Ye Yu, nor anyone else gave them so much as a glance.

No one liked people who shamelessly fawned over the powerful.

Not even the ones being flattered.

"How much spirit power do you have left?"

"If you're running low, I can wait until you've recovered before we begin."

Yu Tianheng asked before the duel started.

Being the grandson of Thunder Douluo Yu Yuanzhen, born into the prestigious Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, Yu Tianheng had always been the center of attention and admiration, which fostered his pride.

He looked down on those with low status or weak talent.

Only those with strength or status equal to or greater than his could earn his respect.

But this pride also meant that Yu Tianheng had a sense of dignity and honor.

In front of so many witnesses, he didn't want to win only to be accused of taking advantage of an opponent.

After all, he was confident he could win outright.

But Ye Yu only shook his head.

"No need!"

"I've got enough spirit power. Let's not waste time—let's begin."

Yu Tianheng's handsome face twitched slightly in annoyance.

This guy was too smug!

Fine then—don't blame me later!

"Very well! Let's begin!"

"Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon, Possession!"

Yu Tianheng shouted loudly, summoning his Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Spirit.

A burst of crackling blue-silver lightning erupted from his body.

With a deep dragon's roar, a majestic dragon spirit appeared: its body was silver-blue and massive, crackling with arcs of lightning. It had broad wings, four razor-sharp claws, a thick, muscular neck, and a head full of awe-inspiring might.

Then—Spirit Possession!

(Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon – Western-style Dragon Concept Illustration)

Unlike most beast-type spirit possessions, Yu Tianheng's transformation was truly unique.

A dazzling blue light burst from the center of his brow, lightning coursing through his body in a flash.

His body rapidly grew taller, muscles swelling with power.

His right arm in particular expanded drastically, shredding his sleeve as it transformed into a massive, silver-blue dragon arm, covered in scales the size of gold spirit coins, ending in sharp, menacing claws.

At the same time, three spirit rings—yellow, yellow, purple—rose from beneath his feet and circled around that terrifying dragon arm.

Interesting…

Ye Yu was intrigued by the transformation.

This dragonification ability from the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan truly was extraordinary.

As Yu Tianheng completed his spirit possession, Ye Yu also raised his right hand.

In a flash of blue-silver light, he summoned his Blue Silver Spirit Jade Vine.

Right after the summoning, Ye Yu raised his palm and activated two soul skills:

First Soul Skill: Undying Rooting,

Second Soul Skill: Starlight Absorption.

Under Ye Yu's control, the Blue Silver Spirit Jade Vine quickly sprouted from his palm. From its main stem, countless secondary vines burst forth—shimmering silver-blue like crystal, with purple highlights and intricate patterns of ice-blue, crimson red, and even lightning. They resembled spiritual serpents as they lunged forward and stabbed into the ground.

Once embedded, the vines exhibited the properties of Dark Jade Divine Bamboo.

Their tips sharpened like spears and easily drilled into the soil.

Thanks to Ye Yu's fourth spirit ring—granted by a 20,000-year-old Earth Vein Purple Ganoderma—his vines had evolved the ability to grow independently from any segment.

That meant his Undying Rooting soul skill could now regenerate from any part of the vine!

As countless vines burrowed into the ground,

They rapidly expanded downward, plunging over a hundred meters deep, absorbing nutrients and converting them into vitality and spirit power.

In the next moment, as Ye Yu's spirit power cost dramatically decreased,

A new wave of vines rapidly grew and began spreading toward Yu Tianheng from beneath the earth.

Meanwhile, Yu Tianheng, now fully possessed by his spirit, shouted:

"Third Soul Skill: Thunder Fury!"

An explosion of blinding lightning surged from his body, causing his aura to spike dramatically.

Thunder Fury sent Yu Tianheng into a berserk state:

Boosts all spirit power by 50%

Doubles the power of all lightning-based soul skills

But the downside?

It affected his mind, making him more aggressive and prone to irrational rage—

...a state jokingly referred to as "stone-cold dumb mode."

Once the effect ended, he would be left weakened for a time.

But knowing Ye Yu was a powerful control-type spirit master, Yu Tianheng understood one thing:

He had to finish this quickly—no dragging it out!

Roaring in his berserk state, lightning crackled all over his body. His vicious dragon arm raised high, claws gleaming, he launched himself straight at Ye Yu.

But before he could close the distance, a forest of Blue Silver Spirit Jade Vines burst from underground—

They sprang up like a rising tide and wrapped tightly around him, whipping and binding with overwhelming force.

What the hell—does this guy not have a spirit power limit?!

The watching students of Heaven Dou Imperial Academy were stunned.

Their minds reeled.

We're all spirit masters here.

But how the hell are you outputting soul power like you've got it by the ton?!

"Second Soul Skill: Thunderclap Burst!"

Shocked and panicked, Yu Tianheng gritted his teeth and activated his second soul skill.

A surge of lightning erupted from his body in every direction, forming countless lightning bolts that burst outward with explosive force—capable of tearing through anything.

These bolts weren't just destructive—they also carried paralytic effects.

With the berserk bonus from Thunder Fury, his Thunderclap Burst could unleash thousand-year-level destructive power.

But as those countless lightning bolts struck the dense vines...

They exploded with thunderous force—

Yet didn't even leave scorch marks.

...What?!

Yu Tianheng's face twisted in despair and disbelief.

No way!

That was my second soul skill, boosted by Thunder Fury!

These are just plant-type vines—

Even a Soul Ancestor shouldn't be immune to a near-thousand-year-level lightning soul skill!

But what Yu Tianheng didn't know...

Was that Ye Yu had undergone Ice and Fire Body Tempering, granting his vine spirit immunity to extreme heat and cold.

And with his third spirit ring—absorbed from the Lightning Hell Vine, known for its Ultimate Lightning attribute—his Blue Silver Spirit Jade Vine had gained resistance to all sub-ultimate lightning attacks.

In short—Ye Yu was Yu Tianheng's natural counter.

After Thunderclap Burst failed,

The vines immediately wrapped around Yu Tianheng's legs.

Still unwilling to give up, he roared in anger and activated his first soul skill:

"Thunder Dragon Claw!"

Instead of using it as a ranged attack, he applied it to his dragon arm, boosting its power.

He slashed out with the enhanced claw, managing to shred several vines.

But Ye Yu's true cultivation was already at Spirit Ancestor rank (Rank 47). His vines had been reinforced many times and were incredibly durable.

Yu Tianheng had to use his full strength just to tear through a few strands.

And then—despair struck.

More vines burst from the torn edges, rapidly regrowing and wrapping around his fearsome dragon arm.

At the same time, more vines surged from beneath and behind him.

They wrapped around him again and again,

Layer upon layer—

Until Yu Tianheng was wrapped like a tightly-packed rice dumpling.

Only his flushed, suffocating face was left visible.

"You've lost."

PS: Read Advance Chapters at https://www.patreon.com/c/ReadJin