Huo Yutong’s Past

With no classes today, Tang Ya pushed Mu En's wheelchair alongside Bei Bei to the examination area.

The Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan once had close ties with the Tang Sect. Though the sect had declined—lacking even a Soul King—Tang Ya, ordinary as she was, feared Bei Bei's family might disapprove of her. To her surprise, the Patriarch was warm and supportive of their relationship. The spirited girl promptly addressed him as "Patriarch," delighting the elder.

"This old man enjoys the vigor of youth."

"With such a robust voice, you'll surely live to two hundred!"

"Oh? Haha..."

Bei Bei blinked but held his tongue. The Patriarch was already over two hundred.

"Roar—!"

A sacred dragon's cry echoed. Instantly, beast-soul masters across the arena faltered; some with sub-dragon spirits even dropped their soul forms.

From the stands, three watched the light-cloaked boy move like a god. A white-gold dragon claw shattered a flaming wolf. Particles coalesced before his mouth as a majestic dragon head glared downward—then a torrent of light erupted. A Soul Emperor-level teacher reacted, shielding Dai Huabin's stunned team with diamond-like crystal.

This was An Zhen's first showing of the Light Holy Dragon in combat.

"So powerful!" Tang Ya breathed.

"Youth..." Mu En's cloudy eyes held nostalgia. Once, the Dragon God Douluo had shone just as brightly. An Zhen felt like his own younger self reborn.

Chaos gripped the arena.

"Silence!" Du Weilun boomed beside a scholarly middle-aged man. "Any beast-soul team dissatisfied may re-match this afternoon."

"By the academy's decree: An Zhen, Wu Feng, and Ning Tian advance directly to the semifinals. Challengers require two 25+ Soul Grandmasters or one Soul Elder. Winners advance; losers enter repechage. One hour to register."

The decision was unavoidable. The Light Holy Dragon's supremacy over beast spirits—coupled with An Zhen's growth since enrollment—made his team undeniable favorites. The restrictions prevented frivolous challenges.

"That show-off," Wang Dong'er muttered, eyes alight with rivalry. Previously outmatched, she now had a Martial Soul Fusion Technique with Huo Yutong.

"But we don't meet the criteria," a petite girl (Xiao Xiao) pointed out.

"Then we'll fight our way up!" Wang Dong'er raised a fist.

"Huabin, should we register?" A cat-eared girl (Zhu Lu) asked her fiancé.

"Obviously." The arrogant blond (Dai Huabin) lifted his chin. All others existed to be stepped on.

Eleven-year-olds at Soul Grandmaster level were rare even at Shrek. Only Dai Huabin's fusion technique gave him confidence to challenge the "Twin Stars."

Someone actually registered?

Boring.

(Absolutely unrelated to Ning Tian and Wu Feng buying swimsuits to model for him later.)

In a secluded corner, An Zhen rose from a black-stockinged lap (Ning Tian's).

"Who?"

"Dai Huabin."

The golden-haired heiress kissed him softly before Wu Feng bit his lip—the red dragon girl liked it rough.

"Let's go." An Zhen had hoped for a day out.

"Your thoughts, Weilun?" Yan Shaoze asked from the high platform.

"An Zhen's team wins."

"So certain?"

"No scenario for their loss." Du Weilun adjusted his glasses. "Dai Huabin (Soul Elder) and Zhu Lu (Soul Grandmaster) have the White Tiger fusion, but it's temporary. Only Cui Yajie's charm could tilt it—yet Ning Tian and Wu Feng counter that. And Light Holy Dragon resists charms inherently."

"This ignores An Zhen's other abilities."

"Indeed." Yan Shaoze nodded. Such monstrous talent... and an orphan. A gift from Shrek's founders.

"I'll referee," Du Weilun declared in the arena. "Fight freely. I'll intervene if needed. Exit the arena, and you lose."

"Dai Huabin." The blond's blue eyes seethed with cold fury.

"I know." An Zhen's obsidian gaze held death. "A damned bastard."

One culprit behind Huo Yutong's mother's death. Huo Yutong's tormentor.

Dai Huabin froze, then snarled, "You're dead!"

Ning Tian stared—gentle An Zhen never showed such venom. Du Weilun frowned, puzzled.

Twenty Minutes Earlier

An Zhen led Huo Yutong to an empty corner.

"Big Brother?"

He clasped her hand. "Is he your enemy?" He pointed at the cold-eyed blond below.

Gasp. Spirit Eyes and Purple Demon Eyes confirmed his face.

Instantly, Huo Yutong trembled violently. Pale, nails digging into An Zhen's wrist, she bit her lip until blood welled. Tears streamed as her voice broke: "Him! Him!"

Mmph. Blood and milk-sweetness filled An Zhen's mouth as he kissed her.

Later, he wiped her tears.

"I'm here. Tell me. I'll avenge you."

"Wuwuwu..." The tiny girl sobbed into his chest.

Cry. Let it out.

His heart shattered at her fragility.

"W-when I was... eight..."

Trembling, she recounted:

(Identical to canon.)

Eight-year-old Huo Yutong, hanging laundry, was knocked down by Dai Huabin's guard.

"Beat her!"

Without reason, two guards kicked and punched the defenseless child.

"Mom shielded me... begged them... but they beat her unconscious."

"Wuwu... She didn't wake for days..."

She'd been terrified of losing her only family.

The already frail woman never recovered, dying two years later.

"Why... why? I did nothing wrong!"

For an eight-year-old watching her mother nearly beaten to death—it scarred her soul.

"What're you doing?!" Wang Dong'er (guided by Xiao Xiao) found them. "An Zhen! Did you hurt her?!"

"N-no! He didn't!" The tearful girl stammered.

"I'll collect interest for Huo Yutong." An Zhen handed her to Wang Dong'er. He'd never been so eager to hurt someone.

Teacher, got a way to slowly cripple someone? An Zhen asked inwardly. The Necromancer Saint would know.

Debts repaid in blood.

"I thought you'd just kill him." Yi Laike had heard Huo Yutong's story. His tolerance for scum like Dai Huabin was zero.

"Watching those he scorned surpass him... becoming worthless... that's true torment."

"Well said. Fetch his blood—a drop works, but more is faster."

Blood?

Shedding some in battle is normal.

"BEGIN!"

"ROAR—!" Dai Huabin's uniform ripped as muscle swelled. He crouched, a hunting tiger.

"RROOAAARR—!" The holy dragon's cry answered—now laced with a tyrant's wrath.

Replicate.

Dragon God Douluo Mu En.

State: 42nd-rank Soul Ancestor.

After yellow-yellow-purple soul rings, a bottomless black ring materialized beside An Zhen's hand—stunning the arena.

(End of Chapter)