In the single room at Notting College where he had lived for six years, Lin Chen sat alone in a chair, his brows furrowed and his face full of frustration.
Outside the window, all was calm, and inside the academy, the sounds of reading and sparring filled the air. No one knew that at this very moment, Nottingham City was already rife with undercurrents and lurking dangers.
Only Lin Chen, with his extraordinary mental strength, could see everything happening around him.
He was truly at a loss for words, not knowing whether to laugh or cry.
His original plan was merely to throw away the superficial information about the "State of Soul Power" to lure one or two powerful individuals over, slightly restrain Tang Hao in the shadows, and create an opportunity for him to secretly undergo the second awakening of the Blue Silver Emperor.
But what was the result?
The strong have indeed arrived.
First came... six Soul Douluos.
Two people, each with a distinct aura, concealed themselves around the academy like three pairs of hungry wolves' eyes, fixed intently on the small house.
Lin Chen sighed deeply in his heart.
He truly hadn't expected that a casually written theory of his would directly expose three top-tier forces.
The reason no titled Douluo personally came was not because they couldn't invite them, but because in their eyes, they, as a "level 19 trash Soul Master," were not worth the personal attention of a titled Douluo—sending two Soul Douluos was already giving them enough face.
With a little calculation, Lin Chen was able to guess the identities of the three parties with a high degree of accuracy.
The first group, with their sinister and elusive aura, were sent by Bibi Dong from the Spirit Hall's Papal Palace.
The second group, their soul power carrying a sacred golden glow, was restrained yet domineering, a creation of the Spirit Hall's Hall of Worship, and an order from Qian Daoliu.
The third group, with their composed and polite demeanor and dignified and noble aura, can only be from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School.
As for other forces?
Lin Chen didn't even need to think about it; he immediately ruled it out.
Neither of the two empires had any direct lineage titled Douluo who were completely obedient.
Dugu Bo of the Heaven Dou Empire has always been a loner, guarding the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well to suppress the poison. Even if the royal family wanted to invite him, they couldn't persuade him to come.
Although the Star Luo Empire has veteran powerhouses, the journey is too long, and it is impossible for them to arrive so quickly.
The Haotian Sect has been closed off for many years and has long been isolated from the world.
The Blue Lightning Tyrannosaurus Clan? A bunch of arrogant brutes, who consider themselves the number one beast spirit in the world and despise theoretical knowledge. They can't even recognize Yu Xiaogang's failed evolution of the Holy Light Dragon bloodline. Even if you slapped the "State of Soul Power" in their faces, they would only scoff.
so...
Only these three companies can come.
Lin Chen rubbed his temples, feeling a headache coming on.
Tang Hao alone was enough to give him a headache, and now there were three more groups eyeing him covetously, with six Soul Douluos surrounding him.
This isn't about restraining Tang Hao; it's about putting themselves in a very difficult position.
He doesn't dare to move at all now.
The moment they leave the academy grounds, they will be forcibly taken away by one of the parties.
Staying in the room is like being a caged bird, unable to move an inch.
The plan to expose their identities hadn't even begun before it plunged them into an even bigger dead end.
Lin Chen leaned back in his chair, staring at the ceiling, and murmured softly:
"We've gone too far...we've really gone too far."
He intended to stir up a small pool of water, but ended up breaking the entire sky.
In the shadows, Tang Hao's aura remained as cold as a knife.
Outside, the three Soul Douluos held their breath in anticipation;
In the room, Lin Chen narrowed his eyes, his mind racing as he began to ponder—
In this game, how can we turn the tide and snatch victory from the jaws of defeat?
Lin Chen sat on the cold wooden chair, his fingertips unconsciously tapping the table, his heart feeling icy cold.
He finally faced reality—
He was completely desperate.
Tang Hao followed closely, his Title Douluo-level pressure locking down any possibility of him forcibly breaking through; outside, six Soul Douluos from three forces were watching him intently. No matter who he fell into, he would only be imprisoned for life as a mobile theoretical treasure trove, never again to think about freely cultivating or completing the second awakening of the Blue Silver Emperor.
escape?
Even if he manages to escape Tang Hao, the pursuit of the three major forces will spread to every corner of the continent, and he will be forced to live in hiding for the rest of his life, with no peace.
Keep?
Staying at Notting College is nothing but a desperate struggle; sooner or later, you'll be torn to shreds.
Want to grow up quietly and develop steadily?
Under the watchful eyes of the top powers across the continent, that was simply wishful thinking.
In the long silence, Lin Chen slowly closed his eyes. When he opened them again, all the panic in his eyes had faded, leaving only a deathly stillness and determination.
He exhaled softly, his voice as light as a sigh, yet carrying a resolute and ruthless edge, muttering each word to himself:
"It seems... escape is impossible."
"Since we can't live or escape it, we can only die."
"Let that good-for-nothing Lin Chen, who is ridiculed throughout the continent... become a dead man completely."
The moment he finished speaking, a crazy and outrageous plan took shape in his mind.
He faked his death to escape.
He abandoned his status as a useless student at level nineteen, abandoned everything at Notting Academy, and abandoned the name "Lin Chen".
From then on, the world was no longer filled with that boy who was mocked by Yu Xiaogang, antagonized by Tang San, coveted by three forces, and monitored by Tang Hao.
The one who died was Lin Chen, who was at the third level of the Innate Realm, had a useless martial soul, was a fake master, and was stuck at level nineteen.
The one who survived was the true god who was about to complete the second awakening of the Blue Silver Emperor, hide in the darkness, and sweep away all enemies.
A chillingly cold smile curved his lips.
Tang Hao, Bibi Dong, Qian Daoliu, Ning Fengzhi, Yu Xiaogang, Tang San...
Aren't you all watching me?
Aren't they all trying to capture me, use me, and control me?
Then I'll give you a corpse.
A corpse that made everyone lose hope.
A gentle breeze blew in through the window, rustling the pages on the table.
Unknown to anyone, in this unassuming single room, a young man wrote his own death sentence, and also wrote—
The entire Douluo Continent is about to undergo a cataclysmic transformation.
The graduation bells of Notting College have just faded, and the air is still filled with the scent of farewell.
Everyone packed their bags and prepared to leave, but Lin Chen turned around and headed straight for Yu Xiaogang's secluded courtyard.
Without hesitation, he reached out and pushed the door open to enter.
Inside, Yu Xiaogang was leisurely sipping coarse tea. Upon seeing Lin Chen's uninvited arrival, a hint of contempt and smugness flashed in his eyes. He assumed that Lin Chen's six years of forbearance had finally yielded. He immediately put down his teacup and spoke with extreme arrogance:
"What? You've come to your senses and want to become my disciple?"
"If you kneel down now and kowtow to me three times, I'll reluctantly accept you as my disciple."
Lin Chen was taken aback at first, then burst into laughter in anger.
Originally, he had been plotting against Luo Sanpao's bloodline, and a trace of indifference remained in his heart before taking action. But after hearing these words, the last trace of concern vanished completely, leaving only a bone-chilling coldness.
Shameless.
That's utterly shameless.
Six years.
For six whole years, Yu Xiaogang used him as a stepping stone every day, publicly mocking and belittling him, repeatedly comparing him to Tang San, every word cutting to the heart and every action disgusting.
How dare he now shamelessly demand that he kneel down and become his disciple?
"Become an apprentice?"
A cruel smile curled at the corner of Lin Chen's lips, and he suddenly moved.
So fast that only afterimages remained!
Yu Xiaogang's face changed drastically, he was so frightened that his soul almost left his body, and he hurriedly roared: "Luo Sanpao!"
Yellow, yellow—two spirit rings suddenly rose up. The round Luo Sanpao had just appeared and hadn't even had time to unleash his farting attack when Lin Chen casually flicked his wrist and slammed him hard against the wall, where he collapsed into a heap.
In front of Lin Chen, Yu Xiaogang didn't even have the right to fight back.
Lin Chen stepped forward, grabbed Yu Xiaogang's neck tightly with one hand, and suddenly lifted him into the air.
Yu Xiaogang's feet were dangling in the air, his face turning purple, and he frantically grabbed Lin Chen's wrists with both hands, his eyes filled with terror, anger, and disbelief.
"What...what are you going to do!"
He could clearly feel a terrifying force surging from Luo Sanpao's body, and the connection between himself and his martial soul was being forcibly torn apart. Something incomparably precious and innate was rapidly being lost.
Lin Chen lowered his eyes, looking at his disheveled appearance, and malice and pleasure surged up at the same time.
He spoke slowly, his voice as cold as ice, each word shattering Yu Xiaogang's lifelong self-deception.
"You still don't know, do you? Your Luo Sanpao has the purest bloodline of the Holy Dragon of Light hidden within him."
"A dragon spirit bloodline that is nobler, more top-tier, and closer to the gods than the Blue Lightning Tyrannosaurus Rex."
"You were originally a descendant of the Blue Lightning Tyrannosaurus Rex, and you should have awakened the heaven-defying Holy Dragon of Light. But you are too useless and incompetent, and you caused your martial soul evolution to fail, turning you into a useless dog that can only fart."
"Such top-tier power is being wasted in the hands of trash like you."
Lin Chen's eyes flashed, and Luo Sanpao beneath his feet was bound by an invisible force, forced to open his mouth and bite Yu Xiaogang's neck.
A terrifying devouring power suddenly erupted!
Golden bloodline power, imbued with the divine might of a dragon, was forcibly drawn out like a stream, flowing continuously into Lin Chen's body through Luo Sanpao's.
The bloodline of the Holy Dragon of Light...
I got it.
Yu Xiaogang struggled frantically in mid-air, his eyes bulging out, letting out a hoarse roar.
He finally understood—
The "good-for-nothing" he had mocked for six years was now taking away the most precious treasure within him, a treasure he himself was unaware of.
Lin Chen just looked at him coldly, his fingertips tightening slightly.
"Since you can't protect this bloodline..."
From this day forward...
It's mine now.
Yu Xiaogang was suspended in mid-air, his face flushed purple, his eyes surging with almost insane anger and resentment. He roared hoarsely, his voice shrill and piercing:
"That's mine! What right do you have to take it! That's my only hope of proving I'm not a piece of trash!"
He initially roared fiercely, but seeing Lin Chen's cold and unwavering gaze, he immediately softened, tears streaming down his face as he desperately begged for mercy: "I was wrong... I'll never laugh at you again, please let me go, please... that was my last hope!"
But Lin Chen just watched indifferently.
Six years of ridicule, six years of arrogance, six years of disgust and trampling—can these be erased with just a few words of begging for mercy?
Seeing that begging for mercy was useless, Yu Xiaogang instantly broke down, his face contorted as he cursed, "Lin Chen, you beast! Robber! You'll die a horrible death! I'll have Tang San kill you! I'll let the whole continent know you're a devil!"
Lin Chen curled his lips slightly, completely unconcerned.
Go ahead and curse, yell all you want, this is what you owe me over the past six years.
Just then, on the ground, Lin Chen's martial soul body, Luo Sanpao, erupted with dazzling holy golden light, and its originally round and clumsy body underwent a violent transformation during the bloodline devouring—
Its downy fur faded, scales grew, limbs lengthened, and crystal-clear dragon horns sprouted from its head. Two pairs of thin, golden wings unfolded from its back, and its body became slender and agile, covered entirely in platinum and gold dragon scales. Its eyes were like golden stars, and pure light emanated from its mouth and nostrils. Although it was still small, it already exuded the majesty and oppressive aura of an ancient holy dragon.
A miniature version of the Holy Dragon of Light has been fully formed.
Yu Xiaogang's pupils shrank as he looked at the Holy Dragon Martial Soul that should have belonged to him. His heart felt as if it had been crushed by a hand. Overwhelming resentment and regret overwhelmed all his reason. It was a peak opportunity that he could never hope to obtain in his entire life, but it was taken away by the trash he despised the most.
Lin Chen gently raised his hand, and the Holy Dragon of Light docilely coiled around his fingertips, its divine dragon might gently rippled.
He looked into the venomous resentment in Yu Xiaogang's eyes, then suddenly chuckled softly, his tone light yet cruel:
"Don't worry, I won't kill you."
"Death is too cheap for you."
Before he could finish speaking, Lin Chen's palm hardened, and he struck Yu Xiaogang precisely on the back of the head.
Without uttering a sound, Yu Xiaogang collapsed to the ground, completely unconscious.
Not killing him is not out of soft-heartedness.
Instead, we should keep him.
Keep this hypocritical clown around, let the whole continent slowly see his true face as a fraud, let him live in endless curses, despair and regret, watch his theories collapse, his reputation be ruined, his disciples betray him, and finally end up in a miserable state of contempt by thousands.
This is the cruelest revenge against Yu Xiaogang.
Lin Chen looked down at the Holy Dragon of Light coiled in his palm, feeling the Holy Dragon blood surging within his body, and the last trace of warmth in his eyes completely disappeared.
"Lin Chen, you're a piece of trash. It's time for you to leave the stage."
"Next, it's time to play something even bigger."
(End of Chapter)