Chapter 26: Aftermath - Pressure from the Spirit Douluo - Douluo's spirit bead sword

Chapter 26: Aftermath - Pressure from the Spirit Douluo In the early morning, Tian Lin awoke from his meditation, exhaling a mouthful of impure air. This was the more chaotic part of his soul power. With the help of the Nu Wa Meditation Technique, he could practice while refining, ultimately cultivating the purest form of soul power. "Ah, that feels great. Those bastards were annoying, but they weren't completely useless," Tian Lin thought, feeling the significant increase in his soul power and his mood brightened. Yesterday's battles had drained nearly all his soul power, but after a night of meditation, not only had he completely recovered, he also broke through to the nineteenth level. One more level, and he could hunt for his second soul ring. What delighted him even more was that he had finally made a breakthrough in the Seven Kill Sword Technique. He realized that to comprehend the sword intent of this technique, one didn't necessarily have to kill—merely harboring the intent to kill was enough. Yesterday, when Tian Lin resolved to kill his opponents, a towering killing intent naturally gathered around him. When he used the "Killing Intent Overflow," it was a hundred times smoother and more powerful than during his usual practice. Knock, knock, knock! Just as Tian Lin was about to head out, there was a rapid knocking at the door. Opening it, he found his homeroom teacher, Zhou Yan. "Zhou Laoshi, why are you here this early? It's not even class time yet. Don't worry, I won't be late." "Forget about class, do you have any idea what trouble you’ve caused?" Zhou Yan said anxiously. "Last night, did you cut off Chu Jie and Ao Er Duo's ears? They notified their families overnight. Now, both families have people in the office causing a scene." "So that's what it is. What's there to be afraid of? They were the ones who provoked me. Besides, they wouldn't dare act recklessly at the Heaven Dou Royal Academy, right?" Tian Lin showed no fear. "Do you even know who you're dealing with? Chu Jie is minor; his father is just a city lord with soul power at the Soul King level. However, the Ao family is different. Ao Er Duo's grandfather, Ao Er Fu, is a top expert in the Balak Kingdom and the head of the Ao family. He has soul power at the eighty-first level as a Spiri Douluo. It's said he dotes on his grandson a lot, and he happened to be visiting Heaven Dou City. He surely won't let this slide." Zhou Yan, unaware of Tian Lin's true identity, genuinely worried for him. As a teacher, she didn't want such a promising student to be ruined. What concerned her further was that only Bai Bao Shan from the academy’s three major deans was present today. The other two were at the palace meeting the emperor, and Bai Bao Shan was known for being too lenient. She feared he might not be able to handle Ao Er Fu. "Don't worry, Zhou Laoshi. If they're coming for me, I'll meet them!" Seeing Tian Lin completely unmoved, Zhou Yan sighed, "Fine, since what's done is done, recount last night’s events to me, leaving nothing out. Any information beneficial to you should be noted." "Alright, last night..." As they walked, Tian Lin retold the sequence of events. Zhou Yan, upon listening, saw a glimmer of hope. Clearly, the fault lay with the other side. At most, Tian Lin could be accused of excessive self-defense. As such, she might be able to negotiate down to a severe warning. They soon reached the office. Before they entered, they heard an old voice angrily shouting. "Bai Bao Shan, I entrusted my grandson to the Heaven Dou Royal Academy, and this is how you care for him? He’s earless now!" "Mr. Ao, please calm down. Let’s recount the events with Tian Lin present," came Bai Bao Shan’s earnest voice, seemingly trying to calm the situation. The academy’s three deans were all strong, but they had a common downside—they were all too accommodating. In Tian Lin’s view, any of them were stronger than that old man Ao. Why be so lenient with him? "Hmph, wait for that brat to come..." Just as Ao Er Fu was about to lash out, Tian Lin pushed open the door, "Hey, old man, the young master is here. What do you want?" At that moment, there were four people in the office aside from Bai Bao Shan and Ao Er Fu: the victim Ao Er Duo, and another of Tian Lin's teachers, Ye Ping. Startled by Tian Lin’s insolent manner, Zhou Yan hurriedly apologized, "Sorry, Mr. Ao. The child is ignorant, please forgive his rudeness." Despite being a Spirit Douluo, and clearly not someone Tian Lin should provoke, this was not the time for defiance. "Zhou Laoshi, no need to apologize to him. Even if I knelt and admitted fault, he wouldn’t spare me. Isn’t that right, old man?" Tian Lin glanced at Ao Er Fu disdainfully. Hearing this, the originally furious Ao Er Fu surprisingly calmed down. As the head of a major family, he could control his temper. "Heh, kid, you’re right. I don't intend to spare you today. So, how do you want to die?" As he spoke, Ao Er Fu slowly activated his soul power, a sunflower appearing in his hand with two yellow, two purple, and four black soul rings shining brightly. Clearly intending to attack directly, he had learned from his grandson that Tian Lin was of civilian origin. Though puzzled as to how he became part of the nobility-exclusive Heaven Dou Royal Academy, as a duke and a Contra, even if he killed Tian Lin, the royal family wouldn’t likely cross him over a dead commoner. Behind him, Ao Er Duo looked at Tian Lin triumphantly, as if to say: dare provoke me, and this is your fate. Initially, he only intended to cripple you. Since you're ungrateful, now pay with your life! "Stop right there!" Zhou Yan shielded Tian Lin, her soul rings—one white, one yellow, and two purple—shining as a pair of dazzling wings emerged from her back, her Wuhun, the butterfly. "You, a mere Soul Elder, dare to stand in my way?" Ao Er Fu sneered, his soul power surging. Against a Soul Elder, he didn’t even need to use soul skills; his soul power alone was enough to suppress her. "Zhou Yan Laoshi, don’t be rash. The brat brought this on himself; it's not worth getting hurt over him!" Ye Ping, who had been watching from the sidelines, panicked, showing his obvious affection for Zhou Yan. "Ye Ping Laoshi, Tian Lin isn't a brat. He’s my student. Last night’s incident is not fully clarified—how can you blame it entirely on my student based on Mr. Ao Er Fu’s account?" Zhou Yan suddenly became assertive. Although not strong, she wouldn't back down at this moment. "Mr. Ao Er Fu is a Spirit Douluo. Would he falsely accuse a child? Stay out of this; come over to my side," Ye Ping suggested clearly; between a Contra and a student with only a few levels of soul power, who cared about right or wrong? Taking a stance was far more crucial.