Ye Tianxing had been quiet and introspective ever since he first tested his second martial soul, the Azure Dragon Sword. Unlike other martial souls, which were often animal-based or elemental in nature, the Azure Dragon Sword was a truly magical weapon, something that defied all conventional expectations.
Its flight ability, the sword's self-growth over time, and its boundless potential made it feel more like an entity than a mere martial soul. It was powerful, and its strength grew naturally as his own soul power increased, an unexpected bonus.
The first time Ye Tianxing flew on the sword, he found himself floating off the ground, his legs hanging uncomfortably as he soared through the air. There was no fear of heights in him, but the unfamiliar sensation of floating and being out of control made him slightly nervous. However, as he grew more accustomed to it, the fear began to dissipate. He'd mastered the ability to control the sword's movements, and the flight became second nature.
By the time morning came, Ye Tianxing was already deep in thought, mulling over the power he had unlocked. With the Azure Dragon Sword's ability to fly and the enhancement to his soul power, he felt as if the boundaries of his potential had expanded dramatically. The sword's inherent growth and the synergy with his abilities were things he had never imagined when he first stepped into the world of the Douluo Continent.
The next day, after the familiar clanging of the bell, Ye Tianxing made his way to class, the quiet murmur of his classmates drifting through the air as he walked. While the Spirit Hall was impressive and full of knowledge, he found himself increasingly restless with the repeated lessons. The practicality of the teachings was essential, but the monotony weighed on him.
As he made his way to class, a familiar face suddenly appeared before him—Li Xin. Ye Tianxing had a feeling of what was about to unfold. Li Xin's angry and jealous expression told him everything.
"What's the matter?" Ye Tianxing asked coolly, folding his arms across his chest.
Li Xin's face was flushed with frustration. "Don't think you're so special just because you have full soul power at birth! Talent and hard work are what really matter. You, someone who just joined halfway, are nothing compared to someone like me!" Li Xin spat out bitterly.
Ye Tianxing was quick to assess the situation. Li Xin had been the favoured one by Lordalia and the elders before Ye Tianxing's arrival. Now, the attention was clearly focused on Ye Tianxing, and the young boy's jealousy was overwhelming. It had been bothering him for some time, and now, he was ready to lash out.
"You're wasting your time," Ye Tianxing replied indifferently, glancing at the clock. "You're going to be late." He wasn't bothered by Li Xin's challenge, nor did he have time for petty jealousy.
Li Xin, however, was determined. He stood his ground, not moving an inch, staring at Ye Tianxing in defiance. Ye Tianxing didn't entertain the drama, instead summoning his first martial soul—the dead wood bow.
With swift precision, he drew the bow, and in a second, a gust of wind knocked Li Xin back. The force of the arrow sent him flying across the courtyard, clearing the way. Ye Tianxing didn't even look back as he walked past Li Xin, leaving him stunned and humiliated.
As Ye Tianxing entered the classroom on time, Li Xin was left behind, nursing his bruised pride. He hobbled into class, clearly upset. The teacher had him stand at the back, where he glared at Ye Tianxing the entire time, his jealousy now boiling over.
Later that day, Ye Tianxing overheard the gossiping students about the upcoming Elite Class Competition. The prize for the victor? A soul bone. The discussions were lively, and the more Ye Tianxing listened, the clearer the situation became.
The soul bone, it turned out, was a head soul bone—one of the rarest and most powerful types of soul bones. Originally, the prize had been set as a right-arm soul bone, but after some influence from an elder, it was changed to the head soul bone, much to Ye Tianxing's surprise.
"What's the deal with the soul bone?" Ye Tianxing asked, stepping into the crowd of students and catching the tail end of their conversation.
"It's a ten-thousand-year-old soul bone. Apparently, it was prepared by the Pope herself to gain favour with the Elephant Armour Sect," one student explained.
Ye Tianxing raised an eyebrow. "Could it be… that Guangling Douluo had something to do with this?"
The mention of Guangling Douluo's involvement in arranging the soul bone made sense to Ye Tianxing. After all, the elder had asked him whether he wanted a soul bone, hinting at the possibility of using this very competition to make sure he had the advantage.
"Is the soul bone for you?" the student asked, giving Ye Tianxing a knowing look.
Ye Tianxing smiled inwardly. With the competition around the corner, the possibilities for gaining the soul bone and further increasing his power were tantalising. He would not waste this opportunity.
As class continued, Ye Tianxing began to plan his next steps carefully, knowing that the coming days would hold challenges—and perhaps some enemies—but also invaluable opportunities.