Meanwhile, in the world of Douluo Dalu.
"Brothers, it's been a while since I've been back. Did you miss me?"
Li Si muttered to himself while glancing at the Silver Dragon King, Gu Yuena, beside him.
"Why do humans organize these pointless competitions?"
Gu Yuena's gaze fell on the soul battle taking place below as she murmured softly.
"You wouldn't understand. Academies, tournaments, auctions, cliffside romances, tree hollows, word counts… ahem!"
Li Si waved his hand as he spoke, stopping himself from continuing when his words started trailing into absurdity.
The preliminary rounds of the All-Continent Advanced Spirit Master Academy Elite Tournament were still a full day away.
Back in Lin Fan's realm, months had passed, but only two days had elapsed here. Of course, Li Si had no idea about the exact difference in time flow; he only knew that it existed.
"Academies, tournaments, auctions?"
Gu Yuena frowned slightly. The words gave her a strange, inexplicable feeling—one that was oddly familiar but impossible to place.
Xiao Wu: "So… no one cares about me anymore, huh?"
"Xiao Si, shouldn't we join the All-Continent Advanced Spirit Master Academy Elite Tournament? It looks like so much fun!"
Xiao Wu's eyes sparkled with anticipation as she asked eagerly.
Li Si shook his head. "We don't meet the qualifications for the tournament. First, we'd need to be students of an advanced spirit master academy. Second, we'd have to be under 25 years old. And lastly, we'd need to have official eligibility to compete."
Not to mention other requirements, just the age issue alone disqualified them.
Xiao Wu's and Gu Yuena's ages? Well… let's not even get into that.
Besides, if the three of them were to join this competition, wouldn't it just be outright bullying?
Gu Yuena hadn't regressed her cultivation by taking human form. At the moment, she was even stronger than a typical first-level god! While her injuries hadn't fully healed, at her peak, she had the combat power of a god-king.
As for Xiao Wu, after consuming the Lovesick Heartbroken Red and training much harder than in the original story, she was now close to Spirit Emperor level, around the 60th rank.
Li Si, on the other hand, had made even more astonishing progress. He was already at the 76th rank, strong enough that most Titled Douluos couldn't hold a candle to him.
And as everyone knew, the average Titled Douluo was more or less at Dugu Bo's level.
"Xiao Wu, if we join the tournament like this, wouldn't it just be picking on kids?"
As he said this, Li Si's thoughts drifted to a certain someone: Lin Fan.
Maybe only someone as shameless as Lin Fan would even consider competing in the All-Continent Advanced Spirit Master Academy Elite Tournament.
Lin Fan:I have my reasons, okay?
"You're right. With these people, there's no way they could be our match!"
Xiao Wu stood with her hands on her hips, looking proud and defiant.
Just then, a cold voice interrupted them.
"Hmph, such boastful arrogance for ones so young!"
The speaker was a young man who looked to be in his twenties. He snorted and spoke disdainfully, his tone dripping with irritation.
The All-Continent Advanced Spirit Master Academy Elite Tournament gathered the continent's most talented youth, including prodigies, geniuses, and monsters.
Yet here were two kids, barely in their teens, claiming there wasn't a single opponent in the competition who could match them?
If that wasn't arrogance, then what was?
"And who are you?" Xiao Wu asked, her voice laced with irritation. She was talking to Li Si—why should she let some random person interrupt?
"I am Yu Tianxin, captain of the Thunderclap Battle Team!" the young man announced, his expression unchanging.
He had no desire to argue with children; it would only tarnish his reputation. Besides, the silver-haired young woman beside them was far too stunning—an ethereal beauty beyond his wildest dreams.
For some reason, standing before this boy and the silver-haired woman made Yu Tianxin feel strangely inferior. Deep within his soul, he felt an urge to kneel and worship them.
Hearing the name, a glint of understanding flashed in Li Si's eyes. So this is Yu Tianheng's cousin, Yu Tianxin. That explains it.
"Thunderclap Battle Team? Yu Tianxin?"
Xiao Wu scratched her head in confusion. "Never heard of it."
Yu Tianxin's eyelid twitched, and his lips tightened into a grimace.
While Thunderclap Academy wasn't as renowned as Heaven Dou Royal Academy, it was still part of the Five Elemental Academies and founded by the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan. Yet this girl had never even heard of it!
Looking into Xiao Wu's genuinely puzzled eyes, Yu Tianxin realized she wasn't mocking him—she truly didn't know.
"Perhaps you're just… uninformed. Thunderclap Academy is under the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan. We have renowned instructors and prodigious students—"
Before he could finish, Xiao Wu waved her hand dismissively. "I don't care how great your academy is. Let's go, Xiao Si!"
"Alright," Li Si nodded.
Turning to Gu Yuena, he extended his hand without saying a word.
Gu Yuena smiled faintly, placing her delicate hand into his.
Yu Tianxin:My dreams… shattered!
Damn it! Yu Tianxin's mind raced.
"Wait… Xiao Si? Could your surname be Li?"
Yu Tianxin stepped forward, forcing himself to resist the instinct to kneel as he asked cautiously.
Li Si paused, slightly confused by the question.
"Yes. My surname is Li, and my name is Si."
"Thud!"
As soon as Li Si spoke, Yu Tianxin fell to his knees with a loud thump, tears streaming down his face. Both Li Si and Xiao Wu were left dumbfounded.
"Fourth Master! I am a direct descendant of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan. My grandfather is Yu Luomian! Fourth Master, we've been searching for you for so long!"
Yu Tianxin sobbed as he spoke, his sincerity palpable.
Li Si: "..."
The last time, Yu Tianheng wasn't this dramatic. What on earth have Yu Yuanzhen and the others imagined to make Yu Tianxin act like this?
Fourth Master? Since when did I become some elder of theirs?
Could it be… the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan really did uncover a Li family connection?
The clan had indeed gone to great lengths to trace their roots. Even if they hadn't found a direct connection, they would've fabricated one—complete with a compelling backstory.
All they needed was for Li Si to return. Once he was back, they'd pair him with a direct descendant or two, ensuring his loyalty.
"You've got the wrong person! I have nothing to do with the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan!"
Li Si's tone was calm but firm.
"Fourth Master! Oh, Fourth Master! When our ancestor left the clan, it was never due to exile or coercion!"
"Please, just return with me once. If my grandfather and great-grandfather find out I saw you but didn't bring you back, they'll kill me!"
(End of Chapter)