Douluo: When the piano sounds, the hidden weapon returns to the factory

Chapter 19 Physical Test
A crisp slap sounded like thunder in the training ground.

Time seemed to stand still at this moment. Everyone stared with wide eyes, staring at the scene in disbelief. Dugu Yan's right hand was still suspended in mid-air, and five clear red marks had already appeared on Yu Tianheng's handsome face.

Even Feng Yao, who was usually calm, couldn't help but widen his eyes slightly at this moment. He obviously didn't expect Dugu Yan to be so fierce.

"Yanzi, you..." Yu Tianheng's voice seemed to be squeezed out from between his teeth, and the blue electric light flashing in his eyes showed the violent fluctuations in his heart.

Dugu Yan withdrew her hand, her emerald eyes cold as frost. "That's enough, Yu Tianheng." Her voice was soft, but every word was as cold as ice. "I've said it countless times, I just treat Xiaofeng as a younger brother. It's my duty to take care of him. As for the reason, Grandpa told me not to tell you." She took a deep breath. "If you don't even have this little bit of trust, then we really aren't meant to be together."

After saying that, she turned and ran to Feng Yao, and took his hand without saying anything: "Xiao Feng, let's go!"

"Sister Yan, hey." Before Feng Yao could finish his words, Dugu Yan forcefully dragged him out. He turned to look at Yu Tianheng, who was standing there in a daze, a complex emotion flashing in his eyes.

That slap seemed to sober Yu Tianheng up considerably. As he watched the two men depart, the anger in his eyes gradually faded, replaced by a hint of regret. Dugu Yan's confident and self-righteous attitude actually dispelled much of his doubts.

"Captain, I hope you haven't made me stupid after being beaten by Sister Yan?" Yufeng approached Osro and said in a low voice.

Oslo glanced at him coldly without answering, and then disappeared into the shadows of the training ground in a flash. With his departure, the Royal Fighters also dispersed, leaving Yu Tianheng alone standing in the center of the empty training ground.

Soon, in the cafeteria of Tiandou Royal Academy.

Dugu Yan's emerald eyes fixed on Feng Yao, who was devouring his meal, her delicate fingers tapping the table unconsciously. Seeing the young man wolfing down his food, she felt a surge of inexplicable anger rising in her heart: "Eat, eat, eat! I kicked out my own man for you, and you're eating so happily here!"

Ye Lingling, who was standing by, quickly covered her lips with her bare hands, but a soft laugh still escaped her. The girl's shoulders trembled slightly, clearly trying hard to suppress a smile.

Feng Yao helplessly put down the cutlery in his hand, raised his eyes to meet Dugu Yan's angry gaze: "Didn't you choose this yourself?" There was a hint of innocence in his tone, mixed with a little teasing.

Dugu Yan rubbed her temples, feeling a sudden headache. In her opinion, Yu Tianheng's mind was empty, save for the pride and strength of the Blue Lightning Tyrannosaurus Rex family. If she truly had feelings for Feng Yao, given her status, why would she need to hide it? Furthermore, her grandfather had long ago instructed that the hidden dangers of the Jade Phosphorus Serpent spirit must not be revealed to Yu Tianheng—not only did it concern a spirit master's most feared weakness, but it also concerned the Dugu family's bloodline.

Dugu Bo was already notorious for his poisons. If people knew that the venom of the Jade Phosphorus Snake could be passed down through generations, which family in the Douluo Continent, where bloodlines are so highly valued, would be willing to marry into the Dugu family? How could Dugu Yan understand the stakes involved?
"Yanyan, have you really decided to separate from the captain?" Ye Lingling's voice was soft, with a hint of worry, and her clear eyes stared at Dugu Yan quietly.

Dugu Yan's expression darkened slightly, her fingertips unconsciously stroking the edge of the table. After a moment's silence, she sighed softly, "I don't know either..." There was a hint of confusion in her tone, and it was obvious that she was still struggling inside.

The two of them turned their eyes to Feng Yao at the same time. The young man was eating with his head down, as if trying to reduce his presence.

"Why are you looking at me?" Feng Yao noticed his gaze. When he looked up, there was a grain of rice on the corner of his mouth, and his expression looked a little innocent.

"How dare you ask!" Dugu Yan raised her eyebrows, stretched out her hand and grabbed his ear, gritting her teeth and said, "If I wasn't afraid that you would be beaten black and blue by that guy, I wouldn't bother with you!"

Feng Yao grimaced in pain, but he didn't dare to break free. He could only mutter quietly, "It's not certain who will beat whom..."

Dugu Yan unhappily let go of Feng Yao's ear, flicked his forehead lightly with her fingertips, and glared at him. "You are quite confident? That guy is about to break through level 40. If your soul powers were equal, I wouldn't bother to stop you. It would be better if he suffered a little." She crossed her arms and snorted coldly, "But what about now? He won, but he just relied on his level to suppress others. What is there to be proud of? If he lost--" She glanced at Feng Yao, "The heir of the dignified Blue Lightning Tyrannosaurus Rex family was defeated by a soul master who is less than level 30. What do you think will happen to him? And do you really think that the Blue Lightning Tyrannosaurus Rex clan will let it go?"

Feng Yao rubbed his reddened ears, lost in thought. Pondering Dugu Yan's words, he gradually grasped their deeper meaning. If he truly defeated Yu Tianheng, who possessed the Blue Lightning Tyrannosaurus spirit, with a cultivation level less than level 30, he would immediately become the focus of attention of all major factions, potentially attracting unnecessary trouble. And if Yu Tianheng were defeated, not only would his personal reputation be tarnished, but the entire Blue Lightning Tyrannosaurus clan would also be humiliated. The chain reaction that would then unleash would be far more than a simple victory or defeat.

Indeed, he was no Tang San after all—he lacked the support of a father like Clear Sky Douluo, nor the protection of a teacher from the Blue Lightning Tyrannosaurus Clan. Furthermore, a one-on-one duel was completely different from a team fight. Losing a team fight could be chalked up to poor coordination and tactical errors; but defeating Yu Tianheng in a one-on-one duel in public would not only thrust him into the spotlight, but also stigmatize the opponent.

The heir of the dignified Blue Lightning Tyrannosaurus Rex Clan was defeated by an unknown Great Spirit Master? This alone was enough to make Yu Tianheng lose in future competition within the clan. Of course, Blue Lightning might not survive until the day of the power transfer, but Feng Yao would probably face countless attacks before Blue Lightning's demise.

Thinking of this, Feng Yao put on a flattering smile on his face and said in a flattering tone: "Sister Yan is still very thoughtful. I am ashamed of myself."

Dugu Yan glanced at him sideways with her emerald eyes upon hearing this, and snorted unhappily, "You seem to be living happily now, but you've caused me so much trouble. Now I don't know how this will end."

Ye Lingling, who was standing by, bit her lower lip lightly. After hesitating for a moment, she softly suggested, "Yanyan, how about I go and explain this to the captain?"

"No need!" Dugu Yan interrupted firmly, a hint of stubbornness flashing in her eyes, "Let him think it through carefully. If he can figure it out, he will naturally come to me; if he can't figure it out..." She paused, a hint of sarcasm on the corner of her mouth, "then forget it. I, Dugu Yan, have no interest in being his mother."

Feng Yao nodded slightly, saying nothing more. In his eyes, being deeply involved with the Blue Lightning Tyrannosaurus Rex family wasn't a wise move in the first place, and being able to draw a clear line between them now was actually a good thing. He took a sip from his teacup, a hint of relief slipping across his lips.

"What?" Dugu Yan suddenly narrowed her green eyes and stared at him with a half-smile. "Looking at you like this, are you secretly feeling happy?"

Feng Yao almost choked on his tea when he heard this. He quickly put down his teacup and waved his hand, saying, "Sister Yan, you're joking. How dare I do that?"

The sun was setting, its last rays filtering through the treetops onto the cafeteria entrance. Feng Yao put down his bowl and chopsticks with a satisfied look, wiped his lips, and returned his chair to its place as he stood. Dugu Yan was already waiting outside, her long, emerald green hair swaying gently in the evening breeze.

"Let's go." She said without turning her head, her slender figure casting a long shadow in the setting sun.

Feng Yao hurried after him, and the three of them walked side by side through the tree-lined path. In the distance, the unique soul power fluctuations of the mimic training field were faintly perceptible.

Half a month later, in the mimicry training field.

Feng Yao sat cross-legged, his soul energy surging like a tide, pale blue ripples rippling around him. With a clear shout, the surging soul energy suddenly erupted, then in an instant, it converged into his body like a hundred rivers returning to the sea. When he opened his eyes, stars seemed to glint in them—level 30, finally achieved!
For the past two weeks, Feng Yao had been living a life of near-asceticism. During the day, he no longer went to the public training grounds, but instead sought out secluded places to play the qin. His only interactions with the Royal Fighting Team were brief encounters in the cafeteria. At night, he unwaveringly spent his nights in the simulated training grounds, honing his soul power day after day.

Feng Yao stood up, dusted off his robe, and after a moment's thought, decided to head to the training ground. He was afraid he would need the help of that Poison Douluo for some matters.

When he entered the training ground, everyone in the Royal Fighting team cast surprised glances at him. Feng Yao's recent disappearance had already sparked much speculation within the team.

"Sister Yan," Feng Yao called softly, her voice low but remarkably clear. Dugu Yan, sparring with her teammates, paused. She glanced at the gloomy Yu Tianheng not far away, then calmly sheathed her martial spirit and walked slowly towards Feng Yao.

"Oh, our busy man finally shows up?" Dugu Yan opened her red lips slightly, with a hint of teasing in her tone.

"You haven't reconciled yet?" Feng Yao asked tentatively.

Dugu Yan snorted softly, a hint of sarcasm flashing in her emerald eyes: "Do you think a proud dragon will bow down to a snake?"

Feng Yao smiled knowingly and said, "Well, actually, I broke through level 30 today, and I have something I would like to ask Senior Dugu for help."

"Level 30?!" Dugu Yan's emerald eyes widened instantly, and she looked Feng Yao up and down in disbelief. "It's only been half a month?" She gently stroked her chest to calm her surprise, and soon returned to her lazy look, leaning against the ancient tree and playing with her hair. "Let's go, I'll take you to see Grandpa."

Feng Yao smiled and bowed: "Then I'll trouble you, Sister Yan."

Dugu Yan casually waved to everyone in Huang Dou, ignored the gloomy look cast by Yu Tianheng, and left the academy side by side with Feng Yao.

Soon, the sun set deep in the forest.

Thick poisonous fog swirled through the forest, and the two men navigated it with familiarity. After clearing away the last layer of miasma, they saw Dugu Bo intently fiddling with several rare medicinal herbs.

"Grandpa!" Dugu Yan called out happily and flew towards the old man like a light butterfly.

"Yan Yan is here." Dugu Bo's face suddenly broke into a loving smile, but when his eyes moved to Feng Yao, his expression suddenly froze. The old poisonous creature narrowed his eyes and looked at the young man in disbelief: "You kid..."

He circled around Feng Yao and suddenly widened his eyes: "Level 30 Soul Master?!" His voice suddenly rose, "Break from level 28 to level 30 in just half a month?" Dugu Bo grabbed Feng Yao's shoulders and said, "My goodness, you are not the incarnation of a hundred thousand year old soul beast, are you?"

Feng Yao raised his lips slightly, a sly look flashing in his eyes: "How can a hundred thousand year old soul beast escape the eyes of Poison Douluo?"

"Hmph, you're a good talker." Dugu Bo stroked his beard and glared at him unhappily. "But is it worth making this special trip just to break through level 30? Don't those three old guys at Tiandou Academy treat you like a treasure?"

Feng Yao saluted solemnly, his tone sincere, "To be honest, I'm not here just for the spirit ring matter. You are well versed in pharmacology, and I would like to ask for your help in testing my physical strength." He paused, a hint of determination flashing in his eyes, "For this third spirit ring, I want to try to break through the normal age limit."

"Break through the age limit?" Dugu Bo narrowed his eyes, his fingers unconsciously rubbing his chin. "You are quite daring. However..." He looked at Feng Yao meaningfully. "With your aptitude, you may be able to do it. But do you know the consequences of failure?"

Feng Yao blinked and smiled knowingly, "I've gotten a lot of 'tonics' from you."

Dugu Bo's eyes flashed, and then he nodded in understanding: "Tell me, how can I help you?"

"I'd like you to use your soul power to test my limits," Feng Yao said in a low voice. "The teachers at the academy aren't in a position to do this, but after much thought, I think you're the most reliable."

"Stop flattering me!" Dugu Bo scolded with a smile, and waved his sleeves, "Start when you are ready!" As he spoke, a faint fluctuation of soul power appeared around his body, and the shadow of the Green Phosphorus Snake King was looming behind him.

"Stand still!" Dugu Bo called out, his sleeves moving without a gust of wind. A dark green wave of soul power suddenly surged from his body. The soul pressure of a Titled Douluo poured out like a tide, and the air around him seemed to thicken.

Feng Yao took a deep breath, spread his legs slightly apart, and let his spirit energy flow through his body, tensing his muscles. He stared at Dugu Bo with a burning gaze, indicating that he was ready.

"If you want to break through, start from level 35."

Before Dugu Bo finished speaking, Feng Yao felt an invisible pressure suddenly descend, as if a small mountain had pressed down on his shoulders. His knees sank slightly, but he quickly regained his balance, his breathing steady.

"Oh?" Dugu Bo raised his eyebrows, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes, "Interesting!"

Under Dugu Bo's control, the soul power continued to grow at a very subtle intensity!

Feng Yao groaned, and the ground beneath his feet sank slightly, fine cracks spreading like a spider web. Sweat oozed from his forehead, but his eyes remained clear. The soul power in his body circulated rapidly through his meridians, resisting the pressure from the outside world.

"Can you still hold on?" Dugu Bo's eyes showed more interest, and his emerald green eyes were full of anticipation.

As time passed, the terrifying pressure of soul power swept over him like a landslide or tsunami. Feng Yao's bones creaked softly, as if they would collapse under the weight at any moment. His face paled slightly, but a stubborn smile curved the corners of his mouth—he could hold on!

"Good boy!" Dugu Bo laughed. "You're already over forty, try a higher level."

"boom--!"

The violent soul power almost solidified into substance, and the air around Feng Yao twisted for a moment. His legs sank deeply into the ground, and a trace of blood flowed from the corner of his mouth, but he still did not kneel!

After a few breaths, Dugu Bo suddenly stopped.

Feng Yao stumbled for a moment, then steadied himself, raised his hand to wipe the blood from the corner of his mouth, and grinned: "What do you think, Senior?"

Dugu Bo looked at him deeply and nodded slowly: "Soul pressure is the pressure from the outside that is different from absorbing soul rings. Conservatively speaking, your body strength is enough to withstand soul rings under 5,000 years old."

"He actually jumped a level directly." Dugu Yan said in surprise.

Feng Yao's eyes flashed with brilliance - this was exactly the answer he wanted!
(End of this chapter)