Douluo Dragon King: I, Huo Linfei, the Mecha Illusionary Lin God

"I'm looking for Teacher Wu Changkong," Gu Yue said, her voice as cold as she was.

Wu Changkong walked over from the sidelines, his icy blue eyes scrutinizing Gu Yue.

As an elite from Shrek Academy, he could tell at a glance that this girl was extraordinary, not in terms of strength, but in terms of her temperament, that sense of detachment as if she were separated from the whole world by a veil.

"That's me," Wu Changkong said. "What is it?"

"Gu Yue," the girl said, "I want to join Class Five."

Upon hearing this, a suppressed gasp filled the training ground.

Joining Class 5? This girl, who looks like a chosen one, is going to join the worst class in the entire grade?

Wu Changkong was also taken aback. He had indeed been considering expanding Class 5 these past few days; Huo Linfei and Tang Wulin's talents gave him hope.

If they could turn Class 5 into a top class, their chances of getting a spot at Shrek Academy would be much higher. But he never expected that a girl like this would take the initiative to come to him.

"Why?" Wu Changkong asked.

Gu Yue didn't explain, but simply repeated, "I want to join."

Wu Changkong stared at her for a few seconds, then nodded: "Okay. But you can't just get into Class Five; you have to prove you're qualified."

He pointed to the center of the training field: "Pick any opponent, beat them, and you can stay."

These words were spoken casually. These past few days, Wu Changkong's mind was preoccupied with how to get Huo Linfei into Shrek Academy's inner court and how to help Tang Wulin grow quickly. Therefore, he didn't really care much about Gu Yue's arrival. Just another student, how much more powerful could she be?

Gu Yue didn't take it to heart.

Beating a human child? It's as easy for her as drinking water.

Her gaze swept across the room, finally settling on three people.

The first one is Tang Wulin, her target. He has blue hair and blue eyes, and looks honest and simple, but he has a world-destroying power hidden within him.

The second was Xie Xie, the slender young man wielding two daggers. His eyes were sharp, and his movements were agile, like a venomous snake ready to strike at any moment.

The third is Huo Linfei.

Gu Yue's gaze lingered on Huo Linfei the longest.

It wasn't because he was the strongest, although judging from his aura, this red-haired boy was indeed the strongest on the field. It was because... he kept looking at her.

From the moment she entered the room, Huo Linfei's gaze never left her.

It wasn't the kind of amazement a guy feels when looking at a beautiful woman, but rather a kind of... scrutiny, a kind of confusion, a kind of doubt that says, "I feel like I've seen you somewhere before."

This made Gu Yue a little unhappy.

So she pointed at Huo Linfei and said, "It's him."

The entire room fell silent for a moment.

Then a suppressed jerk of laughter erupted.

"Why did she have to pick on Boss Huo?"

"Oh no, this pretty girl is in trouble."

"Boss Huo doesn't hold back; last time he almost made that big oaf from Class Two cry..."

Tang Wulin whispered to Xie Xie, "Why did she choose the eldest brother?"

Xie Xie shrugged: "I don't know. Maybe they think Boss Huo looks the easiest to bully?"

Huo Linfei does indeed look "easy to bully"—he has a sunny smile, his red spiky hair is flamboyant but harmless, and at nine years old he hasn't fully grown up yet, and his height is only a little over 1.6 meters.

But everyone in Class 5 knows that this seemingly harmless red-haired boy is the most dangerous person in the class and even the whole grade.

Huo Linfei himself was a little surprised. He walked to the center of the field, stopped in front of Gu Yue, and carefully looked her over.

The more he looked, the more his brows furrowed.

That silver hair, those purple eyes, that aura... how come it looks so much like Na'er?

But they're not exactly the same. Na'er's eyes are innocent and dependent, while this girl's eyes are cold and distant.

Na'er is like moonlight, gentle and pure; this girl is like ice, piercing and frigid.

But that deep-seated feeling, that inexplicable sense of familiarity...

Huo Linfei suddenly spoke up: "You are... Third Sister?"

Gu Yue frowned: "What third sister? You've mistaken me for someone else."

"My third sister is called Na'er." Huo Linfei stared into Gu Yue's eyes. "You two look very alike, and your auras are somewhat similar too."

Gu Yue's heart skipped a beat.

Na'er? He knows Na'er? And he calls her Third Sister?

How could this be? Na'er is her emotional alter ego, and she has been observing Tang Wulin in Aolai City. How could she have gotten involved with this red-haired boy? And even become his "third sister"?

But Gu Yue remained outwardly calm: "I don't know you. Are you going to fight or not? If not, I'm leaving."

Seeing her reaction, Huo Linfei's suspicions deepened. But he didn't press further, only saying, "Of course we'll fight. However..."

He paused, then grinned, "Want me to give you a few moves? After all, you're a girl."

These words sounded quite gentlemanly, but to Gu Yue, they only sounded grating.

Let her? A human child, let her, an avatar of the Silver Dragon King, have her?

Gu Yue's expression turned cold: "No need. Please give it your all. I hate it when others let me have my way."

She spoke with utmost seriousness. As the ruler of all soul beasts and the Silver Dragon King, her pride was ingrained in her very bones. Even now, disguised as a human girl, that pride hadn't diminished in the slightest.

Seeing her like this, Huo Linfei sighed, "Alright. Well... be careful."

The two stood about ten meters apart.

The training ground fell silent, and everyone held their breath. Wu Changkong also walked to the sidelines, crossed his arms, and prepared to watch the match.

"Huo Linfei, a second-ring Great Soul Master, with the Martial Soul Ability Lock." Huo Linfei announced his name according to the rules.

"Gu Yue, a level 19 Soul Master with a first-ring spirit, elemental spirit." Gu Yue replied calmly.

Element? Huo Linfei raised an eyebrow. This martial soul name is rather vague.

But he didn't think much of it. He raised his right hand, and the superpower lock appeared on his wrist, the blood-red wristband gleaming metallically under the training ground lights.

"First Soul Skill!" Huo Linfei shouted, "Arm Up!"

Click, click, click!

The crimson armor spread from his wrists, instantly covering his entire body. His helmet fell away, revealing a faceplate and visor that glowed a vibrant green. A scorching aura erupted from Huo Linfei, instantly raising the temperature of the training ground.

Gu Yue's pupils contracted slightly.

This aura...something's not right.

She had initially thought Huo Linfei was just an ordinary second-ring cultivator, at most with a slightly stronger soul power. But once this armed form was activated, the oppressive aura, the scorching heat, the aura that seemed capable of burning everything away...

Is this really the Second Ring Road? She'd believe it if you told her it was the Fourth Ring Road!

But Gu Yue didn't panic. The pride of the Silver Dragon King's avatar made it impossible for her to show weakness in front of a human child.

She raised her right hand, palm up. Her five slender fingers clenched gently, and the elements in the training field began to stir.

Fire, water, wind, earth… all the elements responded to her call, all submitted to her. This was the Silver Dragon King's talent: absolute control over all the elements.

"Are you ready?" Huo Linfei's voice came from inside the helmet, resonating with a metallic quality.

"Come on," Gu Yue said.

The fire-scaled creature took flight.

It wasn't a sudden advance or a dodge, but rather he clasped his hands together in front of his chest, making a strange gesture.

The power lock's light surged, and red flames poured out from the gaps in his armor, gathering in his palm. The flames weren't ordinary red; they were crimson tinged with emerald green, their temperature so high it distorted the air.

"Second Soul Skill—" Huo Linfei shouted in a deep voice, "Fire! Cloud! Technique!"

boom!

A fireball, half a meter in diameter, took shape in his palm. Inside the fireball, emerald green flames pulsated like a heart, each pulsation causing the fireball's temperature to soar.