Douluo Dalu 2: Rise of the Golden Dragon King

After being forcefully dragged to the training field by Xu Jiujiu, Tianyu let out a weary sigh.

"You really didn't give me a choice, did you, Sister Jiujiu?"

Xu Jiujiu twirled her hand playfully, a sly smile blooming on her face. "I'm just making sure my future husband doesn't get lazy. Besides, don't you want that reward I promised?"

Hearing the word "reward," Tianyu's ears flushed red again. But before he could ask any further, hurried footsteps echoed from behind them.

"T-Tianyu! I… I want to watch your training too!" Huo Yunxi stood behind them, panting, clearly having run all the way there.

Xu Jiujiu turned her head with a sharp yet elegant smile. "Oh? So now you're interested in what I'm doing with Tianyu?"

Huo Yunxi clutched the edge of her clothes nervously but tried her best to look straight at her. "I just… want to see how strong he is. Isn't that a normal thing for a friend?"

Tianyu quickly stepped forward, trying to ease the rising tension in the air. He spoke with a helpless smile. "You can watch me train, Yunxi. I don't mind, and neither does Sister Jiujiu."

Suddenly, Qian Renxue's voice echoed in Tianyu's mind:

"Ooh, a catfight~ You'd better make a decision soon, Tianyu, or you'll be trapped forever."

Tianyu frowned. "Sister Xue, this really isn't the time—"

Xu Jiujiu, unaware that Tianyu was 'talking' with Qian Renxue, assumed his confused expression was directed at Huo Yunxi. Her face suddenly turned colder.

"Very well. I'll allow you to watch Tianyu's training."

The three of them then walked toward the training grounds. Along the way, Tianyu ended up talking more with Yunxi, which made Xu Jiujiu grow increasingly silent, her expression steadily freezing over.

When they arrived at the training field, they were greeted by a man already waiting with a composed posture.

"This will be your training partner today," Xu Jiujiu said. "His name is Yu Shang, a Spirit King. His strength should match your request for combat experience."

Tianyu nodded, while Huo Yunxi looked a bit worried.

Xu Jiujiu continued, "Are you sure you can handle him? You're still at level 20 and haven't obtained your second spirit ring yet."

Tianyu smiled confidently. "Don't worry, Sister Jiujiu."

Xu Jiujiu narrowed her eyes, assessing Tianyu's calm expression. Though she knew he was smart and calculating, an unease still crept into her heart.

Yu Shang looked at Tianyu coldly, a hint of disdain in his eyes. "Don't get too relaxed. Even if this is just training, I won't be holding back," he said, his voice deep and heavy.

Tianyu nodded politely. "I wouldn't expect you to."

A soft voice came from Huo Yunxi, like a whisper. "Be careful, Tianyu…"

The air around the training ground suddenly grew tense. The wind blew gently, carrying specks of dust that sparkled under the late afternoon sun. Yu Shang remained in place, waiting for Tianyu to activate his Martial Soul. In his eyes, Tianyu was just a rookie—a Spirit Grandmaster without a second ring—not worth taking seriously.

But Tianyu remained unfazed. He took a deep breath, letting his mind sink into a calm state. Then, with a steady step forward, he summoned his Martial Soul: the Golden Dragon King.

A dominating aura exploded from his small body. In an instant, his appearance changed—from what looked like an eight-year-old to someone more like ten, radiating a pressure far beyond his level.

In truth, that was his real body. He had only been hiding it using an illusion technique taught by Qian Renxue.

Tianyu took a fighting stance. His eyes locked onto Yu Shang. "Aren't you going to use your Martial Soul?"

Yu Shang smirked. "I'll test you first."

Tianyu held back a smile. He knew full well that the man was underestimating him.

No problem.

He would let his fists do the talking—showing just how wrong that judgment was.

Tianyu stepped lightly on the ground. A faint hiss echoed as his golden dragon aura surged, enveloping his entire body. Subtle golden lines spread across his skin like scales, and a soft golden light pulsed from his eyes.

Yu Shang remained calm, one hand behind his back. "Don't say I didn't give you a chance."

Tianyu didn't respond. His body moved.

Bang!

In an instant, he was right in front of Yu Shang. A straight punch flew toward the man's chest—swift and clean—not a strike that should come from a six-year-old.

Yu Shang crossed his arms to block, but his brows furrowed as the blow landed.

The force behind it was far greater than he'd expected from a mere Spirit Grandmaster.

"Hm?" he muttered, stepping back slightly.

Tianyu didn't give him room to breathe. He spun to the side, landing a kick to Yu Shang's waist, then used the rebound off the ground to leap upward, slamming his elbow down. Each movement was precise, calculated, and lethal—like someone who'd been fighting for years.

Since returning from the forest two months ago, Tianyu had been training in the combat skills he'd requested from Xu Jiujiu. During his encounter with the Mountain Crush Bear and other soul beasts in the forest, his movements had been severely limited—he had relied solely on raw strength to defeat them.

During his training, however, Tianyu discovered he had a natural talent for combat. He could learn techniques in an instant. Additionally, he was planning to train with his second Martial Soul soon, with Qian Renxue's help. Given that Qian Renxue was the Angel God herself, she was more than qualified to guide him.

Yu Shang finally got serious. He blocked Tianyu's next attack swiftly, then leapt back to put distance between them. His breathing remained steady, but the playful glint in his eyes was gone.

"Looks like I really do need to take you seriously."

A deep blue aura enveloped Yu Shang's body, and a large figure resembling a serpent appeared behind him. His Martial Soul had fully awakened—Shadowfang Serpent, a dark blue-black snake whose scales reflected dim light like shadows. Its glowing yellow eyes and venomous green fangs gave off an ominous aura. Five spirit rings—two yellow, two purple, and one black—slowly spun beneath his feet.

Seeing this, Huo Yunxi clutched her chest in worry. "He actually activated his Martial Soul…"

Xu Jiujiu said nothing, but her sharp gaze intensified and the air around her grew heavy. If Yu Shang seriously injured Tianyu, she wouldn't stand by idly.

The Shadowfang Serpent allowed its user to blend with shadows and vanish from sight, depending on the user's level. As a Spirit King, Yu Shang could make himself nearly undetectable—even to a Spirit Sage. However, the ability had a fatal flaw: while hidden, he could not be exposed to direct light.

And here, in this wide open training field under the bright afternoon sun, that ability was extremely limited.

Tianyu realized this. A faint smile curled on his lips.

"Good. I won't have to worry about invisible attacks."

He straightened his posture, ready to continue the fight