Douluo Dalu: I have a Soul Beast Clone

On the dueling platform.

After a bout of what could only be described as "rookies sparring," the match between Li Chang'an and Zhang Tieniu finally reached its conclusion.

"Bang!"

Zhang Tieniu, his body covered in sword cuts, fell to the ground.

His pride, his so-called impenetrable defense, had been reduced to little more than paper when faced with the sharpness of Li Chang'an's Jade-scaled Sword, slashed open with ease.

If this had been a real fight to the death, Zhang Tieniu would have been long dead.

Li Chang'an's sword could have pierced his chest and stabbed through his heart—or, with a single slash, severed his throat. Killing him would have been all too easy.

But since this was a friendly spar, Li Chang'an held back, unwilling to inflict serious harm.

Instead, the real reason Zhang Tieniu fell wasn't the severity of his cuts but the tiny dose of venom that seeped through his wounds and into his body.

This wasn't a fight to the death, so Li Chang'an couldn't risk taking a life. Instead, he focused on meticulous control of the venom, gradually increasing its potency until his opponent was paralyzed and incapacitated.

Frankly, this was no small feat. Killing someone with venom was easy, but rendering them temporarily helpless without causing permanent damage required incredible precision.

"The match is over! The winner is Li Chang'an!"

The referee announced the results, and soon a healing spirit master stepped onto the platform to neutralize the venom paralyzing Zhang Tieniu. Since the toxin wasn't particularly potent, it didn't take long for him to regain mobility.

As for the sword wounds crisscrossing his body, they were merely superficial and healed easily under the spirit master's treatment.

Despite the intensity of the battle, the audience didn't erupt into cheers. With three matches happening simultaneously across the arena's five platforms, Li Chang'an and Zhang Tieniu, being relative unknowns, didn't attract much attention.

It was all rather uneventful.

Li Chang'an quietly stepped off the platform, returned to the viewing area, and resumed watching other duels.

For him, the fight had provided little insight. His opponent was simply too weak, unable to withstand even a fraction of his venom. Even without using poison, Li Chang'an could've relied solely on the sharpness of his sword to easily pierce through Zhang Tieniu's defenses. His so-called iron hide was no match for the sword's edge.

In short, the opponent was too feeble—or, rather, his sword was too sharp.

If only the sword weren't as razor-sharp, perhaps the battle wouldn't have been so one-sided. In that case, he might have had the opportunity to test his combat skills further.

Still, Li Chang'an felt he'd gained something. "Even in sparring, I learned how much I need to work on precise control of my power," he thought.

This arena had its benefits: regular practice, honing control, and gaining combat experience. While nothing could compare to life-and-death battles, sparring here was better than nothing. At the very least, it would help him avoid panic in real combat situations.

By noon, Li Chang'an decided to head home for a break.

Halfway to the dormitory, he suddenly felt someone's presence. Moments later, a familiar feminine voice called out:

"Senior Chang'an~ What a coincidence, we meet again!"

He stopped in his tracks and turned around. Sure enough, it was the girl with short purple hair and vivid green eyes—Dugu Yan.

Dressed in her school uniform, she had clearly officially enrolled at the academy.

"Oh, it's you, Junior Dugu," Li Chang'an replied, flashing a polite smile. His expression struck a balance between warmth and distance, just as one might expect from a senior addressing a junior.

Dugu Yan, however, wasn't satisfied with his distant tone. Puffing out her cheeks, she playfully protested, "Junior Dugu? That's way too formal, Senior! Aren't we friends now? People who know me well just call me Yanzi—you can too!"

"Alright then, Yanzi," Li Chang'an said with a helpless smile, smoothly switching to her preferred nickname.

"Mm!"

Hearing him call her so intimately, Dugu Yan's face lit up with a radiant, flower-like smile.

Soon enough, the two decided to have lunch together.

The venue? The academy's dining hall.

Though referred to as a "cafeteria," it was more akin to a high-end restaurant, complete with both shared dining areas and private rooms.

Naturally, since he was dining with a girl, Li Chang'an opted for a private room. Designed like an upscale modern western restaurant, the atmosphere exuded luxury and elegance. Even if all you had was plain bread, the ambiance made it feel exquisite.

"Yanzi, is there anything you'd like to eat? Or any dietary restrictions? The chefs here are among the finest in the empire, so I'm sure you won't be disappointed," Li Chang'an asked, menu in hand.

"I'm not picky at all, Senior. I'll eat whatever you recommend. Why don't you choose for both of us?" Dugu Yan replied, resting her chin in her hand and gazing at him intently.

"Alright, I'll order a few of the signature dishes," Li Chang'an said.

"Waiter."

A sharply dressed waiter entered the room. "How may I assist you?"

"Bring one of each item I've marked on this menu," Li Chang'an instructed, handing it over.

"Understood, please wait a moment."

After taking the menu, the waiter left, carefully closing the door behind him.

As they waited for their food, the two naturally began chatting.

Dugu Yan was unusually proactive, subtly probing into Li Chang'an's personal life—asking whether he had a girlfriend or what kind of girl he liked.

Her intentions were almost written on her face: "I'm really into you!"

Faced with her openness, Li Chang'an feigned ignorance, playing the role of a clueless straight man. He casually admitted that he didn't have a girlfriend and had never felt attracted to any girl, so he wasn't sure what his type was.

This response sent Dugu Yan over the moon. Her eyes sparkled as she looked at him, growing more flirtatious by the second. Had they known each other for longer, she might have outright confessed on the spot.

"The Immortal Herb is as good as mine," Li Chang'an thought, watching Dugu Yan, now completely enamored.

Sometimes, he couldn't help but sigh at this world so obsessed with appearances and strength.

Without even lifting a finger, women threw themselves at him. And the reason was obvious: his looks.

"If not for my face, would she even give me a second glance? I doubt it," he mused.