"So it's Qinghe..." With the "prince" present, the teasing look on Su Wen's face faded.
Yue Guan, meanwhile, still looked shaken. The deadly aura from before only faded with Qian Renxue's arrival. He gazed at her with gratitude. He wasn't stupid; earlier, he and Ghost Douluo had been overbearing, even involving their disciples—thoroughly offending Su Wen.
Given Su Wen's strength, he could toy with both of them with ease. If truly pushed, only the fish (they) would die—the net (Su Wen) would remain intact.
Now, looking again—
That man was gently observing Xue Qinghe, like an elder looking kindly at a younger generation, all killing intent gone from his eyes.
"Still, it has to be Little Xue..." Yue Guan glanced at the ice-sculpted Ghost Douluo and let out a long breath.
Fortunately, they had Qian Renxue.
Otherwise, if even this "bridge" was gone, and the former Pope's face lost, Spirit Hall would be in real trouble...
Yan and the others did not yet know Xue Qinghe's true identity. Seeing Su Wen's different attitude toward her, they felt a bit resentful and eager for the exchange match to begin.
"Ahem, since the two elders from Spirit Hall have no objections, let's begin the match," Bai Baoshan said with a beaming smile, though inside he was overjoyed. Let Spirit Hall keep being arrogant; Heaven Dou Empire had always endured their bullying, but those two's earlier arrogance had infuriated him.
Su Wen—he was truly a treasure fallen from the sky.
And previously, they had lacked confidence, not even sure what level Su Wen had reached. But now, that didn't matter...
Anyone who could instantly defeat Ghost Douluo and toy with two Titled Douluo at will—Su Wen's strength was beyond doubt.
He was already considering how best to thank Dugu Bo.
…
Meanwhile—
"Achoo..."
Dugu Bo lounged on a bench, sneezed suddenly, and looked around warily. "Who's thinking about me?"
After pondering for a while, he lay his head back on the soft headrest. Ever since Su Wen appeared, it was as if the world had forgotten him...
The Royal Academy's deans, who used to come by every so often to pester him, had disappeared, and even his precious granddaughter hadn't returned for some time. If not for her recent letter, he'd have thought Su Wen had run off with her.
Of course, he himself had changed greatly.
First, he absorbed a forty-thousand-year-old Mandrake Snake leg bone, then tried channeling his poison into the soul bone. The results were immediate, and he was already preparing soul bones for his granddaughter.
The so-called Jade Phosphorous Exotic Flower he had absorbed was slowly mutating his poison. Instead of simply corroding flesh, it now corroded soul power and even souls.
This meant a huge boost in his strength.
He'd previously been called the weakest Titled Douluo because, while his poison covered a wide area and could be several times more potent than other poison-type Douluo if given enough time, its power was diluted and couldn't hurt those of equal rank. Even Porcupine Douluo could ride roughshod over him.
But now it was different.
Now that his snake venom could damage souls and corrode soul power, it had become a poison that even Titled Douluo would fear. With the boost from soul bones, he could wield it as easily as his own limbs.
His combat power had multiplied.
And just yesterday, he'd broken through to Level 92. The shackle that had trapped him for years had suddenly seemed easy to break, and the mutation of his poison also meant a mutation in his martial spirit. How far he'd go in the future, even he couldn't say.
"Enough." Dugu Bo stood and stretched, a strange green glint in his eyes. "That Su Wen changed me so much. If all I gave in return was a single immortal herb and a thank you, it'd hardly be enough."
"I've been secluded for too long. The problem's solved."
"Time to come out into the world again..."
…
"Ha!"
"Charm!"
Hu Liena's eyes flashed with a heart-shaped light, immobilizing Yu Feng as he charged at her. But before she could relax, a faint fragrance drifted from behind him. A holy beam of light shot from a pink flower held by a veiled woman, landing on Yu Feng.
In an instant, the charm effect was dispelled.
Yu Feng only hesitated for a moment before spreading his wings and darting toward Hu Liena.
"Damn!"
Hu Liena was forced to fight, biting her lip and drawing a dagger.
The Wind Chime Bird martial spirit was both nimble and fast; as an agility attacker, Yu Feng's role used to be harassment, ambush, and pinning down enemy elites while the main force went to Dugu Yan.
But after special training, he now moved like the wind, nimbly appearing behind Hu Liena. As her eyes filled with confusion, he struck her back with a knife-hand, leaving a bloody mark.
He didn't hold back—his teacher was watching. If he performed poorly, he'd be dragged off for extra training; the thought of that hellish scene terrified him.
"Ugh..." Hu Liena's alluring eyes flashed with shock as she spat out blood.
Such terrifying speed.
The pain spread from her back throughout her body. What kind of wind was this...?
On the stage—
"Ultimate Wind attribute?" Yue Guan exclaimed, seeing the deep purple marks on Yu Feng and Osler below, as if they'd "transformed." Both displayed attributes at an extreme level.
Su Wen shot him a glance.
Yue Guan quickly lowered his head, knowing he wasn't welcome.
Ultimate Wind.
Su Wen stroked his chin.
So even ten thousand years ago, there were already records of ultimate attributes; they just weren't as detailed or categorized as in later ages.
"So fast!" Xue Qinghe exclaimed, truly surprised.
This was not an act.
As the person behind the Heaven Dou Imperial Academy, he knew the strength of the seven well. But now, the power they showed—
The Shi brothers' Black Tortoise martial spirits had grown stronger, their strength increased, and faint golden lines appeared on their turtle shells. Douluo Dalu is a world of hierarchies, all defined by martial spirits.
Now, as everyone knows:
Martial spirits are everything. Hence the famous line from Su Yuntao: "Born with full soul power, but unfortunately, a useless martial spirit."
The only way to defy fate is to change your martial spirit... but how difficult is that? In all history, there are very few who manage it.
But before her eyes, Su Wen had done it...
In just over four months.
He had remade these children completely.
Yan, one of Spirit Hall's Golden Generation, one of the youngest Soul Kings, possessed both fire and earth attributes—a top talent and a top martial spirit.
But he was thoroughly crushed by the Shi brothers.
Even Dugu Yan's Jade Phosphor Serpent seemed reborn.
What on earth had they experienced?!!
Hu Liena and Xie Yue narrowed their eyes, exchanged a look, and nodded. "Charm Demon!"
The two merged into one.
They became a tall, slender man.
A pink mist spread—Hu Liena's effect: sensory, soul power, and actions were all reduced by 50%.
But as Ye Lingling's Nine-Star Begonia martial spirit blossomed, holy light enveloped her five teammates, instantly reducing the negative debuffs so much that the enemy's effects were barely felt.
"Amazing, Sister Ye!" Yu Feng gave a thumbs-up and grinned.
The other four stared at their opponents, eyes blazing.
Victory was within reach.
"Leave it to me, Nana..." Xie Yue said softly, drawing his two crescent moon blades, eyes narrowing. "Full Moon!"
When he had just become a Soul King, he'd used this move under charm to defeat a Level 68 Soul Emperor teacher.
Normally, he shouldn't show his trump card in a match like this, even if admitting defeat.
But he was unwilling.
If he lost like this and went back to Spirit Hall, what kind of look would the Pope give him? Besides, he sensed—these folks might be his strongest opponents at the upcoming tournament.
"This is Xie Yue's strongest attack!" Yue Guan jumped to his feet, shocked.
The Golden Generation of Spirit Hall, legendary throughout history, could easily handle six Soul Elders—possibly even six Soul Kings.
But not even halfway through the match, Xie Yue was forced to use his ultimate move.
Even if Spirit Hall won, in truth, they had already lost...
What terrifying skills!
He took a deep breath and glanced at Su Wen, who remained calm.
What a way to defy fate!
…
On the field—
"Ha!"
Xie Yue, controlling his fusion form, combined the two crescent blades into a pure white full moon, which slowly aligned in the air with the blazing sun.
"Full Moon!"
This was his self-created soul skill and his pride.
With a sweep of his hand, the full moon shot toward Ye Lingling at the rear.
"Shi Mo, Shi Mo!" Dugu Yan called out.
"Yes!"
The two brothers quickly retreated, raising their golden turtle shields in the path.
"Buzz!"
The full moon struck the shields, producing a violent hum. The shockwave blew in all directions, making it impossible for the audience to keep their eyes open.
White mist rose, obscuring everyone's vision.
Only the two siblings, now separated from their fusion, remained standing, while the Shi brothers, their shields and bodies cut clean in half and drenched in blood, left a deep gash across the field.
Yu Feng was still holding Ye Lingling's arm, near the three or four-meter-deep gash. Clearly, he had saved her at the last second, or else...
"It's all my fault. I underestimated the enemy's strength..." Dugu Yan was devastated.
She watched as the Shi brothers lay in a pool of blood, their bodies severed, blood filling their throats with choking sounds. Everyone's hearts sank.
Even with Ye Lingling's desperate healing, it was useless.
Only now did Xie Yue realize the catastrophe he'd caused...
If Su Wen were not here, perhaps there'd be an explanation. But now, with that truly terrifying man watching from above—
He'd killed Su Wen's disciples. Could he possibly be let off?
Given that man's temperament, no matter who you were, even the Pope could be dealt with directly...
The air seemed to freeze.
Yue Guan anxiously signaled Qian Renxue, hoping she would plead for them.
She hesitated, about to speak, but saw Su Wen still calm, shaking his head in regret.
"Tsk..."
"Still lacking in skill."
"To be a good captain, strength alone isn't enough—you need brains too..." Su Wen sighed, thinking of an old friend.
Ma Xiaotao, who liked to burn away all obstacles with fire.
Compared to her, Dugu Yan was still not bad.
After all, who could've guessed that these three Soul King-level Golden Generation members would be so monstrous...
Cheating, really.
If not for his special training, they'd have lost terribly. Even with Yu Tianheng, they'd only have lasted a bit longer.
He looked at Xie Yue with interest. Only in this era were there so many geniuses who created their own soul skills. Ten thousand years later... they'd basically disappeared.
"Uncle Su..." Qian Renxue tried to speak, but Su Wen waved her off.
In a flash, he appeared before Xie Yue.
Yue Guan's eyes shrank. Once again—that terrifying speed. As a Titled Douluo, he couldn't even see the movement, and his heart was in his throat. In an instant, this man could snap Xie Yue's neck.
Qian Renxue hesitated, torn.
This uncle's strength was truly unfathomable. If it were before, maybe she could act cute, but now... he was really angry.
"Senior Su..." Xie Yue swallowed hard, sweat pouring down his back, scalp tingling.
"If you want to kill, kill me!" Hu Liena glared at Su Wen, furious. "Weak is weak. If you just beat the juniors and call in the elders, why bother with a match? Might as well go home and play house!"
"Nana!" Xie Yue quickly covered her mouth, terrified. "Senior, do as you will with me, but please spare my sister..."
"If you want to kill, kill me!" Hu Liena snorted, her temper flaring.
"Senior, kill me!" Yan ran over, shielding the siblings, his face sincere.
But in the next moment, the air was silent.
Behind him, Hu Liena and her brother stopped fighting for attention and nodded at Yan, then quietly took a step back.
Yan: ???
"Who said I was going to kill you?" Su Wen smiled.
"Uh..."
All three were stunned.
"A loss is a loss," Su Wen shook his head.
"Just lacking in skill. Go back and train more—no need for all this life and death talk..."
He gently patted Xie Yue on the shoulder and nodded. "This Golden Generation is not weak. You have a bit of Qian Xunji's shadow."
"...?" Xie Yue froze.
Then a wave of warmth rushed from his feet to the top of his head.
Crap.
His eyes grew moist.
That extreme contrast between life and death, and the suddenness of it all—this was the recognition he'd hoped to earn with all his might, suddenly granted...
It made him feel as if he were truly being watched by a blood relative.
It was far more precious and proud than any praise from Spirit Hall.
Like a normally stern father suddenly patting his shoulder and saying, "You've grown up…"