Three rounds of wine later…
"Students, these here are all the competitors from the Continental Soul Master Academy Elite Competition five years ago."
Qin Ming tipped his wine jar toward the group, a proud smile playing on his lips. "Back then, I won the championship with them!"
"Teacher Qin Ming, you're wrong!" A drunken student lurched to his feet with all the seriousness of a philosopher, words slurring. "You led them to the championship!"
"What?" Qin Ming blinked, caught off guard. "I followed them to the championship."
He remembered it vividly—his role back then was barely more than contributing… well, a little noise from the sidelines. Yet somehow, victory was theirs.
God, that feeling had been incredible. That was how he'd become the Director of Teaching.
"Yan Yan, you're here buying wine for the old poisonous man," Lu Yuan slurred, leaning into the girl at his side. "How's that old poisonous man doing now? Haven't seen him for years… I'm worried… Oh—and the medicinal herbs!"
"My grandpa's doing just fine!" Dugu Yan mumbled, nestled lazily in Lu Yuan's arms, her words half-dreamy. "He's been managing the medicine garden all these years, and lots of new herbs have started sprouting."
"That's great! I'll go see the old poisonous man for myself," Lu Yuan declared suddenly. "Actually, I could use something from his medicine garden."
Swaying to his feet, he said over his shoulder, "Teacher Qin Ming, we'll be heading off first! Oh, and tell Old Man Meng I took two bottles of wine for him."
With that, the slightly drunken Lu Yuan led Dugu Yan and the other two girls out of the tavern.
By the time Qin Ming paid the bill and stepped outside, most of the alcohol haze had lifted. Watching Lu Yuan disappear into the distance, an odd unease stirred inside him.
These past five years had been good for him professionally, but… never once had he met a prodigy Soul Master quite like Lu Yuan. Was that fortunate or unfortunate? He wasn't sure.
What he was sure of was this: if he were to take his current group of students to the next Continental Soul Master Academy Elite Competition, they'd be crushed.
Not that it mattered now—the rampaging evil spirit masters had put an end to that tournament entirely.
Sunset Over the Forest
A damp, eerie chill rushed in on the evening breeze, causing Lu Yuan to involuntarily shiver.
"The road's still far," he muttered.
Almost as if summoned, a flash of green whisked past, and Dugu Bo appeared right in front of them.
"Old man poison," Lu Yuan grinned, greeting him with casual mockery, "you've gotten a lot taller since I last saw you."
Dugu Bo stared at him wordlessly.
"I heard from Yan Yan you've been visiting the medicine garden lately—let's go, I want to take a look." Without waiting, Lu Yuan staggered toward the direction of the garden.
"You brat, I knew you didn't come here to see me." Dugu Bo blew out his beard in irritation. He'd planned on asking where Lu Yuan had been all these years—now he didn't even need to bother.
"Old poison, why are you blocking me? I'm going to my medicine garden," Lu Yuan complained.
"Yours?!" Dugu Bo barked. "Lu Yuan! Can we still have a face?" This was the first time in his long life he'd seen someone flip truth inside out so shamelessly.
"Old man poison, stop pretending! That medicine garden is Yan Yan's dowry for the future. I only asked you to tend it for a few years, but now you act like it's your own." Lu Yuan didn't pause his stride. "If you don't let me through, I'll tell Yan Yan not to support you in your old age."
Excessive! Absolutely excessive!
"Yan Yan, don't hold me back today! I'm going to teach this stinky brat a lesson—otherwise you'll be bullied the day you marry him!" Dugu Bo's patience snapped.
The arrogance, the utter lack of reason!
"Old poisonous man, your skin's itching again?" Lu Yuan sneered. If the old man wanted a fight, was he supposed to say no?
"Fine! If you can get past me today, you can take whatever herbs you want from the garden," Dugu Bo growled, his temper flaring.
"Grandpa, you…"
"Goose, don't worry. Grandpa knows what he's doing." Dugu Bo cut his granddaughter off firmly. Today, he would teach this brat respect.
"Grandpa… you might not be able to beat him," Dugu Yan tried, biting back a sigh. She already knew Lu Yuan's strength, especially after seeing him duel Bone Douluo. Even Bone Douluo hadn't gained an advantage—her grandfather might fare worse.
"You've got a fever, girl?" Dugu Bo pressed a palm to her forehead. Was she seriously saying something so ridiculous? How strong could Lu Yuan possibly be? A Soul Saint? Even if he were, Dugu Bo wouldn't lose to him—his surname might as well be Lu Yuan if that happened!
"Old man poison, no backing out now!" Lu Yuan warned, his hand sliding behind him to grip the sword hilt.
The moment he drew it, three arcs of Sword Qi erupted toward Dugu Bo.
Chi! Chi! Chi!
Powerful spirit energy burst from Dugu Bo's palm, blocking the sword strikes head-on. His eyes narrowed—this kid had made serious progress in the last few years.
And then…
His gaze dropped to Lu Yuan's feet. Eight spirit rings gleamed in formation—two of them a deep crimson that made Dugu Bo's jaw nearly hit the ground. Two hundred-thousand-year spirit rings?!
As a Title Douluo, he knew just how impossible it was to obtain even one of those. And this brat had two.
Not only that—the first six rings had all turned to obsidian black, not the purple they'd been five years ago. With such a lineup, if Lu Yuan was truly a Soul Saint, he could easily dominate ordinary Contras.
And Lu Yuan wasn't just carrying rings—Dugu Bo could sense multiple powerful spirit bones as well. Something about this… didn't add up.
Several more Sword Qi slashed through the air, forcing Dugu Bo back a step.
"Fifth Soul Ability—Snake Emperor Break!"
Emerald light surged from Dugu Bo's fingers, the energy compressing rapidly as it flew and twisting the air around it.
"Third Soul Skill—Sword Formation!"
Above the forest canopy, thousands of tiny points materialized, condensing into dark, razor-sharp blades under Lu Yuan's command.
Whhhh—
The storm of blades streamed down like a deadly rain.
The moment steel met green light, the collision detonated into poisonous fog, blanketing thirty meters in seconds.
Within moments, the blades blackened, corroded, and crumbled to mist under the toxic assault. The plants nearby shriveled and rotted instantly.
That one exchange told Dugu Bo everything he needed to know: this kid was dangerous.
With two amplification skills running, Lu Yuan's aura rose to a level nearly matching a Title Douluo.
"Seventh Soul Ability—Martial Soul True Body!"
A towering black sword shadow erupted behind Lu Yuan, merging seamlessly with the weapon in his hand. Terrifying power crashed forward toward Dugu Bo like a wave.
"The Seventh Soul Ability—Jade Snake Emperor True Body!"
Emerald light exploded from Dugu Bo's form, his tall, thin silhouette swelling into that of a massive upright cobra. Twin green eyes locked onto Lu Yuan.
Even Dugu Bo knew he was in trouble. The moment Lu Yuan's true body activated, the surge in strength was overwhelming—if he didn't unleash his own Martial Soul, he'd be crushed outright.
The thought flickered through his mind: Can't let this brat get away with this any longer.
And with that, the clash truly began.
--
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