Xiao Wu still wore an anxious pout on her delicate face. Even after hearing Xiao Tian's reassurances, she couldn't shake the worry gnawing at her heart. She clutched the corner of his sleeve as though refusing to let him go.
Leaning closer, Xiao Tian whispered softly, "Xiao Wu, have you forgotten that I still have Da Ming and Er Ming with me? Actually"—his lips curled into a faint grin—"I haven't even told you the biggest change. After I improved our soul contract, both Da Ming and Er Ming can now release their full power. They're no longer restrained by my cultivation level."
Her eyes widened instantly, light flickering within. That reassurance eased some of her worries, though reluctance lingered in her gaze. She knew Dugu Bo wasn't ordinary; he was dangerous. How long would Xiao Tian be away this time? She didn't want to wait helplessly for days, not knowing.
Sensing the mood, Xiao Tian shifted the conversation in a more practical direction. He used the opportunity to discuss the soul skills each of the three girls should aim for in the future.
At the moment, Xiao Wu had already reached level 34, while Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing were still at level 27. If he stayed out with Dugu Bo for too long, he might miss the opportunity to help the two girls hunt for their third soul rings personally.
He'd even considered something more ambitious: forming soul contracts for them with high-aged soul beasts, expanding on the same bond he shared with Da Ming and Er Ming. But reality wasn't so simple. The reason the Beast Kings agreed to follow him had everything to do with Xiao Wu. To replicate that kind of trust and destiny for Ning Rongrong or Zhu Zhuqing? That would require luck, timing, and patience. Such bonds couldn't be forced.
Still, Xiao Tian outlined ideas. For Ning Rongrong, her family's path was already clear. Her auxiliary martial spirit was made to amplify others. Naturally, her third soul ring should enhance soul power, just like her father's.
Zhu Zhuqing's road, however, left more room for choice.
"Zhuqing," Xiao Tian said slowly, "do you remember that assassin I defeated in the Soul Fighting Arena last time? The Dark Night Assassin's third soul skill was perfect for you."
The girl tilted her head, her voice quiet but curious. "Perfect for me?"
Xiao Tian nodded. "Think about it. Your first two soul skills both combine speed and attack. If your third soul skill is only another offensive strike, it's redundant. Useful, maybe—but uninspired. You're not a brutish attack-type spirit master. You're an agility-type with a cat's spirit. That means you should emphasize hunting characteristics—speed, stealth, precision."
Zhu Zhuqing frowned slightly, still puzzled. "So… in your opinion, a different kind of soul skill?"
"Exactly. Your martial spirit is the Nether Civet, right? Everyone knows cats embody both the predator and the phantom. Right now, you've only displayed the predator—the 'spirit.' But the phantom—the 'ghost'—is missing. If your third soul skill grants invisibility, you'll embody both sides. Imagine your body slipping into the void, unseen, only for your claws to strike—your prey would have no chance."
Her expression flickered. The idea of invisibility… the ghostly nature of her martial soul. It resonated deeply, though she stayed quiet, thoughtful.
They spent the rest of the evening discussing plans and tactics until night fell.
The next morning, Xiao Tian woke at his usual hour, refreshed and focused. He pulled open the door of his dormitory—only to almost jump back in surprise.
Standing there with folded arms and a strangely awkward expression was Dugu Bo.
"Senior Dugu Bo—damn, you scared me! How long have you been standing here?"
The poison master's mouth twitched. He forced a deliberate cough, disguising his impatience. "Ahem. Not long. I just arrived. You were still resting, so I didn't want to disturb you."
The change in his demeanor was striking. Yesterday, when they first met, his attitude had been sharp, even hostile. But today? He looked like someone waiting respectfully for an honored guest.
Xiao Tian's lips stretched into an amused smile. "So, Senior, did you sleep well? No midnight attacks, no spasms?"
The Poison Douluo's old face stiffened, but then he gave a reluctant nod. "Ahem… yes. I truly haven't slept so peacefully in decades." His voice was gruff, but deep within lay sincerity.
He drew in a steadying breath before straightening his back. "Xiao Tian, let me say this directly. If you can cure me and Yanyan fully, I will do anything you ask. Whatever you want, I will comply—so long as it does not disgust my conscience."
The words were heavy with weight. For a man as proud and feared as Dugu Bo to offer such commitment—it was nothing short of astounding.
So quick to change, Xiao Tian mused quietly. The old monster's heart bends fast when it comes to his granddaughter.
Aloud, he waved a hand dismissively. "Senior, you're thinking too far ahead. Right now, I just want us to be friends. I don't have anything to demand from you."
Dugu Bo pursed his lips, but said no more.
Soon, under Dugu Bo's lead, the two departed Tiandou City and began their journey toward the Sunset Forest.
The road stretched quiet and long. Birds scattered from the trees as the pair traveled swiftly, the fresh green air of the wilderness wrapping around them.
Xiao Tian broke the silence first, his voice casual. "Oh, right. Did Prince Xue Xing or that so-called Prince Xue Beng try contacting you recently?"
Dugu Bo's eyebrows lifted faintly. "Yes. Last night, in fact, Xue Xing sent someone. They claimed you insulted Avalanche and wanted me to 'teach you a lesson.'"
"Oh?" Xiao Tian chuckled darkly. "And here I thought I was the one being cautious. If I'm right, Senior, you helped Xue Xing and Avalanche in the past, didn't you? Otherwise, why bother with them? They're not worthy of a man like you. Supporting them is far beneath you. Wouldn't it make more sense to support the Crown Prince instead? From what I've seen, he has a spotless reputation."
The poison master didn't answer immediately. His gaze grew distant before he finally sighed. "Yes. It's true—Xue Xing once saved me. When I first broke through the Titled Douluo realm, my Jade Phosphorus Snake Emperor poison flared violently. I suppressed it for as long as I could but eventually collapsed, unconscious, not far from Tiandou City. It was Xue Xing who found me, carried me back, and had a healing soul master tend to me."
Dugu Bo's eyes narrowed faintly, his tone steady but sharp. "A trivial favor to most, perhaps. I probably wouldn't have died anyway, being that close to the city. But to me, Dugu Bo, a favor is a chain. If a man helps me, I repay it double. That is my principle. And so, I offered my strength to Xue Xing and Avalanche. But over the years, I have repaid that debt many times over. Now, we're square."
He glanced sideways at Xiao Tian, lips curving faintly. "So, when his messenger begged me last night, I refused. What can they do to me? Nothing."
Pausing, he added, "Tell me, boy. You don't honestly think that Avalanche is just a shallow, brainless dandy, do you?"
Xiao Tian's eyes narrowed. The corner of his lips curled slightly. "Senior, are you suggesting the foolish playboy act is nothing but a disguise?"
Dugu Bo looked pointedly at him, though said no more.
Xiao Tian shrugged with a half-smile. "Even if it's true, what difference does it make? That day, with the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect and the Crown Prince present, he still dared provoke my team. His little act could've ruined Rongrong's reputation. No matter what scheme he plays at, I won't tolerate my partners being humiliated."
His voice hardened as his thoughts spilled. "This is strife between royals. I don't want to interfere. But let me tell you—manipulated or not, Avalanche has definitely killed people. The Tiandou royal family turns a blind eye, lets him act as he pleases, covering his crimes under the guise of this 'foolish princeling' mask. That proves how rotten the empire truly is. And you, Senior—you chose to lend strength to such a family! No wonder the whole continent curses your name. Your reputation is exactly what you deserve!"
His voice rose without restraint. His eyes were fierce, flashes of his old life's memories igniting the fire in his chest.
Xiao Tian wasn't born noble. He was reborn with memories of an ordinary man, a commoner who in that other life understood perfectly well what dynastic power meant—suppression. Without his system, without his unusual fortune, he would have been nothing but a speck of dust, another bullied peasant crushed under the weight of aristocratic authority.
How could he stand silently in the face of such arrogance?
Dugu Bo's eyes narrowed, venom and surprise mixing in their depths as Xiao Tian spoke with such raw defiance. For the first time, he began to see that this youth wasn't a mere boy with talent. He carried conviction, fire, and above all—the courage to spit in the face of the powerful.
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