Chapter 54: Xiao Wu Declares Her Claim! A Chance Encounter with Tang San and Yu Xiaogang!
Ning Rongrong continued, "So, Lin Yuan—since we're friends now, shouldn't you show us around the academy?"
As she said this, she deliberately paused, a trace of slyness flashing through her eyes as she secretly raised an eyebrow at Xiao Wu, who stood beside her with a face full of vigilance.
"After all, it wasn't easy for us to come out this time, and in just a few days, we'll have to go back again."
"You wouldn't refuse us even this small favor, would you?"
Her words were impeccable—there was even a hint of coquettishness in her tone.
But in Xiao Wu's eyes, this was nothing short of a blatant provocation!
"You—!"
Xiao Wu was so angry that her cheeks puffed up, her delicate pink ears trembling slightly.
So this was the so-called "little witch of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect" mentioned in Lin Yuan's diary?
As expected—a bad woman!
They'd only just met, and she already wanted to drag Lin Yuan off for a stroll? Am I invisible or what?
"Fine, fine!"
"You want to steal him, is that it?"
Xiao Wu's inner universe exploded.
She didn't say a word. Instead, she stepped forward decisively and, right in front of everyone, tightly clasped Lin Yuan's large hand.
Then she lifted her chin, glaring back without the slightest hint of retreat. Her eyes clearly declared,
"He's mine! Don't even think about taking him away!"
Faced with this sudden Shura-field showdown, the person at the center—Lin Yuan—simply lowered his gaze to his nose, then to his heart, wearing a calm, detached expression.
With his current spiritual perception, how could he fail to notice the covert clash between the two girls?
But he didn't expose it.
Lin Yuan gently squeezed Xiao Wu's hand in return, offering her silent reassurance, then smiled at Ning Rongrong and said,
"My training just wrapped up around noon today anyway."
"Since the two young ladies are in the mood, I'll show you around."
"But let me say this first—the Nuoding Academy is quite poor. It can't compare to your Heaven Dou Royal Academy. Don't complain if it gets boring."
...
Thus, the group of five strolled along the academy's tree-lined paths.
At the front walked three vibrant youths, brimming with youthful charm. Behind them followed two elderly men whose auras were restrained, yet whose pressure was terrifying.
Along the way, it was clear that Dugu Yan's attention wasn't on the scenery at all.
She kept leaning toward Lin Yuan's side as if unintentionally, her emerald green eyes full of inquiry and a certain indescribable expectation.
After all, Lin Yuan's theory regarding "soul cores" had completely conquered her earlier.
In her eyes now, Lin Yuan was nothing less than a lifeline!
"Yan Yan…"
"Cough, cough!"
He tried to draw his granddaughter's attention, urging her to show a bit more restraint.
However, Dugu Yan merely shot him a cold glance before turning her head away entirely, leaving him with nothing but a proud, aloof view of the back of her head.
Clearly, she was still angry about what had just happened.
That single glare made Dugu Bo's old face stiffen. He awkwardly rubbed his nose.
This little padded jacket… is leaking air.
"Heh heh…"
Seeing this scene, Chen Xin couldn't help but tease him via voice transmission:
"Old Poison, your granddaughter's angry?"
"I didn't expect this. You, the famously doting 'granddaughter slave,' actually lost your temper and scolded her earlier?"
"That's not very like you."
Chen Xin had clearly seen Dugu Bo's stern attitude earlier when he stopped Dugu Yan from switching to a pure offensive path.
Dugu Bo sighed helplessly and replied via transmission,
"It's nothing. I got too worked up just now."
"That kid Lin Yuan actually wants Yan Yan to switch to a power attack system—how could that be acceptable?"
"Yan Yan is already a Soul Grandmaster. How can she casually change her cultivation direction?"
Hearing this explanation, Chen Xin narrowed his eyes slightly and gave Dugu Bo a deep look.
He could tell—the old poison wasn't telling the whole truth.
There had to be something he couldn't say.
But then again, they were both Titled Douluo. Who didn't have a few secrets of their own? Their relationship wasn't close enough for him to pry further, so Chen Xin let it go.
Still, in his heart, he actually leaned more toward Lin Yuan's theory.
"Actually…"
After pondering for a moment, Chen Xin sent another transmission. "I don't think what Lin Yuan said was without merit."
"Dugu Yan's martial soul is the Jade Phosphor Serpent. The strength of beast martial souls lies in physique and raw power."
"Using it only to release poisonous mists for control really is a bit of a waste of a serpent martial soul's physical talent."
"Venomous fangs, constriction, poison spray… These are all methods typical of a power attack system soul master."
"Look at today's Pope, Bibi Dong."
"Her Death Spider Emperor and Soul-Devouring Spider Emperor martial souls follow a path of primary offensive blades with poison as support."
"I haven't seen her ruin her own cultivation."
Listening to Chen Xin's analysis, Dugu Bo felt even more bitter inside.
'I understand all the reasoning!'
'But can my granddaughter be compared to Bibi Dong?'
If Dugu Yan really cultivated like that, she'd probably be meeting her ancestors ahead of schedule!
...
Just as the two were conversing, they turned a corner. Suddenly, a burst of soul power fluctuations came from the open space ahead.
"First Soul Skill—Entanglement!"
A youth dressed in simple clothes was practicing a soul skill.
Beside him stood a middle-aged man with his hands clasped behind his back, his expression stern as he pointed and instructed.
"Xiao San, pay attention to your control of soul power!"
"Don't waste even the slightest bit! Be precise!"
It was none other than Tang San and his teacher, Yu Xiaogang.
Chen Xin stopped in his tracks, staring at the boy who was "playing with grass" with a hint of surprise.
"Huh?"
"Blue Silver Grass?"
"This kind of trash martial soul… can it really be cultivated to this level?"
Although Blue Silver Grass looked weak, Chen Xin could clearly sense that the soul power fluctuations on the boy's body were not weak at all—and there seemed to be something special about them.
Seeing this scene, the corners of Lin Yuan's mouth curled slightly.
What a small world.
"Your Excellency, Sword Douluo,"
Lin Yuan spoke up at just the right moment, his tone carrying a trace of amusement as he introduced them.
"That one practicing with the grass is called Tang San."
"Although his martial soul is Blue Silver Grass, he's a 'genius' with innate full soul power—just like Xiao Wu and me."
"As for the one beside him…"
Lin Yuan pointed at the middle-aged man who practically radiated pretentiousness.
"That's the famous Master Yu Xiaogang."
"Yu Xiaogang?"
Chen Xin froze slightly, then a strange look flashed through his eyes.
Of course, he had heard that name.
He hadn't expected to encounter the real person here.
Not far away, Yu Xiaogang heard someone mention his name and subconsciously turned his head.
With just one look, his entire body stiffened on the spot.
As if struck by lightning.
"Sword Douluo… and Poison Douluo"
Yu Xiaogang's pupils shrank violently.
Though his strength was lacking, he came from a prestigious background and possessed keen eyesight.
He had seen these two before.
How is this possible…?
A storm surged in Yu Xiaogang's heart. Why would these two appear in such a remote small city?
And together, no less?
'Could it be…'
Yu Xiaogang's heart skipped a beat, and cold sweat instantly poured down.
'Could it be because of Tang Hao's incident three months ago?'
'Are they here to investigate Tang Hao?'
Thinking of Tang Hao's previous "misunderstanding" with him, and now seeing these two figures, Yu Xiaogang felt his legs trembling.
Who knew how Tang Hao was doing now…
—
End of Chapter