Xiao Lin's strength completely crushed Dugu Bo and Mei Mei, bringing this farce to a complete end.
After returning near the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well, Dugu Bo still stared at Xiao Lin with an expression of disbelief.
He had already been utterly shocked by Xiao Lin's hundred-thousand-year soul ring.
And the terrifying dragon shadow and overwhelming pressure Xiao Lin had released made him feel as if he had seen a god.
"Xiao Lin, what technique did you use just now?"
Dugu Bo was filled with curiosity. A mere Soul King defeating two Title Douluo at the same time—did that mean all of them Title Douluo had lived their lives like dogs?
"It's nothing," Xiao Lin said casually. "Just a slight development of a hundred-thousand-year soul skill and a bit of control over dragon pressure. After all, the environment here is quite special."
He spoke as if what had just happened was something he could accomplish effortlessly.
And in truth, that was basically the case. Although the two Dragon Kings had helped, Xiao Lin's own control over dragon might was also formidable.
Combined with his fifth soul skill, which specifically controlled dragon pressure and came from a hundred-thousand-year soul ring, it became much easier.
If it were somewhere else, Xiao Lin could only guarantee that he could bully Mei Mei before her evolution.
That was roughly equivalent to a soul beast with about seventy thousand years of cultivation.
Of course, if Xiao Lin used his full strength, defeating an ordinary eighty-thousand-year soul beast shouldn't be a problem.
Xiao Lin still didn't have a clear understanding of his own strength and could only estimate it roughly.
"I see."
Dugu Bo nodded thoughtfully.
"Mm. We should spar sometime in the future."
Xiao Lin quickly added.
He hadn't said that in anger earlier—he genuinely wanted to spar.
After that, Xiao Lin handed part of his draft thesis to Dugu Bo.
The contents described methods for increasing a soul master's innate soul power, though it deliberately avoided mentioning Xiao Yan by name.
Xiao Lin had long planned this.
He divided the content into separate pages.
Especially regarding the pill formulas, Xiao Lin planned to let Tang San read them later and imitate his handwriting to add some experimental data.
That would make the pill section look very authentic.
However, judging by Tang San's personality, he probably wouldn't write down formulas for extremely effective pills.
At most, he would write about the most ordinary ones.
For example, something like Qi-Condensing Powder, the lowest-tier pill eaten by the weakest cultivators in fantasy novels.
"So, what do you think? Isn't this thesis better than the one my grandfather wrote?"
Xiao Lin raised his eyebrows proudly and asked for Dugu Bo's opinion.
"Unbelievable."
Dugu Bo had already reached the section about internal cultivation techniques, and secretly tried practicing according to the instructions.
As expected, the internal cultivation method Xiao Lin wrote was indeed different.
Some of the meridian pathways described were areas that even Dugu Bo himself had never specifically expanded.
He even began to think that if he had practiced this internal technique when he first awakened his martial spirit, he could have endured soul rings with much higher age limits.
And that was indeed the case.
In a sense, this internal cultivation technique increased a soul master's innate soul power.
In the original timeline, if Tang San hadn't had the Xuantian Technique, and if his martial spirit hadn't actually been the Blue Silver Emperor, he might have been killed by Yu Xiaogang's teachings.
Even the chosen protagonist Tang San had nearly failed to absorb a Mandala Snake that hadn't even exceeded the soul ring limit.
"But Xiao Lin, why does your handwriting look so similar to your grandfather Xiao Yan's?"
Dugu Bo frowned slightly and asked the question without thinking.
"Oh, that's because I'm planning to publish it under my grandfather's name," Xiao Lin said casually. "How could my grandfather have time to pay attention to a clown like Yu Xiaogang?"
His explanation sounded perfectly reasonable.
"Mm."
Dugu Bo nodded without even lifting his head.
"Eh?"
Suddenly, Dugu Bo let out a surprised sound.
"Xiao Lin… is the effect of this whale glue really true?"
Dugu Bo's pupils trembled slightly as he looked at Xiao Lin in disbelief.
If the internal cultivation technique had already shocked him, then the effect of this whale glue shocked him even more.
This was practically a treasure comparable to immortal herbs.
Such a thing—he definitely needed to prepare it for his granddaughter.
"It's absolutely true," Xiao Lin replied calmly.
"When Xiao San and I first arrived in Heaven Dou City, we specifically found ten-thousand-year whale glue to consume."
Then he scratched his head and added,
"But it probably won't work as well for Sister Yanyan and the others, since they've already eaten immortal herbs."
When Xiao Lin said that, Dugu Bo showed an expression that said that makes perfect sense.
"I see. But ten-thousand-year whale glue should still have some effect on Yanyan."
Dugu Bo silently calculated in his mind, deciding to act first and immediately buy some from various shops.
"Yes. I plan to publish this thesis in about three or four days."
"That'll give you time to buy it in advance."
"What timing?"
The moment Xiao Lin finished speaking, a deep voice echoed near the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well.
The voice belonged to Tang Hao.
After sending Tang San away, he had immediately used his flight soul skill to return.
When he saw a large and a small soul beast outside the poisonous barrier, he simply released a bit of soul power pressure and walked straight inside.
"Uncle Hao, it's this—my thesis."
"I think you should take advantage of the moment and buy large quantities of whale glue, then hurry and reclaim the Four Great Clans."
Xiao Lin pointed at the thesis and began speaking grandly, not even noticing that the two Title Douluo had only exchanged slight nods in greeting.
"Uncle Hao, Old Poison, you two know each other?"
"Mm."
"Mm."
Tang Hao and Dugu Bo both responded calmly.
Tang Hao then curiously began reading Xiao Lin's thesis draft.
"So whale glue actually has this kind of effect…"
Tang Hao said with surprise, clearly shocked.
"What Xiao Lin said should be true," Dugu Bo added.
"It's probably something similar to using poison to counter poison."
"Sometimes poison can also be used as medicine. Aphrodisiacs are medicine too."
"The energy that normally increases sexual desire from whale glue isn't wasted—it's redirected into strengthening the body."
Dugu Bo explained his understanding.
"Xiao Lin, so you're planning to release this thesis publicly?"
"Yep. Uncle Hao, you didn't know yet, right?"
Xiao Lin nodded and then explained Yu Xiaogang's rumors, especially the ones targeting Tang San and Xiao Wu.
Tang Hao, of course, knew Xiao Wu's true identity.
If someone accidentally killed Xiao Wu and she dropped a soul bone, his son would be in serious danger.
And besides—
Xiao Wu was Tang San's wife.
His daughter-in-law.
Tang Hao instantly couldn't tolerate it.
"Alright. I understand."
"I'll find a way to buy large quantities of whale glue on the market."
"And I'll also secretly protect Xiao San and the others."
Tang Hao frowned slightly, then continued,
"Xiao Lin, I'll have to trouble you to take care of Ah Yin again."
"Don't worry, Uncle Hao. Look—Auntie has already gotten fatter."
Xiao Lin smiled confidently.
Ever since Xiao Lin used the Looking Through Autumn Water Dew to awaken Ah Yin's intelligence, his farming instincts had awakened instantly.
Everything he looked at seemed a little too thin.
He even had Mei Mei transform the surrounding land into fertile black soil.
The soul power contained in the corpse of the ten-thousand-year Earth Bear had also been perfectly recycled as fertilizer.
"Mm. I can tell."
Tang Hao nodded firmly.
Looking at Ah Yin's noticeably larger body, he felt tears streaming down his heart.
(End of Chapter)