Chapter 25 – I Don't Care, I'll Act
Dugu Bo's Jade Phosphor Serpent Poison Array could ward off soul masters below the Titled Douluo rank. And with Dugu Bo himself standing guard here, even a Titled Douluo would think twice before setting foot in this region.
Ghost Douluo asked, "Old Poison, your granddaughter should have taken the Daffodil Jade Flesh Bone, right. How is she?"
Dugu Bo stroked his beard and smiled broadly.
"Thanks to your help, Yan Yan is no longer in danger. Her hair and eye colors have returned to normal. And, just as you predicted, after taking that herb, she broke through the Rank 40 bottleneck—after absorbing a soul ring, her soul power jumped to Rank 43. Over this past year of training, she's risen another three levels and is now Rank 46. It's... incredible!"
Dugu Bo was a naturally suspicious man; he'd been half-doubtful of Ghost Douluo and Chrysanthemum Douluo at first.
He never expected they would actually solve the problem of Yan Yan being poisoned by her own toxin.
Still, worry lingered in his chest.
"Yan Yan is only a Four-Ring Soul Ancestor right now. As her soul power rises, once she reaches Level 70 and can unleash her Martial Soul—True Body—the poison inside her will erupt. I'm not sure whether the Daffodil Jade Flesh Bone's effect will last that long."
Ghost Douluo smiled.
"Don't worry. Even if the herb's effect doesn't last all the way, there are other methods."
"What methods?" Dugu Bo asked.
"Let her have a soul bone," Ghost said.
"Store the excess toxin in the soul bone. That will not only prevent the toxin's backfire, but it will also strengthen the toxin's release when used as a soul-bone skill— increasing its burst damage."
"A soul bone?" Dugu Bo frowned and sighed.
"Soul bones are treasures every soul master dreams of. Each one is rare and almost impossible to acquire. Where could we possibly get one so easily?"
Yue Guan chuckled
.
"Old Poison, isn't there a perfect opportunity coming up? Less than a year away."
Dugu Bo's eyes brightened as he understood.
"You mean the Soul Master Competition?"
"Exactly."
Dugu Bo couldn't help but laugh helplessly.
"At the competition, Yan Yan might reach a near five-ring Soul King level. Among the contestants, she'd rank near the top. But the competition is a team event—her team simply can't win the championship. From what I know, this year's roster is packed with talent. Not to mention those veteran elemental academies—Spirit Hall's team is an impenetrable mountain. You two should know their strength better than I do."
Dugu Bo knew the first-place prize this year was three soul bones—three soul bones the Pope, Bibi Dong, had prepared especially for Spirit Hall's three elites.
Spirit Hall's academy team was a class above the rest, practically preordained to win the overall championship.
Ghost Douluo and Chrysanthemum Douluo were well aware of that strength.
There was less than a year until the Soul Master Competition. By then, Xie Yue, Hu Liena, and Yan could all reach the five-ring Soul King level, and several other principal team members would be above Level 45.
That team covered crowd control, heavy offense, speed offense, defense, and support—with no glaring weakness.
Xie Yue and Hu Liena, a brother-and-sister pair, could even execute a formidable Martial Soul Fusion Technique, Charm Demon. Such an elite squad was effectively unmatched.
Yet, who could guarantee that accidents would never happen?
A strange smile curled on Yue Guan's face.
"Old Poison, take a good look at Old Ghost."
Dugu Bo turned and appraised Ghost Douluo carefully.
After a year, Ghost Douluo's appearance hadn't changed—still the face of a sixteen- or seventeen-year-old youth—but the aura around him was noticeably stronger.
"Old Ghost? What about him?" Dugu Bo asked in confusion.
Yue Guan chuckled.
"Nothing much. But tell me—does he look like a student to you?"
Dugu Bo froze for a moment, then his eyes widened in shock.
"Old Chrysanthemum, you mean... Old Ghost is going to enter the Soul Master Competition as a student?!"
Yue Guan smiled faintly and nodded.
"To tell you the truth, those three soul bones were all earned through our efforts. Old Ghost and I have served loyally for years, doing everything that was asked of us—yet we never got even a single soul bone in return. I can't swallow that injustice."
Dugu Bo frowned.
"But if Old Ghost joins the tournament openly, aren't you afraid his identity will be exposed?"
"There's no need to worry," Yue Guan replied confidently.
"Aside from the two of us, no one knows what he looks like now. As long as he doesn't release his Ghost Demon Martial Soul or use his signature ghost skills, no one will recognize him. Besides, he now has three hundred-thousand-year soul rings and two hundred-thousand-year soul bones. Even without revealing his martial soul, his raw soul power alone could crush anyone in the tournament."
Dugu Bo was completely stunned.
He hadn't expected that within just one year, Ghost Douluo had absorbed two more hundred-thousand-year soul rings.
"Hahaha! With Old Ghost's current youthful and handsome appearance, no one would ever suspect who he really is. Once he steps onto the tournament stage, he'll definitely be the brightest star there."
Ghost Douluo said calmly, "Do a good deed to the end—if we win those soul bones, you'll get a share. But first, we need to pick an academy to compete with."
Dugu Bo's face broke into a grin.
"That's easy. How about representing Heaven Dou Imperial Academy? They have two teams this year, and I've got connections there. Whether it's the main team or the secondary one, you can choose whichever you like."
Ghost Douluo nodded slightly.
"There's still some time before the tournament begins. We'll decide when the moment comes."
He didn't want unnecessary contact with those people. As long as he joined before the tournament officially started, that would be enough.
Yue Guan then took out a blob of golden, jelly-like paste and handed it to Dugu Bo.
"Old Poison, this is the Whale Brain of the Hundred-Thousand-Year Evil Spirit Orca King. It contains the essence of its life. Old Ghost and I each consumed a portion, and we saved some for you. It's a pure yang treasure— it'll neutralize the excess yin toxins in your body. Just refine it slowly after eating, and you'll absorb its full energy."
A glimmer of surprise flashed in Dugu Bo's eyes as he accepted it.
"You two really went out of your way for me. My thanks."
Yue Guan smiled.
"We'll be staying here for a while—cultivating, and helping you detoxify at the same time."
"Good. Rest easy, both of you. While you're here, no outsider will disturb you," Dugu Bo assured them.
---
Meanwhile — The Pope's Palace
After listening to Ling Yuan's report, Bibi Dong flew into a rage.
"Freedom?! That's the excuse they gave for leaving me?!"
"Hmph! Two ungrateful traitors—they've completely forgotten the oath they swore when they joined the Spirit Hall!"
Bibi Dong quickly realized that this entire incident had been stirred up by Ghost Douluo—and his attitude toward her had been one of open disdain, as though she no longer even existed in his eyes.
That thought alone made her seethe with fury.
"That damned old ghost! That half-man, half-monster dares to defy me?! If I ever find him, I'll tear him to pieces!"
Ling Yuan Douluo trembled, not daring to make a sound.
Before her return, Bibi Dong had already received reports—Ghost Douluo and Chrysanthemum Douluo had appeared in the Min Clan and Gengxin City.
They had crippled Bai He, taken his clan's treasured heirloom, and even destroyed Lou Gao's cultivation.
Bibi Dong couldn't understand what they were planning—why they would act so recklessly.
"Ling Yuan," she said coldly, "you no longer need to track their whereabouts. I have a new mission for you."
"Your command, Your Holiness."
"The Soul Master Competition draws near. You and Ghost Leopard Douluo will personally lead the team. Remember—the championship must belong to Spirit Hall. There can be no mistakes."
"Yes, Your Holiness."
—
End of Chapter