Let's rewind to the day Lin Chen went to the Yin-Yang Well of Ice and Fire.
Inside the Heaven Dou Royal Academy, a magnificent carriage slowly came to a stop. Ning Fengzhi, dressed in white, exuded an elegant and refined air. Beside him stood the expressionless Sword Douluo Chen Xin and the curious Ning Rongrong.
"Father, are we here to see Lin Yuan?" Ning Rongrong blinked her big eyes, her tone excited. Ever since Lin Chen helped her out of a predicament and displayed his unfathomable strength, this little princess of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School had been filled with curiosity and affection for him.
Ning Fengzhi smiled slightly: "Yes, I need to go and see what kind of person this Lin Yuan is."
However, when they found the academy's higher-ups and learned that Lin Chen had been forcibly taken away by Poison Douluo Dugu Bo, Ning Fengzhi and Sword Douluo exchanged a glance, both showing a helpless expression.
Offending Poison Douluo? Not necessary. Although Dugu Bo is known as the weakest Title Douluo, his group combat ability is extremely strong, and he can wipe out any force without a Title Douluo.
Ning Fengzhi was too busy to stay long, so he could only tell Ning Rongrong to focus on her studies at the academy and wait for Lin Yuan to return. Then he left the Heaven Dou Royal Academy with Sword Douluo.
Two days later, Poison Douluo Dugu Bo returned from the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well. As soon as he got back to his residence, Ning Fengzhi came to visit him again.
But when he learned that Lin Yuan had already gone out alone and was nowhere to be found, even Ning Fengzhi, with his excellent self-control, couldn't help but shake his head with a wry smile.
This Lin Yuan kid is truly elusive, appearing and disappearing like a dragon.
Left with no other choice, Ning Fengzhi had to leave again, but his interest in Lin Yuan only grew stronger.
Deep within the Heavenly Dou Imperial Palace, Qian Renxue, disguised as Crown Prince Xue Qinghe, was toying with a letter in her hand.
The letter came from Qian Daoliu, the Grand Elder of the Spirit Hall, and contained only one message: to win over or control the mysterious Soul Master named "Lin Yuan" within the Heaven Dou Royal Academy at all costs.
A playful smile appeared on Qian Renxue's exquisite face.
"Lin Yuan?"
She had already sent people to investigate this name, but found nothing, as if it had appeared out of thin air. For her grandfather to value this so highly, this person must be extraordinary.
But she did not act rashly.
Now, disguised as Xue Qinghe, she has been lying in wait for years, plotting a far-reaching scheme. She absolutely cannot expose her identity because of an unknown person. Rashly sending someone to recruit her would only alert her and be counterproductive.
"No rush," Qian Renxue murmured to herself, a glint of wisdom flashing in her eyes. "Prey should always be observed slowly before making a move."
She chose to remain still, observe quietly, and wait for the best opportunity.
Several days after Dugu Bo's return, under the calm surface of the Heavenly Dou Royal Academy, undercurrents were already surging.
On this day, two figures clad in the Spirit Hall's platinum robes stood prominently in the academy square. They were none other than the Spirit Hall's two titled Douluo—Chrysanthemum Douluo Yue Guan and Ghost Douluo Gui Mei!
"By order of His Holiness the Pope, I have come to find Lin Yuan, a student of the Heaven Dou Royal Academy. Please hand him over." Chrysanthemum Douluo Yue Guan's voice was gentle, yet carried an undeniable pressure. His gaze swept over the three Soul Saint instructors of Heaven Dou present, and his tone was firm.
The three education committee members looked solemn and replied that Lin Yuan was away on training and had not yet returned to the school. Chrysanthemum and Ghost Douluo exchanged a glance, said nothing more, and directly sent a message back to the central papal hall of the Spirit Hall through the Spirit Hall branch hall of Heaven Dou City. Afterwards, they set up camp here and waited quietly.
They knew all too well that the person Pope Bibidon had ordered to be brought back must not be missed.
During this time, Chrysanthemum Douluo Yue Guan couldn't contain himself and left the group alone, heading straight for Poison Douluo Dugu Bo's residence. Old grudges should be settled today.
The mansion of Dugu Bo was shrouded in poisonous fog.
"Dugu Bo, hand over Lin Yuan, and this matter will have nothing to do with you." Ju Douluo Yue Guan, dressed in white, waved his folding fan lightly, seemingly gentle, but a cold glint flashed in his eyes.
Dugu Bo stood with his hands behind his back, his body shimmering with emerald light. He sneered, "Yue Guan, our old grudges are not yet settled, and you've come looking for trouble again today? You want to bring people? First, ask if my Azure Phosphorous Poisonous Flame will allow it!"
As soon as he finished speaking, Dugu Bo's figure flashed, and a green snake shadow suddenly appeared behind him. Countless green phosphorescent poisonous mists poured down like a torrential rain, sweeping towards Chrysanthemum Douluo! Wherever the poisonous mist passed, the air distorted, and even the ground was corroded into deep pits that sizzled.
"Hmph, a mere trick." Chrysanthemum Douluo scoffed disdainfully, his figure transforming into a pale purple phantom, causing the poisonous mist to completely miss. He raised his hand and waved, causing countless flower petals to suddenly bloom, revealing Chrysanthemum Douluo's true martial soul form. Countless golden petals, carrying sharp blade energy, tore through the poisonous mist, aiming straight for Dugu Bo's vital points.
Dugu Bo neither dodged nor evaded, but fully activated his Azure Phosphorous Serpent Emperor Martial Soul, instantly covering his body with a layer of emerald green scales. The petal blade energy struck the scales, but was deflected, leaving only shallow white marks.
"Poison Douluo, your Azure Phosphorus Poison is no longer effective against me!" Chrysanthemum Douluo's figure was elusive, like a butterfly among flowers, his palm wind carrying domineering plant-type soul power, approaching layer by layer.
A fierce glint flashed in Dugu Bo's eyes, and he suddenly shouted, "Ineffective? Then let you taste this ultimate poison that has been accumulating for thousands of years!"
He suddenly opened his mouth and spat out a mouthful of purplish-black venom. At the same time, he pulled out the blood-red swan kiss from his waist! It was a snake-kiss-shaped treasure that was entirely blood-red and covered with strange patterns. It was Dugu Bo's trump card!
"The Crimson Swan's Kiss, activate!"
With a low shout, the Crimson Swan Kiss exploded instantly, releasing countless micro-poisonous dust particles invisible to the naked eye that spread out at an alarming speed. This was the ultimate poison, refined and concentrated from hundreds of types of Azure Phosphorous Serpent venom; even a trace of it was enough to make a Title Douluo wary!
Chrysanthemum Douluo's expression changed drastically. He tried to dodge, but it was too late. The highly poisonous dust, like a bone-deep infection, instantly clung to his white robes and seeped into his body through his pores!
"puff--"
A mouthful of purplish-gold blood spurted from Chrysanthemum Douluo's mouth, his face instantly turned deathly pale, and his soul power became briefly disordered.
"So...so potent poison..." Chrysanthemum Douluo Yue Guan staggered backward, his eyes filled with horror. His proud plant-based defense was as fragile as paper in the face of this ultimate poison.
Although Dugu Bo was also greatly exhausted and his breathing was slightly unsteady, he still said coldly, "Yue Guan, I will spare your life today out of consideration for our past relationship. But if you dare to lay a finger on Lin Yuan again, next time it won't be as simple as just being injured!"
Just then, a ghostly figure silently appeared beside Chrysanthemum Douluo—it was Ghost Douluo, Ghost Phantom. He looked at the heavily injured and poisoned Yue Guan, his eyes flashing with coldness. Turning to Dugu Bo, his voice was chillingly sharp: "Dugu Bo, you dare to injure someone from my Spirit Hall? Do you want your granddaughter to die with you?"
These words instantly struck at Dugu Bo's weak spot. His granddaughter, Dugu Yan, was in the Heavenly Dou Sect; if she were to completely break ties with the Spirit Hall, the consequences would be unimaginable.
Dugu Bo's face instantly darkened, and his clenched fist trembled slightly.
Ghost Douluo pressed on relentlessly, continuing to exert pressure: "The Papal Palace wants the person and is determined to get him. If you obstruct us, you will be making an enemy of the entire Spirit Hall. Release him, and this matter will be forgiven."
After a moment of silence, Dugu Bo finally let out a heavy snort and stepped aside: "Get lost."
Chrysanthemum Douluo Yue Guan, supported by Ghost Douluo, left in a disheveled state. Before leaving, he turned back and gave Dugu Bo a deep look, his eyes filled with resentment and bitterness, but ultimately said nothing more.
Watching the two titled Douluo, Chrysanthemum and Ghost, leave in a disheveled state, Dugu Bo lowered his head and stared at the blood-red swan kiss in his hand, which had already lost its luster. A trace of lingering fear and relief appeared on his rough face, which then turned into deep emotion.
"That little monster... really gave me a treasured gem!"
He stroked the snake's snout, thinking to himself. If it weren't for this celestial herb gifted by Lin Chen, even if he could win against Chrysanthemum Douluo today, he would have paid a heavy price. Thinking this, a ruthless glint flashed in Dugu Bo's eyes: "Hmph, if the Spirit Hall truly angers me, I'll simply take this celestial herb and unleash a torrent of poisonous rain upon them in Spirit City!"
With a cold snort, Dugu Bo turned and returned to his residence to meditate and stabilize his energy after the recent battle.
Meanwhile, deep within the Martial Soul Temple of Heaven Dou City.
Ghost Douluo carefully helped the pale-faced and weak Chrysanthemum Douluo Yue Guan to a soft couch. The atmosphere in the hall was heavy. Ghost Douluo looked at the purplish-black bloodstains at the corner of Yue Guan's mouth and asked in a deep voice, "Chrysanthemum Guan, what exactly happened? With your cultivation, that old poisoner's Azure Phosphorus Poison could not possibly have injured you to this extent!"
Chrysanthemum Douluo Yue Guan coughed violently a few times, each cough aggravating the poison in his body, causing him to grimace in pain, his eyes filled with resentment and unwillingness: "That old monster... I don't know what kind of luck he had, but he actually obtained a celestial herb!"
"A celestial-grade item?" Ghost Douluo's pupils shrank.
"That's right!" Chrysanthemum Douluo gritted his teeth, his voice hoarse. "That immortal herb has no other use than to stimulate and purify his Azure Phosphorus Serpent Venom a hundredfold or even a thousandfold! The toxicity is so potent that even my Martial Soul True Body couldn't withstand it, and it instantly invaded my lungs and internal organs! This poison... I'm afraid it can't be completely cleared away in a short time!"
Upon hearing this, Ghost Douluo's expression darkened completely. The sheer terror of a poison that could render even a Title Douluo helpless was unimaginable.
However, what Chrysanthemum Douluo said next made Ghost Douluo's eyes flash with a burning greed.
Chrysanthemum Douluo lowered his voice and said with a glint in his eyes, "Old Ghost, do you think... that kid named Lin Yuan might have other immortal herbs on him?"
He swallowed hard, his tone brimming with temptation: "You know, these celestial herbs are treasures that can directly enhance talent and rebuild one's foundation, and they leave no side effects after consumption! If only I could obtain even one..."
Ghost Douluo Ghostly trembled, and the coldness in his eyes was instantly replaced by greed.
A divine product that enhances talent without any side effects?
Even Pope Bibidon would be tempted by such a treasure!
The two exchanged a glance, both seeing the same thought in each other's eyes—no matter what, they had to wait for Lin Yuan to return! This man had to be brought back to the Spirit Hall! The secrets he carried were far more complex than they appeared!
After several days of rapid travel, Lin Chen finally returned to Tian Dou City.
He didn't go directly into the Heaven Dou Royal Academy, but instead turned and headed straight for Dugu Bo's residence in the city. He knew that his disappearance for several days would inevitably attract attention from all sides, so it was safest to see this old poison master first and sound out the situation.
As soon as I stepped into Dugu Bo's courtyard, I saw the old man lying comfortably in a rocking chair, squinting in the sun, looking completely carefree, as if the great battle with Chrysanthemum Douluo a few days ago had never happened.
Lin Chen's lips curled slightly, and he coughed lightly: "Oh, old poisoner, you're living quite comfortably, aren't you?"
Upon hearing this, Dugu Bo didn't even raise his eyelids, and slowly said, "You little monster, you've finally decided to come back? If you had come a few more days, I'm afraid the Spirit Hall would have demolished this old man's courtyard."
Lin Chen raised an eyebrow and walked to the stone table to sit down: "Oh? It seems that Tiandou City has been quite lively while I was away."
Dugu Bo then opened his eyes, glanced at him, and a complex look flashed in his eyes: "It's more than just lively. You're the hot commodity right now. The two titled Douluo, Chrysanthemum and Ghost, from the Spirit Hall are personally blocking the academy gate demanding that Pope Bibi Dong see you."
"Chrysanthemum Demon Douluo?" A cold glint flashed in Lin Chen's eyes. "It seems the Spirit Hall's information network is quite efficient."
"More than just knowledgeable." Dugu Bo sat up straight, his tone becoming more serious. "A few days ago, that Chrysanthemum Douluo Yue Guan came to cause trouble for me, trying to force me to reveal your whereabouts. I used the Blood Swan Kiss you gave me to teach him a lesson, poisoning him and leaving him in a sorry state."
Upon hearing this, Lin Chen's eyes flashed with surprise, then he smiled knowingly and said, "It seems that the immortal item was not given in the wrong way."
Dugu Bo snorted, but didn't deny it. Instead, he lowered his voice and said, "But you should be careful, kid. Those two Title Douluos are waiting in Tiandou City right now, and judging from their attitude, they're determined to get you. Also, Ning Fengzhi from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School has come to see you twice, and seems to value you quite a bit."
Lin Chen tapped his fingers lightly on the table, a cold smile playing on his lips.
The Spirit Hall, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School... It seems my return is destined to be anything but peaceful.
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