...
Heavenly Dou Royal Academy
Xuan Hao's Heavenly Dou Self-Improvement Association is developing rapidly.
With his previous experience in organizing the Peace and Mutual Aid Association at the Martial Soul Academy, it's even easier for him to manage the people at the Heavenly Dou Royal Academy.
With the added prestige of Dugu Yan, Yu Tianheng, and Ye Lingling, Xuan Hao completed the management team arrangement in less than a week.
Each of the three levels—Tianwei, Tianzhi, and Tiandou—has a corresponding person in charge.
As for Xuan Hao's earlier statement about doing his best to train and develop them, it was nothing more than telling the three education committee members to improve the teaching plan and strengthen the previous lax management approach.
Previously, students at the Heavenly Dou Royal Academy trained sporadically, but now, Xuan Hao has arranged their training schedules to be full, following the teaching plan of the Martial Soul Academy.
Although these noble children lacked real strength, their talent was undeniable; otherwise, they wouldn't have been able to maintain their noble positions.
Soul Masters are not necessarily nobles, but nobles are always Soul Masters.
However, unlike the Star Luo Empire, a land of tigers and wolves, the culture of the Heavenly Dou Empire dislikes fighting and prides itself on being a land of etiquette.
This made the Heaven Dou Empire more stable than the Star Luo Empire, with fewer internal conflicts, but it also made the nobles of the Heaven Dou Empire worse off with each generation.
The nobles of Xingluo were thinking about war and plunder.
The nobles of Tiandou, on the other hand, were only interested in pleasure and indulging in leisure.
If it weren't for the Heaven Dou Empire's profound foundation and the fact that its development started earlier than the Star Luo Empire, most of the powerful Soul Master sects, such as the Seven Great Sects, would be located within the Heaven Dou Empire's territory.
Otherwise, given the warlike nature of the entire Xingluo people, endless war would be inevitable.
...
Tian Dou City, Dugu Bo's private villa.
Just as Xuan Hao's Heavenly Battle Self-Improvement Association was making great strides, Dugu Yan found Xuan Hao and said that her grandfather wanted to meet him.
Xuan Hao didn't delay and went directly with Dugu Yan to Dugu Bo's residence in Tiandou City.
Located in a remote area, surrounded by lush greenery, the environment is serene but also exudes a sense of aloofness that keeps strangers away.
The backyard was filled with all sorts of poisonous plants, and the air was filled with a dizzying, sweet, and fishy smell.
Dugu Bo stood with his back to the gate, his hands behind his back, his dark green robe fluttering in the wind.
"You're here?"
Hearing footsteps, Dugu Bo slowly turned around.
Without any warning, an incomparably terrifying aura erupted from his body, transforming into a ferocious emerald green serpent phantom, its blood-red maw gaping wide, carrying a suffocatingly foul stench, and pressing down on Xuan Hao!
"You little brat! You have some nerve!"
"How dare you kidnap my granddaughter! Do you really think I wouldn't dare kill you?!"
Startled by this sudden show of force, Dugu Yan was about to explain when Xuan Hao raised his hand to stop her.
Xuan Hao stood still, showing no sign of panic, not even frowning.
"Buzz—"
The next second, a high-pitched and passionate dragon roar suddenly rang out!
Xuan Hao's pupils instantly turned crimson gold, and his full head of silver hair also turned into a dazzling gold color in an instant.
An ancient, domineering, and terrifying aura, seemingly from the primordial era, suddenly erupted from his small body!
A terrifying dragon's might, originating from the depths of his bloodline, crashed back against Dugu Bo's aura, like a king descending!
"Hiss—!"
The once invincible emerald green serpent phantom, faced with this ultimate dragon might, let out a terrified cry and instantly shattered and dissipated.
Dugu Bo's momentum faltered, and he was forced to take a half-step back.
"this..."
Dugu Bo's expression froze, and his fierce look instantly crumbled.
Although he overwhelmed Xuan Hao in terms of soul power level, in this pure contest of martial soul quality, his Azure Phosphorous Serpent Emperor seemed to have encountered its natural enemy and instinctively wanted to retreat.
"Old poisoner."
Xuan Hao narrowed his eyes, his crimson-gold vertical pupils coldly staring at Dugu Bo:
Have you had enough fun?
"If you haven't had enough fun, shall we continue?
Let's see if your snake venom is more potent, or my dragon's might is stronger?"
Dugu Bo: "..."
He felt a little embarrassed.
He was, after all, a titled Douluo, a figure standing at the very top of the pyramid across the entire continent.
How come I can't get any face at all in front of this eight or nine-year-old brat?
"You brat!"
Dugu Bo's imposing aura dissipated, and he retorted irritably, "Can't you be a little afraid? Would it kill you to give me some face?!"
"That 'try and see what I'm capable of' attitude is really asking for a beating, you know?!"
"Afraid?"
Xuan Hao dispelled his martial spirit possession, reverting to his harmless appearance.
He walked to the stone table, sat down, and poured himself a cup of tea.
"Shouldn't you be the one who's afraid?"
"You've messed with me, aren't you afraid that the people behind me will cause you trouble?
In that case, not only you, but even your precious granddaughter will have to pay with her life."
"joke!"
Dugu Bo sat down as well, his face full of disdain. "Even if you have many titled Douluo behind you, that's a matter for the future."
"Don't forget, your life is now in my hands."
"If I kill you now, what if the people behind you come for revenge later?
You're already dead."
"What meaning does the revenge of the living have for a dead person?
Can you even see it?"
"It really is meaningless."
Xuan Hao nodded, agreeing wholeheartedly:
"So-called revenge is nothing more than wishful thinking and self-indulgence by the living in order to quell their anger and guilt."
"For the dead, dust to dust, ashes to ashes.
Even if you cut your enemy into a thousand pieces, he will not come back to life."
"you..."
Dugu Bo was completely speechless.
How come this kid's thought process is even more clear-headed than his?
Shouldn't a normal child be so scared by such a threat that they wet their pants?
"Alright, alright, you win. I can't argue with you."
Dugu Bo waved his hand, looking utterly defeated. Arguing with this kid was practically a waste of his lifespan.
"Let's get down to business."
"You've stirred up such a mess, dragging the royal family, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School, and even me into it, and you even created that Self-Strengthening Association..."
What exactly do you want?
"Don't tell me you're only after that protection money, or to make me owe you a favor."
"Yes, we have both."
Xuan Hao toyed with the teacup in his hand and said casually, "Whether it's money, power, or favors, I want them all."
"However, in the end, the most important thing is for you and your grandson."
Xuan Hao raised his head, his gaze clear and open. "Although I can be a bit ruthless at times, I am essentially a pacifist.
I don't like violence.
The best outcome is when we can sit down and discuss business and everyone is happy."
"certainly."
"If there's really no other way, I won't give up what I want. Whether I have to steal it or cheat it, we'll see."
"Hmph, anyone can say nice things." Dugu Bo sneered.
"Since you've made your point clear, I won't beat around the bush with you.
Yan Yan has agreed to owe you a favor, and I'll acknowledge that."
"As long as it doesn't violate my principles or cross my bottom line, whether it's murder, arson, or robbery, I can help you with it once."
"Tell me, what do you want?"
Xuan Hao put down his teacup, extended a finger, and pointed in a certain direction outside Tian Dou City:
"I want your herb garden in Sunset Forest, and that hot pot with one side cold and the other hot."
Dugu Yan blinked blankly, looking at Dugu Bo with a puzzled expression:
"Medicine garden?
Grandpa, do we have a medicine garden in Sunset Forest?
How come I didn't know?"
She grew up with her grandfather, and although she knew that he often went to Sunset Forest to collect herbs, she had never heard of any fixed herb garden there.
Dugu Bo frowned deeply. "How did you know about that place?!"
That place was a blessed land he discovered by chance, and it was his biggest secret base.
The environment there was extremely harsh, which had a strong suppressive effect on his snake venom, but an ordinary soul master would die if he went in, so he never took Dugu Yan there, and never even mentioned it.
Where did this kid get this information from?
How I know is not important.
Xuan Hao didn't offer any explanation, but simply smiled at Dugu Bo, "The important thing is, I've taken a liking to that place."
"One word: give it to me or not?"
"No!"
Dugu Bo answered decisively without the slightest hesitation, "You brat! Your demands are going too far!"
"Do you know how many good things are in there?
Do you know that it's the culmination of my life's work?
You just want to take it all?
Aren't you afraid of stuffing yourself to death!"
That place was not only full of various rare poisonous plants, but it was also the key to suppressing the backlash of toxins in his body.
If we give it to Xuan Hao, where will he go to suppress the toxins?
Dugu Bo flicked his sleeves, his attitude hardening, "At most, I'll take you in for Yan Yan's sake, and let you choose three herbs to take with you. That's my bottom line!"
Three items?
Xuan Hao shook his head, looking disgusted.
"Old poisoner, that's not sincere.
What I want is that piece of land, along with everything inside it."
"Impossible! At most three items! No more!"
"Don't be so quick to refuse."
Xuan Hao seemed to have anticipated Dugu Bo's reaction, and was not annoyed.
He simply slowly raised his second finger:
"What if I told you... the bargaining chip for this deal is to resolve the backlash from the Azure Phosphorus Serpent venom affecting you and your grandson?"
"..."
At that moment, time seemed to stand still.
Dugu Bo's anger froze on his face, replaced by an incredulous shock and a hint of fear hidden deep in his eyes.
"you..."
Dugu Bo stared intently at Xuan Hao, his voice becoming somewhat hoarse, the surrounding air temperature plummeting, and a chilling killing intent faintly emanating from him.
How did you know about this?
"Who told you that?!"
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