...
"Well... see you at the academy tomorrow."
Dugu Yan released Na'er's hand and gave Xuan Hao a somewhat resentful look.
"See you tomorrow."
Xuan Hao waved his hand, watching Dugu Bo and Dugu Yan, who kept turning back to look at him, disappear into the night.
Dugu Bo walked briskly with his hands behind his back, clearly in a very good mood.
He turned his head slightly to look at Dugu Yan beside him, who seemed absent-minded and kept glancing back at the hotel.
A playful smile appeared on his lips.
"Oh dear, I wonder who was it that confidently said that kid was just a brute with no brains and looked down on him?"
Dugu Bo said leisurely, "How come you're already staring at that kid like that after only a few minutes apart?
You seem to want to tie yourself to that kid's belt and take him away with you?"
"Grandpa! What nonsense are you talking about!"
Dugu Yan's secret was exposed, and her pretty face instantly turned bright red, bristling like a cat whose tail had been stepped on.
"Who...who's looking at me with a drool-like gaze?! I was looking at Na'er!"
"Back at the academy, Xuanhao, that violent maniac, only knew how to cultivate and fight all day long.
It was Lingling and I who took care of Na'er.
Na'er is so cute, soft, and obedient. Isn't it normal for me to miss her?!"
"Oh—really?"
Dugu Bo drew out his words, his face saying, "See if I believe you or not,"
"So you can't bear to part with Na'er, huh?
That's good, that's good."
"I was worried that if you really fell for him, I would have to worry about how that philandering boy would treat you.
Since you don't like him, I'm relieved."
"grandfather!!"
Dugu Yan was so ashamed and indignant that she stomped her foot angrily, turned around and strode forward, "I'm ignoring you! You old lecher!"
Looking at his granddaughter's slightly flustered back, Dugu Bo shook his head, his smile deepening.
It's so good to be young.
Let these young people handle this kind of thing themselves.
...
On the other side, at the Tiandou Royal Hotel.
Xuanhao had just pushed open the door with Na'er in his hand, before he could even turn on the lights.
"call--"
Two ghostly figures darted out of the shadows of the room in an instant, one on the left and one on the right, blocking Xuan Hao's way like two guardian deities.
"Oh, ancestors!!!"
Yue Guan's signature soft, feminine voice was now tinged with a sob and despair, "You're finally back!
You've been gone for almost half a month, were you trying to drive us crazy?!"
The ghost was also shrouded in black mist, and its stiff, lifeless face was filled with anxiety.
"The Spirit City has given us a strict order:
we must report your whereabouts and safety every three days!
For the past two weeks, we've been making up excuses!
If we keep doing this, His Holiness the Pope will come down in person!"
"If Her Majesty finds out that you not only disappeared, but also hung out with that old poisoner Dugu Bo, even if the two of us had nine lives, it wouldn't be enough for her to skin us alive!"
Seeing the two Title Douluos in front of him who were as anxious as ants on a hot pan, Xuan Hao helplessly picked at his ears.
"Stay calm, stay calm."
Xuan Hao pulled Na'er into the room and plopped down on the sofa.
"Didn't I already tell you that I had to go out to take care of some personal business and would be back in a while?"
"Besides, I wasn't out having fun during this time; I was cultivating!"
"Buzz—"
A powerful and intense surge of energy suddenly erupted from Xuan Hao's body.
Level 42!
"this..."
Ghost and Moon Gate were completely dumbfounded.
"Level 4... Level 42?!"
Yue Guan screamed, her voice cracking.
"Weren't you only level 35 half a month ago?! Even a rocket couldn't have made you this fast!"
"Kid, you..."
Yue Guan seemed to realize something, her expression changed, and she stared intently at Xuan Hao, "You didn't eat that ten-thousand-year-old Dragon Blood Fungus, did you?!"
"You got it right!"
Xuan Hao snapped his fingers. "Not only did I eat the Dragon Blood Mushroom, but I also got a lot of good stuff from the old poison master and ate it all at once.
I was lucky; I didn't die from overeating and even leveled up a few times."
As he spoke, Xuan Hao slowly stood up, and spirit rings rose one after another beneath his feet.
Yellow, purple, red, black!
Four spirit rings, each a different color but radiating a suffocating pressure, hovered silently around him.
The air in the entire room instantly froze.
Even Chrysanthemum and Ghost, both titled Douluo, were momentarily speechless.
They already knew that the first spirit ring would last 800 years, the second 4000 years, and the third 100,000 years.
But this fourth spirit ring...
A black, ten-thousand-year-old soul ring!
"The fourth ring of the eternal era..."
Although I already knew this kid was a freak with abnormal physical abilities, and with the sacrifice of a 100,000-year-old soul beast as a foundation, it wasn't impossible for him to absorb a 10,000-year-old soul ring for his fourth soul ring.
But the problem is...
"This spirit ring's aura is off!"
After all, Yue Guan possessed the Qirong Tongtian Chrysanthemum Martial Soul, making him extremely sensitive to various auras.
He keenly sensed the special nature of this Soul Ring.
"Oh, don't worry about the details."
Xuan Hao waved his hand, not intending to delve into the matter further, as explaining it would be too troublesome and would involve bringing up the remnant soul of the Dragon King.
"Anyway, it works."
"And don't worry, I've already taken care of Dugu Bo.
From now on, he won't only not harm me, but will also be my ally."
"As for my safety, you don't need to worry about it at all."
Upon hearing this, Yue Guan and Gui Mei exchanged a glance.
Although they were still filled with shock and doubt, they knew that it would be pointless to ask what their little ancestor didn't want to talk about.
As long as the person is safe and their soul power has increased dramatically, that's an incredibly good thing.
"Alright, since you're alright, we've passed this test."
Yue Guan sighed, then his expression turned serious, and he took out a secret letter from his robes:
"However, there is one thing you can't avoid."
"Three days ago, His Holiness the Pope sent a message instructing you to set off immediately and return to Wuhun City."
"Back to Wuhun City?"
Upon hearing this, Xuan Hao shook his head vigorously, "No way!
I'd rather die than go!"
"This…" Ghost said hesitantly, "This is a papal decree.
His Holiness seems to have something important to tell us, and judging from his tone… he seems to be in a hurry."
"Haste is no good!"
Xuan Hao plopped back down on the sofa, crossed his legs, and adopted a "what's the worst that can happen?" attitude.
"Going back now would be suicide! She was furious when I ran away, and if I go back now, she'll definitely hang me up and beat me to a pulp!"
"Even though I've leveled up a few times, my current small frame still can't withstand her attacks!"
"No, absolutely not!"
Xuan Hao said righteously, "I'll go back after I've completely settled things here at Tian Dou, or... after I've figured out the most proper way to kneel and beg for mercy!"
"Tell her I'm on a secret mission outside, dedicating myself to the cause of the Spirit Hall, and I can't get away for the time being!"
Yue Guan and the Ghost: "..."
What you call "dedicating yourself to the utmost" is just collecting protection money at the Heavenly Dou Royal Academy?
"Little ancestor, don't be naive."
Yue Guan, with a bitter face, plopped down opposite Xuan Hao, her tone more serious than ever before:
"We have reported every detail of your actions in Tiandou City, including the Self-Improvement Association you set up at Tiandou Royal Academy, the protection fees you collected, and even your interactions with girls like Dugu Yan and Ye Lingling."
"In other words, His Holiness the Pope knows perfectly well what you've been doing here!"
"So what?"
Xuan Hao raised an eyebrow.
"I didn't do anything outrageous, did I?
I just earned some pocket money and expanded my network along the way, right?"
"The problem lies in connections!"
Ghost picked up the conversation, lowering his voice as he said:
"You've made a name for yourself at the Heaven Dou Royal Academy, keeping those noble children completely under your thumb.
And the Heaven Dou Royal Academy is not only the face of Emperor Xue Ye, but also one of the core strengths of that Crown Prince, Xue Qinghe."
"Now you not only dominate the academy, but you've also got ties to the royal family, and even Dugu Bo, a royal retainer, is getting so close to you..."
"In Your Majesty's eyes, this signal takes on a different meaning."
The ghost gave Xuan Hao a deep look and said, word by word:
"Your Majesty is probably now suspicious... that you have been won over by Xue Qinghe?
Or perhaps you are trying to get closer to that Crown Prince?"
"ha?!"
Upon hearing this, Xuan Hao nearly spat out a mouthful of blood, his face filled with utter injustice:
"What the hell?!"
"I didn't hang out with Qian... cough, Xue Qinghe at all, okay?!"
"I've never been to the Crown Prince's residence!
I've barely even seen the Crown Prince himself more than a few times!
How could I be hanging out with him?!"
"It's no use for us to believe you; we need His Majesty's belief."
Yue Guan sighed and shrugged helplessly.
"As you know, Your Majesty and that person over there... have a very strained relationship."
Qian Renxue represents the Elder Hall, the interests of the Grand Elder Qian Daoliu, and is the successor of the Angel lineage.
Bibidon represents the interests of the papacy.
Although they coexist peacefully on the surface, the behind-the-scenes competition between the two sides has never stopped over the years.
"You are His Majesty's disciple, His Majesty's successor personally groomed, and are even expected to be established as a Holy Son in the future."
"If Her Majesty feels that you, the fledgling eagle on which she placed such high hopes, have only flown a few days before turning around and flying to the enemy's branch..."
Yue Guan's expression was somewhat unnatural:
"The consequences... I don't need to elaborate, do I?"
Xuan Hao caused Bibi Dong to lose two 100,000-year-old soul beasts.
Such a big thing would make anyone kill him, but Bibi Dong endured it.
Afterwards, while Xuan Hao was still in solitary confinement, he secretly ran away from Wuhun City, and Bibi Dong still tolerated this.
Ultimately, it's because Bibi Dong considered Xuan Hao her person, her disciple whom she raised.
The child didn't know his place, so at worst she would discipline him and teach him slowly.
As for killing him, Bibi Dong couldn't bear to do it.
But if Xuan Hao leans towards Qian Renxue and sides with the Angel lineage, then things will change drastically!
The more lenient Bibi Dong was with Xuan Hao before, the more determined she would be to kill him next!
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