Dugu Bo

But Meng Shenji and the other two wore somewhat strange expressions and exchanged glances.

An eighteen-year-old Soul Elder at level thirty-five could indeed be called a genius.

But geniuses needed comparison too.

With someone who was level thirty-one at twelve standing before them, they could hardly act too amazed.

Seeing that the three council members did not even offer a word of praise, Dugu Bo became somewhat displeased.

What did this mean? Were they looking down on him, or looking down on his granddaughter?

"So it seems my granddaughter is not worthy of joining your Heaven Dou Royal Academy, is that it, Prince Xue Xing?"

His words carried deeper meaning, and his tone revealed his displeasure.

Prince Xue Xing had not expected these three old fellows to be so lacking in tact.

Were they not slapping the Jade Serpent Douluo in the face? He forced a smile and said:

"Your Excellency, you jest. Your granddaughter joining Heaven Dou Royal Academy would honor the academy. How could she possibly be unworthy?"

As he spoke, he shot Meng Shenji a meaningful look.

Meng Shenji also knew that he had been too indifferent. He gave an awkward laugh and declared loudly:

"Bilin Your Excellency, your granddaughter is truly gifted. Her joining our academy would also be our honor."

"Pfft!"

Dong Bo chose that moment to laugh out loud.

He naturally understood why Meng Shenji and the other two had worn those expressions just now, and he had failed to hold back his laughter.

Seeing this man mock her so openly, Dugu Yan immediately lost her temper.

She sprang to her feet, pointed at Dong Bo, and snapped:

"What do you mean by that? Are you looking down on me?"

Ye Xiaobao was also rather speechless.

Ever since Dong Bo had left Spirit Hall, he had become more and more unruly. Ye Xiaobao quietly patted him from behind.

Dong Bo understood that the Young Master was warning him. He stood as well and said with a smile:

"A misunderstanding, a misunderstanding. I simply thought of something amusing and really could not hold it in."

Dugu Yan's face flushed red. She stamped her foot, turned around, and shook Dugu Bo's arm.

"Grandpa, look! They're bullying me."

There was already a hint of tears in her voice.

Ye Xiaobao's heart sank. If this did not turn into a fight, Dugu Bo would truly have an excellent temper.

Dugu Bo's expression changed as well. He slowly rose to his feet and stared fixedly at Dong Bo.

Soul rings emerged beneath his feet one after another.

Yellow, yellow, purple, purple, black, black, black, black.

When the ninth soul ring appeared, the entire council chamber instantly grew gloomy, and every potted plant on the windowsills withered.

A trace of green appeared in his eyes as well.

"Looks like it has been too long since I last made a move. Now anyone dares provoke me."

Dong Bo naturally understood the gap between a Soul Douluo and a Titled Douluo.

Even though he was level eighty-nine, that one-level difference was as vast as heaven and earth.

Dugu Bo in particular had earned his title through poison. To anyone below the rank of Titled Douluo, he posed an enormous threat.

Even if the four Soul Douluo present joined forces, they could not possibly be Dugu Bo's match.

Prince Xue Xing hesitated as well. After giving it some thought, he came up with a solution. He bowed to Dugu Bo and urged:

"Your Excellency, you may have misunderstood. Mr. Dong surely did not mean it that way."

"Oh? Then I would like to hear what he did mean!"

Dugu Bo glanced at Prince Xue Xing and spoke coldly.

If Prince Xue Xing had not saved him from the Chrysanthemum Ghost Douluo, why would he have joined the Heaven Dou Empire?

Still, he had to give Prince Xue Xing some face.

Seeing an opportunity to ease the situation, Ye Xiaobao did not dare let Dong Bo speak again.

He slowly stepped forward and said respectfully:

"Senior, you have misunderstood. My teacher merely felt that we had finally found a place to settle down today, and he became a little distracted, which was why he laughed. He had absolutely no other intention. Teacher, you truly were somewhat rude just now. Please, look."

Hearing this, Dong Bo immediately understood the Young Master's meaning and promptly apologized:

"Your Excellency, I was indeed disrespectful just now. I hope you and your granddaughter will not take offense."

With that, he bent at the waist in a bow.

Seeing that the man's apology was indeed sincere, Dugu Bo withdrew his soul rings.

After all, he did not wish to bully a Soul Douluo. That would damage his reputation as well.

"Hmph. I shall take it as unintentional. However, I see that your disciple is around the same age as my granddaughter. Why not let the younger generation spar?"

Meng Shenji had originally wanted to say something to mediate. Seeing that the matter had already eased, he had relaxed.

He had not expected another complication to arise. He knew it was time for him to speak.

"Your Excellency may not know this, but this child is only twelve years old. There is still quite a gap between his age and your granddaughter's. Why not forget about the spar?"

Dugu Bo found it hard to believe. Twelve? Such a big boy, and they were telling him he was twelve?

He did not voice his doubts. Instead, he slowly walked up to Ye Xiaobao and felt his arm twice.

It was true.

His bone age was indeed twelve.

After finishing his examination, Dugu Bo asked Ye Xiaobao in a deep voice:

"What level is your Soul Power now?"

Ye Xiaobao replied calmly and without humility or arrogance:

"Level thirty-one."

"What? Level thirty-one?!"

Dugu Bo cried out in shock.

He knew all too well what it meant to be level thirty-one at twelve years old.

A soul master's early cultivation speed was closely tied to the quality of their martial soul and their Innate Soul Power.

Even the youngest Titled Douluo on the continent could not possibly have possessed level thirty-one Soul Power at the age of twelve.

Dugu Yan's face reddened even further. Still unable to accept it, she said:

"Impossible! How could someone only twelve have Soul Power at level thirty-one?"

Prince Xue Xing now somewhat understood why those people had worn those expressions earlier.

Boasting fiercely about an eighteen-year-old at level thirty-five in front of someone who was level thirty-one at twelve—who would be able to praise that?

After thinking for a moment, Dugu Bo said:

"Little fellow, show this old man your soul rings."

Ye Xiaobao knew there was no avoiding it. He secretly used his second soul skill, Transformation Method.

He imitated the three soul rings of a Soul Elder.

Then, three soul rings emerged beneath his feet as well.

Yellow, yellow, purple!

The instant the three soul rings appeared, the scene fell silent.

Although they all knew about it already, the appearance of those three soul rings still gave everyone an enormous shock.

Level thirty-one at twelve—barring any mishap, he would surely become a Titled Douluo in the future.

Dong Bo curled his lip and cursed inwardly, What country bumpkins. The Young Master only showed the tiniest bit of his strength, and they were already frightened. A Titled Douluo? They really have seen nothing of the world.

"Xiaobao, did your teacher not tell you to keep a low profile? You come out showing off with just this little strength!"

"Put your soul rings away at once."

Ye Xiaobao's mouth twitched. Did he have to start a fight to feel satisfied? Once they got back, Ye Xiaobao would definitely have a proper talk with Dong Bo.

With that mouth of his, how had he even lived this long?

It was not entirely Dong Bo's fault. He had previously belonged to the Chrysanthemum Ghost Douluo's secret unit, where discipline was strict.

Later, after following Ye Xiaobao, the people he saw every day were either the Pope or the Sixth and Seventh Enshrined.

Having come outside, he naturally looked down somewhat on everyone else.

Of course, he did have a certain talent for being sharp-tongued.

Dugu Bo's expression was extremely unpleasant now, and his face had even reddened somewhat. This was the first time he had ever been so humiliated.

He wished he could find a hole in the ground and crawl into it, especially when he thought of those people's expressions just now.

He lowered his head, coughed softly, and said:

"Little fellow, are you interested in taking this old man as your master?"