Brat! It Seems Your Fate Wasn't to Die!

Dugu Bo withdrew that terrifying killing intent.

Only then could Lin Xiao breathe deeply. Just now, he had felt as though his throat were being strangled, making even speaking extremely difficult.

This was the first time in Lin Xiao's life that he had faced a powerful expert's killing intent.

It was an experience akin to becoming a fish on the chopping block. He could clearly feel that he was as insignificant as an ant, his life as worthless as grass, entirely in another person's hands.

Life and death were decided by a single thought from the powerful.

The feeling was terrible, but Lin Xiao treasured it. He even began to laugh heartily despite himself, leaving the well-traveled Dugu Bo somewhat dumbfounded.

Wait, he was only trying to scare the boy. Did he scare him stupid?

Damn it, when Yan Yan comes back, won't she yank his beard?

"What are you laughing at?"

Dugu Bo decided to ask first. If the boy could still answer, he probably was not completely stupid yet.

Lin Xiao's laughter gradually subsided.

"I'm not laughing at anything. I'm just very happy. I've once again recognized my position clearly. I'm only a tiny ant, a weakling that others can crush to death with a casual gesture."

"And there's also that fear of having my life outside my own control. Tsk, that's truly rare. If not for you, Senior Dugu, I don't know how much longer it would have taken me to experience it. Perhaps by then, it would have been too late."

A wise person knew their own limitations.

After transmigrating, Lin Xiao had always felt separated from this continent. His values clashed with this world where the strong were revered, and he had constantly reminisced about the comfort and ease of his previous life.

When his Evil Fire first erupted, a thought had flashed through his mind: Would I return to Blue Star after dying by self-immolation? Perhaps all of this is just a long dream.

But when he was truly about to die, his intense desire to survive had miraculously reminded him of the Ice Heart Incantation, ultimately saving his life and making him realize that he was in a real world.

You've got to be kidding. If this were a dream, I'd already be in unbearable pain. Wouldn't I have woken up by now?

His clash with Dugu Bo had been an even more valuable lesson for Lin Xiao during his time on the Douluo Continent. It had made him understand many things in an instant. He was no longer floating like a cloud in the sky, but standing firmly on solid ground.

'Lin Xiao, forget your Innate Full Soul Power. Forget the improvements brought by Evil Fire Body Tempering. Forget the cheat-like ability of the Nine Hearted Begonia to defy fate...'

'You're only a Soul Master of around a dozen levels.'

'In this world where strength is supreme, you're still an ant. You must maintain reverence toward the powerful. You're still a junior, so you must humbly seek guidance from your seniors.'

Lin Xiao silently repeated these words in his heart, feeling as though his thoughts had become completely unobstructed.

At this very moment.

He had finally truly integrated into this real world.

Dugu Bo had no idea that countless thoughts had flashed through Lin Xiao's mind.

He had even experienced an epiphany-like enlightenment.

All Dugu Bo cared about was that Lin Xiao had not been frightened stupid.

"You said your Martial Soul also had a flaw? Tell me about it. And what makes you so certain that my Dugu Family's Jade Phosphorous Serpent Martial Soul also has a flaw?"

Lin Xiao cupped his hands toward Dugu Bo. After organizing his thoughts, he began explaining in an orderly manner:

"My Martial Soul is the Evil Fire Phoenix. Because of an innate flaw, if I don't release the Evil Fire inside my body, I'll suffer Explosion to Death. At the same time, the Evil Fire continuously produces Fire Poison. If I can't expel it, my body will become unnaturally fat and ugly, and it will become a hidden danger in the future."

Ma Hongjun was short and fat for two main reasons:

First, his body was too weak, which made him short and pudgy;

Second, the Fire Poison damaged his body, which made him ugly and gave him a lecherous air.

"I refused to let the Evil Fire control me, so I searched everywhere by every possible means. I read in some books that many Soul Masters suffered from flaws in their Martial Souls, and that no one in certain families had lived to a natural death. This made me even more anxious."

"Later, after searching everywhere, I saw some fantastical descriptions in an Ancient Text. It said that to resolve an innate flaw in a Martial Soul, one had to find an Innate Treasure Land and obtain an Immortal Grass."

"I'm an orphan with no ties holding me back. I originally planned to travel across the continent in search of the Treasure Land, but then I suddenly heard about Your Excellency Poison Douluo's circumstances, and I faintly made a guess."

Lin Xiao spoke frankly:

"The Jade Phosphorous Serpent Martial Soul has been passed down for a long time. As a top-tier Beast Martial Soul, it should have spread and flourished like the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon and the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda, establishing its own sect. How could it possibly be passed down through only a single line?"

"It's even like the Heaven's Jealousy-afflicted Nine Hearted Begonia! Only two people remain."

"I know there must be something strange about this. Yet Poison Douluo, you were able to break through to the Title Douluo realm, which raised even more questions in my heart. I guess you've already found a solution, but that method can only be used on you alone. Otherwise, you wouldn't have only Miss Yan Yan as your sole relative."

Lin Xiao's words touched the hidden pain in Dugu Bo's heart.

However, he did not feel angry. He only felt boundless desolation. Even his originally stern eyes gradually lost their edge as he let out a long sigh.

"Since you know that my method can only be used on myself, why are you still looking for me?"

Lin Xiao answered frankly:

"The stones of another mountain can polish jade."

"No matter what, it's worth a try. I wonder if Your Excellency Poison Douluo could tell me? Otherwise, I'll have no choice but to leave Heaven Dou City and search for that Innate Treasure Land where Ice and Fire Coexisting can be found."

"It's just that whether such a place exists in this world is still uncertain."

Dugu Bo's expression suddenly changed.

A moment ago, he had been immersed in sorrow, and his nerves had been somewhat numb.

Only now did he notice the "Treasure Land" and "Immortal Grass" mentioned in Lin Xiao's words.

"Wait!"

"What did you say? A Treasure Land where Ice and Fire Coexisting can be found?!"

"Where's that Ancient Text? Let me see it!"

Lin Xiao looked at Dugu Bo in bewilderment.

He seemed unable to understand why the other party was so agitated.

"Senior Dugu, what that Ancient Text described was vague and fantastical. How could such a place exist in this world? I truly had no other choice, so I came here with the attitude of treating a dead horse as a living one."

But then anticipation appeared on Lin Xiao's face.

"Of course, Senior Dugu, you're immensely powerful. If you can help me find this Treasure Land, not only can my Martial Soul's flaw be resolved, Miss Yan Yan can also be saved!"

"Senior Dugu, let's cooperate!"

At this moment, Dugu Bo could not hear any of Lin Xiao's words.

He merely urged him repeatedly:

"Show me the Ancient Text first!"

Lin Xiao spread his hands. "I saw that Ancient Text in a cave. I could still flip through it while it was inside the cave, but after I left, it was completely destroyed and turned to ash."

Dugu Bo beat his chest and stamped his feet as he cursed:

"You fool!"

"Ancient Texts are buried underground for long periods or preserved in sealed conditions. How could you casually take one into the outside world? Naturally, it was destroyed the moment it came into contact with the outside air!"

Dugu Bo did not understand the principles behind paper oxidation.

But he knew the basic common sense regarding antiques!

"Young fool, you've ruined me!"

"Young fool, you've ruined me!"

Dugu Bo was truly about to be angered to death by Lin Xiao!

Lin Xiao's face was filled with confusion as he asked:

"Senior Dugu, it was merely a vague and fantastical account. Why are you taking it so seriously?"

"Besides, although the Ancient Text was destroyed, I memorized its contents. They're somewhat unclear, but if I see the actual items, I should still be able to identify them."

At these words, Dugu Bo's vexed voice abruptly stopped.

Brilliant light burst from his eyes!

"Boy, it seems your fate wasn't to die!"