Dugu Bo Comes Calling

"The person who refined this pill had reached the pinnacle of control over heat and medicinal properties!"

Dugu Bo's eyes flickered. To refine ordinary herbs into a pill of such quality—this person's alchemical attainments were likely far above his own!

He then raised his head to look at Dugu Yan, his expression solemn. "Yan Yan, are you sure this pill was refined by your team leader?"

"Other than Teacher Lin Mu, none of the other teachers know how to refine medicine."

At her words, Dugu Bo fell silent for a moment, thoughts racing through his mind.

With such profound alchemical skill, this person might be able to resolve the toxic backlash suffered by their Jade Phosphorous Serpent Martial Soul lineage.

Thinking of this, a sharp gleam flashed through Dugu Bo's emerald eyes. He asked gravely, "Yan Yan, what is this man's background?"

"I don't know either. It seems His Highness the Crown Prince invited him to be our team leader. He's only around twenty-two, yet he's stronger than Teacher Qin Ming. Even without using his martial soul, Tianheng couldn't withstand a single move from him."

Dugu Bo's pupils contracted. To crush Yu Tianheng without using a martial soul meant he was at least a Soul Emperor, perhaps even a Soul Sage.

He had spent many years in the world of soul masters and had seen countless geniuses, yet all of them paled in comparison to this man.

Even the Clear Sky Douluo, who had once shaken the continent, had not possessed talent comparable to his.

"Oh, right. He also has a disciple whose talent is just as terrifying. He isn't even thirteen yet, but his soul power has already reached level thirty-four. He even defeated Tianheng."

By the end, Dugu Yan's expression had grown increasingly complicated. Before this master and disciple, even the most outstanding geniuses would seem mediocre.

"What?!"

Dugu Bo was utterly shocked, no longer able to maintain the pride of a Titled Douluo.

A twenty-two-year-old Soul Sage was already shocking enough, yet now there was another Soul Elder under thirteen with level thirty-four soul power, who had defeated Yu Tianheng despite fighting above his level—and Yu Tianheng possessed the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Martial Soul.

This master and disciple simply could not be judged by common sense!

After his shock subsided, the hope in Dugu Bo's heart burned even brighter. Since Lin Mu was so unfathomable, perhaps he truly could solve the problem with their martial souls.

"Where is he now?"

"Teacher Lin Mu lives in the academy's separate teacher dormitories, but I don't know exactly where. He comes and goes unpredictably. Usually, Teacher Qin Ming is the one who informs us when we need to gather."

At this point, Dugu Yan paused before adding, "However, he often teaches Lingling in private. Sometimes, after our daily spirit battles, we run into him at the training grounds."

A gleam flashed in Dugu Bo's eyes. He had already made his decision.

The following evening, the Imperial Dou Team finished a day of spirit battles and walked back toward the academy.

"Tang San, I never expected your master to not only have such deep research into martial souls, but also possess such incredible alchemical skill."

Yu Tianheng walked beside Tang San, his face full of envy.

From yesterday until now, he had taken two Soul Power Pills, and his soul power had already touched the threshold of level forty.

By conservative estimates, one Soul Power Pill had saved him at least half a month of cultivation.

There were five pills in a bottle of Soul Power Pills. As long as he fully absorbed the remaining three, he would definitely break through to level forty.

In his view, Tang San had probably often taken such pills to cultivate to level thirty-four at such a young age.

Tang San did not bother explaining Yu Tianheng's misunderstanding.

The first reason his cultivation had progressed so quickly was his Innate Full Soul Power. The second was that the soul rings his master had chosen for him had continuously strengthened the quality of his Blue Silver Grass.

Still, the pills his master refined truly had astonishing effects.

With these two bottles of Soul Power Pills, he believed he would not need long to break through to level thirty-five.

This kindness from his master sent a warm current through his heart.

"Oh, right. Master once said that the age of soul rings one can absorb depends largely on the strength of one's body."

Tang San looked at Yu Tianheng beside him and continued, "Brother Tianheng, with these Body Tempering Pills strengthening your physique, you can consider raising the age of your Fourth Soul Ring a little."

At this, a flicker of temptation flashed through Yu Tianheng's eyes before vanishing. Somewhat worried, he asked, "Wouldn't that be too risky?"

Naturally, the higher a Soul Ring Age was, the better. But if he rashly increased it and something went wrong, what then?

At that moment, Qin Ming heard their conversation and quickly approached. Thinking of Lin Mu's soul ring configuration, he immediately said in a deep voice:

"As long as it is within what your body can withstand, you can certainly raise the age appropriately. There's no need to pursue the limit—around six thousand years should be enough. The Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon is one of the finest beast martial souls, and with the pills tempering your body, there shouldn't be any problem."

Hearing Teacher Qin Ming say the same, Yu Tianheng finally made up his mind and nodded firmly. "Then I'll absorb a six-thousand-year soul ring!"

Soul rings concerned one's entire life. The stronger one became now, even by a fraction, the wider the road ahead would be.

Take Teacher Qin Ming, for example. So what if he had once been the second-youngest Soul Emperor on the continent? His Fifth Soul Ring was ultimately only a thousand-year ring, something that was almost impossible to change.

Before long, the group arrived at the training grounds reserved for the Imperial Dou Team.

Inside, Ye Lingling was the only one practicing her movement technique. Lin Mu was nowhere to be seen.

Yu Tianheng and the others had long known that Lin Mu privately taught Ye Lingling a movement technique, and they were deeply envious.

Although Ye Lingling had only learned a small portion of it, her speed had already improved noticeably. They could hardly imagine what it would be like if she learned the complete technique.

However, as the team's most important support soul master, improving Ye Lingling's ability to protect herself would be immensely beneficial in team battles.

"Lingling, has Teacher Lin Mu been here?" Dugu Yan stepped forward and asked.

Ye Lingling stopped moving and gently shook her head. In her cool voice, she said, "Lin Mu came half an hour ago. He guided me for a while, then left."

At those words, Yu Tianheng and the others instead breathed a sigh of relief.

To be fair, Teacher Lin Mu treated them well, and his training was clearly more effective—it was just that his methods were a little brutal.

Just then, an Emerald Green figure entered the training grounds like a ghost, silently landing beside Dugu Yan.

The newcomer was none other than Dugu Bo.

The instant he appeared, Xiao Wu's entire body stiffened. Like a startled rabbit, she hurriedly hid behind Tang San, desperately reining in her aura as her eyes uncontrollably turned red.

Fortunately, Dugu Bo's attention was entirely on his granddaughter at the moment, not on her.

"Grandfather, why are you here?" Dugu Yan asked in surprise.

"Greetings, Your Excellency Poison Douluo!"

Qin Ming, Yu Tianheng, and the others did not dare show negligence upon seeing this senior Poison Douluo, and all bowed in greeting.

Although the Poison Douluo was the weakest Titled Douluo, he was still a Titled Douluo—and his moods were unpredictable. He could go mad at any moment.

Dugu Bo casually waved a hand and said flatly, "This old man came to find Lin Mu. Where is he?"

Before coming here, he had already visited the teachers' dormitory area, yet failed to find the young teacher he was looking for.