The Frustrated Heavenly Phoenix Douluo, a Troublesome Kid

"Heavenly Phoenix Senior."

Ling Luo bowed slightly.

Because of his sister Ya Li, Ling Luo did not hold much affection for this Heavenly Phoenix Douluo.

However, the respect due to a top powerhouse of the Soul Master World was still necessary.

What was more, his sister Ya Li was not a petty person either. She had never taken defeated opponents like Leng Yaozhu too seriously.

After all, because of her physical condition, Ya Li could not bear children. She had even taken the initiative to suggest that Yun Ming find another woman.

But Yun Ming was deeply devoted to her and refused Ya Li's suggestion. Together, they regarded Ling Luo as their only descendant, cherishing and doting on him greatly.

That was where Ling Luo's title as the Sea God Pavilion's Crown Prince came from.

Heavenly Phoenix Douluo Leng Yaozhu!

This name stood on the Mainland Rankings.

Anyone with even a slight understanding of the Soul Master World would not be unfamiliar with this name.

A strange light flickered in Ye Xinglan's starry eyes.

She had guessed that Gu Yue's background in the Spirit Pagoda was extraordinary, but she had not expected it to be this extraordinary.

After all, this Heavenly Phoenix Douluo was not merely one of the Soul Master World's peak powerhouses. She was also the current head of the Phoenix Family and the Spirit Pagoda Vice Pagoda Master.

One of the Spirit Pagoda's true top executives!

She had never expected Gu Yue's teacher to be this person.

No wonder she could mobilize a car of the Spirit Pagoda's caliber and descend upon the Inner Court.

"Ling Luo, Life Angel Martial Soul. It is said to be a Martial Soul mutated from Holy Spirit Douluo Ya Li's Prayer Angel Martial Soul. It possesses healing abilities no weaker than the Prayer Angel's, while in combat strength, it can rival ordinary top-tier assault-type Martial Souls."

"At thirteen, he had already reached the cultivation of a Soul Emperor and become a First-Rank Battle Armor Master."

"With just two Spirit Skills, he easily suppressed a thirty-thousand-year Emerald Shadow Dragon Snake capable of contending with top-tier Soul Saints..."

Leng Yaozhu slowly recounted all the intelligence regarding Ling Luo.

Looking at the youth before her, a trace of emotion suddenly entered her voice.

"You are even more brilliant than he was back then."

"Ya Li truly has a good little brother!"

Yuanen Yehui and the others might not have known who the "he" Leng Yaozhu spoke of was, but Ling Luo understood perfectly.

The person this Heavenly Phoenix Douluo was referring to was undoubtedly his brother-in-law, the current strongest person in the Soul Master World, Sky Pillar Douluo Yun Ming.

Leng Yaozhu's sigh came from the heart.

She had personally witnessed the young Yun Ming of that era.

He had been peerless in grace and unmatched in brilliance.

The geniuses of the entire Soul Master World had seemed to fade beneath that Sky Pillar Spear.

It was precisely because of that dazzling brilliance that Leng Yaozhu had fallen for Yun Ming.

Even after being defeated by Ling Luo's sister, Holy Spirit Ya Li, she had never truly given up in her heart.

She had thought that the Soul Master World would never produce another person as breathtakingly talented as Yun Ming.

But Ling Luo's appearance had shattered that belief.

The intelligence previously gathered by the Spirit Pagoda had already been shocking enough.

A thirteen-year-old Soul Emperor, along with his terrifying Spirit Ring configuration, had once made Leng Yaozhu suspicious.

Even though the Spirit Pagoda had ranked him first on the Young Genius Ranking, Leng Yaozhu, having never seen him in person, had remained doubtful.

She had even believed it was false information deliberately released by Shrek Academy, merely to create a godlike figure and expand its influence.

Therefore, after hearing that Ling Luo and her disciple Gu Yue would be visiting the Intermediate Spirit Ascension Platform today, Leng Yaozhu, who happened to be at the Spirit Pagoda in Shrek City, took action.

She had even used her authority to transfer the Emerald Shadow Dragon Snake, a Guardian Soul Beast that should not have appeared in that area of the Spirit Ascension Platform.

Her purpose had been to use it to uncover Ling Luo's limits.

But Ling Luo's performance had far exceeded this Heavenly Phoenix Douluo's expectations.

Even the Emerald Shadow Dragon Snake, comparable to a high-level Soul Saint, had only managed to force two Spirit Skills out of Ling Luo, who was unable to use his Battle Armor!

However, there was at least one thing Leng Yaozhu could now confirm.

All the information about Ling Luo was real. It was not false information deliberately released by Shrek Academy to put on a show.

For a moment, Leng Yaozhu could not help feeling a little jealous of Ya Li.

It was one thing for Yun Ming to be devoted to her, but she also had an even more extraordinarily talented younger brother. Why did all the good fortune fall to that woman?

But when she thought of how Ya Li had earned the title of Holy Spirit, Leng Yaozhu could understand.

After all, even as a romantic rival, she did not harbor any ill feelings toward Ya Li.

"Your Excellency overpraises me. I was merely fortunate."

Ling Luo replied softly, neither humble nor overbearing.

"I should also thank Senior for the Soul Bone you sent me."

Upon hearing Ling Luo's words, Leng Yaozhu's expression stiffened.

He really had to bring up the one thing she did not want mentioned.

Had that Emerald Shadow Dragon Snake's Soul Bone been something Leng Yaozhu deliberately wanted to give Ling Luo?

Obviously not.

Although Leng Yaozhu did not dislike Ya Li, she was not so low as to voluntarily give an External Soul Bone of considerable value to her romantic rival's younger brother.

She had merely wanted to use the Emerald Shadow Dragon Snake to test Ling Luo's true abilities.

Who could have known that Ling Luo, with only Soul Emperor cultivation and no Battle Armor, would so easily deal with the Emerald Shadow Dragon Snake?

Still, Leng Yaozhu was an old fox who had lived for many years.

Ling Luo had already absorbed the Emerald Shadow Dragon Snake's Soul Bone. Even if she fussed over it now, she could change nothing, and would only make herself seem petty.

Thus, although Leng Yaozhu was extremely displeased by her own miscalculation, she still revealed a faint smile and said in an unconcerned tone,

"It's nothing. That was your own ability."

"Those are the Spirit Pagoda's rules. Since you defeated the Guardian Soul Beast, that Soul Bone naturally belongs to you."

"You are magnanimous, Senior," Ling Luo said with a smile.

He had seen through Leng Yaozhu's insincerity.

But he did not expose her.

She had given him a rather good External Soul Bone, whether intentionally or not. Ling Luo felt there was no need to deliberately embarrass her.

After some brief conversation, Ling Luo and the others returned to Shrek Academy.

After asking whether her disciple Gu Yue had experienced any discomfort at Shrek Academy during this time, Leng Yaozhu returned to the top-floor office of the Spirit Pagoda in Shrek City.

"What a troublesome kid."

Leng Yaozhu rested her long, snow-white legs on the desk and stretched. Her fiery figure was perfectly outlined by her fitted dress, while a hint of frustration showed on her face.

The reason she had taken the initiative to meet Ling Luo and the others was, first, because she had seen Ling Luo's unexpectedly impressive performance in the Spirit Ascension Platform surveillance footage, and second, because Leng Yaozhu wanted to recruit him.

More accurately, she wanted to lure him in.

Although the relationship between Shrek Academy and the Spirit Pagoda was delicate, they were at least friendly on the surface.

There were also quite a few students at Shrek Academy who held identities within the Spirit Pagoda.

So there should be nothing wrong with bringing Ling Luo into the fold, right?

A twelve- or thirteen-year-old youth had probably devoted himself to cultivation before this and likely had little experience with worldly affairs. With a mixture of coaxing and deception, she might just succeed.

Though it was somewhat embarrassing for her to deceive someone of the younger generation like this.

But if she could pull Ya Li's younger brother into her side, Leng Yaozhu felt excited just thinking about it.

Perhaps it was not so embarrassing after all.

But Ling Luo was even harder to deal with than she had imagined.

He was only twelve or thirteen, yet it was one thing for his cultivation to be frighteningly high, and another for his conduct to be so mature that it did not resemble someone his age at all.

She, the dignified Heavenly Phoenix Douluo and Spirit Pagoda Vice Pagoda Master, had failed to gain even the slightest advantage.

That kid's answers were flawless, and sometimes he could even turn her own tricks back on her.