Preparing to Hunt Tang Hao—He Doesn't Have Long to Live

Zhao Linchuan swiftly weighed the pros and cons. The information about that "Land of Exile" was indeed astonishing, and the opportunities it contained were enough to drive anyone mad.

He no longer hesitated and nodded in agreement. "Fine. But when necessary, you'll need to help me."

"Agreed." The voice responded succinctly, then receded like the tide and vanished without a trace, as if it had never appeared.

At the exact moment that mysterious voice disappeared, Dugu Bo, who had been dozing Not Far Away, suddenly jolted awake.

He rubbed his bleary eyes and looked around in confusion, muttering in a Low Voice, "Hiss... Strange. What just... happened to Old Man? Why did it feel like I'd fallen asleep?"

By then, Zhao Linchuan had already composed himself. He walked over with a teasing smile and joked:

"Old Man, did fixing your Martial Soul defect leave you with too much energy? Did you secretly find Yanzi a grandmother and end up with depleted kidney qi?"

"Bullshit! Old Man has always kept himself clean and devoted himself to cultivation and the poison arts!"

Like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, Dugu Bo immediately bristled and retorted. Yet as he spoke, his Right Hand involuntarily rested on the pulse at his Left Hand wrist, carefully examining it as a trace of confusion appeared on his face.

"Hiss... This pulse is steady and strong. Nothing's wrong?"

Zhao Linchuan sat on the stone stool across from him, poured himself a cup of fine tea, and suddenly adopted a provocative tone. "Old Man, I heard your poison arts are unmatched across the land, peerless in the world?"

"Hmph!" Dugu Bo raised his chin slightly, pride returning to his face. "Naturally! When it comes to poison, if Old Man claims second place on this continent, no one would dare claim first!"

"Is that so?" Zhao Linchuan leaned forward slightly, his burning gaze fixed on him. "Then tell me, can you poison a Titled Douluo without anyone noticing?"

"Someone around Rank Ninety-Five, more or less."

Dugu Bo's gaze abruptly sharpened, like a venomous snake spotting prey. A dangerous, excited gleam flickered in his eyes. "Who?"

"The Clear Sky Douluo, Tang Hao!"

"Him?!" Dugu Bo's pupils suddenly contracted, and a flicker of shock crossed his face.

Ever since he had followed Zhao Linchuan's method and condensed a Poison Pill Inside Body, not only had the poison from his Martial Soul backlash that had plagued him for years vanished, but his Soul Power had advanced rapidly. He was no longer the same man once called the "weakest Titled Douluo."

Now, he truly no longer regarded ordinary Titled Douluo as threats.

Seeing his surprised expression, Zhao Linchuan assumed he was afraid and explained, "There's no need to worry too much. According to reliable information, Tang Hao was Severely Wounded years ago and has yet to recover. His strength has greatly declined, and at most he can only display..."

Before Zhao Linchuan could finish, Dugu Bo waved a hand to interrupt him, his expression grave. "Kid, you misunderstand."

"Old Man isn't afraid of Tang Hao's current strength! What I'm worried about is... the force he represents!"

He took a deep breath, his tone becoming extremely solemn. "Regardless of whether the Clear Sky Sect has expelled him, the blood of the Clear Sky Sect still flows through his veins."

"And what truly makes Old Man wary is that old fellow who disappeared decades ago, whose fate remains unknown—the previous Clear Sky Douluo, Tang Chen!"

He looked at Zhao Linchuan with utmost seriousness. "You're still young. Perhaps you've never heard of his former renown."

"Back then, with nothing but a Clear Sky Hammer, he forcefully defeated Qian Daoliu, the Angel Douluo of Spirit Hall, who was hailed as 'invincible in the sky' and closest to the realm of gods!"

"What elegance, what strength!"

"When Tang Hao killed the former Pope, Qian Xunji, the reason Spirit Hall did not immediately mobilize all its forces to eradicate him was, in Old Man's view, largely because they feared Tang Chen, who might have been hiding somewhere!"

"So that's what you're worried about." Zhao Linchuan instead smiled easily upon hearing this. He picked up the teapot and unhurriedly refilled Dugu Bo's cup with hot tea.

"On that point, you can put your mind at ease."

"That Tang Chen... he won't be coming back."

Dugu Bo's body trembled as he stared intently at him. "Are you certain?"

Zhao Linchuan set down the teapot and met his gaze, speaking with absolute certainty. "Certain, positive, and without a doubt!"

Seeing that doubt still lingered in Dugu Bo's eyes, Zhao Linchuan decided to give him another powerful push. He lightly tapped the Stone Table with a bent finger, lowered his voice, and said word by word:

"Old Man, do you know who that young lady who came with me today really is?"

Dugu Bo shook his head blankly. "I don't. Old Man knows at least something about every Martial Soul family of even modest renown on the continent."

"But I've never sensed the restrained yet noble aura On Body her."

The corners of Zhao Linchuan's mouth curled into a meaningful smile. He lowered his voice further, nearly whispering, "She is the biological daughter of the former Pope, Qian Xunji, and the direct granddaughter of Spirit Hall's current Grand Consecrator, the Angel Douluo Qian Daoliu—Qian Renxue!"

"With her here, even if Tang Chen truly manages to return, Spirit Hall will naturally stand at the front. Why should you and I fear him?"

He paused, powerful confidence seeping into his tone. "At Worst, once it's done, you can move your entire family into Spirit City and receive its protection."

"Give me time to grow."

"In thirty to fifty years at most, I'll personally beat the so-called Clear Sky Douluo senseless!"

"What?!" Dugu Bo excitedly slammed the Stone Table, making the cups and saucers bounce as tea splashed everywhere. "You Kid! When did you start... colluding with Spirit Hall?!"

"Old Man, watch your wording!" Zhao Linchuan raised one finger and corrected him with a smile. "It's not that I'm colluding with them. It's their Young Master who has gone to every length to 'collude' with me!"

Dugu Bo lifted his teacup and gulped down a large mouthful, trying to calm his tumultuous emotions.

His expression shifted several times. Finally, a flash of ruthlessness and resolve passed through his eyes. He heavily set the teacup on the table with a dull thud. "Fine! Wealth and honor are sought amid danger! When do we act?"

Seeing that he had agreed, Zhao Linchuan's smile widened. He refilled his cup once more, his tone becoming steady. "Don't rush. It won't be long now. We just need to wait for a suitable opportunity to lure him out."

"So, are you confident?"

A vicious glint flashed through Dugu Bo's eyes. He licked his somewhat dry lips and said proudly, "As long as his true current strength doesn't exceed Rank Ninety-Six, Old Man has a seventy percent chance of making him fall for it!"

Zhao Linchuan leaned forward upon hearing this and pressed, "What if... his strength is only around Rank Ninety-Two?"

"Then it'll be even easier!" Dugu Bo sneered, his face filled with confidence.

"Old Man can poison him so thoroughly that he won't even realize how he was poisoned, dropping him silently to the ground to be slaughtered at will!"

(Starting the trial run today. If you have time, please keep reading.)