Aunt Ling Yuan

"From Spirit Hall?"

He turned and sized up the woman who had arrived at some unknown point, his gaze lingering briefly on her uniform and the badge on her chest. He could tell she was from Spirit Hall, and her status was not low.

"I'm the one asking questions, not you."

A displeased look crossed Ling Yuan's face, and she found the man even more suspicious.

She had previously ordered the Spirit Hall branches in the surrounding cities to keep people away from this area, lest they disturb Golden Crocodile Douluo while he refined his soul bone in the forest.

Yet when she had patrolled this place just now, she found this kid skulking around. One look told her he was no good.

"We're on the same side!"

Seeing that the woman opposite him was about to make a move, Tian Hao pulled out that student ID from his backpack.

After his house had been demolished by that person earlier, he had packed up some things and carried them with him, including this student ID.

Ling Yuan, who had been about to attack, froze. She stepped forward to inspect it carefully and confirmed that the student ID was not forged. The seal on it was difficult to imitate.

Moreover, forging a Martial Soul Academy student ID was a grave crime. Once discovered, one would be wanted by Spirit Hall across the entire continent. No one would do something so foolish and thankless.

"What is your relationship with Xiao Dong Dong? Why did she personally handle your student ID?"

Seeing Bibi Dong's signature on the card, Ling Yuan grew curious.

Naturally, she knew Spirit Hall's current Saintess. Their relationship was not especially close, but they were familiar enough.

As Spirit Hall's Saintess, Bibi Dong should not have personally processed student IDs for others.

As far as Ling Yuan knew, Xiao Dong Dong had personally handled a student ID for only one person from the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, and had even taken him to the Great Library.

Could this kid be that person from the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan?

"Never mind. I'll take you back first."

Suddenly remembering that her patrol time in the surrounding area was nearly up, Ling Yuan could not be bothered to ask further. She grabbed Tian Hao by the back of his neck, lifted him up, circulated her Soul Power, and leaped into the dense forest beside them.

With fate gripping him by the back of the neck, Tian Hao could only resign himself to it while observing this short-haired aunt.

The aura and pressure she revealed when circulating her Soul Power were far stronger than those of the person who had tried to kill him before. She was at least a Soul Saint, perhaps even a Soul Douluo.

Tian Hao was soon carried deep into the forest. After being set down, he looked around and discovered four people standing guard nearby. The one they were protecting was a burly old man with a fierce, vicious face.

The four Spirit Hall powerhouses guarding the surroundings merely glanced at Tian Hao before ignoring him and continuing their watch.

Although none of them knew Tian Hao, since Ling Yuan had brought him, there was probably no issue.

One of them briefly exchanged words with Ling Yuan, then took over her shift to patrol the surrounding area. Ling Yuan sat cross-legged to recover her depleted Soul Power.

Tian Hao could only wait quietly as well. Even the previously domineering Ling Yuan did not dare speak, afraid of disturbing the old man.

As night was about to fall, the old man suddenly coughed up a mouthful of blood, his face turning deathly pale.

"Tang Chen!"

Golden Crocodile Douluo gritted out a name through clenched teeth, one hand clutching his limp right arm.

He had been set up—set up by that right Arm Bone.

It had initially refined smoothly, but once it fused with his arm, he discovered a strand of extremely high-quality Soul Power within it. Caught off guard, he had nearly been killed.

Fortunately, his cultivation was profound enough for him to endure it.

For the past several days, he had been resisting it, but that strand of Soul Power was of too high a quality. Not only had he failed to wear it down in all this time, it had repeatedly caused backlash within his body, leaving him heavily injured.

And he recognized that Soul Power. It was exactly the same as Tang Chen's from back then. Clearly, Tang Chen had left behind this safeguard within the soul bone to prevent others from taking the soul bone he had left behind.

Presumably, only descendants sharing his bloodline could refine the soul bone, perhaps even fuse with that strand of Soul Power and increase their strength further.

"Who is he?"

After catching his breath, Golden Crocodile Douluo wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and only then noticed the youth standing beside Ling Yuan.

"Reporting to Your Excellency, I found him at the site of the battle. He was skulking around and acting suspiciously, so I brought him back. However, he possesses a Martial Soul Academy student ID personally processed by the Saintess."

After glaring at Tian Hao to warn him not to try anything, Ling Yuan respectfully reported to Golden Crocodile Douluo.

"A friend of Xiao Dong'er?"

Golden Crocodile Douluo understood and did not pursue the matter further. Instead, he asked about something else.

"Where are Tang Hao and that soul beast now?"

Although he could not use his right arm for the moment and his internal injuries had worsened considerably, that kid from the Clear Sky Sect was even more seriously injured. He had detonated eight soul rings in one go. It was already fortunate that he had not exploded to death on the spot.

The only thing he needed to worry about now was that soul beast, along with the Clear Sky Sect reinforcements that might come to meet up with Tang Hao at any time.

He had to take down that kid as quickly as possible and seize all the soul bones on his body.

Most importantly, he had to capture that hundred-thousand-year soul beast. He neither needed nor could use a hundred-thousand-year soul ring, but a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Bone would greatly benefit him. He had to obtain it as soon as possible.

"Martial Soul Academy student Tian Hao greets Your Excellency."

His eyes flickered as Tian Hao stepped forward and bowed to Golden Crocodile Douluo.

Now that he had confirmed this man was a Titled Douluo of Spirit Hall, his identity was easy to guess.

Such a build, such a vicious face, that heavy armor bearing crocodile features, and the crocodile-shaped crater at the earlier battlefield—his identity was obvious.

He was undoubtedly Golden Crocodile Douluo, the Second Worship of the Elder Hall, a level ninety-eight super powerhouse.

Golden Crocodile Douluo said nothing, nor did he show anger or displeasure at Tian Hao speaking out of turn.

More than a century of life had long since made him see many things clearly. This youth remained neither servile nor overbearing even after learning his identity. Golden Crocodile Douluo admired that courage, though only somewhat.

"This junior came here today specifically to find Your Excellency..."

"This is no place for you to speak. Shut up at once."

Ling Yuan became anxious. After all, she had brought Tian Hao here. If he said something wrong and displeased the old man, she would suffer along with him.

This was a notorious, murderous fiend with a terrible temper and countless souls dead beneath his hands. If this kid wanted to die, he should not drag her down with him.

In her anxiety, she reached out to drag Tian Hao back, but he deftly avoided her. At the same time, he shot her a displeased look and said something that nearly made Ling Yuan faint from rage.

"You've definitely never had a boyfriend, have you?"

"Are you looking to die?"

Ling Yuan clenched her pearly teeth, her gaze turning vicious.

What did this brat mean? Was he mocking her for being nearly fifty and still unwanted?

Tian Hao analyzed seriously, "When a man is speaking, a woman should not interrupt. That is a woman's respect for a man, and also a woman's greatest reserve. Clearly, you have neither.

"With your impatient temperament, it will be much harder for you to find a boyfriend. And that kind of personality can be fatal in battle..."

"You..."

Ling Yuan was so angry that she could not speak. If Golden Crocodile Douluo had not been present, she would have long since roasted him into a steak—medium-well.

Ignoring the nearly fiery glare of that older unmarried woman, Tian Hao turned back to Golden Crocodile Douluo, bowed again, and resumed his previous topic.

"This junior heard the news spread by Spirit Hall and came here specifically to try his luck. I never expected to encounter Your Excellency. I am truly fortunate."

Seeing that Golden Crocodile Douluo still wore an expressionless face as he contemplated matters, showing no intention of acknowledging him, Tian Hao did not mind. Since he dared to speak, he was confident he could talk this old man around.

Tian Someone: Another plot character has appeared—Spirit Kite Douluo from the animation. Her figure and looks are quite good, but her brain is not. She got herself killed.