Douluo: The Venom System Is Awesome

Mu Junyu looked at her appearance and couldn't help but laugh out loud.

He ruffled Hu Liena's messy blonde hair.

"Learning to sneak kisses at such a young age? What will you be like when you grow up?"

"I... I was just..."

Hu Liena thought quickly on her feet.

"I was just checking to see if Senior Brother had a fever! Yes, that's it!"

"Oh?" Mu Junyu raised an eyebrow.

"Checking body temperature with your lips?"

"Mm!" Hu Liena nodded vigorously, wearing an expression that said, "I am very serious."

Just as the two were bickering, a maid's announcement suddenly came from outside the door.

"Your Highness the Holy Son, His Holiness the Pope summons you."

Mu Junyu's expression turned stern, and he immediately stood up to straighten his robes.

Hu Liena, however, tugged at his sleeve, her small face full of anticipation.

"Senior Brother, take me with you~"

Mu Junyu gently pinched Hu Liena's small face: "No, Nana has to go to Martial Soul Hall Academy for classes today."

Hu Liena immediately pouted, her large golden eyes misting over: "But... but I want to follow Senior Brother..."

"Acting spoiled won't work." Mu Junyu crouched down, looking Hu Liena in the eyes. "Do you remember our promise? You must study hard at the academy so you can help Senior Brother in the future."

Hu Liena nodded reluctantly, though her small hand still wouldn't let go of the corner of Mu Junyu's robe.

"Th-then, alright..."

Mu Junyu ruffled her blonde hair and watched as the maid led the reluctant little Holy Maiden away.

After watching Hu Liena leave, Mu Junyu turned and walked toward the Pope Palace.

He didn't need to go to Martial Soul Hall Academy; three months ago, he had proven his uniqueness to Bibi Dong.

During the test at the Pope Palace back then, he had easily defeated three academy students of the same age using only the martial soul properties of his Heart-Eroding Venom.

Even more astonishingly, during the cultivation test personally supervised by Bibi Dong, his soul power growth rate was much faster than that of the academy students.

"Your martial soul is indeed special."

In his memory, a strange light flickered in Bibi Dong's purple eyes.

"Since that is the case, I will teach you personally."

Thinking of this, the corners of Mu Junyu's mouth curled up slightly. This was the first step of his plan: to gain Bibi Dong's special attention and thereby avoid the conventional training path.

The gates of the Pope Palace were right before his eyes; Mu Junyu composed his thoughts and straightened his robes.

The palace guards at the gate bowed respectfully: "Your Highness the Holy Son, His Holiness the Pope is already waiting for you."

Stepping into the hall, Bibi Dong stood with her back to him in front of the window, her purple-gold papal robes shimmering in the morning light.

"Teacher." Mu Junyu bowed respectfully.

Bibi Dong turned slowly, her gaze like a torch.

"I heard Hu Liena stayed in your room last night?"

Mu Junyu did not change his expression.

"Reporting to Teacher, Nana had a nightmare, and this disciple was merely fulfilling his duty as a senior brother to comfort her."

Bibi Dong narrowed her eyes slightly.

"She is still young; you must be mindful of boundaries."

"This disciple understands." Mu Junyu lowered his head, but the corners of his mouth curled up secretly; it seemed Bibi Dong's concern for Hu Liena was even greater than he had imagined.

Chapter 10: Let's Cultivate Together, Teacher

Bibi Dong's slender fingers lightly stroked the crystal ball atop her scepter, a cold glint flashing in her purple eyes.

"Junyu, although you do not need to study at the academy, your practical combat experience must not fall behind."

She turned and walked toward the high throne, her robes rustling as they dragged across the floor.

"Starting today, a group of death row prisoners will be sent here daily for your combat training."

Mu Junyu's heart skipped a beat, and he immediately knelt on one knee: "Thank you for your cultivation, Teacher."

A sharp glint flashed beneath his lowered eyelids; this was exactly what he wanted.

Training with death row prisoners would not only improve his practical combat ability but also allow him to test the various applications of his Heart-Eroding Venom in a legitimate way.

"Rise."

Bibi Dong's voice suddenly softened a little.

"Show me your second soul skill."

Mu Junyu stood up, purple-black soul power surging around his body.

His body instantly liquefied, transforming into a shadow that merged into the ground.

The next second, a stone statue in the corner of the Pope Palace was suddenly pierced by dozens of venomous spikes, shattering into powder.

"Shadow Evasion Strike."

Mu Junyu reformed his figure and said respectfully.

"It allows for silent movement through solid objects, and the attacks carry a faint toxin and paralysis effect."

Bibi Dong nodded slightly.

"Not bad. However..."

She suddenly raised her hand, a flash of purple light streaked across, and Mu Junyu was sent flying several meters before he could even react.

"Your speed is still not fast enough."

Mu Junyu scrambled up in a sorry state, only to find Bibi Dong already standing before him, her jade hand gently lifting his chin.

"Remember, when facing a true powerhouse, your sneak attacks are meaningless."

"Therefore, you must be faster, and you must be stronger!"

At such close proximity, Mu Junyu could clearly smell the faint, elegant fragrance emanating from Bibi Dong.

His Adam's apple bobbed, and Heart-Eroding Venom unconsciously seeped from his fingertips, wanting to touch the Pope who was within arm's reach...

"Presumptuous."

Bibi Dong scolded coldly, yet she did not pull away.

Those thin threads of venom wrapped around her wrist, bringing a strange sensation of numbness.

Mu Junyu hurriedly retracted his martial soul.

"This disciple knows his mistake."

Bibi Dong gave him a deep look before turning to walk back to her high seat.

"The first batch of death row prisoners will arrive today. Now, go and prepare."

Ten minutes later, the Underground Martial Arts Arena of Martial Soul Hall.

Dim torches illuminated four burly men with fierce faces, who were rubbing their hands and staring at the small, thin Mu Junyu opposite them.

These soul masters, only at the teens in level, had just finished a full meal, and their eyes glinted with vicious light.

"Little brat, don't blame your uncles for being ruthless." The scarred man in the lead licked his lips.

"If you want to blame someone, blame your own bad luck."

Mu Junyu stood quietly in the center of the arena, his white-based, gold-patterned holy son robe completely spotless.

He tilted his head, a hint of playfulness flashing in his obsidian-like eyes.

"The four of you, please advise me."

"The match begins!"

As soon as the referee's voice fell, the four death row prisoners immediately released their martial souls and charged forward.

They coordinated perfectly, launching attacks from four directions simultaneously; this was a skill they had honed over years of robbing and plundering.

Mu Junyu, however, remained motionless until the four were less than three meters away, when a strange smile suddenly curled at the corners of his mouth.

"Heart-Eroding Venom: Neurotoxin."

Four strands of purple-black liquid, as thin as hair, shot out from his fingertips and precisely pierced the necks of the four men.

The figures of the death row prisoners froze instantly, the ferocious expressions on their faces locking in place.

"Lesson one." Mu Junyu walked slowly toward the scarred man.

"Never underestimate your opponent."

He reached out and pressed his hand against the scarred man's chest, and the Heart-Eroding Venom instantly covered the man's entire body. A hair-raising scene unfolded: the scarred man's body began to twist uncontrollably, assuming comical poses like a marionette on strings.

"Lesson two."

Mu Junyu turned to the second death row prisoner.

"Information is life."

This prisoner watched helplessly as his own body defied his will, actually beginning to perform a ridiculous dance.

He widened his eyes in terror, yet he could not make a single sound.

"The information you received was: defeat a seven-year-old support-type soul master, and you will receive a pardon."

Mu Junyu chuckled softly.

"It's a pity, I was never a support-type."

The third death row prisoner suddenly collapsed to his knees, clawing frantically at his own face, unable to stop even as blood streamed down.

Mu Junyu's voice sounded like a devil's whisper.

"Lesson three: always remain vigilant."

The final death row prisoner finally broke down, his face smeared with tears and snot.

Mu Junyu walked up to him and gently wiped away his tears.

"The final lesson: death is sometimes a mercy."

Purple-black venom surged into the four men's bodies instantly, causing them to swell like balloons before they exploded with a "bang," turning into a mist of blood that filled the air.

Mu Junyu stood in the rain of blood, the venom automatically forming a barrier to block all the filth.

He turned to look toward the shadows.

"Teacher, what do you think?"

Bibi Dong stepped out from the darkness, a strange light flickering in her purple eyes.

"Your control is decent, but it's too flashy."

She reached out to brush away non-existent dust from Mu Junyu's shoulder.

"Remember, true killing requires no performance."

"This disciple will take your teachings to heart." Mu Junyu bowed respectfully, though he chuckled inwardly.

He knew exactly what Bibi Dong liked, and that "performance" just now was specifically tailored to please her.

Bibi Dong gazed at the flesh and blood scattered across the ground and spoke softly: "How does it feel to kill for the first time?"

Mu Junyu took a deep breath, forcing down the nausea rising in his stomach.