After discussing the two major matters of the Spirit Bone transaction and the establishment of the academy, Luo Can did not let Dugu Bo leave immediately. He made a special trip back to the Fate Defying Valley of Fate to bring Dugu Yan, who was diligently cultivating, out, allowing the grandfather and granddaughter, who had been separated for several months, to reunite.
Seeing that his granddaughter, Dugu Yan, was not only An Ran, but also had a calm and steady aura, and even a hint of sharp toxicity that surprised him, Dugu Bo felt greatly gratified. He pulled his granddaughter aside and asked her all sorts of questions, his wrinkles beaming with joy.
Dugu Yan also missed her grandfather very much, chattering about the interesting things that happened in the Fate Defying Valley and her cultivation experiences. The two of them were very happy together.
However, this warm feeling was short-lived, as it was soon interrupted by a vengeful Dark Angel.
Qian Renxue somehow got wind of Dugu Bo's arrival. She casually "passed by," her eyes sweeping over Dugu Bo, a half-smile playing on her lips.
" Senior Dugu, it's been a long time. Your cultivation seems to have improved again? I've recently made some progress in controlling my power. I wonder if I could ask you for some guidance?"
Although the words were meant to be a request for advice, the tone and look in his eyes clearly conveyed a euphemism for "I want to punch you."
Dugu Bo's heart skipped a beat. He was about to make an excuse to decline when Qian Renxue, without saying a word, made a "please" gesture and pointed to the Training Ground behind the camp.
The next half hour was nothing short of "tragic" for Dugu Bo.
Despite being a level 92 Titled Douluo, he was still completely outmatched by Qian Renxue, who possessed the Dark Angel Martial Soul.
What's especially infuriating is that Qian Renxue seemed to be "deliberately" paying attention to his face...
After the sparring match (a one-sided beating), Dugu Bo, sporting fresh black eyes, grimaced and found Luo Can, his tone filled with grief, indignation, and bewilderment:
"Hey Luo, you better control your wife! Is this brat incompatible with me, some kind of sworn enemy? Every time we meet, she insists on 'sparring,' and she always picks on my face! I'm Poison Douluo, after all. If word gets out that I'm all bruised and battered, what will people think of me?!"
Looking at Dugu Bo's miserable yet comical appearance, Luo Can couldn't help but smile. He suppressed his laughter and patted Dugu Bo on the shoulder.
"Alright, alright, Senior, please calm down. Xue'er... she might just have been a little too 'enthusiastic.' Next time, next time I'll definitely keep her in check and make sure she doesn't embarrass me again." He thought to himself that these words were only meant to appease the old man. To be honest, Qian Renxue and Dugu Bo were indeed enemies, weren't they? During the Heaven Dou Palace Coup, Dugu Bo sided with Xue Ye and Tang San.
Dugu Bo nodded, then, as if suddenly remembering something, asked, "By the way, you told me last time that you wanted to arrange for a few experts to help me guard the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well. When will that be implemented?"
"Don't worry, I guarantee I'll arrange it for you in three to five years at the latest, and they'll all be experts at the Titled Douluo level," Luo Can said casually.
Upon hearing this, Dugu Bo's face was instantly filled with surprise. "In the entire Douluo Continent, there are only a handful of officially recognized Titled Douluo. Where did you find so many Titled Douluo?"
"And how many more are operating in secret? Do you even know?" Luo Can countered.
Dugu Bo frowned and thought for a long time, but finally shook his head.
Luo Can then continued, "As far as I know, the Spirit Hall alone has at least ten Titled Douluo hiding in secret, not to mention those reclusive rogue Spirit Master."
"Hiss--" Dugu Bo gasped in shock. " The Spirit Hall actually has so many Titled Douluo hidden away?"
Luo Can patted him on the shoulder, said nothing more, and took him to see Cheng Gang.
"This is Cheng Gang, whose martial spirit is the Thousand-Jun Ant Emperor, and whose title is Great Strength. He is now the Guardian Elder of our Fate Defying Pavilion," Luo Can introduced the two with a smile.
Cheng Gang gave Dugu Bo a hearty smile and clasped his hands in a fist and palm salute, "What's your name, brother?"
Dugu Bo looked Cheng Gang up and down curiously, then quickly returned the greeting. "I am Dugu Bo, titled Poison."
The two exchanged a few words, but Dugu Bo's shock only grew stronger.
He could clearly sense that Cheng Gang in front of him was a genuine Titled Douluo. Yet, this top-tier expert was willing to acknowledge Luo Can as his master, and when he spoke of Luo Can, his fanaticism was like that of a zealot.
Luo Can patted Dugu Bo, who was still in a daze, and said with a hint of mystery in his tone, "In the future, more and more Titled Douluo will join our Fate Defying Pavilion."
Dugu Bo remained silent for a long time before finally managing to say, "Sometimes I even wonder if you're the heir to some hidden, powerful family."
Luo Can laughed and said, "Would you believe me if I said I am the inheritor of a deity?"
Dugu Bo's lips twitched, and he waved his hand. "Alright, alright, I believe you! I believe whatever you say!"
Luo Can didn't say anything more, handed Dugu Bo over to Dugu Yan, and left the rest of the time to the grandfather and grandson.
Time flies, and another day has passed.
Early that morning, Dugu Bo reluctantly bid farewell to Dugu Yan, took the Wind Demon Bird Spirit Bone, and set off for Heaven Dou City.
With Dugu Bo gone, Luo Can once again became a hands-off manager, returning directly to the Fate Defying Valley and plunging into his Quiet Room to begin seclusion.
In the quiet Stone Chamber, Luo Can sat cross-legged on a futon and took out the Ancient Dragon Core he had fished up earlier from his System Space.
Holding the golden-red Inner Core between his fingertips, he could clearly feel the surging, scorching energy within, as well as the domineering dragon's might. The Golden Dragon Moth Martial Soul within him was constantly restless, filled with a desire to devour.
"Let me see just how much of a surprise you can bring me."
Luo Can whispered something, then opened his mouth and swallowed the Ancient Dragon Core pill.
The moment the Inner Core entered his abdomen, a violent, domineering, and incredibly hot energy exploded within his body.
Even though Luo Can is now a level 97 Super Douluo, he instantly felt a series of tearing pains throughout his meridians. The terrifying high temperature burned all the major meridians in his body.
Luo Can dared not be careless in the slightest. He immediately mobilized all his soul power and frantically refined the violent energy within his body according to the circulation routes of the Microcosmic and Macrocosmic Orbits.
Time passed by, the sun rose and the moon set outside the window, and three whole days had gone by in the blink of an eye, yet Luo Can had not stepped out of the Stone Chamber once.
The interior of the Stone Chamber had long since been transformed into a lava Cavern by the terrifyingly high temperature, with the surrounding stone walls melted and turned into bright red magma.
In the very center of the Stone Chamber, Luo Can was like a blazing fire, with golden flames constantly leaping from his body. Wherever he passed, even the hard stone walls were melted into nothingness.
With each breath Luo Can took, the golden flames on his body grew stronger and more intense. Eventually, he was completely enveloped in a thin film of golden flames.
Another whole night has passed.
The golden fire membrane enveloping Luo Can suddenly trembled violently, and the next moment, Luo Can abruptly opened his eyes.
His pupils had turned into pure golden vertical pupils, and every breath, every heartbeat, was like the roar of an ancient dragon. His aura also surged wildly at that moment, climbing steadily until it finally stopped at level ninety-eight!
"Boom!"
Luo Can instantly broke through the fire membrane, looked around at the Stone Chamber that had completely turned into a lava pool, and felt the unprecedentedly powerful force within his body. He couldn't help but throw his head back and laugh wildly.
"Level 98! I've finally broken through to level 98!"
After laughing, Luo Can immediately summoned his martial soul Golden Dragon Moth.
The current martial spirit still resembles a dragon and a moth, but its wings are even larger than before. The golden dragon scales are covered with interwoven flame patterns, all of which eventually converge on its chest, where there seems to be a constantly beating Flame Heart. As the Flame Heart beats, the flame patterns pulsate like blood vessels.
With a thought, nine Spirit Ring slowly rose from beneath his feet.
The original six black and three red numbers have now undergone a complete transformation.
The first five Spirit Ring were still black, but the original black ten- Ten Thousand Year Soul Ring had now completely turned into a scarlet Hundred Thousand Year Spirit Ring. The seventh and eighth Hundred Thousand Year Spirit Ring had an extra ring of golden patterns, and the Ninth Spirit Ring even had two Golden Pattern!
"This is... the Spirit Ring has evolved?" Luo Can looked at the Spirit Ring at his feet, his eyes filled with surprise.
He knew that a Hundred Thousand Year Spirit Ring with Golden Pattern meant that the Spirit Ring's age had exceeded Hundred Thousand Years, and Spirit Ring with two Golden Pattern could only be produced by Ferocious Beast- level Spirit Beast!
He never imagined that the effects of this Ancient Dragon Core would be so domineering.