Douluo: I, Unrivaled Thief, the Explosive King's Return

And not only were they brutal toward their enemies, they were ruthless enough toward themselves as well.

In a corner of Spirit Hall Academy's sixth-year area, several people who had survived the siege against Rebel Son and the other two six years ago turned pale.

Among them, Spiky Head, who had been incomparably arrogant back then, had his legs give out and collapsed to the ground. A warm wet patch spread through his crotch.

His eyes rolled back, and wheezing gasps escaped his throat. He actually fainted on the spot.

"Hey, he pissed himself!" Someone pinched their nose and backed away two steps, but no one laughed.

The upperclassmen clenched their fists, their nails digging deeply into their palms.

They had personally witnessed the Golden Generation's glory, yet now they had no choice but to accept this reality.

That group of four they had once regarded as a "joke" had spent only six years crushing the Golden Generation, once far beyond their reach, beneath their feet.

On the arena, Unrivaled Thief was stunned.

"Spirit Hall's Holy Son? Is this the surprise that old man mentioned?"

Before today's life-or-death battle, Qian Daoliu had spoken with him.

He had said that if the four brothers could defeat the Golden Generation head-on, he would give him a surprise.

Now, it seemed that becoming Spirit Hall's Holy Son truly counted as a surprise.

After all, both the Holy Son and Holy Maiden were strong contenders for the next Pope, with the support of Spirit Hall's vast resources.

Barring any accidents, Spirit Hall's next Pope could only be chosen from between the Holy Son and Holy Maiden.

Mighty Lion Douluo was the first to place a hand over his chest in salute. Qian Jun and Jiang Mo, the two Worships, exchanged smiles and shouted in unison, "Congratulations to the Holy Son!"

Only then did the soul masters below the stage snap back to their senses, and thunderous cries of worship swept across the entire venue.

Rebel Son was beside himself with excitement. "Great! Boss has become the Holy Son! Let's see who still dares call us mudlegs from now on!"

"Hehehe, the name of our Four Great Evildoers will definitely spread across the entire continent!" Thief Father's eyes gleamed.

Shifty-eyed Thief stood tall and proud, looking as if heaven was first and he was second. "Back then, you ignored us. Now, we're beyond your reach!"

Unrivaled Thief stepped forward to receive his title, while Qian Daoliu's voice continued to echo through the air.

"From this day forth, Unrivaled Thief shall be the Holy Son of Spirit Hall. The Holy Son shall wield the Angel Token, with status equal to that of a Spirit Hall Worship!"

Before the echoes faded, the Angel Token turned into a streak of golden light and hovered before Unrivaled Thief.

Unrivaled Thief grabbed the golden light and said respectfully, "Thank you, Master!"

This Angel Token was truly a good thing. Its status was equal to that of a Spirit Hall Worship.

The status of a Spirit Hall Worship was higher than that of a Spirit Hall Elder. In other words, the Angel Token stood above the Pope's Token.

On that day, news of Spirit Hall appointing a Holy Son spread throughout the continent, shaking every faction.

Every faction with even a little strength immediately began investigating the identity of Spirit Hall's Holy Son.

That night, Unrivaled Thief sat quietly in meditation atop the highest stargazing platform of Worship Hall. Beside him, the leaves of a towering ancient tree rustled in the breeze.

His expression was calm, with none of the joy one would expect from defeating the Golden Generation and becoming the Holy Son.

Because the Golden Generation had not gone all out. Xie Yue and Hu Liena had not even used their Martial Soul Fusion Skill.

And the title of Spirit Hall Holy Son was not as wonderful as he had imagined.

"I'm still not strong enough! Although my Soul Power has already reached level thirty-five at twelve years old, allowing me to look down on my peers—even Tang San is several levels below me—I am still far too weak before those from the older generation."

Unrivaled Thief sighed.

Though he had become Spirit Hall's Holy Son and reached the "Junior Friend Realm,"

Spirit Hall had offended many people, and there were also many who wanted to kill him, this Holy Son.

All in all, this identity came with both benefits and drawbacks.

Not only did he have to guard against external and hidden dangers, he also had to beware of Bibi Dong stabbing him in the back.

"I'm still too weak. Becoming stronger is urgent. It's time to go out and gain experience. I don't want to waste those opportunities to grow stronger quickly."

Unrivaled Thief clenched his fists, his eyes filled with determination.

For six years, he had fought so-called life-or-death battles with the Golden Generation every year, but they had never been true life-or-death battles.

Even now, he was still a flower raised in a greenhouse, never having faced real storms.

"However, before leaving Spirit Hall, there are some matters that must be brought to light."

Unrivaled Thief tilted his head slightly and watched a familiar figure approach.

His tone carried a hint of teasing. "Deacon Han, you've finally come. I thought you'd thrown our agreement to the back of your mind."

Han Qingfei's old face reddened, and he looked ashamed. "Holy Son, you jest. How would this old man dare forget?"

Unrivaled Thief knew that Han Qingfei had long since found something, but had delayed because of the poor relationship between the four brothers and the Golden Generation.

But now, of course, a wise man knew when to adapt.

He was not angry over it, because it was only human nature. He said calmly, "Then tell me everything you found."

Han Qingfei stood solemnly, his voice low and suppressed. "It has been confirmed. The deaths of the two elders were not caused by soul beasts."

Unrivaled Thief's gaze instantly sharpened like an eagle's, and sealed memories began to awaken.

He did not interrupt, merely listened in silence.

"It was fire." Han Qingfei gritted his teeth, every word like a blade. "A soul master possessing a mutated fire-attribute Martial Soul. He was the one who killed the two elders."

"Buzz!"

Unrivaled Thief clenched his fist fiercely. Wisps of wind leaked through his fingers, and the fallen leaves beneath his feet were ground into powder by an invisible force.

"Continue." Though he already had a suspect in mind, he did not let rage cloud his judgment.

Han Qingfei's expression was icy. "Behind the killer stood a Soul Saint—Flender, the headmaster of Shrek Academy. Therefore, the Balak Kingdom lied and claimed that the two elders had died at the claws of soul beasts."

"Shrek's Flender? So it really was him." Unrivaled Thief murmured, as the temperature around him suddenly plunged.

Han Qingfei did not hear him and continued, "Flender brought back a beast from the countryside whose Martial Soul was flawed. Because of that flaw, the beast needed to vent his Evil Fire, so he violated young girls on the outskirts of Suotuo City. Unfortunately, the two elders happened to see it, so..."

He did not continue. Everything was understood without words.

Unrivaled Thief closed his eyes. When he opened them again, only icy coldness remained in his pupils.

"Flender, and Ma Hongjun. Very good!"

Though Unrivaled Thief's soul came from another world, the two elders had still been the parents of this body, as well as Rebel Son and the other two.

If he did nothing, he would be unworthy of being their son.

Unrivaled Thief did not fly into a rage. Even the killing intent around him was completely drawn back in.

Seeing that he did not move, Han Qingfei reminded him, "Because the Balak Kingdom did not wish to offend Flender, it covered up that beast's crimes and publicly declared that the two elders had died in the mouths of soul beasts."

"So that's how it was." Unrivaled Thief spoke softly. "No wonder Suotuo City was suddenly placed under martial law back then. No wonder everyone kept silent."

A withered leaf drifted onto his shoulder and was instantly shredded into fragments by invisible wind blades.

Unrivaled Thief waved his hand, his tone calm. "Deacon Han, please return. Someone will deliver the Gold Soul Coins to your residence shortly. Take care, I won't see you out."

Han Qingfei knew Unrivaled Thief was in a bad mood and left after answering.

After a long while, Unrivaled Thief's gaze turned icy, his voice as cold as the depths of winter.

"It's time to settle the grudge between us as well!"

Return to Suotuo City, Famous Across the Continent

"You really want to go out and gain experience? Have you thought it through? There are quite a few people who want your life now."

Within Worship Hall, one large and one small figure spoke to each other.

Listening to Qian Daoliu, Unrivaled Thief replied, "Master, steel that has not been tempered by fire cannot become a blade that cuts iron. Didn't you take me in so that I could become a sharp blade for Spirit Hall in the future? You want the horse to run, but won't even let it eat grass?"

Qian Daoliu had not expected that the disciple he had taken in on a whim would see through his intentions.

He was not angry, either. This only proved that his disciple was no ordinary person.

Unrivaled Thief showed no fear as he calmly met the gaze of Qian Daoliu, one of the continent's three great Limit Douluos.

The hall fell silent. Only after a long while did Qian Daoliu speak.

"Since you wish to go out and gain experience, then go. Though I am your master in name, I have not taught you much over these six years."

He was very reassured regarding Unrivaled Thief's cultivation.

Because judging from the derivative moves of the Overlord Wind-Chasing Fist, no one on the continent understood his own Martial Soul better than Unrivaled Thief.

"Thank you, Master. I won't disappoint you."

However, before Unrivaled Thief could feel happy, Qian Daoliu's next words poured a bucket of cold water over him.

"Since this is training, I won't let Fourth Venerable accompany you. Otherwise, it would serve no tempering purpose."

Hearing this, Unrivaled Thief's mouth twitched. Damn it, this old man is ruthless. He calls it training, but is he really not sending anyone to protect me?

Qian Daoliu glanced at him. After living together day and night for six years, he knew what Unrivaled Thief was thinking just from the way he raised his ass.

To avoid being cursed to pieces in Unrivaled Thief's mind, he quickly added, "Although Fourth Venerable can no longer remain by your side to protect you, you may use the Angel Token to mobilize personnel from Spirit Hall's branch halls, including Soul Douluos."

"Only Soul Douluos? No, that won't do. Soul Douluos can't guarantee the safety of us four brothers!"

Unrivaled Thief thought to himself, preparing to bargain.

But Qian Daoliu gave him no chance. With a wave of his hand, a gust of golden wind sent him out of the hall.

"Training should look like training. It is decided. There are enough Gold Soul Coins in that Soul Tool for you to squander."

Hearing Qian Daoliu's voice, Unrivaled Thief smiled faintly, took the Soul Tool, and left at once.

After he departed, a figure appeared within the hall. It was Fourth Venerable, Mighty Lion Douluo.

"Grand Venerable, your move was brilliant. You say that I am not to protect him, but in truth, you want to cultivate his sense of danger. Without me around, he will have to be even more cautious."

Listening to Mighty Lion Douluo's confident analysis, Qian Daoliu smiled and shook his head.

Mighty Lion Douluo was confused. "Grand Venerable, what do you mean? Was my guess wrong?"

"You are right, but also wrong." Qian Daoliu glanced outside the hall, his expression somewhat helpless. "You guessed this old man's intentions correctly, but not that brat's."

"What do you mean?" Mighty Lion Douluo was utterly baffled.

"He has already guessed that this old man will still have you protect him in secret, which is why he left without concern. Otherwise, with his personality, would he have willingly left without causing a scene outside the hall until he got what he wanted?"

Mighty Lion Douluo suddenly understood. He and Unrivaled Thief were friends despite their age difference, so naturally, he knew what kind of person the latter was.

He immediately said indignantly, "That little bastard weighs one hundred and twenty pounds, with one hundred pounds of schemes and twenty pounds of cheap bones!"

Qian Daoliu was unsurprised and comforted him, "Let him be. He knows what he's doing. Just follow the original plan and protect them in secret."

"Yes, Grand Venerable."

Meanwhile, Unrivaled Thief returned to the dormitory with the Soul Tool.

Looking at the tightly shut dormitory door, he kicked it open with all his strength.

"Boom!"

The loud bang startled Rebel Son and the other two, who were still cultivating in meditation.

"Earthquake! Run!"

Watching the three panic, Unrivaled Thief gave each of them a disappointed punch on the head.

With three thuds, the three little ones squatted on the ground, both hands rubbing the flesh-colored lumps on their heads that seemed to be steaming.

"Boss, why did you hit us?"

The three little ones looked at Unrivaled Thief with aggrieved expressions. Their watery eyes truly made him feel a trace of guilt.

But an older brother beating up his younger brothers was only natural.

He coughed twice and said, "Pack your things. We're going home!"

Rebel Son and the other two looked at one another, then burst into cheers.

"We can finally go home! Long live Boss!"

Unrivaled Thief was equally excited. Spirit Hall was good, but no golden nest or silver nest could compare to one's own doghouse.