Douluo: I, Unrivaled Thief, Explosive King Returns

Yu Xiaogang did not answer. He merely strode over to the thousand-year Soul Ring that had yet to dissipate.

"Xiao San, look. Although you failed to absorb this Titan Giant Ape Soul Ring, after an entire night, its energy has weakened to around two thousand years. You can try again now. You might succeed directly and won't need to hunt another Soul Beast!"

Tang San froze at those words and carefully examined the purple Soul Ring, which had already faded considerably.

Sure enough, its once-rich purple color had become much paler, and its energy fluctuations had clearly weakened as well.

If he tried again, he might actually succeed!

"Thank you for your guidance, Teacher. I'll try again right away!"

Tang San immediately sat cross-legged and began absorbing it once more.

Seeing this, Yu Xiaogang quickly stepped back several paces, leaving Tang San enough room.

Although this method was feasible, to be safe, he still needed to contact His Highness Haotian and have him hunt a Soul Beast around two thousand years old.

He quietly left, looking for a secluded place to contact Tang Hao.

Several dozen li away, Xiao Wu had met up with the Sky Azure Bull Python early on.

"What? Er Ming is dead?!" Xiao Wu's face was filled with shock. She had never expected her fears to come true.

The Sky Azure Bull Python nodded, fury in its voice. "That's right. It happened not long ago. I went into seclusion for a while, and when I emerged, Er Ming had already been hunted down. His clansmen told me that he fought a human Titled Douluo who used a hammer!"

Then it asked, "Sister Xiao Wu, had you contacted Er Ming before this? Otherwise, he should not have appeared in the outer region."

Xiao Wu did not lie. She told it about contacting Er Ming to protect her while she condensed her third Soul Ring.

However, it was all meaningless information that could not identify who had killed Er Ming, the Titan Giant Ape.

The Sky Azure Bull Python eyed Xiao Wu suspiciously, sensing that she was hiding something.

But considering that they were both Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beasts, it believed she would not deceive one of her own kind and did not press further.

"Sister Xiao Wu, Er Ming has already fallen. You must be careful in the human world. If things truly do not work out, return to the Star Dou Great Forest. I will protect you."

"Mm, I understand, Da Ming." Xiao Wu's expression was somewhat stiff as she recalled certain things about Tang San.

He was clearly just a poor boy, yet not only did he possess Twin Martial Souls, he had somehow acquired a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Bone without anyone noticing.

And when they had come to the Star Dou Great Forest to hunt Soul Beasts, a hammer-wielding Titled Douluo had appeared. It was simply too much of a coincidence.

All signs pointed to Tang San having an extraordinary identity!

Xiao San's mother died early, so she could not have given him a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Bone. But he still has a father I've never met. Could his father be a Titled Douluo?!

At that thought, a chill shot straight up Xiao Wu's spine!

After all, perhaps only a Titled Douluo who was also his father would have the resolve to give someone a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Bone.

"No, impossible! If Xiao San's father were truly a Titled Douluo, my identity would have been exposed long ago! With humanity's greedy nature, he would have acted against me already!"

Xiao Wu hypnotized herself, forcibly suppressing the chill in her heart.

Seeing this, the Sky Azure Bull Python asked worriedly, "Sister Xiao Wu, are you all right?"

"I'm fine." Xiao Wu shook her head, her tone suddenly turning serious. "Da Ming, remember to safely send me and my friends out later. Especially that blue-haired boy, understand?"

"Understood."

The Sky Azure Bull Python's voice was deep and muffled. Its hatred for humans had reached its peak after Er Ming's death.

But as a qualified simp beast, it ultimately chose to compromise.

Meanwhile, outside Suotuo City.

Before the Wooden Cabin.

Unrivaled Thief looked at Dugu Yan and Ye Lingling behind Dugu Bo, the corner of his mouth twitching uncontrollably.

"Old Poison, why do you keep bringing just anyone here?! Do you take this place for a daycare?"

Dugu Yan and Ye Lingling Join

"Hahaha!"

Dugu Bo's hearty laughter echoed through the night wind. Stroking his beard, a sly gleam flashed in his eyes.

"Little monster, don't be so cold!"

He grabbed Dugu Yan from behind him, his exaggerated movement like an old child proudly showing off a treasure.

"Look, this is my precious granddaughter, Dugu Yan!"

Then he winked and lowered his voice. "Just call her Yanyan or Sister Yan. It'll sound friendlier!"

Before Unrivaled Thief could react, he pulled out Ye Lingling as though performing a magic trick.

"This one is even more extraordinary! A Nine Heart Begonia Martial Soul, rarer even than the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda Martial Soul!"

Dugu Bo thumped his chest, his spittle nearly spraying Unrivaled Thief's face.

"They even withdrew from Heaven Dou Royal Academy just to join you! You can't be so heartless!"

At that, Unrivaled Thief nearly rolled his eyes into the back of his head.

"Old Poison, do you take me for a three-year-old?" His tone dripped with mockery. "Did I tell them to withdraw? With acting like yours, even Suotuo City's theater troupes wouldn't take you!"

Dugu Bo's smile stiffened before he finally stopped fooling around.

After coughing twice, he said, "All right. You promised this old man that my granddaughter could join your team. You won't go back on your word, will you?"

"Of course." Unrivaled Thief glanced at the aloof yet somewhat reserved Ye Lingling. "And what about her? I don't take useless people here!"

Before Dugu Bo could answer, Dugu Yan stepped forward and stood in front of Ye Lingling, her emerald-green eyes shining with stubbornness.

"Lingling is very useful! In terms of team value, her Martial Soul is no less valuable than the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda!"

Ning Rongrong, standing beside Unrivaled Thief, gave a soft snort and slightly pursed her pink lips, but she did not refute it in the end.

She knew perfectly well that the Nine Heart Begonia was indeed a top-tier support Martial Soul, one that stood alongside the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda and even had the potential to surpass the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.

If not for the fact that only two inheritors could exist in each generation, the title of the world's number one support Martial Soul might have changed hands long ago.

"Useful?" Unrivaled Thief chuckled softly and slowly walked up to Dugu Yan.

"Who here is useless?! The Nine Heart Begonia Martial Soul is indeed extraordinary, but don't you think its abilities are too one-dimensional? Other than healing, does it serve any other purpose?"

As he spoke, Unrivaled Thief turned his gaze to Ning Rongrong. "She does not fit our fighting style. Besides, we already have the world's number one support Soul Master. Why would we need another support Soul Master who specializes only in healing?"

Hearing that, Ning Rongrong proudly puffed out her chest. After all this time, Unrivaled Thief had finally praised her once.

Although he had praised the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda, that was still her Martial Soul!

She even cast a provocative glance at Ye Lingling, her eyes carrying a hint of smugness.

Ye Lingling silently lowered her head, the light in her eyes dimming somewhat.

Unrivaled Thief was right. Although the Nine Heart Begonia possessed near-heaven-defying group healing abilities, its Soul Skill effects were indeed too singular.

In clashes between small teams, this kind of support Soul Master was not particularly useful.

After all, battles between small groups were often fast-paced.

And fast-paced battles meant victory and defeat were easily decided, leaving little room for her to make much of a difference.

Just like in today's spirit battle, if her teammates failed to protect her, she would not be able to display her usefulness at all.

However, if the scale expanded to the level of war, the Nine Heart Begonia Martial Soul would become highly sought after.

That was precisely why, ever since Ye Lingling awakened the Nine Heart Begonia Martial Soul, the Heaven Dou Empire had kept her under strict control.

The reason she had chosen to withdraw from Heaven Dou Royal Academy now was because her only living relative—

Had died because of the Heaven Dou Empire.

After all, the border between the Heaven Dou Empire and the Star Luo Empire had never truly been peaceful. Small-scale wars broke out from time to time.

And naturally, her mother had become a mainstay of the healing forces.

But under constant high-intensity healing, even an iron body could not endure forever.

Before her death, Ye Lingling's mother had hoped that she would not repeat her mistakes and could live as a free person.

And after learning from Dugu Bo that following Unrivaled Thief could free her from the Heaven Dou Empire's control, Ye Lingling had gathered the courage to withdraw from Heaven Dou Royal Academy alongside Dugu Yan, completely tearing apart all ties with the Heaven Dou Empire.

Yet nine times out of ten, life did not go as one wished. Unrivaled Thief seemingly had no interest in her.

Dugu Yan understood her best friend's current situation.

There was no going back to Heaven Dou Royal Academy, so she could only flee.

Yet a support Soul Elder had no ability to protect herself.

Without someone to rely on, she would be captured by the Heaven Dou Empire and forced to continue serving as a "blood bag."

And because there was only one Nine Heart Begonia inheritor left in the world, the Heaven Dou Empire might even crazily force her to bear a new inheritor.

For a girl barely twenty years old, that would undoubtedly be a devastating blow.

She hurriedly said, "Although Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda Soul Masters are powerful, they lack healing abilities. Injuries are unavoidable in battle, and Lingling can perfectly make up for that weakness. Holy Son, please take her in!"

"Holy Son?" Ye Lingling froze.

Dugu Yan explained, "He's Spirit Hall's Holy Son! Joining his team is the same as joining Spirit Hall. With that identity, you won't have to fear the Heaven Dou Empire harming you in the future."

Ye Lingling opened her mouth, but for a moment, she did not know what to say.

Although Unrivaled Thief did not understand why Ye Lingling was so determined to join, he actually welcomed it.

Just as Dugu Yan had said, injuries were unavoidable in battle, and a Healing Soul Master was indispensable.

Still, he put on an act and said softly, "Since she wants to join my team so badly, I'll give her a chance to prove herself for Old Poison's sake."

Ye Lingling took a deep breath at those words and stepped forward resolutely.

She was still very confident in the healing abilities of the Nine Heart Begonia.

"Thank you, Holy Son, for giving me this opportunity!"

Unrivaled Thief also wanted to test whether the Nine Heart Begonia's healing ability could treat the side effects caused by Titan's Wrath.

"Use your strongest healing method on me. Let me see whether you have the value to join my team."

The first people to react were not Ye Lingling, but the three people who had been watching the show: Rebel Son and the other two.

"Boss! You're injured?!" The three cried out in unison, rushing forward in a single stride.

Unrivaled Thief felt warmth rise in his heart and was about to say something when the three had already crowded around him, their six eyes scanning him up and down.

"Don't worry, no one ambushed me. These injuries are only from accidentally hurting myself while practicing a Soul Skill."

"Tch, so that's all. Then it's fine!"

Rebel Son and the other two changed faces faster than turning a page. Their concerned expressions instantly became indifferent, and they even started picking their noses out of boredom.

Unrivaled Thief's fists clenched with a series of cracks. Veins bulged on his forehead, and a huge tic throbbed at his temple.

"You three are really something!"

Before his words had even faded, his fists blurred.

Three dull bangs rang out. The trio, who had been fooling around just a moment ago, were now lying neatly on the ground.

Each had a freshly raised lump on their head, sleeping with utter serenity.

Dugu Yan and Ye Lingling, who knew nothing of the dynamic between Unrivaled Thief and his three brothers, stared with wide eyes full of shock.

Unrivaled Thief coughed lightly and said to Ye Lingling, "All right. Use your best healing method and treat me."

Ye Lingling nodded. In an instant, the phantom of the Nine Heart Begonia appeared, drifting down to envelop Unrivaled Thief's body.

Unrivaled Thief immediately felt a wave of relief, and the internal injuries caused by Titan's Wrath recovered by more than half in an instant.

The treatment soon ended. Unrivaled Thief clenched his fists and sensed the condition within his body.

All my internal and hidden injuries have recovered. The healing effect truly is powerful. Unfortunately, Titan's Wrath consumes vitality and blood energy, and healing cannot restore that. Still, it greatly shortens the recovery time after using Titan's Wrath.

He raised his head and looked at the tense Ye Lingling. "Congratulations. You've passed my test. Welcome to the team."

Ye Lingling and Dugu Yan visibly let out sighs of relief, and the two girls happily embraced.

Unexpectedly, Unrivaled Thief, utterly lacking in tact, opened his mouth to strike them down.