Dugu Bo didn't slow his steps. He didn't even lift an eyelid.
He merely turned his head slightly and glanced at Dugu Yan beside him, a testing smile curling at the corner of his mouth.
"Yan Yan, deal with these watchdogs."
"Yes, Grandpa."
Dugu Yan gave a slight nod. Her eyes, normally emerald green, now glimmered with an eerie hint of grayish purple.
She didn't release her Martial Soul. She simply raised her slender hand and gave the two knights a casual wave.
Whoosh—
A faintly purple, fragrant breeze swept past.
The two knights were just about to curse when they suddenly felt as though something had lodged in their throats.
The next moment, indescribable agony erupted from every pore of their bodies!
"Ugh... ugh..."
Their eyes flew wide with terror. They tried to scream, but not a sound came out.
As horrified passersby watched, the bodies of the two knights, both Soul Grandmasters, began to rot and melt right before their eyes.
In just two or three breaths, the two living men had turned into pools of foul-smelling pus. Even their armor had been corroded full of holes.
"The Calamity Poison Body really is formidable."
Dugu Bo nodded approvingly. Her poison was so potent that she didn't even need to activate a Soul Skill; a casual wave was enough to kill.
"Let's go. The one we're here for is inside."
The grandfather and granddaughter stepped through the pools of pus and into the main hall as if no one stood in their way.
Second floor of the main hall, the bishop's office.
Red-robed Bishop Miles sat with one leg crossed over the other, turning over a piece of rare metal he'd just "confiscated" from the Blacksmith Association.
A piece of Crystal Plate—Hair Gold.
Greedy, oily gleam covered Miles's fat face.
"Heh, those poor blacksmiths sure have plenty of good stuff.
If I offer this Hair Gold to Bishop Salas, I might even get noticed by His Holiness the Pope..."
Boom!
Just then, the office's heavy mahogany door suddenly exploded. Countless splinters flew in every direction like Hidden Weapons.
"Who?!
What bastard dares to barge into my office?!"
Miles flinched, and the Hair Gold slipped from his hand and hit the floor.
He leaped to his feet, his Martial Soul instantly possessing him as six Soul Rings revolved beneath his feet.
But when he saw the dark green figure standing in the doorway, and the nine Soul Rings slowly rising at his feet, all his anger turned to bone-deep chill.
Yellow, yellow, purple, purple, black, black, black, black, black.
Nine rings!
A Titled Douluo?!
Miles's legs gave way, and he nearly fell to his knees. His voice trembled like a leaf in the wind.
"Y-Your Holiness... May I ask which elder has honored us with a visit?
I am Miles, a humble subordinate. I failed to welcome you..."
With his hands behind his back, Dugu Bo slowly entered the room. His terrifying pressure bore down on Miles like a mountain, making it hard for him even to breathe.
"Miles?
Are you the one who's been throwing your weight around in Gengxin City and bullying the Blacksmith Association?"
Dugu Bo asked coldly.
Miles broke out in a cold sweat and hurried to defend himself.
"Your Holiness, please hear me out!
I was only... only gathering resources for Spirit Hall!
It was all for His Holiness the Pope!"
"You think invoking the Pope will intimidate me?"
A cold glint flashed in Dugu Bo's eyes as he scoffed.
"Too bad. I hate nothing more than Spirit Hall's dogs throwing their weight around."
"Remember, the man who killed you is named Dugu Bo."
"P-Poison Douluo?!"
Miles's pupils contracted. He shrieked in despair.
"No!
You can't kill me!
I'm a bishop of Spirit Hall!
If you kill me, His Holiness the Pope won't let you get away with it!"
"Enough."
Dugu Bo couldn't be bothered to listen to any more nonsense. He lightly tapped one finger.
A streak of Jade Phosphorous Serpent Emperor poison shot into Miles's brow.
Miles's scream cut off abruptly. His body stiffened, then his skin quickly turned green and black.
At last, he became a withered corpse and toppled straight to the floor.
"Yan Yan, search."
Dugu Bo didn't even glance at the corpse. He turned to Dugu Yan and said:
"Take everything valuable here, especially the rare metals.
Senior Yu Nan said these would make a fine welcome gift for Lou Gao."
"Understood."
Dugu Yan moved briskly toward the hidden compartments and safe in the office.
With Yu Nan's spiritual power scanning the area, there was nowhere Miles could hide his treasures.
In less than a quarter of an hour,
the entire Martial Soul Main Hall had been looted. Aside from Miles's corpse, not a single Gold Soul Coin remained.
On top of that,
to destroy the evidence,
Dugu Bo had even brought out a large iron hammer he'd prepared in advance.
He channeled his Soul Power and brought the hammer down. The entire main hall of Spirit Hall was reduced to ruins.
He even left behind a message:
"Clear Sky Douluo Tang Hao was here!"
That had been Yu Nan's idea, too.
Over the past few years,
Tang Hao had destroyed quite a few Spirit Halls across Douluo Continent.
Pinning the blame on Tang Hao
worked like a charm.
Gengxin City, headquarters of the Blacksmith Association.
This magnificent building stood in the very heart of the city, soaring into the clouds. It was made entirely of black iron and radiated an air of solid, ancient simplicity.
It couldn't compare to Spirit Hall's dazzling splendor, but the blacksmiths' distinctive grit and strength made it impossible to underestimate.
At that moment, two figures in broad black robes stood before the headquarters' entrance.
They were none other than Dugu Bo and Dugu Yan, fresh from their "good deed."
"Stop! This is the Blacksmith Association headquarters. No unauthorized visitors allowed!"
Two burly guards blocked their way, their voices deep and gruff.
Dugu Bo said nothing. He simply tossed them a token.
The token was jade green, with a lifelike venomous snake carved into it. A chill that made one's heart tremble emanated from it.
The guard took the token and looked it over. His expression changed at once.
Though he didn't recognize its origins, the powerful fluctuations of Soul Power it carried were clearly no ordinary thing!
"We want to see Lou Gao."
A hoarse voice came from beneath the black robe, carrying an unquestionable authority.
The guards exchanged glances, not daring to delay. They hurriedly bowed with respect.
"Please wait, sirs. We'll go inform the president at once!"
Top floor, the president's office.
Lou Gao was hunched over a huge desk, frowning at a complicated blueprint.
The old man, acclaimed as a divine craftsman, had a full head of white hair and beard, but remained vigorous and alert. His rough hands were still steady and strong.
"President!
Two people in black robes have come to see you. They say... they have a great gift for you."
A disciple hurried in to report.
"A great gift?"
Lou Gao didn't even look up. He waved a hand impatiently.
"I'm not seeing them!
Can't you see I'm busy?
What gift could be more important than this blueprint?"
"But... they're carrying a strange token, and their auras are very strong..."
The disciple hesitated.
Before you continue